New Years, Pet sitting, not too much going on.

 

Grandson Adam gave us a calendar with photos he's taken 
throughout the year. At the beginning of each month I'm going
to feature his photo of the month 💖
This picture is near Freel Peak right outside of 
South Lake Tahoe 

Happy Monday! Well, it is for us since we don't work for a living anymore! Actually coming up on the 9th it'll be 15 years we've been retired! Hard to believe it's been that long, but it's the best thing we ever did. I was 54 and Ken was 58, so glad we didn't go any longer! 

Diane and Jesse came and spent New Year's with us  so that was nice. Again a lot of time spent outside in the cold with fires going. Like they both said, they come to enjoy being outside and the fires! Ok..we can make that happen. LOL. 

We did spent New Year's Eve with John and Karen. Thankful that John's here to celebrate with us this New Year! He's doing well for someone who two months ago we all thought we'd lose him. 

He's on a heart healthy diet, not exactly his favorite but Karen is making sure he sticks to it. I am helping out with heart healthy treats, as he does like sweets and we like a bit with our coffee in the am. Since I've been making them for Ken for the last few years, I just make more of the same recipe. Today was Low Carb Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Morning Glory Bread. 

Champagne Sunday yesterday...YUM! 

Decided to venture from the Low Carb Pizza this week and
have burgers for brunch. The chicken we took next door 
last night for our dinner. Same tonight 😋

They are in Reno buying Karen a new car. They also bought a smaller fifth wheel as they're getting rid of the big one. He's hoping to go back to work once he's cleared to drive in March. We spent last night over there with the pups and we'll spend tonight too. 

Chloe and Mason made us these adorable Salt Dough 
Ornaments for Christmas. Can't wait to have them on the 
tree next Christmas. 💖

Grandson Adam is in Arkansas visiting his parents. I know he enjoyed himself and of course his parents are happy he visited. He'll be back to CA tomorrow. 

Not much going on here. It's cool and windy right now. Ken just brought wood to the front porch as a fire is definitely needed. 

Some sad news last night from California. My Brother in Law, Bobby lost his dad Pat yesterday. Not that it wasn't expected, but still hard to say good bye. Pat was a very sweet man and I know he was very loved. Thinking of you Bobby and Linda, Dusty, Chelsea, Owen and Cassidy 💙

Looks like it's time for Happy Hour with the furry kids next door. Have a great evening! 🍺🍷

Christmas and beyond

Been trying to get this posted for days..I always get sidetracked! 

 Hoping everyone had a wonderful Christmas day and beyond. 

We set our alarm for 0330 so we would be at Eric's around 0700. We like to enjoy our mornings before heading out. We were a little late, but knew they were up and had coffee going. Actually, Eric had breakfast going. YUM! 

A beautiful sunrise coming into Cool, CA 

Holly loves cow print! 

Seth opening, Amber watching

Mason, Christina, Amber and Eric in background 💙

Mason got up a little later and then Seth and Holly arrived about 0800. Christmas presents were opened. 

Eric and Christina had a birthday present for me. My daddy passed away December of 1990. Eric had his red toolbox and took tools, made this box and put some of the tools in it. I love it! No tears were shed (lying). I can still see my daddy in his shed using these tools. Thank you Eric, so special. 💙💙

I so love this 💙💕

We had a nice breakfast of eggs, sausage and potatoes while everyone opened their gifts. 

About 0845 we left Cool to head to Antelope to see Russell and Lori's family open gifts. They were almost done with their opening of gifts except the ones we gave them. 

Aaron and Allissa 💖

Lori and Aaron💖

A gift we got, was to see our grandson, Jacob who we hadn't seen in over a year due to a 9 month deployment in the Middle East! 

Jacob 💙💙

Once we were done there we headed to my sister Linda's house. She and Bobby hosted Christmas for family and friends. As always a great time was had by all. Our middle sister Wendy didn't make it as she wasn't feeling great. 

Chelsea, Cassidy and Owen 💙

The Byrnes Family. Cassidy, Chelsea, Owen, Linda, Dusty and Bobby 💗

Our grandsons, Aaron, Seth, Adam, Mason and Jacob 
So proud of the young men they've turned out to be! 💙💙

Cousins! Aaron, Seth, Adam, Mason, Jacob, Jesse and Dusty

Our grandsons and their ladies. Cassidy filling in for Kenna, Seth and Holly, Adam and Erin, Mason and Chloe, Jacob and Allissa 💕

Our pride and joy! All our boys! Seth, Mason, Eric, Ken, me, Russell, Jacob, Aaron
and Adam💖💙

Aaron, Lori, Russell, Jacob and Allissa💗 Just missing Aaron's sweetie, Kenna

Seth, Holly, Eric, Christina, Mason and Chloe 💖

Three siblings, Christina, Lori and Michael 💙

Adam and Erin 💙 Adam's headed to Arkansas tomorrow for a much 
needed visit! 

                                              💙Diane and Jesse

We left there late afternoon and headed to Ken's mom's house for a visit. Denise and Isabella stopped by too, it was nice to see them. Jesse and Diane eventually came too. We didn't stay too long as we don't like driving in the dark. 

Got to the motel and set the alarm for 0345. We wanted to leave about 0600 and were a few minutes late. We went across to Highway 50. The plan was to beat the traffic and expected weather and we were successful with both. 

We got to Gardnerville, NV a little after 0900, picked up prescriptions at Raleys and then to Sharkey's for an early brunch. 

We got home just about 1230. Both of us were tired, so headed inside and took a 2 hour nap. Woke up about 1430, unloaded the car and that was about it. 

Ken started a fire and we just relaxed until bedtime. Well, there was a Happy Hour during that time. LOL. 

Today Ken worked on wood outside most of the day. I cleaned and then started in the bedroom, cleaning drawers, closet and armoire. Time to declutter and get rid of stuff. 

To get this posted, I'm ending it here! LOL. Hopefully another one in the not too distant future! Happy New Year! 

A quick catch up before the BIG Day tomorrow!

 Last Wednesday the 18th Ken had is bi yearly lung appointment with Dr. Foster. Everything is perfect! The radiologist read his X-ray as a small plural effusion, but Dr. Foster showed us that it was just scar tissue from his issues 5 years ago. Definitely don't want to go through that again! Phew! 

The 19th we headed over the mountains to visit with Ken's mom as her 97th birthday was on the 18th. She lives about 4 hours from us in California. We enjoyed the visit and then headed for Carson City rather than home. I reserved a room for us at the motel we stay at when we don't want to drive all the way hom. Saved us about an hour and half of driving. 

Happy 97th Grandma! 💗💗

Diane, Grandma and Ken 💙

Me, Grandma and Ken 💖

Friday morning we went to breakfast at Black Bear Diner as I had a coupon from them for my birthday. Not impressed, so even for Free we won't be back. They give you a lot of food, but their sausage and bacon tasted weird to me. Too smoky and funny spices. 

Sunday of course, was Champagne Sunday. We were in the outdoor kitchen and we had a four cheese cauliflower pizza along with fixings. Oh yes, it was delicious! 

It was so good and crunchy crust! 

Monday was spent in the kitchen for me, getting things ready to take to my sister's house for Christmas day. A small turkey, some ham, meatballs,crack dip and macaroni salad. A last Happy Hour with John and Karen and then time for bed. 

The alarm rang at 0330 this morning. Coffee, blog reading and then time to load the car with presents for over the hill. 

We left 0550 and had a good drive. Snow over Luther Pass, 50 and 89 and then all the way up the mountain until Kyburz where it turned to rain. Beautiful, but slow going of course. 

We visited with Christina and her friend Amber in Cool, where we dropped off presents. We'll see Eric and the rest of the family in the am. 

Then we went to my sister Linda's to drop off food and to visit for a bit. 

We left there and headed to North Highlands to visit our friend Joanie. It's a ritual before Christmas every year we have a visit. 

Ken and Joanie..she's 101 years old, lives alone and 
decorated her house for Christmas. It's beautiful. She doesn't drive
anymore, but that's about it. She has always loved Ken LOL 💖💕

Then on to the motel in Rocklin where we'll spend two nights. Heading home the day after Christmas. Hopefully the weather holds. 

Russell and Lori were happy to have this picture!
Aaron, Kenna, Lori, Russell, Allissa and Jacob all together at last 💙💗

Jacob and Allissa went snowmobiling yesterday, so I had to steal this 
picture from FB! 

So looking forward to having all the grandsons together tomorrow! Granddaughters too except Kenna, she's in TN with her family. Hopefully some good pictures! 2 of our 3 sons and wives except Bryan and Cheryl who live in Arkansas now will be there too. 💙

Have a Merry Christmas!  

An Awesome Birthday Weekend!!

 

Might be kind of hard to tell, but that's a Navy flag below the
American flag. The flagpole came from a Veteran owned and American 
made company. 💕 Made to withstand 100 mph winds, needed
out here! Thank you Russell and Lori 💗

Endorsed by the Navy. It came from servicefirstproducts.com

On December 13th I turned 69. Sure don't feel it, but it is what it is. Three weeks ago or so Russell asked if we'd be home for my birthday. Yep. So he and Lori along with friends John and Andrea planned to come out for the weekend. Well, you know that's ok with us! Thanksgiving weekend nephew Jesse asked if it was ok if he came too. OF Course! Then his mom Diane asked if she could come, OF Course! Adam had asked a week or so, not knowing that everyone else was coming if he could come out!  Erin had her wisdom teeth pulled on Thursday so she wasn't up to coming unfortunately. We ended up with a nice party weekend here though! 

Early Friday afternoon Russell, Lori, John and Andrea pulled up. They surprised us with Birthday presents that were "Remember Everyone Deployed" hoodies. Absolutely gorgeous! 

Not too long after that I was called to the backyard and there was a tall wrapped box. Hmmm. Ken had already guessed and it took me a few minutes, but it was a 25 foot flagpole. They even brought 5 bags of concrete too. Always wanted one, but just never pulled the trigger. We had a home made pole, but sure didn't compare to this!  I literally jumped up and down as I was so happy! 😃

Jesse and Diane arrived later and then Adam after he got off work in Polluck Pines, CA. We had an awesome evening, most in the outdoor kitchen. Cold? Yes, but with a nice fire it was awesome. John and Karen came over for a bit so that was nice too. 

Love the lights Ken put up inside the outdoor kitchen 

Jesse and Lori 💗 enjoying the fire 

Most of the weekend we had an outdoor fire, in the kitchen
and a propane fire going. Yep, they're tough!

Jesse, Lori and John 

John and Andrea had brought two American flags that needed to be retired. We had a nice fire going and sent them off in the proper way. It was actually very moving, as Lori read a statement about the flag and then we all said the Pledge Allegiance after. John had cut the flags up and we all threw our pieces in the fire the way it's supposed to be done. 💖

Adam and Jesse

Russell 

Ken and Russell 💗

Ken, John, Andrea and Russell 

Saturday was the Army/Navy game. Guess who we
were rooting for ?!! 😂😂

John and Andrea 

Lori and Diane 

Cousins! Jesse and Russell 💙

A way too late night LOL. Such an awesome birthday for me.  

Saturday morning we got up to breakfast sandwiches in the outdoor kitchen. Coffee of course and then the champagne flowed. Yep, my birthday weekend. 🍾

John and Andrea got stuff for a chautertierie board on both Friday and Saturday and was amazing! Friday was lasagna and caesar salad and french bread.  Saturday Enchiladas, coleslaw and mexican rice. All good and all gone!

Saturday night Karen came to visit and a good time was had by all! Too good of a time probably! LOL. Another late night but how often does it happen?! 

Karen and Russell 

Karen and Jesse 

Sunday morning I made biscuits and gravy along with eggs and then most left. :(  Diane, Jesse and Adam remained. Started with some mimosas and then that ran out 😱 so ended up with light screwdrivers. A very LAZY day for me. So enjoyable. 

Ken decided to pour the concrete for the flag pole. Ken and Russell were going to do it Saturday, but soooo windy it couldn't be done. 

I just enjoyed my day in the outdoor kitchen until dinner time! It was simple as I had bought lunch meat, potato salad, macaroni salad etc for lunches that didn't get eaten. An early night for most of us. 

Monday morning Adam came in from out in the Komfort about 0315. I was awake so came to the living room with him until he had to leave for work to get to Pollock Pines, CA for work. 

After breakfast Diane and Jesse left around 1000 or so and then I started cleaning the disaster that was left. LOL. Because the water is turned off for the winter in the outdoor kitchen there were lots of glasses that needed to be washed and brought back out. 

 I wouldn't trade any of this, to have family and friends come out to visit!! 

Around 1630 we headed next door for Happy Hour with John and Karen. 

Today we're home just enjoying. Got caught up in a Christmas movie while folding clothes. I should know better! 😂

Tomorrow we'll head for Carson City for Ken's bi yearly lung appointment.

 Thursday we're heading over the hill to see Ken's mom for her 97 year old birthday. It's actually tomorrow, but we've got his appointment. Got a motel for Thursday night in Carson, so we won't do a one day turnaround totally. 

Have a great evening!