The Simple Things

All the hustle and bustle is over.  Now a few packages to wrap and I am done. Over the weekend it was over the hills and through the dell to my son's house I went.  Okay it doesn't rhyme, but driving over a snow covered mountain pass may have given my brain a few jitters.   Central Oregon is sure beautiful this time of the year, snow and more snow! And having all my kids and grand kids company for a whole weekend - the best!!!

But it is the simple thing that make if feel like Christmas too me.  Yes, my almond patties have arrived from Sioux Center, IA.  Besides tasting absolutely fabulous they instill so many memories from my past. I truly think of family that live in the mid west. Over my life I don't get to visit as often as I would like but my trips back there are some of my favorite travels.

You are going to have to imagine me sitting at my computer with a cup of hot coco and a delicious almond patty being devoured. Still no picture allow to upload, sad face here!

So if you are ever in IA and close to  Casey's Bakery have a almond patty and enjoy!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and looking forward to a wonderful New Year.

June

IT'S ABOUT OVER!!

My years of posting blogs is coming to an end.  I've tried and tried to figure out what I am doing wrong. I know I'm not techie but Google is winning.  It all started with going to Google Chrome. I haven't been able to post comments on my favorite blogs for some time now.  I have found if I go to a blog that has a Facebook page I can comment through FB.  I have gone back to Google and now I can't add a picture to any post.  Upon hitting the insert icon it now ask for my Google password.  After entering I get this service is not available. So Google is winning and I am loosing.

I want to wish all my blogger friends a very Merry Christmas and of course a Happy New Year.  I will be here every day reading your blogs and enjoying every word and picture.   I will sit here silently making comments to myself.  I've so enjoyed this blog world, love to you all!

June

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY

It's been true Oregon weather! I really shouldn't complain since we have had breaks of lovely sunshine.  I had always thought when I retired I would go south for sun and warmth.  But!!  Yes there is always a but. I had to weigh family or my love of sunshine.  Well family always wins out or should I say those grand kids! But, this post is about weather.  It seems my flower are liking the weather.  Yes, they are still blooming but, looking a bit disheveled.  I'm sharing a little color still in my yard.

My dahlias are so heavy with rain they won't stand up.  They just fall to the lawn.  I know I should stake them but, this is November folks!

Oh yes, azaleas and fuchsias still blooming.  The day was gray so the colors aren't as gorgeous as when the sun is out.  But, I still have flowers.

Have you counted how buts there are in this post??  Well, a lot, but, you get the idea!!!

Enjoy June

TIME MARCHES ON

As I still struggle with blogging problems, time doesn't slow down! Fall is in mid flight and cruising towards, yikes - Winter!  The colors have been absolutely wonderful around here. As I look up into my one tree and just love it!

Why oh why can't I get the color to show up like I see it??  We've have had some wild rainy weather over the weekend.  The rain came down and the wind blew!!  Sad to say this is what my tree looks like this morning.

All the leaves are gone, well not exactly.  You can imagine the raking I get to look forward too!

This summer I gifted myself with a cover patio area.  I have a large patio area but it had no protection from our rains.  You see you stepped right out of the sliding door to the outside.  I still need to brainstorm some sort of walls during the times the rain and wind blow sideways, as we put it!

As you can tell I have leaves to clean up on the patio also.  I sure am open for any suggestions as to how to create a little wall for temporary protection.  I guess I need to hop on pinterest for some ideas!

Best get busy for I have lots of yard work to do or at least procrastinate about it!

Enjoy June

FALL IS HERE!

Fall arrived very fast, anyway in my world it did!  One day is was summer and now glorious Fall.  My only dislike is it is getting dark so early, ugh!  But the crispness in the air is wonderful. The sun on the trees early in the morning makes drinking my coffee outside, fantastic!

With Fall in the air and a box full of apples, well it time to can apple pie filling.  Plus a sister visit to help. I was getting really low in the pantry and my son in law would never forgive me it I didn't bake him apple pies. I do quarts and pints.  Since there is only me a pint works really great for a quick apple crisp. 

 
Can you believe there was a little left over that didn't fit in a jar?  So what to do but make a little crisp for myself.  Did you say ice cream with it?  Of course!!

Yum, is all I can say!

I'm still struggling with posting comments on my favorite blogs, but I still read each and everyone - every day!!  Your posting are such a great way to start the day, like a visit from an old friend.

I so lucky to still have plenty of flowers in the garden, allowing a few bouquets for the house.

Enjoy Fall,
June

FRUSTRATED

Can you say I'm at my wits end!! I love this blogging world and have followed several blogs for years.s.s.s.s!!!  Here is my frustration! I upgraded to Google Chrome about 6 - 9 months ago and since then it is a hit or miss being able to comment.  Some have suggested it is because I also have a blog loving account.  So I have cancelled that account since I didn't use it.  I've tried to go back to regular google with no luck.  A few months ago I could leave a comment using anonymous, but that doesn't work anymore.  Some time I've received an error message.

The following errors were found:
Input error: Memcache value is null for FormRestoration 

I tried googling, ha,ha,ha to see what that meant.  It said that is was something with form, feed and channel. You are to let them know for a fix.  Ha, ha, ha!!!  Have you ever got a response from Google???

I thought about starting all over with a new blog but I don't think that will solve my problem.  Does anyone out there that has more computer knowledge then I do have a solution!  I know a computer software repairman might be my answer.

Not Enjoy this,

June

WEEKS AND STATES FLEW BY!I

Arriving home at 1:30am and sleeping in my own bed after a week of pure wonderfulness(is that a word)? I was up early with laundry going, hair cut appointment and oh yes, picking up Jackson.  I think he thought I abandon him.  I couldn't rest and relax for I was leaving in the morning for a road trip that would last three weeks and 15 States.  It was a trip with my sister and brother in law, stopping to visit family, friends and mark off a couple of things on our bucket list.

Our 6800 mile road trip took us across the continental divide three times. Somehow I only manage to make this picture! My silly dog didn't want to get out of the car for a picture, LOL!

I managed to cross off the Grand Canyons from my bucket list.  I would have love to spend more time there but we had places to go and see.

 I loved the layers and was fascinated by our guide, which was my friend from Oregon.  She was working the summer season in the Museum there. She took us on a personal tour and pointed out some special features.

Then it was On the road again, Oh Willie I hear you singing!!

Our next stop was Mesa Verde National Park!! I was so fascinated with the Cave Dwellers.

You can take tours and actually go into the dwelling, but you must schedule the tour.  Our schedule didn't allow for this since we didn't know about reservations.

So if you are in the SW of Colorado put this on your list.

Our next stop was Garden of the Gods.  Pretty sad but I didn't even know this existed. I was so impressed and loved the hike.  Great paths so it made for an easy walk.

The red rock was amazing for this Northwestern.  I so enjoyed this but it was off to Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Oh how pretty this area is. There wasn't much snow this year so above the tree line was really tundra looking.

We did see a large herd of elk that was enjoyable to watch.

It was time to head south again for we needed to be in TX for the 4th of July.  Many miles of driving and site seeing. I'm not sure why my camera stayed in hiding but I sure don't have many pictures of that stretch of the hwy.  After spending three days in Granbury, TX and taking in a small town 4th of July parade it was time now to turn north again.  I know crazy, zig zag we did!

My sister had her birthday on our road trip, the big 60!!!  She had never been to Mt. Rushmore and that is where she wanted to spend her day.

She got a new camera for her birthday and must have taken over 500 pictures.  All in all I think she  had a wonderful Birthday!

 After Mt. Rushmore it was north.  Oh my this is getting way to long of a post.  Maybe I need to do a part 2.  One last pic of my traveling partner.

My 14 year old rescue, Jackson did wonderful on this journey.  I got him at 12 years old as a foster dog and he never left, LOL!

Enjoy,
June