Monday, June 25, 2007

Getting settled in! The computer armourer came today so this evening I've been able to put the computer in it and get the office roughly set up. Emptied all the boxes that were in it at any rate. Next I'll attack the boxes in the garage!



I've got curtains up in the Master bedroom and am slowly working on the other two bedrooms.




But when Friday came Jack and I hit the Highway for Lakeview, Oregon as soon as I got off work for a weekend of digging for sunstones with Gary and Susie Rea and their friends, Patti and Wayne.


They'd heard about it on the travel channel and asked if we'd like to join them when they went. At the time we didn't know we would have just moved in but we said we'd go and we are glad we did! It's hard to explain how much fun it can be digging around in the dirt with a bunch of other rock hounds - it just is. We all had a great time and found enough sunstones to make us all happy.


Patti and I even took a turn in "the Pit" after lunch. There are several sunstone mining operations in the area and the four of them had visited a different one the day before. Dust Busters Mine is the place to go - in comparison to the other. The place looks rough but they have a big shade awning and tables that you are welcome to have your lunch at and you only pay for the stones that have gem value. For Jack and I that was 4 stones....the rest were free. We have a baggie full of "clears" that we'll but through the rock tumbler - when we uncover it! The good ones we're going to look into making into a necklace for me.

Just spending the weekend away from boxes would have been good enough but getting to spend some time getting to know Susie and Gary better was really great. I thoroughly enjoyed the dirt, the good dinner afterward, and pouring over our booty later!
Mike enjoyed the day from underneath this converted school bus. Kind of reminded me of Mad Max ... the whole movie could have been filmed in the area! Not all of the digging areas are pits... it's just where we choose to "mine for the day" - looked like fresh ground! We can't wait to go again...we learned a lot about where to dig, etc...anyone want to go?

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

I'm back online! Cable guy came this afternoon and believe it or not had to run cable before he could hook us up! He said it's amazing how many new houses aren't wired correctly for cable or dish hookups! He did a great job because all I had to do was reassemble the computer, cable modem, wireless network when I got home from work and we were online! We also have cable TV for the first time in 5 days! And a wonderful brand new TV it is! I've been torn all night between TV and reading email, blogs, and now posting!

Houses closed Friday, we moved the bulk of everything Saturday, thanks to the goodness of friends, and Sunday, after 3 trips with truck and car of the "little stuff" remaining, we did a final deep clean of the Roosevelt house, left the keys on the mantel, and made the call to the realtor with the message they were waiting for.... "We're out! It's all yours!"

Here, I didn't do alot - very aware that Monday was a work day and I was exhusted. Saturday afternoon Dad had arrived on his way back to Arizona after spending the week with his sister in Powers and together we unpacked most of the dishes (looking for a glass so he could have a glass of water! ) and put sheets and blankets on beds (Leo, Carl, and Ed had put together the beds before leaving for the day) so we had a place to collapse about 9 pm. I did get to load all the digital pictures of the wedding on the laptop Jack had given Dad last week! I also wrote down how to get to them and run the slideshow! Dad seemed pretty keen on the suggestion that he go to the senior center and take some computer classes with his "new" computer. It has XP on it and is good for most everything he may want to do... right now he is really facinated with Solitare! Dad had left without waking us up Sunday morning to finish the long drive to Bullhead!

The lastest on Mr. Mike is his ear infection is gone! Yeah! Did I post that after the last surgury his ear got seriously infected and the vet had to knock him out again last week and clean it out? When Jack unloaded him from the truck at the Vet's that time Mike turned around as soon as he realized where they were and got back in the truck and would NOT get out. Jack had to put the leash on him and nearly drag him out of the truck! For Mike that is extra-ordinary dis-obediance! Stronger antibiodics and a different rinse seems to have done the trick because today's checkup revealed a well healing ear and they were in and out of the office in 10 minutes!

I'm much more rested these past two days at work so the days haven't seemed so long or difficult and each evening I've gotten something new for the house which is always fun! Even if it is just curtin rods or throw pillows! We've actually made quite a few big purchases and they are coming in one at a time...since you have to order most things and wait... so each day contains something new! Yesterday was curtians for the bedroom and shades for the other bedrooms, today thow pillows for the couch and the cable for internet and TV, tomorrow phone service, Thursday the TV gets mounted on the wall, Friday our computer amoire might come in , next Monday or sometime next week we get our refrigerator...and have I mentioned we are going to be digging for Sunstones this weekend????

I best get to bed! Love you all!

Monday, June 11, 2007

Mondays! Wow! They are alwasy hard after a busy weekend and this one was just that!

Jack, Brett, and Chisato left for the airport at 5:45 am. Brett will be in Japan by this afternoon (tomorrow there) and Chisato is spending a couple days in San Francisco before returning to New York. Everyone else left early Sunday afternoon... after we went through the new house on Homedale. Some may not see it again for several years but Caleb and Mike will be back in July to do the concrete work!!! 30 yards of concrete and I'll still have lots of gardening room!

Brett demonstrated how to climb up the big willow tree and Oliver is really jazzed about the treehouse idea! When my film gets deveolped I'll have a picture of Brett in the tree and Oliver trying to skinny up it! It was great seeing everyone in the yard...a glimpse of what I hope the future holds! It's a great back yard for kids, grown-ups, and gardening!

The appointments for signing are for this Wednesday afternoon! Once everything "funds" we have three days to vacate! We're happy to do so - eager to get to the new - no stairs - house but the logistics are intimidating! We have more than I think Jack realizes! He is planning on doing the move with his truck, trailer and those of friends. We'll see.

I've got to go to bed now. I'm exhusted but got caught up reading my sister and nieces blogs and felt inspired to write to. It is so nice to get to be a part of their lives through their posts. I wanted extend the favor back!

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Several wedding pictures can be viewed on Flickr now! There will be many more... these are some from Chisato's digital camera! Quickly loaded but will give you an idea of the day! Just click on sharenbland's pictures...
Wedding Weekend!

Was a whirlwind! Brett got in Wednesday evening and I had an American dinner of B-BQ Country Spare-ribs, corn on the cob, and Ceasar Salad ready for them when he and Jack got in. Dad also was here from Arizona! After dinner we unpacked a mystery box from Florida! It was full of fun stuff! Thank you Sis! I am the proud owner of the ONLY singing, dancing pink flamingo in Klamath Falls! Jack is getting a real introduction to the family!

I worked Thursday which gave Brett a day to visit friends in Grants Pass until it was time to pick up Chisato from the Medford Airport very late (or rather early Friday morning). They arrived at the house about the time Jack and I were getting up. While they caught some ZZ's Jack and I ran about getting things to finish up the wedding cake decorations.













I'd about finished the cakes when Mom and Teri arrived. Chisato and and I where working on the second batch of icing. Within an hour we had the cake decorated with raspberries and spearment leaves and we were off to the Rogue Gorge! We picnic-ed outside Crater Lake National Park and then went on to the Gorge!












On the way back we went through Crater Lake and Mom, Teri, and Chisato got to see the Lake and we went through the restored Lodge! It was so breath taking we ended up having to rush back to the house to greet Caleb, Mike, and Oliver at 8 pm. Our "rehersal dinner" was speggetti and we had a house full! Mom, Teri, Signe and I then spent until Midnight making the table decorations! It was fun and everything turned out bueatiful - in the end!
Saturday at two o'clock we set to decorating the Pavillion. Four o'clock Signe and I rushed off to get dressed for the ceremony - at 5:30. We were a tad late (an extra song length) but we were pretty!









Everything except the weather was absolutally wonderful. We had grey skies and sprinkles during the ceremony and a wind blew most of the time. Everyone was bundled up by the end of dinner! I didn't feel particularly cold but did don a shawl on by cake cutting time!
There will be pictures posted on Flickr later this week... but for now know that we all enjoyed the day! We meant to have the singing Flamingo as a greeter but he was forgotten at the house in the final rush! Got to go to bed now. Tommorrow is a work day again.