The holidays are coming, so thought I'd better do a wrap on Fall before it's winter. This was a funny year for weather...it got very cold, very quickly. Normally, I'm still harvesting tomatoes into October, but by the end of September, the garden was kaput. Disappointing as I would have loved to continue to enjoy BLT's to Halloween. My zucchini plant also died (squash bugs victorious) so I didn't get to enjoy many of those (maybe my neighbors weren't disappointed?).
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End of Season, chili sauce made!
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I was able to attend the funeral services for Woody Shipp, a long ago Portland friend, with long-time friends, Os and Hope Hyde and Janet Pollei.
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| Os, Hope, Me and Janet |
Through my daughter Alisa, I've become acquainted with Paola Bidinelli Giusti, an artist and performer who recently opened up an art/performing art studio (Bianco Avant-garde). I attended one of the first art/yoga workshops. We actually did an exercise to create the abstract painting that is pictured. It was interesting to be the one to make the first stoke of paint on a blank canvas. When we come to earth, we are all blank canvases and our living life paints our individual pictures. Interesting exercise! I am definitely not an artist (the worst grade I ever got in school was a C+ in art, so I avoided it after that).
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| Me, ? Alisa, Paola |
I have been playing tennis with a great group of ladies, and sometimes we do other things. We went to see "Downton Abbey" and enjoyed an after movie dinner.
Next on my agenda was a trip to Arizona and then on to Newport Coast California.. The weather was perfectly delightful and we enjoyed lots of tennis and the beach, and just a good time with my son Rob, and his family. We were able to watch Megan Peterson (grand niece) in a water polo match and later played tennis with Brian and Jen. Mike Peterson (a good friend of Rob's...and our family when we lived in Oregon) has moved to California, so came by for a visit. With all this plus good food and fun games, it was a great trip!
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| Tosh, Tamsen, Me, Liv, Hewitt, Truman, Rob, and Burke at Crystal Cove |
Back with my tennis friends again, we gathered to celebrate the 80th birthday of Sherry Young. Anna and Karen did a fun musical number and entertained the group (and customers) as we breakfasted at Kneaders.
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| Patcee, Sherry (with her birthday t-shirt), Eloise, Juana (front), Me, Anna, Kathy (back) |
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Juana, Anna, Karen, Kathy, Me, Melanie, Patcee,
DawnAnne, Sherry, Eloise |
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| Sherry with the star performers, Anna and Karen |
In Provo, it seems we are at the crossroads with lots of people coming and going. Some of them stay with me for a bit, sometimes very briefly. Some of Sue's in-laws, the Lawlors, were bringing their daughter to the MTC for a mission. I was lucky to have them for the eve of that special event.
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| Kara Lawlor and Me just before she heads to the MTC |
The last weekend of October, I headed back to the Northwest; first to where I served my mission in Auburn and Kent Washington, and then on to Portland for a few more days. It's been about 4-1/2 years since I served there so was fun to see people I had grown to love and care about. The main reason for the trip was the temple sealing of a young couple, along with their two children. Mary Angelica (Angel) Laborce and Rowland Quinit, My friend (wife of our Branch Mission Leader, Brian), Robin Avery, picked me up from the airport and took good care of me.
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| Tristan and Carla, Angel and Rowland after sealing |
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| Rowland and Angel with Carla and Tristan |
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| Supporters of the Rowland Quinit Family inside and outside the temple |
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| Me outside temple with beautiful fall colors |
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| Robin Avery and me doing a "selfie" at the temple |
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Dinner party included a pig about to be butchered by
Allan Laborce, brother to Angel |
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| Brian, Robin and Me enjoying great Marshallese food at the party. |
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| Me and Cathy Davis (one of Angel's sisters) |
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| Rumi Domenden with son, John |
The next Sunday, I went to church at the Clark Lake Ward. I didn't get many pictures but gave hugs to several of the members who were there when I served my mission. After a nice lunch with Mike (Ward Mission Leader) and Sue Smith, I attended Sacrament meeting at the Olympic Branch and saw several more "old" friends. Had the opportunity (given by Richard Domenden) to share my testimony at the start of their meeting. It was wonderful to see them again.
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| Tiffany, Lashelle, Me and Linette |
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| Mike and Sue Smith and Me |
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| Me and Patty Corder (now in another ward) |
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| Me and Glenna Ennis |
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| Alice, Me, Glenna, Jawe |
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| Alice Milne, Susan Kalles (she gave me my crown), Me and Glenna |
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| The Women of the Branch: ?, LaLa, Alice, Rumi, Me, Jawe, Glenna |
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Halder Milne, now married to Alice, sister to Josephine
who passed away |
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| Aina and Marvin and their boys (had to wake up to snap photo) |
On to Portland! Quick visit with family and a lovely dinner with long-time friends. We celebrated our girls' birthdays for 21 years, as they were born a day apart: June 30, July 1 and July 2. Such fun memories!
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| Julie, Emily and me out for a walk on a beautiful fall day |
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We decided we're not the best at taking selfies, but we tried: Ed and Linda Stone
Me, Parker and Becky Fuhriman |
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| Spudnut making, ready for Halloween, resisting the urge to sample! |
A few days after I returned home, I was on the road again...and with people I met on my mission. One of the sisters I had served with (Linda Moreton) had passed away and I went with Mary Lance (her companion) and Lici (adopted informally) who lived in Kent but now resides with Mary, to the celebration of her life. Lici's brother and his wife had a baby they named after the two missionaries, Mary Mae. The services were in Meridian, Idaho.
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| Me and Mary Lance |
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| Lici and Me enjoying some Mexican food |
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Lici, Tiffany, Lashelle, Me, and Mary at the Celebration of
Linda's life. She was a wonderful woman! |
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| We remember Sister Moreton |
The last thing I did for this posting was to go to a football game. I do live in Cougar town and when invited and the weather is decent, who can resist. They won, 31-24! The interesting thing about this picture is the photographer, Charles Carter, visiting from Oregon. He's the father of my granddaughter-in-law, Kenzie, and happened to be sitting on our same row. Doug and Mary Smith were hosts for the event. Thanks for taking us!
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| Gloria Ruiz, Me, Mary and Doug Smith |
Life is good, busy but fun. Hope everyone is buttoning up and getting ready for winter. Love you!
