First Post of 2013

Now that 2013 is more than half gone, a blog post is way overdue.  Lately, life has seemed to be mostly about planning, helping and maintaining ... with a couple of fun events thrown in for good measure.

We are planning for the possibility of adding a 1,000 sq. ft. mother-in-law apartment to our current property.  This is where John and I would live for the rest of our lives.  The apartment attaches to the back of our garage/barn and will be fully wheelchair accessible (if/when needed in the future).  The plan is to rent our current home to caretakers for when we travel. 

Rendering from architectural software.  There will also be a wrap-around covered
porch for cement slab.  (I could not show the covered porch with my software.) 
The barn is existing and the addition is toward the back of the property.

We started taking action to make this happen last winter.   In the process of having a new septic design drawn up, we found that we needed an easement for our current drain field.  Unfortunately, our neighbor hasn't been forthcoming with that easement despite a verbal agreement.  So, at this point, we are moving forward no faster than a herd of turtles with little more than architectural plans to show for our efforts.

John especially has been spending time helping his family in Yelm, taking his Dad to doctors' appointments and helping his Mom around the yard.  Then, in March, our brother-in-law Rick passed away after a heroic battle with colon cancer.  We joined with John's sister Laura, Rick's family, and his many friends and colleagues last month to celebrate his life at his Kelley Park Ranch in Yelm.  I was honored to help with the decorations, as John assisted with preparations and parking for the event.  I will always remember Rick with fondness and count it a privilege to have known him.

Rick Kelley (1954-2013)
Drawing by Chalene Swankie, July 2013

One of the past vacations we took with John's family was a cruise to Alaska.  So, it seemed fitting that the family take that same cruise again in June, with Rick with us in spirit.  For me, it was a happy reminder of his joy as he experienced Alaska grandeur and beauty for the first time.

Panorama of Misty Fjord outside of Ketchikan, AK.  June 14, 2013

This also seems to be the year of major improvements and maintenance around our home.  We installed a solar array on our south-facing barn/garage roof.  We estimate that it will provide about 1/3 of our current electrical needs and pay for itself in about 7 years (through electrical cost savings and federal & state incentives).  In addition, our house needed a new roof, as well as fresh stain and paint.  Other maintenance activities included some serious downsizing, garage sales, digitizing photos, and donations as we prepare to move into a smaller dwelling.

Solar array installed on our barn/garage in April 2013.

Last weekend, after more than a year in the making, some of my family traveled to Washington State for our summer picnic.  Traditionally, it's held in Southern California where I grew up.  But, this year, they came to our place in Washington State and camped out.  I really had a wonderful time with everyone -- including several of my brothers, cousins, a nephew and their families -- from 62yrs to 5wks old.  We just turned our property into a campground and said "make yourself at home" ... and they did!  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again at Thanksgiving time.



The part of my family that was here for our summer campout/picnic on July 28.
All related by blood or marriage on my mom's side
 -- brothers, nephew, cousins and their families.
 

The youngest, my great-niece Nona Rose,
meets the eldest, my 1st cousin John.  7/28/13

My husband John is enjoying his 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird (think "Smokey and the Bandit").  But, he wants to sell it so that he can eventually get the same car he had in high school, a 1968 Chevrolet Nova SS.  In addition, he still has his laying hens for eggs, and a smaller vegetable garden this year with corn, peas, squash, pumpkins and tomatoes.  I have a garden too, but I just seem to raise just enough strawberries to feed our resident slugs and snails :).  Except for staying in Yelm to help out with John's family, our RV has mostly remained parked.  I'm hoping to use it for travel and exploration soon.

John's current hotrod that he wants to sell.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/3958087408.html
"Smokey and the Bandit" -- 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird

I'm also happy to report that John's scans continue to come out clean almost 3 years after his cancer surgery.

The Holidays in Yelm

Yelm, Washington is where John's parents and his sister and husband live on some beautiful acreage in the shadow of Mt. Rainier.  It's a beautiful, pastoral setting ... perfect for a holiday gathering on Sunday.  Here are some pics --


  John with Grandsons Luke and Lane 

  Our hosts, Joyce & Bill (John's Parents) in the background, 
 watching their great grand kids, Chole, Luke & Lane, opening presents
  (also Shene & Sean, helping daughter Chole open presents) 



  Chole  
with her Aunt Cheyanna ...

... while Mom Shene, Dad Sean, Uncle Billy,
Grandma Cindy, Great Grandma Joyce,
and Great Grandpa Bill look on 



  Our Grandsons, Lane & Luke, thanking Great Grandpa Bill for their gifts 
   while Great Grandma Joyce looks on 

  Grandson Luke playing with his new RC car as Grandson Lane looks on 

  Great Uncle Rick with newest family member Chole 



  Laura (John's sister) and husband Rick, also our hosts for the day 



  Posing for pics -- newphew Billy, daughter Echo, brother-in-law Rick, 
Rick's sister Theresa, Rick's brother Mike, and Rick's Mom Jean --
  all long-time family friends 



  A wide angle look at the goings-on` (learning to use this feature on my new smart phone) 
From left to right - husband John (foreground), John (I think, in background, Theresa's husband),
Douglas (Chole's grandfather), Cindy (Chole's grandmother), Sean (Chole's Dad),
Chole being held by Shene (our niece, Chole's Mom), Billy (our nephew),
Bill (John's Dad), Cheyanna (Billy's wife),
Luke (our grandson moving around), Lane (our grandson),
  Echo (our daughter and Lane & Luke's mom), Rick (our brother-in-law) 

  Daughter Echo with her Grandpa

We were glad to be able to be with everyone.  The food was good and the company was better.  Also, we can't forget to say how happy we are for the Seahawk's decisive win that put them into the playoffs ... Go Hawks!

2012 Thanksgiving On The Road

John and I gave our new-to-us RV a real test for the Thanksgiving holiday. In the span of 12 days, we drove almost 3,000 miles round trip from our home in Washington State to Southern California. The RV ran like a champ, but is a real gas hog at an average 10 MPG.


Prep'ing for the trip ... 2001 Adventurer by Slumber Queen, 20' Class C

We were typically on the road by 11 AM and at a campground before dark. We spent our nights at a variety of places – a National Forest Service campground, 2 Oregon State Parks (Champoeg & Valley of the Rogue), a Riverside County Park, Seven Feathers Casino, and a private RV park.  We even got a chance to overnight with a traveling friend near where I grew up in Orange County (thanks VJ!). John preferred driving while I served as the navigator, and the cheapest-fuel-and-campground finder.



Traveling Dog Gretchen, sleeps except when on the
lookout for John and I when we leave her to watch the RV.
We need to work with her some more to help her with
separation anxiety.

Birdie traveled amazingly well ... she's
happy as long as she's with her flock.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My family (brothers and cousins) celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday on the Saturday before in Southern California. About 20 of us gathered at the home of my 2^nd cousin Donna. This is the first holiday where my generation is the eldest after the passing of Aunt Opal in August. We remember those that came before by using their serving dishes and vases from past Thanksgivings. We continued their traditions of silliness and laughter – debating just the right amount of vanilla for the whipped cream salad, throwing the dinner rolls, and a newer tradition of initiating new attendees with large spoon fulls of whipped cream.

A Vase that my Mom would put out for special occasions. 
One of many ceramic pieces made by Great Aunt Minnie
 for her nieces and their families

Loading the table with food ... with the
famous whipped cream salad in the fore.

Initiation of 2 new attendees ... a large spoon full of
whipped cream salad each delivered by cousin John



On our way back north we had an early Christmas with 9yo Grandson Jasper in Klamath Falls. It was fun to watch him and 3yo Shay open their gifts, share some pizza, and catch up on hugs, pictures and hear about some of the fun stuff that they've been doing.

 

Cool pic of Jasper with one of the drivers from the monster
truck show in Klamath Falls.  It was fun to watch the
videos and see the pictures of the event.
(picture from Dad Cameron's facebook page)

We made it back to Yelm, WA where we celebrated Thanksgiving Day with John's family and had lots more yummy food. We were able to park the RV outside of John's parent's home, drive it over to his sister Laura's for dinner, and then overnight again at John's parents so that we could take a leisurely drive back home the next day.

A tradition to visit Fall City Farms for
pumpkins and gourds for
Thanksgiving Centerpieces

All in all I feel very blessed to spend so much time with family, very full of good food, and very happy to be traveling with John.

Fall City Farms