Monday, Monday!

It's been a busy week and a half, and yet I have enjoyed some laziness, too.  The past two Saturdays have been firewood-getting days.  Amazing to go to the same spot two weeks in a row an notice how dramatically the colors change (or disappear in the case of falling leaves)!

From the 13th - a beautiful sunny day when Pop, Daniel, Tom, and I made quick work of loading the trucks - it felt great to be so active, except that I tripped on a small branch and tore back a fingernail.  Not one of my most graceful moments, but who needs fingernails when you're loading wood?

From this past Saturday, our way up wasn't blocked by cows or deer, but burros and their cute little burritos!

After we loaded Dave's truck, Tom handed me the chainsaw and told me to start cutting.  It was a lot of fun, though it is tough on a low back.  I felled two trees and then blocked them and some other wood besides.  It was fun, and I am grateful Tom snapped some pics.

Timber!  Tom actually took a series of shot, flip book style, where you can watch the tree fall if you can flip through them fast enough.

In other news we've been spending QT with family and each other.  A week ago our Ministerial Alliance held a fiesta, and my dance partner showed up to sweep me off my feet.  The music of Amistad was terrific, and though we didn't polka, I loved every minute of it and laughed a great deal, too.  I also got to hang out with my nieces and nephew, who showed me the bear that was hanging out in Miami last Thursday.  He was treed early in the morning, and when we came home from school, he was still there.

It's a little blurry because he picked a good spot to hide, and nobody wants to get too close and risk that bear deciding to get down.  Andres took the shot for me, and you can see the bear's head and ear above the branch and good dangling below.

And while it is a Monday, things are a-okay.  Much to do, but what's new?!? 

Birthday Party!

The fall is the season of birthdays - every other week it seems! We gathered Wednesday evening to celebrate all eleven years of Miss Maya.

the meeting of the minds

little sisters excited for the birthday girl

someone enjoyed the attention

blowing out the candles

still blowing out the candles - oh yes, they were trick candles,

and why did I sit right where the smoke was being blown?  blech!

having practiced only four weeks earlier,

this one remembered what to do with the frosting

Do I know how to rest?

I haven't decided if I squandered my free day last Wednesday or not - I sure didn't rest as much as I would have liked.  I kind of felt guilty about being home while Thomas worked (which I totally shouldn't have since he had Columbus Day off, and I didn't), so while I did sleep in, I tried to get a bunch of stuff done.

I chopped up some old hot dog buns for stuffing and made bread pudding with them.  I baked a couple loaves of bread and a big pan of potatoes and veggies for breakfast burritos.  I got two loads of laundry done, and I also split a ton of wood.  We borrowed the splitter from Mom and Pop the evening before, so I put in a few hours doing that.  I did read a little, too, but then after splitting wood, I scrubbed the shower and cleaned the bathrooms.  In truth it was nice to have these things done.

Saturday we built our first fire after getting wood - the house was 53 degrees!  I curled up on a blanket in front of the fire to try to rest, though it wasn't so comfortable.  Sunday, I had an even better idea - after lunch I pulled the futon pad onto the floor in front of the fire and curled up for a two hour nap.  So did someone else.  I got up first and tried to get evidence that I do know how to rest!  And it's so much nicer to get to rest together...

Playtime in the woods

I know most probably think of gathering firewood as hard work and a chore, but I enjoy our trips so much - not that I haven't mentioned that a ton, I know.  We missed a weekend of woodcutting while in Portland, but we jumped right back in on Saturday.  Tom's chainsaw is still down, but there was plenty of work loading up the trucks.  Oh yeah, and entertaining Sofia. 

Well, Tom's saw worked for a few cuts

 Sara and Maya's fort was still standing from the weekend before and kept them busy

 the "fog" never lifted - which I think means they're really clouds

Mom was in the back of the truck loading

 Marie's action shot - throwing the logs David cut

 no mist or cloud can penetrate this sunny smile

Andres, Daniel, Julie, and Pop were too far away with the mist and clouds to get any pictures without taking an even longer break from loading, and I really like schlepping the wood to the truck.  Maybe this weekend I can capture their hard work, too.  Fingers crossed, the pieces Tom got from the hardware store this week will restore his chainsaw to power, and he'll be cutting this Saturday, too! 

the rest of the story - nearly sans pictures

It feels like light years away that we were away from our desks and enjoying Oregon.  I guess that's just how slow of a storyteller I can be.

The highlights from our trip would be best captured in picture, but it wasn't meant to be.  After heading to Denver Wednesday evening, Betty put us up for the night only after schooling us both in Yahtzee - I knew she would.  Wednesday we headed for the airport bright and early to land in Portland, OR to sunshine right on time!  Highlight: seeing all of Mount Hood as we came in - no clouds, no snow - really a spectacular sight!

My dad quickly whisked us off to the Bear Hut, where we got to see all the work they have been doing - beautiful wood and slate walls, new windows...maybe we can stay longer on our next trip.  From there we took my dad out for a belated birthday lunch - note to self: sushi is probably more exciting than Lebanese food for him.  And then finally we arrived at the Ford residence - the Nick & Jen Ford residence.  Drew was trying to fall asleep while eating, but I did get to hold him for a few moments.  Six weeks old - so tiny!  Then we made it to the other Ford residence - the one I grew up in.  After settling in and visiting with Mom, Tom and I crossed the street to see if we could walk home with the Dieringer girls.  Naturally, Monica took to Tom with dreamy eyes and talked with him the whole way home.  After asking how Mia liked her new school, she talked my ear off the whole way home about who her friends are and how there are only three boys in the whole class - a motormouth as I have never seen her be!  At their house the kids went outside to play, and I was blessed to find a comfortable seat on the couch with Nathaniel - only 9 days old!  Thursday evening we finally got to see Auggie and Michelle and Miki and Marty at the rehearsal dinner - had to wait till Friday to see Ollie.  A fun surprise was the arrival of his godparents, who I have stayed with in California the last couple of years with my mom.  It was great to see them!

Friday morning Mom and I went to get our nails done for the wedding, and then we scooped up Maddie for some grocery shopping and party prep.  The boys headed to Costco and other shopping.  Maddie and I got to hang out in the kitchen getting ready for the family bbq in the evening, and I enjoyed hearing tales of fourth grade.  After she left, Ollie arrived.  We played and played, but he also showed off his walking skills.  Too much fun!  The BBQ was fun - lots of family and friends.

Saturday we got up early to go see Maddie play soccer on the other end of town.  Cousin Jake joined us, and we all had a ball cheering on the girls.  Ollie was more interested in the flag his dad was waving - of course, Marty got pulled in as a linesman for the game.  It was fun, though cold.  We still had time before we had to be home, so Tom, Jake, and I popped in to Martha and Mary Ministries' Hospice Home - aka Grandma and Grandpa's house.  It was neat to see the new waterfall in the backyard and to meet a family whose wife/mother was residing there.  Such an affirmation that it was meant to be! 

Of course the wedding was a blast, and we got home exhausted.  Sunday morning it started all over again with family brunch after mass.  Auggie and Michelle came to open presents and hang out.  It was good to see them one more time.  Tom finally caught his breath that afternoon when there was nothing left to do.  We had some time together - went and bought the camera that couldn't capture the pictures of earlier fun.  We enjoyed a quieter dinner - only 9 of us, before retiring back at the house for a movie.

The best part of being in Portland is spending time with family!  Can't wait for the next trip!

"pictures of the end of our trip" or more likely "playing with a new camera":

Ollie after a good nap and Mommy after a great walk with her sister

 playtime on the deck - nothing beats splashing in a nalgene of water

 mom and dad's garden still in bloom!

 leisurely catching up on the news on a Sunday afternoon

- rockem sockem robots -

a favorite toy of the boys when visiting Grandma and Grandpa

Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!

Weddings are a joyous and festive occasion.  In a big family, not a year goes by when someone doesn't get married.  Sadly, it has gotten harder and harder to travel to them all.  Of course we wouldn't have missed the wedding last Saturday for anything - the groom was my brother!

Being a sister of the groom, I wasn't terribly involved in the planning or ceremony, so I got to hold Tom's hand and cry happy tears as I watched Auggie make and receive the promises of love and life.  Michelle, who I look forward to getting to know better, is a sweetheart from high school college days, and by the grace of God their paths crossed once again (and I knew before the rest of the family and didn't blow Auggie's secret - to everyone's surprise but my own).  The wedding mass was beautiful - held at Holy Family like the rest of my siblings.  Nick and Cole stood up for Auggie, and Miki, Marty, and I were lectors.  It was absolutely lovely.

 the Ford family: Nick & Jen, Cole & baby Drew -

I was fortunate to get to hold Drew while his mommy helped his older brother behave for pictures.  We had a good time feeding, burping, and bouncing around.  He was such a sweet guy for me.

The beauty of a wedding at Holy Family is that the Ford house is just a block away, so there was lots of back and forth before and then after the wedding.  And the weather was gorgeous September sunshine, so half a dozen cars were parked in the Henderson "parking lot" instead of at church.  We got ourselves together after the mass and then drove downtown for the party!  The food and music were terrific, and much fun was had, maybe even too much, but those pictures are not included.  Everyone in my family went home sweaty from dancing so much, and it's taken nearly a week for my feet to recover from dancing in heels.



 Tom, Miki, and Marty - we kept one corner of the dance floor hopping all evening long

 I am sure Miki, Mom, and I are whispering about who taught Nick to dance - he gets the wild prize, though Marty always steals the show with his breakdance moves

Miki, Abba, and I had a little rockettes thing going or something

Marty and Miki, such emotive dancers, are hiding Tom and I, or maybe just hiding little ol' me; is she grabbing his tie?

finally, a slow song to gaze up into Tom's eyes and remember when...

The night really was just a blast.  Mom, with Tom's tech-spertise, put together a really nice slide show of pictures, including some high school prom and fraternity social pictures.  Miki and I put in a request for a sister-groom dance, which was really nice.  Goodness knows why Jen was the only one besides the photographer taking pictures, but credit goes to her for all of these shots.

And now the people who the day was all about . . .

Auggie and Michelle Ford!!

We all pranced out into the cool evening, and street-side in downtown Portland made a canopy of sparklers for them to pass under on their way to their first night of wedded bliss.  Of course a little snafu getting the bag to take to the hotel meant we got a couple more moments of laughter, hugs, and smiles:

To brothers!

To sisters!

Dinner Bell or ???

Thomas and I traveled back to Portland for my brother's wedding last week.  It was a wonderful trip, but living in Miami means the trip takes a while to get started.

My dad was terribly confused when I called Tuesday after work lamenting that his weather forecast hadn't arrived.  Yes, I know there are a ton of internet sites that will tell you the weather in Portland, but not having looked at them, I made the call.  He wasn't expecting a call so early, since he wouldn't be picking us up from the airport until Thursday morning (and my family is not particularly known for packing early).  But life 300 miles from the airport means the trip starts EARLY. 

Tuesday evening we packed our bags, as we would leave straight from work Wednesday for Denver, stay the night at a friend's, and leave early Thursday morning for the airport.  I took off for Marie's to purchase a few of Sara's tie-dyed onesies - gifts for our new nephew and cousin.  A storm rolled in, and I waited for the rain to let up before running to the car and getting home.  At the same time, in an effort to ready the house for our disappearance, Tom made a scrumptious meal, using up much of the produce that needed eating. 

Just after I arrived home, he was dishing up the noodles, and the phone rang.  Pop started telling me about the best way to get to the site, and it took me a few moments to catch on that he was calling in ahead of the page to respond to a fire.  The fish was laid neatly across the pasta, and the pager went off.  We were so close to sitting down to dinner, but it would have to wait.

In truth, the fire probably would have waited if we wanted to eat - but I would never take my responsibility so lightly.  Lightning struck near the base of the mesa and set a yucca cactus on fire.  The rains that followed the lightning quickly contained the fire, but that cactus could smoke!  Tom, Daniel, and I arrived on the scene with Pop already there.  In the time it took all of us to arrive on the scene, Tom hiked up and radioed that it was already out.  Daniel and I hiked up with shovels and broke the cacti apart and dug into the dried grasses around them to make sure there weren't any problematic cinders below. 

It was a quick call, and we were gone little more than an hour, and then the dinner bell rang.

Opportunity???

There is more to post about our adventures of the last week - namely a trip to Portland for my brother's wedding.  It really was a fantastic trip - lots of quality time with my family and many moments of tenderness with my nephews and little cousins. 

 

But this post is about my fortune: "OPPORTUNITY AWAITS YOU ON NEXT TUESDAY."  I received this fortune in my cookie at dinner on Sunday night.  The jury was out about whether this was a reference to THIS Tuesday or NEXT Tuesday, and today being Tuesday, I have kept an eye out for opportunities.

 

After leaving work last week on a somewhat sour note, I wasn't thrilled to see my boss today.  However, he offered me the "opportunity" to stay home and rest tomorrow because I am so tired today.  (We left my parents' home at 5 am and arrived at our own at 10:30 pm - yes, I am a bit tired today.)  Could this be the opportunity that awaits me?  With my Sunday hours and long Mondays, I have the comp time, so I am going to take this opportunity!