Nothing says Merry Christmas from California like beautiful flowers, sunglasses and a straw hat!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Christmas Card Photo 2011
Nothing says Merry Christmas from California like beautiful flowers, sunglasses and a straw hat!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
My Grandparents' House: Upstairs
My Grandpa was the only owner of their house. It didn't change much during my life.
The funny thing is that if I were to buy a house like this now I'd totally want to update everything. Since it's my grandparents' house, though, I want it to stay this way forever! I told EG my worst fear is someone like ME buying the house and changing everything.
There were lots of photos that he took framed through out the house
Gotta love the shag carpet! My nephews had a BLAST running up and down these stairs, lol
The kitchen. I always picture my grandpa sitting on the counter by the dishwasher while my Grandma makes toast.
The Living Room
The funny thing is that if I were to buy a house like this now I'd totally want to update everything. Since it's my grandparents' house, though, I want it to stay this way forever! I told EG my worst fear is someone like ME buying the house and changing everything.
It was also quite fascinating that they had carpet in their kitchen lol
Somewhere there's a photo of us kids sleeping on the floor in this room. I think I was like 4.
Love the lines on these chairs.
My Grandpa's Penguin Collection
There were lots of pictures of the grand kids in this room
For some reason when I think of my grandparents' house I always think of these birds
Love the lines on the couch, too
Apparently my love of red came from somewhere... Don't you just dig the red carpet?? lol
Upstairs bathroom (excuse the mess please)
Love this painting
These lights are teh awesome
You are looking at my Grandpa's laundry chute. It drops straight down in to the basement laundry room. You have NO idea how much we loved that as kids!
And the second bedroom. Notice the blue carpet in this one.
Please excuse the clutter
That completes our tour of the upstairs. Stay tuned for more shag carpet when we tour the basement!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A Celebration of Life
Grandpa's service
July 7, 2011
We placed the flowers from the service in the Masoleum
Honor Guard and 21 Gun Salute
I had no idea that this would be as touching for me as it was. My grandpa never really talked much about his time in the service so to me it wasn't a big part of who he was. However, once the bugler began playing Taps, the tears were flowing freely.We did not decide to include the military honors until just a few days before the service. Many, MANY thanks go out to the men who came to perform this service for my Grandpa and my family.
Because my Grandpa loved butterflies and spent so much time photographing them,
we did a butterfly release at the cemetery following the military ceremony.
Guns and Butterflies!
We released Painted Ladies
My Grandpa
Cracker Barrel July 2005
This is what I read at my Grandpa's memorial service
July 7, 2011
My Grandpa
I only had one Grandpa, so it’s easy to say that he was my favorite. But, I’ve always thought that because I only had one Grandpa, God gave me an extra special one. Despite living far away from us, Grandpa always made time to make sure that we knew we were loved. Sometimes that was making sure our visits were extra special, sometimes it was mailing us a newspaper article and sometimes it was buying candy bars for our school fundraisers… and letting us keep the candy.
I remember when I was about 4 years old he took me and my brothers on a bus ride to the mall, where we had lunch. To this day I have a special place in my heart for buses because of that simple trip. It wasn’t that we went anywhere great or that we did anything spectacular it was that it was just us and our Grandpa. That’s just the first memory I have of many great outings we did together, though it’s probably my favorite.
When I was five or six my Grandma taught me to tie shoes, but it was my Grandpa who endured me sitting at his feet for hours, untying and retying his giant shoes. He had endless patience when it came to us kids, it seems, even when we were endlessly underfoot, following him around while he fixed things. Grandpa could fix ANYthing, or so we thought.
When I came up to visit one year he took me out to Pompey’s Pillar to see where William Clark carved his name in to the rock. He was really excited to take me, and we had a lot of fun that day. He would often mention that visit during the past several years. In 2004 the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Stamp came out. He decided that I HAD to have that stamp, including the special envelope that was given out for the First Day of Issue. Despite the fact that he was nearly blind by this time and no longer driving it became his mission to find me this stamp. It took him a while to track it down, often asking friends who were visiting neighboring towns to go and look at the post office for him. He was so proud when he was finally able to send it to me. I have it framed in my house, a reminder of how much my Grandpa loved me and how simple acts can show a great deal of love.
He always remembered each of our birthdays. There was always a card, a birthday check and a phone call. Phone calls might not seem like such a big deal now in the days of cell phones but when we were kids that phone call was not just long distance but also only OUR call. We loved not having to share the phone with anyone, getting to talk to Grandma and Grandpa for just a little by ourselves. Grandpa continued to call us even when we were adults. When we got married he included our spouses in the card and birthday check tradition. My husband was really touched the first year we were married when a check showed up in the mail for him.
Christmases were always Grandma and Grandpa Time. They would fly or drive down and spoil us rotten. When we were kids and would dutifully troupe over to give him a thank you hug he would often quip “What’d I get you?” After my grandma passed, Grandpa never missed a Christmas. He always sent the cards and checks to my mom so that we could open them all together on Christmas Day.
It’s impossible to talk about my Grandpa without talking about my Grandma. My Grandpa adored my Grandma. When my Grandma’s paper weights were stolen, Grandpa walked around the pawn shops for months before finally finding them for her. When she got sick he was her primary caregiver for a long time. My mom would call to check on things and my Grandpa would say that he was taking care of his “Little One.” I asked Grandpa a few weeks ago how long he and Grandma were married and he replied “Forty-four years” “Wow,” I said “That’s a long time” “Not long enough,” was his response.
I think of him now, with her. He’s probably sitting on a counter, drinking his black coffee, while she stands next to him making her perfect toast. I am glad that he is with God and has been made whole and strong again, and that one day we will all be together again in heaven.
I remember when I was about 4 years old he took me and my brothers on a bus ride to the mall, where we had lunch. To this day I have a special place in my heart for buses because of that simple trip. It wasn’t that we went anywhere great or that we did anything spectacular it was that it was just us and our Grandpa. That’s just the first memory I have of many great outings we did together, though it’s probably my favorite.
When I was five or six my Grandma taught me to tie shoes, but it was my Grandpa who endured me sitting at his feet for hours, untying and retying his giant shoes. He had endless patience when it came to us kids, it seems, even when we were endlessly underfoot, following him around while he fixed things. Grandpa could fix ANYthing, or so we thought.
When I came up to visit one year he took me out to Pompey’s Pillar to see where William Clark carved his name in to the rock. He was really excited to take me, and we had a lot of fun that day. He would often mention that visit during the past several years. In 2004 the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Stamp came out. He decided that I HAD to have that stamp, including the special envelope that was given out for the First Day of Issue. Despite the fact that he was nearly blind by this time and no longer driving it became his mission to find me this stamp. It took him a while to track it down, often asking friends who were visiting neighboring towns to go and look at the post office for him. He was so proud when he was finally able to send it to me. I have it framed in my house, a reminder of how much my Grandpa loved me and how simple acts can show a great deal of love.
He always remembered each of our birthdays. There was always a card, a birthday check and a phone call. Phone calls might not seem like such a big deal now in the days of cell phones but when we were kids that phone call was not just long distance but also only OUR call. We loved not having to share the phone with anyone, getting to talk to Grandma and Grandpa for just a little by ourselves. Grandpa continued to call us even when we were adults. When we got married he included our spouses in the card and birthday check tradition. My husband was really touched the first year we were married when a check showed up in the mail for him.
Christmases were always Grandma and Grandpa Time. They would fly or drive down and spoil us rotten. When we were kids and would dutifully troupe over to give him a thank you hug he would often quip “What’d I get you?” After my grandma passed, Grandpa never missed a Christmas. He always sent the cards and checks to my mom so that we could open them all together on Christmas Day.
It’s impossible to talk about my Grandpa without talking about my Grandma. My Grandpa adored my Grandma. When my Grandma’s paper weights were stolen, Grandpa walked around the pawn shops for months before finally finding them for her. When she got sick he was her primary caregiver for a long time. My mom would call to check on things and my Grandpa would say that he was taking care of his “Little One.” I asked Grandpa a few weeks ago how long he and Grandma were married and he replied “Forty-four years” “Wow,” I said “That’s a long time” “Not long enough,” was his response.
I think of him now, with her. He’s probably sitting on a counter, drinking his black coffee, while she stands next to him making her perfect toast. I am glad that he is with God and has been made whole and strong again, and that one day we will all be together again in heaven.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Rothfuss Book Signing
E.G and I got to meet one of our favorite authors, Patrick Rothfuss, last night. Such fun!
E.G. got there at 1 pm (signing started at 7 pm) so we were in the front row for the reading/ Q&A session before the signing. Rothfuss arrived a bit early so he actually signed our books first and posed for pictures!
He really liked his Lesbian Unicorn Pegasus Kitten
And by way of explanation: http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2010/07/lesbian-unicorns/ and unicornpegasuskitten.com
And he was even nice to pose for a picture with me!
E.G. got there at 1 pm (signing started at 7 pm) so we were in the front row for the reading/ Q&A session before the signing. Rothfuss arrived a bit early so he actually signed our books first and posed for pictures!
And by way of explanation: http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2010/07/lesbian-unicorns/ and unicornpegasuskitten.com
And he was even nice to pose for a picture with me!
And he posed for one with Joh, too.
And then he talked and answered questions for about an hour. It was great fun!
And when he read he read from Joh's book. She was really happy about that!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Uncle Perry
My Uncle passed away unexpectedly Nov. 11, 2010.
I didn't get to spend a lot of time with him because he lived in Montana and I grew up in California but I do remember nice visits with him when we did go up to visit, and the time he came down for my brother's wedding. That visit was when we all started calling him "Grandma with a mustache" because he reminded us so much of her!
I remember that he was a good listener, and that he was always thrilled to see us.
I will also never forget the amount of time and effort he put in to making sure my Grandpa was well cared for, or how much he loved my Grandma and helped take care of her when she was sick.
R.I.P, Perry. You are loved and missed!
I didn't get to spend a lot of time with him because he lived in Montana and I grew up in California but I do remember nice visits with him when we did go up to visit, and the time he came down for my brother's wedding. That visit was when we all started calling him "Grandma with a mustache" because he reminded us so much of her!
I remember that he was a good listener, and that he was always thrilled to see us.
I will also never forget the amount of time and effort he put in to making sure my Grandpa was well cared for, or how much he loved my Grandma and helped take care of her when she was sick.
R.I.P, Perry. You are loved and missed!
The sign outside of the restaurant he managed for many years
The front of the chapel
Perry's favorite candy was M&Ms
Photos of Perry and my mom growing up, along with letters written by his friends
Perry had a love for animals so we displayed this blanket. We also requested that in lieu of flowers people donate to the Billings Animal Shelter or an animal charity of their choice. My mom dropped off the donation to the animal shelter and said the people there were touched by the gift.
The sign outside the casino owned by his dear friend Karen
“I Wish You Enough”
(provided for funeral by friend of Perry’s)
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys
Appear bigger
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess
I wish you enough “Hellos” to get you through the final “Goodbye”
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