AARRGGHHHHHH!!!!

So I finally gave in and got BI-FOCALS! Yeah, how sad is that! I have reading glasses but I always forget to take them with me (probably a denial thing) so I decide to get graduated lenses. HELLO CAN YOU SAY DIZZY??? I have to move my head, which isn't natural for those of us who were born Beardall's. They told me the more I wear them the more I would get used to them, so far I'm just getting more used to seeing everything else out of focus!

The young guy that helped me pick the frames said these were "hip", but I feel like a school marm or something. It will take some getting used too...

Quirks - Tagged!

Wow, I only get to list 6???

1. I'm always counting in my head, number of steps, number of everything, it drives me nuts sometimes.

2. Men driving mini vans set me off! Why would a guy think he can pull off cool when he's driving a family barge??

3. I always find money on the ground and all coins must go in my left shoe. I think I have a nickel in there right now.

4. I can't get rid of old stuff, I feel like I am the keeper of all ancient history. I feel like everything has a spirit or a soul and should be taken care of.

5. I have to stop and look at snakes in the road. Mostly to see if they are dead or alive and to make sure they aren't rattlesnakes.

6. I'm superstitious....

I'll leave the tag open to anyone who hasn't been tagged but what's a go at it!

Over the River and Through the Woods....

Just a couple more shots of the Devenish homestead...

A Trip to Grandma's House

When we were just little kids, Grandma and Grandpa Dev lived in this home in Springville. It has recently come onto the market and a grandious dream I've always had is to own this house. It was fun to go in and look around. It seemed so much bigger when I was so much littler! The one big disappointment was that the trap door to Grandma's cellar had been covered over. I always wondered what was down there. She alway told us we couldn't go down because there were BIG spiders! But I could remember seeing her with an apron on in the kitchen, the red rose linoleum on the floor and the smell of coffee brewing. The big old heater in the living room with the big pink rug and grandpa's library where he would give us candy if we'd been good. Remember the cigarette tree? And running around on the lawn with our cousins, Stephen and Brian with Cherries draped over their ears pretending they were earrings?

The bonus for me though was getting mom to tell us stories on this trip, she put a time line and locations to stories we had heard bits and pieces of over the years. She told us about her sister Sue, I can't imagine how hard that memory has been to live with, but can feel how devasting that memory is and how difficult it would be to lose a sister. Love you mom and thanks for sharing your stories and memories. I hope you'll tell me more.

It was a fun weekend with many peaks and valleys. I'm so grateful for my family, even when we are so dysfunctional it is hard to remember why. I'm grateful for my place in this world and for the opportunity to have such close relationships with different members of my family, it is rewarding and it certainly fills up the space where I hoped my own family would be.

I'm accepting contributions towards the "Restore the Devenish homestead" project!

Winter Wonder Land

The first real snow of the season, what an incredible day!

A Super Man? I sure hope so...

Yea, by now you've heard the speech over and over again. You've seen the historic images, felt the sting and the pride of being an American. As I watched the election returns last night, then the concession speech and then the victory speech, it struck me how lucky I am to be an American. No where else on earth do you see the gracious, peaceful exchange of power. I was impressed that after a hard fought campaign, that both men were gracious and supportive of each other and of our country. It made me stop and check my own attitude at that very moment and something inside me just snapped to attention. The hard part really starts today, this moment, this instant. The campaign, although it seemed rigorous and draining, was only a small warm up to what lies ahead. We can choose to waste time feeling sorry, upset or angry at the outcome, but it doesn't change the fact that the country is in a really bad place and it has to get moving, regardless of who ended up in the white house. I don't envy the work that needs to get done, it would be a job that most people would run away from.

For me personally, I know I will find a way to thrive regardless of the situation and regardless of the political landscape. The blessing that comes from adversity is strength of character. The victory is sweeter when you have to work harder. It's all about what you choose to do with the things you can control. I do like the idea of people getting outside of themselves to take care of others, whether it is families, friends, community or strangers.

So I guess my advice to myself and others today is "BUCK UP" just get in there and get it done.

Thanks John for your service to our country!