An Unusual Christmas

I've spent a few years trying to establish traditions with our California family, especially at Christmas.  We had certain things that we did on Christmas Eve, like acting out the nativity, and certain things we did on Christmas Day, like a big brunch and a talent night.  It was such fun!  But since we have moved to Idaho that has, of course, changed.  Layne and I spent our Christmas Eve with friends and Christmas morning alone with just the two of us.  So this Christmas had a couple of firsts:  a solo Christmas and a white one.  We drove through a beautiful snow fall on Christmas Eve on our way to our friends Roger and Marianne Wilcox.  Our Christmas offered us a beautiful view of white.

                                                        Our White Christmas morning.

                                                   Our Christmas morning selfie.

Me, modeling Audrey and Cliff's Christmas gift to me, a cosy shawl.  Love it.

I guess I didn't mind having such a quiet holiday; it was nice in its way.  Well, OK, I miss the crazy, wonderful Christmas season surrounded by family.  The good news is that Chris, Jes and family arrived Christmas night!  Then Audrey, Cliff and family came two days later!  So now our house and our holiday is full of...family!  I love it.

Grandson Miles brought his favorite Christmas gift, a motorized helicopter.  He and his dad, Chris, spent lots of time flying it outside.  It had a camera inside that could take pictures.  We were amazed when we put its chip into my computer to see the pictures it came up with.  Wow.  Then he lost it somewhere in the back field.  They looked for it into the night yesterday.  Cliff offered a family prayer that we could find it.  So, after Church today, we all lined up in the field and marched forward, thinking that if we covered enough ground someone would spot it.  We offered prayers once again. We searched for quite awhile but no luck.  Prayers unanswered.  I thought it was the perfect opportunity for Miles to experience the Lord's help and perhaps increase his faith.  But no dice.  I'm kinda mad at the Lord at the moment.  It seemed like such a good opportunity for this little non-member grandson.  It goes to one of my ponderings.  I know the Lord CAN answer prayers and CAN work miracles, but I don't know if He actually WILL.  So that compromises my faith in Him to some extent.  This is a prime example.  I knew He could inspire us to look in the right spot for the helicopter.  But He didn't.

Our whole gang, out in the back field, looking for the lost helicopter.

We are having fun together though.  Our tramp in the snow in search of the missing toy was fun.  And we did it together.  Both son-in-law Chris and brother-in-law Bob had birthdays yesterday.  We celebrated with Chris with a special request dinner and other favors.  He is such a fine man; I hope he knows how much we love having him in our family.  My greatest wish is to do right by this sweet family that God has given to us.  Chris and Jes leave tomorrow but Audrey and Cliff will be here, on and off, for almost another week.  I'm looking forward to each sweet moment.

The birthday boy, son-in-law Chris, with son Miles and daughter, Peyton.

Layne with daughter Jessica.  Do they look alike?

Three generations: me, granddaughter Gemma and daughter Jessica.

Grandson Isaiah gave me these led lighted earrings.  Have you ever seen anything like it?

Almost Christmas

We've been home from California for almost 2 weeks now.  It has been a blur of activity as we worked to get Christmas in our home and attend various activities.  I sang with my singing group for the last week of our concert performances.  Tonight we have our final performance, for friends and family.  I'm finding that I really like singing.  More than before.  I am even thinking of taking a singing lesson or two.

Richard and Carol Cadle, friends from our Fremont days, spent some time with us.  It was so fun to be with people who know our children and something of our history.  I miss that about here.  But there are lots of great people here and we are finding it pretty easy to make friends.

                                                          Richard and Carol Cadle.

                                                         Layne in Dick's crazy hat.

I really wanted to make a trip to Salt Lake before Christmas, to see our siblings and to see the Salt Lake Temple lights.  Layne was not enthused.  But I talked it up enough that he finally went along and we made a 48 hour road trip there this week.  We spent time with my sister Maryanne and hub Bob as well as Layne's twin brother Lynn and wife Camille.  I love being with family.  Bob and Maryanne took us to temple square to see the lights.  I never imagined that so many people could crowd onto the temple grounds.  It seemed like half of Salt Lake was taking in the lights!  But we pressed our way through the crowd and managed to see some pretty amazing lighting.  I loved it.  All except for the people.  Actually I like people, just not so many in one place.  On the night we chose to go.

We had a sweet time with Bob and Mar, then went to lunch with Lynn and Camille.  We loved being with them too.  I feel quite strongly that we need to spend more time with our Salt Lake family.  I'd love to drive there and spend a week or so just reconnecting with family and the many friends that have moved there over the years.  Maybe I can talk Layne into it.  Sometime.

I am more excited about Christmas this year since daughter Jessica and her family are coming.  Audrey and family will follow later in the week.  Family. Here.  At Christmas.  How could it be any better than that?

                                                               Temple Square lights.

                                                   Maryanne and me on Temple Square.

                                       Bob and Maryanne, with Layne in the background.

                                                                Lynn and Camille

The Temple Hill Nutcracker, 2014

It has been a busy, happy week.  I've lunched with friends, and we visited our Fremont neighbors.  I love seeing old friends.  I never stop loving them!  Perhaps the neighbors we were closest to when we lived in Fremont for so many years were Don and Jean Harmon, who lived right next door and had three girls close in age to our own.  Don was strong as an ox and very strong willed, with a good heart.  In recent times he has struggled with Parkinson's Disease.  Refusing medication for it, he preferred to try various home remedies.  His condition has worsened, burdening him with increasing tremors that have made it hard for him to function.  It was a shock to find that, in trying to visit them, we found them gone!  Their home was sold and now is for rent.  I could hardly take it in; we have been so used to them being there and felt it was somehow a permanent settling place for them.  According to another neighbor, Rodell Merrill, they moved to Colorado in August, to be near their daughters, who all live there.  That's a good idea, I'm thinking, but I'm sad that they didn't tell us they were leaving.  I thought we were closer than that.  I guess the shock amounts to that; we didn't know.

Our Nutcracker performances were this weekend.  So the week has been mostly filled with it.  It has been sweet to get acquainted with some new couples in our opening scene dancing group.  And there are more boys in the scene, including a couple of little brothers that became our "grandsons."  They quickly took to us, which was such a pleasant thing.  Dancing this year was relaxed and fun.  Much more so than in past years.  Perhaps because this is our fifth year and we know the dances so well.  Both of us were more comfortable than we have ever been before, making it more fun than ever before.  All the additional boys added quite a spirit to our opening party scene, as they scooted around, teasing and playing spontaneously.  The best part of the party scene is that spontaneity is OK.  It is only the following scenes that demand exactness.  Thank heavens it is not required of us.  So we had fun!

Some of our Nutcracker boys sit in the midst of the Party scene dancers.  They were full of mischief this year.

Both performances were to full houses.  Nutcracker begins the Christmas month on Temple Hill.  After each performance, people flood into the magical Christmas decorations that light the whole area.  It is like a fairly place, filling the air with happiness.  There are always old friends that we meet afterwards.  Our local family attended the Friday night performance, meeting us afterwards for chocolate milk and cookies.

Temple Hill at Christmas time.

Our Nutcracker is a quality affair.  Rachel and Cheoh Tan are the creators of it.  Rachel is a genius at creating a near professional performance by her dancing students.  It is always awe-inspiring to see what those young dancers can do.  Professional costumes and sets show them off to perfection.  She is also very good at getting the help she needs to make things happen.  Cheoh is a wonderful supporter of this very special event.  It is a blessing to all associated with it.  But it costs them, in time, stress and money.  I hope they too feel blessed by their gifts, so freely given to so many.  We will lunch with them today.  Our visit with them will probably determine whether we will return next year or not.  Layne is determined that we will not, but the magic of Rachel could possibly change his resolve.  We shall see!

Here is my dance partner, at rest.

A California Thanksgiving

I feel like I am in a fertile field of love and friendship.  Every day we spend here puts us in the way of people that we have known and loved for many years.  It is wonderful to remember that we have a history!  This past week has brought us several happy encounters with family and friends.

My theory in dealing with grown children is basically to keep my mouth shut, unless invited to give advice or suggestions.  I am trying to give only what is asked for, and only in small doses.  I feel like I can look at my children and grandchildren and see much more clearly now what mistakes I have made and what can be done to avoid them with grandchildren.  But I rarely speak of it.  I think that advice is generally poorly received unless requested or presented in the most positive light.

We did some family sealings at the Oakland Temple on Wednesday with Audrey and Cliff.  Our grandchildren, Scott and Allegra provided the names!  I was surprised to see that the Christmas lights were up, BEFORE THANKSGIVING!

I don't mean to suggest that I feel my grandchildren are poorly cared for.  On the contrary, I feel quite joyful about the parenting they are receiving and grateful that the older ones seem to be turning into such good, quality people.  So I have great hopes for the future of our Galbraith, Gendreau and Adams-Hart children.  I am trying to discover what it is that I can contribute to their welfare and have decided that, perhaps, my efforts should center around building family ties through family history, and building patriotism by giving them information about the principles of freedom.  And spending time with them and loving them too, of course.

We had a sweet connection with our Sunol neighbors, Bev and Ernie Trutner.  They are buying a home in Sonoma, which we visited with them this week.  Ernie is having all sorts of health problems and it saddened me to see his struggles.  He is a vibrant, muscular man with a heart of gold.  But he is having problems with balance and prostrate cancer.  He uses a walker now and cannot lift anything.  It is hard to see him diminished, but I have hopes that his condition will improve.  I know it is the time of life for physical decline but it is still hard to see, and harder to anticipate.  The spirit within me still says, "no, not me; I'm not going there."  But I suppose I will.  And I suppose that I will accept what must be.

I helped Jessica rearrange and reorganize the girls' bedroom on Monday.  It was such fun and I think they all liked the results.  We rearranged but didn't finish the reorganization of things.  But the groundwork was laid.  On Wednesday I made 5 pies with the BJ kids for Thanksgiving.  Jess' parents, John and Judy Ault, were there.  I really like them.  When we talk we blend.

Thanksgiving was at Ben and Jessica's.  All the local kids came so the house was packed.  But it was fun to be all together in a blend of chaos and cheer.  It is not hard to give thanks in such happy circumstances.  Everyone contributed to the food, which was abundant and delicious.  Afterward there was a pleasant lingering.  I am so GRATEFUL!

Our Thanksgiving table at Ben and Jessica's home in Palo Alto.  Layne, Cliff, Rayne and Audrey are on the left.  Ben sits at the head of the table (phone in hand), Dorothy is next to him.  The empty place is mine.  Jessica's mom, Judy, is on the right.  Not seen is her husband, John, and Jessica, on the end.  Kids were at another couple of tables.

Ben is serving up his homemade ice cream for Thanksgiving dessert (along with the pies).  His youngest, Victoria, is "helping."

I'm anticipating another wonderful week of bonding and performing in the Nutcracker.  Then we will be homeward bound.  Christmas is in the air!


Grandson Vincent (son of Reed and Dorothy) is playing in a marching band during  small parade on Saturday.  It was such fun to see a hometown parade, supported by lots of onlookers.  It was short but full of lively, good spirits.  We loved it.

A California Escape

It was cold, and the yard was full of snow when we drove out of Idaho on our way to California.  It is that time of year when our commitment to performing in the Nutcracker, on Temple Hill in Oakland, brings us back to California.  We left a week earlier than planned to attend our grandson, Scott's, farewell.  He's going to Thailand.  The Idaho roads were snow packed and slushy when our trip began.  But as we progressed into Oregon the bad weather cleared and our drive became pleasant and full of sunshine.  I was hoping that we would use the 11 hour drive to record some of Layne's life story.  I've been bugging him to write it so we can share some of his adventures with the grandchildren.  I had my computer in hand for this golden opportunity.  But he would have none of it.  When he is driving he prefers silence.  So he can concentrate.  This is yet another example of our differences, which I'm trying to celebrate.  If I were doing the driving, I would like stimulating conversation, lively music, or a good story to listen to.  But that's me.  So we enjoyed some small talk, enjoyed the views and munched our way to Audrey's and Cliff's home in Mountain House.  We got there in plenty of time for dinner.


Here we are with grandson Scott, who entered the Missionary Training Center on November 19th.

California cannot be beat for beautiful weather.  Although this past week and a little more has been mostly filled with rain (so treasured since the rather severe period of California drought), it has been relatively warm.  Especially compared with the single digit cold and snow of Idaho.  Of course the local Idahoans claim this is most unusual.  The Boise area is, after all, a sort of Idaho "banana belt".  Unusual or not, our current home state has been filled with cold and snow for the duration of our visit here, thus far.  It is only now beginning to warm up enough to melt the snow.  So we've escaped a bit of early winter!

One of the things I dislike about living in Idaho is that we are strangers everywhere we go.  There are no familiar faces to bump into as we go about our routines.  But here in California there are friends everywhere.  So far, we have run into people we know everywhere we have gone.  It is so sweet!  I love that about here.  We have a 40 year history.  That covers a lot of friendships.  There are even school chums to find here.  That is going back some 50-60 years!  I love the joys of familiar faces.

We visited with our busy foster daughter, Michelle, who works with special needs kids.

We had lunch with good friends Hedy and Chris Eyre.

Here is my Uncle Mike.  He couldn't believe that I could take pictures with my phone!

We visited my Uncle Mike last week.  He is my Dad's younger brother.  At 94 years, he is our last living relative of the older generation.  I was hoping he could share some of his memories of his parents and grandparents, and Cedaredge.  He did share some things but I was a little disappointed that he could remember nothing of his grandparents.  He has always been, as the is true of the Kisers, quiet about much of his thoughts and feelings.  But I believe he was very happy to see us.  His daughter and my cousin, Judy Kiser Perry and her husband, Stan, met us there as well.  We had a lovely time visiting with all of them.  Uncle Mike appeared to be in good shape for his age and was clear in his mind.  He lives alone in a very cluttered home in Healdsburg, a three hour drive from Audrey and Cliff's.  I have a feeling that this could be the last time I see him.  But perhaps not.

I went hiking with Audrey, Rayne and Allegra.  Our trail took one and a half hours to complete.  Sore muscles followed!

I took this shot of my three girls through this metal sign.  It seemed to me to be a very creative idea at the time.

One of the many beautiful views in Sunol-Ohlone Regional Park, where wee did that 1 1/2 hour hike.

We have had such fun visiting with our kids and other friends this past week or so.  Today we are headed to  Ben and Jessica's to do some work for them.  Ben has a list of "to dos" for Layne, and Jess wants me to help her organize the girls' room.  The new baby is going to be a  girl, so the other four girls in the family will need to be in one room.  My mind has been filled with ideas ever since she asked for my help.  I love to organize things!  I'm not sure why such an odd thing should appeal to me so much, but my mind seems to take fire when the thought of organizing comes up.  I hope not to overwhelm her with my ideas on structuring things up because I can get carried away.  I'm looking forward to helping her with this particular challenge.  So we are off!

Garden Death

We harvested the last of the garden this week.  It was tomatoes mostly.  And they were mostly green.  But we picked them (Audrey and Allegra helped when they were here).  Several of the locals said that green tomatoes make good things and that they could be stored until they turned red and eaten with almost as much relish as vine ripe ones.  So I collected them on my kitchen counter and looked for recipes.  I found what looked like a good one for making green tomato relish.  I bought the ingredients called for and set to it.  I chopped up all that was called for, including Jalapeno peppers, and put it all in a big pot.  It cooked as directed and we tasted the final product with anticipation.  Ugh!  Not good.  Nope.  Not at all.  So we dumped the whole batch on the compost pile.  It was a bit deflating.  So I've decided I'm through with green tomatoes.  We put the rest of them in the garage to see if they will turn red.

I've not worked with hot peppers before.  I didn't realized that the oil from them settled into hands and doesn't wash out for awhile.  So when I took my contacts out, the pepper oil got into my eyes and did they burn!  It has taken several days of frequent washing to get all of the oil out of my hands.  Just a wee tingle now remains.  So now I know.

Layne loves the look of this tree in our yard; completely red (the best of colors!)

Fall decorations at our front door.  A bit understated I now, but it feels good to do a little something.

A beautiful full moon lights our yard this Fall morning.  I can't resist trying to capture its magic in a picture.  I never really works well.

We are in charge of our empty nester Family Home Evening tomorrow night.  That means we host and teach a lesson and prepare some kind of refreshment.  I just read a book son Gerald sent on the Founding Fathers and their vision of the Constitution.  It was written for children, which is just about my speed, so I really liked it.  I determined that the ideas in it would be perfect to share at the FHE.  I showed Layne and he agreed.  For a couple of days.  I worked out what I thought to be a good presentation and was really looking forward to doing it.  Then, as we were walking, Layne said he would like to something completely different!  I was so disappointed and did my best to talk him out of it.  When that didn't work, and in a bit of a huff, I just turned it all over to him.  But the disappointment lingered.  Layne made his lesson plans, then suggested that I give mine the first part of the evening and he would finish up with his.  So.  It'll be interesting to see how that turns out.  But I'm back on tap and a bit excited to share the basic information in that little book.  Here's hoping it goes over well and that our two presentations somehow mesh. Whether they do or they don't, there will be pie for dessert to sweeten things up.

A Family Halloween

The saddest time for me here is holiday time.  No family.  I didn't realize how much I had centered family activities around holidays until we came here.  This year I decided to decorate a bit anyhow and it has cheered me.  But what made this Halloween super is that Audrey and Allegra drove here from California on Friday.  They arrived early enough to share dinner and a happy Halloween celebration.  We watched a wacky Don Knotts movie called "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken."  Cute and a light, fun way to touch on the darkness of Halloween sentiments.

Audrey, next to the warmth of the fireplace.

Allegra, eating cottage cheese.  Poor girl is on a soft food diet since having her wisdom teeth pulled.

"You won't have many trick-or-treaters," our neighbor assured us.  But we bought two big bowls of candy anyhow, just in case.  Good thing.  The door bell rang all during the movie and our two bowls were empty by 9:30.  It was a busy night!  I loved this Halloween time.

Now that it is cooling down, I am excited to do develop of my creative ideas for the house.  I painted our hall wall with a family tree awhile ago.  This past week, during a night of insomnia, I printed up and framed pictures of all the family and hung them on the wall tree.  I'm so happy to see it!  It is a pleasure to see everyone, especially since they are all far away.

The Family Tree, filled with family!

It is beautiful here!  The leaves are all sorts of colors and the mountains are dusted with snow, thanks to yesterday's storm.  Our garden is pretty much finished.  I will glean what I can tomorrow morning and then let the garden go.  Layne now has more indoor time; he really misses being outside.  But he doesn't like the cold, so an indoor guy he will be.  I have all sorts of projects in mind to keep him busy.  I just have to delicately talk him into doing them!

The first snow of the season, in the hills.

Fall in our yard.

Audrey and Allegra leave for their home early Tuesday.  I'm going to miss them.

The Last of October

I love spending time at home.  It is somehow pleasurable to me to have no commitments for a period of time.  The week sped by and, as usual, I had big plans for it.  But, as usual, I only got a small piece of my plans actually accomplished.  I struggle to simply let myself not be busy.  Layne complains about that almost every TV night we spend together.  He likes to sit and just watch.  I like to do all sorts of things while I watch; ride the stationary bike, lift weights, crochet, sketch, fold clothes, etc.  It drives him a bit nuts.  But if I like to do it, why not?  He can still relax, right?

We took on a project to cover over the outdoor fire pit this week.  I liked the pit but Layne felt it was a fire hazard, so we covered it up with flagstone and mortared it.  I cleaned off the surplus mortar and boy did it eat up my hands.  They peeled for most of the rest of the week.  But I think it looks good.  Or will when it finishes curing.  So now, what is to be done with a flagstoned area that serves no purpose?  I think a gazebo there would be quite wonderful.  Layne is not so sure.  But I figure if I keep suggesting it, he will eventually see the possibilities.  In the meantime, we have a useless piece of flagstoned space, and another useless piece of decking that used to service a pool that is no longer there.  Oh, I am full of helpful suggestions about what we could do with those useless spaces and other parts of the yard but, somehow, Layne isn't always excited to hear my good ideas.  After all, he is the man who has to make it all happen.  Well, actually, I have volunteered to help him.  Really I have.  And I will, once he decides to make some of these potential changes.

Layne and the cat, Cherry, who accompanies us outside wherever we go.  He and I just finished the fire pit project.

Here is the finished fire pit, with rain puddles along side.  Wouldn't a gazebo look great there?

My nephew Rus and his son Berkeley came to visit on Friday, along with some friends.  They attended the BYU-Boise State football game Friday night.  BYU lost but they had fun and we got in a good visit around the time gone for the game.  I so enjoy having family here.  Rus is quite pleasant company and I feel like we had a good bond. They all left Saturday morning, after a breakfast of Mom's sourdough pancakes.  Rus suggested a way to make them with whole wheat flour that still preserves the starter.  I never thought of it before and tried it.  I like it and think I'll do that way from now on.  There are some things in my life that I am so used to doing that I never consider another way.  Layne complains that I am always wanting to change things, but that isn't always true.  I never considered changing how I make sour dough pancakes, for instance.

Berkeley and nephew Rus on the left, with friends on the right.

Idaho in Autumn.  What a lovely time of year!

It seems that I'm complaining, perhaps a bit too much, about Layne's complaining.  I don't want you to think that he is a complainer generally.  He really isn't; he is quite supportive and loving.  Just saying.

Layne in our living room, adorned with a few Halloween decorations.

Audrey and Allegra are coming for Halloween weekend.  I'm so excited to have some family here for a holiday!  I feel much more excited for the holiday season this year.  I can't say why exactly.  I guess I don't care why.  I'm just going to go with it.

Fall Times

The ongoing battle between growing obligations here and the ongoing desire to be with family continues.  I have come to love our life here but still struggle with not being with family for important events.  Last Saturday the California family joined to attend the temple in Oakland, to do the temple work for Carmen, the lovely little granddaughter we lost to cancer.  It would have been great to be there, but we weren't.  From what the family shared, it sounded like a sweet experience.

Grandson Scott has his missionary farewell next month, followed by our Nutcracker performance.  So we will be headed to California for those happy events.  That gives us a more relaxed October, which I am using to get our Christmas shopping done.  I'm almost there!  I've even done some holiday decorating.  It is not as much fun when we don't have family to share it with.  But I decided that Layne and I are family and deserve some celebratory pizzaz.  So the house has taken on an orange hue in honor of Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Each night the living room lights up.  Now that we have all of our furniture back in, I love the effect!

Fall has moved in.  I've decided that I like this season, perhaps best of all.  The days are cooling, the leaves are falling and the garden is finishing up its wonderfully productive work.  We are blessed.

Layne's birthday covered a number of celebratory days surrounding it.  Here he is with friend Carol Winterstein, who has an October birthday too.

Here is a shot of our new floor; hardwood instead of carpet in the living and dining rooms.  We got a new rug as you can see.  We like it!

The Birthday Boy

This past week has included a bit chaos as we try to put our home back together after our new hardwood floor was installed.  It is lovely but we can't put rugs on it for another week.  That means our living room, and all that goes in it, must remain stored in other places.  But we did manage to get our china hutch put back in the kitchen.  Two workers from next door agreed to come and lift it for us.  I offered to pay them, but they requested only two glasses of ice water and went on their way.  Such kindness seems to be a way of life for Idaho folk.

Today is Layne's birthday.  49 years ago I met him for the first time, at Church in Chula Vista, California.  He was a helicopter pilot, flying for the Navy at that time, and on his way to Viet Nam.  As I looked into his blue eyes and listened to him, a strong feeling entered my mind and heart and witnessed to me of the purity of his soul.  I felt my own soul wind around his at that time.  I felt that he was absolutely trustworthy.  It was a year later that we met again.  The feeling was renewed.  So when he asked me to marry him, I felt absolutely sure it was the right thing to do.

That feeling about him of years ago has been confirmed over the years of my life with him.  His capacity for love and unselfishness consistently given has blessed my life.  Through the rough times in our relationship, that feeling given to me of him at the beginning comforted me and reassured me that my life with him was right and good.  Over time the rough parts of our relationship have smoothed until now, on his 74th birthday, I can confirm that my youthful choice of him as husband has been a blessing beyond my expectations.  We are happy together.  In spite of our many differences and conflicting preferences, we have learned to blend and bond.  I love him.

And so, on his birthday, I choose to celebrate him today.  Following is a collection of him during this past year.

                                                      Layne and his twin, Lynn.

                                                           Singing at a FHE gathering.

                                                  4th of July at our friends the Greens.

                                                              Grandfather to Victoria.

                                      With son-in-law Chris Gendreau and son Benjamin.

                        At Idaho City, where we found some Galbraiths at the local cemetery.

                                            At the top of one of the ski runs in Sun Valley.

                                              With friend and neighbor Larry Winterstein.

                                                                In Yellowstone Park.

                                           In front of the Galbraith cabin in Island Park, ID.