Trip to the ER

Squirt's blood pressure has been extremely high over the last several weeks, the Home Health nurse and her doc's office told her she was in stroke territory and told her to go to the ER. Finally at 8pm she decided that was a wise decision and we drove to the hospital. She was hooked up to an IV, got an EKG, blood work, chest X-ray. Blood pressure was 180/120, not good.

It was determined to be pleurisy, but the blood pressure needs to be addressed and she sees her doc this morning.

As the doc was asking her some questions about her medical history, she forgot to tell him about her enlarged heart 20 years ago so I piped up saying, "Squirt..." And proceeded to tell about it. The doc turned to Kristi and said "Squirt, can I call you that. " To which Squirt replied, only if you'll call her Miss U.

I checked out the IV bag - Hospira!!! Plus made in Austin.
Rick saved her life.

Americans...

I hope that we are not so PCed and sissified that this is no longer true. I hope Americans still have the will to do what needs to be done to ensure our own survival.

"Joy" banner

Paige made herself a banner like this last year; evidently I loved it so she decided to make one for me. She asked me if I remembered, no. But when I see her banner hanging in the empty pic frame (she changes this out with different decos for each season/holiday) this year I'm sure I will say, I want one of those!! Such a thoughtful, crafty, talented, capable, highly competent, creative daughter of mine. Also dedicated: she stood in line at the Post Office 45 min get it mailed.

Shopping

I enjoy shopping and have been doing a lot lately, some for Christmas and some for me. I finished all my Christmas shopping yesterday. The internet is a handy thing, and with lists from my peeps, it's quite easy; I did at least half of my shopping online.

But shopping for me.
I ordered a knee high pair of black boots with heels for me; they finally arrived 2 days ago and I really like them, just what I wanted. They cost $60. Then I was at Payless and found another pair that I really liked for $30. But, these have flat heels, and I particularly wanted the heels to wear with dresses and skirts for church. I won't ever wear the other pair tucked into jeans, or even more casual. But $30 difference! I decided to get the ones with heels that I wanted. And even $60 is cheap for a pair of boots, obviously not leather.

I had some things to take back to Kohl's on Mon.
I ordered online a dress from Dress Barn (like the one I bought then took back in Sept only a brownish color) that was on sale for $25, down from the original $50 price. I went to Dress Barn yesterday and found the red and black dress marked down to $25, which is the color I really wanted, plus I had a coupon for $10 off so the dress now cost me $15 when I bought it. When the other comes in, I will just return it to the store.

At Chris' wedding I bought $700 of dresses as I decided which to wear, and kept only one for $130 (I think that was the price, which is waaaay more than I usually spend, but it was the right color and I liked it and how it fit).

I find that I take back more items than I keep. I wonder when the stores will catch on to me and either tell me to stop or start charging me for it.

Zoya's toys

I usually take Zoya for another walk around 4:00 to 5:00; yesterday she came to me at that time and started whimpering. If she just wants to go outside she goes to the door and whimpers, so I knew she was telling me, Time for a walk! I said No walk, I don't want to go. She continued whimpering and then as I continued telling her no, she started barking. Alright, alright! Go get your vest and leash. She excitedly went over to her basket, jumping and turning in circles.

Chris and Alyona said last night she got all her toys out of the basket, wanting them to play with her. She really is a very good tempered dog; she will be a great pet for their kids.

She loves to shake and kill her toys, none of them have any stuffing left.

Fun Christmas activities

Last night at 6:30 the four of us, Rick, Chris, Alyona, and me left for a live nativity/life of Jesus event at a local church. It was to be outside. We arrived - huge groups of people - stood in line for 20 min and it looked like another 30 at least. Rick's hip was hurting a lot, so we left and got some yummy pizza rollup things at a pizza place.

Then we drove to a cul-de-sac that always has a fun Christmas display telling the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas." Beautiful, as usual. I love this time of year. And because we are in Texas, not freezing cold, nice weather also.

Chris thought about bringing Zoya. So many people, it was a good thing he didn't.

Santas

Santas or elves? At any rate, they are ready for Christmas.

Thanksgiving

Front left to back:
Rick, Chris, Jason, Yvonne, Scott, Aksana, Alyona, Luke, Maria

Noisy Grackles

Tonight Rick and I were picking up soda at Walmart. For some reason the Walmarts in Texas are Grackles Haven. Tonight they were setting up such a cacophony it was straight out of Hitchcock's The Birds.

I'm trying to get a video to post. As soon as I figure it out, or get someone to help, I will post it.

Wimpy Texans

The boys have played in the churches' Turkey Bowl since we moved to Indiana in 1996. They might have missed one year, but that would be all. So I called around and found out where this year's Turkey Bowl would be played; Jason and Christopher showed up at the appointed time - 9:30 - which is quite late in the morning to begin a Turkey bowl; usually they start at 8 or 8:30, no later than 9. Plus they were even 5-10 min late, only to discover that the game hadn't started and they were still picking teams. Scott couldn't go, he needs knee surgery (he destroyed his knees playing goalkeeping in High School.

At 11 the boys walked back in the door. I was amazed, usually they are gone for at least 3 hours. No, for the second year, the wimpy Texans shut down the game early. Jason especially was so disappointed.

Here Jason is in all his football gear glory.

Rock climbing

Kincade put this pic of Stella and Macy rock wall climbing on the photo stream. They must be really high because they look little against the wall. They are brave.

Pinochle

I love to play pinochle from an ap on my iPad. I got this hand a few days ago; in real life these type of hands rarely, rarely come up. Note that it is 1,000 aces.

Let the painting begin!!

I love all the colors they chose; this house will look quite modern when they are finished. Cabinets go in on Tues. Destroying is finished - creating begins.

 

When Picasso came to our house...

I was cleaning upstairs and came across this piece of art on the wall. It kinda looks like I can see Hattie's signature there at the bottom. Rick got upset when I washed off Stella's handprint in the bathroom in North Carolina; I'm sure he will want this left also.

But then even I can see the artistry involved. It might be worth something in a few years.

Paris is bleeding, how soon before all the West likewise?

SEEN ON FACEBOOK: “It must be incredibly frustrating as an Islamic terrorist not to have your views and motives taken seriously by the societies you terrorize, even after you have explicitly and repeatedly stated them,” self-described “Iraqi born writer & founder of the Global Secular Humanist Movement” Faisal Saeed Al Mutar notes:

Even worse, those on the regressive left, in their endless capacity for masochism and self-loathing, have attempted to shift blame inwardly on themselves, denying the terrorists even the satisfaction of claiming responsibility.
It’s like a bad Monty Python sketch:
“We did this because our holy texts exhort us to to do it.”
“No you didn’t.”
“Wait, what? Yes we did…”
“No, this has nothing to do with religion. You guys are just using religion as a front for social and geopolitical reasons.”
“WHAT!? Did you even read our official statement? We give explicit Quranic justification. This is jihad, a holy crusade against pagans, blasphemers, and disbelievers.”
“No, this is definitely not a Muslim thing. You guys are not true Muslims, and you defame a great religion by saying so.”
“Huh!? Who are you to tell us we’re not true Muslims!? Islam is literally at the core of everything we do, and we have implemented the truest most literal and honest interpretation of its founding texts. It is our very reason for being.”
“Nope. We created you. We installed a social and economic system that alienates and disenfranchises you, and that’s why you did this. We’re sorry.”
“What? Why are you apologizing? We just slaughtered you mercilessly in the streets. We targeted unwitting civilians – disenfranchisement doesn’t even enter into it!”
“Listen, it’s our fault. We don’t blame you for feeling unwelcome and lashing out.”
“Seriously, stop taking credit for this! We worked really hard to pull this off, and we’re not going to let you take it away from us.”
“No, we nourished your extremism. We accept full blame.”
“OMG, how many people do we have to kill around here to finally get our message across?”

Or as Mark Steyn writes, “‘Why do they hate us?’ was never the right question. ‘Why do they despise us?’ is a better one.”

The 4 S's

Sleep
Stress
Sun
Sickness
These are the things that cause cold sores to form if you have that virus and genetic disposition to get them. Which I do.

Ever since I returned from Utah my ears have been ringing louder than usual. Last Wed I drove Alyona to the airport and came home on HW 45, which has a speed limit of 80 (and sounded like they were concrete roads instead of asphalt). It made so much noise that it upset my ears and by the time I got home they were screaming. And remained screaming. Finally on Mon the loudness had stressed my body so much I was thinking, I can't live with this, I need to get out my book on tinnitus and review options, which aren't many. I was lying in bed and told Rick, And now my lips are hurting!!

I got up Tues morning - yes, 3 Three THREE cold sores had formed on my upper lip. I usually only get them on my lower, which is why I didn't recognize the true source of the pain. Thank goodness for whoever decided that Valtrex (probably a Herpes med?) would work for cold sores (which are herpes simplex also).

This morning, Wed, the meds have kicked in, the pain is mostly gone, and thankfully, my ears are not screaming. Ringing louder than they have at the lowest, but not screaming.

I feel human again.

Ggrrls in stocks at Corn Belly

Macy, Stella, Hattie

What horrible crime did they commit?!!
Paige had bought tickets for Corn Belly's Corn Maze, then everyone got sick and they couldn't go on the weekend she had scheduled. The only open time left was Halloween morning/afternoon; Kincade was working so I went with Paige and the ggrrls. It was quite fun - lots and lots of activities for kids. We stayed 3 or so hours and could have easily stayed longer and been well entertained.

It wasn't cheap, I think around $10 a ticket, but well worth it. Plus I just got to spend time with my adorable ggrrls!!

But I do wish they wouldn't be bad so they could stay out of the stocks.

It's not hot anymore

Alyona is starting to enjoy Austin a more now that the weather has cooled down, we have gray, cloudy skies, and it rains. The heat really zaps her and she doesn't like it. Yay. Plus she works from home one day a week, goes to Georgetown one day, so 2 out of 5 days no miserable drive.

It has been nice to have them here - finally a child in the same city I live!! Especially fun when they have a little munchkin. Nano and Papaw are ready for little Christina or Atticus to be so close.

Chris is working, working, always working on his house. I'm amazed at how much has been accomplished. They have in the garage all their appliances, kitchen cabinets. He is now working on drywall and texturing, then will start painting. After that comes hardwood floors, then carpet - and voila, it is finished!

Ears

Don't read this if you don't want to hear ANYMORE about my ears.
I can't see a pattern when they start ringing unusually loud. I wish I could. Sometimes they are so loud they give me a headache, and I have to go to a quiet room and have no noise at all. I know I complain too much, when they could be worse, or something worse could be happening to me.

Sometimes a noise, scraping the last ice cream out of a bowl, tv, music, seems to make my whole head worse. Being in Chris' empty house, with cement floors (so no noise abatement) can be bad.

I really do hate to complain about them since I know Rick's ring also, and his are loud. Plus his hip hurts so badly he can hardly walk at times. It always throbs up and down his leg, yet he seldom complains.

Am I a complainy pants?

Skeleton jamies

When Paige was pregnant with Stella she created a Halloween costume showing her skeleton and a baby skeleton in her stomach. I thought it was so unusual; now I see lots of skeleton jamies, sweats, tshirts, etc. Macy has a rib skeleton shirt showing candy in the stomach area (or maybe it's Hattie's. Nano can't remember details).

That's a cute shirt

I wish I had saved more of my clothing for Paige. She has several dresses, a pair of boots, and this shirt. I guess nothing ever really goes out of style.

Well, maybe corsets aren't stylish anymore. Thanks goodness, since I do enjoy breathing.

Halloween

I wasn't going to stay for Trick-or-Treating in Utah because I haven't been home for Halloween in five years and Chris, Alyona, Rick and I had plans. Paige found out and told me to stay so I changed my ticket until Sun (then decided to stay even longer and extended until Wed). The Upstills came over and we all went out together on Sat night. Paige left her bucket of candy out on the front step so all the kiddos could still get their candy while we all walked together.

Everyone in Paige's family dress up for Halloween; she has her Halloween party and guests are expected to come in costume, which they do (this year it was on Fri night).

After the ggrrls were done with their gathering of candy, they returned home and passed it out themselves. They had as much fun giving out candy as they did receiving it.

Alyona and Chris had a party on Friday night and dressed up, Chris under protest but knowing it's always best to do what the wife says.

I got a cookie here I really liked...

I left Kristi's house yesterday at 9:30, topped off the rental with gas and headed to the airport. Got the car checked in, hurried over to the Southwest skycap and gave him my suitcase (the skycaps at SLC airport are the best I have ever seen), went to TSA Pre - NO ONE was in line. Yay.

Weather in Salt Lake and Austin wasn't the greatest, but my flight was on time and I had an hour to spare, so I got a hamburger, read my iPad, then boarded. At Phoenix my luck changed; the flight that was supposed to leave at 3:15 was delayed until 6:40, then 6:10. I wandered the airport, finished my hamburger and decided to get a cookie I had before and enjoyed. I walked up and down B,C, and D concourses but couldn't find the cookie place. Finally I went to an info booth and said, I got a cookie here I really liked....He gave me 2 choices, Starbucks and Paradise. I knew it wasn't Starbucks, so I went to Paradise Bakery.

Yes, there was the most delish snickerdoodle ever!! So I bought 2, then decided on a blueberry scone. All were wonderful and didn't help my new weight loss at all.

After a bomb scare, my plane finally left, probably about 6:45 and I arrived home at 10pm. Rick picked me up.

His hip is hurting so badly he couldn't walk for much of this week and last. Finally he is convinced he must have the surgery in Jan or Feb, whenever the doc can do it. The consult appoint is set up for Nov 19, same doc he consulted with last Jan. I'm so glad he is finally doing it.

Home after visit with mom

Oct 23 Kristi sent out a text and pic of mom, telling us because of issues happening right then with Mom's health, she felt the end could be near. I decided to fly out on Sun the 25. Mom had been choking on her mucous so they began a new med program that included Mucinex and a thicken powder to put in all her drinks. It worked and she began to recover, at least as much as she recovers.

It is quite sad to see your mother in the final stages of this earth life. This is a day in her life:
Wakes and waits for the CNA to arrive, give her a bed bath, dress her.
Lifted and moved from her hospital bed to the wheelchair and into her chair in the living room.
Gary feeds her breakfast.
She then lies in her chair, drowsing off and on until lunch, 2pm.
Debbie, who comes to watch Mom while Gary leaves, feeds her lunch.
She is wearing a catheter for urine, but must be sat on the portable commode for BM.
Eats dinner at 4:30.
Moved from chair to bed at 5:00 and she sleeps.
She was always so vibrant and a doer and shaker. The strokes and pain have done in her vitality.
Kristi said she wouldn't eat dinner last night, said she wasn't going to eat again so that she could just die. I hope that changes and she will eat.

She has lost so much weight and is so fragile. She is/was a great mom. I really don't know how she accomplished all she did with the circumstances of her life. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

Kristi is so tender and loving with mom. Just really dedicated this portion of her life to taking care of Mom in the final stage. Gary is incredible also; Rashelle lives there and is a sweet and helpful granddaughter.

Paige came over once with Macy and Hattie and brought her rolls and a few brownies.
Scott came over twice and brought lunch/dinner. He was able to stay longer and helped with Mom.

I love this pic of Macy and Mom. Macy was sitting in the chair next to Mom, I looked over and Mom was pulling Macy to sit on her lap. Paige said, is she too heavy Grandmother? No. It was so sweet.

Candy bar card

Patsy, Rick's Adm Assistant, had a surprise retirement party for her husband Jerry last night. Someone made him this candy bar card. It's quite cute and innovative. I have made a few of them myself years ago. Fun to do.

Jerry is 65 and tried retiring 10 years ago, decided he was too bored, so became a GM for a Rudy's. Now Patsy is giving it up in Feb; Rick will have to find a new Adm Assistant, but she is so great it will be hard to replace her.

Bicycle Club

After Rick and I moved here, one evening a group of 30 or so bicyclists came zipping around Grand Oaks Loop altogether and at a great rate of speed. It looked so fun. When they do the loop, including the entrance on Twin Creeks Blvd, it is a 3-mile ride. They do it 3 times and then move on to the rest of their route. We see them about once a month; bicycling is really big here (all outdoor activities are, this city is quite fitness conscious).

Tonight Rick and I were out walking Zoya (Chris and Alyona were working at their house) when they came rushing by. I hurried home and got my phone camera, just in time for the next go round.

Food

Chris gives Zoya a little bit of whatever food he is eating: a small corner of cheese, the crust of pizza, a potato chip, small bit of hot dog. Well, we all give her too much table/human food and Alyona commented that Zoya is getting fat for her age. She still looks trim and musclely, but just a little beefier than she should be.

We were outside yesterday morning and Chris gave her a bit of his pizza crust. She wasn't hungry and didn't want to eat but wanted to save it for later. She went to the side of the house with the rocks and started digging a hole. I didn't know what she was doing and told her to stop digging (she loves to dig in the yard); Chris said she is trying to hide that pizza crust for later. So then she walked all around whimpering, trying to find a spot to hide it. Finally, Chris told her to just eat it and she did.

I have found small hunks of bread, cheese behind the cushions of the couch. Today I was vacuuming and found a potato chip hidden in the corner by the bookcase. When she doesn't want to eat something but can't find a good hiding spot, she walks around with it in her mouth, whimpering.

Chris asked me if I left it for her, she likes to find the food and eat it later. I said, no, I ate it.

 

 

Belgian Waffles

Several months ago Jason was in Cincinnati and ate at Taste of Belgium, and had the most fantastic waffles ever. He bought some to take home, but they were expensive (4 smallish waffles for $12). He raved and raved to me about them, saying the next time I was in Indy we needed to take a trip to Cincinnati just to eat these authentic waffles.

                                             

Last night as I was watching TV Triple D did a show on Taste of Belgium. Indeed, the waffles looked delish, I so binged a recipe that used yeast and Belgian Pearl Sugar, as used at the restaurant. I found a recipe (on a fun new website to browse); this morning I got up and ordered Belgian Pearl sugar. It will arrive on Fri, so Fri night we eat real Belgium waffles for dinner.
                                                                     
Further research turned up a place in Salt Lake City that makes great, authentic Belgian waffles. Bruges Waffles, with 4 locations:  downtown, Sugar House, Draper and Provo. Guess where I'm eating at least once over Christmas?

I'm turning into a dog person who can only talk about the dawg

After Zoya and I finished the morning walk and were home, she wanted to go outside in the backyard so I let her out. Next thing she is scratching at the door, I open it and she is standing there looking at me with her puppy dog eyes with the Chewbacca toy at her feet; I told her I was busy and couldn't play and shut the door. More scratching, wash and repeat.

Finally, when she realized I wasn't going to play, she came in. I went into my bedroom to make the bed and put away towels, generally do a clean-up. She wanted in the bedroom, but I told her it wasn't a dawg room. So she lay on the carpet in the doorway. When I was busy in the bathroom, she sneaked under the chair, hoping I wouldn't see her.

Reminds me of the time Claire had gotten in trouble with Scott for something, ran into his bedroom to hide under the bed. The only problem, her tail was sticking out. Hide: epic fail!

Gun violence map

So, basically, outside of a few metropolitan areas gun murders in the US aren't among the highest in the world. Only in those cities, and probably only in certain select areas in those cities. The rest of the US is a safe place, not a bullet riddled cesspool.

But I don't have any problem with background checks, waiting periods, etc., before a citizen can buy a gun. Just not sure the criminals/murderers will comply with the law.

Example #1, quoted
"We can't put this off any longer," President Obama implored the nation last week as he introduced 23 executive actions designed to reduce gun violence in America. While the United States has the highest level of gun ownership per capita in the world, its rate of gun homicides, about three per 100,000 people, is far lower than that of Honduras, the country with the world's highest gun homicide rate (roughly 68 gun murders per 100,000 people). But America's homicide rate varies significantly by city and metro area, as I pointed out here at Cities a few weeks ago.
The map below compares the rate of gun murders in American cities to nations around the world. Building upon Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data used in that post, Zara Matheson of the Martin Prosperity Institute compiled additional data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other sources collated by The Guardian. (While international crime data suffer from significant reporting and comparison issues, homicide data is more reliable. As the Urban Institute's John Roman points out, it is the one type of crime that is "hard to fake" and also most likely to be reported.)"

"The pattern is staggering. A number of U.S. cities have gun homicide rates in line with the most deadly nations in the world.

• If it were a country, New Orleans (with a rate 62.1 gun murders per 100,000 people) would rank second in the world.
• Detroit's gun homicide rate (35.9) is just a bit less than El Salvador (39.9).
• Baltimore's rate (29.7) is not too far off that of Guatemala (34.8).
• Gun murder in Newark (25.4) and Miami (23.7) is comparable to Colombia (27.1).
• Washington D.C. (19) has a higher rate of gun homicide than Brazil (18.1).
• Atlanta's rate (17.2) is about the same as South Africa (17).
• Cleveland (17.4) has a higher rate than the Dominican Republic (16.3).
• Gun murder in Buffalo (16.5) is similar to Panama (16.2).
• Houston's rate (12.9) is slightly higher than Ecuador's (12.7).
• Gun homicide in Chicago (11.6) is similar to Guyana (11.5).
• Phoenix's rate (10.6) is slightly higher than Mexico (10).
• Los Angeles (9.2) is comparable to the Philippines (8.9).
• Boston rate (6.2) is higher than Nicaragua (5.9).
• New York, where gun murders have declined to just four per 100,000, is still higher than Argentina (3).
• Even the cities with the lowest homicide rates by American standards, like San Jose and Austin, compare to Albania and Cambodia respectively.

Yes, it's true we are comparing American cities to nations. But most of these countries here have relatively small populations, in many cases comparable to large U.S. metros.
The sad reality is that many American cities have rates of gun homicides comparable to the some of the most violent nations in the world."

Example #2, quoted
"What Is shown below is a daily occurrence in The Portland Area. 99% of these are GANG related. Not one gun law will have any affect on any of them. What would have an effect is abolishment and control of the Gangs.... But they seem to serve a purpose and that is fear in the public which makes them inclined to vote for tax levies for Law enforcement and jails, instead of actually cracking down hard on the gangs, they do things that essentially have zero effect on controlling and stopping any of it. Instead they prop up their gun crime statistics and use that against the 2nd Amendment and the citizens as well. This accounts for most of the false gun stats that the anti's use for the state.
Seriously there are 1 to 2 and sometimes more shootings a night in Portland/Gresham areas every day of the year. And they are predominantly gangs doing the shooting.
The stats the anti gun crowd use are deliberately misleading and deceptive."

Birds

The birds have two places on our patio they like to do their dodo. I had read to place rubber snakes around and that scares the birds away. I bought 3 snakes (this was in June or July) but Zoya got one of them and put it on the back step. The only person that got scared was Alyona when she walked out. The birds still do their business on my patio.

Zoya

It's my job to take Zoya for a walk every weekday morning. This morning after we got back she started running around the house like a crazy woman, so I went outside with her and threw her fav orange ball. She had great fun running and fetching the ball, altho she likes you to fight to take it away from her when she returns the ball to the thrower.

Finally I got tired of throwing the ball and went back into the house. Soon she was scratching at the door, I opened it and she had placed the ball on the step and was standing there looking at me, asking are we done? I'm not.

I went back out and threw the ball a few more times, but one of the times it went into the pool. She ran to the pool, the ball went in, and she turned to look at me. The expression on her face was so funny, like Now what? I'm not going in after it, you need to get it. So I got the ball out.

I came back in the house and she came in also, but got one of her toys and brought it to me, and kept trying to give it to me. I said I'm busy, I can't play now. She threw the beaver up on the table where I was working on the computer!! It was probably an accident, but the beaver did end up on the table in front of me. I had to laugh.

Tinnitus

About 8 months after my tinnitus began I read a book recommended by my VT and is probably one of the best resources out for tinnitus. The author wrote (he had tinnitus himself so severe he contemplated suicide) don't join any support groups where all you do is sit around and talk about how miserable life is with tinnitus. I took that to mean don't talk about it.

Well, I do. But I really do try not to tell everyone about my woes.

And this is my latest:  Two weeks ago my ears started ringing unusually loud, plus my left ear, the bad one for all sounds, started throbbing to my heartbeat. I could hear and feel it, and it drove me crazy. I started to get worried because the sound wasn't going down like it usually does but stayed extremely loud and the ear throbbing continued and didn't quit. I thought, this will be difficult to live with.

My ringing has now gone down, not to as low as it was, but down, and the throbbing in my ear comes and goes.

I do hate to complain (Rick and all my kids would disagree!!) because Rick has tinnitus and other people have things much worse.

But I need something to blog. So you get to read my complaint. Lucky you.

Super lunar eclipse - the Bood Moon

The last one was in 1982, the next will be 2033, so I made sure we watched this one. The moon went into eclipse at 8:11 pm, total eclipse 9:11, then started to show again at 10:23 (Central time). Very cool to watch.





Not my pics, I didn't try to take any, these are much prettier than any I could have taken.

All the Christian preppers had been going crazy for a couple of months, this is the end!! They had all their reasons, something to do with every 7 years something bad happens, earthquakes that would destroy some of America, stock market crashes (which I and many economists think is still eminent), etc, all according to Jewish calendar and blah, blah, blah. People had cashed in their 401k and bought food supplies, $7,000 tents (yes, you can buy a tent worth that much), some probably headed for their bug-out place.

I'm not denying something bad will probably happen in the future. Something bad is always happening someplace. Plus, no civilization has lasted forever. I'm reading a short book on the North, Meso, and South American native peoples. Archaeologists don't have any idea why many of these great civilizations failed, like the Olmec, Anasazi, Hopewell, Mound Builders, Inca, Aztec, Mayan - there seems to have been about 20 known groups (my rough estimate, I didn't count them, so don't quote me) that populated these 2 continents. We know that the Spanish decimated a few of them, but no idea about the others.

What does God have planned for this earth? Jesus said the time no man knows, not even the angels in heaven. Prepare? Yes, but sensibly. And continue living, meanwhile.

Pizza

Chris' fav food is pizza. He can eat it anytime, anywhere, any style, hot or cold. He found a pizza book on Amazon, The United States of Pizza, and put it on his wish list. Alyona saw it and ordered it for him. So, of course, yesterday we needed to make pizza.

Chris choose a dough recipe; he and I made the dough yesterday morning. My dough makers have all either died or I have given them away, and I like kneading by hand better anyway, but Chris said this dough needed to be kneaded for 30 min. We took turns. Finally he pronounced the dough was ready to rest (with a little help from me saying I was done kneading).

Last night at 6 he began to make the red sauce, which takes 1 hour or more. We began baking at 7ish. The pizza was delish and totally worth the extra fuss.

Grandmother Jensen

Zoya driving the car

I showed this pic to Macy and Stella; one of them asked me if she was really driving. Now, that would be a smart doggie!!

Utah beauties

Scott was driving home from work at Park City yesterday and called to FaceTime me to show the beauties of the scenery. It was absolutely wonderful, like he said just reaffirms that God created this all. It would take too much faith on my part to believe that it is all just chance. I grew up going camping in the Rockies in Idaho; all the pics he showed me and put on the Photo Stream reminded me so much of my childhood.

Last morning

Rick and I had a wonderful time taking care of the ggrrls while their parents were gone to Disney World. It was tiring, but loved it, we have such sweet and adorable little ggrrls.

This is the last morning with Stella at the bus stop.

Dress up with Stella and Macy

Looking at Halloween decos and costumes at Target



Macy with princess dress

 

Stella with costume and water  bottle