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July 15, 2011

IT'S FRIDAY, MY FAVORITE DAY!!

I can't believe that July is half over already. I guess when you have been going as much as we have this past week, time really does fly by.

We started out last Friday getting up bright and early so we could drive to Salem to the Marion County Fair in time to watch our oldest granddaughter, Ashtin show her pig. We had to be there by 9:30 a.m. to watch. She did a fantastic job and won Reserve Grand Champion in her age group. It was exciting to watch her parade this 250 lb. pig around with a stick and keeping it in complete control while making eye contact and smiling at the judge all at the same time. We are so proud of her.

We spent Friday night in West Linn as we were heading for the Nichols Family Reunion up at White Salmon, Washington the next morning. It was too long of a drive to go all the way from the coast up there so we opted to spend the night with our other granddaughters. They also joined us for the reunion. There weren't as many people at the reunion as in the past, but we enjoyed talking to the relatives that did show up. It is hard to believe that WE are the oldest generation in the family now. Oh, there are a couple of uncles in their nineties that are still around but that is it. We have been going to these reunions for over 40 years and brings back a lot of memories of all those that came before us. It is always held at "Fort Run-A-Muck" which is an old farmstead that has been in the family and they have made the back acreage into a park for us to enjoy our reunions. Of course we stuffed ourselves with the hamburgers, hot dogs and other dishes that everyone brought.

Since we had some time on Sunday before picking up the girls to bring them back down to the coast, we stopped by and had a nice visit with Kay Schlinkman and her daughter Terrie. Kay is still recuperating from a serious illness. She is doing very well and is now able to drive again, thanks in part to the special care she received from her daughter. Kay is sort of a shirt-tail relative. She is a niece to Dave's uncle who was married to Dave's mother's twin sister. Does that make sense?? It doesn't make any difference - she's family to us. And besides, she's the first one to read this journal each week!

After our visit with Kay and Terrie, we stopped by the fairgrounds in Salem and picked up Ashtin and Paige who wanted to spend a couple of days with us at the coast. They don't get to come down very often so it is fun seeing them. They are the same two that we took to Arizona with us last March. While with us at the beach, I had them enrolled at the local youth center where they enjoyed playing soccer, swimming and taking a bus ride to Rockaway Beach for one of the days. We also watched a couple of movies (Madagascar (twice) and Enchanted) while they were here. We took them back to Salem on Wednesday as Dave and I had to make a trip into town for a couple of doctor appointments in Hillsboro. I had a visit to the dentist and Dave had to see his cardiologist. Both visits were successful and we don't have to return again until December.

We got back home in time to receive more guests. Al and Sue Dunlap who live in Spokane brought their steamboat to the Wheeler Summer Fest this weekend. They are staying with us so I had to buy more food and change bedding in preparation for their visit. The Summer Fest will include steamboat rides, food, games and music. We are hoping the sun will shine for the festivities.

Dave and Ray have been working on the deck most of the week. They are replacing the major beams which have rotted over the past 35 years so right now the deck is "off limits" while that project is going on. After they replace the understructure, they will work on the deck railings which also need to be replaced. With all that is going on this weekend, it will probably be the first of next week before they get back to the project.

I also have to represent the Master Gardeners at the Tillamook Farmer's Market on Saturday afternoon, so I will be running down to Tillamook for that. I had signed up to "pay back" time before I knew that the Wheeler Business Association was putting on this festival on the same day! Oh well, the festival runs for two days so I will be able to catch it on Sunday.