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January 16, 2009

IT'S FRIDAY, MY FAVORITE DAY!!

As I sit down to type my weekly blog, I realize I really don't have much to talk about this week - and have NO pictures, but will give it a go anyway.

We drove into town last weekend, Dave had a Blazer broadcast Saturday night and I went along for the ride. Besides, I needed hugs from my granddaughters. I had been hearing stories of Jordyn taking a few steps, and I got to see that for myself! On Sunday, we decided to go home by way of Silverton and stop to visit with Leslie and her family. Dave had to pick up some of his tools that he had left behind when he helped Jason build the animal shelter, and I needed more hugs from more granddaughters! Leslie had made a double batch of chocolate chip cookies and so we got to bring some home. That was a real treat, because the only cookies we get around here are store bought.

After we left Leslie and Jason's, we drove home the south way on Highway 22. From Silverton, it is quicker than going all the way back north to Portland and then west. We could sure see the damage from the last windstorm as we drove closer to the coast. A lot of the trees had their tops sheared off and at one place the road had caved in. They had a crew working on fixing that mess.

The weather has been simply great all week. I have always said that January is the best time to visit the coast. It's been cold at night and we've had some frost, but it's been up in the 50's during the day and there's not a breath of wind. I have been busy working out in the yard all week raking up the remaining debris from the last storm and pruning some of the bushes. We even got the ladder out and cleaned the gutters on Wednesday. Since Dave has been crippled with arthritis in both knees and is unable to climb, he held the ladder and I climbed up and scooped out the yuk from the gutters. It only took a couple of hours. We keep telling ourselves that we aren't getting any younger and one of these days we will have to pay someone else to do it. I was so stiff and sore from climbing up and down the ladder that even I wouldn't mind giving this job to someone else!

We did get one other job taken care of this week. We have one of those instant hot water dispensers on the kitchen sink. It's nice, because it provides boiling hot water at the touch of a lever, but in these times when we're trying to watch every penny, we like to shut it down whenever we leave the house for more than a day. It has always been a chore to get down to the back of the cupboard - behind the garbage can and disposal - and unplug it, and then remember to reverse the procedure when we get home, so Dave spent a few hours installing a switch. Now all we have to do is open the lower cupboard and turn the switch on or off. That's going to be much better, and hopefully save us a few pennies too.

We will be staying at home until Monday then we have a busy week in town. Dave has a couple of games and I am tagging along so I can schedule a couple of appointments.