tranquility

Create tranquility it is a lush garden for the soul to grow!

Change Bandit

Every Year a radio station near my area
puts on a radio a thon along with the hospital foundation
to raise money for this hospital.

I have first hand experience with this as my daughter had
knee surgery here last year the staff is so gentle and kind
with the children and friendly and caring to the parents.

last Thursday the foundation and sponsors always throw what
they call a " Change Bandit Bash" where they put on a concert
with a country artist and give out food for all the change bandits
that bring their "loot bags of change" it is a great celebration
I did not get to attend last weeks festivites but my pals did
and they had a great time there is always next year.( I do this
every year!)

The children in this hospital amaze me and their strength is
so encouraging I am in total awe of all of them they are there
from different kinds of cancer to rare illnesses that I can not
even begin to imagine and as I said the staff treat the child
with such love and care and they give that same treatment
to the families. I know I love being a "change Bandit"

Apple Hill & Then Some

This weekend we took our 2nd mini road trip to
Placerville, Ca and walked through
the old town then we drove up to
Camino, Ca and a little place called
Apple Hill the beautiful array of the
Autumn colors and smelling and tasting the great produce of
the season not to mention the great apple bakeries
on sight and the unique crafters selling their wares.


after our apple shopping experience we drove up a ways
and ended up in Lake Tahoe for a few hours where it was
very interesting because one side of the Mtn was green and
leaves were changing colors and the other side had snow
yes SNOW on the ground and Mtn tops! but the sun was
warm from there we drove some more
( my hubby likes to drive!) we ended
up in Reno and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening
there. we stayed in the Circus Circus casino and had a lot of
fun shooting pool and then walked through the town and
then I watched my hubby play a few slot machines
he won!!! not a big amount but he won big enough for him
then we just hung out and did stuff again that we normally
would not do, well actually we sometimes get to do this casino
thing when we visit my in laws but that is not all that often
anyway we had fun watching all the interesting folks that
love to gamble, it's kind of like watching people at an airport
they are a breed of there own. then before we knew it
we were eating dessert at 1:30 in the AM and then off to
bed. we are enjoying our mini trips ( yes I kept in touch with
the teenagers ) one went to see the drifters and the other
was at a teenage festival celebrating and taking the vows
with about 200 other teenagers of abstinence ! both of the
teenagers in my house have taken this vow both of their own
accord I am so proud of them!

we came home to find our teenagers and the house again
in one piece (it's such a nice feeling ) and then one went to
youth group, the other playing a very unique instrument he
just got.
back to our routine we can't wait till our next mini road trip!

library

photo taken from google images


In my new job, well I have had it
for a few months now I was promoted
to librarian and I have been so overwhelmed with
bar-coding and spine labeling and shelving and
checking in and checking out materials
sometimes I am so tired of looking at books I don't
even want to pick up the book I am reading at home!

don't get me wrong I love the job and the challenge and
I like the fact that it keeps me busy along with my other
duties and I am glad my boss thought highly of me to
give me this position I have to admit computers and scanners help
me in this position!! I never in my wildest dreams thought
of myself as a Librarian! but I am glad in my life I have been
kind of a jack of all traits due to the fact that when my husband was
in the service we moved around a lot and so I was never really chose
a profession I stayed with in some ways that good because I have experience
in many fields and in other ways it was hard because I did not have enough
experience in some of those fields. but I would not trade it for anything
because with out those experiences I would not have made it where I am today.

anyway I really enjoy my job and each day I look forward to work I guess
it's not just what I do I enjoy all the ladies I work with well to be honest there
are only 3 of us me included in the three and our supervisor who spoils us
everyday. not something I am used to but then everyday is an adventure in
the library!!!

Mono Lake

my gal is finishing up a over night camping trip her class took
yesterday to Mono Lake I explained that the Tufa rock at night
looks like something out of a stars wars movie.

I remember how I used to go there when I lived and worked
in Yosemite National Park. tonight I just picked up my gal
and she said she had a fun time but it was really cold there!
of course the air was brisk and she said what astounded her most
was the way mother nature prepares for fall and winter to set in
the air cold and crisp with a beautiful gleam on the lake. the leaves
on the trees around that are beginning to change colors.
and waking early and just the solitude of the sunrise and
the songs of the birds around. and the quiet noise of the lake.

funny as I was listening to her I was also remembering feeling
the same way when I was there. goes to show that sometimes
good Karma follows.

spending time

I have been trying to spend more time with
my young adults as they will possibly let me and their
father without invading their world.

it has been fun and kinda challenging
at least they are making the effort and blocking
time of their schedule to allow this time well spent
of togetherness. in fact so that they attended my cousins
baby being baptized and celebration after in a park
they said they wanted to see all my aunts and uncles
and cousins, while at the park they played on the
jungle gym then they came and sat and visited. it
was such an incredible feeling that they gave me
watching them have a good time with the relatives.

one of my aunt's gave me a nice compliment about
my two young adults. she said they are the most
caring and respectful teenagers she had ever met
and that I have done a good job and my mom would
be proud.

I am so proud and I know my mom would be too.!
of course they have their commitments but
they told me that they cherish the moments
and times we do "hang out" together in our
own little immediate family weather it is watching old
movies at home or gathering together with my sister's
or with my mother's relatives as we did yesterday.

Yosemite

Half Dome

Yosemite Falls


In 1982 I had a great adventure
living and working in YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
what I did not know is that living in this beautiful Place
would so change my life forever.

when I started I worked in the High Camps of Tuolumne Meadows
there, I had a great time going to Mono Lake and working with some
interesting people. as fall and winter were to set in I transferred down to
the valley, where you can see Half Dome and Yosemite falls along with
other beautiful sights. there to, I met and worked with a great many
wonderful people. on my day off if I would walk up to the falls or just
take the valley bus around the park.

Not only was it fun to live in a tent cabin and talk to many vacationers
it was also just so pleasant to see nature at will, I had experiences I
never dreamed of having for instance in the high camp we had to deal
with bears breaking into peoples cars for food, and at night you could
hear one climb up a tree. In the valley you came across raccoon breaking into
your tent cabin if you left food ( that happened in a tent near me!) and
deer every now and then. we had to let the visitors
know not to leave chocolate on the ground or try to feed
it to the deer for fear they could get bitten
and that people food is not meant for the deers.

I had a awesome time going to the Ahwahnee Hotel
( it's used to be known among the workers
as the "Ritz Carlton") of Yosemite which had the best pastries
also fun was to go to camp curry and watch the ice skaters
or go to the art gallery in the valley. or if you like to snow ski or
snowboard then that is there for you as well.

I had a great adventure and the reason I said being there changed
my life is because I met my soul mate for life there and shortly
later we married.

we have been back at least once a year and progress has been made
yet things still feel and remain the same.

I had a niece and nephew work and live there I don't know
what they're experience was but I hope they had one similar to
mine by just being surrounded in the awe and beauty of
Yosemite.