Reflections on Christmases past......

Christmas as a little girl was fun.....and SCARY!!! many Eves' it was so hard to go to bed.... let alone to sleep!!! I was 7 and we were living at Seagull Rd... One christmas morning....I woke up... it was dark.....I was SO excited..I HAD to go see if santa had been....Must have been earlier..or later at night than I thought...I got to the top of the stairs.... Oh my!... the living room light was on.. I saw a shadow move along the wall...I blinked..blinked again.. could it be??? ...a smile lit up my face...I know it did.. My sisters and I had been GOOD... HE .. santa Claus..Father Christmas...HE had so many names HE liked to be called by....was actually in my house.. He had come down the chimney.... I heard movement... Toys were being taken out of his sack and put under our tree...I just knew it... all this acknowledged by my brain in a split second....I scurried back to my bed.. jumped in...and covered my head with the bedclothes...breathing fast ,hoping I couldn't be heard.... I had no problem going to sleep.

Come morning -time... It was so exciting...there were a few presents...Wendy had a whole pile... I was told to go out to the outer room.. here it was cold..not used for anything.but THERE... in the middle were two prams..one a maroon colour,the other navy blue..and sitting inside were dolls...not just any doll..but a TEENY TINY TEARS... I called out ..whooping.. calling my little sister's name.. Come here,Jenny!!!.. Father Christmas left us presents here!!! I waited until Jenny had arrived and we pushed our prams into the warm and fuzzy living room...




I have had a love-affair with the tiny-tears dolls ever since.....

Black Friday

Whether one has money or not....Black Friday is and always will be Black Friday..the absolute BEST shopping day of the year....!
Here is my entry on Facebook


Sally Wardle: standing in line at Wally World! got here at 0235
27 November at 04:01 via Facebook for BlackBerry · Comment · Like
Kim Laubach likes this.

Jean Agnew Spencer: you are crazy!
27 November at 05:59 · Delete

Sally Wardle: But its so fun! And spending other peoples' money is even better.
27 November at 07:22 · Delete

Roberta Bono: You are good!
27 November at 08:43 · Delete

Kimberly Geist: You're a crazy woman!!!
27 November at 09:47 · Delete

Lynne Woodall: I always knew you were totally nuts!!!!
27 November at 19:13 · Delete

Sally Wardle: absolutely....it all started at Bevendean Hospital,,,,in the Matron's quarters.....lol!!
27 November at 19:43 · Delete


Remove
Sally Wardle: its BLACK FRIDAY....and off we go...no money.....but still off we go!!
27 November at 02:12 · Comment · Like


It tells it all.....Our Walmart is open 24 hrs....so.. I was 5th in line for the HP laptop....we had been sectioned off by tape..reminded me of a crime scene....all over walmart....so if you were in line for those most desired items the general riff- raff...because Human nature tends to disintegrate with greed... was directed away! One had to go to the associate who had the list of what you wanted ,she knew how many there were..and the # was crossed off so the people in line was the # of the items to be sold.
We had a great crowd....we took turns in saving places so we could check out the store and gather whatever else we found to be our treasures of the day....A lady about my age was with her Mom who had come up from Arizona...The lady told me her Mom had just lost her Husband 2 weeks ago...while the daughter went to stand in another line...her Mom and I got talking and I remembered my Mom,likening the two ladies..so different but sharing similar tough times .. the passing of their Husbands....I like to believe that we both felt the comforting influence of the Holy Ghost as we talked of our loved ones....A gentleman behind me said he wanted to get a Nintendo DS for his son but he was only one ..I told him to go to the other line and I would get his Laptop for him.... 0500 came and we went up to the associates and the gentleman who had ensured our line was in order... He said he should have the prize for best behaved...and he went the extra mile to get "Mom" a cup of his own coffee...A candy bar for someone else....

I then circled the store, bumping into Marie, Heidi's friend who was working that night and then ending up at the Nintendo line.. there were still some left and no Gentleman...I searched...my eyes fell on the familiar face of the Daughter... She immediately said something of our friend who wanted the computer and there he was! Marie was still with me..you look familiar ,she said..He returne with "I know you!" My wife,Melanie used to work here...and yes Heidi,Marie and Melanie all knew each other!..it is no guess that some meetings and conversations are meant to be!

Shannon had gone to Target ....she stopped by Walmart ..looked and found the riff-raff to be just that..rude and greedy...so she left without having the fun I had had... Hers was found at Target..and is her story!

Heidi was at King Soopers..working. Next year.. with or without money..the fun is to had all over again!!

Castle Rock....Where I have stayed put .....

The Fire Station...
The Rock...







Shasta and I decided to walk around down town Castle Rock and visit the shops....Above is the High Street... named Wilcox...below are glimpses of an eclectic collection of 30 or so open front artsy boutiques housed under one roof..The Barn...




Exquisite hand painted yarn...spinning weels....patterns...A knitters Paradise!
....
The Happy Horse....the flower beds outside were quite fragrant!!! Just had to take a photo to visually remember the Beautiful essence ..

So many happenings.....so little time....

Did I say "so little time" ?....Actually... some days there can be a lot of time.... but somehow it disappears into the black hole of nothingness!! Where does it go,really? So many things to be done that get thought about only....and I find myself just thinking and actually being a couch potato...
Here's what I need to talk about....
In September....
1. Our adventures on the road...the Championships......
2. The Family's arrival...after 11 years of waiting ,Barbara, Roel and their 5 teenage children step onto American soil...to live,work, play and grow up here......

In October....
1. Heidi's new job and her broken arm...the left one this time!
2. The Family's first American experiences....
3. Laurie's Birthday
4. My birthday... or the start of my 2nd half centuary.....

updates on Bailey-boy.....Gemini....Tilly....Kit.....Margot.....

The long trek back......

All wonderful things come to an end.....
no, take that back.....
many more wonderful things start because of an ending....
I'm here in Virginia again......
a one-way ticket....
a long drive back home to colorado......
via AEC championships in Chicago.....
dropping off 2 horses on the way.....
that means 3 horses.....
all their tack.....
all Heidi's belongings....
and more...
Heidi.....
Me......

Happy Birthday......

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Jo and Leo take their division at CHP today!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ash-Cash turns 21...oh boy,oh boy,oh boy!

Of course I knew my niece, Ashley Michelle Winget .....but I did not meet her until I moved to USA in 1990....Ash-Cash as I called her sometimes, was only 15 months old...
for your 8th birthday Heidi and I looked up in the yellow pages for a riding stable..because we thought you would have a great time learning to ride.. we found Jan, who we all came to love.... she taught Hunter/Jumper..so on your very first lesson Jan had you steering and jumping!! wish I had a photo of that.. maybe your mom has....
it was soon evident that you and Holly were twins born years apart... we will find out why the pair of you were separated by time...two peas from the same pod, you two are.....

Happy 21st...love and hugs from your silly aunt......

Rockies pics cont.....

..we were cheering and screaming for Tod as he picked up the 2nd Base plate....
Then shasta and I went to Red Robin and shared clucks and never-ending fries.. I think the Castle Rock RR is the BEST!! we have a great view of the Rock and town...
GO ROCKIES!!! 2009 Champions!!

RR...our closest and favourite!

a brief cloud coverage in a sunny day..it was hot!!


Helton at 2nd base...with the next hit 3 runs were scored to even up the game.....

GO ROCKIES!!

the Rockies warming up...










In between working every other day last week shasta and I went to the Rockies game....Heidi and I are Rockies fans.. we love Baseball!
When Shasta came to work at the hospital 2 years ago..not only did I find out that she had bought a house in my neighbourhood..but for years she had been driving from Kansas to Colorado just to see the Rockies play..how awesome is that!!!

Last wednesday the Rockies played the Arizona Diamondbacks....it was the middle of the pay period so money was in short supply...Shasta and I got Rockpile tickets at $4each....altho we never actually got to sit there... we had arrived 2 hrs before the game and had walked to the front to take photos of the players as they came out on field to warm up...I had sat in an empty seat ...no-one came to claim them so there we stayed...just along from 1st Base...5th row...
not only that but Tod Helton made his 500 double..then hit a Home Run to win the game!! what a fan...tastic day!!
shasta had her fancy camera and lens..but here are mine...

Happy Birthday GracieMaddie!

(I pinched your photo,Holly..tx!)

Maddie on her Blessing day




Today is my great niece, Madison Grace 4th birthday....I called her mommy's cell phone and left a happy birthday message...Maddie lives in Utah...I live right next door in the next state...a 10hr drive away...so we don't get together very often...
Maddie ..you are a big part of my world and celebrating your birthday every year is special to me.. I get to send you lots more love and hugs..and a birthday gift..however....
I have to fess up that a postman in Colorado..namely one very forgetful Great Aunt..didn't do their very important job of getting to the post office last week...so.. in a few days..you will have to have your birthday day all over again...keep looking for your postman...and there will be a parcel..just for you!!

Harry Potter

Yes!...another movie to go to at Midnight... but I didn't this time...having got used to sleeping in my bed all night I decided to stay in my bed...I went to the 320pm show today.. I arrived with 5 minutes to spare..but was able to sit myself in a great seat between kids...as it was just me...

It was great ...I laughed,as did most everyone else...jumped when those eerie creatures came out the of the water..and I thought I remembered that scene in one of the other films..I remembered it perfectly..up to those creatures appearing...I guess my imagination was really in sync with the director!!

I can't wait until the next film..oh, but then that will be the end....#7....
til next time Harry...I'll see you again within the pages as I read through the books again...and again....

July 13th 2009

Monday was Shannon's birthday. As she had a Dr's appointment and I always schedule the day off we had it planned...alright,the Dr's office got it wrong and we had to wait forever...nothing new there...
Casey had planned to take Shannon to the movies..he tried to make it a surprise but as that is one of her favourite activities it was not hard to guess..be back by 10 to 4,he said...well, we left the office at 230pm..not a lot of time to have more fun than doing lunch for the birthday girl..Shannon had chosen to go to the Olive Garden...
here she is.. quite a nice photo considering she had just poked her tongue out at me.. it is funny that after taking that kind of action,the photos turn out exceptionally well (yes, we have gone through the scenario before!)


(birthday dessert..and yes, Shannon did not stop raving about how delicious it was!)







We raced back..deciding that we would drive to the theatre and then I would drive her car home...Shannon waited two hours for Casey... and the movie to start...Casey arrived at about 440.....the movie started at 10 to 6!!!

Ashley and Calvin had arrived by the time they got back home at almost 9pm...then cake and icecream..we chatted around the dining table..it was a great end to a great day!

another hot sunny day in Colorado

I took Bailey and his friend Skip to Mitchell Canyon..which is a few minutes walk from us..it used to be part of the many acres of ranch land that this area was at one time..now it's a strip of protected land with rocks,streams and a huge pond that smells of stagnant water that Bailey loves to doggy paddle in....which he did this morning and shook the dirty water all over me..He did not like being shut out in the back yard until he was dry and non-smelly again!
This afternoon Shannon and I went to see the Proposal..on her $5 movie ticket card...it was so funny..I enjoy seeing Sandra Bullock's movies...

Today.. saying goodbye to Tomi as she ventures into the field of Emergency Nursing!

We are quite a friendly-family unit at work....There are four areas that combine into Women Services...Nursery/Nicu...Labour & Delivery...Post Partum
Whenever there is a Happy,funny,sad or just plain get-together events we are all there...well, if one is not working.....today, Patty and Melissa had set up a good bye to Tomi BBQ, at Patty's home...way up past North Denver...(I live way down south)If I were in UK I would be saying "North of the Watford Gap"! It was a fun, hot day.. the food was great....everyone brought a side dish.. The kids were there .. we had all helped in their delivery and care as newborns...It has been lovely to watch them grow...and start school! yay, where has the time gone.. in this last 18 months little sisters and brothers have arrived!
Tomi arrived in the NSY/NICU a little after I had started employment there myself in November of 2000..although she had transferred from a different floor...an Adult floor... yakes,I don't think I could go back to nursing adults!! Tomi is a great Lady to work with..she did her time on the night shift..then to days.. then Part time...and we saw her through some wonderful major life changes! .. the Bridal shower (she married Andy)....the Baby shower (Ben's arrival...then Logan).....and now she is going to another department...the ER....I know the staff there will love her as much as we have..we are sad to have her leave us...enjoy your new career,Tomi!...and we'll be visiting.






Patty has lots of kid toys and set up the paddling pool..
all went in..toys,boys and dogs!


there were also dress-up clothes....Ben and Kim's daughter,Izzy had us laughing....









Patty also brought out the wild toads who live in one of the window wells....lots of laughs and a shriek from me as one of the toads jumped and I thought landed on me..I moved very quickly!


one of the two toads....had jumped to the ground


after a few minutes of hopping the toad was caught....

Afton,Melissa's son will be going to a horse show with me next month.....
next week I am volunteering at Aspen Ridge HT as a jump judge for the two days....