3 great iPhotos
Wed, Dec 21 2011 05:02
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DSC03841 Sierras near Donnor Pass, CA Nov. 2011
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Front yard of house with fall folliage in Nov.
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Curious Sasha looking at the Christmas tree. 1 1/2 years
December 21, 2011
Merry Christmas to all. It has been a great year for us and we look forward to another happy, healthy year.
We look forward to hearing from you and we send out very best to you and yours.
Ric and Jan(ice)
Comments
8 great iPhotos Seattle to home.
Sat, Oct 29 2011 01:13
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Sasha driving her vehicle! 17months old.DSC03761
David's birthday party at Burien Elks. Seattle WA Oct. 7 DSC03773
Grandmother and SashaDSC03784
Seattle viaduct which is not closed forever. DSC03793
Mt. Ranier on a rather clear day,DSC03795
The whole world is hers!!DSC03796
Mt. lassen Oct. 15, 2011DSC03808
Just home and our first sunrise over our back yard in over 3 1/2 months. DSC03810
Oct. 29, 2011
We had a great time in Seattle and helped David celebrate his birthday as well as babysit with Sasha and play with her. She is much fun at this age. Everything is yeah but she shakes her head no if she doesn't want something.
We are looking forward to some short trips back whenever we can and the weather cooperates.
We finally made it home after a long time. It is always good to get home but good to leave again too.
We will be home more now until after June as our 17 year old granddaughter, Chelsey, will be living with us until she graduates from high school. She was in Hawaii for almost a year and a half and has now chosen to move back and finish school where she began 11 years ago. Her mom, Sharon, lives in Roseville(Sacramento area) now and it is a long commute here and back every day therefore we have the honor of having her with us. She will be playing basketball and then softball for the high school so we will get to see her games. As many of you know, she is a good basketball player but her favorite is softball. She is a left handed pitcher and is very good. She hopes to get a scholarship to college so she can continue there. I will send pictures as the ball season begins.
We have been busy here at home getting unpacked, laundry done, and the many little things we have to do when we return home.
Thanks to those who so faithfully drop us a line occasionally. I am once again purging my e mail list so if you care to stay on just let me know. It you have emailed us the past year I will leave your name on my list. Otherwise I will delete it. If I never hear I don't know that you receive this or even want it.
Take care all.
Love and the best to you all.
Mom and Dad, Grandmother and Granddaddy, Ric and Jan(ice)
8 great iPhotos
Fri, Oct 28 2011 04:38
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Farm in Minnesota in Oct.DSC03730
Rest Area South DakotaDSC03732
South DakotaDSC03736
Deadwood Southwood, SD an old town famous for its outlaw days,DSC03741
Antelope in MontanaDSC03746
Almost to Seattle. DSC03752
Oct. 28, 2011
Just a note with some pictures of the country between IN and WA. We spent an interesting night in Deadwood SD where many outlaws had hung out and were killed. It is an old town which is now a town of casinos and bars. It was a fun place to spend the night.
We had great weather crossing the country and a very pleasant trip across the USA.
More pictures are coming of our time in Seattle.
Peace
Ric and Jan(ice)
We saw
Important Message
Tue, Oct 18 2011 05:13
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Subject: Let us all speak up!
Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:
"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only
3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971…before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land…all because of public pressure.
Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen.
Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!
If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete. You are one of my 20+.. Please keep it going.
8 great iPhotos
Tue, Oct 4 2011 04:09
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Ghyslain Bistro in Richmond IN. DSC03709
One of the home made pastries at Ghyslain Bistro.
Another one. World famous chocolatier makes these . YummyDSC03713
Landscape in Richmond. DSC03714
Fall colors coming. Our house was just up the street. (Bottom left of picture}DSC03715
Corn field in Indiana. Saw many also in Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota. DSC03717
Mississippi with Davenport Iowa on left. DSC03724
Bettencourt Illinois on right. DSC03725
Oct. 4 Livingston MT
Just a note that I have more pictures that I will send tomorrow and write more also. So far our trip has been great. We left IN Saturday in 35 degree weather. Yesterday in Deadwood SD it was 92, Go figure. Car is running nicely and is so comfortable and quiet.
Take care. Hugs to all.
Mom and Dad, Grandmother and Granddaddy, Ric and Jan(ice)
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6 great iPhotos
Fri, Sep 23 2011 12:18
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September 23, 2011
Dear one and all,
We have now been here for 7 weeks and our time is rapidly coming to an end. We have had a great time and we have learned more about this part of the country. It is beautiful with its old houses, trees and different weather than we are used to. We have had quite a bit of rain in the last few weeks but we are told that they need it so that is good. It rained this morning and it was dark and cloudy. Now, 6 hours later it is sunny and bright which I understand is usual. So we just go with whatever.
Here at Bethany Seminary we have chapel almost weekly and we have attended most of them. I had not attended a chapel service since I was a student at University of LaVerne. They have been good and the president, Ruthann Johansen spoke at one. She is a very nice person and we met here right after we arrived. In fact, we attended a picnic in Glenn Miller Park early on of which she was in charge.
We are enjoying our new car and still can't believe how quiet it is. I keep waiting for Ric to start the motor but it is already on. Hybrids are nice!! It has so many things on it that are automatic you don't have to do too much except remember how to set it. Maybe with both of our minds we will make a whole one and will understand and remember. It is fun to play with the instrument panel and see what we still haven't discovered.
We are at the information desk at the seminary today probably for our last time. It has been a growing and interesting experience that has benefitted us in many ways.
We saw The Help several weeks ago and were impressed with it. I then ordered the book and we both read it. Earlier this week we went back and saw the movie again. We both got a lot more out of the movie the second time since we had seen it once, then read it and now understand things we did not the first time. There is just so much to it that reading helped to clarify even though the movie followed the book quite closely. There were parts that did not so much but they weren't terribly important. I have the book to loan but I already have a list!
We have been to Dayton several times. We have seen a couple (brothers) chiropractors several times. We have attended Unity of Dayton on several occasions, the Richmond Church of the Brethren and the Garden Park Unity in Cincinati, OH. We have kept busy when we had some time to do things.
There is a beautiful rose garden in Richmond started by volunteers many years ago. We stopped by one day and the only original volunteer was there working. He stopped what he was doing and fill us in on the history. He is 92 and still tending to the roses. I started to take pictures and my camera battery was dead so we have to return before we leave.
We have gone to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning several times and have gotten some delicious corn, peaches (not so good), squash, eggplant, and tomatoes. The people here are so friendly that it is easy to fit right in.
We will be leaving here next Saturday morning going to Seattle for a week and help David celebrate his birthday. Then we will help Sasha celebrate her year and a half birthday. She is growing up so quickly. After that we will return home for a while before we go to San Diego (Solano Beach) for a week in a timeshare. (Nov. 12-19)
So until we write again, stay safe, enjoy life and keep in touch
Hugs to each and every one,
Ric and Jan(ice), Mom and Dad, Grandmother and Granddaddy
Richmond IN old houses on Main St. across from Glenn Miller Park.DSC03702
Where we got our fresh spring drinking water. So good and always cold. DSC03703
Same fountain and creek that runs through the park.DSC03704
Another view of park.DSC03705
Another view with the creek cutting through. DSC03706
Statue in front of park by Main St. DSC03707
10 great iPhotos
Sat, Aug 13 2011 01:44
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August 13, 2011
Hi everybody,
We are settling in quite well. We had One guest when we arrived, a pastor, (Marilyn Lerch,) from PA and she was a great help. She comes several times a year so she knows her way around. She was giving a seminar and invited us to sit in one afternoon which was good. She had Don Miller as a guest speaker and he lives here and also was a professor at Bethany in the early 60's when some of you were here. Or perhaps you might know him from other positions he has held in the Church of the Brethren. Anyway, this class was for prospective ministers and Don gave them his back ground which we certainly enjoyed.
We attended the Richmond Church of the Brethren last Sunday and the same Don Miller was there and he played his clarinet. He is an accomplished musician and we certainly enjoyed it. Nancy Faust, whom some of you may know, played the piano for him and the service. It was a small group but it is summer. After church, Jenny (our boss) Don, Nancy, Ric and I went out to lunch and had a good meal and great conversation.
This week we had a mother and daughter here and a husband and wife-full house! LOL. It is fun to get to visit with them and find our their thoughts are about Richmond, Earlham College and Bethany Seminary. I already know I would like to keep in touch with them but it is not feasible to do that.
We have found the farmer's markets in town and we are enjoying the fresh corn, melons, and other fruit. The weather this past week was ideal and continues to be so. Almost feels like fall, Cool mornings and evenings and warm in daytime but not so humid. We live a couple of blocks from the store so it is an easy and nice walk. People here are very friendly and helpful. I found Curves right away and it is close and Ric found a place to work out too. So I drop him off on my way to curves and pick him up on my way home. After refreshing ourselves, we hit Starbucks and read the paper with our coffee. Life is good.
Yesterday afternoon we went to the movies and saw The Help. It was sad, funny and unfortunately true. It is set in Mississippi in the 60's and is about the black maids lives. I sure would recommend it. Being from California all my life it is hard for me to even imagine it though it happened in my lifetime. I hope the younger generation go see it to know what some of our culture is.
That is all about us and how are you?
Take care and we do appreciate hearing from you.
Greetings to all,
Mom and Dad aka Grandmother and Granddaddy, Ric and Jan(ice)
5 great iPhotos Greetings from Branson, MO
Thu, Jul 28 2011 04:10
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July 28, 2011
Hi family and friends,
Once again we are eastward bound and in Branson on our way to Richmond Indiana. We are volunteering August and September at Bethany Seminary as hosts at Brethren House. We will be like house parents for short term students, visiting professors etc. I will know more when we arrive and get busy. We are both looking forward to a new adventure in volunteering. There is a chapel there with a very nice organ that I can practice and we can also attend any classes that we would choose,
We left home July 3 and spent that night and July 4 in Lancaster with our friends the Jeters. We had a fun indoor "picnic" July 4 as it was a little too hot to be outside. We had a good time but as usual it was too short to do any visiting.
We left there and wandered on to Flagstaff where it was cool because of the elevation. That was the end of our cool weather and it is still hot! We drove to Holbrook, AZ and went southeast through the mountains where there had been one of the big fires in May and June. We saw lots of fire damage and it went on for many miles. The road was closed during the fire and had only been reopened for about 3 weeks. The forests and mountains that were not burned were very pretty. It was a 2 lane road but very scenic and we had not gone that way before. We wound up in Deming NM for the night. The next day we traveled on to Ft. Stockton TX which was pretty much a day in the desert. We continued on to San Antonio which was our first long stop.
We went to San Antonio to help Ric's sister celebrate her 60th birthday, She told us last year that we had to be there so we made reservations at that time. It worked out as far as our volunteering in IN. Besides Ric needs to visit his mom who lives there and is almost 92. She still lives alone and drives to her "work" which is volunteering at a senior center and not too far from her home. She is in good health and walks daily.
We took a boat ride on the San Antonio River one evening which was 30 minutes long. It was beautiful and well worth it. It was part of the famous River Walk and was close enough to our hotel that we could walk. Again the heat was overpowering for me, at least. Ric does not mind it.
When we left there we came to Branson. We used two weeks of our timeshares and had/have nice places to stay. One was on the east side of town and one on the west which made it nice. The only disappointment was that none of the shows were the "real" performers. Most were paying tribute to the famous. I guess summer is not the best time to come here. We have been here before and it was much different but it was fall. Also some of the more famous are getting too old to perform or have died. Wonder how that happens? We were going to see the Russian comedian, Yakov who we have seen before and is really good, but when we went to get the tickets they told us that it is only produced by Yakov and he is not in the show. Country music is not our favorite either. At both resorts where we stayed, they had a 2 hour preview of some of the performers and so we saw a lot of what here. They were entertaining enough.
We attended Unity of the Hills church which we have attended before and it was good. Their sanctuary which is on a mountain is all windows in front and over looks Branson, Beautiful.
It is hot here and humid. Today we went to the Outlet Mall and when we got back in the car it was 121 degrees. It took a long time to cool the car off. It is only about 100 out, So we stay in a lot. We go out early in the morning to the gym and do whatever we have to do.
We will leave here Saturday morning for IN and hopefully it will be cooler there. (I am afraid it is not, however)
So that is what we have been doing. How about you? It it so nice to hear from so many of you. I keep in touch with some of you on Face Book but this is different.
Our best to you. Take care and enjoy life.
Ric and Jan
8 great iPhotos
Fri, May 27 2011 07:31
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Service April 30 2011 Many farm tools and things he used and valued.
Mother's Day 2011 006
me and mom2
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May 27, 2011
Hi all,
This letter is long overdue but so much happened in April. We were in Seattle visiting son David, Angel and Sasha as she celebrated her first birthday. We got a phone call that my brother Don had gone to doctor for his pre op appointment for a knee replacement scheduled the end April. While visiting the doctor, they found clogged arteries and decided a bypass surgery was in order. Two days later he went through a four way bypass and aortic valve replacement which lasted 8 hours. He just never really woke up from the surgery and had strokes. He lived a couple of weeks and with his big family all around him he passed very gently and peacefully away. He had a blessed life and was doing yard work up until then. He had been active and as far as we knew he was healthy. It was a shock but also a blessing that he did not linger. We have so many great memories as he and wife Pauline traveled allover the world with us. We had many good times to look back on.
It was on his 85th birthday his celebration of life was held and just a few years ago the four of us celebrated his birthday in Stonehenge England. We were on our way to the southernmost tip of England to spend a week near Penzance.
We went on a transatlantic cruise also in April as it was planned way ahead of time. We did have a wonderful trip across the Atlantic and we stopped only once at Gibralter where we had been twice before with Don and Pauline. Brought back many memories. We had seen the monkeys before so chose not to this time. We continued on our journey to Rome and then flew back to Seattle from there. We were on the Azamara and it was a small ship and the best cruise we could remember. Food, service, prices, everything was first class
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We returned to Live Oak towards the end of April for some busy times there. Our church, Church of the Brethren, celebrated its 100th anniversary in May. My grandfather was the founding elder so it has been a part of my family for that long. I played the organ for the 2 day celebration and saw many relatives and friends whom I had not seen for a long time. It was truly a wonderful week end.
We are now back in Seattle for a couple more weeks visiting before we return home and then head East via Texas first part of July. We have another busy summer planned with volunteering for 2 months. More about that later.
I trust this finds you in good health and enjoying life. Live every minute as if it were your last. We are well and healthy and just looking forward to whatever life brings us. We give gratitude in all,
Drop us a line as we always like hearing what is going on with you,
Love and hugs to you all,
Ric and Jan(ice)
5 great iPhotos
Mon, Mar 7 2011 02:26
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March 7, 2011
Hi to all,
We have been gone from Live Oak for 2 weeks now and have FINALLY gotten settled in the motorhome in Seattle. What a 2 weeks it has been!
The first week was good. We stopped in Oregon and visited family which was a real treat as usual and then came on up to Seattle. We had the motorhome in storage here over the long, cold winter, and it was not about to start when we were ready for it to. We spent 2 hours on a cold (23 degrees) morning waiting for the tow truck which finally came and towed it to Camping World where we had it serviced, bought new batteries and a few more less important things so it would run. Then we were told to have it towed to a transmission shop in Tacoma as it seemed the transmission might have some issues. We played the waiting game again but finally got it towed. While there we were told there was fire damage to the wires and few parts from the fire we had underneath the coach last Feb in N. CA. So we had to have that fixed. We finally drove it here to the Elks where we stay and hooked up to the water.
First thing was we had water pouring out the front door. So we shut off the water and finally found the filter was cracked which was under the sink. It was new before we stored the motorhome and it just froze. So thanks to a friend of David's who is a general contractor and his mother has a motorhome he takes care of, we were able it get that done. We turned on the water again and had another leak in the bathroom. So off the water went again and back came Bruce, David's friend the next morning. It was a cracked connector to a water line and we had to get that part and he fixed it. So we still have wet carpets which dry slowly in this rather wet weather but everything seems to be working as it should. I was ready to pack it all in and just go home. So disappointing not to have a place that is warm, dry and with water to live. What a long week that was.
In between times we had the pleasure to visit with David and Sasha. She is such a good happy baby and so much personality that she keeps us entertained all the time.
We plan to be here for a couple of months yet. We are going on a Transatlantic 13 day cruise April 4 with one port which is Gibraltor. Then on to Rome where we fly back to Seattle. We do like just being on the water. Our airfare is
paid as well as gratuities and we have a balcony so it was a good deal. It is a small ship, 694, which we like. The cruise line is Azamara which is owned by Celebrity. We are looking forward to it.
The weather has been typical Seattle weather. Lots of rain, some sun and then beautiful sunny days thrown in to make you glad you are here. It has been cold but days are not unbearable.
We hope this finds you all well and enjoying life as we are. It is just good to be here and back to a somewhat "normal" routine.
What have you been up to? It will be good to hear from you as you write. The Elks is supposed to get wi fi for their RV spaces today which will be a much appreciated service.
Take care.
Love and hugs to all,
Mom and Dad
Grandmother and Granddaddy,
Ric and Jan(ice)
