tested, unbroken...

barn in Brush Prairie

I haven't been posting much as my heart just doesn't seem to be in it. It has been an eventful summer, so where to begin.  For the most part I have given you the good, with the bad left out, til now. 

 In July a son by another mother, and Jacey's boyfriend's dad,  was in a terrible motorcycle accident.  He was hit by a drunk woman with, of course, no insurance.  I won't go into all the details, suffice it to say we were all devastated and praying hard that he would make it. 

That hard working, fun to be with, family man, who was always hugging me, and calling me mom, hung in there for 34 days before he left us. 

Two other families we know, lost their 19 year old daughters in separate car accidents this summer. So loved and cherished by their families and friends, gone.

One of my beloved SIL's has been very ill, and in and out of the hospital all summer. She's had a rough year in so many ways.  But she's a strong lady with gumption and thankfully is on the mend.

On a lighter note...

Granddaughter Jacey's old soccer coach called last week and offered her a job as assistant soccer coach at a high school near her mom's.  On Wednesday she packed up her stuff and moved back up to her mom's so she could start work Thursday. Her mom and I laughed at the amount of stuff, a full pickup load, she had in her bedroom here.  

 She's excited for this next adventure in her life, and I'm happy for her. Plus she will be a big help with Miss B's PT. Willie and I sure miss her though and all the drama an eighteen year old brings. I wouldn't trade having had her with me this past year for anything.

  

The RV has been put up for sale on a commission sales lot. It seemed like a good thing when I bought it, but things changed and there has not been enough time to really use it.  Besides my Tahoe is big enough to stay in if need be and a lot less hassle for one person and a grumpy ol dog.  

trailing cows in the Sierras by R Ross

I'm looking forward to road tripping to see family and friends, and going to Harstine Island. My SIL raves about it, so much so that they are considering selling their place in Salmon Creek and buying up there. 

It's time to visit the resting places of the touchstones of my heart: the Cowman, & Dad.
And to be thankful for the time I've had with those I love, be it long or short... 

Bragg'n... again..

I have awesome grandkids, just say'n.  They are all very different people, yet their high core values are much the same.  Country raised kids, that have been taught work ethics, and manners.  They give me hope for the future of our country.

Cody & his Poppy in the branding corrals

Cody, my grandson, after getting out of the Navy, (with numerous deployments down range in harms way as a corpsman), 

graduated this spring from a local JC with highest honors, and has been accepted at UC Davis in the biological sciences division. He is on track to becoming a PA. 

He got interested in photography along the way, and has some amazing photos at Black Shield Photography.  

One of his latest:  Scripps Pier near San Diego.

Time for an Update...

Granddaughter Jacey & I have been to Willie's favorite dog park in Brush Prairie.

barns near the dog park

The smell of alfalfa, evergreens, cattle, and country... I probably need this more than Willie.

We went to a Hot Rods & Hot Dogs car show...

  But the Best News of All:

A post surgeries update on granddaughter, Miss B. via her mom...

July 19, 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children, Portland OR

"She’s on the mend.... still no weight bearing or PT for another month, but everything looks good!"

August 15, 2019 at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Portland, OR

"Today was the day.... almost 7 weeks in bed and the casts are off! Lots of work left for this girl.... but she’s a tough determined lil girl!"

She has been a fighter since the day she was born.

Life in the slow lane...

 Flowers and ferns I planted are doing well. 

It has rained off and on for the last couple of days, and was cloudy and cool today.  The plants liked their extra water.

There is a going out of business sale at the little ACE hardware near me. So, I decided to paint the fence that surrounds the front patio. Of course I started on a hot day, and then it rained for two days... 

Before with just the gate done:

after that side was done.

 I have one side and half the front done and will try to finish in the next few days, weather permitting.

My petunias have been hard hit by the dreaded bud worms. Doesn't take them long to make the blooms disappear.  Spraying with BT in between rains and picking off the ones I see.

Decided to make bracelets for the girls and I.  LOL, some have been remade several times, as the vision does not always translate well in fact...

Willie is doing well, and in fact earned his keep today by dispatching a big rat.  He was quite proud to be of service.  "Got a bacon biscuit for an ol scrapper, ma'am?" 

    

This and that...

Flowers are blooming in my planters.  

I have been trying to get a few fixits done around the hovel.

Placed rocks and spread new bark around my planter in front.  

The front deck was dark and nasty, I don't think it had ever been cleaned.  I was going to borrow my Sean's power washer, but was afraid that would chew up the deck.  The local Ace hardware was having a sale so I picked up a jug of deck cleaner.  Mixed half and half with water, broomed it on, waited three minutes and hosed it off.  It looks a little better now.

Finally... got my kitchen table and chairs painted.

Before:

 

After:

It's a very "rustic" paint job... lol   Still have the table top to refinish, but that's a project for another day.

I'm collecting crosses to make a wall collage for some (as yet undecided) area of the hovel.

Went to the blood suckers this past week. Everything was going along nicely til the phlebotomist started and the needle was out of position.  Blood sprayed all over me.  She got the needle repositioned and went on with the draw.  She was very apololgetic, I laughed, learned a long time ago to wear old clothes to the blood bank.