A new life, the second half

My daughter with cast members from "numbers"

2006-12-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

huggie bear, cheerless cheerleader,and pirate, oh my!

2006-11-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

My sweeties' 40th class reunion!

2006-10-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Me and my baby girl

2006-10-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Harvest 2006, done!!

2006-09-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

Finally made it to an Indy race!! Nascar is next!!

2006-09-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Them Thare Grapes Ar A Ripen'n!!!!!!!

2006-08-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

Oh my, first day of Kindergarten already!!!!

2006-07-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

NOT TO SHABBY FOR A 54 YR OLD WITH M.S.!!

2006-07-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

vineyard is doing well

2006-07-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

God Bless America and our Vineyards!

2006-07-06T08:46:00.000-07:00

all our vets, papa and amaryllis, our parade stars!

2006-07-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

our very short driveway parade!

2006-07-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

OUR JULY 4TH FEAST... YUMMY

2006-07-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hollywood here I come!

2006-06-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

Better than my senior pictures!

2006-06-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED!

2006-06-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

LOOK OUT KINDERGARTEN!

2006-06-24T08:08:00.000-07:00

pre-school graduation evening.

2006-06-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Retired 99 car from 2006 Atlanta Race

2006-06-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

My #1 NASCAR Driver,Carl Edwards

2006-06-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Ahh! My goal..Note time, under one hour. yipee!

2006-06-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

Womens Fitness 5k walk ..(notice).. no cane!!

2006-06-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day!

2006-06-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads'. It is Always a bitter sweet celebration for us with Craig missing from our gatherings. But life is good and still lots to celebrate. Have a wonderful day. Tell those you love how much......:=)

Fathers Day 2006

2006-06-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

Out of my way... I'm goin for it!

2006-06-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

But I'm to little to be five she said....

2006-06-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

My new flail mower is a jewel!!!!! It rules!!

2006-06-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

My new work wheels!

2006-06-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

Fruit set coming soon

2006-06-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

Vineyard in full bloom

2006-06-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

Out of the M.S. Funk!!!!!!

2006-06-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

I've got my eye on it!!

2006-06-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

She is back!!!!!!!

2006-06-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone hope you hadn't given up on me. I had a M.S. relapse. Pretty ugly this round. I've been in physical therapy for the last six weeks to get back my range of motion in my left shoulder and arm. My vertigo finally got me and i fell and broke my tail bone. But do not fear I'm on the mend. That is why the call it r.r.m.s. ( relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis) Now you knoe 6/13 has come and gone but I would be celebrating. It was my middle grandchilds 5th birthday and she is having her party tomorrow. So I will be back with pictures. Keep me in your prayers and for goodness sake don't give up on me. What a great day it is to be up and about. :=)

Mothers day 2006

2006-05-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

EASTER IS FUN!!!!!!

2006-04-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

COLORING EASTER EGGS

2006-04-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

SACRAMENTO KINGS HERE I COME!

2006-04-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

WHO DOSEN'T LOVE A EASTER BASKET

2006-04-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

EASTER BRUNCH WITH GRANDCHILDREN

2006-04-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

2006-04-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

Well it is the 13th of April and of course that means celebrate in my world. My Mom is 79 years young today. She has had a challenging time this year. But as always hangs tough. I have a few surprises up my sleeve for her today. We shall see......My Dad is holding his own. His depression has improved and he is considering chemo. I had a M.S. episode while getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. I became dizzy and my legs collapsed breaking my tale bone and my head knocking a hole in our sheet rock. I couldn't get up my legs were to weak and the dizziness unreal. I yelled for my husband and he came to my rescue. That was the worst M.S. experience I have had. It was humiliating and shocking. I am just now able to talk about it. This occured two weeks ago. Have a great day! And celebrate the 13th. It is a wonderful DAY!

33 years together, Happy Birthday CKGW!

2006-04-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!

2006-04-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my Daughters 33rd birthday. I know she is one of the odd ducks of the family. Born on the 7th but was due on the the 13th. She has never been one to wait for anything.... Anyway she and I have a spa day planned. Manicures, pedicures hairstyle the works. I am really looking forward to this. Then we are meeting the rest of the family at the new sushi place for dinner. Should be a fun day. Will report back later and probably have pictures :=)

Getting a hair cut is hard work! Nap time!

2006-03-27T21:54:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for my first haircut

2006-03-27T21:51:00.000-08:00

2006-03-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

2006-03-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

2006-03-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Terrence

2006-03-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

March 13th!

2006-03-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

Another 13th of the month has come and gone with celebration and Terrence is now 1 year old! The big party is this Sunday. What a hoot that will be for sure. I'm waiting for a call from my Mom. Dad is not doing well again. He is very weak and she is concerned that his kidneys are shutting down. Not sure I am ready for this. But as my dear friend from N.C. has reminded me.... Life lessons continue till our last breath and perhaps beyond. Keep the power of prayer coming. Thank you all.

2006-03-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

2006-03-15T07:56:00.000-08:00

Winter wonderland..... Not!

2006-03-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

We had a labor crew coming at 0600 hrs to prune the vineyard and we woke up to even more snow than before. Starting to get concerned. The little buds are swollen on the vines and not sure now they are going to like that snow. The love of farming.. Sigh. And I now have this bug of a head cold that is running a fever and flaring up my m.s. symptoms. I have decided to ask my Hubby to make a fire for me and curl up in my chair and read until NASCAR comes on. The Bush series in running today and Nextel tomorrow in Las Vegas Whoooo Rhaaaaaa! On the Happy dance side of things I have lost 16 pounds since the first of the year. Still going strong. I hope to find a new weight I'm comfortable with. I still have a hard time not focusing on a number on the scale. My fighting weight was always 120. I'm not sure that is realistic in this world I live in at the age of 54 years young. But I want to find a healthy weight for all my other numbers BMI,BFI,BP,and cholesterol. And I want more energy even with M.S. Have a great day and enjoy the race if you got some time.

Snowing again!

2006-03-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

snow peaks on Tahoe

2006-03-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

Sunshine!!

2006-03-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

Today is so clear and sunny. The snow cap mountains from our bedroom are so gorgeous. Tomorrow is a different story. We have another cold front moving in with estimated snow elevations even lower than the last storm at 1,000 feet! The vineyard is still dormant so not to worry about damage at this point. Today was to be the day that my friend and her husband were to visit from North Carolina. They are staying in Reno with his brother. With the weather it may have been difficult for them to get over the summit so I guess it is safer all the way around. It was disappointing to have to cancel because my husband and I have been under the weather with some type of bug. Didn't think they wanted this bug as a souvenir. But I did so much want to see her and get that girlfriend hug. My dad has surgery again tomorrow. He is so weak and even sounds weak on the phone. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers we really appreciate the positive energy.

But it is sooooo Pretty to watch!

2006-03-04T14:41:00.000-08:00

Snow! In my California Vineyard????????

2006-03-04T14:37:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh! A new month!

2006-03-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

I love the first day of the month almost as much as the 13th's. Just another silly quirk of mine revealed. Just a new beginning and spring farming is in full motion. Strip spraying the vine rows of the vineyards and pruning the vines. Each season has a beauty and mystery of its' own. Needless to say we are behind schedule as usual for us now a days. Of course the storms of Mother nature has had some to do with it, along with our procrastination. My Dad is not doing well. He went to the emergency room last night not really clear on what my Mom has said so I'm waiting to talk to the Doctor. He may have additional surgery coming up. I'm concerned he isn't strong enough. Keep us in your prayers.

Snowy walk in Missouri

2006-03-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

PaPa's Birthday

2006-03-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

Dancing with the Stars

2006-02-27T09:09:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh..... Dancing with the stars has concluded for the season. Day one withdrawal's for me.... I love that show and this season was even better than last. The Drew crew was my favorite from the very beginning. So needless to say I was thrilled that they won last night. But on to real life.... Today is my sweetie pie husbands birthday. ( he is one of the odd ones in the family not on the thirteenth) But after all he did only marry in to this family... He is 58 yrs young this morning. We went to our daughters last evening for birthday dinner and cake. She is a very good cook and baker. The name of the birthday cake was " outrageous chocolate" and that it was. Chocolate, white and dark with heath crunches. yummmmmmm. We all had our one serving ( my hubby and daughter had two) and then her husband is taking it away to the firestation for them to finish. ha! Those firefighters love her cooking and baking. On the other hand my Dad is holding his own at times. I think this time his age is working against him. It is had being so far away. sighhhh

NASCAR season is back!!!!!!!

2006-02-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching my recorded Daytona 500 Nascar race. A fine start to the 2006 season. It was a good fix for my heavy withdrawls from the 2005 season. I absolutely love car racing. Indy and Nascar are my favorites. Some day "I WILL" attend a race in person. I just have to figure out how to afford comfortable and climate controlled way to do it. I'm waiting on a call from the Doctor to get a report on my Dad. Things are about the same. However he has started having night sweats and talking out of his head according to my Mom. Not sure about this one..... Have a great day everyone. God Bless.

There is a big world out there!

2006-02-22T06:49:00.000-08:00

The Princess

2006-02-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

Tractor Lesson 101

2006-02-22T06:42:00.000-08:00

HOME!

2006-02-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

Back in California! WHoooohoooo! I missed everything including my dumb cats. My Dad and Mom insisted I return home. I wasn't being of much assistants anymore. Mom and I were starting to fuss with each other. And we were both worn out. Dad is still not doing well. We have been dealing with alot of different infections. Now he is having some reactions to all the antibiotics. I'm very worried and would not be surprised to return very soon. My Husband missed me very much. He met me at the airport with a dozen roses,cards,& my birthday present and one big wonderful hug. I now need to decompress and recover myself and I'm starting with a 1 1/2 hour massage this afternoon. aaaaahhhhhhhh!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

2006-02-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

Well here it is 2/13/06 and at 11:20 a.m. my biological clock turned over to 54 years of age. This is the first time in 35 years I have spent my birthday with my parents. I live in California and they in Missouri were I was grown and raised until the age of 18. It was a great place to grow up but I'm California through and through. As a transplant my roots are strong and deep. I miss my husband and family terribly. Thank goodness for cell phones. My Dad is recovering very slowly from his colon cancer surgery. We have him home and he is as comfortable as possible. The tumor had gone through the wall of the colon. He goes back to the surgeon on 2/15 and is then being sent to oncology. So it ain't over yet. We had a light blanket of snow and it was beautiful to watch. Especially since I didn't have to drive any where, a nice treat for a California girl. Thanks for all the well wishes and support. And hopefully many, many more birthdays for me!!!!!

Thanks!

2006-01-28T09:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all that have made such supporting comments about my Dad. His surgery is this coming week on Thursday. I will be praying and waiting for the call that he is in recovery. We really won't know the extent of the cancer till then. And what will happen next. I will be traveling back when he gets out of the hospital. Both my Mom and Dad are more concerned about me and my M.S. than they are themselves. (Go figure?) I'm trying to maintain an attitude " what is.....is" and we will deal with it. Try to keep stress levels low so I won't set myself up for an exacerbation of my own illness. I really want to be of some help to my Mom when I go back. Maybe I should take my Yoga mat????? OMMMMMMMM

He is learning and no stopping him now!

2006-01-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

Grandkids Sleepover

2006-01-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

Life is happening...

2006-01-18T10:35:00.000-08:00

I'm waiting for another call from my parents to find out when my Dad is having surgery. He is having colon surgery and I will be going back to Missouri again. My dad is 82 and has a blockage in his colon they suspect to be cancer. They will remove 8 inches at least. Needless to say my Mom is not doing well with this. She is 79. They are having their 60 the wedding anniversary in Feb. She always she wants to live one more minute longer than him so she can take care of him. I'm anxious and nervous over this life event myself. I'm just not as durable as I use to be. Wish me luck.

January 13th!!! And Friday!!!!

2006-01-13T09:31:00.000-08:00

I love the 13th of the months, and especially when it falls on Fridays. You see my entire family was born on the 13th of one month or another. Thirteen has just always been my favorite and lucky number. So to make it simple I just celebrate the 13th of every month with others or just to myself. Like today is my brother in-laws birthday. Next month will be mine. Then my grandchilds etc. So if you don't have anything special going on today you can celebrate with me.

The girls go wild!

2006-01-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

What a special day

2006-01-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

Check out the bowtie!

2006-01-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

The Little Ones Christening

2006-01-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhh! Day 4 of this new year....

2006-01-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

Day four of this new year and going strong on all my goals for 2006. I have dedicated this year to hanging tough and getting out of my slump. I think I have said before that having m.s. is a lot of grieving. You grieve many loses and it continues on as the disease progresses. I have been thru an entire year now with this diagnoses. Feeling sorry for myself. Feeling bad and having no energy. Self doubt and feeling diminished. Embarrassed. Lonely. Sad. Incompetent. But now it is time to make the most of what I got while I got it! So this is the year I start treating myself better. This is the year that I walk 10 minutes instead of none because I can't do the 90 minutes I use to. This is the year I become an accomplished moderation manager instead of a all or nothing person. Whatever this year brings I hope to live and appreciate every damn moment of it because some folks won't have that privilege. So bring it on 2006!

DAY 1 OF 365.....

2006-01-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years everyone! The first day of 2006. I love new years. A fresh start. Full of hope and plans. Today my husband and I will look at goals for ourselves, ranch,and family. 2005 was a very challenging year for us. Good and bad. I was finally diagnosed with M.S. in January 2005. We increased the size of our family by one when Terrence Scott was born. We sold our first commercial wine grape crop this year. I raised over $3,000 for the m.s. society. Two special friends died. I started yoga classes. I made a new friend. I learned more about myself. My daughter ran her second marathon and I was at the finish line to see her. My relationships grew and so did I. So may I be so fortunate next year this time. The best to all in 2006.

HAPPPY 2006!

2006-01-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Farewell Julie Whitt .... We miss you!

2005-12-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

Today I say farewell to a BFL friend. Julie lost her battle to survive Monday,12/19/05. She had been at Dukes university hospital since Thanksgiving waiting for a double lung transplant. Her lungs were damaged years ago from the treatment to fight cancer. Julie has been a inspiration to all of us with health issues. Numerous complications occurred during surgery. Over 100 pints of blood were required, and profuse bleeding continued after surgery. Her organs started to fail and she was gone. As I write this I still can't believe she is gone. But the last time she wrote she was prepared for a new life on earth or heaven. She believed she would be with her maker...... I hope that is true. But we do miss her so.

Happy Birthday Craig Zachary Gibson!

2005-12-21T08:35:00.000-08:00

The 20th was Craigs' 31st birthday. We miss him so much. Sometimes it just does not get any easier. There is just more and more things in life he did not get to be a part of or experience. I wonder if he were still alive how many more grandchildren I would have to love and spoil. Would he live close, would he be married? What would he do for a living? Would his sister and he still keep secrets from us? What kind of car would he drive? Would he work on our ranch? Would he like the vineyard we named after him? Sigh..... So many unanswered questions.

They are my heart!

2005-12-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

Ready, Set, OPEN!!!!!!!

2005-12-19T04:32:00.000-08:00

Annual Santa Prime Rib Day Eve

2005-12-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

It is the week before Christmas and all through the house Diana (nana) is making the final touches for Santa Prime Rib Day. This all started some years ago when our family could not agree on Christmas dinner. "We just had turkey, Ham and Lamb are for Easter, Prime Rib is good but what about stuffing?" You get the picture. So we started having it all...from the week before Christmas thru taking down the tree the week after New years. Now that our family has grown with in-laws and such. Things can get complicated. So the week before Christmas is our immediate family day. And the grandkids come to our house and open the presents from nana and papa and have prime rib. It is great! Less stress, they have only a few presents they can play with all day. And the best part is Nana and Papa get the joy of the "Just Us Love". Selfish???? Yes.... but we love it. Adapting this was easy because working in law enforcement for all those years we had Christmas and all holidays by the days we were off work and not by the calendar. In fact when we both worked weekends we had been known to declare Holidays mid week from school to be with the kids. It was our family secret. Ha The kids loved it and the truancy from school seem to pay off in this case. So stand by for Santa Prime Rib day photos and I'm sure a few stories to go along with them.

2005 Cookie day memories

2005-12-12T02:32:00.000-08:00

This years cookie day ended up being a cookie weekend. My M.S. had a little to do with it, but mostly we just had so many wonderful cookies to make and you can only bake so many at a time! As a sample....We made outrageous brownies, raspberry chocolate shortbread, old fashion lemon sugar cookies, cream cheese snowmen and snow balls, white chocolate cherry chunkies, and peppermint bark candy. And each and everyone of them was made with love and so much fun. With the completion of this holiday tradition our Christmas is in full swing. I think the best is yet to come. You know......SANTA!

Ready for delivery

2005-12-12T02:29:00.000-08:00

Wow..... yum

2005-12-12T02:26:00.000-08:00

Let the Art work begin!

2005-12-12T02:24:00.000-08:00

The Masters of Cookie day

2005-12-12T02:22:00.000-08:00

COOKIE DAY!

2005-12-09T06:53:00.000-08:00

I'm off to my Grandkids for our annual cookie baking day for the holidays. My Daughter picks the most awsome recipes and of course a few traditional ones also. For eating right this is a struggle day for me. For fun.... this is an absolute blast. I'm sure I'll have some cookie chuckle posts for you soon. Happy baking!

The dance recital that did not happen.

2005-12-05T08:57:00.000-08:00

It was colder than heck when I left the ranch early December 3rd to drive 70 miles to my granddaughters first dance recital. Her other Grandmother was traveling the same distance but from the bay area. There was a Luau planned and we were all to dress accordingly for the festivities after the event. (Even though it was 29 degrees and it took me 20 minutes to defrost my car. Even my red flag on the mail box was frozen tight when tried to pull it out) But being the devoted Nana that I am the excitement was high. Amaryllis had been so excited about showing off her new learnings of the art of Hula. Thanksgiving we had a tease performance after dinner to make sure we were all just as enthused about attending the recital to see her stuff. She was absolutely adorable in her grass skirt,lea, and flower in her hair. I noticed she seemed awfully quiet as all the people started coming in. She started getting all clingy and wanting to sit in my lap. She got up when they called her group and as cold as it was outside, some how a fly managed to be living in the recital facility. And it loved Amaryllis' lotion or hairspray. It landed on her forehead and just would not leave her alone. She got that deer in the headlights look and froze. Then off the stage she went!! Mom, and both sets of Grandparents even tried to pay her and a promise to Toys R us afterwards but now deal. She sat on my lap the rest of the event till the cookies and punch came out. sighhhh We shall see how the next one goes. Funny I remember my first tap dancing recital at 5 years of age. I know that feeling to well. And my mom reminded me of her feelings as well. Life is so fun!

Hula girl with stage fright and walked off stage

2005-12-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

A not so happy hula girl

2005-12-05T08:52:00.000-08:00

The dress rehersal for the hula recital

2005-12-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

Amaryllis and her Hula Instructors

2005-12-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

Ahh! The perfect tree... time to go home.

2005-11-29T09:39:00.000-08:00

Hot chocolate is really hitting the spot.

2005-11-29T09:37:00.000-08:00

All wrapped up and ready to find that tree.

2005-11-29T09:35:00.000-08:00

Snowy Peaks Christmas Tree Farm 2005

2005-11-29T09:33:00.000-08:00