I see I am being asked what Jeff died from – to my knowledge, there has been no cause yet found. I have not asked recently, but did hear there had been three official autopsies given – the city Tuscon where he was taken, the army, and a Federal one. All said he had the organs of a healthy, well kept 20 yr. old body. Except for the bruising which came from trying to resuscitate him, and some damage from falling on the rocks when he died,  they could find nothing physicaly wrong. It will be quite some time before all the toxicology reports come back, but for now a temp. death certificate has been issued with death “cause unknown” so that Karen could do all the legal things that need to be done.

A Rose Arbor at my SIL home.

Mother’s Day – I do hope all the mothers had a wonderful day this day. I know, regardless of the sad situation I was in, I had one of the very best in a long time. My youngest daughter Sheilagh was with me. My son (who had not spent one with me for 30 years) was with me too. He treated both Sheilagh and I out to a very special breakfast, before we went over to sister-in law’s beautiful home to join her, Karen and the girls for the rest of the day.

Sheilagh took this one of me enjoying the group as they splashed and played in the pool and heated adjoining jackuzzi. Both of Karen’s sisters showed up with Christine’s two young boys. They are such a fun group to be around. Afterwards, Eugene and I spent some time with Ritva, looking at old photos of us all and our youngsters as they grew up. So many neat memories.

On Monday, Sheilagh took off to spend the day with Karen. They had to visit Jeff’s Dad, and then attend another funeral. This one of Karen’s old boss and friend, who had died of cancer the week before. I cannot imagine how she must have felt so soon after Jeff’s one. I do know she was very glad Sheilagh was with her that day.
As for Eugene and I, we just visited with George, and around Noon happily greeted my nephew Brent(my sister’s son), his wife and their new baby. They live on the other side of LA, so it is quite a trip for them. But how grateful and delighted I was that they made this effort to bring little Emma for me to meet. I had been dying to see and hold her. What a precious little doll. 2 months old, and as I held her she tried so hard to talk to me. I was amazed actually that she did make the sounds and tried to form words with tongue and lips for someone so very young. She is going to be one very social people person when she grows up!

Tuesday morning we had to leave. Another long travel day but went so smoothly and no problems at all. We arrived home around 9.30 pm, tired but pleased we had made this trip.

Oh my how this last month has flown! Too many things went on, and it takes me a while to absorb all of it (and sort out some of those photos taken while it was going on!)

First, let me thank all of you who left such sweet messages for me in my last blog. I truly appreciated them, even if I have been remiss in coming here lately.

Phone calls have been often and long. Many to Calif. as I talked with family there. The funeral was set up for the Mother’s Day weekend. But before this, on May 5th, I attended a beautiful Ceremony – the marriage of Grandson Brandon to his lovely wife Jackie.

Elmer and I in our Finery for the Wedding

The Happy Couple taking their vows

The next week it was quite a scramble to find seats on a flight to Calif that were acceptable – Sheilagh did all the booking and came across a good one. But it meant we had to drive down to Seattle to catch it. Smart girl, she also came across a very reasonable offer for a car rental, and a place where I could leave my car while away for not too bad a price either. This was all new to me, but made such a difference to our trip. We had our own transport, so could visit  family members without having to rely on my Brother for transport (he so graciously gave us a place to stay while there, and I did enjoy being with him) Even then George took us to some great restaurants, different every time we went out for breakfast, and tours of some neat places. As this was an old haunt of ours, we were amazed to see just how everything had  hanged and grown since we lived there. It also allowed Sheilagh to be with Karen helping her with some of the many things she now had to do after such a major change in her life, while Eugene and I did other – did I mention he was able to also come at the last minute? He too had to scramble to find a flight, but phoned just as I was about to leave here to say he was booked for the next day.
Sheilagh and I had quite the adventure getting there, and was able to make it to the viewing of Jeff before it ended at 8pm on Thursday. Seems hard to believe a three hour flight would take us traveling from 7am that morning to 7.30pm that night! We were just starving by then, (no time in all of this to have a proper meal and they do not serve on the plane) and were so happy a close friend of the family was still at the viewing who took us to Marie Calendars for a meal afterwards.

The next day, I shared all the photos I could bring and put on my lap top (which went with me – no time to go online though) with Odette, who was making a huge board for the Memorial of photos of Jeff. She was one busy lady, printing and sorting everything out, but did a wonderful job. Well  appreciated and looked at by the people that attended.

Both back and front had things to look at.

Nephew Kevin and I at the memorial

The service on Sat was short, but lovely. The turnout was way larger than anyone expected – over 340 for the service (they had to add chairs as well as put some up near the organ to accommodate everyone). They told us it was the biggest they have ever had there. At least another 100 visited the viewing that were unable to make it on Sat. The stories of how they knew Jeff and how much they had appreciated the time he had taken for each of them were so inspiring. He truly gave of himself in so many ways – school children and parents(he volunteered every Friday at classes bringing in all sorts of interesting things to share), the Audobahn society (for whom he volunterred as an official bird watcher and counter at the dam he took care of), people from all walks of life that enjoyed the picnic area he made and maintained at the dam and took on tours of the dam on his own cognizance.
He was also honored by his work team and a high ranking Colonel from his Army Engineering Corps for which he had worked in the last 17 years. Awesome young man!

to be continued….

In Memory of a wonderful young man – husband to my Neice, father to three beautiful young girls, dearly loved by all.

Jeffery Nelson Feb. 20 1965-April 28 2007

I am still reeling from his unexpected passing.

Today I sit here and listen to the rain. Times like this I feel I am waiting forever for the weather to become summer. It feels never ending. At least yesterday we had a break, even if the sun was not truly there, at least the temperatures are getting better. I watch the night ones closely at this time of the year, as I have several potted plants that I take out as soon as I am sure it will not go below 5c(42f).  It has been there the last week, but still too eratic yet. Oh well. I have taken a chance with two of them – my Canna Lillies that I bought last year. They look like they are trying to grow again. So, I got elmer to bring them out to the carport for me, and attempted to repot and break them up. Hmmm. They are too solid in the old soil and after struggling with one, I gave up and just put them back in their pots with some fresh soil at the bottom and around the edges. Now we will see if this is OK. One of them I was able to split a section off, and this I have plant directly into the garden. If they do not survive the next winter, then I will have lost nothing, and only have to gain if they survive. As for the spot I chose – had to move a couple of day lillies so they would be in front of it, so hope they do not have any problems after their move.  

While I was out there, I looked at all my Hyacinths – poor babies are being so battered with all the rain. I cut a few and brought them into the house so I could enjoy them for a day or two.

I see my Holiday/Christmas Cactus is also trying to put out some blossoms – these were all facing the window, so little sun coming to them, I am surprised even these few are there

      
These flowers and this vase of Tulips I bought at the flower show are what grace my livingroom for now. At least I can look at them and absorb their beauty when my outside world is wet and gray.

It has been a quiet week so far – very gloomy and damp.
I have been reading a lot of my subscribed blogs – maybe not letting everyone know, as I get them in the mail, but have been catching up folks.

Meanwhile, I did finish off my Florida albums – this last one is not that long. I was just too interested in everything, and many places, like the 3D shows, were not able to take pics of, but I am happy with the few I did take.

My florida Trip album 4 – Kennedy Space Center March 2007
http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/449078385/My_Florida_Trip_Album_4/

Today, the sun finaly did break through for a few hours this afternoon. Cold but pretty. I had heard that there was the big, once a year Flower Show at the Bradner Hall – it has been many years since we went there, so Elmer and I went to see it again. I had hoped to see more types of bulb flowers, and recaled from the last time they had representatives for all kinds of Holland bulbs. Did not see any of that this time. Still it was a great break, a change from every day, and afterwards we drove a lot of the back roads home looking at all the big homes and farms in that area. Just beautifu out there now with the Cherry trees in bloom and so many different Magnolias filled with their flowers too. The trouble with driving around, we do not pull over and stop to take their photos. Hard to do when the roads are narrow and traffic going on.
OK so what I have done is put the photos into an album here in Xanga. Let’s see how this works, as I have filled my quota for the month in CARE2 where albums/photos are concerned.

To see them I guess you are going to have to click on my photo link and look for the album link.

A week ago today I attended the Bridal shower for my Grandson’s fiance. Given by her family, it turned out to be a wonderful gathering. Fun to meet the future inlaws and her family. They really are a great group. And the gifts were lovely – surprisingly enough everthing complemented each other, with no duplicates.

Thursday morning, I was barely up and drinking my first cup of coffee, when I received a phone call from daughter Sheilagh – “Oh Mum, I know I should have done this sooner. Jamie reminded me she has an assembly at school, and she will be part of a group that are putting on a skit for it. She wanted me to ask you to come. Can you make it? You have to be here in the next 20 minutes” You bet I would make it. It is always so special to me when I am asked to be part of their lives. Rushed to get dressed and grab my camera, went out to start the car, and nothing happened! Oh No! what is wrong? Ran inside calling for Elmer “Help”  He took one look, handed me the keys to his Bronco, and said I will check it out while you are gone.

I am so glad I was able to go too, as she not only participated in a cute skit, but was awarded a certificate for being on the school honor roll for maintaing A’s through the whole school year to date. What an honor, and so proud she was recognized for working hard as she does.

Just look at her big smile!

When I got home, Elmer had taken out the battery and found acid overflow everywhere. He was just waiting for me to come back with his vehicle before taking it to Canadian Tire to get it checked out and replaced. The new battery was put in, everything seemed to be OK, but when I needed to go out again yesterday – oh oh nothing again. Now what? The charger was put on and it showed the battery was absolutely drained. We could not figure what was going on, but last night, while checking to see how it was re-charging, he noticed my dome light was on. This should not have been and I cannot imagine how it got clicked on, hopefully now the roblem is solved and I am back in driving business again. It really is a shock to not have a vehicle when you are used to always having one available. And I am just so grateful this time we have two of them (even though this was the very first time I have ever driven the Bronco)

Spring is in the air – my bulbs are finaly blooming and the garden is starting to look like a place I am going to enjoy going out too again.

Crocus

One of many pretty colored Hyacinths of mine

Delicate – one of the new bulbs I planted in the fall, I do not know their name, but they are like small blue stars.

Last but not least, here is my next Album from my Florida Trip. Enjoy.

My Florida Trip album 3 – Cypress Gardens
http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/449078385/My_Florida_Trip_album_3___Cypress_Gardens/

Looking at the date of my last entry – seems a whole lot longer than a week ago. My life must have been full

Well I guess it has in a way. Spent a lot of time catching up on the mail that had accumulated, and checking out on everyone I am connected to online (still working on this one LOL). I have also had several long phone chats with family members, especially my son and Grandson – Oh it felt good to hear from them and hear I had been missed. Just tickles me though – no email for a few days from Mum and something is missing! (My joke to myself) Honestly it has been wonderful to talk to the two of them, we so seldom have had that kind of time to do that.
I also had some fun things – our daughter Jean arrived the day before I got back, and as it was her birthday, I treated her to a birthday luncheon a couple days later, and that night family members all got together at the Chinese Smorg for a birthday dinner for her too. Would you know, I was the only one that took my camera, and when I went to take some pics the battery ran out and I had forgotten to bring extras! Guess her visit was not to be recorded by me

One of the pics from my Cypress Gardens Album I will be posting soon. This is me(and my friend) taking advantage of the mirror to take a self portrait – forgot to smile I was concentrating so hard

I had another birthday celebration for me too – a wonderful afternoon tea and visit given by a friend here in town

Both of us here were celebrating birthdays – look at the wonderful spread Terry put on for us. We are blowing out the candle as Terry and Angela sang Happy Birthday to us.

I have also been helping younger daughter at her rental home – the renter moved out and has left a disaster behind.
I feel so bad – it has to be almost re done inside, and the outside so much major work. We have been pulling out all the carpets, she has had to take out all the beading? around the bottom of the walls, she has had to remove the flooring in the living room and will have to replace a lot of the under boards. Many of the walls will have to be fixed and the roof had a major leak that has collapsed part of the kitchen ceiling……..  I guess you get the idea. So far she reports she has taken over 2000lbs (they charge by weight when you take it in) of refuse, both from the house and the yard, to the dump, and you cannot even tell the difference yet.

This is a Manatee – one of the pics from this next Album.

Ever heard of Cypress Knees?
this is what you see here – the roots of these trees grow up like this. Neat eh?

and of course what is Florida without a pic of their Alligators?

Here is the Album of my days adventures at Homossasa Springs – Enjoy.

My Trip to Florida Album 2 – Homosassa Springs
http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/449078385/My_Trip_to_Florida_Album_2___Homassasa_Springs/

I am back from a wonderful get away to Florida. It was a spur of the moment thing, where everything just planned out so well. Could have stayed there a whole lot longer, but spent only 5 days there and a day traveling there and one back – 7 days altogether. See Exlog said he missed me   I doubt he was too lonely for such a short time!

This was a lot of firsts for me – up to now I had never traveled without some kind of companion, and this time I was alone, doing a long plane flight with three aircraft changes to get there – Abbotsford to Calgary, Clagary to Denver, Denver to Tampa, arriving quite late in the evening and leaving 8am in the morning. In Calgary I only had 1hr between flights. Sounds like a lot, but first we have to disembark, then find where the luggage is as I had to collect it and go through customs, then find where my next gate is to check in and give my luggage in for loading. All of this takes time, and I was misdirected on the trip there, so really had to run. Just made it! Last person on board and I was shaking by then. Was a whole lot smarter coming back and double checked with two different people each time. Just as well, as one directed me to the opposite direction (as before) and I wouuld have been running from one end of the terminal to another again.

Another first was meeting in the flesh with the woman I was going to visit – a long time cyber friend. Oh my how I worried that the comaradie we had online would not be the same when we were together – all for nothing! We hit it off and were just thrilled to be together. Had a ball.

Of course I have never been East or Florida (except for the one day I spent in New York on my way to Calif. many years ago) so this was another first.

Lastly this was the first oportunity I have had taking the lap top with me. While I was unable to get online while away, it proved to be great as I could show off photos of family, and also download/view the day’s pictures I took every night and have them stored already before coming home.

I tried to figure out how that photo blog worked – you will just have to look in my photos here in Xanga for more as it did not do what I wanted and I put several in there with descriptions. These are just two of them.

Meanwhile, I am working on getting the rest into albums in CARE2. The first one is ready

My Flight, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin Beach
http://www.care2.com/c2c/photos/view/449078385/My_Trip_to_Florida__Album_1___my_flight/

A couple of days ago it was son John’s birthday. As he works long hours and weekends, with Tues and Wed off, we asked him and Angela to join us for dinner last night at The Keg. We have been waiting for a good excuse to go there, thanks to son and DIL Gerry and Barb, who had given us a gift card for it. But neither of us were wanting to go just for ouselves. Worked out fantastic. All of us had Prime Rib and it was just delicious! I had the camera, and was fully intending to take a pic of the plates, but forgot entirely as I could hardly wait to dive in and eat LOL Just melted in my mouth too.

Just before leaving, the snow started coming down, and driving home afterwards was like being in a witer wonderland, would have loved to have tried taking a pic then, but it was night and I decided if still there in the morning would take it then.  It froze overnight, but the sun is shining now, the snow just glistening (and starting to melt off the trees) and I did get some.

Across the street Neighbor yard

 Our Front from the driveway looking to the neighbors

Back fence and neighbor’s tree

One of my Rhodies – poor baby has had a tough time with the cold this year.

All of these were an experiment I was doing with one of the snow settings on my camera. I think they turned out well as the sun on the snow could have made these super white out. I really do love this camera

It has been a while since I last actually did anything in Xanga – even today is just a shortie to let you know I am still around.  Just nothing to say for recording lately . Winter blues, and while much has been going on I have very little to say about my life. Have not even had much oportunity to do any photo taking. Lots of time spent chatting on the phone and doing some major reading (my way of chasing the dull weather blues) so not much actual constructive time on the computer.

At least there are signs of Spring

My bulbs planted in the fall are starting to come up.

My Crocus are now in full bloom, and open on the times the sun shines. These make me happy to see their pretty color out there.