It's Happening

Retire?

Going to retire?

Retired?

Yep, that will be me....I guess.

October 27th

37 years and one day.

It went by quickly.

The 37 years.

One day?

I chose that because I wanted to be sure the records read a full 37 years.

Anal?

Probably.

My job is record keeping.

Or the job I have been doing that has now been divvied up to five people, yes I said five.

What am I doing now that five other people are doing my old job?

Sitting at my desk looking at all the stuff I have to take home on October 27th.

Lots of stuff.

37 years and one day worth of crap.....stuff.

Two years ago holding my 35 year pin, that's my boss Jim on my right. He retires on the same day I do. Good thing, as I always had to tell him what to do.

Little Ninja

 We sadly said goodbye to one of the dearest little dogs that came into our lives. 

Ninja or Ninjie as our granddaughter Lucy called her, had a wonderful life with our son Ian and daughter-in-law Jill. Ninja came into our lives when she attended Oregon State University with Jill and Ian, she loved the early years on campus attending class out of view inside Ian's jacket.

While she attended college was when we introduced our Betty to her and they became immediate friends. Many a time Ninja would come home on a break and spend time at Menagerie Manor playing with Betty and the other animals. She loved playing chase with Max the cat who was so gentle even being at least twice her size.

A few years later life as Ninja knew it changed, nap time with her boy suddenly included another little soul that soon won her heart, Taeya our first granddaughter.

 Among her life changes was when Ninjas mother QP and sister Rhonda came back into her life.

 That bed was getting darn full.

There were trips to the park and Ninja loved to ride in the wagon with Taeya.

Sometimes she would be joined by our Betty

Ian and Brooklyn playing games

Ninja accepted changes with grace, she knew no matter who shared snuggle time with her boy she always had her spot.

Lucy was soon added to the fold

Morning Kisses

Sharing peanut butter sandwiches by the fire

Babysitting Hector while Lucy was busy
October 7th
I have been corrected, the dolly is Hector's sister Isabelle 

Ninja loved our family stays at the beach

I will miss my little jacket buddy

The Avalon

After no rain since June the heavens have opened up for the day. A much needed relief as so much of Oregon and Washington have been devastated by fire. The rain did hold off enough for an afternoon trip to Clatskanie, MeMa's home town. From 1951 to 1971 MeMa's parents owned and operated the "Avalon Theatre" and in a town with only one traffic light that was pretty much the hot spot of the town. One could take a break between movies and go have a bite at Humps Restaurant which is still in operation today.

After the Avalon closed several developers purchased over the years but none were successful and the old building soon became an eyesore.

 A few years ago the City purchased the old building and turned it into the Clatskanie Cultural Center and reopened the old theater as the Birkenfeld Theater........ when big money is donated that is who you name it after. As a thank you for folks that donated they held a special opening night event. 

As a young girl MeMa spent many nights working in the ticket booth or selling candy and popcorn.

Her mother Lela used to patrol the seats with her flashlight in hand and any trouble maker would receive a bonk on the back of the head.

MeMa sitting in her seat

In memory of her parents and an important time of her life, not to be forgotten.

 "Dale & Lela Johnson Avalon Theatre"

Along with the theatre the upstairs houses City Hall, judges chambers and the old ballroom has been completely renovated with a kitchen and bathrooms added for local events.

Clean-up On Aisle 2

Next weekend MeMa and I are hosting our annual staff party for my office, a nice low-key evening of dining and conversation in the garden. With a lot of work the gardens are looking great and especially the hardy banana which were topping out at about twelve feet. Did I say were? We had rain for the first time since June and with the rain we got wind, lots of wind. The next day the gardens and pathways were covered in debris from the Redwood and the poor banana looked as though someone had braided its leaves.

Hardy Banana as it looked before the wind.

I had no choice but to cut most of the leaves out while trying to sort through the mess.

I was quite surprised to find a flower had formed for the first time. Must have been the mild winter and long hot summer.

Patient Gardener

When it comes to container gardening the patient side of me usually doesn't show, I want instant gratification so I cram the largest plants and lots of them to give me a look that I had envisioned.
This large stoneware pot that I gleaned from work when they did some office redesign work brought the patient gardener out in me. I was walking through the garden and stopped in front of this corner of the garden that was empty and immediately thought of this big container that was sitting in the driveway. After it was manhandled to the back garden, filled with potting soil, I plopped the bronze statue (selfie) that our son Ian did of himself depicting one of those educational periods of his life. Then it was off to the nursery for a canna, a six pack of burgundy delight coleus and two potato vines, one green the other purple. All very small and very unlike this gardener but I sat back and envisioned the future.

May

June

August