Christmas is coming!

Hello everyone!  Wanted to wish all of you a most Merry Christmas!  I have received some beautiful flowers from Joan and Randy, and have been making calls to all of my sons recently.  They are well.  We are covered in snow presently, but expect most of it will melt by Christmas time!  Hope you all are doing well.  Eggnog is good here, and the Christmas candies and Christmas carols are plentiful.  We have at least one caroling group per day come and serenade us.

Thanksgiving and on!

Hello everyone!

I had several great visits with Carol & Ken Marcoux and all of their family.  It was great to see them, especially little Joey - except he isn't so little anymore!

We spent time talking and sharing what is going on with the kids who are now adults too.  The pins you see on my jacket are for the upcoming season of Christmas.  One of them (the bells) is from my sister Judy who resides in Florida.  With our maiden name being "Bell" this has special meaning.  She wanted me to have it to wear.  I will treasure it.

The weather was quite cooperative during the Thanksgiving season, but has now turned cold.  We will not get much above freezing for our high temperatures for the next few days.  It did snow a bit, but not enough to stick.  This may change as the week goes on...

 Taking time to see my son and his family is special to me. 

They came up here to Washington from Colorado and California.  I look forward to seeing some of them again soon!

Fall is here!

Hello everyone:  Fall is truly here - the leaves have turned brilliant colors around my residence.  However, with the winds they will blow off the trees very soon!  Time for the long sleeves - my residence stays warm despite any power outage (usually due to high winds)

as we immediately go to generator.

I am well.  I am looking forward to visiting with Carol & Ken, and their children, spouses and my great grandson, Joey at Thanksgiving.  Hard to believe Joey is now 2!  I am sure he will be fun to see - full of energy and curiosity.

The kids from the Montesorri school across the street from my residence came by decked out in their Halloween costumes.  It was fun to see them.

Happy Halloween!

Hello everyone!

It is that time again - Halloween!  We find this to be a special day as the children at the preschool across the street from our residence come over in costume and we get to distribute candy to them when they are here.  It is lots of fun, and the food we get today reflects the spirit of Halloween.  Not sure how some of our staff who aren't from the US will find all of this frivolity, but we enjoy it.

I am well.  I tend to sleep a bit more now, but my body does well.  Being 99 has its perks, including being one of the senior residents at my place!  Come and see me anytime - you may have to remind me of your name and my relationship to you but I love company!

Lavender Festival

Hello everyone!

Lavender is in the air!  It is blooming around my residence presently, and the Sequim Washington Lavender Festival took place this past weekend.  Betty & Doug brought me some fresh lavender to have in a vase in my room, picked from one of the lavender farms they attended in Sequim.  It smells so nice!  No bees or anything in it, so perfect for my room.  Betty & Doug told me they had everything from lavender ice cream to lavender soaps at the festival.

I am doing well, although I am still getting my nights and days somewhat backwards in terms of my sleeping habits.  The doctor is working with me on this.  My wheelchair has become the envy of many residents and staffers here at my residence as it is comfortable and flexible for me to use.  Sure glad I have it.

Our weather has been quite nice around here, although this weekend we had fog that didn't burn off until noon each day.  Then, as has been for many prior days, the sun was shining and the skies a beautiful blue.

I am looking forward to a visit from Carol & Ken in 3 weeks - more on this later.  If you are ever up this way, please stop by for a visit.  I love to see everyone!

Hello everyone:

Wanted to post a picture of near to where I live.  As you can see, it is green, pleasant, inviting.  Unfortunately Tucson is having record high temperatures, and it is predicted to be that way for at least the next week.  Guess I am fortunate to have temperate weather, little rain, nice views of green with sunny skies right outside my window.

I am well.  Love talking to my sons weekly.  My residence is most comfortable and they take care of my needs.  I couldn't ask for a more responsive residence.

Summer is here!

Hello everyone!

I wanted to share with you our wonderful weather we are having.  I get to visit family outside now that the sun is out and the temperature is comfortable.  As you can see from the picture I am surrounded by flowers and green.  The air is so nice presently.  Betty & Doug bring my sunglasses that I use as the sun is sometimes really bright now!

We will have wonderful weather and no rain for the next 2 weeks, we believe.  It means lots of outdoors for me, and beautiful plants to enjoy.

Looking forward to your coming to see me sometime!

Happy Mother's Day

Hello everyone!

It is very close to Mother's Day and I began my celebration today with my son Doug, his wife, their son (and my grandson) Jeff and his wife Michelle.  We celebrated by going out onto the deck and enjoying the sun as well as a chocolate milkshake and chocolate chip cookies.  I got to talk with one of my other sons, Randy, in Tucson. 

In around 2 weeks Carol and Ken (another of my sons) are coming to visit me from Boulder, Colorado.  They have had weather that has been from blizzard and snow to warm, sunny days.  I am hoping our nice weather holds up here for when they visit me.

I am comfortable.  I, like over 50% of the residents around me, got a cold that causes me to cough some presently.  No fever, no aches or pains - just a maddening cough.  The MD says to treat it symptomatically with cough syrup.  It does seem to be waning a bit, so hoping by the time Carol and Ken come I am completely free of this nagging cough.

Hope to see and hear from all of you soon!

Hairdressers rule!

Hello everyone!

Today I got my hair done by our new salon technician - and I like it!  She does great work.

This week in the Seattle area is one of our best weeks - the cherry trees are blooming and the skies are basically free of any and all clouds.  While the temperature is still on the cool side, spring is really beginning to show up.

I look forward to Carol & Ken's visit to see me next month.  Who knows, with this hairdo I might just be "stepping out!"

 

Spring is springing!

Hello everyone!

Outside my residence window I am looking at a dogwood tree that is coming into bloom. It has beautiful white blooms on it, along with green foliage starting.   While we keep having schizophrenic weather (sun to rain to hail to snow and back to sun) the trees are working hard to bloom.  Across the parking lot from my residence there are cherry trees beginning to bloom, as illustrated by the picture accompanying this post.  It is still chilly up here but the weather is turning.  I believe our spring is really on its way.

I am well and happy to note that Carol & my son Ken will be coming to visit with me in about a month.  I always look forward to their visits.  My son, Randy, in Tucson is doing well with his shoulder surgery - he was released to go back to work on "light" duty this past week.  One of my other sons, Doug, is now not only out of his cast and his boot, but has begun to take short walks to strengthen his leg that he broke at Christmastime.  Everyone is doing well, including me!

I am sure that the cherry blossoms around here aren't quite as spectacular as those in the other Washington, but we sure have pretty blooms everywhere.  The daffodils are out in full bloom and the tulips are starting to bloom.  Spring is springing!

Easter!

Hello everyone!  Easter was a beautiful day here in the Seattle area.  The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  Still needs to warm up a bit for me to not feel cold outside, but it was good to sit at the table in the living room and look through the glass at the beautiful weather.  The cherry blossoms are beginning to make their appearance now, too.  I will try to post a picture of some of the lovely blossoms in a future blog post.

Doug & Betty came by with candy and a milkshake for me.  We enjoyed chatting with one of my other sons as well.  The weather was such that the outfit I have on (thanks to Ken & Carol) was perfectly fine to wear without any other jacket.  It is fun to dress more "springy" now!

The weather this week is said to mimic some of what Easter brought, and I intend to enjoy as much of it as I can.  It was even hard to not look out the window yesterday while I was involved in my activities and church service! 

Hope that you can come and visit me soon!

Bald Eagle

Last weekend there were clouds in the sky, but no rain.  We have learned that these conditions usually bring the eagles around more than usual.  And we were right!  In the middle of a nice drive, we found eagles - several of them.

Here is a picture of one of the eagles in a tree near the sound.  While it isn't salmon run time anymore, there they were, scouting for carrion and small critters, and basically ignoring us as we took pictures.  We had a great time!  And a chocolate milkshake added to the fun.

Between seeing eagles and talking with my three sons, I had a great day!  My residence was warm and cozy; the fireplace is my favorite place to hang out.  Come enjoy it with me sometime.

Our weather is better than yours!

As the picture will show, I sit here in my warm residence and am talking on the phone to both of my sons and their wives as well as enjoying a chocolate milkshake and conversation with Betty & Doug.  AND the sun is out!  Thanks to Carol & Ken I have an appropriate beautiful outfit to wear as the weather becomes more enjoyable.

Yes, it is still chilly outside here, but we are beginning to see the sun more!  My tree just outside my room is ready to pop with its buds.  I look forward to the dogwood white blossoms and the cherry tree pink blossoms that will make their appearance shortly around my residence.

Snow, both in Tucson and Boulder; none in Seattle.  Heavy rains and wind in Tucson and Boulder; not in Seattle (drizzle is more the correct term for our rain).  We are quite well taken care of here at my residence, and I love talking with my family.

Do come and see me and the soon to arrive cherry blossoms!  Next to Japan Seattle rivals the trees in Washington DC when it comes to cherry blossoms.  I promise pictures!

Warm & sunny - NOT!

Hello everyone!

Today the sun only showed itself by way of my visits with family.  It is rainy and cold here, but the chocolate milkshake still tastes great, even if it is cold to hold.

I am wearing one of the beautiful outfits that Carol & Ken have given me recently - its raspberry pink color brought a nice brightness to my room!  The fireplace felt wonderful - I found a spot where I could get close and enjoy its warmth without getting burned.  We did some great Bible study today and then sang familiar hymns that I always enjoy.

The tree outside my window promises spring will come with its buds beginning to show up, but I await the color burst it will have later in the year.  At least we aren't having some of that terrible cold weather that many of you are experiencing!

New Year, new things

Hello everyone: 

Wanted to share with you this gorgeous picture of my amaryllis this year.  It is really blooming nicely.  In addition to the four flowers you see in the picture, another stalk is moving up and will eventually take its place.  I love the color!  And it only needs watering rarely.

I also appreciate my continued health and wish all of you a wonderful New Year and continues good health too!

Christmas & New Year's Eve

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without my eggnog, so we had an eggnog/bourbon flavoring/whipped cream/fresh nutmeg & cookies party in my room with Doug and his family!  We had a great time, looking out at the Christmas tree lot that was on the lawn of our residence selling trees to the community.  It was a fun time!  I also enjoyed a beautiful new outfit from Carol and Ken and gorgeous flowers from Randy and Joan.  Between the Christmas carols being played and sung in my residence to the fun Christmas festivities here, I had quite a good time!

For New Year's Eve I stayed in.  There were lots of fireworks surrounding us - some way before midnight - so they added to the celebratory time we had here.  I was served sparkling cider to cheer in the New Year.  Black eyed peas were part of my sons' food, so lots of good luck should come their way.

I hope you had a great celebration with your loved ones.  Here is to a wonderful 2013!