Second Saturday in June 2011

 Beautiful flowers for a lovely wedding... Kristina and Dustin Holgersen

Aunt Meredith, Bev, cousin Don, cousin Bonnie, Fern

Grandma Gertrude and Grandpa Harry, with Chad Rudolph

Grandma Meredith and Jeremy Holgersen

Larry Ross and Kristina Ross... the new Mrs. Holgersen!

Garrett, deputized for a day...witness for a lifetime.

Three couples mentioned: Adam and Eve, David and Abigail, Aquila and Priscilla.

New tradition... enduring love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My cousin's son got married last weekend. It was a beautiful ceremony. Kristina is an only-daughter and is so in love with Dustin! Dustin's dad is my cousin on my dad's side.His Grandma Gertrude on his mother's side is a close friend of mine, so Dustin calls me "Auntie-cousin." It was nice to witness this union, and the blending of traditions. The wedding ceremony was very nice, and Scott B. spoke (a gospel meeting, really!). The reception was fun and filled with many "big church" traditions. The food was great, and lots of cookies! Dustin and Kristina beamed with joy!

Saturdays in June -- 2011 style part 1

the first Saturday in June I went shopping at Ontario Mills. Actually not buying-shopping, just window shopping. my mother-in-law's sister and her boyfriend were here visiting from Germany. they wanted to go to a big mall, so I took them. It was fun. they don't speak very much English, and I speak even less German. Eddie wanted to get things on his list that his children and grandchildren gave him. first stop - Nike store, where he wanted a hat or t-shirt with volleyball on it. nothing at all in the store. every other sport imaginable, but no volleyball. tennis, baseball, hockey, plain, nike swoosh, but no volleyball. so he'll just get some hats, there are lots of hat to choose from. we were in that store for well over an hour, and the sales-people were very helpful. one kid kept running back to the stockroom for the right size for Eddie's grandons. it was great! Eddie wanted "Wilsons" sports items, and he saw Wilsons on the mall map. I told him-- tried to tell him, that was wilsons leather goods. so we walked down there, and I showed him. ahhh, sooo. Renate wanted cake. We saw a Starbucks, but for some reason we didn't go there in the mall. Something about wanting to find a bakery or coffee-shop outside the mall. We left the mall, and went to a diner across the street, but it was closed, shut-down months ago due to the economy. that's why there were so many available parking spaces. so we head north, and look for a cafe on our way home. here's one, i say, Honeyville Farms. We step inside, it is an organic grocery store, not serving cake and coffee. So we go home. On the way home we see some fella selling slot machines on the roadside. Renate tells a funny story about a relative who should buy on and put in the dash of the car. some people have a real lucky touch and win money on those things. i don't play them. if i am putting money into something, i better walk away with a full stomach or some pretty shoes, at the very least. i don't have a photo of our mall trip. after the mall my mother-in-law treated all of us to La Casita for late lunch. that's another funny story. Eddie ordered beer, the waiter brought him root-beer. here is a photo the next day when Mark bar-b-que'd for all of us. 

2011 Band Awards

Saturday May 7, 2011... yes, that was Buttonwillow I convention, and yes, we were there for half of the convention. But the Band had the year-end pot-luck and Awards night on Saturday, and so we had to leave Buttonwillow and get to Oak Hills High School by 5pm. We got home at 4pm, I jumped in the shower, and by 4:35 Troy and I were at the school. I had some stuff to give to the director for the ceremony, and I grabbed my mail. While I was going through the mail, I came across a letter from Verizon Cybergrants. Yes, the check finally came! Verizon matched my 50 volunteer hours for 2010 with a check for $750.00!

 The pot-luck was a success, and I was so glad for other boosters who took charge and got everything set up, and made coffee, and decorated. There was a mad dash to re-arrange the seating, because the wrong size tables were set up. Balloons lined the PAC, and the crepe-paper ribbons from the previous night's event (cheerleading banquet) were still in tact.

Mr. Sherrodd - director, awarded the boosters first. He recognized and thanked those core folks who give selflessly of their time, energy, money, etc., and the board officers received a framed photo of the band and all the kid's signatures.

The boosters presented the Booster's Choice award. Cristian Rivas is a humble recipient, saying that it is everyone's efforts that make the band a success. He went to each booster involved and thanked them. This was a first-ever award, which will continue in future years.

Turn sideways!  Troy...Junior Class band member of the year.

Booster's Choice Award

Student awards were followed by a video of the past year, which Mrs. Sherrodd put together. The student leaders were recognized, as well as the County Honor Band students. Troy got the Junior Class band member of the year award, and also the Jazz member of the year award (there are 14 in the jazz band, including a few seniors). Then he was awarded Trumpet section leader, and Brass captain for next year, 2011-2012 (his senior year)!! Here are a few photos of my boy. I'm so thrilled for him, I know he has worked so hard, and he really wanted Brass Captain. Now, if only he'd get a haircut!!

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's Day...#20 A relaxing day with my boys/men. These Hallmark holidays are awkward for me. Well, most holidays are awkward for me, but especially those that focus on me. I don't like to be fussed over...Mother's Day, my birthday, our anniversary, I guess I"m embarrassed for having all the attention. I mean, really, Mother's Day? I'm a mother 365 days a year, and my children are mine every day, and they treat me with respect and they love me and I love them, to the moon and back! Travis and Troy give me gifts by getting along well with each other, by doing chores, and by performing well in school. They are both easy to please, and don't ask for much. Whenever they ask for something, it usually has to do with music... valve oil for Troy's trumpet, guitar picks for Travis. I am honored to be their mother, and grateful to God that He entrusted me with their care. I'm not up for Mother-of-the-Year award, and you won't read about me in Good Housekeeping, but I love being Mom to these two young men. Travis and Troy got me this cute card...from my other 'son' too, Gus the cat. I took a few pictures of Gus while he was sunning himself. He just had to be laying on top of the hand-made lace table cloth that my mother-in-law made. Take a look... silly cat! (I don't know how to rotate this picture of the card... but just look at it sideways.)

Coffee Corner

I should be working on homework, but I find myself paralyzed with... I'm not sure what word I need here, but I just can't seem to get motivated to start my paper. I don't even know what I'm supposed to write about. I think it is a Critical Analysis paper, I know it's worth 10 points, and I'm pretty sure it's due tonight. I get so lost in the UOP online class, right now I can't even locate the Class Syllabus. I suppose this is what it feels like to be overwhelmed. So instead of homework for class, today I did some Home work in the kitchen. I was in the mood to clean today, so I emptied this little spot of all stuff we didn't need on it, and also hung up my souvenir from Olvera St. I got the tile piece there, too. Thinking about re-decorating the kitchen in those brilliant colors, especially the cobalt blue. Not there's much RE-decorating to do, I'm not realy sure what the current decorating theme in the kitchen is! I am planning something BIG tho, for the dining room. I have a vision of getting bench-seating installed in the dining room, with storage space underneath. Cubby-hole cabinets with door-fronts along one length, and flip-up seat bench on the other length. It would not be too difficult for someone with carpentry experience and the right tools. So, I'm thinking about it, and want to price it out, so that one day before 2011 is over I can get it done. And, I lined two cabinets with new shelf-liner, and tossed two trash-bags of "give aways" into the back of the van. Besides a bagfull of regular trash. Feels good to toss stuff out!!

Here's a photo of my nice clean, cleared-of-clutter, counter with my wonderful coffee machine Mark got me for Christmas a couple years ago. Travis and I love it! Mark keeps us well-stocked in K-cups, too. My favorite is Donut House Decaf. When Travis makes his coffee, the house smells so good! He likes gourmet flavors, like Butter toffee or Southern pecan. In this picture is my favorite coffee mug, that Eileen sent me. She saw it in a gift shop on her trip to Canada over winter, and knew I just had to have it! She's the best little Sis a girl could have! Well, now that I've gotten this off my chest, I guess I should buckle-up and hunker-down and get to getting my real homework done!

I Love L.A!

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#511 @ 1855 Industrial, with a view of the city. Oh, this is what I dream of owning someday!
This one is a short-sale for only $249,000.00, a very good deal for this location!

Sunset

I often wonder what it would be like to describe a sunset to a blind person, who has never been sighted. And then to describe it to someone who was sighted, but is blind later in life.

The sunset here tonight was cold and blocked by boisterous, billowy clouds. The darkness fell fast from the sky. The clouds are bright and white, backlit with the sun's powerful light. Blue sky peeks in between the fluffy shapes, some grey with moisture ready to erupt. It is not like my favorite sunset, which is in no hurry, with Mr. Sun taking a leisurely stroll down memory lane. He is hesitant to drop beneath the horizon. On his journey, he brings with him the pastel shades of baby blue, like a robin's egg. Then comes the yellow-ish pastel pink, like an orange julius slushy drink from the mall. And finally, when the diamond-like shining stars begin to twinkle, the glow of dusk sets in, and the frogs start their chorus.


But then I pause and wonder if a blind person knows what a robin's egg looks like, or what color is an orange julius?