Moments with a Puppy!!!

Well, my good friend Lynnette has got something she has dreamed about for years!! Jimmy, her boyfriend, got her a puppy for her birthday! ( Her birthday is not until May, but that was not important) I went out to meet the new addition tonight, and fell in love!! Most of you might know that I don't claim to be a dog person, but I do know how to enjoy them :)

I got there, gathered her into my arms, and she decided it was nap time. What a sweetie! She is 1/2 black lab and 1/2 yellow lab. As you can see, she is black, with a little white in her

She has such a sweet face! It was hard to get a picture of it cause she likes to be on the move, so Lynnette held her in place so I could get a shot of it :) 

She loves her toys! It is so fun to watch a puppy jump and run around. Here's a little clip I took of her. 

And here she is with her mama, all wrapped up in her pink baby blanket :) I can tell you right now, she is going to be so spoiled!! 

Well, all this talk about a dog, you would think that she was human! It is fun to have a new addition, even if it's the four legged kind :)

Moments with Friends and Birthdays

This weekend I got to spend some time with my good friend Krista. It was her birthday weekend and we had a special time together. 

We went out to Chinese, and then a fun trip to the Dollar Store, where I gave her a birthday balloon, but only so I could get a picture of her with it :)

We had a special meal after morning meeting with some of the friends. What a beautifully set table!! 

Ann made this wonderful cake! The butterfly is make out of chocolate rocks. So creative!! 

Admiring her beautiful cake :) For those of you who don't know, butterflies are one of Krista's favorite things!

Then, of course, it's time to sing the birthday song!! There really should have been a few more candles ;)

And the moment we were all waiting for, the part when we eat it! It was hard to watch it being cut because it was like we were destroying an art project, but the taste was worth it :)

I was sorry not to get a picture with the two of us together! Thank you for always being there for me Krista! I love you, and am glad to have you as a forever friend/sister! 

Moments of Retirement!!!

My uncle Ray has retired after working for the City of Portland for 31 years as an Emergency Vehicle Technician. He now gets to do all the projects he wants to do, and enjoy many mini vacations with my aunt Sue :) This is a nice plaque they gave him in honor of his many years of dedicated service. On it is a fireman's hatchet. Not sure that is what it's called :) The firemen were glad to have Ray there, making sure their trucks ran well so they could make it to an emergency!  

I had a hard time finding a picture of Ray on my computer, as I only have a few pictures on my lap top. Here is the only one I was able to find.

Now he will have more time to make his yummy hard cider :). Ray always has a project under his belt, and is very talented with tools. He has made so many things in the past for family members, and is the main mechanic for a lot of us. I am sure that he is going to keep himself quite busy! 

I would like to share a poem I wrote for Ray a few years back, that just speaks of a few things I have learned from him over the years. It is mostly about money, because he has always tried to instill a good sense into me regarding how I spend my money.

I have learned from Ray the importance of a good nest egg

And I don't really need things that cost an arm and a leg.

You get a good job, and put your money away

So you are not tempted to spend it from day to day.

When you do buy something, pay for it in cash

Then your spending will not be so rash.

Doing it this way you will never regret

The fact that you are living with no debt.

Make sure you keep your things in good condition

And realize you don't have to have the latest edition.

Change your oil, make sure you have gas

This way you know, your car will last.

Another thing is put away for retirement right now

So there will come a time when you can stop wiping the sweat from your brow.

Then when that happens you can sit back, relax, and take a deep breath

Doing what you want with the time you have left.

These are just a few things Ray has taught me

In how to deal with my hard earned money. 

Thank you Ray!!

Have fun Ray with this new chapter in your life!!!!