I reached 500 workouts this morning at Curves; it has taken me 2 years and 2 months to get there. At first I gained 6 lbs as the muscle formed and I began to lose inches. Then I lost 17 lbs over a year and now I have gained back 9 lbs. At least the 23 inches I lost are still off. The gain has been due to the change in my eating habits since Keith and I got together. What a bummer, we eat well and I gain weight. I will continue to workout after the move at a gym near the house with a friend of mine who lives in Coos Bay.

Happy (dog) will be having surgery on one of his back paws to remove a growth that is growing on one of his toe pads, in a couple of weeks; I won’t be traveling again until after his foot is healed. I don’t want to leave his care to anyone else.

Today I think I will take all the pictures and things off the walls, books out of the book case and knick knacks out of the China Cabinet and get that packed up. Might as well start with the stuff I don’t like to do first. I also need to call my Chiropractor to make and appointment for an adjustment.

Christmas Week

We had a great Christmas, Keith and the kitty arrived on Tuesday and were here until Sunday. The dogs get along well with the cat, they are so funny sometimes, Happy even lets the cat eat of the same dish with him. Bebe was a little more distant, when the cat ate out of her dish she just stayed away until I made the cat go someplace else. We had a great time with family both on Christmas Eve and on Christmas day, lots of good food and good conversation. Keith even went to work with me on Wednesday and Friday. thank God the rain stopped long enough to take Elizabeth and her dogs our for their walks. Today I plan to take down the tree and get all that put away and maybe I will get around to sorting the drawers of this desk where I have been accumulating things for the last 5 years. I still have so much to do and haven't even started packing things up. There is a lot of stuff that my son wants me to give to him before I leave, family heirloom stuff, that will be his anyway some day might as well stay here with him.Well time to fix my breakfast so I can eat before I go to Tai Chi practice.

Happy

One of the dogs, Happy, has a growth on one of his toe pads, I have taken him to the Vet but all they did was to give him some antibiotics and pain pills, I think he is going to have to have it surgically removed. He is now 11½ years old, but still very active and likes to go for his daily walks. It always worries me when there is something wrong with one of my best pals and companions. He is such a loving companion.

I have been busy making things for Christmas gifts, crocheting, and baking. This year is pretty bleak financially for buying any gifts for anyone. I just hope that those who receive the gifts will appreciate the effort put into them. It is so depressing not to be able to do the things you want to do for those you care about.

Traveling

As I was returning to California after 5 days in Oregon, I was driving through Coos Bay when I saw such a beautiful sunrise coming over the mountains, I hastily reached over on the seat next to me for my camera, got it out of the case with ease and aimed it out the drivers window to capture the essence of the sunrise.

New Pal

Last weekend I was in Oregon again with Keith, we decided to go out and look for him a new little buddy. We went to the mall and found Fritz a male 5 month old tabby. Here is a video of the new kitty, Keith and Me.

Another Job ending

Another job is ending next Thursday. Hospice has been called in and it is only a matter of time until the end comes. Praise the Lord that he knows Jesus as his personal savior. I won't be out of work for long I never am. I will be headed to Oregon to visit with my fiance next Thursday when I get off work.
I still have my other job to taking the 90 yr old lady and her two dogs for a walk every day so I will have to be back here by noon on Monday, I would love to spend more time with my fiance Keith, but it seems like we never have enough time together when I go there or when he comes here.
My neighbor Bill who takes care of my dogs while I am gone has not been feeling well this week, he has the flu. He is such a nice man who tries to help everyone in the neighborhood. Some of the other neighbors are over there putting a new roof on his house.
Now that I will have some time off I can go back to my Tai Chi classes 3 days per week. I love doing Tai Chi it is so relaxing and really focuses my mind.

Traveling

I will be traveling again this coming Thursday after work, I'm going back up to Oregon. Keith has to work on Friday so I will be baking lots of cookies and a cake for him to have while I am gone, he sure loves his sweet things. I enjoy that drive up the coast so much I keep thinking I will stop and take pictures but I never do even though my camera is right beside me on the seat, I always just want to get to my destination without delay. He will be coming here for the long Labor Day weekend. Don't know yet what we are going to do or if we are going anyplace, may go to Blue Lake and visit my son and his family.
I did some work in the shed this week and donated ALL my fabric to the Women's Ministry for quilts and whatever else they chose to use it for. I did keep some of the more expensive silk fabric from Japan. I will make a nice jacket with that. So now I have 4 big empty plastic tubs for packing blankets and clothes. I still have a lot more sorting, tossing and donating to do. I can put a few things out front with a free sign and they will disappear overnight.

Time moves on

Time seems to move on too fast on the weekends that Keith an I spend together. We took the dogs to the dog park and they had so much fun running off leash doing just what dogs do. Happy made some new friends and chased the ball with them them. All 6 dogs were either all Black or Black and White. We washed both cars and its a good thing the sun was out and the day was so nice to be outside sharing the chores. We talked about the coming move from the little house to the big house, there is so much I need to accomplish before then. I have furniture and other things that I need to give away. Other things that I need to start taking to the big house each time I go. I hope to have everything completed and out of this house before cold weather sets in and the fog rolls down the coast, it is so hard to drive in the fog. My kids were informed of the coming move a couple of months ago, I don't know yet whether or not they are OK with it. I told them that it is only a 4 hour drive for me to be here for all birthdays, holidays and special occasions; the same goes for them to visit us, there is plenty of room for them to come and stay for a few days.

I see it has been too long since I have actually "said" anything on this blog. I need to do some updating here.
Bebe has an injured leg that I have been babying for 2 weeks. I think she injured it playing with Storm across the street. She is getting better by the day but is still favoring that leg, she also "clicks" when she walks. Happy is just plain ole Happy, always ready to go for a walk, for 11 years old your would think he was still a pup by the way he jumps around when I say the word walk. Bebe is learning how to get along with the neighborhood cats. She walks off leash and is only curious about looking at the cats and sniffing them. Of course they don't always appreciate her curiosity. I have yet to get Happy to stop chasing the cats. He has to be kept on the leash. This weekend I hope to take them to the local dog park for the first time. We have lived here 5 years and I have not taken them to the park yet. I wasn't sure how they would get along with other dogs but they are no socialized very well.

Tomorrow Keith is coming down from Oregon for the weekend. I am always so happy to see him. I love to spoil him with my cooking and he is so appreciative of everything I do for him. He spoils me too. I can't hardly wait until we can be together forever. Isn't love grand?

We sure haven't had much of a summer here in Northwestern California. It has been spring like weather for months overcast, drizzling fog, cool temperatures not much over 65-70° here on the coast.

Our evening dinner guest.

Lava Beds along the backside of the Cascade Mountains.

Mt. McKenzie in the background with Snow as seen from Sunriver bike trail Little Deschutes river in the foreground

Looking across Lake Odell on the Cascade range in the background.

Vacation

June 19th I left for 10 days in Oregon, on the 21st, Keith and I left for Sunriver Resort 14-15 miles south of Bend Oregon. We spent an awesome week together relaxing and enjoying life. We stayed in a fully furnished studio apartment, the sliding glass door looked out on 1 of the 3 golf courses. There was a deer that visited frequently and seemed to want her photo taken. There were 2 bicycles furnished with the apartment so we went biking everyday. One day we biked around the airport, about 5 miles, boy oh boy was my rear end tired after that ride, (bicycle seats are just not made for comfort). We swam early in the morning as well as sat in the hot tub. I sure didn't want to come back home, but my wonderful doggies were here and I missed them as much as they missed me.

New Photos of Happy

It's been too long since I have been here to leave a posting. Life has been pretty busy with me going back and fort to Oregon to be with my significant other/boyfriend. I have been traveling about every 3 weeks and he has been come here a couple of times a month.

Today Happy has been to the groomer. This is the results.

Oregon Trip 4/12/08

I had a wonderful time in Oregon. the weather was so beautiful and warm. I took a lot of photos and made this video from the stills. They were all taken at Shore Acres near Coos Bay Oregon. The garden shot is at the Simpson Gardens the rest are from the observation point. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent there with my special friend.

On My Way

Today I am on my way to North Bend, Oregon to visit my boyfriend. A couple of my neighbors will be coming over to my home to take care of my dogs. Happy and Bebe will be missing me so much and I will be missing them too. I will be leaving McKinleyville after I get off work today and it should take me approximately 4 hours to make the trip. I will be praying and singing all the way there. It will be a special quiet time to spend with God as I drive the beautiful Highway 101. I will take some pics when I get there and maybe I can get in a few along the way. If you happen to look in here today please pray for travel mercies and safe trip to and from Oregon.

Loving Life

Here I am again, I don't seem to get here as often as I should. To catch you up on Life with Tudogmom, after the fiasco of the scam artist, I have met someone else this time on a singles website. As it turns out he is a very nice man we talk every day at lest twice sometime three times on messenger. He came down from Oregon or a visit last weekend and we hit it off very well. I am planning a trip to his place next week. I am very happy to have someone n my life again after all these years. It feels good and it feels right. Life is looking up now and I am loving life. I promise I will take lots of photos when I am in Oregon.
I took the car to have the oil changed and have it lubed, found out that the serpentine belt needed replacing so had done today. The car is all ready for the trip.Until next time God Bless you folks.

Clutter or Declutter

I have decided that it is time to declutter my house and shed. Where to begin? Wow that is a hard question to answer, I have collected so much "stuff" over the years. For example two huge tubs of fabric for when I eventually will use to make quilts. Ha! will that day ever come. Then there are the papers in my files and packed away in boxes. New pots and pans have replaced the old but the old are still in my cupboards. No sentimental value there just haven't found my "getround tuit" Many blankets and quilts also packed away just in case I might need them. I think some of those could go to the local animal shelter so the dogs and cats will have something nice to sleep on. It has been a tough job to reduce down from a 3 bedroom house to a 1 bedroom very small house with no storage space. I keep going through my clothing and donating that to various thrift shops and rescue missions for the women there.

I seem to spend way too much time on the computer. My computer has become my best friend, my escape into the cyber world of a close family of cyber friends who I have come to know over the years. I enjoy creating Paint Shop Pro stationery, cards and graphics. I haven't posted any of those here. I love taking photos but forget to carry my camera at all times. I used to have it in my purse but I reduced the size of my purse no room for the camera. That's all for my ramblings this morning, I am going out to breakfast with a friend. Until next time God Bless for reading my blog.

68 in 2008

Yesterday was the 68th anniversary of my birth. I am so blessed to be here for another year in good health. In God's numbering system the number 8 is the number of new beginnings. 2008 is the year of new beginnings, so to be blessed with turning 68 in 2008 I know that this year will be a year of double blessings and double portions of blessings in my life.

I has been raining here for 3 weeks now with only 2-3 days without rain. Happy and Bebe have only been out for walks 4 times in the last 3 weeks. I miss taking them out and walking with them through our neighborhood. We all need the exercise.

Sunsets Video

Happy New Year It is Bebe's Birthday

Happy Birthday Bebe

Toady is the day that Mom gave Bebe for her Birthday because we didn't know when her birthday really was. She was given to us in the last week of January and looked to be about 4 weeks old. She was given to us by Mom's friend whose son had found this little puppy in a dumpster crying. Someone had thrown her away.

The son brought Bebe to us because he knew we would give her a loving home. Just before Christmas in 1999 Patches wandered off from where we had moved the 17th of November. She looked exactly like Bebe. Mom searched and searched the desert for Patches, driving around and walking and calling her. She went to the Shelter every day for about a month to see if she was there. We never did find her.

At first I didn't like that little puppy who kept climbing all over me when I was sleeping and eating my food and peeing and pooping in the house. But little by little she grew on me. I was a big boy of 3 when she came and I had places to go and other animals to meet.

We didn't have a fence around our yard there in the Mojave desert so I got to run free and stay out to play a long time. Mom wouldn't let Bebe run free because we had lost Patches. Bebe had to stay on a chain when mom was gone to work. Even when she went out to go potty mom put her on a chain by the front porch. Mom would sit out there and play ball with her too and teach her to walk on a leash by going around and around the 1 acre we lived on. I would follow along and try to get Bebe to run with me but Mom wouldn't let her.

Well y-all have a Happy New Year.

Happy