Critters........

When you live on the top of a mountain with nobody close by, you can expect critters. I would love to put up a night cam on the property and just see what is lurking close by! (I think anyways...) So here is the critter watch on my mountain.....

1. Deer coming and going thru the property. Sometimes it's only two and sometimes there are 20. They are beautiful and I wish they would just live at my house all of the time.

2. Resident animals - Moki, Chaska, Toots, Rio, Bear, and Moose. There is nothing quite like sitting up in bed every morning, looking out the windows and seeing my horses! There is nothing quite like letting Moki and Chaska out every morning - they are so genuinely happy to say good morning. Toots - we'll just leave her out of the beautiful morning...............

3. Hawks flying and hovering over the house - LOVE IT!

4. Yesterday Alli and I were driving up the mountain and there were two bald eagles just soaring overhead. We stopped and watched them for quite some time. It never ever gets old to see a bald eagle in the wild. For those of you who don't know, Klamath Falls is one of the biggest nesting grounds for bald eagles. We see them all of the time. Two soaring overhead was just picture perfect.

5. Cougars and Bobcats. I have not seen the cougar or the bobcats this year. That is probably a good thing. I did have a run in with a bobcat a few years ago. He walked across the road about 25 feet in front of me as I was returning from the mailbox. AMAZING!

6. Coyotes - we have a few that come thru our yard on occasion. They are a little frightening looking sometimes but mostly they are just jogging thru the back of the property minding their own business.

7. Jack rabbits. These are not your ordinary rabbits. They are the size of small horses - I swear it! They are so fun to watch chasing and hopping. And those ears...........

8. Squirrels - we have some resident squirrels that live in the rocks. They run out on occasion and take a peek at the world - steal some oats from the horses - and run back to their rocks. Too cute.

9. Magpies - not such a fan. They eat the dog food and it drives Moki crazy - crazy enough to bark at them but not crazy enough to chase them. This would take way too much energy.

10. Bluejays. There is nothing quite as beautiful as a wooded jay. So big and blue.

11. Mice. These are definitely on the bad list of critters. If you recall I had quite the time with some of them last year. I had a bin with a door on it full of horse oats. I went out one day to open it up and about 25 mice came pouring out. It was totally the grossest thing ever. However, there was one that had just overeaten and he was hanging on the door - swinging with the door. He was too fat to do much of anything. He just looked at me like 'Have some pitty.' I know that feeeling after Thanksgiving dinner so I just let him hang. We've had a few in the house but Paul is the expert trapper. You would think he was hunting big game!

12. Pack rats/wood rats - Now we had a cat that loved to bring his treasures to us each morning. (This cat has since been the bottom of the food chain for a coyote!) He would bring them to us in many different parts. There were inside parts laid out for us sometimes. And sometimes it was just the head. Lovely cat - he made us proud! However, we have one (we think) in our walls as of a few days ago. Paul went a-hunting for it under the house last night but can't quite figure out where it has gotten in. I know this sounds so horrible to all of you but it's just part of living on a mountain. He will be caught in a few days and this will bring great pleasure to Paul.

I love mountain living. I love that I have fresh air every morning. I love my critters - all of them. I love watching the storms come across the lake. And most importantly - I love the human critters that live with me!

Blog stalking........

Not too long ago, someone in my familia (Jayne) told me how inspired she was by one of Dyans (and kind of an acquaintance of Dani's) friends. Her name is Susan. I have never met her and only have seen a few pics of her on her blog. Well at any rate, she is 25 and has stage 4 liver cancer and it's not a good prognosis - medically speaking. However, we can never underestimate the miracles of God now can we............She is newly married and I can't even begin to imagine dealing with this the first year of marriage. Paul and I dealt with it 8 years ago for the first time and that was 22 years into marriage. It was hard. The second go round was 3 years ago - 27 years into marriage. It was hard.

She is a strong young lady and has lots of people praying for her. However, I would just love it if you would all remember Justin and Susan in your prayers tonight. I know that Heavenly Father does listen to our pleadings and it will give her strength. You can feel it when a concerted effort is made in your behalf. I never really understood that until this last round of cancer with Paul. It was a tangible feeling that others were praying over you and pleading to the Lord to lessen Paul's suffering. I don't know how to explain it other than we could literally feel it. I don't know the Lord's plan for Susan and Justin but I do know that there will be lessons learned in their lives that they can get no other way. Don't we all look back at hard times and feel a sense of gratitude that the Lord allows us to feel joy afterwards? That He allows us to really understand and learn from those times. Only a loving Father would do this for us.

Matthew 11:28 -30

Sibs!

I just LOVE this picture of my brother Dave! I've never quite seen him so at peace with life. Welcome back Dave!
This is Jayne and I attempting to take a self portrait! Take 1!


Take 2! Sisters....sisters....never were there such devoted sisters..........(add the tune....)

The Originals!

This is the original family that started it all in the Jensen, Sargent, and Stewart families! I think we've all aged quite nicely - like a good stinky cheese I hear! We had soooooo much fun at our 80th birthday celebration for mom and dad - yes mom, you aren't 80 yet! But you had better make it to 80 since we made such a big deal about it! I really love my parents and my siblings. I haven't been the best at keeping in touch with any of them over the years. I should have done a better job at that. However, it was so great to just pick back up with them all and know that we just all love one another. I know that may sound corny but I really mean it. They are just great people with great families - this includes you, mom and dad! I hope that my children never let an opportunity go by to stay in touch with their sibs. I hope that they never let too much time go by without a call or a visit. I hope that they let their sibs know that they love them and their kids!
I added the ski lift picture because they just make me laugh when I look at them. The first one is of mom, dad, and dave riding up. It was a beautiful day at Sundance. The sky was blue, the leaves were turning, the weather was spot on. The ride down which happened only moments later as the minute we reached the top a giant black cloud appeared and we were hurried down the mountain.
It poured the whole way down! As soon as we got to the bottom it quit raining and we enjoyed our drive up in the mountains to see the colors. It was an eventful drive as Dave drove off the road and got the back tire caught in a ditch - well it really wasn't his fault. We saw a flock, gaggle, herd - whatever you call them - of wild turkeys just off the road. Who ever sees one wild turkey nonetheless an entire flock, gaggle, herd of them! It was amazing and well worth the trip off of the road!

Thanks Jayne and Dave for making this time together so incredibly wonderful. I enjoyed you both and loved having Janet along to keep us in check. Happy 80th Mom and Dad!

Welcome to our world!

Welcome to our world Reece Noelle Andrus! Proud parents: Summer and Joshua Andrus! Reece weighed in at 7lbs. 10oz. on September 25th! She shares a birthday with her Uncle Sam who was born in 1985 and with her great-grandma on her daddy's side of the family! She is perfect! She has a load of blonde hair and now that she has her tummy full she is just a happy baby. I was so thrilled to be there during the events before and after! What a great home she has been born into. Her parents are just thrilled and all of those mommy/daddy instincts have kicked in! I think Summer still can't believe that she has a baby and how much she loves her! Joshua jsut can't believe there could be a prettier baby! Thanks Summer and Josh for a new grand daughter and for letting me be there to witness this perfect miracle!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my boy Sam. He turned 23 today. And Happy Birthday to my new grand daughter born today at 1:55pm - 7 lbs. 10 oz 2o" long. No name yet but maybe by tomorrow. Baby girl Andrus belongs to my oldest daughter Summer and her husband Joshua. It is their first baby. I was SOOOO privileged to be invited to be a part of this day. I got to be at the hospital all day while Summer labored. She did fantastic and was a real trooper. I don't think I know anyone who wanted a baby more than Summer. Baby girl has a head of the blondest hair ever. I can't download pics from this computer but some will follow if I ever get home.

I have now been away from home for almost 4 weeks. Today has made me homesick. I'm ready to go home. I am so blessed that I have a husband who supports me going away for 4 weeks. Paul is the one who booked my week long trip to AZ - telling me that I needed to see my parents and sister. He's the one who booked me flying up to Utah to go to my nephews wedding and then a two day long party for my parents 80th birthdays. (I know mom, you aren't 80 until May!) I have had an amazing reunion with my parents and my brother and sister. I think that maybe I forgot how much I love my family! They are such good people and always so supportive of me and my quirkiness. Love them, please..........

I have also realized how much I have missed ms. Alli. She and I have become the best of friends this summer and I am really going to miss having her at home with me. However, I am soooo happy for her and Nic and will happily 'let' her go..............mostly anyways........

I have been brought to remembrance of what incredible kids I have. They are all such good parents to their children. They love their spouses. I love their spouses. I wish I could turn back the clock and be a better parent to them and go back even further and explore what some of my dreams were when I was younger. I just am amazed at the people they have grown up to be.

I also realize what a lucky lady I am to have found a person like Paul. I continue to ride his coattails thru life and can't figure out why he loves me so much - but he does. It's always such a surprise to me. He could snag anyone in the world and yet somehow he continues to want me. Thank you Paul for loving me, cherishing me, blessing my life, and allowing me to just be me - warts and all.........

Well, congratulations Summer and Joshua on the birth of baby girl. She is sooo beautiful and so wonderful already. It was so fun to watch you both just fuss over her and realize just how perfect she is. I loved being there to watch it all unfold.


And Sammy - Happy 23rd birthday! You aren't forgotten on this day - but you have been knocked down the ladder a notch. Somehow grandbabies just take over the top of the list spots!

Summertime! And the livin' is easy!

So anyone who would ever read this would have already seen these pics. These were taken in Sunriver at our annual family fun at Sunriver. I think Paul and I have certainly aged but I wouldn't go back to what I looked like 20 years ago. I think that has something to do with the hairdo of that time - the 80's.........ah, we all remember them well!

I do think our grandbabies may be the cutest things alive! Paul has Ben and Sharons youngest, Cal and Dani and Jeffersons oldest, Carter. I have ms. Andi (Dani and Jeffersons) and Grayson (Ben and Sharons oldest) We sure do love them and wish they lived in our basement frankly!

So for all of you have 'suggested', 'browbeat', 'pushed', etc me into writing a new post - there you have it. If I ever find my camera - yes, I lost it yet again - I will post with some different pics! And if anyone has any ideas about the said lost camera, please let me know. I just know someone took it (with the dvd's we've lost, the cd's we've lost, etc........)