River time!

Not too long ago, Andy, Tony, Morgan and I hit the road for a very exciting destination...

THE KISKI!

We raked, swept, polished and planned.  We made lists, plugged things in, drained the rest.  

We sold the boat (!), after one last cruise.  

 

We also got to try out our newest toy:

 

We hit golf balls...

 

We smiled because we were at the river!

~happy sigh~

Now go out and be a blessing to someone.  I'm right behind ya!

Love,

Jan

Going...going...gone!

In our town, if you don't have anything to do on a Saturday night, head on down to the local auction house!

Wally Yaracs Family auction has been going on for years. 

Although the founder has passed away, there are two generations still holding auctions there on Saturday nights.  

They have STUFF...

And then they have SPECIAL STUFF...

This week there was a tricycle...

A wringer washer and a wood burning stove...

There are boxes and boxes, table after table.  

Wally, the owner/auctioneer, sits on a stool on top of one of the tables and auctions things off...

He pounds on the floor with a cane (he seems to collect them) to make a point or conclude a sale.

It's always a full house, I've seen a packed house during a snow storm. 

 Regulars are afraid they'd miss something good.

This week, in addition to the stove and washer, they must have gotten an Elvis collection. 

 There were 20 or 30 Elvis photos...

Elvis calendars, books, lamps and records.

 If you wanted it Elvis, you should have been there.

It's always fun when they start filling boxes. Morgan started out bidding on two Pyrex baking dishes and ended up spending $2 on two boxes of stuff, including 

A toothpick holder!

Oh, and these...

Everyone got a chuckle out of Tony's reaction.

All night the auctioneer kept looking to Morgan to keep the bidding going.

I managed to snag 17 green depression glass plates for 45¢ each.

We didn't bid on...

a Pez collection or hair clippers...

Although Tony assured me they did work!?

We also passed on the box top full of assorted stuff with 

no real purpose!!!

I did manage to snag a 10 gallon crock that is so heavy 

it's still in my car. 

 Morgan got a small air hockey table and 

Tony got to carry it all out to our cars...

Oh, and he got Nachos.

 I didn't mention they have a full kitchen in there.

If you are ever out and about with nothing to do on a Saturday night, let me know, we can hit up the auction...until then, I'm...

Going, going, outta here!

Love ya,
Jan

What do you do when your son (finally) proposes to the love of his life?

You go out and CELEBRATE, of course.

We met at a local restaurant that had decent food, okay service, but most of all...

family and friends that love them and are really happy for them!

 

Of course, Ashley had to show us her ring...

Isn't she positively glowing?

There was much kidding and laughter, discussing possible wedding scenarios.  The future bride and groom didn't seem too excited about our decision it should be on the dock at the river...

 Can't  you just see it happening?
 

ya never know...

Afterwards, everyone had to hug, and love on, the happy couple...

Her dad...

Her mom...

And of course, Tony and Morgan

!

The story of the proposal isn't mine to tell, but I can say it included the sales person delivering the ring to Andy outside Urban Outfitters while an unsuspecting Ashley waited in a check out line...and  Mt. Washington, overlooking the city...and YES, he did get down on one knee!  Don't you just love it?

Isn't it exciting?  Of course, it was bittersweet.  I think we all really missed Mark and wished he was there with us, but I'm sure he would be tickled!  We're so happy for them, please keep them in your prayers! 

And now, I think I'll go out and make someone smile...why don't you do it too?

Love,

Jan

Build a Pig Store?

I kid you not!

Right before Christmas, Morgan, Tony and I went to the Strip District.

We were on a mission, but some of us stopped to try on stupid hats...

See?  Told you!

Why I really went was to go to Wholey's Fish Market.

  We've been there many times, they have a wonderful selection of seafood, beef, turkey...and now they feature...are you ready???

Build-a-Pig!

Seriously, build a pig!

You don't believe me?  Look:

Guess you start with the ears?

And move right down the pig?

 

Keep going...

 And you end up with the...

See? Now do you believe me?

I'm not sure, but I think if I pay for the upgrade I can get this...

Now do you believe me?  It's Monday and I have lots to do.  You go out and be a blessing to someone, I will too and we can meet here again very soon!

Love ya!

Jan

You gotta see this!

I know, you want to know what happened at the Frigid 5 Miler, but before I show you, you have to see this...

Last spring, while we were at a benefit luncheon, the boys bought my nephew, Tyler, a unicycle.  Summer is such a busy time for our family, and the uni was pretty much forgotten until a few weeks ago.

I already told you that Butler is a bicycling town, but have I told you that it is a unicycle town as well?

Yes!  Butler has a Unicyle Club, Butler Wobble, who meets on Saturdays at the Y.  A great bunch of people and they have lots of fun, so if you are local and interested in learning to balance on one wheel, I encourage you to check out their blog! 

Come to think of it, there will be some pretty incredible unicycle activities coming up in May.  If you are interested in unicycle and even remotely local, check it out.

Getting back to the story...according to the experts, it takes about ten hours of wall hugging practice before you can take off across the gym on your unicycle.  Tyler was determined to beat that number. and worked hard!

By the end of the evening, he was doing very well.  In another week or two, I'm sure he'll be pedaling along with Andy and Tony!

Someone else was working just as hard, and doing just as well...

Yes, it's  Morgan!  She was doing a great job!  I know how hard it is, and was very proud of her!

Did I ever tell you how hard it is to get hurt on a unicycle?  Apparently, when you are on a bike and fall off, you fall OVER.  When you are on a unicycle and lose your banance, you fall forward and pretty much walk off of it.  Seems that statistically, you are safer on a uni than on a bicycle...

Unless your name is Tony...

who managed to break his scaphoid bone, which the orthapedic surgeon tells us, is very hard to break...but he's all healed now, which is good since he has to help...

Three torn ligaments...

~sigh~ 

Aren't they perfect for each other?

So, come back so I can tell you all about the Frigid 5 Miler!

Now I'm getting company today!  My friend, Janet, who I have not seen in forever and a week, is coming to visit, so I'm off to get my chores done before she gets here.

Go out and be a blessing in someone's life but don't forget to come back soon!

Thanks for stopping by...

Love,

Jan

Santa was here!

This year, Christmas had such a deeper meaning for me, less thought of gift wrap and stocking stuffers, more about the true meaning of Christmas and the gifts that could not be bought:  time with family and frieneds.  I've already shared our Christmas eve with you and I thought you'd like to see our Christmas morning.  Even though Tony, the baby, is 23. it still gets messy and is fun...so imagine you are dressed in your finest pajamas and join us in the living room...

Morgan got to spend the night with us on Christmas eve so she and Tony could open their gifts to each other here.

She spotted the pink thing in/on/by her stocking right away...

It was what every good housewife (or someday housewife) should have...a pink and zebra striped broom!

Tony opened his gift from Morgan first...

Some sort of golf clubs...I can never remember what is what, but he seemed pretty happy with whatever it is...

Next Morgan opened her gift from Tony...

An iPad?  Wow!  I think she loves it!

Then, suddenly...in comes Andy and the black cloud better known as Helga Jean!  He told her to 'find it' in the pile of gift wrap.  Not sure what 'it' was, but she tried her best to dig 'it' out!

Andy told me he wanted to give me one of his gifts for me, the one that I have come to anticipate most of all, the one he makes for me.  He told me to close my eyes.  I did, but kept shooting in  case I got a good photo of him and the gift...

I did!  Here's what it is...

A Baby Andrew original...to go along with the Bicycle Wheel Christmas Tree?  Isn't he a trip?  Later on Christmas, we strung the lights on it and added a bow.  I'll have to find photos of it and show you later.

Morgan got footie pajamas...

Helga Jean spread the love, ignoring the fact that Grandma told her no dogs on the couch...

Andy's gift was also an iPad and he quickly forgot that there were other people in the room...

Except for Helga, she won't let people forget about her!

He did come up for air...and to send a message...

It says, "Thank you muches."

About that time, the batteries in my camera died, but it really didn't matter.  It was Christmas, time for family and friends.  I had dinner with Vicky, Jamie and Jamie's parents.  Later Vicky and Jamie and my mother joined us for snacks and celebration.  I got no photos, but that's okay.  I was there, just like all the kids were in 1997...

And imagine this...all through the day, we remembered that Jesus is the reason for the season!

Thanks for stopping in to see our celebration...and here's the biggest Christmas miracle...my tree is down!  For those who haven't been here long, getting me to take the tree down is like pulling teeth.  I love Christmas lights, decorations, the tree, and will use any and all excuse to keep it up.  This year there was too much going on...the 2011 Christmas tree is history!

But  we're still making history.  Back soon with more going on.

But for now...go out and be a blessing to someone.  I know I'm going to try!

Love,

Jan