JerAndDiJorgenson

Chicken Stories

2011-11-12T20:28:00.000-08:00

(an email sent to my siblings)

Dearest Sibs,
As you can see below I have been chastised into participating in these marvelous emails. I really do enjoy them. I was just reading them when Diane came in and woke me up so I could finish. Not that the emails put me to sleep, it's just been a long day (Ward Youth Conference) and my computer is right by the heater vent and we just had dinner and I stayed up late last night and you know how it is... sometimes I just go to sleep!

So, I beat you all to the punch with this chicken thing... I think I sent you all this link (click here) about my favorite chicken recipe but you may not remember. Kind of like Crystal finding my blog (that she has read and even commented on several times in the past!!). What's up with that?!?!?

So, my memories of the ranch... I didn't like it. Well, actually, I didn't mind it most of the time, but I didn't like that I couldn't play football or wrestle because Dad said I had chores to get home to do. I mostly played on the ranch in Highland. I think the only chore I had there was keeping the water full in the turkey pen. And I think Dad did it too, Maybe it was just he would let me do it once in awhile. Or maybe I just wanted to play with the water and I remember it as if it was a chore! So, that and I had to pick up the rocks off the lawn before Dad would mow. But I am the one who put the rocks there so it was really just picking up after myself.

I do remember the Indian tribe in Highland that the girls invented. I think we did rain dances and I seem to remember we even had a language for them. They must have been strange Indians to live on a chicken ranch. I hope they enjoyed the eggs we rolled out to them in the grass because it sure made Dad excited when he found them!

In Yucaipa I did a little more work. Wasn't too fond of scraping the poop off the boards but it was honest work and kept me from being broke. If I recall, I started out at 25 cents an hour. And was I lucky to earn that! My boss had to work on his Dad's ranch for room and board!!! Ah, things were good when I was a kid.

I remember having to spread the feed in the evening and there was one chicken that would peck at my hand every time I went by. It got to where it made me really mad and one time when it got me good I stopped and grabbed her by the neck and slapped her up side the head. Now, I don't know how he did it, but every time I did something like that I'd look up and there would be Dad. Anyway, I explained that that hen always pecked at me and he said "what do you expect, you've got your hand in her supper"! And then he followed with something like "don't hit my chickens or I'll something, something you..." I don't remember the exact words, but you get the drift.

Once at the beach I found a rock that looked kind of like an egg and I brought it home an put it out with the eggs for Dad to find when he gathered eggs. He thought that was pretty funny. He had it sitting in the egg house for a long time.

I learned a lot about responsibility working on that ranch. When I moved my family back to Yucaipa in 1982 I built a little coop and put in about 6 hens and told the kids to keep them fed and watered or they would die. I wanted to teach them the same responsibility I had learned. You have to take care of animals or they will die! They don't just get mad at you, or pout, or go to their friend's house to eat, they DIE. I was sure my kids would be good chicken ranchers. After all, it was in their blood! Well it went pretty well for a couple of weeks. And then they started dieing. So I gathered up what remained of the flock and put them in the cab of my truck and drove up the street and threw them over the fence of some yard that had chickens. I talked to that guy a few years later and told him what I had done and said I thought he had probably been pretty surprised to find more chickens in his yard. Hahahaha... but he said "not really... it happened all the time. Even got a goat once that way". Guess I wasn't the only one trying to teach responsibility.

So, there is my entry for tonight. Thank you, Crystal, for getting me off my duff. It was a thrill to think of chicken stories. Now I have to go clean my office. My wife thinks I need to pick up after myself. But first I think I will sing a little to the clutter and maybe even do a little rain dance.

Love to all,
Jer

The Legacy Assured

Scout Camp!

2011-09-16T20:43:00.001-07:00

This was cool. I got to go to 11-year-old Scout Camp with Michael. We did a 6 mile hike and passed off a bunch of requirements in his scout book. We spent Friday night in a tent and Michael got to blow the horn a bunch of times that signaled time to move to the next workshop. I was especially proud when he carried the American flag in the flag raising ceremony.
(And no, I don't know what that red thing is under the picture)

The best job ever!

2011-09-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

Grandparents Day

Last Wednesday was Grandparents Day at Taylor's school. She goes to a great school and once a year they have a day when Grandparents can go see a little program and then visit their grandchild's classroom. So Diane took the day off and I took a long lunch and off we went to see Taylor.

Now, let me say, I have had a lot of jobs in my life. I've worked as a janitor, copier repair man, a salesman, a grunt, a manager, and in construction. I could probably not even list all the different jobs I have had. There were many years in my life that I had two jobs and sometimes even three!

You could even count 4 at a time if you counted the job of daddy. And until a few years ago, I thought the job of daddy was the best. It was really annoying when the other jobs got in the way of the daddy job. But I had to pay the bills so the other jobs got done. Well, I'm finding that the older I get, the more annoyed I get at the interruptions in my life from this bothersome thing called a job. I'm thankful for the money and free car and benefits and paid vacation days, but wanting me to come in to work every day is just getting out of hand! Oh well, retirement is, unfortunately, not around the corner. So I will continue to go to work.

But that will not stop me from enjoying the best job ever:

Grandpa.

When I think about it, I did have a little training on how to be a grandparent. I used to watch my dad as his eyes sparkled around the grand kids. He was not as rambunctious as I am. He would not have jumped on the trampoline or gone to Scout Camp with the grandkids. But he did ride them around the ranch in the electric egg cart. He liked to take Pug for a walk and have a grand kid along with him. He liked to watch TV with them, especially if it included a nap! He took the grand kids fishing and made sure they got a big orange from his tree when they came to visit. My mom used to cook and sew and do crafts with them. This grandparent thing can take up a lot of time. And though it's not time yet, I am ready for just one job. I want to be a full-time grandpa!

The Legacy Assured

Tilt-O-Whirl

2011-05-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is Andy. He's my buddy. Last February we went to Scandia with him and his family. He wanted to ride the Tilt-O-Whirl because it was included with the wristband we had bought him. It wasn't included with ours, so he rode alone. It brought back a lot of memories for me. When I was a boy we used to go to the Orange Show in San Bernardino. I remember walking through the midway wanting to ride all the rides over and over. The Tilt-O-Whirl was one of those. To be fair, my Mom and sister would ride it once, but I liked it and wanted to ride more so I usually took another turn or two by myself. Watching Andy reminded me of a fun tradition we had as a family when I was young. I didn't think of it as a tradition at the time, but looking back, I guess it was. I can remember riding over in my Dad's big Buick. We would park in the dirt parking lot and I would hold his hand as we walked across the street. He would squeeze my hand and I would squeeze back. We'd do that over and over. I thought my Dad had very big hands. And he always had dimes in his pocket for me to throw to try to win a dish or fish. But the best part was the corn dogs and lemonade. Dad thought that corn dogs were the best invention for kids. And fair corn dogs are the best. I don't even remember sitting down to eat them. We just kept walking through the fair. We would walk through all the buildings with displays. It wasn't as fun as riding the rides, but for some reason I liked it. Maybe it was because I was with my family. And there was always that big hand to squeeze.

The legacy assured.

Silhouettes On The Beach

2011-02-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we see life in silhouettes,

Though the light beyond is as bright as it gets.

But shadows follow close behind,

And bring tender moments to our mind.

Of quiet times in beautiful places,

And our children's warmth and their happy faces.

Follow my amazing daughter-in-law's blogs.

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.

2011-01-08T00:04:00.000-08:00

Tonight my grandson Michael and I finished Douglas Southall Freeman's seven volume set biography of George Washington. In 2008 when Diane asked me what I would like for Christmas, I suggested this long out of circulation set (first published in 1957). Well, she found it on the internet and it is one of my all-time favorite gifts. I had also received, some time that year, a bookmark with a picture of Michael on it. So, for 2 years as I read thru this set, I had Michael with me all the while. TeriLe, Michael, and Daniel lived with us for a few years and I miss them all the time. But with this bookmark, it was like Michael was sitting with me every time I read of George Washington.

Washington was eulogized by many. Perhaps the most famous words (forming the title of this blog) were by Henry Lee, his long-time friend and fellow Virginian. But I think my favorite were by Thomas Jefferson: "His integrity was most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known, no motives or interest or consanguinity, of friendship or hatred, being able to bias his decision. He was indeed, in every sense of the words, a wise, a good and a great man".

And so, somehow thru osmosis or something, this is what I wish for Michael. He's a good kid. I hope he learns well how to be a good man. I know TeriLe is teaching him how to work on the "farm" and that will help.

Michael, I hope you study hard in school, listen in Church, and mind your Mom. These are all things that George Washington did. I can't wait to see you again so I can tell you some of the stories I remember of George Washington. And, yes, I wish this for all my grand kids, but Michael's picture is sitting here looking at me! I hope they all learn to have integrity that is most pure.

Now go look up consanguinity....

Dad's watch

2010-12-24T12:13:00.000-08:00

The inscription reads: From Doris to Floyd 10-10-62. That was my Dad's 46th birthday. On that day he was 13 years younger than I am today. I was 11 and just that June we had moved to the ranch in Yucaipa. I remember sitting next to Dad in the little church on 1st Street watching the little second hand go around and looking at his hands. His hands were large and rough. The hands of a life-long farmer and rancher. Hands that worked hard and were proud of what they did. They were tanned from working outside and there were some age spots beginning to show. His hair was dark and there were callouses on his palms. He used to look at my hands and tell me I should be proud of having callouses, they were the sign of a real man. I used to tease my friends because they didn't have callouses. Dad and I worked together on the ranch and when he talked (he was usually pretty quiet) he would try to teach me what it took to be a man. Mostly, he said, it takes a lot of work. He taught me to be proud of my work, to sit back and admire it when the job was completed. "Don't rush off, take a look at what you have done". Even to this day, when I get done with a project, I sit back and enjoy what I've done. Sometimes I will just pull up a chair and look for awhile. That is actually one reason I like to put on this blog the projects that I am working on.

Today is Christmas eve. We don't have any family here today. It's kind of quiet and lonely. But we get to spend Christmas morning with Tyler and his amazing family and that will be great. I have worked on a little project for his girls. The paint is drying in the workshop. I will post pics when I get it put together. So I have been reading my kid's blogs and taking a look at what my family has done. I'm pretty proud of them all and hope they all have happiness thru the Holidays and forever. Life's not easy. It takes a lot of work. But they are all working hard at making a good life for my grandkids.

I think now I will put on my Dad's watch, his golden ring, and go enjoy Christmas eve with my beautiful wife. She just brought home a rib eye roast, so it looks like we'll have a good Christmas eve dinner! But before that, maybe I'll go out to the yard and see if I can work up some callouses. Because that's what a real man does.

2010-12-12T02:17:00.000-08:00

October 3, 2010... click here to see when this adventure began. Remember that room?

Our back porch/laundry room serves as a main entrance to our home. Since we park toward the back of the house, and since we use our back yard so much, we use the back entrance the most. So it should look decent, right. Well it is 99% done, just some touch-up to do.

It's hard to get a picture of it all, but here are several views.

Here's the washer/dryer Tyler got for us out of a house he was selling. We'll leave our old white set over in the Little Red House.

So, these aren't as cute as our kid's blogs with pictures of our grand kids, but hey, you blog what you got.

One more day!

2010-12-10T21:42:00.000-08:00

I took a day off work to try to get this finished before Sunday when Di's family is coming.

Here is the new entry door to the kitchen. It's kind of a ribbed glass thingie. It's all in and painted... just need to touch up the paint. This is a custom order door and they actually cut it a little too narrow... I had to take off the trim and shim out the case so it would fit. Nothing is ever easy in an old house, but it doesn't help when they don't make the new part right either!

From the kitchen side.
Putting a shelf above the washer/dryer.
Kind of dark, but this is the new floor from outside looking in.

Putting in the floor... I think my pictures went in upside down.

Cabinets installed and painted.

Stopped while painting to get a pic. See the ceiling above the cabinet? Nothing level, plumb, or square in this old house. There is no way to make this look good, it will get trimmed as is.

1 coat primer, two coats paint. Easy when the room is empty.

I don't remember what I was doing when Di took this pic. But see all those spots? That's dust on the flash. I must have been stirring something up!

This is doing the plumbing... under the floor and up the walls. It was easier to cut access thru the floor than work in the 2 foot crawl space. That's the new sub-floor leaning on the wall behind me. After I was done with the plumbing, I put the patches back in and covered it all up with another layer of sub-floor. There were already 3... now there are 4.

So, tomorrow is Saturday and after I take the Scouts down to sell mistletoe for their fund-raiser, I'll be back to install the baseboard, move the Coke machine and washer/dryer in and be DONE!

Didn't make it by Thanksgiving...

2010-11-27T22:26:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to have this done before Amy got here with her family for Thanksgiving. Maybe it will be done by Dec 12 when Diane's family is here for Christmas!

Cabinets are built and ready to install and paint.

Plumbing is done (moved inside the wall, it was outside) Had to move the gas line, hot and cold water, and drain. I also installed two additional outlets for the vending machine and the dryer. Installed new sub-floor & insulation (I'm trying to figure out how to get a heater vent in here.)

Actually as of Nov. 23. 2010, the sheet rock is also installed, but I don't have a picture yet.

So, just need to paint, install & paint cabinets, install floor, base & case, and new door to kitchen.

By Dec 12? Piece of cake!

At the park in Wrightwood

2010-10-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

On with the remodel (and the rest of life)

2010-10-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

When I first started this blog it was just to record a few things from our life that I thought would be fun for our kids to read on the web. Since I got such a hoot out of reading theirs, I figured I would do one too! Diane quickly took over and became the more frequent blogger, but she has now moved on to Facebook and doesn't come here any more. So, I am pretty much back at the helm. The previous post, The Front Porch Floor, promised updates on the continuing remodel of our "vintage" 1932 Wrightwood cabin between vacations, scouts and other distractions of life. So, on we go... I need to get this back porch remodeled to match the now "relatively new" kitchen.

This back door serves as the most frequent entrance for us and most visitors... not very attractive.

But first I had to take the Scouts to Camp Whitsett and a few other trips.

Like the West Rim Trail in Zion National Park

And a little trip up Mt. Baden-Powell, and a couple others you can see on the Scout Blog

And we had to do a Family Reunion at my sister's beach house in Capitola

It was cool weather and cold water (yeah, spoiled by Hawaii), but an awesome time!

And a beautiful house to gather great kids and grand kids for crafts and fun

Di and I took a little weekend trip to Sedona, one of our favorite places

Had breakfast at our favorite breakfast spot

This is Di's self-portrait at the information center, I guess they were warning us to beware of the local wildlife!

We went up to Lake Powell and took a river raft "float" down the Colorado. A "float" means there is no white water and it's not a very exciting ride. Beautiful scenery, and nice to be on the water, though. And I have always wanted to see this stretch of the river.

And last weekend we went up to TeriLe's birthday party in Washington.

Here are all the Washington grand kids!

And we got to spend some time with Tyler's family here in SoCal. Here are the boys at the lake.

And we went to Grandparents day at Taylor's school.

Here we are waiting in line for pictures. But, what the heck, we had a camera too!

And just this weekend we got to have the twins up for a sleep-over. That was super-fun.

We went to the park

And took more pictures

But now, it's time to get to work. This is almost a before picture... I have already moved the water heater down to the basement and forgot to get a picture first. But the water heater used to be in that corner behind the Coke machine.

It's new home is in the basement. I tried to move the existing one to save some money, but it didn't move well. So we now have a new one all snug and secure in it's blanket under the house. It was nice that a flue, gas line, and water lines were all conveniently located.

Next project, the door.

Now, remember, nothing in this old house is level, plumb, square, or standard size. The original entry door was only 28" so I needed to open it up for a 32" 9-lite entry door. To do that, I needed to move the light switches and the porch light over 4" as well.

Here is the new door.

It makes the house look crooked (which it is) because the new door is now level and plumb.
And on we go. Next, move the plumbing to move the washer to the other side of the dryer under the window so we can put cabinets between the washer/dryer and the Coke machine. Then repair all the drywall, put in a new sub-floor, build and install the cabinets and install the new flooring to match the kitchen and front porch. All before Thanksgiving? Well, maybe. We'll see. Di has said I can move the washer/dryer to the Little Red House so I don't have to work around them. She also said I should take some vacation days to get this done. I think she wants it done quicker than the kitchen!

So, long post, but I figure I'm the only one who reads it anyway!!!

The Front Porch Floor

2010-05-24T23:01:00.000-07:00

When started to remodel the kitchen over two years ago we bought enough flooring to do the front porch and the back porch when we remodeled it. Since it's been awhile, I figured I'd better get busy. So before I tackle the major job in back, I figured I'd better put in the front porch floor... it's been sitting in packages at the end of the porch since November 2008.

Tyler says, "after 15 years, NO AstroTurf"! It was really an indoor-outdoor carpet. But it did look like AstroTurf!

I just moved the furniture back and forth as I worked across the floor.

And a couple of shots of the finished project.

Now to put screens on the windows and a shade on the west end to block the hot sun and we'll have our new "sun porch". I think I'll refinish Grandma Brack's table, too. It's pretty old and weary, but it seats 8 so it's nice to have.

Next to come in the back porch... move the water heater downstairs, build cabinets to match the kitchen, scoot the washer & dryer over under the window (move plumbing), new doors, paint, & new floor. Sounds like a fun summer in between vacations and Scout outings... and work.

As Andy would say, "Trampoyeen!"

2010-04-26T20:57:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm not all that techie and don't know how to actually put this video on the blog... so just click on the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP2QZ35x0JI&feature=youtube_gdata

Nothing is quite as good as Grandma & grand kids giggling!

252-23=229

Irene Teresa Brack Boylin

2010-04-18T22:38:00.001-07:00

(I know this is long, but so many people have asked for it, I thought I would just put it here)

Irene Brack was born in 1921 in Hurley, Wisconsin, the 1st child of John and Mary Brack. Her mother had immigrated to the United States from Italy when she was 18, and had crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary. Her father was a shoemaker and owned a general store and shoe repair business in town, and for a time, they lived in an apartment above the store. She had one sister, Dorie, and one brother, Mario. Irene lived in Hurley until she was 18 – surrounded by extended family and a large community of Italian immigrants. She had fond memories of family picnics at the lake, the men playing bocce ball, wonderful food, and lots of friends to play with. She attended Catholic school and remembers one nun in particular who had a little red curl that would creep out from under her habit. Before she saw that, she thought the nun’s had no hair.

After High School Irene got a job working as a nurse at a sanitarium and moved out of her parent’s home. A few years later, after the start of WWII, she decided to serve our country and see the world and she joined the SPARS, the women’s division of the US Coast Guard. The SPARS sent her “out into the world” (San Francisco, California) where she soon met a handsome Coast Guard sailor from Utah who literally swept her off her feet at a USO dance. As Irene told the story, Don escorted her home. She said, “As we were going down the hill, he said “I’ll throw you over my shoulder and run down the hill. I said, “You wouldn’t dare!” He threw me over his shoulder and ran all the way down that hill – it was one of the steepest in San Francisco. Then we went on the cable car and we began dancing on the cable car. Somehow or another, they used to have those fruit stands out in the front, and the next thing I knew I had a lemon in my hand. When we got to the barracks and Don went to kiss me goodnight I stuck the lemon right in front of him and he kissed the lemon instead of me.” After three months of courtship, they were married and when she called home to say she had married a Mormon, her family asked, “what’s a Mormon?”

When they had finished their service in the Coast Guard, Don and Irene Boylin moved to Southern California and promptly had 3 boys, Denny, Rick, and Bud. They lived in Oakland, South San Gabriel, East Los Angeles, Wrightwood, Victorville, and San Bernardino. In South San Gabriel they attended the Mission Park Ward. The Anderson’s and Wilmott’s attended there too, and Herb Anderson was a 6 year old in her class. After serving for a time as a Primary teacher, Irene finally joined the Church. She went on to serve in many callings including Librarian, Relief Society President, and Junior Sunday School Coordinator.

For those of you who don’t remember Junior Sunday School, here is how meetings went before the three hour “block.” First, Primary was in the afternoon on a weekday and the Youth Auxiliaries met on a weekday evening. On Sunday, the Priesthood would meet early in the morning and then would go back home to get the family for Sunday School. Then we would come back in the evening for Sacrament meeting. In Sunday School we would have an opening song and prayer, we would have the Sacrament; a couple of 2 ½ minute talks and song practice and then break for classes. The Primary aged children had their own Sunday School, with opening exercises, their own Sacrament (a few young men would be assigned to this coveted duty) and songs before they separated to their classes. The leader of this wonderful auxiliary was a sister, similar to a Primary president.

Sister Boylin was Junior Sunday School Coordinator in San Bernardino 2nd and 4th Wards for 15 years. She served countless children as the leader of their Sunday School, as well as supported and served many teachers through the years. The Waterman building in San Bernardino had a Jr. Sunday School room with child sized pews that made it easier to maintain order and reverence with all the children. Many times the Priesthood tried to remodel the room and take out the pews and use folding chairs… But Sister Boylin wouldn’t have it. As long as she remained, the pews remained and the children had their own little chapel for Sunday School.

Irene enjoyed being a homemaker and mother. While living in South San Gabriel, her oldest son, Denny, contracted osteomyelitis and was hospitalized in Los Angeles. Irene didn’t know how to drive at the time but learned quickly so she could get to the hospital to see her little boy. After several years (and after moving to Wrightwood) Don and Irene finally had the little girl they had hoped for, Diane. During their 3 years in Wrightwood they owned and operated the Laundromat. They were one of only 3 LDS families in town and the only one that was active in the church. They traveled each Sunday all the way to Victorville to attend worship services. Since some of the camps couldn’t pay their laundry bills, making ends meet in Wrightwood was difficult, so Don and Irene sold the business and moved to Victorville, where their last son, Keith, was born. They soon moved to San Bernardino, bought a new home, and lived there for 36 years.

While living in San Bernardino, the Ward they were attending was divided and she really didn’t feel that she fit in to the new Ward and didn’t have many friends. Her husband talked to the Bishop about it and the next thing she knew, she was called to be the Relief Society President. She would reminisce that back in those days the Relief Society earned their own budget, so they would put on an annual Bazaar. She and her sisters in Relief Society would work together all year on crafts to sell at the Bazaar and she learned to love the women in that Ward. When the Ward was divided again years later, she would really miss them.

When her children were young, she served often as a great taxi driver taking them to all their activities. She drove a variety of old vehicles including one with no windows and one with doors that had to be tied shut. But the kids got to all their activities.

After the kids were grown Don was in a motorcycle accident and received some money in a settlement. Irene was thrilled to get new cabinets in her kitchen and a new family room addition for family gatherings. They also bought a used motor home and took a vacation across the country. She was excited to travel and see the sights of the country and was only sad that they couldn’t see everything. She really wanted to see the Amish country but they were traveling with friends in another motor home and had to keep on schedule, so they didn’t have time to stop. She said she wanted to try their food, but I think she wanted to see how they did their crafts!

Irene’s husband, Don, passed away in 1981. Irene was shy and not out-going but her children were pleasantly surprised to see that she kept herself busy with Church and social activities. She even attended a few singles activities but later told me that there were too many single women for the few eligible men, but she wasn’t interested anyway. She had the love of her life and would wait to be with him again.

Irene became fast friends with Wilma Bomboy and went walking with her often. Wilma had lost her husband also and they would walk and talk and cheer each other up. Later, Wilma made a little homemade plaque for Irene with this poem on it that she had written:

Irene
You made the day brighter
For me, my friend,
Because of your cheery smile,
Because of the words you said to me
When you walked with me awhile.
So when the day is done, my friend,
I think of you the while,
Of the cheery things you said to me
And your warm and friendly smile.

In 1994 Irene moved back to Wrightwood because she wanted to live closer to her daughter, Diane. She moved into a little cabin 3 doors down from us and lived there for 5 years. She loved to sit at the window and watch the squirrels and birds and neighbors. She attended Church with us and came to love the ladies in the Wrightwood Ward, just as she had done in San Bernardino so many years before. Soon she began to need a little more care and moved into her daughter’s home. We settled her into an upstairs bedroom and she loved it there. She told me she felt like she had her own little place in the mountains. Our bedroom is downstairs, and as she became less mobile we offered to switch bedrooms with her but she would not have it… she liked her room and she was going to stay there. When the nurses started coming to care for her a year ago they suggested she move downstairs so they could serve her a little easier. But just like with the Junior Sunday School, Irene stood her ground. She had her room and nobody was going to change it.

Her joy during this period was when people would come by to visit. Many friends in the Wrightwood Ward would drop by to chat and see how she was doing. When we went out of town we never worried because we always had lots of volunteers to drop in and see how she was. Sometimes I think she liked for us to be gone because she got more visitors! She loved when the whole family came to visit. She usually didn’t like leaving her comfortable room, but when the family came, she would pull her oxygen tube all the way down the stairs and watch all the action. At Christmastime when we would squeeze 30 or so people into our little living room, she would just sit and watch and smile. She couldn’t hear well and wasn’t part of many conversations, but as she told me, she would sit until she had worn herself out watching.

Sister Boylin was named after her mother’s sister Irene, her Godmother Teresa, and her confirmation sponsor Angeline. I’m sure all of them, and all of us, are very proud of the wonderful life that Irene Teresa Angeline Brack Boylin lived.

Perhaps her granddaughter Elaine summed it up best, “ We will miss Grandma Boylin’s ability to make each person feel as if they were the very person she most wanted to see walk through her door.”

Irene was a true follower of Jesus Christ, doing good where ever she went. May we, in her honor, declare ourselves to be more fully deciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not in word only, but also in deed, as she did. May we stand by Jesus Christ at all times, and in all things, and in all places that we may be in, even until death. For surely, that is how he, and she, stood by us.

Acorn Trail

2010-04-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

My nephew Dustin called last week and said he was going up the Acorn Trail on Saturday. I said, you'd better have ice axe and crampons! (I thought I was really warning him of something!) He said, yeah, I've got 'em... where do I park? So I told him, and then on Saturday morning I went out and thought I'd meet him on the trail for fun. But he was running a little late and after I went about a half mile up I had to turn around because I didn't have ice axe and crampons! It's still pretty deep up there. I finally saw him just as he was parking down below the "private road" sign and got to say hi and that I was jealous. He and a friend were planning on going up to Dawson to build an igloo and spend the night.

My first thought when seeing this track was Mountain Lion! It's a pretty big track. I was out in the morning when cougar like to eat breakfast, so I was a little nervous and considered turning back since I was solo. Then I noticed the toe nails (read = big dog). A cougar track is also a little wider at the top of the pad behind the toes. So, on I went.

Snow is patchy at the beginning but makes it hard to follow the trail if you don't know where it is.

The trail is pretty well covered from about a half mile up. There was no way to continue without crampons. I decided I need to add those to my equipment list. I don't know if one can be a "real" mountain man without them. In fact, I'm pretty sure. Craigslist, here I come.

252-16=236

Spring!

2010-03-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

I thought since it was Spring it should be time for a hike, right? (And maybe time for Di to change this background) So I went out to my favorite trail to see how it looked after a long hard winter. Well, it's not Spring on the PCT yet! At least not in the San Gabriels. Actually, it's getting pretty close to the time when the thru-hikers start at the border. They usually start in late April and come thru Wrightwood in May. Let's hope they can see the trail by then!
Do you know what posthole-ing is? I'm not referring to the hole the above PCT trail-marker post is put in. I mean when you are walking on snow and your leg breaks thru and you sink 4 feet into the snow. It's pretty awkward to get out because your other leg is still up on top. And then you have to be very careful that your shoe doesn't stay in the bottom of the hole when you take the "post" out. Yes, I am very familiar with this as you might guess. You'd think I would have the sense to turn around, but no, I had to go on for a mile or so. I'll just say this; there are now many new postholes on the PCT.

I could see tracks that someone had gone before, so I knew where the trail was. But I could also tell by the tracks that he had an ice ax and crampons. And he must have gone in the morning when the snow is hard after freezing over night. I wasn't so lucky, or so well equiped. But I did get my first hike in for the season! The mountains are calling and I must go!

252

Mom's Chili

2010-03-07T15:23:00.000-08:00

We had a nice Ward activity the other night. It was our annual chili cook-off and adult pinewood derby race. I didn't have time to do both a car and chili, so, of course, I chose food. I used my Mom's recipe. She passed away a couple of years ago at 91 years old. I have many fond memories of hanging out in the kitchen to grab some nibbles as she cooked. I once asked her if she liked to cook and she said "well, I like to eat, so I guess I like to cook too." When she was 67 she decided to write down all the favorite family recipes and some stories and put them in a family cook book to give to us kids for Christmas. It is the favorite thing I have to read and remember my Mom. It's better than a photo album because it is in her words and in her hand writing. Well, my Mom's recipe won "Best Overall" at the Ward dinner. It's nothing fancy, just good ol' ranch chili. But I like it and I guess others did too as I made over a gallon, and it was almost all gone. Several have asked for the recipe, so here it is. (If you click on the image it will enlarge, and just for the record, I used diced tomatos, not tomato sauce, and the "heat and eat" method for the beans!)

Christmas Holidays 2009

2010-01-24T15:12:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas holidays were pretty terrific this year. We were able, over the space of a few days, to see all of our children and grandchildren.

We started early Christmas morning, joining Tyler and Tanya and their kids as they woke up and hurried downstairs to see what wonders Santa had brought them.

By looking at Taylor and Andy, you can tell where the Christmas tree was!
Happy kiddos as they check it all out!

Ashlyn and Grandma J. Happy together!

Then, 2 days later, my family gathered at our house for festivities.

Here is my 88 year-old Mother, with her Italian beret my brother brought her, opening some of her loot.

The newset member of the Boylin family is Jeffery. Here he is..enjoying being Santa.

The next day Jerry and I flew to Vancouver Washington to see our daughters and their families.

The opportunity provided itself for a minor upgrade to get this car. Of course. Why not?

This time I even drove it once.

The kids visited Teri Le and Rob's 'Urban Farm' and Allie thought it was pretty terrific. Here she is getting the food for the chickens.

We went to a really great place 'The Great Wolf Lodge'to play and see everyone. It is a wonderful lodge, complete with a HUGE indoor waterpark.

I had to post this picture of Jerry. He and Allie went down these slides unnumerable times..and this shot really made me laugh!

This is the wave pool. We had a lot of fun in here. I am sure someone we know and love is in this picture...somewhere! It did get a bit crowded, but we still had a great time!

We had Christmas once again at Amy and Quinn's house.

Teri Le was surprised with this gift..it was significant to us, as she had one for her 8th birthday, loved it and was going to show Granny and Grandpa and dropped it. Now we have replaced it a 'few' years later.

Opning the new Wii game from Uncle Tyler and Aunt Tanya and cousins.

We spent an afternoon together with the older cousins. We went to an indoor bounce house place...the kids were hot and sweaty by the time we were done.

Here's Dylan, Makayla, Danielle, Allie and Michael!

We had a great trip to Washington...two of our families for the price of one!!

Here we are with all of our grandchildren who live in Washington.

We love you, each and every one!

Mary Kay

2009-12-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Check out Tanya's post on Mary Kay
http://jorgensonclan.blogspot.com/

Troop 159

2009-12-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

Check out the new blog for Troop 159 in Wrightwood.

http://troop159wrightwood.blogspot.com/

Allie May is 4 years old!

2009-11-24T23:20:00.000-08:00

Can you say " I am a happy girl?' Grandma and Granpa lovin' our number 6
Note the hair. It was amazing!

Allie May is beautiful! And here...she knows it!

This is by far one of my most favorite pictures of Allie. Can't you just feel her sweetness? I can, and wish I could see her more often. Maybe now that they are moving to the Western side of the U.S. we can make that happen!

It was Thanksgiving Day in 2005 when the cutest little girl arrived. She was surprising with her full head of dark hair!! It was fun to watch that grow out and see her blond roots...now she has the prettiest strawberry blond hair!

AllieMay, Grandpa and Grandma J really love you...and traditions says we get to take you to Disneyland now that you are 4...so hurry and come to California!!

Our # 5 turns 5 today!!

2009-11-16T20:53:00.000-08:00

5 years ago today, this little angel joined our family. Since she has lived near us all of her life, we have had so many fun times together:
We have gone to her dance recitals, soccer games, Grandparents Day at kindergarten, Primary Programs and fun places like Disneyland, Sea World and Leg land.

Her laugh, smile and bubbly giggle has brightened many of our days!

She is a charmer, a gret big sister, a wonderful daughter and baker!

She is ALWAYS happy when she is swinging!

We love you Taylor Marie and are looking forward to many more adventures with you!

Mt. Baden-Powell & John Muir... 2 of my favorites

2009-11-12T20:12:00.000-08:00

The mountains are calling and I must go. John Muir

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. John Muir

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. John Muir

Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you. John Muir

Picture #1, 11-11-'09 The trail up Mt. Baden-Powell, 9399'. Trailhead 6593'. Elevation gain 2806' in 4 miles. I was pretty proud of myself for making it up in 2 hours. I left at 7:00 and arrived at the top at 9:00. I was walking around enjoying the view when Jeff Enriquez zipps by me and touches the monument and checkes his watch... 1 hour and 40 minutes he says. Yeah, big deal. He's younger than me, skinny, and a fireman... he's supposed to be in shape.

#2 The view NE towards Victorville and a bit of the trail showing.

#3 Looking east at Mt. Baldy. I've been up there. You ever been up Baldy, Jeff? Hah! Probably take you 4 hours to get up that one! (Took me 2 days!)

#4 Looking SW... That's Catalina Island off in the distance there. Trust me.

"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail." John of the Mountains

Jer of the Mountains

First Campout

2009-10-27T21:07:00.001-07:00

Canoeing, scouts. 'nuf said.

2 year old little boys

2009-10-06T23:11:00.001-07:00

My sister just sent me some pictures of my Mom and Dad. Some I hadn't seen before, like this one of Grandpa with Tyler at about 2 years old taking nap. Now, this is dangerous to say, because little girls are so cute and I don't want anyone getting jealous! But there is something very tender about a little boy when they finally slow down enough to cuddle. You can also see Dad's golden ring in this picture.

We were "evacuated" from Wrightwood for a couple of days while we waited for the firefighters to save our town and went to stay at Tyler & Tanya's house. We are so thankful that they live close enough to see often. But now we are home and miss them and their kids. We got lots of cuddles while we were there.

Here is a pic of my little boy with his little boy.

Life doesn't get any better than this.

Several Thoughts... try to follow along.

2009-09-27T22:35:00.000-07:00

We were able to go watch Taylor play soccer on Saturday. I don't know how many times she actually kicked the ball, but she was definately the cutest player on the field!

Then we were able to treat the kids to a trip to Sea World.

(We all had free tickets! haha!)

This one has WAY too much energy!

Grandma J let them bury her feet. Wild and crazy grandma!

Watching the pet show.

****

Now, here are where my thoughts are going...

The reason we were able to do all these fun things with our awesome family, is because I didn't go on a planned backpacking trip.
Why not, you say?

I had planned a three day 45 mile trip thru the High Sierras culminating on the last day summiting Mt. Whitney.
But everyone else had to cancel. My friend from back East was busy with business. And my son Tyler, had just been called a 1st Counselor in the Elders Quorum Presidency and decided it was more important to stay and get sustained and set apart and get to work in his new calling.

I feel some concern for my son.

He has had some very tough business decisions to make lately, and not everyone he is associated with agrees with everything he has had to do. There has been a lot of talk going around and some of it is hurtful. But I think he is doing pretty well. It's going to be a long haul, but he knows that and is trying to do the right things. I am especially impressed at his resolve to not talk ill of any others that may have been involved. So in a time when getting away for a few days may have been enjoyable, he decided to stay and attend Church.

It brings to mind a scripture that many quote as their favorite:

1 Nephi 3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
I believe this scripture typifies Tylers obedience (or at least his efforts!)
However, the following scripture is actually the one that is one of my favorites:

1 Nephi 3:8 And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord.
So when Tyler told me why he decided not to go, I felt nothing less than exceeding gladness that he wanted to stay and serve the Lord.

And so I say to my son, as Lehi said to his:

1 Nephi 3:6 Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmered.
Well, that and "we'll do the trip next year!"

Pop

Mammoth

2009-09-27T19:10:00.001-07:00

Road Trip!
We had fun on Labor Day in Mammoth.

Diane said she'd be willing to camp in a tent, but we couldn't find a camp site to reserve so we had to settle for a condo. Not too disappointing to Di, since when we travel I like to help cook (and even clean up!)

But I was craving some outside activity so we headed right out to see the sights.

The lakes are beautiful even if there were tons of people around. I actually like a little more solitude, but Di is not a backpacker. Knowing we were going to be "in town" but also knowing we were going to a place called "Mammoth Lakes" I took the canoe along just to make sure we didn't spend all our time shopping!

I wanted to put in and paddle around every lake, but we were limited on time so we just picked a couple. This is Silver Lake on the June Lake Loop.

We paddled across the lake and found the inlet stream. Very scenic and very few people. We paddled up here enjoying the quiet, peaceful scenery. We followed the bends as the channel narrowed and it was actually pretty fun to paddle in... until we decided to go swimming. If you have ever been canoeing, you know that "swimming" is what happens when "somebody" paddles a little too close to the bushes and "somebody else" leans over to try to avoid being scratched by them.

This is the last picture the camera took after our adventure. Luckily, there were some rocks nearby that we could swim to. And from where "somebody" got to go swimming two more times, once to retrieve the paddles, and again to retrieve "somebody else's" glasses from the bottom of the 7 foot deep stream...

We hadn't planned on this adventure so it seriously cut into our shopping time. Bummer, huh? We did take a little hike down to Devil's Postpile but the camera was still suffering so we didn't get any pics.

All in all, a very successful trip. A little relaxation, a little outside activity, and all with the one I love the most.

Life is good.

Jer

P.S. This water is NOT as warm as Hawaii.

On the trail again.

2009-09-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sometime this last Spring I realized I hadn't been hiking and camping enough and decided I was going to get out more this year. After I made this decision some interesting things started happening. For some reason I found myself in the shed sorting through all my camping stuff, just wanting to see it all again. There are some great memories there and they came back as friends, almost asking why I had been ignoring them for so long. Then a friend called and said he wanted to climb Mt. Whitney this year. He lives on the east coast and works for the same company as me and we have gotten together several times to do some nice hikes in Yosemite and along the Appalachian Trail. Well, he wanted to climb the big one and so we made plans. And I started training for a pretty serious 3 day 45 mile hike.

http://jeranddijorgenson.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-mountain-man.html

And best of all was being able to do some hiking and camping with my son and grandson.

http://jorgstyle.blogspot.com/2009/05/just-like-15-years-ago.html

http://jorgstyle.blogspot.com/2009/08/traditions.html

Even my wife suggested we go tent camping in Mammoth for Labor day (I couldn't find a campsite to reserve so we ended up in a condo... bummer, huh?!). But we did take the canoe and had a great time on the water and we also hiked to Devil's Postpile. How out-doorsy are we! OK, I wore a Hawaiian T shirt and not my North Face fleece, but it was warm! Di will have to post those pics... they are on her computer. Anyway, I have always loved the outdoors (especially the mountains) and I was getting right back into my element. So, here's where I'm going with this; I was told last week that I will be released from High Council during Stake Conference next week and that my Bishop had a calling for me. I figured in the last 7 years I have written and delivered over 70 talks and traveled many miles and fulfilled countless Stake assignments so I was OK to move on... but I had to wait for the Bishop to call me to find out my new calling. Have you guessed it? I am now the new scoutmaster for Troop 159 in Wrightwood. Well, who'd a thought? It's been a long time since I served with the youth and to be honest, I don't even know most of the boys that I will be working with. But this much I know, every one of them will be better for having been a scout. Scouting builds character. It builds friendships. It builds memories. And I am looking forward to every minute of it.

Have a great scouting day!

Bro. J, Scoutmaster Troop 159

Dylan's best friend.

2009-08-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

Dylan's best friend Caleb was in a tragic traffic accident and passed away. Dylan described him as "the only friend I had that could run as fast as me and liked what I liked." We met him a couple of times on our visits and he was a good boy. We loved him because Dylan loved him. I wrote this for Caleb:

When little boys go home

It’s hard to pin point what it really is: Maybe it’s because they are so tender with their mothers. Maybe it’s because they love to play with their dads.
Maybe it’s just because they seem to love life so much. They will play to the point of exhaustion, but won’t go to bed without a fight. In a little boys ideal world you would run until you fall asleep and then sleep where you fall until you wake up and start running again.
They will play any game with a ball. And if a game is not going on, they will make one up. And they don’t need to be outside. They can make up just as many games in the house. As long as it includes throwing, or bouncing, or chasing a ball they can entertain themselves for hours. In fact, if the game involves a little screaming from mom, all the better. We’re glad when they are smart, but we are proud if they can knock the ball out of the park.
Maybe it’s because when they do get tired, they are just so fun to cuddle. Normally they won’t stop long enough but to give you a short hug. But when they are completely worn out, then they will finally slow down long enough to hold and squeeze. That moment just before sleep is best. They eventually relax and cuddle in close as if they finally accept us into their world. They slow down just long enough to let us in, then they are off to sleep. That is why moms don’t want to lay them down. They will hold them close just a little longer until another duty calls, then they will reluctantly put them in bed to rest up for another day of running.
And then there is the laugh. It is so great when you find just the right tickle spot. They laugh so loud that everyone looks, and you are so proud that your little boy is happy. If the whole world would laugh like a little boy, we would have a wonderful world.
Maybe it's because little boys give us hope. We watch them run and play and laugh and enjoy the world, and we think; "this one is going to get it right." We want them to do better than we did. We want them to make all the right choices. But all that will come. When they are little we just want to love them. We want them happy and fun loving and full of life. We want it to last forever, for they are an irremovable part of our very being.
That’s why it’s so hard when a little boy goes home.

Grandpa J

Today is a Special Day

2009-08-23T15:19:00.001-07:00

Today is Our #2 Grandchid's Birthday. Michael is turning 9 years old! We were so lucky to have him and his Sister come to visit for a week this summer...it is a;ways such fun to sharie in all the growth they are making.
Michael lived in Wrightwood for 5 years and we were able to spend lots of time with him and his family. Grandpa J and Michael became really good buds! This is a snowman they built.

We have spent a lot of time at the lake at the Wrightwood Country Club. Michael is like a fish in the water and this summer was so happy the be able to swim and play in the deep end!

After they moved far far away, we went up to visit and this is Michael playing with a tractor at the Children's Museum.

On another visit here, Michael was excited to drive the bumper car!

We were ever so proud the day that Michael chose to be baptized. Isn't he a handsome one??

This was this summer, now he was nearly 9, more independent but still a whole lot of fun! We are so happy to have Michael in our family and to share in his warm and loving spirit.

Happy 9th birthday to our #2!

What a great summer

2009-08-15T22:28:00.001-07:00

Here is a little re-cap of our summer of 2009. It is backwards..so you have to enjoy it this way..hope you can figure it out!!

I ended my summer with a Sisters in Law's escape. We went to Oceanside. It was a lot of fun and I am hoping we can do this again.

Legoland was a lot of fun with Michael and Danielle. There was something for everyone, and the weather wasn't too hot, but they still really enjoyed getting all wet in the kid's water-play area. i think their favorite part wa driving their own cars and getting drivers licenses!

We had a lot of fun at the Lake here in Wrightwood, Michael was so happy to pass the test and be able to swim and play in the deep end.

Michael took this shot of all of us in the backyard! I don't know where Danielle went.

Then Michael and Danielle came to visit us for a week while Teri Le was in Arizona attending classes for her PhD. We had a lot of fun. Here they are making their Great-Grandma's day a lot brighter!

While on our trip south from Lincoln, we traveled to Carthage Illinois. I stayed in the van while Lance slept, everyone else went in to see the jail where Joseph Smith was held and killed. I had ben here once before, and remembered the feelings I had while there. It is a sacred spot.

We traveled to Nauvoo Illinois, a wonderfully historic place in the History of our Church. We haven't been there for nearly 8 years, and enjoyed being there with the Drapers. The temple is beautiful and the statues and monuments are all so touching.

Being able to share in Dylan's baptism day was a true highlight. His Dad gave him an amazing blessing and Dylan's Mom mad sure the day was perfect in every way.

We traveled to Nebraska to spend time with Amy Quinn and their kids. This will probably be our last trip out there to see them, since they are leaving in December. We have really enjoyed our visits in Lincoln, ...it is a beautiful place.

We spent a great week in Hawaii to start the whole things off. It was a terrific trip and we did some new and fun things.

It is over. I have been back at work for several weeks now...but it was one terrific summer! I'm already looking forward to next year, but I wonder, how can I top this one!!!

Our # 3 turned 8 years old!

2009-07-14T22:34:00.001-07:00

Last month Dylan, our super-terrific #3 turned 8 years old! He has been such a wonderfully fun kid! When he was born, I traveled all day to get to Pocatello Idaho the night before his birth, and I drove alone, so I ate lots of sunflower seeds to stay alert! Needless to say, my mouth was swollen from all the salt when I got there that night!

Dylan has lived in Idaho, Nevada and now Nebraska, and in December off to parts unknown. He is a great young man! He LOVES video games, swimming, Webkinz, money and sports, (especially baseball and soccer)
When they were moving to Nebraska, Grandpa J and I set him up in his 'Huskers' uniform!

Dylan is a real Pal to his Grandpa...he makes us laugh! He has the most infectious giggle!

Dylan was baptized with his 'Best Bud' Caleb..it was a really special time for us all.

We have loved every minute of the 1st 8 years of Dylan's life. He is growing into a super guy, and we are looking forward to pictures of him in his new Cub Scout stuff as he adds another fun things to his list of 'likes'!

We love you Big D!

35th Anniversary...Hawaiian Style #1

2009-06-19T21:05:00.001-07:00

We are home once again, but the memory of this trip will be with us for a long, long while. We spent our 35th anniversary in Hawaii, in Waikiki. Other people really like some of the other Islands, but this is our favorite place. (so far.) I think it is becaiuse I am living in rural-land, and am a city-girl at heart, and we have spent so much time here, it is familiar to both of us.

We took a short hike up to a beautiful waterfall, then we even swam in the 'pond' and sat under the waterfall! This was a first for me!

If you look closely you can see us under the spray!

Now, I wonder why...when we rent convertibles..which we love, Jerry always looks like this...
but I look like this????

Stiil we enjoy them, and I have told Jerry is ever I leave snowy-land, I want one!!

On our 1st morning we watched the King Kamahmaha Parade..quite different than our parades here, I would guess only the Rose parade has more flowers. This is the Princess of Oahu.

We did another thing we had never done before...we rode the horses! For me it was good...very calm, well-trained trail horses. They gave us instructions on how to kick, and steer, but I think they are somewhat like the Autopia at Disneyland...they would just plod along and retun home without any help from the rider!

Yep...thant's me! Only the 3rd time in my whole life I have been on a horse. It was fun.

Our 35th Anniversary...Hawaiian Style! #2

2009-06-19T19:39:00.001-07:00

We kept busy and who would have thought there were so many things we still hadn't done? We went to Kaulua Ranch where after we rode horses, we rode this fun vehicle around the trails with beautiful views. Jerry said he wants one of these for Wrightwood!

On our anniversary we went to the Paradise Cove Luau. It was really beautiful, good food, great entertainment. It is on a cove, one we took our family to for a fun, calm day in the water 2 years ago.
Yep...this is us 35 years married!

We spent a day with 'Snorkel Bob' and had a blast! We went to a 5 mile long sandbar, for those who needed to practice snorkeling, volleyball was set up to play. Lunch was served then off to the coral cove. We saw 3 sea turtles as we got there, Jer and I even swam with one for awhile! The sailors would toss cheese and bread and hamburger out and the fish would come like crazy! I saw more beautiful-colored fish than I had ever seen. It was like swimming in an aquarium!

Our last day we did one of our favorite things. We rode the Outrigger High Speed Catamaran. It is a fast and wet wave-jumping experience that Jerry and I both LOVE! We tried to figure out how many times we had ridden this..and think at least 5!

We love Hawaii. We had a wonderful time, and look forward to going again.

Which anniversary will it be?

We are so blessed. Aloha to you all.

Today is a Special Day

2009-05-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

I couldn't let today go by without posting a short tribute to my Jerry, the love of my life. Today we celebrate his birth..It wasa quiet day, one we were able to spend together. We spoke in the Fort Irwin Branch, and I marveled at his wisdom as he shared the words of the Prophets and Savior. We attended a Memorial Service for his Uncle, a really great man and while there I appreciated the good family that Jerry has come to me from.

We talked to each of our children, Jerry was sung Happy Birthday to by all the grandchildren, and another year has gone by, with another wonderful, amazing and fun one ahead!

Happy Birthday to you Jerry.

Thank you for being the wonderful husband, father and grandfather that you are! I love to watch him with the Grandkids
Being with him makes me very happy.

As he and Tyler served as Pallbearers for Jerry's father, I was touched with his compassion and dedication.

Now you tell me..how could I NOT just love this guy???

My Mountain Man

2009-05-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

My favorite Mountain Man
Yep, there's still snow up there

Narrow is the road and wind-ey the way

Do you think he does it for the views?

We have lived in Wrightwood for nearly 14 years now, and Jerry still can't seem to get enough of the mountains. He is training now for and early Autumn hike to the top of Mt.Whitney. For the past 2 weeks, at least 2 times a week, he comes home from work, changes his clothes and heads up a mountain trail.

He truly loves the experience. He has taken a few pictures so I thought I'd share a few of them.

The Golden Ring

2009-03-03T00:36:00.000-08:00

I have a picture on my desk. It is of my Mom and Dad on their 50th wedding anniversary. Mom has her familiar smile and Dad is trying very hard to look stern. But you can see it, that very faint tightening of the cheeks that was his smile. It is the smile I remember. It is the biggest smile I ever saw him make until he started having grandkids. He would smile at them.

I was close to Mom. She would spend time with me. We would talk. She would cook for me. I don’t mean just at mealtime. I mean at midnight, with a bunch of friends. She would cook and talk and listen. She knew what we were up to because she would listen. And we didn’t mind her listening because she was cooking. She knew what made boys tick and she kept us ticking with lots of good food. I remember coming home and reviewing my day with her. When I was dating seriously, she always wanted to know about the girl. It was fun to talk to her. She would tell stories of her life and I always liked to hear what things were like "so long ago". I never doubted how she felt for me because I could feel it.

I didn’t think I was so close to Dad. We spent a lot of time working together on the ranch. He probably didn’t think it was so much, but it seemed like a lot to me. Sometimes we would work for hours, side by side, and not say a word. We each knew what had to be done and we just did it. I think he actually took delight in that, that we could work as a team and not have to talk. He saw some trouble in his time. He was a teenager in the Great Depression. He saw the country go through two world wars and many conflicts. As a young man he worked on his dad’s farm with horses and wagons and by the time he was 55 or so, he saw men land on the moon. He worked hard his whole life. But it was not a big deal to him; that is what a man did. He actually liked it. So he didn’t smile a lot. Just that faint tightening of the cheeks. And sometimes there was that sparkle in his eye. Everyone knew of the sparkle. If you could get that sparkle, you had it made. I remember the sparkle when he would say, "Let’s go get a malt". And off we would go to the drive-in. He would get strawberry and I would get chocolate. I remember the sparkle on Valentines Day, when he would knock on the wall and claimed it was the Valentine fairy and we would run to the door and there would be heart-shaped candy boxes for everyone on the porch. I remember the sparkle at Christmas when he would point to the box of See’s candy the feed company always gave us and say, "I wonder what’s in that one?" and we would have to check… what a surprise, candy! We would have to sample it once we knew it was candy. You would see the sparkle when he talked of his berries, or peaches, or tomatoes ("Do you know how much it would cost to buy all this at the store?). If you really wanted to see the sparkle, you just needed to bring in the grandkids. There was no doubt the biggest sparkle was for the grandkids.

On their 50th wedding anniversary Mom and Dad bought each other new wedding rings. Dad was sort of proud that he had a gold ring with a diamond. He held out his hand to show me the ring and said, "Look at that, I’ve got a diamond!" The diamond sparkled. His eyes sparkled.
In the picture you can see their smiles, their eyes, and their rings. And you can see the quiet little sparkle they had for each other. When Dad died, my sister asked, "Who would like Dad’s ring?" I didn’t speak up at first because I am the youngest and thought someone else might want it. But no one spoke up, so I said, "My son would like it, I’ll give it to him". I put it in my pocket and waited for the right time to give it to him. In the day or two that it spent in my pocket, I kept taking it out and looking at the diamond. It’s not a big one. It is sort of small, like my Dad’s smile. But every time I looked, it sparkled. And every time I saw it sparkle, I thought of my Dad and all he did for me. I guess we were really closer than I thought.

So I decided to keep the ring. I decided to look at it and remember my Mom and Dad. I decided to wear it for thirty years and then give it to my son. I decided to let it remind me to work hard, and listen, and smile, and sparkle. I decided to tell stories of what it was like "so long ago". And then, after the legacy is assured, then I will give it to my son. And I will ask him to tell the stories. And maybe after thirty years he will give it to his son, and he will know it came from a man whose eyes sparkled when he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know how to say it, but his eyes showed it. And eventually we all knew it. And I remember it every time I look at the golden ring

Jerry Jorgenson

Danielle Carlene

2009-02-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

Another blessing came into our lives 7 years ago today. Our 2nd Granddaughter and #4 Grandchild was born in Hammond Indiana! I was able to be there...and boy was it cold! This poor Grandma with California blood..nearly froze to death when I took Michael out for a quick..and I do mean QUICK walk one afternoon. I don't know if I've ever been in that kind of cold before or since!
Danielle survived it though, at least until June when she moved to sunny California. We were so happy when they moved just around the corner from us, then less that a year later moved into our house! We had so many fun fun times while she lived with us in Wrightwood.
Danielle has a very infectious laugh...we enjoyed that a lot. She is a great helper, and loves to have fun pretending and playing all the time.
Our lives are better, our hearts more full since she joined our little family. I know she will enjoy everything about her birthday today..that is just the way she is, I wish we were there with you, but we surely send our love.
We are ver so thankful that Heavenly Father sent you to our family. We love you little one!
Here are somd fun random pics of this little shingin star: When she visited this past December she was fianlly big enough for the bumper cars...and LOVED them!

They raise bunnies in Washington...here she is with a baby bunny!

Cute little thing, isn't she?

She and aunt Tanya had lots of good times together..this was watching fireworks one 4th of July.

This is one of my favorite pictures...this is her Mommy's dress from when she was a little girl...sweet isn't it?

Future American Idol????

A mutual admiration society?

I think this was her 1st birthday at Chuck Cheese.

She is just a cutie! We enjoy her. We miss her and Danielle, know that Grandpa and Grandma J love you VERY VERY much! Happy Birthday!

A great weekend!

2009-02-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful weekend this weekend. These pictures are backwards, but you'll get the idea.

We spent Friday at Disneyland with Taylor. We have a tradition of taking the grandkids to Disneyland when they turn 4, but since Taylor has had a pass since she was 2, that wasn't too special. We decided to spice it up and we would take her one day by herself and get an autograph book and get as many characters to sign as we could. Well, she turned 4 in November! With blocked dates on our passes, and my work schedule we just couldn't seem to get it to happen!

I looked ahead at the calendar, and realized I had Friday the 13th off, AND we weren't blocked so we scheduled this trip more than a month ago!

Who would have thought it would be a rainy day???

We still had a blast, and accomplished what we set out to do, getting several autographs.

We ate breakfast in a cafe on Main Street and were visited by the Chef, we saw the newly refurbished Its a Small World, visited Pixie Hollow and the Princess place, and visited both Mickey and Minnie's houses. We rode Buzz Lightyear 2 times and Taylor really wanted to go on Star Tours!!

Tinkerbell is pretty cute and very friendly!

You can't see the cute Mickey belgiun waffles that Taylor had...we want one of those waffle-makers!

So, better late than never, but as usual...always a fun day at Disneyland!

The night before I went to San Diego to visit with my 1st friends and co-workers from when we lived there. Linda Gerhold was visiting from New York, and she and Karen Ballew and I met for dinner. We met at the place where Westwood School held it's end of the year luncheon the year I left, and I had cried the entire time there! Oh the memories we shared while we sat for 3 hours and laughed and caught up on each other's lives. These ladies really took me in when I started working as a Yard Duty as soon as we moved there. I played Bunco with them, served on PTA and we shared in each others happy as sad times as well. I treasure these friends, and hope that so many years will not pass before we can visit again.

The weekend just got better as Tyler, Tanya and the kids came up on Saturday to play in the snow. We had a great time with them sledding, building snowmen, making snow angels and making and throwing snowballs. You'll have to watch Tayna's blog for pictures as I didn't take any..too busy having fun!http://jorgensonclan.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

Then my Valentine took me out to dinner...what a guy! I think I'll keep him!

Today is a special day!

2009-02-09T17:07:00.000-08:00

10 years ago today our lives were changed forever. Makayla was born. Quinn & Amy were living in Pocatello Idaho then, and when we got the call, saying it was time for the baby, we got in the car and drove like crazy to get to the hospital. As we arrived the snow began falling, Amy was getting near to delivery. We waited out in the hall and I paced back and forth from the doorway to the nurse's station where a moniter showed Amy's activity! That was so hard!! My little girl was working so hard to bring a baby into this world.
As it got close, Jerry & I stood outside the door, and heard Makayla's first cries. They were mixed with mine and Amy's but they were beautiful!
10 years later, as I think back on all the joy this little girl has brought into our life and the additional grandbabies we have had since, I realize that February 9, 1999 truly was a day that changed our lives for the better!
Here are some random pictures of our little angel..certainly in no specific order.
This was in Nebraska, when unknowlingly Makayla and I dressed in coordinating outfits for church.

When we visited, I got to hear Makayla practice her recital song. She is so talented!

Makayla lost a tooth on a visit to our house.

She and Grandpa can be so silly!

I love this picture of Makayla when she was so little. Her happy personality is already shining through.

She frosted cookies here one day...what fun!

This is a four-generation picture taken at Tyler & Tanya's reception. I am so blessed.

Makayla, you are a great joy in the life of your Grandpa and Grandma J. We are so proud of all the good things you do. We know Heavenly Father knew your spirit and sent you to be the first child in your family as well as our first grandchild...you are a great example to those who have and will come after you.

Have a wonderful birthday Makayla Marie...we wish we were with you.

The twins are 2!

2009-01-24T22:23:00.001-08:00

Today these cuties turned 2 years old! Who can believe such sweethearts could grow so fast? It has been so wonderful to live close to them and share in so many milestones of their first 2 years. Happy birthday Andy & Ashlyn! Grandpa and Grandma J really love you!

Last year they celebrated in style, and it has been a really fun year. They traveled to Nebraska, they've been camping, to the beach and the mountains, played in the snow, started talking, and they just grow and grow!
Then they were new. Such a joy to be at their Blessing, to share in their first steps, a trip to Hawaii, lots of road trips, opportunities to babysit and the laughter and love to share. That 1st year went by so fast!

Fun at the Holidays

2009-01-12T17:24:00.001-08:00

Here is a brief pictoral of our wonderful holidays this year. We had a great vacation, although we didn't get to see all of our family, we were able to see a good portion, and 5 of our 9 grandchildren.

Tyler and Tanya invited us to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with them. It is such fun to be with the little ones for that morning.

Ashlyn and Andy enjoyed the train table Grandpa J built.

Taylor really enjoyed opening presents. Everyone was so happy and fun!

Saturday the 27th we had my whole extended family here to our house. We took a family picture, nearly 40 people with only 1 family and 2 additional people missing. My house was PACKED, but it was great to all be together.

Jerry & I took 3 of the Grandkids to Tom's Farm one day. Who would have thought they wouldn't have the rides going during the holiday week? Thank heavens for the coin-operated tractor, they all had fun with that!

We went to a park near Tyler & Tanya's house afterwards. The kids ran and ran and Taylor swang and swang!She was getting quite creative and brave!

On New Year's Eve we took Michael & Danielle to see a movie and then to John's Incredible Pizza for dinner. All they wanted to do was the bumper cars!

The season was wonderful, surrounded by those we love.

Who could ask for anything more?

Happy New Year everyone!

Winter Wonderland

2008-12-18T10:21:00.000-08:00

Add a little cherry syrup and we could have a snowcone picnic!
This morning you couldn't see any of the cars!

When winter hit this season here in Wrightwood, it really hit hard! It started Monday the 15th, but I was able to get to work OK. 3 of the teachers at Cottonwood who travel up the Cajon Pass, sat in their cars for 5 hours!

Tuesday was OK too, but Wednesday morning I was awakened at 5 AM with a call saying that Hesperia schools were closed due to snow. When I looked outside, there was no snow falling here in Wrightwood.

Well, within a half an hour it came down hard and NEVER QUIT all day!

Jerry took these pictures at about 11 AM, and today the skies are beautiful blue and the snow is nearly 4 1/2 feet high.

Lucky for me Hesperia schools were cancelled once again, this time due to icey conditions.

I did get my house decorated for Christmas, (finally) and that is so wonerful!

Until we Meet again...

2008-11-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

This has been an eventful week. We spent 5 wonderful days in Nebraska with Amy and her family, (post to follow)then home for Thanksgiving.

Last year we spent Thanksgiving in Hawaii with Tyler, Tanya and her family and I felt we needed to be home this year for my Mom.Backing up just a bit; Jerry's parents moved to Los Altos with Jerry's sister almost 5 years ago. Jerry's Mother's health was declining and she needed more care than Dad could give her.

Mom passed away April of 2006. Dad , although 91 years of age, was still strong and doing well. He wanted to move back to Redlands, but we all recognized that he couldn't do that. Slowly over the next several months, his health began to suffer. He had been carrying a low-grade leukemia in his body for years and the Drs said he would probably die of old age before that ever got him. This past year has been a physical struggle for Dad. The cancer spread and he was often in a great deal of pain.

On Thanksgiving Day, Dad left this mortal existence and joined Mom with our Father in Heaven. I am grateful that he is no longer in pain. He was a strength to us all. His memories will live forever with us.

Some of my personal memories:

# The first time I met him, he brought in a bag of pennies and we sat and rolled them. He said 'Someday these will be worth something.'. Years later he gave checkbook boxes filled will rolled pennies to my kids..I know they treasured them

# When my Dad died in 1982, Dad J was there at the service, and he came up to me with tears in his eyes and gave me one of his quick hugs with the pat on the back. I realized there and then that I still had a father on this earth.

# We moved to Yucaipa after the folks' retired. One day Dad called on the phone to see if Tyler was awake, he wanted to come and watch him play.

#While in Yucaipa one day I looked outside and there he was, planting rosebuses in our front yard. The man had a amazing green thumb.

#Speaking of that, he had amazing gardens. He grew vegetables that were delicious and large. His fruit off of his small trees were huge! Oh how we missed the avocados when that tree was overgrown!

#I loved the twinkle in his eye when he was amused. Like the time Tyler bought him an alligator made from green egg-shell foam at the school's santa shop. Tyler was so proud and Dad was so touched. He kept that on his bed for a very long time.

#Dad taught my husband to work, and to work well. Jerry grew up on a small chicken ranch, and for a time, he was the only employee. (the girls and brother were long gone!) Dad taught him how to repair anything and how to take pride in a job well done. It wasn't always easy, those life-lessons, but I am grateful that he taught them to my husband.

#One more...while Mom was in declining health, he was so tender with her. This was a side we didn't see much in the previous 30 years, but it was so beautiful to watch. Her care was all he thought about. Someone HAD to stay with her at the hospital at all times, never was she to wake and be with strangers. He held her hand, he teared up when she was hurting. And watching that lip quiver at her service, did me in.Dad was a man of few words, sometimes gruff, very generous and I love him and will miss him.

Thank you Dad for taking me into your family and always making me feel welcome and loved.

Until we meet again....

The Kitchen is done

2008-11-04T21:51:00.000-08:00

This project was started in May of this year, when Jerry took out the wallboard dividing the living room from the dining area.

Look at how great that space is now. http://jeranddijorgenson.blogspot.com/2008/03/quick-remodel-update.html

Next, at the end of May, Jerry took out the window from the dining area into the enclosed porch, and put in french doors.

This area looks great, and just as Jerry had planned, the traffic flow is really easy when we have a gathering like the one we just had for my Mom's 87th birthday. http://jeranddijorgenson.blogspot.com/2008/05/back-to-remodel.html

This is the view looking into the kitchen. Jerry took out the wall oven and countertops and he painted and built cabinet doors. They really came out great.
Please note the terrific plate rack. My amazing man just looked at several designs, then came up with his own to fit our space and dishes.
http://jeranddijorgenson.blogspot.com/2008/07/kitchen.html

Finally a shot of the new stove and range microhood. It really is wonderful, the new floor makes it all come together.

Keep an eye here, next is the new carpeting!

Jer, I love an admire you...you are my love and my hero! Thank you for this beautiful kitchen.

I have a stove and oven

2008-10-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Jerry and I worked the stove up the stairs and had it all ready to go in..yikes! The granite was 3/8" too wide in a couple of places! Talk about frustrated! Jerry measured and measured to get it exact, but the granite-guy didn't quite cut square. So we had to call him back out, and he fixed it on Thursday so Jerry brought home the hook-up stuff; wrong size! He called me on my way home to see where I was to send me to the Hardware store, I was already in Phelan, and too late for Anderson's to be open. So he left Wrightwood, drove to Victorville, (at 8 PM) and got the right stuff! What a guy! Yep, he got it done, and Friday night, (our usual out-to-dinner night) I cooked a meal! It looks great, it works great too. Sunday I did the whole roast, baked potatoes, and fresh vegetables meal. It is really nice to have 2 ovens.

This week the cabinet doors go up...they are all done and painted, then the kitchen will be complete!

Now a HUGE shout-out to my sweetheart who is an amazing man. He works so hard to make our home a more beautiful and comfortable place. Then he even brings a great spirit into it when he strums the guitar and sings. I took this shot Sunday as he sat playing hymns and quietly singing. I am the luckiest girl in the whole USA!!

It is nearing completion!

2008-09-27T19:32:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday the Granite counertops were installed. They really look great. We had debated between the gray shades and then this brown, and we are very happy with our choice of brown.
Don't they look terrific???
Today Jerry installed the flooring in the kitchen. He said the video he studied said it is 'easy', but he told me not to let anyone tell me it is 'easy'! He has worked pretty non-stop, since 11:30 this morning and is nearing completion!
I can't believe the difference! Next, the stove goes in, then the cabinet doors will be finished and then hung..and then (or maybe even before that) the new carpeting!

#2 Grandchild is Baptized

2008-09-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

We went on a quick 3-day weekend to Vancouver Washington. Michael and Danielle had just started school on Wednesday, so we went to have lunch with them there, lucky for us, they were 1 right after the other. We had to sit at a 'special visitor table' but both kids were all right with that.
The happy boys!
Proud Grandma J with her 1st grader!

Grandpa J had promised Michael a ride on a 'real' train on our last visit. We didn't have time for a trip to Seattle, so we planned a shorter trip, just 2 stops north. We went from Vancouver WA to Centralia WA.

The 1st train was called the Mount Hood, and we got seats with a table between them. We enjoyed HOT chocolate from the cafe car on this ride.

The train back was a double decker called the Coast Starlight. It was going all the way to Los Angeles, so some people were prepared for a very long ride. We enjoyed hot dogs for lunch on this trip.

This was a fun adventure, and it kept everyone occupied as we passed the time for the main event of the weekend: Michael's baptism.

It was a wonderful baptism. Michael was the only one from his Ward being baptized this month, so he was able to have his 'own' meeting. Grandpa J was honored to be asked to baptize and confirm Michael, and both he and Michael did a great job. They had practiced the method, and there were no surprises. We did realize though, that we sould have practiced the handshakes around the circle after the baptism, because as soon as Michael's confirmation was done, he hurried to his seat..never looking back.

We are so very proud of our 1st 2 grandchildren who have chosen to be baptized. They are great examples to their families and cousins too. We are grateful that we are able to be there for these special times in the lives of those we love.

Where did the summer go?

2008-09-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

It is now September, the summer is gone. Another fun-filled summer is over. I have a theory that when the 'ber' months arrive, the year is pretty much done! Septem'ber' is busy with the beginning of school, Octo'ber' has birthdays and Halloween, Novem'ber' has Thanksgiving, (more birthdays) and Decem'ber' has (birthdays again,) and Christmas...all so busy, and they can pass in just a blur. So I thought I'd post a few of our Summer happenings, just for a reflection, maybe you'll enjoy it too.We went to Capitola and Jerry & I had our 1st experience staying in the Packard Beach House. What fun that was. We were sorry Teri Le and her family couldn't make it, but enjoyed our time with Tyler and his family. During our trip to Hawaii this summer, for the 1st time, we went to the Hawaiian Temple Visitor's Center. It is really beautiful! So peaceful, and the Sister missionaries there wear Hawaiian Dresses.
I met up for breakfast in Carlsbad with good old friends. Linda Bowman, Marilynn Scheller, Diane Smith and I all worked at Westwood Elementary in the 80s and 90s. We have remained friends, though we are now scattered all over the place. e had a fun GNO group with 4 other co-workers. We went fun places and celebrated birthdays, weddings and events for several years in San Diego.
Jerry did a whole lot of remodeling of my kitchen. No, it isn't quite done, but we are at the point where the 2 big things left will be subbed-out: Counter tops and flooring! The carpet will go in within the next few weeks too! I can hardly wait. Here is my new micro-hood.
We spent a fun day in Newport with Tyler, Tanya, Taylor, Ashlynn and Andy. This is one of my favorite pics from the day..my cute dimpled guys!!

Have you ever...?

2008-08-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

...just thought you needed a change, something different? Well, I have been pondering this for quite awhile, and today was the day! I had an appointment to 'cover the gray' and decided to let my hairdresser go at it! She has been wanting to do something different for years now. Now mind you, I get lots of compliments on my hair, so doing this was a HUGE step for me.

My grandkids have posted their 'Back to School' cuts, so here goes...here are mine: Before:

and..

After:

Now, my question to you is...have you ever done something like this...and wish that you hadn't??

Yes, I know, it will grow back, but do I have the patience for it? I guess we';; just have to see.

Quiz Your Friends - Take Your Friend's Quiz

2008-07-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Quiz Your Friends - Take Your Friend's Quiz

Our Trip to Capitola California

2008-07-15T11:27:00.001-07:00

We had a really terrific 4 days with Tyler, Tanya, Taylor, Andy & Ashlyn.

We met up at Casa De Fruta...the kids (as well as the adults) had fun riding the Carosel and the train. The kids went on the playground, we put a couple of guys in the stocks, and we had dinner. Oh yeah, we also bought fruit and vegetables for the vacation!
Are they cute, or what??
We let them go, when they promised to always be so fun!
The next day we went to the beach and in the afternoon we went o the Santa Cruz Boardwalk! We had a really fun time, the twins are old enough to ride the rdes without Mommy & Daddy, is that a good thing?

Friday we took off to see some Redwoods on a really fun ride on a train. The scenery was beautiful and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Some of the pics are out of order...but you can see how big Andy & Ashlyn look as they driver their own dune buggy!

These next 2 pictures are really the main reason for the trip. Jerry's Dad will be 93 in October, and has been struggling with some cancer issues. He had never met Ashlyn & Andy. Andy is the only Jorgenson Great-Grandson, to carry out the Floyd Jorgenson name. Grandpa has 45 Great-Grandchildren, but he only has 2 sons, and the other Jorgenson grandson had a girl...so Andy is it, (for now).

It was important that we get a 4-Generation pictures for posterity.

Jerry, Tyler and Andy all have the middle name of Dale, which originated with Jerry's Uncle.

It seems we always manage to toss some of the kids around. As you can see, the 'Dads' are farther apart for Andy and he goes much higher. They both enjoyed it and laughed and laughed!

The kitchen?

2008-07-06T19:00:00.001-07:00

Can you still call it a kitchen if there is no stove or oven?

Jerry spent the past couple of days re-configuring the cabinets for the new appliances. He worked really hard getting everything exact and I know that it will really look good.

This evening we had the missionaries to dinner, and we bar b qed steaks, baked the potatoes at the Red House and cooked the corn on the burner on the bar b que.

Who needs a kitchen??

Summer time joys!

2008-06-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Well, today my blog frustration level is very high. I haven't posted for awhile, and can't even seem to remember how to change the pictures! Goodness, now I guess I'll create another post about our last vacation trip...if I can!

We spent 10 glorious day is Hawaii, this time we went to Maui for 4 of the days.We stayed in an old Inn in the heart of lanai and enjoyed the local flavor there. We went for a day - long drive and experienced more local flavor, the best smoothie ever, made in an old special-needs school bus and the best banana bread on the planet, from a small family-owned stand.

The bread was delicious, and the hospitality was amazing.

While in Maui, we went on an all day excursion. We rode the Trinity catamaran to a small, privately owned island. We saw amazing scenery, including a pod of spinner dolfins just diving and jumping and spinning all the time! It was amazing, But we didn't take our camera, dumb!

We went snorkeling there, and that was another adventure. We saw a sea turtle and followed him for awhile...way cool! That was probably our favorite day of vacation..and we have no pictures to show!

Back on Oahu, we ended our vacation in a BIG way. We stayed at the Outrigger Reef, and our room was right over-looking the beach, It was a corner room, so one balcony looked over Diamond Head, and the other; the ocean.

When we picked up our rental, we 'up-graded', for very little $, and had a BLAST in this car!

Come on, how could we NOT have fun?

We drove around a LOT and took an extra loop through town before we turned the car over to the valet!

We really had a great time, and are looking forward to the next trip...it was quiet, and a little lonely without any family, but it was a great way to celebrate our 34th anniversary!

Back to the Remodel

2008-05-31T22:24:00.000-07:00

Well, today was Jerry's birthday, and we talked about ways to spend it yesterday. My main goal was to clean the back porch. Jerry talked about cleaning the shed and garage. When we got up this morning, he said 'I think we should go and get a Penske truck and get the french door for the kitchen.' So after opening presents, and going out for breakfast, that was exactly what we did

1st..take out the old window, carefully, it is an antique.

2nd: take out the rest of the wall:

3rd: Put the new door in:

And finally: you have a new passage-way from the kitchen to the porch...AND a very tired birthday boy!

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

We are having an amazing holiday weekend. We woke to snow falling on Friday...yep! LOTS of snow falling! So we bundled up and walked into town for breakfast, then came home and built a roaring fire and enjoyed the day.

Saturday we needed to go down the hill to get some lumber for the kitchen remodel...(yep, still on-going) so we called Tanya and took her and the kids to Tom's Farms to ride the train and carosel...Tyler met us later. We had a lot of fun.

Today Jerry is working on finishing up the dividing wall between the living room and dining area, then he'll begin arranging the kitchen cabinets for an additional part of the kitchen remodel!

May is the month for Weddings

2008-05-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

We have had a busy month of weddings. 1st was Andy Zellmanns's, Tyler's BF since 6th grade...he and Jackie were married May 10th and it was a wonderful day.

Then my nephew, Dustin Boylin, was married in a beautiful mountain setting to Torrey Jones. They were so happy and ot was great to be a part of these 2 happy days.

Lance Quinn Draper has arrived

2008-04-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

This is a red-letter day, as we welcome our 9th grandchild, Lance Quinn Draper. He is beautiful! Amy went in to the hospital last night, was helped along with her labor ( I am sure she will share more on her blog), and little guy, OK, not so little; 8 lobs, 10 oz 21" was delivered just before noon today.
Jerry and I had taken the 3 kids to the Linclon Children's museum this morning, and were eating lunch when Amy called to share the news. We were all so happy.
Jerry had to fly to Florida for business, so the kids and I went to the hospital around 4 PM to take a look...he is adorable! His older brother and sisters are so happy to be able to hold and love him. Dylan was the 1st, and he just smiled and smiled! Amy looked amazingly great...she enjoyed seeing all the kids and sharing Lance with them. Quinn was a very happy Dad with his little flock surrounding him. It was a joy to behold this beautiful eternal family welcoming their newest member. Lance, you are so lucky!

Sorry, I can't seem to access any pictures from here in Nebraska...there will certainly be some later.

She sells sea shells down by the... whatever... we love the beach too!

2008-04-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Many years ago when we just had one little girl (Teri Le) we lived in the San Fernando Valley and after work we would sometimes drive down to the beach to eat dinner on a blanket and watch the waves. I loved walking along the beach with my little girl because she would cling to me for protection whenever the waves came and it made me feel so much like a Dad to protect her. That's a great feeling. Diane took a picture of us as I knelt down to hold TL as a wave came up and it was always a touching picture for me. I'm sure the kids remember the photo as I made an enlargement of it and wrote this poem to go with it:

You and I across oceans of waves,
Will pass through this world in time.
But forever we will hold love tight,
Warm and close, little girl of mine.

So when I was reading Tyler's blog about how he loves being a Dad and showing his little man how to do "guy things" like skipping stones on the ocean, it took me back to when I was a young dad and felt so close to my kids. And out came this poem to go with his picture: http://jorgstyle.blogspot.com/2008/04/skipping-stones-20.html

The ocean crashes to the shore,
And comes to us with a mighty roar.
And stones can threaten in our path,
To trip our progress with their wrath.
But you can pass this test of life,
And turn to fun the daunting strife.
So pick a stone and toss it free,
To skip across the raging sea.
And laugh out loud as it leaves your hand,
I’ll show you how, my little man!

I told Diane that I am getting to be an old man. I get choked up all the time when reading about families and kids. And especially when reading my kid's blogs. You are all having so much fun and I miss you all so much (I want to play in the fountain too!) I am so proud that you all have a wonderful companion and awesome kids. I love you all!

Now come to my house to play.

Grandpa J

Conference Weekend

2008-04-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

We had a great treat to be able to travel to Salt lake City for conference. We had tickets for the priesthood session as well as the Sunday morning Session. For any of you who haven't yet had the experience, please make it a goal to attend in the Conference Center. The most amazing feeling comes over the Center as presidents Monson, Eyring and Uchdorf enter. It reminds me a bot of the 'wave' as the people nearest where they enter rises first, but oh so quickly a hush falls over the entire hall and everyone comes to their feet. Not a word is said, and everyone remains standing until the President sits. The respect, reverance and testimonies are felt so strongly.

We did spend Saturday with Aunt Valerie and uncle Richard in their home in Kaysville, and their oldest son's family came by along with Rachel Packard who was in town for her Missionary reunion. That was a lot of fun. Rick's wife Laura, said she'd really like to have a chance to get together with our kids and get to know the cousins, anyone feel like organizing a Jorgenson cousin reunion??

I was so touched with the Solemn Assembly we were all able to participate it, I was given such a strong witness of the truthfulness of this Gospel and the assurance that Thomas S Monson is truly the prophet of God. We are so blessed.

Spring Break on the Central Coast

2008-03-22T22:03:00.001-07:00

For my Spring Break Jerry planed a work-trip towards the Central Coast. We left Wednesday and came home on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, and the scenery was spectacular. It was amazingly relaxing, but I love the ocean, it alwys calms me. The rock is in Morro Bay, a really cute town, with cute shops, and a delicious restaurant! (Amy, I had delicious Clam Chowder in a bread bowl!)

The mountains of the Central Coast were all green since it is Spring, we saw lots of Californial Poppies, but never stopped to take pictures.

4 sea lions, basking in the warmth of a lower deck. There were 3 more in the water. I have never been this close, and the signs posted said they'd bite, so I didn't get any closer!

We went to Hearst Castle. What a home! All I could think when I saw this beautiful pool, is what fun my grandkids would have in there!!

Pismo Beach! Maybe someday we'll some back and rent ATVs and ride in the surf, it really does look fun!

A quick remodel update

2008-03-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

Not too much happened this week, but I am sure you are dying to see what the living room wall looks like: ta da....

Back to the Remodel

2008-03-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Another Saturday is here, and my 'Weekend Warrior' started last night. Let's bring you up to date:

The hallway is done and looks great!

The bathroom tile is in, grouted needs sealing, but the floor is uneven so the grout keeps cracking. We're working on that.

Our bedroom is started, I am loving the color!

I mentioned last night that I'd like to take 1/2 of the wall out between the dining area and living room......

Read Across America

2008-03-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

Friday I got to read a fun story to 3 2nd grade classes and a handicapped-student classroom...it was GREAT! Lots of people came to read and many people read Dr. Seuss books. When Jerry and I were in Arizona we found a great store that had a book I just HAD to have. You see, at the school where I work we are known as Cottonwood Coyotes...so the book is 'There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea'. VERY funny, great illustrations and the kids really loved it..it has a great surprise ending! I got to dress up, so I wanted to share with my Grandbabies just how fun my life is!

Ouch!

2008-03-08T16:30:00.000-08:00

It was such a beautiful day today so I asked my Mom if she wanted to go for a ride. She hadn't been out of the house since before the holidays. She agreed, so we took off. I headed West, past the Ski Resort, past the Lake and down into the Desert, deciding to go to Littlerock and get the best Chocolate malt ever at Charlie Browns. Across the street from Charlie Browns is a Burger King, and I was starving, and wanted quick..so I put on the blinker, stopped and WHAM! we were rear-ended.
OHMIGOSH! My Mom says "What was that sound?" I said we were just hit from the back. Thank heaven's jerry wants me to drive a sturdy car, 'cuz I looked OK, but the mini van was pouring out radiator fluid and was crunched.
We looked, and I told the guy I was going to pull off the street, and if he was driveable, he had better too. So we did, I called the CHP, we exchanged info, made a report, and in maybe and hour plus...we were on the road and he was being towed.
My Mom said she just wanted to go home, she had lost her appetite. Though afer sitting in front of Charlie Brows all that time, she decided she wanted some Texas bar b Que and a Date Shake!!

Here's my tag-back

2008-03-08T12:13:00.001-08:00

I was Tagged! Me A-Z
Do here goes:
A--Attached or Single?Attached-to Jerry for nearly 34 years!
B--Best friend? A different one at different times and places, love them all!
C--Cake or Pie? Yes!
D--Day of Choice? Saturday. Love to sleep in, no alarm clock!
E--Essential Item? Computers..I love keeping up with friends and family
F--Favorite Color? Red and green
G--Gummy bears or worms? Not really
H--Hometown? San Bernardino CA
I--Indulgence(s) Ice Cream with chocolate syrup: lite, of course!
J--January or July? July for sure...
K--Kids? Yep- 3 + 3 by marriage and 8, nearly 9 wonderful grandbabies!!
L--Life is incomplete without? Family
M--Marriage date? June 14, 1974
N--Number of siblings? 4
O--Oranges or apples? Either or
P--Phobias or fears? Losing someone I love
Q--Quotes? "Happiness is a choice I make"
R--Reason to Smile? I've got a great life
S--Season? Spring time!
T--Tag 3 friends? No one looks at this blog but those who have been tagged.
U--Unknown Fact? I'm so well known....:)
V--Very Favorite Store? Coldwater Creek
W--Worst Habit? I'm lazy and I procrastinate
X--X-ray or ultrasound? Again...either or
Y--Your favorite food? Coconut Shrimp
Z--Zodiac? Gemini
Thats me from A-Z

Let the Remodel Begin

2008-03-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

It all began with Tyler & Tanya deciding not to use the carpet that was in their new house. We asked if we could have it, they said yes, so the prep began to get the downstairs ready.
We spent a fun morning at Lowe's where we picked our doors, trim and paint. Jerry was itching to get started. The office door went first, and was quickly replaced with a new door, then the bedroom followed. In less than 4 hours, 2 new doors were in place, then they were trimmed and caulked. It was 10 PM and Jerry said "If I paint these, I can put the hardware on...." I rolled my eyes, got ready for bed, and he kept right on working.

Today the next 2 doors went in. Now, remember that this house was built in 1933, and 'code' was not heard of, so the last two doors had to be customized. Note the cut to the bathroom wall to widen the doorway. Now tile has to be replaced too.

I love that my man can do anything he sets his mind to, but especially I love how he always cleans up as he goes along. Keep an eye here...we have LOTS more to follow.

A Weekend with Grandbabies!

2008-01-19T21:43:00.000-08:00

Building a tower with Grandpa so Taylor could kick it down
Taylor had a 'pillow-fight' with Grandpa and then buried him in pillows & blankets!

We had a fun time tending Tyler & Tanya's 3 children as they moved into their new house. The twins turn 1 this week, and are so much fun! Taylor just turned 3 and is so entertaining! Jerry did tell me tonight, that our house sure does seem small when there are 3 children here! I know that, that is why I want a bigger one, so ALL the grandbabies can come often!!

OK, we did it!

2008-01-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

It's into the Brave New World. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy technology. Mostly I enjoy watching other people use it. I think it's a hoot watching people walk around with ipod headphones oblivious to the wonderful sounds of nature. Actually they're oblivious to pretty much everything. But hey, that means all I have to do is artfully avoid them and I pretty much have my space, right? Hi Tech to me means a new pair of hiking boots! (Yeah, yeah... Google it, it's a brand of boots!) But this blog thing seems to be the way of the future and since I hope to be there for awhile, I guess I need to get a grip on technology.

We just had a wonderful Christmas season. We spent time with all our kids and grandkids. Took a great road trip to Washington (we like road trips). And came home to our quiet little town of Wrightwood. Now we are expecting a snow storm and if we're lucky we'll get snowed in and can spend the weekend by the fire enjoying life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So that's the blah blah for now. Now I'm gonna try to figure out how to post some pictures!

Jer