Thanksgiving

Wow! What a lot to be thankful for! Unfortunately, I have to add 'the ability to dodge bullets' to our list this year. I won't go into all the things that have happened since Vince went into work last Wednesday, but I will say that when I re-investigate my list of things that I could receive a scary phone call about "shooting spree" never made my list.

I haven't made time for myself emotionally to grieve for Kim. Once I see the big boys are here and that they are doing OK then I will get on with that.

On Thanksgiving, Cindi P. made another enormous feast and we spent the day in Ninilchik with some very interesting people, including one woman who just moved here from Thailand and one here visiting from Africa. We all had some great laughs and great food. Thank you Cindi, Nicki, and Sheri for welcoming us again, and giving us such a nice day. We all had a super time.

Another bit of really fun news is that Falcom and Marina rang the bell for the Salvation Army in front of Ulmer's on Saturday and they raised $113 dollars in two hours. I am very proud of them for putting themselves out there and contributing to the holiday spirit for families who aren't as financially blessed as we are.

We're All OK, But We Are Sad

M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion via Associated Press

Thank you for all the calls of concern. We have so much to be thankful for. Being safely together is utmost in my mind.

For those of you who maybe did not hear on Fox News, a disgruntled former employee came into Central Peninsula Hospital today and started shooting. It was horrible. For Vince, it was a traumatic day. For me, I'm just glad he is OK.

Vince had called me to tell me that he was on his way home and DeeJay was beeping through. I knew something was going on because he hadn't called all week, and it was late.

I was right. Our friend Kim passed on today. "We came home from Disneyland and she was gone."

Kim is a woman who made an enormous impact not only on the lives of Velarie, Willie and DeeJay, but of every student that came into her sphere. Forever an advocate for the deaf. Forever an advocate for all children. Forever advocating for Micronesia. Forever in our hearts.

What Were The Kids Up To While I Was In Anchorage?

I got home from Anchorage and I said to Vince, "So, what did you guys do while I was away."

He said, "We drove the truck out to Caribou Lake. It was interesting to see the place from that perspective rather than that of snow machine."

"Was it fun?" I asked.

"Yea." he replied. Isn't he so wonderful and manly? Not a detail to be found in this description! No frivolous adjectives!

Fortunately, I have Valda, who, along with the dear Sharon Merchant, filled me in on the real trip and emailed me pictures to prove it!

There was a stop to Roger and Peggy's cabin. Hanging around and doing a bit of a ski with Peggy. Looks like a blast!

Then they popped into the wacky and wonderful Teri R's cabin for a marshmallow or two. Falcom couldn't believe that Teri was so bold as to have a marshmallow and be on Weight Watchers! He quizzed her about it. He also said she laughs A LOT! That is always a plus in our family.

Gosh! From the look of it the five of them had a great day out in the sun visiting friends at their 'no longer so remote cabins'. Won't be long until we are spending more time at ours!

Thanks Valda and Sharon for keeping my blog loaded with pictures and information...

They Made It!

We've all been on pins and needles... But I post this blog this morning to let everyone know:

THEY MADE IT!!

The Paag Brothers are now enjoying a wonderful reunion with their sister, mother, auntie and uncle, in Los Angeles! Uncle Kevin called me last night to let me know that he was anticipating a fun week with the family and to describe the delight that the girls were having at the sight of these fine young men.

This trip was a hard one to prepare for. Thank you Carol for printing off maps of the airports and to help them rehearse like crazy. We fretted and praised and scolded and it seems that our hard work paid off. They are there.

This does not mean that there weren't a few glitches... glitches that I will not document in words so that no one gets too embarrassed, but lets just say I had no idea when I was taking this picture that a potential catastrophe was going on. I am sure that someday we will laugh at the memory, but I am not laughing yet, giggling a little at the picture, yes:

DeeJay called from Seattle to say that they found their gate. The gate that they had anticipated was in terminal D but the gate change put them at the gate right next to the one they came in on. Everything turned out perfect, now lets just hope the rest of the trip goes as well.

Thanks again to everyone who made this success possible!

Boys on the Way to LA

We are blogging from the road! Today is the day that the Paag brothers travel on their own to LA to see their Auntie Kim and sister Velarie. Their mom, Lucy is their from Guam. It should be quite a party. We've been practicing everything about traveling and everything about airports.

Pray for traveling mercies and that their trip teaches and expands them into even better more interesting men. We love you guys!

Harvest Luncheon

Yesterday was the Harvest Luncheon put on by De Patch's Kindergarten class. All Kinder families were invited to attend. Served was Stone Soup, bread, pie, cookies, and other fun treats that families brought in for share. (Doesn't Marina look different without that tooth!)

The kids worked all week to prepare the meal. They brought in vegetables and then cut them into perfect pieces. They made bread using whole wheat flour and yeast. They baked pies. They whipped cream. They set the tables and made beautiful place mats. It was a fine and fabulous treat to spend part of the afternoon with them.

Marina worked so hard preparing this lunch that she gave herself a blister.

It snowed most of the day today. Here is our house from the road.

Loose Tooth/Pulled Tooth

This post is in two parts. First scene is set at last nights dinner, where we were feasting on lamb and enjoying Valdas company. (Mema stayed home for her first night alone since she's been back in AK). We were finishing up when Marina screamed and began to really cry. She had bit on something and "broke her tooth". Vince took her for a careful overview and found that her tooth was indeed very loose. Marina has been waiting for this event to occur with the intensity only a little girl can display. It was only a week ago that she cried because she thought the tooth fairy would never come.

This tooth had bothered her so much, it kept her awake at night. It brought her into our room in the night after a dream it came out in her bed and she lost it. She laid in my arms crying this morning that she was concerned for her tongue. Her tongue was not happy about this wiggly tooth and was going to miss the tooth. I think only my daughter could verbalize so much tooth angst.

Scene II:

I figured I had some time to blog about this latest event, since usually from dramatic wiggle to tooth fairy visit is a couple of weeks, but she got off the bus today with an enormous gap tooth smile. She had not eaten breakfast because of the tooth. Then at school she had not had snack because of the tooth. She asked to go to the nurses office and while there she asked the Principal Pete to pull the tooth, and he obliged.

What is it with my children and having their educators pull their teeth? First Falcom and Mayghen and now this! Will I never see my kid tying a string to a bathroom door? Now we wait for the tooth fairy to come. My baby is big....arg...

Other events of the day: Drove to town this morning with Valda (dropping her car to the shop) and had a fun breakfast with Valda and Mema. Then we went to ACS to deal with their phone situations and we all agreed that the ACS office is now in the same league as the DMV when Victoria was there 10 years ago or whatever it was. Unbelievable.

Falcom and I had a blast singing and taking pictures.

Suzanne and I rocked Weight Watchers, including how we got there a wee bit late and didn't realize it. I was going to the bathroom to change and broke into a version of 'Lets Get The Party Started' and realized everyone was listening to me...nice. Kudos to Suzanne for loosing another 3 pounds. I lost only .4 but that still sits me firmly at an overall 27 pound loss. She and I both rock for our stick-to-itiveness. I mean, dang, it's almost been a year and look at us!

Sunset the night of the wiggly tooth. November 15, 2008

Mema's Home!

It is a happy day for everyone in the family!

Mom is back in town!

She flew to Anchorage Friday night and stayed with Vince in Anchorage and then drove down to Homer with him after they finished their shopping. We all had dinner together at her place. I think she thought she'd have some quiet, but she was wrong! Falcom and Marina had to spend the night.

We are all very happy to see her back home. We love you!

A Tragic Day - A Eulogy

Today saw the end of life for a very curious pet. Her name? Buttercup.

She came to us as a chick when Vince thought it would be clever to put a Turkey chick in with the chickens. She was such an ill chick we thought she wouldn't make it through the night that first night...but she did. This is when Falcom discovered she was a turkey.

Buttercup was supposed to be last Thanksgivings dinner, but Buttercup bonded to Falcom and would follow Falcom around the yard. He could imitate her call perfectly, and they would communicate to each other from afar.

In a few months it was clear that being a genetically modified species was not going to serve her. Her breasts were growing at an uneven rate compared to the rest of her body. Her legs were not able to propel the weight around. She kept growing and growing, but Falcom loved her so dearly that we could not bring ourselves to crossing back over the line that differentiates pet from farm animal.

In fact, last winter when we were away she fell ill. Vince gave her antibiotics, but was sure she would not still be with us when we got back. When we arrived back home she heard Falcom's voice and began gobbling...he gobbled back they hung out together in the coop, and then, she recovered. She had been heartsick. It was an amazing testimony to the ability of animals to feel. We might not understand how they feel, but they connect and feel... She recovered almost the next day.

And so it was with a considerable sadness that this day came. Over the weekend, Buttercup had either had broken her leg, or had a stroke, because her left leg was inflexible and she had become immobile. Something needed to happen. We thought we could wait until Vince returned from this stint away... but when I went out into the coop today I found her stuck, with dirt on her back like the chickens had been messing with her and she couldn't get to her food.

I went to the truck in my normal, "I am so over being a farmer" state; pissed that this was happening, pissed that I couldn't do anything to help her, pissed that I knew I should do something and not wanting too. I had a thought that I should call my friend and vet, Dots, and get her advice. I got in the truck and turned on the radio and Lo! There was the good Doctor Sherwood on the radio! It was radio call in day.

What an omen! When I talked to Dr. Sherwood, she told me that there was no alternative, there was no third way. I could not bring her to the clinic, it would be super awful and traumatic more so than if I just found a farmer to take care of the problem. I got off the phone and knew what had to happen.

Yes, I even found a farmer.

Yes, I was even able to get help from Valda who laid Buttercup out beautifully for the kids and prepared her animal graveyard for Buttercup.

I am so blessed in this life with my friendships. Don't ever let there be a doubt.

When I gave the kids the news they were both very upset. Falcom cried half the way home. But then, he felt hopeful again. We got to the coop right as it was getting dark and in the half light everything seemed beautiful and peaceful.

She is now finally able to run and glide freely and probably has turkey friends all around her.

I know I spoke a lot of negative words to you this past year and a half, but Buttercup, today, after dropping the kids at school, I got out of the truck and I missed your gobble-y song. Yes, many days you were my little turkey/hog-nemesis, but I will miss you.

Sunset

After picking up Falcom from Drama Club, we were met by the most incredible sunset on the way home. The light was refracting off of the overcast sky and the air ahead of us was glowing! By the time I was able to get my camera from the house the light had already changed and this was all I got. If you look you can see the end of the Spit and the land across the bay.

The Wood Splitting Calvary Arrives!

Some of you "Greear-O-Files" may remember a post I did a couple of months ago entitled: http://greears.blogspot.com/2008/09/pictures-from-weekend.html when you get down to the bottom of the page you would read the following:

Later in the evening we sat around the TV and watched a video that Glenn brought home from the Talkeetna Fair. It was a sales video for an industrial log splitter. We watched it for about 10 minutes, there is no talking, just rocking background music, and you can see the ease of operation of the super splitter. The guys were totally into it. I was laughing my head off that we were watching a video of log splitters.

After weeks of collecting rounds, today was the day for splitting wood. Vince rented a splitter for Sunday without checking the weather report. As I mentioned yesterday, we woke to snow and it blowing 30. Vince began splitting with DeeJay and Willie at 8.30am. The boys were moving rounds and huking the quarters into a stack. Marina, Falcom and I came out shortly after to help stack.

Falcom is the Accolade at church this month and so after about an hour we came in to change for church.

Side Note: Falcom was very sweet and did a nice job at candle lighting.

When we returned home we found Vince in, kind of, a mini freak out, the splitter was working only intermittently. Perhaps this wouldn't matter if it was early September and we could be assured that there would be another sunny weekend that we could get the splitter in order to finish this job. Unfortunately, we are in November and after standing in the sleet for a morning...well...you know where this description of the families current mood was heading.

I had been home from church and stacking for about 10 minutes when Scratch started barking and there, pulling into the drive, was Glenn towing his splitter. He and his girls jumped out of the truck, set up their splitter, and without even talking to Vince, began splitting.

It was as if the Calvary rode in.

The men, the teens...me... even Marina was moving logs and it wasn't an hour and a half that we had moved through the most important pile. Glenn thinks we probably got 5 cords put up. Valda thinks its more. All I know is that again, I felt a great love for Glenn.

Party for the Pantry

Thank you Valda for forwarding me this fantastic picture of my big boys during a break from cutting trees. Today we have rented the wood splitter and will be spending the day spitting rounds. Just our luck, the weather had turned from this beautiful day to blowing 30 and snowing. Should be a fun day.

Last night I attended a great girlfriend party at Shannon McBride's house. This party hit home runs on two counts; helping the food pantry and Haven House AND eating chocolates and deserts. If you ever want to throw a party and need an idea, here is a great template for you to follow:

Your Invited to . . .

Party for the Pantry - deserts, drinks and clothing swap! (pass the word- all chicas welcome)

Saturday night, November 8th, 7:00 till late. Bring: * 2 cans of food for the Food Pantry. *Something to drink or chocolate or desert. *Clothing Swap items can include clothes, shoes, purses, jackets, scarves, hats, jewelry, etc. *Fun girlfriends - bring a friend or two - all ladies welcome (no guys, no kids, no dogs)!

How it works:Come prepared to try on clothes and exchange things. All the Clothes Swap stuff gets put out and we try things on, find what we like and take it. Anything we leave with at the end of the night, we add a Dollar to the Party for the Pantry Pot and the money all goes to the Food Pantry (3 things, donate $3.00). All the stuff that doesn't get taken at the end of the night Shannon will donate to Haven House (the women's shelter). The can's of food I will take to the Food Pantry.

Look at this killer dress Irene found. She really looks killer in it. I think I was the one who really scored. Look at these shoes I nabbed. You can see from Suzanne's face in this picture the shock and ah she was experiencing from the beauty of them. I promised everyone that if they need to wear them for anything (like a trip to Vegas) to call me and they could come get them. Honestly, it's not like there are ample opportunities in this climate to wear such fabulous shoes. One pair of shoes like this ought to work for everyone in our entire peer group. You know how there are big municipal libraries where a person can check out power tools. I think in Homer we could do the same thing with shoes.

I just have to mention one last thing about this party. The desserts. Aimee brought this fondue that was spellbinding. She had bits of candied ginger, cookie, angel food cake, all kinds of stuff...and the chocolate, I think she bought special fancy chocolate for the fondue, I don't know, but she totally rocks!

Good time, great cause! Thanks Shannon!