Him

"Thou art

to me a

delicious

torment."







Ralph Waldo Emerson

Memorial Day~Oregon Style

I love my country and I respect those who protect it. No matter how much I despise the war we are in now, I do honor those who fight and lose their lives so I can live free and have the right to piss and moan about this situation.
What better way to celebrate my freedoms than to go enjoy my lovely state.
SF and I made plans to spend the first half of the day together and as usual it was the little moments that made me smile most. He also has this way about him that sets my mind and heart free. The mindset after we had to part was peaceful and relaxed so I took the rest of the day to do a little exploring. I know Oregon fairly well but I tend to get on the freeway and zoom south when we get those rare opportunities to spend time together. I decided to take my time going home and try and find my way home on back roads. I had a little luck but it seems there is no way of avoiding I5 the whole way... well at least not without taking 6 hours to get home!
I left the house extra early so I could take my time driving south and maybe get some good morning light shots...
Well he left early too.. lol.. so I hurried..

{ I think you can click on the photos if you want to see the full sized images}

The morning was a tad foggy but the first site I caught was at this farm house..Old Glory... In all her glory~
This was a bit of a surprise...it is a little early in the year for haying...

Pretty morning

Before I left SF, we had seen a "Strawberries for Sale" sign. As I headed back I decided to stop and check it out.

This guy was a little darlingThis one is MINE !I loved the owner's plane.As I headed north I stopped in Winchester to check out the dam and maybe get a bite of lunch.

This bird was freebie shots.. I was focusing on the water and he glided into view. I crossed the bridge and saw this place...

Woohoooohoooo I remember taking the kids here.. screw lunch I'm having an Ice Cream cone!

I stopped and tarried awhile at this covered bridge
I liked the patterns in this rock

I took A LOT of pictures and communed with nature but these are a few of my favorites to share.

As I came into the small valley and town where I live...

I stopped at the local cemetery. I am thankful I live in this world-In this country-In this state-In this valley...

Thank you Vets for defending my home and sacrificing your most precious of gifts~

Your Lives

And my kids are thankful too... and they are thankful Mom takes off on these little jaunts~~~

She comes home with goodies

Sunday Funny

Red Ring

A man goes to his doctor and says, ''Doctor, Doctor, please help me! I've got a problem.'' The doctor examines the man and finds the man has a red ring around his penis. The doctor gives him an ointment to rub on the problem area.
''It's all cleared up!'' the man reports when he returns. ''But what was that medication you gave me?''

''Lipstick remover.''

See you tomorrow baby

Bittersweet Day

{Some pics are from the Archive of Weecheese.. I being the absent-minded old lady that I am..forgot my camera...someone just shoot me in the foot~}

Yesterday was so very hard for me. It was the last day I got to spend with my grand wee ones before they move to Portland. I know I know.... a lot of grandmamas have to endure more lengthy travels to see their loved ones but this is just so hard to swallow. I waited so long for my oldest son J and his wife to move here, they were finally able to not long ago. But this last Christmas season I was told that they had decided to separate for reasons unknown to me [I have tried to honor their privacy]. The last few months I have to admit I have hoped for them to work things out but it was not meant to be. So my D-in-law has found a fabulous job in PDX and is moving the girls up there. J can't fathom being away from his darlings so he too is moving. My heart is breaking but I do understand he needs to be near them.
So my girls and I decided to go see Shrek the 3rd and do a little lunch. We had SO much fun and I was right... E. the youngest [who is very much into potty humor] was a HIT as she released her husky gut laugh in the theatre after a scene where a baby donkey dragon burps fire and sets baby shrek child's fart on fire. I will never forget the sound of her guffa as long as I live. Older Girl P. leaned into me part way and stated " I am going to marry Shrek... My favorite color IS green you know..."
I got to spend some time with the 2 oldest sons and after J took the girls home to their Mama's he spent the evening as he is out of his old place as of yesterday.
As I washed the girls clothes this morning to send back with J I lost it and wept. I am going to be a little lost for awhile without the easy access to my sweeties.

I need a hug.....

Evermore

The date you were born, the entire earth was blessed
The feelings in my mind ~to you I must confess

The time has come for me to utter my true feelings
You are the core of my thoughts and the soul of my being

What you have brought me I never thought I could procure
The gift of comfort, with you I am secure

For you have lifted me up from a life filled with sorrow
And made me realize there is always an enhanced tomorrow

It amazes me how someone can make me feel this way
I love you more and more with each passing day

You brighten my days and raise my spirits
I have felt this for so long and now want you to hear it

So you may know the position you hold in my heart
You are always with me even when we're apart

I truly believe what we have is destined to be
Just open your heart and you too shall see

What I am eager to do to keep you smiling

Just know that I'm here

and will be evermore

Happy Birthday!

Safe Holiday to you All !

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekends responsibly.

Uh...like this guy.

Hope Within Hardship

The voyage that each human makes through earthly survival can have adversity as often as it is touched by delight. When we stumble upon hardship, the stress we feel can erode our hopefulness, eventually persuading us that the issues we face cannot be overcome. In truth, there is no situation so awful, no challenge so great, and no choice so mystifying that it cannot be conquered. Though we may think that all avenues have been closed to us or that our most painstaking efforts will produce nothing, we are never without possible options. The best course of action may be obscured in doubt, but it is there. When we are honest with ourselves and consider this simple fact, we can prevail over anything because we will never stop looking for a solution to the challenges before us.

Self-trust together with a powerful plan is the ultimate remedy to adversity’s trend to encourage disappointment in the human mind. As difficult as the obstacle plaguing you seems- it is no match for the love of a supportive world that has been a part of your life since the day of your birth and will be with you forevermore. Try not to be misguided by your fear as this gives rise to the belief that there are problems without solutions. If you believe in your capabilities and dedicate yourself to the creation of some form of resolution, you will be surprised to discover that paths that were once closed to you miraculously open. Even if all you can do is change your perspective to turn a hurdle into an opportunity to grow, you will have found the hope that is a natural element of all hardship.
Remember that your destiny is a result of your own creation. Even when it seems you have nowhere left to turn, there is a solution waiting for you. The only impossible obstacles are the ones you create in your own mind—and these can only exert power over you if you let them. Uncertainty will always be a part of your existence, but determination and mindfulness will never fail to see you through to the other side of hardship where joy can bloom. Try and remember that no matter what life places at your feet, there is absolutely no situation that cannot be resolved with time, love, and friendship.

Hear me... or don't

There are lots of natives inside me with something to say right now.*

My writers voice is struggling to be heard over the silent but persistent sobbing of my inner child and the roaring, honest anger of my big sister/parental personality. I need to turn my mental madness into verbal vomit so you'll just have to pick the sweet corn out on your own.

I think when I realized I had an audience I forgot that a bit and wrote for the reader rather than for me. Which, don't get me wrong, was good; I love writing for an audience, I like feedback saying I've made people laugh or remember or feel better, think, cringe or sweat? It just wasn't always what I needed and I realize now that I've gone onto my standard class clown, people-pleasing mode at the expense of expressing my dark side, a cost that my various inner people aren't eager to cough up at this moment in time.

Tight bastards.

In any case, you've been warned.

With an emerald scarf I blindfolded
the eyes of the trees
and asked them to catch me.

Suddenly the trees caught me,
their leaves shook with laughter.

I blindfolded the fowl
with a scarf of smoke
and asked them to catch me.

The birds entrapped me
with a song.

Then with a smile I blindfolded
my sorrow
and the day after it embraced me
with a love.

I blindfolded the sun
with my nights
and asked the sun to catch me.

I know where you are, the sun said,
just behind that time.
Don’t bother to hide any longer.

Don’t bother to hide any longer,
said all of them,
as well as all the feelings
I tried to blindfold.

*I started this post in April, a whole month ago. I came back to look at the draft every few days, feeling full of courage and good intentions but then shy away, flutter off somewhere more comfortable. Somewhere I can be funny or caustic or suggestive, someone elses comment box, somewhere I could wear my mask in security.

Sunday Funny

Do yourself a favor everyone....

Don't order double cole slaw for lunch.

{click on image to see}

Or it seems~

A bucket of fig newtons?

Summer Cut !!

ALPACKIN' SOME EXTRA WEIGHT

If an alpaca could look sheepish~~

this would be the time.

Blogger Doggie Greet N Meet

Thursday was a most fun day! Scott from Oregon

and I decided to meet at the coast for a greet and meet and a puppy play date. My furfaces got quite excited when they saw the kennels come out...

WE ARE GOING BYE~BYE !!!!

The day was glorious and I left early so I could take my time and shoot some pictures. This house caught my eye in a town called Elkton. I'm glad I don't have to do the painting upkeep!The gateway to the coast....
Umpqua River
[ump~kwa]



There is an elk refuge about 5 miles from the coast.. only the girls seemed to be out.
And a handful of young males...
I think the big guys were sleeping....


Scott and I decided to meet up at a little lake up by the Umpqua Lighthouse... this is Lake Marie. Very peaceful, small and lovely.


My kids were glad to be out of the truck.

I got about an hour of lazing around, soaking up some sun and reading a new book before Scott and his darlings showed up.
The initial pup meeting went very well... and Scott didn't bite either!



As Scott and I broke the ice... not that there really was much, the dogs played and swam and got to know each other. It is always nice upon a first meeting to feel comfortable with someone... and it was
comfortable.



Scott's puppy Wenzel was SUCH a sweetie... and as spoiled as Annie!

The Rhododendrons were in full bloom...
If you happen to be near Florence Oregon this weekend,,, the Rhody Fest is a HOOT.

This is Tutti...
Liked to be aloof... she was a dear and loves to talk to you and tell you all her woes lol.
After the kids got all wet and we felt ok with the way they got along it was time to trip up over to the other side of the dunes. Time for the dogs to have room to run and play and for us to spread a blanket and visit and enjoy the wonderful sunny day.

Scott took the beasts down to the water and I got some shots. What a pack of dawgs lol!

At one point I looked up and the pack of 4 dogs and Scott turned into 5 dogs and him... We had acquired another Golden.. he was friendly and bounced about for a bit.. Then he stole Sno's ball and SPLIT!
A little later his Dad walked up and handed me the ball...
"Does this belong to you?"
[little clepto!]


Relaxed and swapped stories and giggles and even a few deep gut laffs. I believe we are both true assholes deep down.. and that is a term of endearment in my family!
Had some fruit and veggies and of course partook in a few adult beverages. We were at the BEACH!
I had left SF a voicemail earlier to let him know I was safe, and that I hadn't met up with some axe murderer. A few hours later he called back to make sure I was still not bleeding from my skull.
How sweet is that?


Tutti was so cute... she dug beds in the sand and when she tired of one ~ she would dig another.

Of course my furbutts made huge pests of themselves. Scott made the error of TOUCHING them.... he is a friend for life.
Tried as I may {dammit} I couldn't catch this shot. Wenzel was "helping" Scott carry this driftwood
She was doing her hop about here.
It tickled me!

After about 5 hours on the beach it started to get evening windy and chilly and this poor redhead had seen enough sun for the day. We headed inland to town to grab some chowder and coffee. I had a great visit and didn't want it to end but we both had drives home. His was a bit farther so it was time to bid good-bye.
Thanks Scott for a FABOO day..

Pat those sweethearts of yours for me~~

Sad note.... On the way home I notice the famous Tasty Freeze in Elkton had been torn down. My heart sunk... Every trip to the coast for the last 30 years taken by this family had stopped at least one way to partake in a cone. It feels like the end of an era.... but my butt breathed a sigh of relief~~

Hippy Chick Happy Dance!!!!!!

I am SO excited I just had to share!!

Just got off the phone with Son who lives to the North... he has a SECOND interview with a company that looked HIM up

.. So...

Monday please keep good vibes out there...

BECAUSE!!!

The company is HERE!!!

I have been a bit blue do to the fact my oldest son and grand daughters are moving to Portland in 3 weeks... But this helps heal the sting a bit....

[Fingers, toes and eyes crossed]

Huge Day for Mommer Cheese

First off this is a huge post with tons of pictures so if you have dial~up... go make a sammich, mow the yard, write your first novel, or take a chit. Or all of the above.

Mothers day was such a hoot this year... and very different from any I have had in the past 30 years.Well maybe not 30... but at least the last 24. My first few I did only have 1-2 kids so this year was different for me.

Saturday eve my middle boy surprised me by showing up a little early with a lovely hanging plant for me to kill a slow painful death. I will post pics of it now before it reaches it's demise.

Sunday morning I find out that B. is the only kid that can make it to the Land of Cheese... I was a little disappointed but damned if we didn't make the most of it. When my children were small I always tried to make a point of taking a day or a few days to do special times or trips. It has been years since B. and I got some quality alone time. Sunday was SUCH a treat.

We woke lazily and decided to do a little breakfast. There is a small cafe in our community that used to be quite the hub till about 6 years ago when the owners decided to retire and sell. It just reopened a couple of weeks ago so we decided to give it a try.

I tried to talk him into letting me wear my new leopard jammie pants but he put the nix on it.. brat... so I actually had to get dressed and put on...ugh... shoes.

We had a grand meal and lots of giggles and he got to see a few of his high school buds while there. It was wonderful to see that these kids who all [a class of 27 ] went to school K-12 together still have such love for each other. I found it exciting to see them seem to just pick up from where they had left off 8 years ago!
The view is still as purdy as it has ever been.


After breakfast we hung out on the deck and visited and played with the furballs but needed to get ourselves up to Portland. The kiddos got together and treated me to the Bill Cosby show.

The drive up was just lovely and some of the farms had flowers in full bloom.

I had never been to the Arlene Schnitzer Hall and man was I impressed. We ended up getting into PDX a little early so we decided to stop for a drinky~poo [as per oldest daughters instructions.. get Mom a Martini for me].

We found parking just 2 blocks from the theatre and stopped at the first bar that was close... pay dirt!
This place was KICK ASS -Name is South Beach and I highly recommend it. I had one [ok 2] of the best Chocolate martini's in my life! We had a little bit of the grumbles so we ordered an appetizer... Hummus, flat bread and baba ganoush. It was KILLER! B. wasn't so sure about trying it.. he said it looked like a plate O' snot but I finally got him to taste it... I was lucky to get a bite after that!

After he got Mommers a little looped we took a quick stroll around the blocks close by.Just some stuff that caught my eye
Was time to take our seats so we headed back and I was wowed as I walked in. This place was faboo.

We had great seats about 10 rows from the stage. Bill was funny and entertaining but was having a hell of a time with allergies.. I felt bad for him.
The show was quite long, Over 2 hours and when we left we decided to go get some dinner. Well B. had a plan the whole time as he was to take me to a special place the kids had all decided on. I about shit my pants when I opened the menu. I could feed a family of 7 for 2 weeks for what they charged but I was ordered to shut the hell up. I personally had never heard of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse but I guess it has quite a reputation... and now I know how well deserved it is!

Another choco martini and the most flavorful rib eye steak I have EVER wrapped my lips around. This place was SUCH a joy. Excellent service, great atmosphere and food to freeking DIE for!
And this was the view from the window lmao
Son said if I didn't quit with the omg's this is so expensive chit talk he was going to take me there.... I shudup.

Got home about 11:30 and I know now as I always have~~~

I am one blessed hippy chick Mommers.. I love my little guppies!

Mommers' Day Thoughts

{Some of the pictures in this post are from years gone by~ Please forgive the quality}

As I sit here this lovely, quiet Mother's Day morning~~ I will compose a few posts today... so scroll down if you want to catch all of Saturday and Sundays thoughts and stories!

Mother Cheese

Some of my "BUTTHEADS"

A Mother's Dictionary...

Bottle feeding: An opportunity for Daddy to get up at 2 am too.

Defense: What you'd better have around de yard if you're going to let the children play outside.

Drooling: How teething babies wash their chins.

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

Family planning: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster

Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.

Full name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Impregnable: A woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

Independent: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

Look out: What it's too late for your child to do by the time you scream it.

Prenatal: When your life was still somewhat your own.

Prepared childbirth: A contradiction in terms.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

Show off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.

Storeroom: The distance required between the supermarket aisles so that children in shopping carts can't quite reach anything.

Temper tantrums: What you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

Top bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

Two-minute warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

Verbal: Able to whine in words.

Whodunit: None of the kids that live in your house.

Whoops: An exclamation that translates roughly into "get a sponge."

Mom Quotes that made me smile:

One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.
- Chinese Proverb

At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent.
- Golda Meir

If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.
-Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.
-Annie Sullivan

Before you were conceived I wanted you

Before you were born I loved you

Before you were here an hour I would die for you

This is the miracle of life.
-Maureen Hawkins

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
-Tenneva Jordan

Saturday and HAPPY Mommers Day!

Saturday's Food Drive was a huge success. Every year it just seems to snowball into this event that warms my soul. People can be so giving. And every year I seem to have to take more Aleve and take a longer hotter bath, mostly due to the turnout and a little bit to due with the fact I'm getting old!

This is the spiffy new shirt for this years' event. As usual, it looks like that's all I'm wearing as it seems to be long enough to cover my skirt.

Got to be about noon and I looked back and thought "Dang I am going to have to drive back to the office and dump this food". At about 1 PM~when the tailpipe dragged~ I headed back.

Had the CUTEST little helper when I got there! He was SO excited to be there. I love children's enthusiasm.

When did they start making 9 year old kids so tall... cripes!

Headed back out to the route. NWO had posted some lovely shots of passion flowers the other day... I was lucky to catch a glimpse of these beauties after lunch. They are one of my favorites. Got done about 6 PM last night and we were all going to go partake of some well deserved adult beverages but alas we were all beat. So I headed home to have a date with a nice hot bath.

When I turned into the drive my handsome middle son's purdy car was in the driveway.. what a SWEET surprise! I had company for the eve and got some face time with one of my darlings. He is driving me to Portland this afternoon and taking me to see Bill Cosby live. What a treat! I get to be on a handsome mans' arm and treated like the Goddess I am! heheh

The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant -- and let the air out of the tires.
-Dorothy Parker

[So far he is the only kiddo to show up as they all seem to be so scattered this month but I am blessed to had one home!]

No Empty Tummies !!

Well kids it is that time of year again...

Please don't forget to set out your food in your mailbox for the National Letter Carrier Food Drive Saturday!

Every little bit helps.

I have one favor to ask.....

Would someone please visit

my house tomorrow at about 6-7 pm...

And draw me a nice hot bubble bath?

Pic O' the Day

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta'

You may call me Lucky....

So I will set the stage~~~~

It's Sunday and FINALLY SF and I get to spend a day together!

We decided to go to one of our favorite places for a little skin time and gambling and to do lunch. The weather was outstanding and my mood was bright.

After a few hours of alone time [which btw was overdue... and quite worth the wait] we drove to the Casino to visit some of our Native American friends to see if we could trade some beads for cash. We both like to play different games so off to the tables for him.. off to the SLOTS for me!

He had better luck then I did... slots sucked me dry and not in the good way. So I wandered over to watch him win! He was doing well so I slipped the last of my $$ in and low and behold I stopped when I broke even again. We had a most enjoyable lunch and talk time. I wish we got a few more days like that..Just to commune. It was then time for him to take off so I walked him to his car and bid him a bitter/sweet so long for now. I decided to nap a little before the drive back home... man what a perfect nap it was too.

Before heading out I tripped back to the Casino to play awhile as I brushed the cobwebs away from my relaxing sleep. Some might say OMG she has a gambling problem WALK AWAY.... I say screw that~~ I took only as much as I could afford to lose lmao.

So I go to my favorite slots and WAAAHOOOHOOOOOOHOOO I hit a nice little Jackpot of $900! Ok this is where I close up the purse and go home usually, but I had a "feeling". Sometimes when I do well I take a bit of my winnings and play a $5 slot. This is something my Dad got me doing and a few times it has paid off. I sat down at the Blazing 7's Machine and put in a little chuck of my winnings... the woman sitting next to me struck up a convo and we had a few giggles while talking sweet to our "one armed lovers". She hit a $1600 JP and as I sat whooping it up with her BANG!! I hit triple 7 for $1500!!!!

Needless to say it was a PARTY!

Now of course I'll have to pay taxes on that next year but what the hell.....

My new mower is now paid off!

Life was most sweet Sunday....

Now I get home and share the news with SF cuz he missed it all dammit...

We shared these thoughts....

SF: hey baby

SF: whatcha doin?

SF: what's the big surprise???

cheese : I WON a jackpot!

SF: damn, wish i'd been there for the Moment

cheese : ME TOO

cheese : you could have watched me spill coffee down my white shirt lmao

SF: lol

SF: did a big crowd form?

cheese : the gal next to me hit 1600 right b4 me

cheese : and yes

SF: wow

cheese: she said some guy had hit the 10k earlier

SF: your luck even affected your neighbors!

SF: your smile is bigger for that jackbot than it is when you cum!!!

SF: i feel second rate

cheese: my OTHER lips smiled

SF: i'm jealous of a slot machine

SF: you left me for a one-armed bandito

cheese : sorry but his name WAS paco....

cheese : [you are giving me fodder for my post]

SF: oh, ok, that makes it ok

SF: did you suck the knob on his handle?

cheese : there wasnt one!

cheese: so i have only sucked you.... there are no other knobs

SF: hell, leave me for the slotguy, then broadcast the story to the entire internet

cheese : hey

cheese : you left first sweety

SF: let em know that the smile was from winning, not loving lol

Ha that little chat just cracked me up and..

He is all wrong....

The only reason I won is because I got some face time and rubbed my "lucky charm"

THANKS BABY!

TBA~ Weekend Update

Had an EXCELLENT weekend!

I need to run to town to do some chores and scan a Polaroid so I can share a tidbit of exciting news with y'all.

Until later....

Happy Hump Day!

{Enjoying the weather}

Our Roots

When you fall in love, it is a fleeting lunacy. It bursts out like seismic activity, and then it diminishes. And when it subsides, you have to make a selection. You have to work out whether your roots have become so intertwined that it is beyond belief that you should ever part. Because that is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not exhilaration, and it is not the spread of promises of undying passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can persuade ourselves we are.

Love itself is what remains when being in love has faded away, and this is both a talent and a privileged mishap. You and I have it, we have roots that cultivate towards each other subversively, and when all the sweet petals had dropped from our branches we found that we were a single tree and not two.

We need a spectator to our lives. There are a billion people on the planet..... I mean, what does any one life mean? But in a relationship, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the routine things..... All of it, all the time, every day. I'm saying~ Your life will not go unobserved because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness.

The Wait is Over

Waiting for Friday ......

Here it comes .............

Yahhh it's Friday!!
Have a nice weekend!!

Pic O' the Day

Well, that's helpful.

Farmer Cheese

I finally gave in and replaced my 20 year old tractor today

Getting it out of the truck was the hard part lol

I like the feel of 18 horsepower between my legs!


Got most of the troublesome tall stuff done before it poured

my helpers

After pics were crappo due to the rain

What a fun life I led today!

Only This~~

My heart may ice over or it can blaze

The ache will ease if I can learn

There is no future, there is no past

I live this instant as my last

There is only us, there's only this~

Forget regret, or life is yours to overlook

No other path, no other way

No day but the present

I can't control my destiny

I rely on my soul

My only goal is

just to be~

There's only now

There's only here

Give in to love

Or live in fear

No other trail

No other way

There's only us, only tonight

We must let go to know what's right

No day but the present