Congratulations, Laurie

Laurie now has a new career position with the Australian Federal Police in their International Deployment Group (IDG) although not in the same section as her husband Shane. I am sure her expertise of living and working abroad will be such an asset to her new employer. We are so proud of you Laurie, and we hope that you have a wonderful future working there.

She became an Australian Citizen in 2003

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I strongly believe the future is only the past again, entered through another gate.

~Arthur Wing Pinero

Sunday crafting...

A new hairdo, a new scrapbook page completed. Lots of vintage things used here, page from a dictionary, old postcard, buttons, and of course, some bling. The flower on the lower right hand side is a flower punch used on a Martha Stewart paint chip, with an eyelet and a bobby pin. I made alot of these last year for the Brownie group as little gifts. The girls loved making them for themselves and giving them away.

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Nothing is as simple as we hope it will be.
Jim Horning

Saturday morning....

Have had the flu bug these last few days, but feeling better today and back to work. Thanks for the phone calls & e-mails to make sure that I was fine. Both Pebbles and I are recovering as Jim has been taking great care of us.

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Dreams are free therapy, but you can only get appointments at night.

~ Grey Livingston

60 years ago today

6o years ago today my parents, Heinz and Carol Leuenberger were married in Switzerland. They moved to Canada in 1952 with 3 of us kids, Heinz, myself, and Evelyne. We eventually moved to BC where they lived in Bull River for the rest of their lives, and had Harry, Caroline, Werner and Steven. It is amazing that 4 of my brothers and sisters still live in Bull River, they love it so much.

Dad passed away in Jan 1994 and Mom in Sept 2000. They gave us 7 kids and 9 grandkids such a good life. So today, I remember with love and affection this ring of yours that I wear everyday, and your wedding picture. I am so proud to have called you Mom and Dad.

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Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindol

She's was a looker....

Jeremy said: "We had such a great day. I kissed a Giraffe! I know that sounds unprofessional but she was a looker."

Pebbles update: She returned from the Vet a bit groggy, but doing well. She has to wear the cone for about 2 weeks, but she seems to manage ok. Cookie was quite concerned about her, and was trying hard to kiss her with her cone on, what a sweet old girl she is.
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Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem. ~Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

Pebbles to the Vet

Pebbles has an appointment with the Vet at 8:00 am today. No breakfast or water, is she confused or what? She has a lump on the inside of her leg, and while she is under, she will have her teeth cleaned as well. I will be glad when she is back home with us.

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They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.

~Jerome K. Jerome

New Laptop

HP 9317 (2GB) HD 160MD

Wow, what a difference a new computer makes that has more memory and a bigger hard drive. I am excited about what else I will be able to do with it. Transferred all the data from the old HP , and making headway learning what to do with all the options that come with it, but one thing for sure, it has great speed.

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To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer.

~Farmer's Almanac, 1978

Orchids from Orlando

My son Jeremy took these photos yesterday. Thought I would share a couple of his photos with you and and what he said about his kids."

"Animal Kingdom was awesome! So many animals! We had a three hour ed program on animal husbandry and zoology. The kids were amazing!

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The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder. ~Ralph W. Sockman

May Long Weekend...

It will be 24 degrees here today, sunny and warm, hopefully it will be that way all weekend. But as usual on this long weekend, rain is in the forcast for Monday.

Jeremy and Julie are having a great time in Orlando although he was up at 4:00am with one of his kidlets not feeling well. They are off to the Animal Kingdom today.

Vintage Postcards by Cavallini & Co.

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In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain

100th blog entry 2007

This has been so much fun, keeping up this page even though we are not travelling at the moment. I have been using some of the things I have been collecting over the years on my scrapbook pages like buttons, pages from old books and dictionaries and vintage ric rack.

Jeremy and Julie made it safely to Orlando with their group of 70+ kids and adults, and he has posted his photos, and it looks like fun. http://sites.sd43.bc.ca/secondary/riverside/jbrown/default.aspx

Off to work I go for the next 3 days, and I know it will be "smoking" busy as everyone will want to be in the Okanagan for the May long weekend...

It is a 2 quote kinda day:

We all have had big changes in our lives that are more or less second chances. ~Harrison Ford

The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn. ~David Russell

Happiness.....

Just being alive & healthy to enjoy each sunrise and sunset is happiness enough to me.

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost. ~H. Jackson Brown

Scrapbook Page

This is why you need to take photos, so you have lots to scrap with and make new scrapbook pages for the albums that are filling up with memories.

Jeremy and Julie leave today for Orlando, they are both taking students (Jeremy and his group 47 and Julie and her chaperon 24) for a week of science. Last year they had such an interesting time, they are going again. I say, good for you guys, have a safe and wonderful time learning and doing what you love.

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The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Jim's ride.....

Jim got this golf cart when he retired 2 1/2 years ago, and it has gotten many upgrades. Mag wheels, checker plate trim, exhaust, and he is the envy on our golf course. It provides allot of fun and transportation for us around our development. Pebbles and Cookie love it, as they think of it as their convertible.

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Golf is not just an exercise; it's an adventure, a romance... a Shakespeare play in which disaster and comedy are intertwined. ~Harold Segall

Happy Mother's Day....

To all of you, Happy Mother's Day. For the ones of us that are Mom's, Grandmom's, aunts, sisters and to the ones that have lost their Mom's, loving wishes, and I hope you have a happy day.

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When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren,

Dagmar's ride...

This is a happy me, in my Mustang convertible with room for Jimmy and the dogs. Here in the Okanogan, you can have your "Top" down on lots of sunny days.

Thanks to Shirley for taking this photo. That is her little "Smart" car behind mine.

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"Dreams are answers to questions we haven't yet figured out how to ask."

Happy 13th Birthday Cookie...

Today, May 11th, is Cookie May's 13th birthday. What a sweet and mild mannered dog she is. She is enjoying her retirement years doing what she loves to do best, sleep in the sun, watch the birds, and wait for her mealtimes. In her senior years she has become quite a water dog and goes into the water on every occasion. So to our lovely old gal, we pray that you have many more healthy, happy years with us.

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I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner

New treasures....

Thanks to all the folks that have been trying to help me with my new header. I am having fun and learning at the same time. My thanks to Bonnie, Chrissy and Christa for their help and inspiration. I will get it done right soon....

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Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! ~. Dr. Seuss,

Coming soon....

I have been trying to get a new blog header, but so far been unsuccessful at this. I am not giving up, and here is what I hope it will look like when I figure it out....Have a great Wednesday.

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If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

Winery Tour...

Shirley and I had a fun Saturday after noon, having lunch and tasting some wine. Since I was the DD, I sipped a little and let Shirley enjoy the experience. As I work at this wonderful winery called Mission Hill Family Estate, we got to try some of the lovely choices at the tasting bar. This winery and other ones in the valley is sone of the reasons that make the Okanogan such a great place to live. Shirley went back to Vancouver with nearly a case of good wine in the trunk of her little Smart car. Good times.

Excess on occasion is exhilirating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit. ~W. Somerset Maugham, The Summing Up, 1938

Courtyard Fountain...

The new fountain is up and running, adding lovely sounds to the courtyard. Most of the big planters have been potted up and waiting for the warmer weather to arrive. Jim is in Calgary with his family, and my friend Shirley spent the last two days here at a Medical Conference. We had a wonderful visit, and got to sample some great wines.

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.

The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

Happy Anniversary....

Shannon and Gord, May 4

Christa and Mike, May 5

A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. ~Paul Sweeney