We're not the Waltons

Another Wonderful Trip North

2011-10-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sam!

2011-10-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

...and yes, I know it's late.

Happy Birthday Maggie!

2011-09-11T20:50:00.001-07:00

Everyone at the Garver house hopes you have a great day Maggie!!!

...including Zelda! (Wilson's new kitty)

Congratulations Michael!

2011-05-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

Had a great visit with the Pennsylvania Derrs yesterday....sure wish they could have stayed longer. 4 years of hard work got Michael a degree in Computer science and a minor (we hope:) in Math.....nice!

Spring Break

2011-03-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

Wilson and his roommate Preston drove home from Eugene to Exeter for their week of Spring break. They stayed with the Derrs in Napa on their way down and with Steph and Ken on their way back up. Visit was much too short and Wilson is much too social....sigh..we hardly saw him. But we are glad to have had some time with him and can't wait till he's home for the summer.

Old Time Baseball

2011-01-06T21:23:00.000-08:00

This one is for all the baseball fans or just plain Conan fans.

Kite Pictures

2010-12-31T19:37:00.000-08:00

Just thought you'd like this, Maureen. Really cool pictures.

http://www.wimp.com/kitephotos/

2010-11-30T22:29:00.000-08:00

To the most AH-mazing woman ever, Laurel!

AH-mazing

2010-11-30T22:28:00.001-08:00

I'm engaged.

-Brad

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2010-10-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

Just a photo montage of the weekend. No rhyme, nor reason to the pictures.

2010-09-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

The Nabura are pretty nice when in bloom, too.

Next year, we're going to have it grow up and across a trellis. That should look really nice.

From the Garden

2010-09-20T18:06:00.000-07:00

We had three ears of corn that came out pretty decent. The rest I left on the stalk too long and they dried out too much. The three were really good, though. Hopefully, better luck next year.

This is Nabura. Naoko loves this. One for the taste and another because each one costs $3 at the local Asian market. She'd picked about 15 already and there's probably about 10-15 more on the vine. Pretty good growing from just four seeds.

Speaking of the vine, it's been growing pretty crazy.

I think next year, the majority of our garden is going to be those Japanese items that are hard to find...and expensive when found.

Garden Pictures From the September Trip North

2010-09-11T10:12:00.001-07:00

Maureen and I recently took Wilson to Oregon and stopped along the way home to see David in Medford, and borrowed the Derr's house in Napa to lay our heads for a night. While in Napa we stopped at one of our favorite spots, The French Laundry Garden.

It's always exciting to see what new they have going and figuring we never will eat at the restaurant, viewing the garden is the next best thing. We also like to learn something to help with our gardening.

These are new beds, but constructed in the method of their other beds. We are considering moving to this style instead of the wooden sides.

One of my favorite subjects is compost and I enjoy looking at other piles of rotting vegetation for ideas. Wish I had this much area for out compost. This is a portion of about 250 yards of compost. The Mayacamas Mountains keep watch in the background. John and Ashley could tell you the exact name of this piece I'd bet.

The next project here at the 'Zoo is a greenhouse. This one is way beyond our means, but gave us some ideas. If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you can see 8 foot tall hanging tomato plants.

This is me saying goodbye in the Field of Dreams method of walking into a field. In this case Jerusalem Artichokes.

Our Trip North

2010-07-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

The view is beautiful, the weather is fantastic, the air is breathable....and Michael made breakfast....we are SO coming back!

ps. and Stephanie has done wonderful things with their yard...who knew?

Happy Day to the Menfolk. . .

2010-06-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

Be ye Derr, Kellogg, Peeples or Garver.

Joshua's Graduation

2010-06-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd add a few from Joshua's graduation. He's already gone off to visit friends in Tennessee, so it was a quick celebration.

And me wearing the school colors was completely by chance. I didn't even realize it until I looked at the pictures the next day. Yeah, I'm just that observant. :-)

AMGEN Day

2010-05-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

Amazing Transformation

2010-04-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

These are just some of the plants from around the backyard.

Their transformation is really amazing!

These ferns will get much fuller to where you won't even be able to see the ground.

I really wish this one was in the front yard.

This is all mint and will get about 2 feet tall. It'll soon be gone because I'm going to pull it! This'll be one of Naoko's garden boxes.

I'll post the front yard later when they finish blooming.

2010-04-14T14:51:00.001-07:00

If you remember last year, we had ducks visit us.

This year, the visitors are in the front of the house.

It could get noisy.

Nice Visit....

2010-03-28T18:22:00.001-07:00

....with the Napa Derrs.

Holding 'couch' kitty....

....batting....

...and heading for home!

Tool Guys

2010-02-21T10:35:00.001-08:00

Check out your Son/Brother/Bro in law/Uncle... He and 3 other Dad's at Maggie's Co-Op auctioned off their handyman services last night at the annual fundraiser. The quality isn't great, but they were pretty hot up there on stage! They brought in $1900 for the school!

Ashley

It's a "biggie"

2010-02-05T18:01:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing for about 4 hours and it's supposed to come down for another 12. We're slated to get about a foot or so which is big for this area. I'll put more pics out tomorrow.

Animal Lover

2009-12-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

Maggie and Sophie....fast asleep.

And another....

2009-12-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

Happy (23rd) Birthday Bradley!!!

Proof that Brad can smile in a photo.

(plus Sam looks goofy and that's always a plus:)

Sweet Sixteen

2009-11-30T08:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Annie!!!

As We Are, At This Moment

2009-10-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

This is a series of pictures of the house and yard and some of the animals. Sam wanted a sense of how things have changed since June. I didn't get a good picture of Sebastian, but a glimpse. Some of the chickens are there in their glory.

The first one isn't our house. Mike and Joell cut down four big (50') Silver Oaks that have been messing their yard and dropping limbs for years. Just a picture to show what it looks like without the trees.

The cabana as Wilson lives in it. More to come later.

As Sebastian chills, Annie says, "Goodbye!"

What's Cookin' at the Garvers?

2009-10-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

MREs! That's what! Meals Ready-to-Eat are the modern Army's equivalent of the C-Ration for the former military, and a different version of freeze-dried food for the non military former backpackers. They come with everything you need for sustenance for a meal except with less of the taste.

There was a minor sibling squabble over the MREs Sam sent home. He thought Wilson should eat healthier, so he sent some leftovers. Wilson immediately went to the Reese's Pieces and the FRHs(Flameless Ration Heater), ever the scientist. The FRH is a plastic bag that when water is added heats up and is used to heat, not cook, the MRE or at least some portions. It really works to some extent. Better living through modern chemistry, I guess.

Annie is deciding what to eat for this weekend. Dad was trying to figure out what "hunky eanut utter" was when he realized the bag was folded. The hit today may be the "Nutritious Energy Bar," which brings to mind the question... How nutritious is something if it has to be labeled nutritious?

Sam sent these both for us to try and because he's sending home most of his personal stuff before the next phase. He said these were his dinners and lunches many days during Airborne. They would get off about 5 or later and instead of taking them to the mess hall, the instructors would throw them an MRE and dismiss them. Sam would walk across the street from his barracks and eat at Subway and save the MRE. Sam has other stories he can tell of MREs being traded and thrown at him because the owner didn't want some of it and Sam would eat it.

Sam called Tuesday night after his first day in RIP Holding. He was excited, but reserved. Or maybe that's just Sam. They are being heldover in barracks next to the Ranger barracks for those stationed at Ft. Benning, within the gated Ranger section of Benning. He didn't get to talk to any in RIP now, but did with other Rangers he comes in contact with along the way. He and his class were told stories and given advice about the mind games the instructors will play. One involved a rainy day, when doesn't it rain in Georgia? The class was out on maneuvers in the rain and the instructors set up a tent, built a fire and prepared a meal. They offered the the class a chance to come in get warm and have some food. Two did and were kicked out of RIP.

Sam is excited and knows it will be tough, but to him it's a challenge. He said they cut his hair again and took away his cellphone. He said he would write and send the address. Today is the end of the first of two weeks in RIP Holding, then four weeks of RIP. He shared two new facts. They are starting his class a week earlier so they will be done before Thanksgiving. He also said when they pass RIP they get to request their duty station, though they might not be assigned there. Sam wants out of Georgia and will request Ft. Lewis, Washington.

Red Bull Didn't Do This For Him

2009-10-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sam got his jump wings yesterday. Of the 5 jumps, 3 were out of a Boeing C-17, which is a HUGE piece of metal and plastic. He said they were lucky to get the chance. Usually only C-130's get used.

We be proud! Hooah!

I'm sure Maureen will write more later.

Sam jumped out of a PLANE.....

2009-10-07T07:52:00.001-07:00

...Twice!

More importantly, he landed safely...twice.

He'll jump 3 more times this week if the weather cooperates;

they are predicting thunderstorms for today.

In that case they sit around in their gear all day and watch movies.

That sounds ok to me :)

Tacky Tourist Day

2009-10-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

...and the sad thing is, Steven's students hardly noticed :)

Happy Birthday Sam!!!

2009-09-28T10:46:00.003-07:00

Just some shots of Sam thru the last couple of years....unfortunately we didn't have a digital camera when he was a little guy.

First foray into 'jumping'?

Exeter Football

Frosh Basketball.

Cousin Eli.

Happy New Year!

(why do the cats look nervous?)

Have a great birthday Sam...we miss you!!!

How Proud are We???

2009-09-24T10:28:00.001-07:00

.......Pretty Darn.

But I still wish he was home....sigh

Good Relatives

2009-09-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

What have the rest of you done for me lately???

(thanks Steph and Ken)

Blog Hog

2009-08-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

Steven looks rather tiny in the sharecropping garden.

Words Matter?

2009-08-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

Annie: Will you take me to McDonalds?

Wilson: Didn't you call me gay... like 3 times?

Annie: That was an HOUR ago!

HEAT WAVE!!!!!!

2009-08-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? 88 degrees! And it's supposed to get up to...93 tomorrow! ARRRRGH!!

First Day of School

2009-08-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Dad is optomistic, Annie is quite stylish....Wils is just resigned to his fate.

But at least we got him to smile!

Happy Birthday Wilson!!!

2009-07-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Today our youngest son turned 18....

...and his only request was for a donut ...

...for breakfast....

...sigh.

Hi from Shasta

2009-07-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks Kelloggs and Derrs!

(and I especially love the photo of Steph in the spa:)

Thanks Nancy!

2009-07-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

I asked for a family photo...

....I think we hit the jackpot!

....thanks also to Andy, Nick and Grace...and Dobby :)

From Nate

2009-07-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

...and he made the sign!

Write to Our Son!

2009-07-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

BTW...Sam LOVES getting mail, he mentions it every time he writes. In his last letter, after talking about what a morale boost it was to get mail (how did you survive Mike?) he said, "You guys can write more if you want." (and we send something just about every day :)

Just sayin'

ps. I erased the actual address, let me know if you need it again. (not sure why but I didn't like having it up there).

This is how it's done!

2009-07-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our good friends the Newmans!

Hi Sam Project

2009-07-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody....I have a job for you all. Stop whining, it'll be fun.

I want to send Sam some pics of the family but thought it would be even more personal if they included a message with them.

So, get out your pens and paper (or glitter and glue guns) and get to work. The message should be simple......

....I love just the Hi/Hey Sam in these... but with a specific identifyable location (like say Mt. Shasta in the background...hint hint) or in a funny pose, or in a pool (hey Mike)....be creative.

You can either email them to me so I can print them up or do it yourself if you want to include them in a letter to Sam (I'll send you his address).

Thanks!

Happy 4th!

2009-07-04T21:13:00.001-07:00

Just thought you might all like to see what Sam (the future Army Ranger) was doing last 4th of July....waiting to see the fireworks from our roof :)

ps. replace the roof with our living room, the chair with our couch,

Sam with Brad (and Dad), and fireworks with the Iron Man movie

and that pretty much sums up this years celebration.

(and the reason I didn't bother taking a photo :)

City Girls

2009-06-29T11:18:00.001-07:00

Annie was in heaven this weekend, shopping in San Francisco with her fantastically fun (and oh so hip) Aunt Ashley. SO glad we have someone in the family who likes to shop (at places other than Whole Foods) so our lovely daughter can get her 'fix' once in awhile. Thanks Ashley!

ps. and thanks John for subsidising our daughters habit :)

And the winner is.....

2009-05-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

Annie was asked what her 'Perfect Weekend' would be like...

(this is her yearbook, click to make larger)

Just Catching Up

2009-05-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd throw some photos out there to show what's going on here.

We initially had a pretty good sized side yard which only saw me mowing it once a week.

So we decided to extend the fence that surrounded the backyard and pool.

It is now used so much more than before. The kids can go out and kick the soccer ball around. Visaully, it just looks soooooo much bigger.

Before.

After.

There's still a lot of work to do.

This is a stump they left when they removed a tree. This area is to be our patio (whenever).

We also took out those horrible hedges. I don't think the guy ever trimmed anything, so they were just growing wild. This is to be a flower bed.

A rain barrel made by the local high school kids. Placed at the bottom of the drain spout, it'll provide fresh water to the plants.

I had actually planned on ripping most of what you see out because it all just looked dead. Things really come alive in the Spring.

More hedges. These I can trim back in the Fall and they should be pretty nice next year.

This is the Dogwood in the front entrance.

Naoko just loves this. Coincidentally, the Dogwood was America's gift to the Japanese when the Japanese gave America the Cherry Blossom.

Ok, now a few swimming photos.

Followed by a visitor.

Yes, a wild bunny. These guys are all over the place. This one comes for the mint growing along the house (and yes, everytime I think of wild bunnies, I think of the rabbit in Monty Phython's Holy Grail. How can you not??).

Ok, so these aren't in our backyard, but they are from a buffalo (bison) ranch about two or three miles from us. Plenty of neat stuff to see around here.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and hope all is swell with everyone. Have a nice Memorial Day.

Ignorance is bliss?

2009-04-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Sam, the last blog holdout in the Garver family, has joined the fray and started his own blog. He thought that after he got out of Army training it would be a nice way to keep in touch with the family. So stop by Soldier Raconteur (I had to ask, it means storyteller) get a glimpse of the Ranger training he will be undergoing and join us in asking (as Annie did this morning)......"Why do you want to do this, it's crazy!"

Whether 'tis Nobler to suffer the Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune. . .

2009-03-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

A long time family friend, Sue Holt, sent the following joke. If you spend and time in the vicinity of small ones you will have experienced something like the following. The key is to remember the story and tell it later. I hope to keep this one in the file of 'Stupid teacher Jokes'.

We who have taught or love children know this is funny!

From the diary of a Pre-school teacher.

My five year old students are learning to read.

Yesterday one of them pointed at a picture in a zoo book and said,

"Look at this! It's a frikin elephant!"

I took a deep breath, then asked, "What did you call it?"

"It's a frikin' elephant! It says so on the picture!"

...and so it does.

African Elephant

Hooked on Phonics, ain't it wonderful?

Here comes Spring

2009-03-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

We had a couple of visitors to our cement pond. The qualities not so great as we took the pictures through the window, so we wouldn't scare them away. Naoko had a great laugh over this one.

Baseball

2009-03-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

I think Maya likes the game more than I do!

Annie and Friends

2009-03-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

...more to follow!

Happy Birthday Dear!

2009-03-12T09:08:00.001-07:00

Steven at his best....baseball and being a dad!

Last of the snow...we hope.

2009-03-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

Actually, the snow fall wasn't so bad this year (nothing like Mt. Shasta). It was just COLD with a couple of night falling to wind chills of -11. As Naoko would say, "That's not cold. That's ridiculous!"

Maya's 10th Birthday

2009-03-07T08:37:00.001-08:00

For Maya's 10th birthday she wanted to go skiing with her friend Lisa. We went up to Bear Valley and they had a blast! The instructors raced them down the slopes together. Maya has done adaptive skiing before but never with a friend.

I can't believe we have a 10 year old!

Free Kittens!!!

2009-03-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

See photo below.....we ship internationally :)

Dad Falling Asleep at 8 PM and Email

2009-02-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

I have to preface this story with a bit of information about school email addresses in California. Most teachers, at least the ones I know, have a school email address that is their first initial, last name, @, name of the town or school they teach at, ., k12, ., ca, ., us. So it looks something like jsmith@jamestown.k12.ca.us. Those of you that know me can figure out mine easily. Thus began a most strange journey in the Garver household.

A few nights ago, after 8 PM, Maureen and Sam were in the front bedroom playing with the kittens. Dad was reading Newsweek in the living room, and Annie was in the dining room "doing" homework. If you know our house, you know that really means we were all virtually in the same room. Annie belts out, "Dad, I need to email you some work that I need printed. What is your email address?"

Dad responded, "sgarver@escondido."

Maureen and Sam immediately perked their ears.

Annie then asked, "How do you spell Escondido?"

Dad dutifully responded, "E-S-C-O-. . ."

Maureen and Sam looked at each other and said, "Do you mean Exeter?"

Thus ended another rousing night at Casa Garver. I'm sure that revisionest variations of this story will be told, but it reminds me that after 8, I'm already gone as the Eagles sang.

Our Superstars

2009-02-14T08:58:00.000-08:00

Wilson is finishing up his first year on Varsity basketball. The season went just about as it was expected to go....Not Bueno. He is looking forward to baseball.

Annie played every minute of every game as goalie on the JV soccer team (well, she did sit out a few minutes in one game when she was bleeding from getting hit in the nose). Her coach had promised her that if the team was ever up by 5, she could play in the field. On Thursday, in the last game of the season against Coalinga, they were and she did.

She played a total of one half (with a few minutes to rest) and scored a goal...yippee yahoo! It will probably be the only goal she'll score in High School since she is much needed in the goalie box. She was Thrilled!!!

ps. she also got a yellow card for pushing a gal ("she started it!")...sigh.

Happy Birthday Julie

2009-02-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.

- Reverend Larry Lorenzoni

...love you sis!

If You Had to Pick. . .

2009-02-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

Before I pick, I have to praise my sons. Above is a picture of Brad and Sam helping with drywalling a ceiling. Probably one of modern man's terrible jobs. Think about it, how many old men do you see drywalling? It is physical, hard work. All of the boys did yeoman's work in the studio addition.

But the question before us Un-Derrs and Derrs, what six musician's library of work could you listen to for the rest of your life? Only these six to spend time with. Only these six to revel and to lament with. I may be a bit stuffy, but who would you spend money, plenty of money, to see live.

My Six?

James Taylor--Addictions aside, name a singer/songwriter that exemplifies the genre better? And continues to get better with time. Try this and this and this to decide.

Pat Metheney--Jazz from the past and into the future.

The Beatles--Brad reacquainted me with the Fab Four this last summer on a trip to Lampyradaie Vineyards.

Chicago--Try this for the coolest make-out song from the '70's. But that doesn't define this group.

Nanci Griffith--Old and new great music that touches the soul.

Jackson Browne--The voice of the 70's on SoCal? You know, those songs that are a part of you before you know their names.

I know there are many more, The Eagles, Sting, Carole King, Cat Stevens, Rolling Stones, John Prine, Tony Bennett, Frank, Ella, Amy Grant, David Grisman, many more that I have forgotten; but this is just a few.

Happy Birthday to You.....

2009-02-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to you....

Happy birthday to Miii-iike....

Happy birthday to yooooou!

Formal

2009-01-26T10:25:00.000-08:00

Wilson took Hannah Hunsdorfer to the Winter formal Saturday night. They went with 2 other couples...the girls are all sisters. It was nice seeing him dressed up...but not so nice realizing how grown-up he actually is...sigh.

It Must be Baseball Season

2009-01-15T07:26:00.000-08:00

One of the older "events" in the Garver family is the shaving of Dad's beard for the beginning of baseball season. Usually I keep head and face closely cropped, though one year I didn't shave for over half the year. I guess that is when the boys started calling me Old Man River. The pictures above show a progression of hirsute to clean shaven that takes days or weeks to fully complete. I dislike shaving; but for the good of the cause, I shave during baseball. It seems hypocritical to require it of the athletes, even when all they can muster is a bit of peach fuzz on their chin, and show up as their coach with facial hair.

The origins of the slow procession of shaving really has roots with brother-in-law Ken. One evening when the Kelloggs were living on Andrea Court Ken, being the dutiful husband he is, puts the kids to bed. He then shaved off his beard. The next morning he was off to work before sun-up to bring home the bacon. That evening when he tried to enter the house found the door locked. David, manning the door, refused to let Ken enter. He was being obedient to the "Don't talk to Strangers" rule, let alone let them into your house. Try as he might, Ken could not convince David that he was indeed David's father and that he'd better open the door. Eventually reason, wisdom or Stephanie interceded, and Ken was allowed to enter.

This morphed into the Garver tradition of plopping a young Garver on a stool next to the sink as Dad shaved part of his beard off. This repeated over a period of time resulted in Steve with no facial hair and no Garver child refusing entry to the Pater familias.

Thus a tradition was born.

P.S. Certain Exeter raconteurs, upon seeing me grow my beard back, will comment on how bad the Exeter baseball season must have been if I was trying to go incognito by growing a beard.

Me

2009-01-14T18:29:00.000-08:00

I am going to try to write something!! We had a great time at Stephanie's. Lots of snow. Of course, I am not into "playing" in the snow. I stayed in and read. We had a nice Christmas and a great dinner. Mark, Michael and Daniel were home. David had to work, but Stephanie said he wouldn't have been able to get over the pass because of the snow.

I saw my eye doctor yesterday and everything is progressing nicely. He did say it probably would be another 3-4 months before my vision returns to normal.

I still have trouble with my right arm . I am going to have an MRI to see just what is wrong with it. I may just decide to live with it as I don't think I want surgery. Isn't this a pleasant posting.

I am still active in the women's guild at church. Went to dinner last Friday night at the Red Lobster with several of the gals from the guild. We celebrated a 50th birthday. I am not sure I would want to be that age again but maybe a little younger then I am now! My friend Lee received a gift certificate for Christmas so she is taking me to lunch at the Olive Garden. Can't beat that.

That's all folks! Mom

A few Christmas pictures

2009-01-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd throw a couple pictures out there from Christmas.

I thought they cleaned up real good.

Dinner and a show at Medieval Times. Fun times had by all.

Trip to Shasta

2009-01-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Photos taken by Robert (with his cell phone) Looks like fun....but cold!

Say a Prayer

2009-01-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

Wilson started getting migraines a few weeks ago, so we'll be going in for an MRI on Monday. His doc said that he wanted to be cautious because his symptoms didn't seem like a typical migraine...no worries :)

Maybe he gets headaches because it's hard to see inside with SUNGLASSES ON!

Holidays in Napa

2009-01-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had nice holidays. We stayed home for the most part. One of the kids favorite traditions is seeing Santa and his friends on the Napa Valley Wine Train.
They transform the train from a gourmet dining experience to a majical Hot Chocolate serving jaunt including Santa and his friends. Maya still adores Santa...

Maggie hides from Santa, but loves Frosty and Rudolph.

We took a New Year's Day hike to to top of the hill. We felt like the lucky ones above the fog (Mt. Tam is the island you see).

Happy New Year!

Ashley

Break is Over

2009-01-04T09:16:00.000-08:00

For those with no children in school, the following might be a surprise. For children, young and older, that are students and that think teachers don't have a life outside of school, I know this will be a surprise.

The break that you had, or are still having; the time away from the prison you call school playing, video gaming, romping in the snow or surf, watching movies, or playing sports. Many teachers didn't get one of those breaks. I have a stack of essays to finish grading before I can finish posting grades for a class. Grades for some students who started thinking about the Christmas break in September, and their grade reflects their direction of focus. Maybe they can cruise through the class better the second or third time.

After the essays I get to prepare for one of my favorite classes--Junior English.* Great literature and a great novel to read that speaks to us especially today--To Kill a Mockingbird.

*This is when I get to explain among other facts that the British won the French and Indian War because there wasn't a United States of America at the time. Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't free the slaves, Lincoln really did give the Gettysburg Address in a little over 2 minutes after listening to the main speaker speak for over two hours, and Hitler did participate in the Holocaust. That all came later after the Revolutionary War.

Sams moving in!

2008-12-18T10:34:00.000-08:00

And no it's not actually done but the carpet is in and wood floor is down (entry and kitchenette) and that's good enuf for us. It's so hard to get a good photo because my camera lens is not a wide angle.

We still have much to do * but at least he has his privacy....and we see light at the end of a very long tunnel.

* Trim the doors, put up baseboards, finish bathroom, tile kitchen counter, put in kitchen sink, paint stripe on one wall, build platform for bed, refinish side table for couch, paint dresser for bathroom sink, put in shelves in kitchen, paint front door, stain and put up window sills....a VERY long tunnel.

Basketball Game

2008-12-12T12:58:00.000-08:00

Exeter lost but did better than expected, they were actually up by 6 points in the first quarter. Wil is a starter and had a good game ...well, lets just say that he had a good second half (16 points).

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

Fun day at Moms house....good food, good wine, good people....lots to be thankful for :)

Our first dusting

2008-11-24T18:35:00.000-08:00

Just a tease of what's to come.

The Arteest

2008-11-17T15:40:00.001-08:00

I remember when our cupboards were covered with the kids artwork....nobody colors around here any more.

Thanks Maggie!

ps. I helped with the signature... :)

Maggie and Friend

2008-11-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

Though Annie was not enamored of the new pet, Maggie sure loves him!

Pre-Halloween Photos

2008-11-05T09:10:00.000-08:00

We're waiting for the real Halloween pics from John and Ashley (hint hint) but they probably have a life, so in the interim....here's a couple of the kids trying on their disguises.

Actually, Maggie is in Maya's Scooby-Doo costume but Maya didn't seem to mind. And hey, next time you see him, ask Steve to do his Scooby imitation...it's very good and doesn't sound the least bit like a Middle Eastern gentleman :)

More Napa Fun

2008-11-04T09:17:00.001-08:00

More of the Kids

2008-11-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Reading to the Kids

2008-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

And for those who have never had the pleasure, listening to Steve read to children is an experience...this man gets into his characters :)

Cousins

2008-10-30T09:42:00.001-07:00

Annie loves Maggie (and Eli and Maya)....and she just had to show me the sunset from the top of the hill (photo op, or just another chance to drive the gator?)

Napa

2008-10-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at John and Ashleys this weekend; the vines are absolutely beautiful right now (this photo doesn't do them justice). I didn't even know that grape vines changed color...ours go straight from green to dead.

Annie had the privilege of baby-sitting Eli and Maggie and did a great job (except for the frog aversion). She loved taking them for rides on the gator, reading stories to them, and fixing their meals.....but has decided that she will not be having kids....ever! (taking care of children is a great birth control method for teens...yea)

I'll post more on the trip as I have time....the pics are still downloading :)

The New Car

2008-10-24T10:31:00.001-07:00

Maureen and I went to Fresno yesterday - I had an appointment with my "gastroenterologist"; if you know what his specialty is then I can tell you everything is okay with that particular part of my anatomy.

I love my new car. It's so much fun to drive. I am still learning what all the buttons are for. It has that "fancy" remote that locks and unlocks the car. And if I ever any more children I have kiddie seats!

All is well here. Weather is great, more like summer (not hot though). Maybe we will get fall one of these days.

....Mom

Latest Project

2008-10-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Steve and I have started a new blog called Suburban Sharecroppers and would like to invite you all to see what we are getting ourselves into. It's a pay-for-post blog (a whole $1/day) and they will be keeping track of visitors to insure that someone is actually reading it. If all you do is click on it occasionally we would really appreciate it (fiendish little mercenaries that we are:)

Thanks!!!

ps. and Steve is actually writing some of the blog, we just can't figure out how to add him as a contributor....we are morons!

College

2008-10-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Brad and his truck...along with 2 other water polo alumni... were in the Homecoming parade last Friday. It's Exeter's 100 year celebration so they asked graduates to come back and participate in the celebration. I was on the wrong side of the street to get a shot of him driving...but I liked the sign :)

Joshua's Swim

2008-10-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know that Joshua really wanted to be the first to use the pool (or the last before winter), but when he found my old wet suit, he knew he had to go in (he's just that way). I told him he looked like a bear out for a swim. With the weather being overcast and the water around 64 degrees, it was more of a polar bear swim. I told him while he was down there to clean up the leaves. That didn't work out so well, so he just swam around.

Testing...

2008-10-11T13:20:00.001-07:00

OK, it only took me a week to figure out how to actually access this blog and then post.

We had our first snow of the season yesterday. It didn't stay, but it will before long. The nights are dropping into the low 30s. But its just our early warning. It'll be back up in the 70s next week. The leaves are changing and the mountain has snow on its peak again.

Ken

Thanks Mom

2008-10-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

Mom won a couple of tickets (at the luncheon on Sunday) to the Taste of Visalia event downtown Tuesday night. We had a nice time, got to try some new restaurants and eat at some of our old favorites. Steve's still not lovin the suishi and there is a new Brazilian place called Rio Churrasco that we all agreed was very good....but Fagazzis is still the winner overall.

Tommys ran out of food....cretins.

Oh, For the Days of Summer!

2008-10-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

One of the pleasures I was reacquainted with this summer is children and the absolute joy they have in a pool. Maya would be beside herself. Thank you Maya, Elias and Maggie for reminding me.

One of the joys, har har, of being a high school teacher is Homecoming. The gamut I'm running these days is from over-sugared Frosh that are experiencing Homecoming for the first time, acting like kids before Christmas; and seniors that are too cool and too involved in catty backstabbing fights with other seniors because this is their last Homecoming and it HAS to be Great.

Me? I'm getting the Baseball Car cleaned up to be in the Fall Festival parade on Saturday. Just another chance to embarrass some people so they can twist their noses into the air. Then I can spend a week with mi familia.

I THOUGHT I would be the first.....

2008-10-06T20:30:00.001-07:00

...to post a picture ( I thought it was understood that I have no life).

Tinkerbell riding Buckwheat

2008-10-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

Maggie's 3 year old fantasies were fulfilled when she became Tinkerbell...

Yippee Yahoo

2008-10-06T20:16:00.001-07:00

We have 6 contributors...not sure who this Myrtle Groggins person is but.....yea!!!

Come on Mike and Steph (and Naoko and Ken).......get on board!

New car

2008-10-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

I just had a call from Chuck - everybody knows who Chuck is - my car is just about ready to pick up. He discovered the light in the radio was out so he is having it replaced. He has had it smogged and it said it is so clean. I am so anxious to get it. Now we have to go to the DMV and get it transferred. He is going to go with me to do that.

Steph and Ken were last night. They had been in Chico - Michael was in a play at school. Had the Garvers - actually Steve, Maureen, Sam and Wilson. Had a good time. The Kelloggs were going home today.

That's it folks!

Family Blog

2008-10-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Starting a new blog today for the entire (almost:) Derr family... including those who decided to change their name to Kellogg and Garver. Feel free to post whenever you want, let us know what you all are doing and add photos if you can figure out how...email me with any questions.

Come on guys....try it.....it'll be fun!