Our Pond

A work in progress is an understatement when it comes to our back yard pond. From a hole in the ground to a “lush” hole in the ground full of water.
There have been a few mishaps… sandstone rocks falling in, to much blue dye that turned it into the “blue lagoon” and Gabby’s one time diving expedition.
Right now algae is my biggest problem…. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
(Algae are photosynthetic organisms that occur in most habitats. They vary from small, single-celled forms to complex multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length.. The US Algal Collection is represented by almost 300,000 accessioned and inventoried herbarium specimens.) I don’t quite have a algae collection yet, but I’m well on my way….. Thus the blue dye.
This weekend Scott and Savanna dug a trench to bury the PVC pipe that holds the cord for the pump.
Currently in residence we have a school of mosquito eating fish (not pretty but useful), two large snails and a baby bullfrog.
My pond is lovely, but not done….. It’s our on going family project.

Lauren’s Home for the Summer

I was so happy last Friday when Scott got home from Las Cruces with Lauren in toe.
BUT I had no idea that she would have SO MUCH STUFF! Now I do remember coming home from college myself with a lot more then I went with (I have no idea how that happened) but I guess I didn’t think Lauren would do the same. Some things never change I guess.
We’re happy she’s home, and so proud of her for not only surviving her freshman year, but excelling in her classes, and making good choices while learning to become an adult.

I'm happy to report.... her room is now clean!

Colorado Excel Club Campout

This is what I like to call "my busy season". Last weekend was the New Mexico Excel Club Campout and this weekend is the Colorado Excel Campout.
We arrived in Colorado City yesterday afternoon, after a WINDY drive. Spent the evening catching up with good friends, some we haven't seen in a long time, and some we haven't seen since last weekend.
I woke up early (Gabby's legs were crossed) for a walk. And low and behold there was snow/frost or what I like to call bumpy frost on the picnic table. But the sun is out and it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day!

MS Walk

Remember, no matter how wet, how cold, how windy, or even how hot it might be, MS hurts worse. MS always hurts worse. That’s why we’ll be there Saturday morning at Tiguex Park, rain or shine, with our walking shoes on…. or maybe our rain boots. Won’t you join us? The more than 3000 people living with MS in the Rio Grande area are counting on you.

This was part of the email I received from the MS Society and what I had posted on my facebook page the day before the walk.
We woke up to rain early in the morning, but knew.... as always, the weather over the mountain in Albuquerque can be completely different. This wasn't totally the case, but it wasn't pouring down rain, only threatening to rain. So we grabbed the umbrellas (because if you bring them it wont rain) and heading over to the park. We meet up with my Mom and David, and my life long friend Cindy. We pigged out on Krispy Kreme doughnuts and then did the walk (the short route) when we got back to the park we had Blake's Breakfast burritos and then headed home. Not a single rain drop fell on our heads.... and hopefully made a difference in the outlook for MS.

MS Walk

The MS walk is this Saturday. My hope is for good weather (not to hot and NO WIND). I'm so thankful to be able to WALK in the walk.... so many people can't due to their MS.

I'm getting close to raising the $800.00 I set for my goal this year. Wish me luck!

Easter Weekend

Easter is always full of family and tradition. Colored eggs, lamby cake, candy, baskets, egg hunts and spring birthday party. This year was no exception. The weather was nice, warm, and NO wind! After church we all met at Nana’s house for a lunch of ham sandwiches and salads. The lamby cake had a little problem when I was frosting it, and the head started to fall off. Nana came to the rescue with a small knife that we used to hold his head up.
Rebbie gave the girls potato guns which added an element of danger to our afternoon.

Saturday I spent the day with my dear friend Erin…... we made our Easter cards, and did some other crafting. That evening Scott, Lauren, Savanna, Justin and I colored eggs.
Somehow through all the busy family times and traditions I managed to reflect on my salvation and the promise of eternal life that Christ’s resurrection assures me.

Molly the Owl

For well over a week I’ve been watching a barn owl who lives in an owl box in California. She’s on the web 24/7 and on my computer in the kitchen day and night so I can keep an eye on her. She has one owlet and 4 eggs that will be hatching every few days. I have to say, I know more about owls now then I would have ever known if it weren't for Molly. Golly Miss Molly, thanks for making me an owl expert!

I’m Addicted to Molly!

Happy Spring

Lauren’s on spring break from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces (where it’s always summer). She got here yesterday afternoon just as the snow was starting to fly. This morning we work up to 10 to 12 inches of snow. If you ask me, it’s the perfect way to welcome spring.

Spring Forward Into A Snow Bank

Everyone who even knows me a little bit knows how much I dislike “springing forward”. I just don’t see the point. More hart attacks happen on the day after the springing, more car accidents, and I’m sure a ton of global warming. It’s just down right dangerous. Normally in the name of safety I would just stay in bed and nap all day. But this year Scott’s birthday fell on the dangerous day. So I had to get up, bake a cake, run out to McD’s for breakfast, and make a plan for a fun day.
It was a lovely day out this morning, warmish, practically windless, I’d almost dare to say a nice spring day. I plug the pump in on the pond for the first time in months, filled up all the bird feeders, and took a birthday nap with my husband. Then we headed into Albuquerque for a movie and dinner with Savanna. When we came out of the movie it was snowing, but not sticking on the roads. We had a nice dinner and had a window seat that faced the mountains. It was so beautiful to see them coved in snow, dark clouds behind them, and the sun setting that lit them up so bright. Sighhhhh it was so pretty.
As we heading home (over those same mountains) the snow was heavy on the trees and it looked to pretty to be real. As we headed higher and higher the snow started to stick to the interstate. Edgewood was deep in snow, I would guess about 8 inches and there were (of course) no snow plows to be seen. It was a little slow going to get home, and a little shocking to see so much snow in such a short time.
Gabby was so happy to see the snow when I let her out, of course Jester is pissed! And poor Scott had to shovel the snow off the porch so it wouldn’t turn to ice. (Don’t worry, Nebraska boy loves to shovel snow).

For once the pond didn't get snowed in (because I plugged it in before the snow came)

World MS Day

Beautiful Day - English from MSIF on Vimeo.

Lumpy Tapioca Pudding

When my sister and I were little our Grammy would make us tapioca pudding (from scratch of course) whenever we were sick. I would swear to this day that it has healing powers. Now, as a grown woman and Mother, it’s my go to cure all when there is sickness or heart ache in our home. And as I stand at the stove stirring the milk and smell the whiffs of the sweet steam I’m reminded of my sweet Grammy and the comfort of her love.
Rebbie and I were very blessed to know all four of our grandparents and both our great-grandmothers. Because both our parents are only children we were the ONLY grandchildren, and therefore overly loved by them. I feel so lucky to have such a close relationship with each of my grandparents. Grammy and Grandpa (my father’s parents) who have both passed away now. And Nano and Papa (my mother’s parents), Papa passed away 19 years ago, and now it seems that Nano’s time on this earth is short. It will be the very sad end to a generation of our family that is so loved and so fondly remembered.

As each of my family members deals with what we know we have no power to stop, life around us continues to spin on. School still has to be attended, the need for work, sickness touches us from time to time (keeping us away from Nano for fear of getting her sick) and household need to be kept up with.

Today, if I could, I’d make a big batch of lumpy tapioca pudding and sit with my family and just enjoy the comfort of our memories.

Nano's 92nd Birthday Party

Happy Birthday tooooooooo Nano!

Nano's 92nd Birthday is tomorrow. We had a birthday bash for her yesterday (Saturday) with all her favorite appetizers and a pineapple upside-down cake.
Rebbie knitted her some new socks, Mother gave her some cute new PJ's and Scott, the girls and I gave her some Gospel CD's. And Lauren came home from college just for the party.

My mom says we wore poor Nano out, and she's been sleeping most of the day today.

Happy Bithday Nano!

Larks in the Snow

It’s been snowing off and on all day, and when I looked out the window this afternoon I saw four fluffy Meadow Larks sitting above the feeders watching the flakes fly.

New Mexico All State Choir

After two days of hard work we got to see the fruits of Savanna’s labor. The All State Choir was amazing and moving. It’s always such a surprise to see a group of children from all over the state come together and become a choir of such magnitude. I have to give a lot of credit to the Director, the choir managers and of course all the choir teachers who work with these children from day to day. It’s not an easy task to bring Middle School children together to accomplish much of anything, and yet a spectacular choir emerged in just two days!

A big bonus for us, was that the All State Choir took place at New Mexico State University. Getting to spend time with Lauren on her turf was the icing on the cake. We got to meet her new roommate, Alex, and see all the Mo Town girls.

Hanging in Las Cruces

Savanna is singing in the New Mexico All State Choir on Saturday. She had to be at New Mexico State University yesterday to start rehearsals. The northern and eastern parts of the state were expecting a “big” snow storm Thursday morning, so we packed up the RV and got out of dodge on Wednesday night. Which ended up being a good choice, as the roads were bad on Thursday. We drove as far as Truth or Consequence on Wednesday night and just spent the night in the WalMart parking lot. We woke up to a cold rain, but just a few miles north of us the interstate was icy.
When we got to Las Cruces it was still cold and rainy.. Which is so unusual.

We are staying at our favorite RV Resort, Hacienda. The best thing is that Lauren just got a job here! So I sat in my warm trailer and watched her out driving around on the golf cart in the rain.

We have both of the dogs with us for this trip. Jester really doesn’t like to “camp” and this is Gabby’s first trip. She seems to be getting use to it. She LOVES the dog walk here…. She can run off leash.

I told Scott today at breakfast (they have a lovely free breakfast here at the resort) that the reason I love to RV is because it makes me feel so young. We were by at least 20 years, the youngest people in the room.

Bagachels

Four generations come together to make a recipe that’s been in our family for many more generations.
It’s hard to describe these tasty treats that look like a cookie, but aren’t sweet. They’re made with mashed potatoes, something like a biscuit, yet nothing like bread. They’re best when eaten straight from the oven with butter melting on the top.
Nano says her mother, AKA Big Nana, made them for special meals and they ate them as bread.
When Rebbie and I were little we’d always make them when Big Nana would come to visit from Pennsylvania. It’s the best memory I have of my great-grandmother. We’d also make them with Nano when she’d have leftover mashed potatoes. Now Nano makes them with her great-granddaughters and I’m sure they will always remember just how special Bagachels are. They are a part of our past, and I really hope will stay with for family for generations to come.
Nano was missing two of her great-granddaughters, Kristen and Lauren. Don't worry... they've both made bagachels with their Nano.

Recipe:
Leftover mashed potatoes
Good TBS of shortening
Salt
As much flour as it takes
Bake on greased cookie sheet @400 until golden

We’ve come to the conclusion that this “recipe” is an art and NOT a science, and therefore really has to be passed down. The dough has a feel to it when it’s ready, and no amount of measurements and science can make a Bagachelen.

Snowy Day

Today has been the best “snow day” of the week. We’ve had small passing storms over the last four days. Tuesday was a two hour delay for school, Wednesday a three hour delay (which was weird). Yesterday there was no snow, only wind so it was school as usual. This morning I woke to a heavy wet snow falling, and a two hour delay. By 7:00 they decided to just close school.
Gabby LOVES snow, and just runs and runs and eats it. I have to bribe her to come in. She smells like a wet dog in a bad way. Her coat is so thick, and curly that it just holds the moisture, and she needs a bath!
Jester on the other hand hates the snow and would rather pee on the porch then get his toes wet.
Savanna is in her PJ’s still, and I’m sure will stay that way all day. She’s been in her room most of the morning practicing her music for the All State Choir.
I’m looking for inspiration in my Scrapbook Room….. But haven’t found it yet.
I was thinking of tromping out in the snow to take a picture of what I think is a dead horse in my neighbors yard. That would make for an interesting scrapbook page. I just don’t want to get my slippers all snowy.
Anyone wanta see the dead horse?

My little brace face

Monday Savanna got her braces on. Then Scott and I took her out to brunch as per Justin’s suggestion. He pointed out that her mouth would be too sore to eat for a few days. We all know that Savanna has a very low pain threshold… so this should be a loooong year of braces fun!

Savanna’s Room

Savanna decided last summer that she wanted her room decorated in a Paris theme.
Thanks to Mrs Persival (art teacher) and her hours of painting with Savanna
over the summer break.
Tonight we put the finishing touch on the wall….
The long awaited clocks!
These clocks have been working out in mine and Savanna’s heads for a long time.
And today I bit the bullet and just did it.
Thank you Erin for the encouragement and advice on cutting vinyl on the Cricut.
And thanks to Scott for spotting me as I climbed up on the stool
and helping me get everything straight.

Gabby graduated for obedience school today

She did so well in the eight week class, and often times was the “star” of her class. Funny how once we’d get home she’d push the limits of behavior…. I guess just like a child does.
Part of the “requirements” of graduation is snake proofing. They started by letting all the dogs smell the snake (a real snake), then they had to walk by the snake while the handlers reacted with fear. Most all the dogs reacted to the fear and understood that snakes are BAD. Then they had to walk while someone threw a snake (yes, a real snake) at them. Gabby was so horrified by the snake (as was I) and threw herself on the ground and flat out refused to go anywhere near the snake. As soon as we got to the other side of the room she hid under a table and kept an evil eye on that snake. She wouldn’t even come forward to get her diploma at the end of class. I’m no fan of the snake, but it will be interesting to see what Gabby does when we have a snake encounter in real life.

Frosty New Mexico

We woke up yesterday to a thick frost that covered everything outside like a fluffy white blanket.

It was so pretty, and cold outside. I love winter, and frost, and snow.

I'd rather die then throw up!

I NEVER throw up.... NEVER.
In fact I really don't remember the last time I did, but I'm sure it was more then 10 years ago.
If I get sick and feel like I could or should yack I can will myself not to. BUT on New Years Eve
(no I wasn't drunk)
I started to feel bad around 7:30 PM and by 9:30 I had lost the fight. I spent the rest of the night, or until 3:ish AM in my own personal hell. It was awful!
And to top it off.... I think I threw my back out throwing up! Is that even possible?

http://scrappingwithbuffie.blogspot.com/
I’ve started a new blog (because one blog just isn’t enough) that will be dedicated to my paper crafting.
In my head I call it “my business blog” and I call this one my “useless blog“. Now someone needs to go sign up to follow it…
it’s very lonely in the business blog!
(it's pink so you'll love it there!)
There is a link in "my links" on the left side of this blog.

Happy New Year!

It’s a COLD and sunny day today. Last night we had a crazy snow storm that under normal circumstance I would have loved. But I was at my Mother’s house yesterday and by the time I left for the long drive over the Big River, thru Albuquerque and across the mountains the roads were BAD. I-40 east of the city was snow packed and very slippery. You couldn’t see the lines in the road so there was no way of telling if you were in a lane, or even on the road for that matter. It was snowing rather hard and the wind was blowing. I had both girls with me, Lauren was helping me by watching for the lines in the road, and Savanna worried in the back seat (because that’s what Savanna does). Once we got off the interstate things got worse. Of course there had been no snow plows in Edgewood so you really couldn’t see the road. As we inched our way down Dinkle road Lauren noticed foot prints on the side of the road that went on for a number of miles. We debated if it was human or dog, and came to the conclusion that it must be human…. Or dog. But what man or beast would be out on a night like this? As we came upon our street we saw a man walking. I tried to stop to see if he needed help, but I slid past him. As he came up on my truck I asked if he was OK, and he said, “yes, my car wouldn’t start and I needed to go to Walmart.” I told him that it was still a long way, and he said, “no I’m almost there”. Ummmm it’s like another 3 miles I informed him, and told him that if he wanted to ride in the back of my truck I’d take him the rest of the way. So he jumped in the bed of my truck and away we went. It was then that I felt the urge to lecture my girls on the dangers of picking up strangers on the side of the road. And I assured them that if it wasn’t for the pick up truck and him being able to ride in the back I NEVER would have done this, and that I was in complete control of the situation…. I could keep an eye on him, and if I felt like we were in danger I would simply slam on my breaks and he would fly out of the back of the truck bed (never mind that we would be in the ditch right next to him).
I pulled up to Walmart and he jumped out and thanked us. I might add that NO ONE was at Walmart due to the storm so he wouldn’t have to wait in line to check out. There was a big part of me that wanted to go in and follow him around the store to see just what it was that he needed so bad to walk in a blizzard miles to get. Another part of me wanted to go back and find the foot prints and follow them back to see how far he really had walked, but I was sure that the snow and wind would have covered them by now…. And really I just wanted to get home, so that’s what we did.

Christmas Caviar

Scott received a gift basket from work this year. It was full of all sorts of goodies, and not so goodie goodies. To Lauren’s delight it had a jar of caviar. She’s never had caviar before, but really wanted to try it. She wanted to break it open on Christmas morning so she could share it with her cousins. MMMMM

Yipppppeeeeee….. A new Christmas laptop!

Scott knew how much I was missing my dead laptop, and how I was really struggling with our slow ten year old desk top computer. So on Christmas Eve he surprised me with a new laptop. And it really was a surprise! I hadn’t asked for one, knowing that “in these hard economic times” it wasn’t a reasonable request, and that I could just make due with the super slow computer for now. So I asked for birdhouses (which Scott has made me before, and I knew he had wood to make more) and something to play my ipod in the kitchen. I got the birdhouses, the ipod player, AND then he pulls out one more box, and it was a shinny new laptop!!!!! What a wonderful surprise, and truly appreciated. Now I can (with ease) load and edit pictures, buy music on itunes, and load audio books on my ipod, lay in bed and play solitaire, keep up with my blog and Close To My Heart website. Yip…. I’m a wantabe computer nerd….. A happy, new laptop owning computer nerd!

Christmas morning was full of our traditional family activities. Rebbie and the girls showed up early. Rebbie was hopped up on cold medication and Krispy Kream doughnuts. She was worse then the kids when it came to waiting to open the gifts….. She kept coming at me like a spider monkey! Once Nana, Pops and Nano showed up the gift exchanging began. Now that the girls are older we like to take our time opening gifts. We go around the room and everyone takes turns opening a gift. This way we can see what everyone is getting and from whom. I like this so much better then the way it use to be when it was a free for all Christmas gift frenzy. I never knew what my girls got, or who it came from. Now I know, and everyone gets a chance to enjoy their giving as well as being able to be thankful for the receiving.

Then we move on to Scotts yummy dinner. His favorite thing to make on Christmas is prim rib. We also have ham, homemade mac and cheese, cheesy potatoes (Nana’s special dish) cream spinach and artichoke (Lauren’s specialty) and posole stew (thanks to Rebbie). After we all have our fill we break out the birthday cake and sing happy birthday to Jesus. This year I made Jesus a chocolate covered cherry cake.

One of the days highlights was Rebbie “trying” to teach me to knit. Ugh…. She makes it look so easy, and we all received wonderful knitted gifts from her (gloves, socks, mittens)…. Trust me, it’s not easy, and there will be no knitted gifts from me under the tree next year!

All in all Christmas was wonderful, full of family, fun, and traditions we all hold dear. The one big part missing was Rebbie’s eldest daughter Kristen. She and her new husband John stayed at home in Virginia and started their own family traditions. We missed them dearly, but understand their desire to enjoy their first Christmas in their own home. AND with the snow storms that covered most of the country there is a good chance they would have spent Christmas in an airport if they had tried to come. (I’m glad they were home safe and sound).

Pre Christmas frenzy

Why oh why does it have to be this way?


Last week is still a blur for me. Savanna's science fair project was due, along with a project for her Spanish class. She had a choir concert, and school parties. Justin had a choir concert, and the annual Madrigal dinner. It was my last week of work until after the New Year, so I had to finish up my work, and help tie up loose ends here and there. Scott and I had a dinner to attend, and he left for El Paso for a company Christmas party over the weekend.
We started the week with Lauren's wisdom teeth removal and ended the week with knee surgery for Justin. And I had a sinus infection thru it all.

This week is much better, Lauren is recovered, Savanna is relaxing at home (and not yet bored), my shopping is mostly done, gifts are wrapped and Scott is home. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Now we can just pause and remember the gift of the season, and what Christmas is really all about.
My goal this week: To fill my heart with the baby Jesus, and give thanks for the gift of salvation He was born to bring to us. I hope each of you take the time to just sit in calm silence and reflect on the greatest gift of all.

Out of control blogging

I felt the need to over blog today.

1. Because I had a snow day today, and some extra time on my hands.
2. I had my pictures put on a CD so I could get them on my computer.
(Laptop is still dead.)
C. I feel behind... and there is lots of "stuff" going on here.

We've had a few nice snow storms (my favorite) and I went to Advent Fest at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp last weekend with my sister and Lisa. We met up with our dear friend Roberta (from Denver). We had a nice, relaxing, fun time, and even got to battle our way home thru a snow storm in Colorado.





Lauren is taking finals this week at NMSU. So far she thinks it going well, but her two hardest ones are still to come. She'll be home this weekend for a month... in which time she'll be getting her wisdom teeth ripped out! She's so happy about that... HA

Gabby the Labradoodle impersonator.

It's a really long story, so I wont go into it... but Gabby isn't a labradoodle, she's a Kuvasz aka fierce guard dog. We still love her just as much as when she was a labradoodle, but now the way we teach her to behave is total different. We are in our 5th week of obedience training, and while she's at doggy school she's top of her class. But once we get home she's CRAZY. Scott has to run with her 4 miles each day, or she's bouncing off the walls. She is unbelievably smart, and loves to watch TV... her favorite show is Dogs 101, but she'll watch just about anything.
While in AZ they must have shaved her, because now she's growing in this fluffy, curly, thick coat of fur. She has loved the snow storms we've had over the past couple of weeks, and I have to bribe her to come in from the cold. Just the opposite of Jester the Greyhound who flat out refuses to go out on the frozen tundra.
If you want to read more about this rare breed visit this web site.
http://www.kuvasz.org/

Bad Blogger

It seems I have fallen back into my bad blogging habit, of not blogging. I have to wonder why no one is ridiculing me for being a bad blogger…. Then I remembered that no one reads my blog on a regular basis, so it’s doubtful that anyone has noticed.

The past six weeks have been overly stressful in the Nelson house. Savanna started middle school, and we got Lauren settled away at college. Then it all came tumbling down. Savanna started to throw up one morning, and it didn’t stop for two weeks. Then we added in some constipation and diarrhea to the yacking. After countless visits to the Dr. blood drawn twice, three stool samples (wrong test on the first one, and they lost the second one).We even started taking her to a counselor. Finally we got in to see the Pediatric GI Specialist. They could tell right away that she had blockages in her intestines, and what they said is like irritable bowel syndrome.
He put her on medications and she’s back to her normal self. We are going to continue with the counselor for a little while because we think this is linked to stress and anxiety. She goes back to the GI in December for a follow up.

Thru all of this we broke down and bribed her with a puppy. Any puppy she wanted, if she would just go to school for two weeks (in my mind, after two weeks we would have broken the spell and she would be fine) The only exception to the rule was: If they found something medically wrong with her, she could pass go and collect her puppy right away. Well both things have happened. She has a medical diagnoses, and has gone to school for two weeks with no problem. After much research on Savanna’s part (and online breed testing) she discovered that her best breeds are, labs, poodles, and or spaniels. Because of our connection with Greyhound Rescue I really wanted to rescue a dog… either from a group or a shelter. So the hunt began…. And we found Gabby, a one year old cream colored labradoodle (lab/standard poodle) who was found as a stray in Phoenix, AZ. She’s been in a foster home, and looks like just the sweetest dog in the world. The Poodle Rescue of AZ normally wont adopt out of state, but they made an exception for us due to our experience with Greyhound rescue, AND the shinny referral Judy (GCNM founder) gave us. Then all the poodles started to fall into a row. My dear friend Erin’s mother in law just happened to be in Phoenix and on her way home. She picked Gabby up for us, and they are now in Holbrook, AZ (about 4 hours away). There will be pictures to come.

But for now I will post some pictures of birds that were in my yard yesterday morning. We had Scrub Jays take over! I’ve been feeding them peanuts for weeks now, and at the most have had 3 or 4 at one time. Yesterday Scott looked out and there were dozens of them. Also a woodpecker in the pond. I got some pictures of him when he was drying off. Then a Thrasher came into the yard to eat peanuts too. It was a busy bird morning.