Happy birthday Patrick!!

64 years ago, on September 22, 1950, the love of my life was born! Although his childhood sucked, it is what brought us together, as I had a childhood that sucked also! I am so grateful to have met and fallen in love with such a caring, kind, compassionate, smart, funny, determined, handsome and loving man. I am grateful for all of our travels and that I was able to retire at such an early age to enjoy our time together. (Thank you for that!) Here's to many, many more years of traveling and enjoying each other!! I love you!! <3

Our granddaughter, Taylor Kay 9-12-02

On September 12th, 2002, our Taylor Kay came into this world. She was born at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA. She was so perfect and tiny at 5 lbs 7 ozs and 19 inches long.

Who would have ever known that this girl would steal the hearts of our family, the way that she did. Grammy would come over every morning (she lived in the back of us) and would peek through the window to see if Taylor was up yet. She would ask, "Tayduh wake?" If she was awake, she'd come in a take her to her house and feed her breakfast.

Such a sweet, happy girl!!

How could this girl not steal your heart?!?! My pumpkin!!

Getting her ears pierced. She wasn't very happy!!

A sleep over!!

AT-TI-TUDE!!

Our tradition of carving pumpkins every year!!

A very capsulized view of Tay's 12 years of life. (we have thousands of pictures) This was the first day of 7th grade and her second year in Middle School. Where has the time gone? I am looking forward to the years ahead of watching her grow into the beautiful, young lady that she is becoming!! Love you my girl and am so proud of you!! Love you, Nana <3

Heartbreaking and yet joyful pregnancy, my oldest granddaughter, Taylor.

What started out to be a negative, heart breaking situation, turned into a heart warming and greatest pleasure for the entire family.

Our middle daughter Ashley became pregnant at the age of 18 years old. We were all devastated that she allowed this to happen. Most of all, I felt that I had failed as a single parent. What did I do along the way that caused her to feel that she needed this to happen? Was it a mistake or was it done on purpose?

We went through all of the emotions, anger, sadness, hurt, confusion, devastation, etc. We finally accepted the fact that she wasn't going to change her mind about having this child, so we accepted it and moved on, quickly.

On Sept. 12th, 2002, this little baby was born that was the most perfect little baby I had ever seen. Her skin color was good, she had a full head of dark hair, her head was the most perfect shape head I had ever seen on a baby, and she was good. Taylor Kay is what they named her (Kay, after my middle name) and she was a mere 5 lbs.

Here she is at a few days old. When Ashley came home from the hospital, she became very sick and had a fever. She really couldn't care for Taylor, as she was weak and dizzy. After being at home for a couple of days, she had a fever of 105 and needed to go to the ER immediately.

That morning was a whirlwind of events and it is a day we will never forget. Pat was taking Michelle to school and they were involved in a pretty bad accident. I received a call from Michelle informing me that they had an accident, where it was and to bring Pat's wallet. I rushed to the scene and climbed in the back seat. Threw his wallet on the floor and pretended to find it there, as people were gathered around and he needed his ID for the Sheriff and the ambulance. Pat was very disoriented and never got out of the car. They transported him to the ER at Los Alamitos Regional Medical Center in Los Al. Michelle seemed to be well enough not to be transported by ambulance so she came home with me.

After arriving home, Ashley informed me that she was told to go to the ER immediately by her OB Dr. So here I was, a daughter that needed immediate medical attention after just giving birth to my granddaughter, a boyfriend that was on his way to the ER, via ambulance and a newborn baby in my hands. I asked my mother if she could drive Ashley to the ER in Newport Beach, as that is where Taylor was born and that is where Ashley's Dr. worked.

As they left to go to Hoag Hospital ER in Newport Beach, I was leaving to go to Los Alamitos R.M.C. ER in Los Alamitos, with newborn baby in tow!! Pat had a concussion and was still delirious. He missed a week of work but perfect timing because me and him had to watch Taylor for a whole week, while Ashley was in the hospital.

Ashley was so sick and  they couldn't break her high fever. They had her on IVs, liquids, an ice blanket and it still stayed high. I felt so bad for her and didn't know what to do. I snuck Taylor into her room so that she could see her, since she hadn't seen her since she was practically born.

Pat and I watched Taylor for a whole week, he took the day shift and I took the night shift. It was a week we will never forget and this is probably why we have such a special bond that will never be broken.

VEGAN....or not VEGAN!!

People are crazy on Facebook. There is so much friending, unfriending, bashing, fighting, blocking and unblocking!! It's crazy and it all has to do with differences of opinions. Everyone thinks they are right and the other person is wrong.

I have been clearing out my friends list. Why you ask? There are people that are on my friends list, that aren't really my "friends." They are acquaintances or they like things in common with me or they're someone I knew, long ago. So many times the people we once knew, are no longer the same people today. It can also be that I have changed so much from my younger days, that they no longer fit my taste or likings as "friends."

A little over 4 years ago, I transported a little dog for a lady and she helped me get to a hospital after I got bit by another dog. She asked me to be her "admin" for her rescue. I declined, since she lived so far away (up near Santa Barbara, CA) and I didn't know what all it entailed.

She is Vegan. I have nothing against vegan people, more power to them, if that's how they want to live and eat. I don't bash them, try to argue with them on why they won't eat meat, or try to convince them that they should eat meat or dairy, etc. Not my circus, not my monkeys.

All this lady did was post about eating animals and how horrible and how ignorant people were that did. I didn't have a problem with her multiple postings about veganism. What I did have a problem with, was how she started calling people names who weren't vegan. She would post horrific pictures of dead animals or animals being tortured and follow it up with "is this what you are guilty of, you hypocrite?" There were more names she would call people and I didn't feel that I had to put up with her or her personal bashing's. I'm not guilty of anything and that's my opinion. Have your own opinion but don't push me away in the other direction, by trying to shove something down my throat. That doesn't work, just like trying to shove Religion down my throat. It just makes me steer clear of it even more!! I'm not opposed to turning vegan, but in my own time. Then it will be my circus, and my monkeys!!

From The Ends of The Earth - Jeep Contest.

Does anyone ever really win those contests that they enter?

Well, I think they do!! I was on Facebook and saw a contest sponsored by Jeep. Enter your photo's, up to five, must be Jeep related. Okay, so what do I have to lose, right? Maybe, just maybe.

So here we go, one that I thought was funny, matched all the criteria, Jeep related, "ends of the earth," unusual. All the pic's I saw were people in their Jeeps, driving through water, climbing mountains, almost flipped upside-down, etc. But.....my hub's, he's a natural!!!

Low and behold, right when they said the contest ended, I got an email. It looked like spam and fortunately, I opened it, instead of just deleting it. I had forgotten all about it, actually. WHAT??? I've been chosen? This has to be a hacker.....they want me to fill out a form and enter my SS# and have it notorized? Oh crap, I know it's a hacker that is going to steal my identity!! M.U.S.T Google this company Prize Logic.....Hmmm, seems like a legitimate fulfillment company......It has to be legit!!

Just as stated in the "official rules," 4-6 weeks to receive the check, BAM!!! I'm a believer now!! Heck yeah!!

Our grandson Lewis Raymond, 7-20-09

Oh My GAWD!!! Finally the day came for Lewis Raymond to enter this world. Our 2nd of 3 grandchildren so far. After months (almost 9, but felt like 2 years) of him pressing on things he shouldn't have been pressing on, his mother Ashley, finally got some relief. She was wheelchair bound, practically from the start. 

On July 20, 2009, we finally got to see who this trouble maker was. The cutest, sweetest little boy and the first boy on our side of the family. My mother had two girls, I had 3 girls and we already had 1 granddaughter! So Lewie was a nice change.

Here was the little bundle, shortly after coming home. He sure was a colicky baby and this continued for months and months and months. Poor Ashley!!

Here he is a little over a month old. Momma's boy already!!!

Who knew what joy this little boy would bring us and what a character he would become!! <3

KQ Ranch, Julian, CA 8-4-14 with the grandkids.

Pat and I arrived on Mon. Aug. 4th. It was a nice break in weather, since we had been experiencing heat and a rare humid spell for SoCal. Ahhh, cooler and breezy and just wonderful. We weren't expecting our two grandkids until Sat. Aug. 9th.

Dinner at beautiful Lake Cuyamaca.

Out on a hike over by the Stonewall Mine. We found a lot of pottery sherd's, ton's of mortero's and the views were just endless.

I went to check on Lewie and someone was already in there checking on him!!

Lewie and Taylor at the Kidz Club Barn. We had a fun day making crafts, lanyards, drawings, birds, and jumping in the jump house. We had ice cream and pie in the clubhouse too!!

A hot, but fun, hike on the Inaja Nature Trail.

Lewie taking the lead.

At the top of the trail!!! Did I mention that it was HOT???

Our reward was Wynola Pizza!! Yummy!

While us human's were out sweating our brains out, smart kitty was inside taking it easy under the AC!!

Some pretty scary weather warnings, but somehow, it missed us. Down pours to the right of us, down pours to the left, here we are, stuck in the middle with nothing!!

Taylor and her Poppa and of course, Lewie leading the way, AGAIN! Off to the playground we go!!

Dinner at the Lake again!!!

Beautiful cloud formations!!

The clouds were moving so fast, this is 30 minutes after the picture above!!

S'mores time!! 

This boy needs to learn to relax in the RV!!! Don't choke ur monkey Newman!!!

A boy and his Poppa!!! <3

Good night KQ, until next time!!!