Our updates for all of you

Yes the end of an era in family entertainment for us. Since 2001 we'd been cheating the system a bit by not only having a U.S. satellite company, Direct TV, but also owning and using a Canadian small dish provider, Bell ExpressVu (view). It was how we were able to watch and enjoy just about every program we watched at times that were the ultimate in convenience for us and our family. It started when we bought our first home and moved to the Phelan area in the High Desert near Victorville California in fall 1989. The first year we were living there we suffered through, and I DO mean suffered with 3 small kids, with 4 channels of very static filled fuzzy translator TV reception. Our property was down slope and lower than the ridge line to be able to watch "normal" L.A. station broadcast TV. At the L.A. county Fair that next year summer, Sears was then selling and installing the big ten foot yard dishes with all the promise of free, FREE, FREEE! as well as crystal clear prog

I love the color of this area, the greens, golds, reds, all help make it a beautiful area! These four photos just highlight some different Pine and Fir trees on our property. It is really interesting the brighter colors of the new spring/summer growth with the types of trees. The top and bottom are of the same trees as are the middle two showing the contrast of new growth and how they look. In the winter the Cedar trees all turn rust and red at the tips before they old stuff falls off. This last photo in this group was taken a bit dark to try to better show the light green new growth tips.

Taken 6/18/2010, these three photos show the single plot we have at the community garden this year. Stacy planted Tomatoes, Carrots, Radishes, Cantaloupe and may still plant a few more items. Although a little late in the year it has been a lot cooler than last year so far, and wetter too. So not much growing to big quite yet. The two photos above give a little better overall view of the garden. They've really improved the area this year due to last year being so successful for the group. Although the wood chips look much nicer, when wet they are like walking on ice slippery!! More photos as things "grow"!

I was even contacted as to why I hadn't updated in quite a while. I can only say that I've been actually very busy at work, and since I do most updates from there, that's the main reason. Weekends are busy doing work around the property, going to Sandpoint, the store etc. so I'm not on line too much on the weekends. And now with it almost Summer it is mow and take care of weeds weekly again so "work" is the best place to do these! First to update daughter Laura. Yes her doctor told her she'd had a minor stroke as I'd written last post. Since then she's had quite a few tests done, we just don't know how she's doing! Its that 'kid' thing (many of the parents of any age should know about this one!) that at the time of a crisis, calls, some several times a day, than when everything gets a little better it reverts back to never answer, never call, never text, never e-mail! So again, we feel she must be OK since we haven't heard other