Audrey... Driving?!?!

 

OK...this was a little scary. I was downstairs and when you come up to the main floor, you can see out the living room windows to the driveway. John was in the passenger seat and the car was moving. Then I see Audrey in the driver's seat. I am just not ready for this! This is NOT an automatic. It is a 5-speed. (I too was taught on a stick shift, but many kids are not these days. In fact once when I was driving my District Manager over to pick up his car from the dealer, he commented that he was impressed that I knew how to drive a stick.) Anyhoo... They did not leave the driveway, but he had her drive forward (our driveway is about 150 feet long) and then drive in reverse to the curb, and then back to the end of the driveway again. I did not have any patience to watch (just call me nervous-nellie) so I had to go back downstairs. But I did need to get this on camera!!

Spokane Symphony & Eileen Ivers

Mom and I went to the Spokane Symphony performance last night which had guest artist, Eileen Ivers. She is a Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, musical star of Riverdance, founding member of Cherish the Ladies and she's been called the Jimi Hendrix of the violin. It was a fun night of very diverse music styles - some very traditional Irish, some Latin feel, Jazzy, percussive, etc. Well, during a few numbers they had the local Haran Dancers do their "RiverDance" style dancing. This was my favorite part of the evening. You know how you always wished you learned how to do something - But not something you advertise to others?? For me it is this style of dancing. I just get mesmerized when watching it. There - now you know something about me that you might never have guessed!!

Over the River and Thru the Woods to Gma's House We Go?

This was on the news. From the KHQ Website "Washout destroys Pend Oreille home, forces road closure...PEND OREILLE COUNTY, Wash. - A 100-foot section of Willms Road was closed Saturday after a backup of debris in a culvert gave way, sending water and debris rushing south. The high waters destroyed one home and damaged a barn. Power and phone services to several homes in the area was knocked out. After the initial washout, concerns about missing people sparked a search by air and ground units. All residents in the area were located safely. Willms road is a dead end and the washout destroyed the only way in and out. Crews say they are working hard to build a temporary road so the 40 residents in the area can regain access."

My Grandma Whisler lives on Willms road, so they were stranded "in" on Saturday. Poor grandma! She recently returned home from an extended hospital and then extended living stay (like 2.5 months?). (She's the grandma that taught me how to play the piano when I was very young - 4 or 5 years old?) She would come into "town" and bring in fresh milk (with the cream floating on the top) and give me piano lessons. Had to be around that age as I performed in Kindergarten (My Country Tis of Thee) and around that age at church on the organ (Sweet Hour of Prayer).

Somewhat Healthy

You know how prayers, especially meal ones, tend to have the same words with just the order mixed up a bit? Audrey has started something the last month or so. She says "And bless this food to be somewhat healthy for us". I asked her "Huh"?? Then she tells me, well we're having xxx which is _______ (fill in blank here... fatty / fried / dessert / etc). Basically telling me that since we are not just eating fruits and veggies, what we are eating is somewhat healthy for us - not 100% healthy for us. So we've decided to let it ride. Kind of makes sense and a nice variation from the prayers that are sometimes repetitious. Made me laugh a bit as kids don't stop saying funny things just because they become teenagers!!

Orchard Pairie Union Cemetary

 

I was able to go to the cemetary to see Dad's headstone after work one day. It looks very nice. I wish that I had a cloth to clean off Eugene's stone. Dad's is right next to his. Here is a view from the cemetary so those who have never been there can see what this country cemetary looks like. Small and maintained by the community.

Headstone

Because the ground was frozen and covered in snow when dad was buried, the headstone was ordered and would be placed later. Mom let me know yesterday that it is there. I plan to go up and see it in the next day or so, but here is a sketch of what it is supposed to look like.

School Project

Poor Audrey. She virtually spent her entire Spring Break working on this project. They had choices of which project to choose. She chose the map of the town where "To Kill a Mockingbird" took place. But on the teacher's notes it said, "more points if make it 3-d". So Audrey made 21 little houses and a tree and grass and rocks and a dump.. it was all very cool, but very time consuming.