Six Fours

Six Fours
1. Four places that I go to over and over? Church, the store, the mailbox & the bathroom.

2. Four people who e-mail me regularly? Occasionally I get an email from Linda, Leslie, Heather and my friend Carolyn.

3. Four of my favorite places to eat? Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Chili's, & a good Chinese restaurant.

4. Four other places I would rather be right now? At Heather, Leslie, Erin, & Kari's.

5. Four people I think will respond? Kari, Erin, Leslie, & Heather. (Notice I reversed the order.)

6. Four TV shows I watch? Survivor, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Heroes, & Biggest Loser.

Now, for all you blog readers, go ahead and copy this onto your blogs. Have fun! It is harder than it looks.

Still a Lot of Living Left To Do

There are 100 Things on this list. I've done 51 with 4 additional maybes. I still have a ways to go. What about you? I guess I need to go to Europe.



1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (been there, but don't remember if we walked to the top)

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise (really a 4 day ferry trip, but still fun)

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie (been on "Inside Edition" and "The Price Is Right")

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching (on the ferry)

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life (Does back seat driving count?)

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own

Simon Stephen

Kari had her baby yesterday. She needed to have a C-section. The baby was coming "sunny side up" and would not fit through her pelvis. At the present time they have decided to name him Simon Stephen. (They originally named him Andrew, but decided he didn't feel like an Andrew.) He was born 7Nov2008, weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz., 21 inches long, and was born at 5:52pm., in Reno, NV. He is a beautiful baby and very much loved. Kari and Steve will be great parents. They are doing a great job. They are singing to him already. (Trying to pacify him when he cries.) They are all cute.

Kari Before Baby

Kari and Steve During Baby

Steve in Scrubs for Surgery

Cathy & Kari in Recovery Room (Kari is talking to Papa on the phone.)

The Buccambuso Family

Simon

(Notice the tongue. Just like his father! Always smiling with his tongue showing.)

Stephen & Simon

Stephen & Simon

Steve & Simon

Steve & Simon

Simon Stephen

Another One of Our Angels-Simon Stephen

Yellowstone/Grand Teton Scrapbook Pages

Hope you will be able to view my scrapbook pages. :)

Idaho State Fair

David and I took Abigail to the Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, ID on 3SEP2008. It was the first time we took Abigail to something by ourself. We had a great time. She did get a little tired, but over all she did great. I would definitely do it again. We did the traditional things. EAT, go on a few rides, and bought cotton candy, checked out all the farm animals, and the displays for the contests, such as cake decorating, paintings, sewing, etc. Here are a few pictures of our day.

Grampy and Abigail

Don't you just love the way her glasses are on her face? Cute!

Little Feather Abigail

Just checking out the displays in one of the buildings. She was getting a little tired at this time.

Grammy and Abigail Riding the Carousel

David and I were afraid she would be scared on it. But she loved it. Waving to Grampy.

Abigail Playing in the Sandbox

Abigail Riding her "Pig"

Best of Show Cake

The Frog Prince

I had to take a few pictures of the cake contest seeing I am a cake decorator (or want to be).

This cake was darling. A lot of work went into decorating this cake. It would definitely be a hard one to eat.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

This cake was also adorable. I would not have wanted to be the judge.

This flower was beautiful. I'm not sure how she did it because the petals were quite big. She must have had some special tips to use for this flower.

Whimsical Cake-Tea Time Anyone?

There are a couple of mice on this cake. Yummy!

Plastic Canvas Doll House

I thought about my mom when I saw this doll house.

She use to love working with plastic canvas.

Yellowstone/Grand Teton

Does this help to access the scrapbook? I have only finished one of the pages. Need to download more of our pictures into photobucket so I can do the other pages.

http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/viewer.aspx?sbid=704266

Yellowstone Revisited

My family went on a vacation to Yellowstone National Park in August 1969. Almost 40 years ago. When David and I returned to Southern Illinois after a visit with our daughter Leslie, in Idaho, we decided to go home via Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. We had a great trip and I was able to reminisce about my family trip. We tried to see some of the same places and think we were successful. (However, my memory may have not been quite accurate, but we felt good about it.)
My family trip was a disaster/memory extraordinaire. Now when we look back on it it's all laughs. But it wasn't at the time. Bad weather (Richard almost drowning, and dad saving him); mom getting lost (we didn't even realize she was lost and she cried because we didn't even miss her); car accident (trailer hitch was broken loose and had to have it welded back on [several times on the trip]) and dad having to go to jail and post bond because of the accident. (He made an illegal U-turn that was not posted as no u-turn. While two local boys who were drag racing didn't get ticketed.) Buying an OLD truck because our Volkswagen was stuck in gear so we had to tow it home from SD. Then the truck died, I don't remember what was wrong with it, but we (sisters and brothers) were riding in the towed Volkswagen. Cleaburn and I were playing with the gear shift in the van, and we managed to get it out of the stuck gear. So we told dad we "fixed" it (hoping we would not get in trouble for playing with the van.) So he checked and we were right. (A screw had gotten down in the gear shift area and stopped the shift from moving.) So we left the truck (I think we were in Kansas at this time) and continued driving home in the van (Volkswagen). (Dad went back for it later and towed it back home.) We didn't quite make it home when the brakes went out on the van, but dad drove it with only the emergeny brake. We finally made it home safely. What a trip.
So now to make a story (blog) short, back to our trip. David and I had a great time. While driving through Yellowstone, David read mom's journal. (We had transcribed her story onto our computer years ago.) It made us cry thinking about how mom felt and what we had experienced 40 years ago. But it was a good cry. So here are a few pictures of mine and David's trip. Hope you enjoy.

West Yellowstone, MT-Painted Bison

David and Cathy

You have to take pictures of the painted bison in West Yellowstone.

There are a lot of them.

Three Charging Bisons

Traffic Blocked

Artists Paintpots

Artist Point View of Lower Falls

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Old Faithful

Grand Tetons

Grand Tetons Panoramic View

Cathy at Jenny Lake
This is one of my childhood memories

Cathy at Jenny Lake
The water is crystal clear, beautiful!

Old Faithful Erupting
(For those who have not seen it. The last half of it's performance sideways. Sorry.)

Crazy 8

(Answers are in no particular order.)

8 TV shows I watch

1. Survivor
2. Bachelor/Bachelorette
3. Dancing with the Stars
4. Home improvements shows on HGTV (I don't have cable TV, so I don't see them often.)
5. Lost
6. Jerico (But they took it off the air. Darn!)
7. Amazing Race (is ok)
8. 24 (Was ok but a little far fetched. Also off the air.)

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Olive Garden
2. Papa Murphy's
3. Chili's
4. Texas Roadhouse
5. Thai restaurant outside Ft. Bragg
6. Chipotle
7. Bojangles
8. Not TGI Friday's (Had a bad experience while at Leslie's.)

8 things that happened yesterday

1. Opened up the chicken coop for the day
2. Went to my sister Nancy's house
3. Scrapbooked with Nancy
4. Went out to lunch with Nancy, Gary, Becky, Kim, Austin, & Paige at a Chinese restaurant in Harrisburg.
5. Went shopping with Nancy and Gary at Salvation Army and Wal-Mart. (Bought Baby Buc a bunch of clothes for only 39 cents each. Super sale. ALL clothes were only 39 cents.
6. Mailed a package to Leslie and Kari. Audio books to Leslie that we borrowed from her library in town. Maternity tops for Kari.
7. Met David at the end of the Eddyville blacktop at 6pm to go back home. However David didn't show up. He worked late and couldn't get me on the cell phone. So Nancy took me all the way home. She is a sweetheart. :)
8. Watched Dancing with the Stars. Again :)

8 things I look forward to

1. Kari having her baby.
2. Maybe seeing Abigail and Bryant when I go to help Kari.
3. David getting a job that he will enjoy.
4. Seeing my daughters
5. Someday building a REAL house.
6. All my girls getting a house.
7. Family reunions of any kind.
8. Erin getting married. :) (Not too much pressure here, Spencer. LOL)

8 things I love about Fall

1. The colors of the trees. Beautiful!
2. Fallen leaves. I like to crunch in them when I walk. Fun!
3. Pumpkins
4. Halloween and decorating for it.
5. Thanksgiving
6. Apples
7. Not having to try to keep the house cool, but also not having to turn on the heat yet.
8. Christmas is almost here. (Hehehe)

8 things on my wish list

1. Get a house
2. Go on a cruise
3. Buy a new car
4. Finish the yard
5. Live closer to ALL my girls. (Like that is ever going to happen.)
6. A garden that actually grows like it's supposed to
7. A new camera. (Mine died on our way home from Yellowstone.) :(
8. Having another baby. (Boy, I bet that got you. Hehehe)

You girls had good answers. Thanks. It makes it easier for me.

8 People I tag

No one. If you want to do this for fun, then do it. If not, then that's ok too.

Slideshow

New Job

This is Poppers/Papa/Papa Bear/David/Dave. I started a new job with the Forest Service today. It is a really low paying job and is not permanent but it counts towards retirement and helps pay the bills.

I'm working on a trail crew for the Shawnee National Forest. We make and maintain hiking and equestrian trails on the forest. Our main area is the Lusk Creek Wilderness which is near Eddyville. We hike in to wherever we are working for the day, do the work, and hike out. It is hard physical work and when we are working in the wilderness all the work has to be done with hand tools, not power tools are allowed. We dig, cut trees, move rocks, make big rocks into little rocks, and pile brush to try and discourage people from making new trails.

Something really crazy about the job; Ray Broadway is on the crew.

First Grandson

Our first grandson was born 26Aug2008 at 8:41 a.m. His name is Bryant Maxwell Stratton , weighing in at 7lbs. 15 oz. and 20 1/4 in. long. He is a very beautiful baby with a sweet disposition. Leslie is doing well for having had a C-section. Here are a few of our pictures. Enjoy!

Bryant Maxwell Stratton

One day old

Big sister Abigail holding little brother Bryant

Grampy (David Johnson) with new grandson, Bryant

Grammy (Cathy Johnson) with Bryant Maxwell

Carl, Leslie, Abigail, and Bryant Stratton

Me, Myself, and I

I think: Not very often.

I know: Not much.

I want: Most things.

I have: Four great daughters and their families and a great husband. What more could you want?

I wish: I could see my daughters and their families more often.

I hate: Being so far from my daughters.

I miss: My daughters. (Were you expecting this answer?)

I fear: Not knowing my grandchildren.

I smell: Nothing at the present moment.

I crave: Something, but I don't know what it is. Wish I did because I am hungry.

I search: For stuff all the time. Sometimes I get lucky and find it. Like the pattern for making Squirts blessing outfit.

I wonder: What the future will be like. Don't you?

I regret: Not having my father with me longer. He died at the age of 50.

I love: My family. Even my extended one.

I care: For lots of things. My family, the environment, my health (and for my family's health), for the future of the world.

I always: Want to be a better person.

I am not: That better person. But I keep trying. Maybe someday.

I believe: In Jesus Christ. A living prophet (Thomas S. Monson).

I dance: Not much at all.

I sing: Not very good. But I like to. Can't carry a tune.

I don't always: Say the right word.

I write: Not very often. I use to be great at it. But it died about the time my father died. Don't know why that happened, but it did. Weird.

I lose: My mind at times. Who doesn't?

I win: Every now and then. Thank goodness. It feels good.

I never: Say never.

I listen: Not well enough. But I am trying to be better at it.

I can usually be found: At home.

I am scared: Of dogs. I love puppies, but not dogs.

I need: A real house.

I am happy about: My family.

I tag: No one. Sorry Leslie. But if someone wants to do this, they can without me tagging them. I love you. :)

Still working at it!

We are still working on our fence. David did get the last post holes dug today for our orchard. So that is great. Next week we will hopefully get the rest of the trees cut for our fence and before we do that, get the rest of the fencing up around the garden. We have killed 15 meat chickens and two ducks and have them in the freezer. So that will also help with less chickens being around to eat my plants when I replant them. There is still time to get a garden in for the season. Some of the plantings will be for a fall garden. But that's ok. I had planned on planting a fall garden anyways. Now it will be my main garden. The summer plants don't have a lot of time left to produce really well for a bountyful harvest. But that's ok. (Less work to do in the kitchen canning it. :) ) I think the sadest part about my gardening experience this year is that Leslie, Heather, and Kari are having a bad year too. That is a bummer. But things can turn around on us and we can still have a successful garden. Here's hoping.

The Beginning

This is a first for me, so be patient. Not sure what I want to say in my blogs, but I thought maybe about our life and activities on our property.
Right now our big thing is trying to put a fence around our garden. It is a 5 ft fence. Hoping to keep our chickens out of it. I had it planted once, and the chickens ate most of the new tender plants. So I will have to replant after the fence is up. Still need to get 6 poles in the ground. And then, of course, put up the fencing and then making gates. Hopefully we get all this done before the season it over. :)