"A Perfect 10 at the Beach "

I have not been to the Beach all summer. I checked the weather report for Labor Day and it was a perfect 10 in Ogunquit, Maine. So I packed up the car and my two favorites and I headed for the Beach in Ogunquit. The day was hot with a slight wind. The water so refreshing. I just read and sun bathed and enjoyed every minute of my one day at the beach.

This Thursday I return to Ogunquit to see Hair spray at the Ogunquit Playhouse. This is an annual event with my dear friend Mary. This will be our 20th year going to the play house. It always is a great time. After the play we go to Perkins Cove to my favorite eating establishment, Jackies Too, for our annual seafood feast. (Usually lobstah)

Ogunquit will always have a special place in my heart. Good memories and alot of fun in this very special quaint New England get a way.

But the summer is over and the leaves on my maple tree are starting to turn which means Fall is just around the corner. Fall in New England. What could be better. But the summer went by toooo fast this year. But all good things must finally come to an end, I'm afraid. It is time to move on and get ready for the changing season. Fall!

"Love, What is Love"

I once knew a woman whose heritage was Italian. Her parents were both from the old country and came to America, via Ellis Island. While I was visiting my friend, her Mother was also visiting and she shared with me her story of how she was married and came to America. It goes like this.

I was about 14 years old and I remember working in our fields picking corn to feed our animals. It was a very hot summers day and I remember being very dirty and sweaty. My Mother came running down the corn field where I was working and she said, "Hurry, come with me. You are going to get cleaned up and put your Sunday best dress on and meet someone. Now hurry, come".

Not knowing anything that was about to happen to me, I obeyed and rushed home to clean up and put my Sunday best dress on. My Mother told me to sit outside on the porch rocker and wait. So I did just that. I sat and waited for this person that wanted to meet me for the first time. I still was not aware of what was about to happen. Then I saw an old man approaching me with my Father and Mother behind him. I say old, because I was just 14 years old and He was 30 years old. What was about to happen was a pre arranged marriage. My Mother and Father gave him permission to marry me and take me to America. My Mother and Father was given a handsome amount of money for the marriage to take place and I was sold to this old man that day. I remember crying and screaming at the top of my lungs for them not to do this. He was a stranger to me and I did not know him. I was a child and wanted nothing to do with this arrangement. But I had no choice in this matter and was married and taken away to America with my new old husband.

I was so interested in her story of marriage, that I just had to ask her this question. Did you love him?

Her response to me was , "Love, What is love" ?

I have never forgotten that response. "Love, What is Love"
She went on to tell me that she did what was expected of her in the marriage giving into his sexual ways. She grew to care for her Husband but she never experienced love or true passion in the 50 years they were married.

How sad it must have been for her to never feel the joy of being truly loved by someone special. Not to experience true passion in her love making and to never feel joy during her 50 years of marriage.

I believe that we are put on this earth for one reason. To love and be loved by someone special. I feel very blessed that I have been with a Man that has made me feel very special and loved. I will always appreciate his kindness and the love he has shown me. Love is forever!



P.S. my special thanks to KRJ for borrowing her new "Love" signature.

"My Special Table"

There is a great story behind this very Special Table. Goooooing back in time, I think about 1965. (not sure, Mom correct me if I am wrong) Mom bought this table at Bruners ( furniture store in Sacramento). I remember her saying this is such a special table. She paid, I think, over $300.00 for the piece at the time. That was a lot of cash to spend, seeing that Mom and Dad were school educators and did not have a lot of extra cash to spend on unnecessary furniture items. But, I remember, Mom, just had to have it. So, it was delivered to our home in Rancho Cordova, Calif. and it stayed in our living room for as long as I can remember.

What is very special about this piece of furniture, is that I had a special moment in time as a young teen next to this table. (DH)

This table has been traveling around the family for some time. Sister Karen had it in her living room . I am not sure if Sister Betsy had it, as she has always said that she hated it. Brother Bob, never really liked it much either. But it did do some traveling. It was always understood, that I was the one that was going to get this table. I just could not ever get it to the east coast.( that is the problem, with inheriting things if you are not local )

I was told that Sister Karen sold this table in a yard sale, or to a friend of hers. I was told that this special table was painted black. YUK!!! Mom found this out and was very upset at Sister Karen. Soooo! Sister Karen got in touch with the person she sold the table to and retrieved it immediately. Mom refinished the table and restored it to its original condition. (Mom's are so nice)

Ok, now the table is back at Mom's. Phew!!! Now, what to do? Yes!!!! I have a friend that has an Uncle that drives truck across country. Yessss!! He has agreed to go to Mom's house in Roseville, Calif and pick up the table and ship it to my home.

It was shipped in less than a month and delivered, undamaged to my home. Now, my special table is finally with me. In my living room, where it belongs.

Now! DH, has expressed to me that he doesn't want me to leave him anything when I pass on. But, DH! You are being willed this table, like it our not. You were conceived next to this table, many memories and I want you to have it.

Life shares us special moments. This is one that I will always treasure. "My Special Table"

"My New Video Camera"

I purchased a new video camera. It was my retirement present to myself. I went to Wally World to check out what I wanted and then did some research online on the price, quality, etc. I decided that the one that I wanted was the Sony Handycam Model DCR-SR42 306B. A little pricey, but it has a hard drive so I don't have to fool around with installing the tapes. Everything is recorded on the hard drive. And so small that it is perfect for what I want to do.

I went to Wally World and purchased my new video camera and came home to read all about it. I first charged the battery, which did not take long at all.(that should have been my first clue, as usually you must charge the battery overnight.) Then I sat on my deck and read the owners manual from front to back making sure that I understood the operation of my new video camera. What is great about this new video camera is the LCD screen is touch sensitive. Just touch the screen as to what you want and there it is. Perfect for someone like me who subscribes to, Computers for Dummies.

Now it is time to turn the power on and do some recording for practice. I turned my new video camera on and the LCD screen displayed a small thumbnail picture of a little boy about 2 years old. Curious, I touched the small thumbnail picture on the LCD screen and a video instantly appeared. Thinking this was a demo that Sony put on my new video camera to show how great the quality and clarity of the recording is, I began to watch the video. At first it was sweet. Zooming in on the little boy in his colorful underwear, dancing a jig in someones kitchen. A young lady, presumably the Mom, 8 months pregnant dressed very provocative with cleavage like you have never seen before, talking on the cell phone. Then, the operator of my new video camera got alittle carried away. He became obsessed with zooming in on Mommies breasts and showing the crack on her behind, paying special attention to her bright red thong she was wearing. It ended and I said to myself, "I don't want this video on my new video camera and I think it is totally inappropriate of Sony to put something like this on their new video cameras they sell. It was offensive and in my opinion, borderline porn." So I promptly deleted it.

A few hours later, I was doing some shopping in Town and started to think about this whole thing with my new video camera. I think Sony should be aware of how inappropriate this video was. So, I drove to Wally World and sought out the salesman who sold me my new video camera. I explained what had happened. I told him that I thought someone should contact Sony and complain about the inappropriateness of placing a demo on new video cameras. He just starred at me and kept shaking his head. He said, "Mame, Sony would not do that. Someone must have taken this new camera home and recorded the video. Just return the camera, let me look at the video and I will give you a new camera." Sheepishly, I had to tell him that I deleted the video. He rolled his eyes and looked at me , (thinking I'm sure, what a stupid lady I have in front of me) but said that he would order a new camera for me as that was the last one in stock.

I did not share this experience with Hubby, as he too would have rolled his eyes in disbelief. I can't believe I actually thought that Sony would do that. Oh well! I wonder if retirement tends to decrease ones brain cells. I used to be on top of things like this. Hmmmmm!

"We Crossed the Last Load"

After over 15 years of pulling horses, last night made everything that ever went wrong worth while. We pulled 13,500 lbs and crossed the last load and won first place. The crowd went wild. Our new horse, Mike, pulled his heart out. It was the most exciting pull I have ever been to and I don't think anyone will beat us this season, so says the rest of the pullers. All of the big guns were there and we beat them all. Hubby is sooooooo excited and I am too. WE just had a ball last night. WE did not get home until past 2am.

We are in the process of building a new barn. Today, the skidder will be moved and the clearing of the large trees will start this week. Our new barn will consist of 5 box stalls, tack and harness room and a 2nd floor for storing hay. Finally, I will get my three car garage back to actually put my car in for the winter. (we converted our garage into a horse barn)

I guess my new kitchen will have to wait another year or two, but after last night, I will gladly give it up for the Pull of a life time, because We Crossed the Last Load.

"Mike, for my Kitchen" ???????

I have been patiently waiting for over 10 years for my new kitchen. I have been promised that this time I would get my new kitchen. Hubby and I even had the kitchen measured and we met with Jack from Home Depot to pick out my Hickory new kitchen cabinets. All was going so well until, Mike came into the picture. I was told that Bob and Jeff,(our pulling team) were not a good pair, because they are not leaders . I was told that you must have a strong leader to pull the weight.

So I packed a lunch for Hubby and friend and off they went to Erie, PA to meet the trailer that had good old Mike. Although I was very impressed with his conformation when Mike arrived home, he cannot replace my new kitchen.

Sooooo....to be fair to all parties involved, Hubby agreed that I should have my new Kitchen as I was a sport about Mike . Lets just see if it happens this time around. Hubby's good intentions, sometimes falls short of good horse sense.

"I am a picture taking fool"

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My Son Darrell came to visit me last week. He was introduced to the Valley's for the first time, via a family BBQ on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in New England.(minus a few little thunder boomers) Lets step back a few days before the BBQ. Met Son Darrell in Boston. Next Day, went to his first horse pull, up country. Had to introduce Son Darrell to all our friends. Picture taking continued. Ok, back to the Valley reunion BBQ. One by one, they (the Valley clan) came and I promptly and proudly lined everyone up and introduced Son Darrell to the rest of the east coast family. I made my poor Son stand for photos and I think he was a little overwhelmed. In fact, I know he was. Now keep in mind that I was informed from daughter in law, Debbie, while we were having the California family reunion that Darrell doesn't do picture taking. Kinda hates it, actually. So I cooled it and did not ask for a Valley Family photo to hang on my wall in the living room. I think the icing on the cake is when Son Darrell walked around my home and viewed all of my pictures on the walls. One in particular, he really went nuts over and wanted it removed. (three of Darrell at different ages while he was a child growing up) He said "Mom, you can take that off the wall anytime now".

So I walked around my home and took an inventory. I have come to the conclusion that I over do it, somewhat in the picture taking category. I like memories, what can I say. I am guilty as charged.

I can't promise you, Son Darrell, but Mom will try to slow it down on the "going down memory lane" picture taking tour. But..... can I take a few on the cruise?