Family Letters

This page subject to updates without notice!
(Newest Letter First)

Send a Letter!             Gifting Information
Send a Letter!             Writers         Gift Information

Play/Pause 'Circle of Life'


See "The Apron" which Lamar sent out and reminded me so nostalgically of Grandma Flint, who ALWAYS had an apron on, except for church.

  3/31/09
Do you get the feeling that this is going to be a year of many changes for our family? Oh well, maybe our grooves have become ruts in some ways, and it's time to make changes whether or not we have to. We're shaking it up around here lately. As you may have heard, Dave decided to retire from Aera with April 30 being his last day. The freedom will probably take some getting use to, but right now it BECKONS. Betting Bill feels that way too. At the gas plant, they are all gearing up for the big shutdown April 20-27, and Dave has heard a lot of "What are they going to do without YOU?" They will just have to adjust.

I had an incident of severe chest pain last week. It came on suddenly for no reason, but had mostly gone by the time we got to the ER. Tests were negative, but I'm scheduled for a stress test on the 7th anyway. Hunger and exercise suddenly seem like SUCH silly complaints. On the 1-10 scale what? Maybe up to a 2?

Chuck was here for the weekend and decided to go for a good physical to head off any problems. Lab tests showed he has diabetes. If it were to become insulin-dependent DM, he would lose his Class A, so he is taking it very seriously. The changes he has made about activity and foods are bound to make a difference. Good thing he went when he did. He goes back in 3 weeks.

We are down to two dogs now. I took Foxy down yesterday, before she suffered further. We both knew it was time.

We are down to one car, temporarily. When Dave was in Lancaster and started to open his door, the wind grabbed it and I think tried to rip it off. Glad that the repairs are covered by insurance (except the first $250). We're hoping to have it back by the end of the week. Sure glad we don't live there. He was there for a woodturner's meeting.

Thanks for the newsy note. See you soon! Love, Mary

  3/29/09
Hello!

It's been such a crazy week. I just realized I haven't passed on the biggest news I've had in quite awhile, which is that I will no longer be working in food services after June. My position is being dissolved, discontinued, demolished, etc. I have a lot of seniority and will be in the position to "bump in" to another job in the district, but at this point I have no way of knowing quite where or what (not up to me either). About 14 or so other positions at the district are being dissolved as well, so I'm not alone, but mine was not on the initial planned list so it was something of a surprise.

I was informed by someone at the district who had reason to know, NOT by my supervisors, which has been "interesting." But I let my long-time work friends know and of course word got back to my supervisors that I knew, which was my intention. Even a week after I found out (who knows how long it has been a plan?) my supervisors still have not acknowledged the fact of it to me.

So...the only drawbacks I can think of to this change are that someone else will lose their job because of me, and that I COULD land in something less agreeable for whatever reason (location, duties, supervisor) and I have to wait to find out. But I COULD land in something better, and a change will do me good.

As for who is going to do my work, I believe they have decided they don't need anyone in that position since they are changing everything. The district is getting new "real-time" online data processing software that will handle everything from payroll to purchasing; so presumably there will be no more need for data downloads; employees will be using new hardware AND software, but they already aren't allowed to ask me questions about their computer problems; the school meal applications will be totally different, scanned by machine and filed by batch instead of names (except for the multitude that do them wrong and have to be told by SOMEBODY to correct it or do it again); and lord only knows who will handle returned checks, frantic and angry parents on the phone, or all the mailing and opening of mail. I imagine they will get a low-paid temporary clerical person, who will hopefully give them exactly their money's worth :-).

So don't grieve for me. I'm looking forward to the changes to come. If things are too unpleasant I will just follow close behind Bill and retire, although the money would be better if I wait awhile. Still it's an option. It's entirely possible I could even find another way to make money!! :-) - Fran

  3/21/09
I was sure glad to hear from you and to know you are in the same mood as me. gardening. I worked in my circle all morning until my weedeater line ran out and I was hungry too. It does look much better now though. now to hit the back yard when it is better weather. I went into the church bunco game at six and came home about nine. it was raining, and sometimes I think it was snow too. But I just came on regardless, thinking all the way where I would stop if needed and make a phone call or put on the tire chains. But the little car just came right on like it should until I got to the blackberry hill and on that area I really spun a lot but did make it on up and around the other curves. I think Nel and Bill were

somehow my other letter to you got messed up and left the screen.... I think Nel and Bill just came home ahead of me because all their lights were on in the garage and outside too. They left early this morning and have been gone all day. I am pretty sure I will not go to church tomorrow. Enough was enough tonight coming home over the road. I will not go out and pull weeds either. I can go ahead and put the line on the weedeater though. then I will be ready when the weather is better like it was all this last week. take it easy LOVE TO ALL - MOM

  2/21/09
I've been thinking of updating my posted web letter for several weeks, so here goes...

I am home today working on a $1.2 million grant request for a couple hybrid shuttle buses to add to the park's fleet of 18. On busiest summer days the buses are full to capacity with people squished elbow to elbow in standing room only crowds. I got to experience them firsthand last summer when Heaven was here. She thought riding the shuttle buses was just great, so we rode lots of them. The first draft of my request is almost done - has to be turned in by Monday. I'm very glad to be busy for a change. My biggest frustration with my current job is lack of work. Not that there's not enough work to do at the park - I just have a boss that isn't comfortable with delegating, so I end up twiddling my thumbs while he remains overwhelmed with way too much to do. So, this assignment is a welcome change - a chance to be verbally creative and stretch my skills a little bit, and maybe allow him to trust me with similar projects in the future.

Clair is staying pretty busy with the house project. He has all the exterior walls up for the first floor and nearly all the interior walls. Today he and the kids are putting a couple headers above the last closets and getting started installing the floor joists for the second story floor. The only help I have been able to provide with the house so far was assistance with the insulation under the floor and the plywood flooring, along with some help nailing the walls. Most of the time I am the designated safety officer and photographer, or running to town to get crucial nail guns repaired or stuff like that. Somebody's got to do it!

Robin started school at Fresno City College about a month ago. He is really liking it and doing great in all his classes. Right now he is taking classes in math, english composition, and political science. He has classes five days a week, so he is only available to help Clair on weekends. He is finally receiving the benefits of his GI-bill, so his classes are covered, with money left over for food and housing. He and Mark have a real nice apartment in Fresno within walking distance of the campus.

Speaking of Mark, his plans to move down here with Amber and her kids did not work out just yet. They had just about every logistical problem you could imagine trying to get out of Anchorage, so he finally decided to fly south without them while they reorganize and wait for better financial conditions. He is applying for jobs in Fresno, trying to find something as a driver or in retail or whatever. We all know what the job market is like right now, but hopefully something will come through for him soon. When he is not job-hunting and weather is favorable he helps Clair in Bailey Flats, so he is gaining some pretty good carpentry skills as well.

Robin's hopes of buying a house fell through when his loan was not approved, plus there were issues with the house he was hoping to buy. Clair and I are considering using our credit to buy a house for them, letting them take over payments and ownership as time progresses. That plan is waiting until Mark is employed and possibly Robin as well with a part time job. He has applied with the census and has a good chance of getting hired temporarily there.

Clair continues to be obsessed with old cars. His latest dream is to get something similar to the 1929 Model A he used to drive in high school, only he wants it to be modified as a street rod. He went to look at one in Placerville recently that was real cute. I would really prefer he didn't buy any more vehicles but I don't feel like I can complain too much. He is, after all, building me a house.

The rain in recent weeks has slowed Clair down a little on the house building. Last weekend we took advantage of a four-day weekend and stormy weather not condusive to building to head south. We went to a car show near Palm Springs, drove down to the Salton Sea for some birdwatching, tried to camp at Anza-Borego Desert State Park (silly us, on a three-day weekend with no reservations), and then were successful in camping at Joshua Tree NP the last night. I had just replaced the zipper in the tent and am happy to report it worked great! Biggest problems on the trip were getting down there and getting back. Hwy 58 was closed on Tehachapi Pass on the way down due to ice and snow, so we detoured down I-5 to hwy 14 and got the very last room at the Motel 6 in Palmdale at midnight, with half a dozen other folks trying to find a room as well. Then on the return trip the Grapevine was closed, so all that traffic was on 58 with us in a heavy rain/snow downpour, going 70 miles an hour. Not fun. Luckily we made it over, got back to Fresno in time to pick up Willow from the kids (dogs and car shows don't go together) and made it back home in time to get some sleep before work the next day.

Other than work, I have a small garden started with winter vegetables (have spinach, chard, broccoli, and peas up) and am starting another quilt to be used as a raffle again for ANPR. I am now the OUTGOING treasurer for the organization (YeeHaw!), so am transitioning to the new guy, getting signatories changed on accounts, packaging up documentation to mail, and stuff like that. We are seeing wildflowers already, so looking forward to a beautiful spring here in CA.

For Clair's birthday in late January, we went on a hot air balloon ride in Napa Valley. It was just fabulous - beautiful weather, a gentle breeze to carry us most of the way down the valley, and only one other nice couple with us (who got engaged in the balloon just as the sun was coming over the hill). Very nice.

Willow is full grown. She destroys new toys in a matter of minutes or hours, depending on the toy. She loves Bailey Flats and has found a mud-hole to swim in on a regular basis on the neighbor's property. Robin took out the tractor and made a small pond on our property last weekend, so maybe that will keep her home better. She spends her time digging for squirrels or just laying in a good spot watching the world go by. She loves other dogs and still tussels with Tesa when given the opportunity. She loves cuddling in bed and unfortunately sees no problem with taking up more than her third of it on any given night. At El Portal she is a house dog, but is always eager for a walk up the hill or down to the ball fields to play fetch, or maybe find another dog to play with. She knows a dozen or so tricks, her most recent being "turn right", "turn left", "back up", and "crawl". We are all quite attached to her.

That's about it from here. I'd better get back to my draft or will be stuck working on it tomorrow as well. Take care everyone. We love you all! Liz and Clair



  2/20/09
Hello and happy spring, I know it isn't actually spring yet, but after a week of rain we've had two days of sunshine, relatively warm, and all the flowering trees in town have burst into bloom, very confused. After days of cold damp attempts to make a fire (when it wasn't a "spare the air" day) using rained-on firewood, it was nice not to need a fire at all. Ah, California! Catch weather news from anywhere else to remind us how lucky we are.

Meanwhile, while we don't have a whole lot of news, at least we have a little, for a change. First, biggest, is Bill plans to retire from HARD on June 30. Don't look for him to join the rocking-chair on the porch, putter around the house, rearrange the kitchen cupboards kind of husbandly retirement; he will be kicking his consulting-arborist career into a higher gear. But no longer having to meet HARD's schedule and expectations, he'll have more time and energy to give it. I expect to keep working at my job for the time being, while carving out time to help him produce the arborist reports that are the mainstay of consulting, and the occasional diagram. I got to resurrect my drafting skills a few months ago to create a to-scale property drawing for a resident of the County of Marin! (They were used to cite a guy for violations of tree-cutting restrictions when he didn't get permits and cut a whole slew of trees on his property to let more light in, many of them above the permit-required limit.)

Second, we bought a new truck, a 2006 Dodge Dakota with a crew cab, a clean gleaming white that will no doubt be a dirt magnet. True, I wanted to get a hybrid or super-efficient vehicle next, but the Jeep Liberty had thrown a rod or a piston or some such really seriously expensive thing, and it had a few other problems, and we wanted a truck for our move to Willets someday, and Dodge was making some good deals to try to sell something in this downturned market. We are pleased with our truck and the under-$300 monthly payment.

Finally, Chris has finally found a job that will handle his work Visa situation, a stumbling block to some other positions he looked at. He will be working the night shift watching the operations of a huge array of servers (computers that host commercial accounts) and the boss has indicated that he is in line for promotion if a planned staff increase takes place in a couple of months. Still not the money he was making or what he is capable of, but these days a job is a job, and he needs six months steady work to get his green card without problems. Chris has been working days these past two weeks getting training, and I have been working half days so I can come home afternoons to watch Nicolas when Becky works or, a couple of times, when she has migraine headache and can't work. She is testing out yet another migraine medicine on her highly resistant-to-drugs migraine condition, these drugs tend to have severe side effects and she has severe headaches, so it is a battle.

Becky's job as a bartender has expanded to assistant manager for the three bars her boss manages, when he discovered her abilities in organization and marketing. The unfortunate drawback is that some of the bartenders who used to look at her as a comrade now see her as a combination policeman and company spy, since one of her jobs is checking inventory against sales and calling out discrepancies like, for instance, a full bottle of Grey Goose vodka being used up without any sales of drinks using Grey Goose on record. Naturally some of the bartenders get a little defensive, whether the errors are their fault or not. She also does things like interview for a driver, and create beautiful menus, plan for special events, etc. She works around 25 hours a week, not counting her bartending Sunday evening.

Sarah is in her final months of earning that teaching credential, having to complete some long assignments online and hoping they fulfill requirements that are very vague and give little useful feedback. She got a non-passing score on one and has to take a 15-minute interview in hopes of making it up, still not knowing what she did not do right on the assignment. Strange way to qualify teachers, but...if all goes well she is finished in June. It isn't the best market for new teachers right now, I'm sure most of you know the pitiful state of California's budgetl, but hopefully things will improve in a year or two.

That's about all the news that's fit to print. Look for a new Leapfrog product called Zippity that Eddie has been working on lately. Nicolas is walking now, but not very confident and not running yet. Hope this finds you all well and having news of your own...!!??




  2/11/09
All fine here. We had over an hour of popcorn sized snow on Monday, but it turned to rain and washed away. The surrounding hills are still covered, though. Chuck is getting over a bronchial infection so the couple of days work cut short recently by weather are probably blessings in disguise for him. Yvie called yesterday with news that they are becoming foster care shelter for a classmate of Brianna's (drug-addicted parents). Alex is back with Michelle, Hannah, and baby Waylon Lee in Weldon now. I'm looking forward to taking Mom to "In the Mood" at Visalia theater the 24th and her visit with us here afterward. Dave's demo for woodturners is coming up this Saturday in Bakersfield. How is life at your house? Love, Mary

  01/11/09
It was a good feeling to know when the boys may return to their barn in bailey flats. Liz went back to El Portal earlier today. I went to church so did not see her when she came by. Clair called to see if he could come by and watch a football game on TV and when they were not going to win, he went on back to the barn. I will call him and let him know about the boys. things are going along here okay. I still have aches and some severe middle pains yet. We have been having some real cold mornings lately. I have remodeling going on in the rooms where the boys took the dresser that was theirs and they needed it too. So in the meantime I am finding and cleaning up the egg cases that are scattered around the apartment...I hope you have a safe trip and see Mary too. Tell her HI for me LOVE TO ALL MOM


  01/11/09
Happy New Year! I see by the thing on my computer that it was 33 degrees at Mariposa this morning, which probably means it was really 25! Brr. Hope you are keeping warm enough. We finally celebrated Eddie's birthday with him yesterday, he hosted a party of 30 of his closest friends in his little apartment so we paid our respects, ate pizza and made an early exit as we had to get Nicolas home to bed anyway. Mark & Robin came down for the party so I got a chance to talk to Mark about the direction his life seems to be taking. He is the eternal optimist, I'll give him that. The two of them left after some gaming to go see their dad. Eddie and his buddies and his younger sister played video games until at least 11:30 (Eddie sets up tournament play for his birthday, a yearly tradition). We were laughing that he used to have the same kind of party when he was 12 - video games, pizza and cokes. At least he knows what he likes...

-->

FransWeb Home
FransWeb Home
Return to Top

  11/19/08
We've been talking here about the Christmas drawing, hoping we can have a rule for those who are participating to keep the gifts low in cost so those who are hurting for money will feel more comfortable, and others won't feel slighted if the gift is inexpensive. Our plan is to be as creatively thrifty (and thriftily creative) as we can, so be warned :-). Gag gifts would be fun, homemade gifts would be welcome, all the more a surprise if a little unorthodox. We found in trying to complete the Personal Information Charts that it is hard to say what we "want" or "need" but we all love a tangible piece of Christmas spirit from someone. And please let's try to get them sent on time! Thanks in advance to all involved.


  11.11.08
You asked for it! The dog was going crazy yesterday morning out by the garage and I went out there to see a large rat run across the driveway and deck. Was practically overcome by feelings of social irresponsibility and spent the rest of the morning cleaning out the narrow space between the garage and the fence. No rat nest found -- maybe he was a runaway pet -- but did find an assortment of toys including a soccer ball nearly decomposed. It was TIME.

Sorry about not spreading the word about Yvie. I guess there really is a serious need to stay better connected. Family support makes such a difference, and nobody can respond to what they don't know about. Really appreciate your sharing of recent family life. The Letter left here for Susie's some time ago, not sure where it goes from there. It does seem a little silly in a way because it's rarely news anymore by the time it gets around, only history. We do move on.

Dave had a bug or reaction to Chinese food, not sure which, but seems a lot better this morning. He went to work yesterday anyway, just felt like crap. He played some patriotic hymns Sunday for the congregation and got a lot of encouraging comments. It was maybe the best service yet.

Chuck had dental problems the last couple of weeks and a molar extracted last Friday by a dentist here in town. It got better quickly. He's finally getting on with the company where he's worked as a temp the last 6 months, so hopefully will have some benefits soon. Still lives in Bakersfield even though Taft is a lot closer to work.

We had a clogged drain this week for the first time in several years, but the worst ever. This one came with the news that the old part of our line going to the main under the street is being crushed by the weight of our heavy pine trees. Guess what we have to do! It was such nice shade, too!

Well, I'm off to pick up new music for this week and take back the video, "Get Smart", that we watched last night. Love ya, Mary


  11/10/08
This might be an idea for the gift exchange. I heard about it last year but it was too late to get it in gear. It's called Elfster & it's an on line organizer for participating in gift exchanges. It has a wish list feature that can be kept by participants & look pretty cool with an option to ask anonymous questions to help with gift buying etc. And of course it free ;-) http://www.elfster.com/about.aspx
lv janet


  11/09/08 Hi everyone,
I'll join the letter stream online and hope you all get to see it. Thanks for writing, Lamar & Liz.

As I have told most of you, I won't be joining you for Thanksgiving. That day is also Nicolas' first birthday, so we will have a dual celebration here at home. We are thinking of a birthday cake shaped like a turkey or some such thing. I will sure miss you all and hope that your Thanksgiving is perfect in every other way.

We had a little scare with Bill's mother, who woke up one morning and found herself blind. She went back to sleep and woke up later with normal (for her) vision. That was Thursday. After a trip to Emergency later that day, and NUMEROUS tests but none that found vision problems or signs of another stroke, we aren't sure if it was a combination of conjunctivitus, codeine cough medicine and darker morning hour that caused her sense of blindness, or if she truly lost her vision temporarily. They found her somewhat anemic and with some minor ailments attributable to age, but she came home again late Friday and has felt fine since. So it was a lot of stress (hours waiting in Emergency, then a day spent in a hospital room largely being ignored) and Bill wasn't well either - sore throat and sores on his swollen tongue that made his speech difficult - but he stayed by her the whole time. After taking her home he came home and slept a whole day.

Everyone is fine here. Julia in kindergarten this year still yo-yos between her mom and dad's each weekend. Her dad has a steady live-in girlfriend who seems to be a good friend to Julia as well, and of course Chris is great with her, so she is really a lucky little girl with two sets of great parents. Nicolas is such a cutie, gives hugs now and smiles on cue and is almost standing alone, loves to dance and wave and will imitate your cough. The German-Swiss really shows in his golden curls, rosy cheeks and light blue eyes. Becky and Sarah still work parttime bartending (at the same bar) while Sarah finishes her credential requirements (interning in a second-grade classroom in Fremont) and Becky tends to Nicolas at home and works on her crafts and her garden.

Bill and I are both looking longingly toward retirement in a few short years. Neither of us is fond of our jobs anymore, with new management and a new 3-story-outhouse approach by management that leaves a lot to be desired in the 9+ hours you spend at work. But that is just work, and it pays the bills. At home We have instituted a dinner-duty schedule, all adults taking turns, which is working out much better than the haphazard mutual-cooperation (or sometimes not) non-plan we used before. I'm not taking any classes currently but trying to study PhotoShop from the Classroom-in-a-book I have, and there is always more to learn about web pages as well. Meanwhile stacks of books wait for me to read them. I read "God is Not Great" recently, a critical study of religion through the ages, and am currently reading "The Plot to Save the Planet" concurrently with nearly finished "Six Degrees" about global warming. So little time, so many books.

As for Christmas name-drawing, I'm in. I like the individual approach, I like the sense of family unity I feel it helps create, and I could resurrect the old "my size and what I like" sheets (or put a chart online?) but we would have to hurry up on that for it to be helpful. Let me think on that one for a minute or two...I'll send an email. Hope this find you all well in the meantime!

OK, I thought about it. Here is a FORM that you can open (it's a Word document), fill in, save and send me as an email attachment, and I will have the facts o' the matter online for all to peruse by the time the names are drawn. Ready - Set - Go!


  11/06/08  
One idea on the “too much stuff but want to give/recognize” problem – a friend of mine asks and gives donations to charities, so maybe we could all list our favorites on our “favorites” sheet.


  11/05/08   Hi Lamar,
Nice to hear from you. And I'm cc:ing everyone, because I don't stay in touch with everyone else enough either. It seems like life just keeps speeding up faster and faster and there's less and less time for such things.

'Twas wonderful to get rains this past week. In Yosemite, it is like suddenly overnight someone turned the water on up top. The falls are all running again after being dry for a majority of the summer. The fall leaves are beautiful and mornings are crisp. Yesterday we even had snow halfway down the valley walls! Not quite ready for THAT yet!! But I am trying to really savor the fall. Summer was just wayyyy too long this year.

The guys are hard at work at the property. The barn now has a shower, toilet, sink, and hot water, and interior lights. We plumbed gray water separate to feed a future garden - probably not according to county standards but its the RIGHT thing to do. The underground plumbing is all done to/from both the house and garage, but no interior plumbing within the house perimeter yet. They are over at Mom's for dinner every couple days. Gives her company, helps her feel useful, and puts someone there at least part of the day to help with anything she might need help with.

Willow has grown into an almost full-grown dog. She's becoming much better behaved than her earlier dog months, although we still need to break her from jumping on people and pulling on her leash. She loves cuddle time in bed - pretty spoiled rotten in that regard. Her latest habit is to yip and bark and demand to be played with when we're trying to work at the computer or get other stuff done around the house.

We're looking forward to Thanksgiving as well. Cindy - what dishes are left? Maybe I should plan an "new" annual contribution of green jello w/cottage cheese for Jerry, huh? But what else? Lamar - remind me when you're here about kids and books. I have a box of the kids old books that includes the entire set of Little House books. Heaven wasn't quite ready for them when she was here, but maybe Ethan would like to check them out.

As far as Christmas goes, I'm kinda like Jerry that we don't need more stuff, but I know Clair will never accept Christmas without giving & getting presents, so we're in for a name draw. It would be nice to do it before Thanksgiving. Maybe Mom and I can do it this weekend if people let me know they want to...

Mark is moving back to California just before Christmas. He hopes to get a job in Fresno with the same company he works for now. After being here all summer, going back to Juneau was difficult and lonely for him, hence this new plan. He has reconnected with Amber, his high school sweetheart, and right now the plans are that she and her three kids will accompany him. The oldest of those is his son Tyler (remember that little mess he got himself into about 15 years ago?) Life is full of surprises and twists and turns. I wish him the best.

I am recovering from carpal tunnel surgery and plantar faciitus (inflammation of the bottom of my feet). Things are better than they were a couple months ago, so hopefully they will continue to improve. Work is pretty busy for me, plus I'm trying to get ahead of the game before Clair and I go to Santa Fe for 10 days in December (Ranger Rendezvous).

Hope everyone is doing great. See you soon. Liz


  11/04/08
I’ve been thinking lots about family and really missing you guys, so I thought I’d write. It’s been a busy fall, with soccer season just wrapping up and birthday season still upon us. I wouldn’t change it for the world, though. The kids are at such a fun age. Brian is enjoying high school and Katelyn seems to have adapted to Jr. High without any problems. She has stayed close to her circle of friends from Liberty School, which surprises me a bit. Ethan is a big second grader, and has taken to reading chapter books like a duck to water. We had bought him the first five in a series over the summer, and he had them in his desk for silent reading time. Come to find out, he’d read one of them nine times! Guess it’s time to buy more in the series, huh?

Rick and I are keeping busy with jobs, business travel, and projects around the house. Rick inherited another job in August when they laid off his counterpart in San Diego , so has had to travel there and recently, to Columbus , Georgia . He’s not too happy about all the new responsibilities (no add’l pay or recognition), but at least he’s not the one that got laid off! I continue to enjoy my job at InfoCentricity. I haven’t had to travel as much this year as last, other than a couple of trips in January and one in May, I didn’t have to go out at all. This month I made up for it, I’m going out three times in five weeks!

I hope to see all of you at Thanksgiving. Between now and then we have Katelyn’s birthday to celebrate and a musical celebration that I’m helping coordinate the food for. But I should have plenty of food to bring at TG – I’m planning to bring desserts. This recent rainy weekend I finally got around to organizing all my clipped recipes, so I’m motivated! And after a few months or years trying them out, I’ll have more contributions to the next family cookbook!

A couple of questions/ideas for you all. Feel free to respond in email or we can talk in person.

1) Do we want to draw names for Christmas this year? Would anyone find it helpful to have a “cheat sheet” of each person’s sizes, favorite colors, etc? Fran put one together a long time ago, but if people want to do it and she can’t find it we could probably recreate it. 2) What do you think about doing a family calendar? There are websites where you can log in and upload photos, and then organize a calendar with family dates (birthdays, anniversaries) and prototype layouts of the photos. I was thinking we could set up an account, anyone interested could upload photos, everyone could enter birthdates, etc, then individuals or families could create pages for different months. I think Costco used to do something like this but I don’t know if they do anymore. Anyone have any feedback? The Costco one cost $9.99 per calendar printed, and you could order however many you wanted once it was created and pick them up at any Costco. If no one wants to hassle with it, I understand, but if anyone’s interested I’d be happy to help.

See you at TG if not before or after and if you get time, write and let me know how you’re doing. Miss you!

FransWeb Home
FransWeb Home

Return to Top

Lunarpages