Spring Has Arrived

Spring has arrived and so has the garden. The seeds are planted and beginning to sprout. The anticipation of the fall harvest is great.  

The only reason I enjoy summer is because it makes my garden grow. I can look forward to fall and all the bounty.  The canning  and freezing, the baking and cooking.  One of my favorite things to do.   

This year I have a new helper, her name is Jennifer  Springstead.  This is her first attempt to garden, and she is a quick learner.  The plans this year are to teach the younger woman at church how to can.  We have had pie making 101, pasta making, and jam and jelly classes. I will again open my kitchen to the joys of cooking.  

This year has brought new friends into my life.  Many who share the same interest as I do.  One new friend is a wealth of knowledge, Laurie Gilbertson, she amazes me.  She is young and full of energy.  I am looking forward to the tasks we can accomplish.  

On another note, we have my nephew, Dan, living with us.  What a help he is to Bob, my sister and I.  We are looking forward to seeing his kids for a month this summer.  The trampoline is being repaired, the pool will go up as well as the 2 room tent.  This place will be filled with nieces and nephews, grand kids, dogs (Mike and Kris have sweet new puppy) and chickens.  

Come July we will have Rich and his family here, and then in August we have a family vacation to the Oregon Coast planned.  We will return in time for the fall harvest and the fun will begin.  

Oh yes, THE TREE !!! we have  Valentine Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter, Mothers Day and Fathers Day.

 Oh, and "THE TREE"  we had Christmas, Valentine Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Mothers Day and now Fathers day. 

Call me crazy or anything you like, the kids love it and I am sure you do also.  Actually, I think you all wish you would have thought to do this.... no more taking the Christmas tree down... just change it out.

And one last thing.  Bob will be having brain surgery for his Parkinson's  With it should bring the return of  life as we once knew it.   It is an involved surgery  on July 18th they will implant the sensors in his brain, 3 inches deep.  The following week they will install the battery packs in his chest and hook up the leads to the sensors.  The week after that they will turn it on.  It may take some adjusting.  We are thankful he qualified and therefore able to slow the symptoms of this wicked disease.
 
Have a wonderful summer, know that we pray for all our friends and are grateful for all of you being in our lives.

4 months

What a busy few months!   Thanksgiving was quiet, we had 2 exchange students and two friends for dinner.  Then came time to decorate for Christmas.  This year we shared Christmas with my niece Emily and her husband, Chris.  With them came Chris' mom and dad, Pat and Bert, his brother Nicholas and his girl friend Renae. Then my brother Pat and his wife Priscilla arrived.  THEN another niece, Bevin-Anne and her family arrived. Soon Mike and his family arrived.... 

We were introduced to Chris' family traditions.  We learned about the Holy Supper traditions and foods with Slavic flavor.  I don't know what some of the dishes were, but yummy yummy yummy.  Haddock, Perogies (my favorite), Sauerkraut,  Figgy Pudding (well maybe this was my favorite) Mashed potatoes (oh yes my favorite).  Well you get my point.  Good food, good company, good memories. 

Once the company left and the New Year arrived, the usual let down of the holidays began... I chose to do something different this year.  I wasn't taking my tree down.  My Christmas tree became my Valentine Day tree.  Then it turned into my St Patrick Day tree.  I am all ready for changing it to my Easter tree.  I plant to change it to Mother's Day tree then Fathers Day, Independence Day.  August has me perplexed, September will be back to school, October is Columbus day... lots of ships on that one.  November, of coarse, will be Thanksgiving. We now arrive back to Christmas.

Another eventful thing was we gave our Alaskan Malamute, Koda, to our friends that came over for Thanksgiving dinner.... That left our little Dash lonely... so of coarse, we found another dog.  We ended up getting a  Maltese and Shiatsu mix  from a disgusting Puppy Mill.  She was 1 year and 3 months old and had already had a litter.  She is a sweet heart.  Very timid and frightened, but has now settled into her new home.  We named her Millie (because she came from a puppy MILL)

The most exciting up coming event is that we will be talking to a Neurosurgeon on March 15th.  Bob will be having the Deep Brain Stimulator  (DBS) put in his brain to eliminate the effects of Parkinson's and hopefully, reduce the amount of medication he takes.  This is a very successful procedure.  I will keep you posted on the events as the happen.  Mean while check out this video of the Doctor who will be doing the surgery. He explains it and you will see some Spokane residence that have had this done.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FieqlCgM-Jc&feature=g-hist&context=G2003af3AHTzyt_QAAAA

I guess that brings you up to date on the events in the Phillips house.  Now it is time to focus again on planting the garden.  I am ready for spring... it has been a boring winter.