Been a long time, I know...

...but don't know where I've been or what I've been doing!  I'll just hit the highlights of the last week or so.

Joe was a kind brother and son and headed to Reno (Fernley) to see his mom and let his sister and her boyfriend get away for a much-needed break.  It went well; Charlie really appreciated it and Mom got to spend some time with her youngest.  Since Joe flew out of Portland, I drove with him and Frankie and I stayed with Katie and Justin.  Fun!  We shopped for some last items they needed to finish the nursery and the house -- it's looking great!  I got to go with K&J to their appointment and the midwife was kind enough to give Katie a complimentary ultrasound!  We saw a real baby in there!  Adorable profile, cute little nose; she was sucking her thumb and smacking her lips.  Everything is going well and her due date seems to be right on, which is only about 2-1/2 weeks away!  Crazy!

Well, the light rain has let up so I will get Franklin out there while I can.  We're going to see Bridesmaids tonight -- haven't been to a movie in ages!

Love to all!

Saturday

A beautiful day today!  It's about 50 degrees, lots of people out and about, garage sales, bike riders, walkers, runners.  We took a four-mile walk today and are going to buy some flowers for a color bowl.  Dinner tonight at Pastini's, Italian restaurant at the Old Mill.   They have a Spring dish that's only available for a short time:  bowtie pasta, cream lemon sauce, asparagus and pine nuts.  YUM!!


Something I want to tell you about here is the CLOUDS.  They are simply amazing!  The sky is so big here and open, large sweeping clouds, huge puffy clouds, blue-blue sky.  We took a drive north and saw interesting geological mountains/buttes with the massive clouds...  it was breathtaking.  Remind me to take my camera whenever we go out!


Another wonderful thing here is the wind in the pines... It can be loud!  It isn't windy "down here" but is way, way up there and you can hear it from all around.  We are in awe of nature here and if you know me well, you know I've always had a thing for pine cones.  Well, I can just go to my front yard and collect as many as I want!  Today, with the warm sun, the smell of pine needles is noticeable and I am loving that too!


This concludes the Nature Forum from Bend, Oregon.  LOL  Hope you are all enjoying your homes too -- I know you've got some warmth coming your way in Southern Cali -- have fun!!


XOXO
ANNIE

Zzzzz......

Hi there!  A lazy day here at the Greeleys' of Bend.  Joe has had a cold and I have had sympathy pains, watching a movie, fire on, just layin' around....   I did walk Beanso and even he is reluctant to go out!  Every now and again I tackle a small project, like organizing drawers and unpacking cleaning products.  It feels good to go forward no matter how small the accomplishment!

Tomorrow I am meeting a friend-to-be for coffee at a great place called Jackson's Corner.  Oh, there are soooo many good places to eat and drink in Bend!   And it is showing on me, unfortunately.  Only been here about 2 weeks so I will put a start date on it and get back into Spring shape soon -- that's my goal at least!!  

We had a wonderful visit with Miss Katie at Easter!  She is doing just great, feeling well and looking fit.  She really liked our place and neighborhood, and of course we found some fun places to visit and eat.  She and Justin are coming back Mother's Day weekend; I made a brunch rez at the Pine Tavern, an old institution here in Downtown.   Lisa is making her flight plans as I write, arriving May 30 and fingers crossed Baby comes near her due date of    June 4!  Getting very exciting!

Love love love to all - and hope you are enjoying the warmer weather and anticipation of Spring!!

-Annie-

Thursday

SNOW!!!   Okay, just a dusting but it's still white out there.  Today is the day I try to put pictures in my blog.

:-)

Wednesday

Finally working in the kitchen, despite a sore neck and arm.  It is great to make a big salad and we're going to have baked chicken and rice!  Yum!  Home cooking is the best!

Tomorrow I will go to my new chiropractor for the initial hour-long appointment.  Fingers crossed she is just what I need.  She seems like a neat person and that's always a plus as far as understanding my situation and helping me along.

We put in our claim to Bekins for our delay and for some damage to Joe's Harley-Davidson -- the speedometer got bent and needs to be replaced.  We'll see how long this takes!!  Glad to have it behind me.  I think my next move will be my LAST!  (LOL - you know how it is within the first week of the move.  It's like childbirth; you forget the pain pretty quickly!)

Love to all!  Hope everyone is happy and healthy, busy and content.

A good day

Just about ready to fall into bed.  Joe and I managed to unpack about 20 boxes today, run all the "everyday" dishware through the dishwashwer, hang up half our clothes, get the internet and WiFi and TV installed, and move one car back into the garage.  I'd say we're about two-thirds of the way done, minus the inevitable tweaking one does when the house is setting up. It's looking pretty good I must say!

Today we went to a specialty market called Newport Avenue Market -- what a cool place!  I bought our Honey Baked mini ham there for Sunday and they have some wonderful looking grocery and home items.  Bill and Barb told us about it; it has a good reputation.  We may have to run over there when Katie visits this next week.

Gotta admit, I did not cook again today...  I bought some groceries but have yet to fix anything more than toast here.  Tomorrow maybe.  This dining out all the time is getting old and it's fattening!!  LOL  We're both looking forward to a home-cooked meal.

On this west side of Bend there are very few traffic lights.  There is a kind of different (for us anyway) concept in that there are lots of round-abouts.  I read up on them and they say they're actually safer than a four-way stop.  You gotta get used to them! Some people don't even look both ways and it's a matter of watching out for the other guy.  Fortunately, in Bend (Oregon in general I think) people drive sloooooow.

Met two more neighbors yesterday and they were very helpful.  Phil and Dori told us about a river walk, three miles round, and it is actually along the Deschutes and so beautiful.  Maybe we'll feel like it next week -- too tired now!

Thanks for letting me ramble, those of you who can stand to read it.  I got teary today missing my friends and Lisa...  but I feel so at home here already.  Life is good!
XOXO

Tuesday

Stuff came yesterday.
Sore and tired.
Happy.

More later, when we get our internet set up at home!

xoxo

Sunday Mornin'...

...and it's just beautiful today!  Woke to something being thrown against our bedroom window, not once or twice but about five times.  What the heck?  Joe investigated and the culprit was a swallow - actually many swallows - looking for the perfect eave under which to make their nest.  We shooed them away; I remembered Dad brushing away or squirting with the hose to remove the startings of the nests.

Joe got up and proceeded to walk Franklin, as it is a warmer morning than any other.  Off they went; I got up to read the Sunday paper, The Bend Bulletin.  Sure enough, the swallows were at the porch again.  So I in my PJ's go out to the porch to shoo them with the newspaper...  but remember, it's still pretty cool so I shut the door to keep in the heat.  Have you guessed it???!!!  I have locked myself out on my porch in my pajamas and bare feet, with Joe down the street at the park!!  Just what I needed, some STRESS!!!  Did he have his key?  We had talked about hiding a key as these doors are the kind that stay locked from the inside unless you release it...

Well, Joe and Frankie come 'round the corner, I am waving the newpaper, he waves back at me.  I holler, PLEASE tell me you have your key!??   Yes, he does, thank you God!  Crisis averted; I did not have to meet my neighbors in my pajamas.

We are now at the coffeehouse with scones and breakfast burritos and all is good.  Whoever comes to visit, this is a great 2-mile walk with a delicious reward at the end!

Heading up the check out Mt. Bachelor today.  It's about a 17-mile drive - that's all! - and we will take the camera and Franklin.  Hope you have a wonderful STRESS-FREE day!

xoxo

Palm Sunday

Hmm...  Palm Sunday Mass at our "new church."  It cannot be as great as Padre Serra, that is a given.  Maybe 5:00 p.m. tonight, or 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

There is a beautiful old historical St. Francis of Assisi in old Bend but the new church is in north Bend and we will give it a fair shot.  No Sunday Masses at the historical church...

Almost Easter!

First Saturday in Bend

Hi there!  After a few days of limbo re. our property delivery, we think we have a delivery date of Monday.  Do I trust this date for sure?  No way!  I feel like they have okey-doked us all along.  But the good news is, we're moving onward and excited to set up house!

We are now at our new favorite coffee house, River Rim Coffeehouse.  Today we walked the two miles here - perfect!  Especially when you have a delicious nonfat latte and breakfast burrito when you get there!   happy happy

Yesterday was rainy and blustery.  We still managed to get in a walk with Frankie down to the little park during a break in the light rain.  He seems to like the cold and does good on his walk - as good as Frankie can on a walk!  We met our neighbors on the corner, Maggie and Eric and two young sons, and their little Westie Stetson.  People are so friendly here; we haven't met a grump yet!  Stetson is TINY, petite and a puppy, and very playful with Franklin.  Maggie offered for us to borrow anything we may need before our stuff comes - a very nice neighbor indeed.

May go to the movies today.  I'm seeing it's 81 in Camarillo now, at 10:40 a.m.   NOT GONNA MISS THAT!!!  LOL

Love to all.  Write me a post!  Take care.
-Annie

Disappointing day...

Hello Dears.  Disappointing and upsetting day because we called to see where the heck our stuff is and were told it is expected to be delivered on the 20th.  That is another full week.  Needless to say, we got very upset and called customer service, claims department, dispatch.  Emailed the director of customer service and she did respond saying she would research and advise.  She offered us a better per diem; we are staying nights in a hotel as the blow-up bed is unacceptable for me and for Joe for more than a night or two.  And things had been going so well....

On the positive side, did you see WOF tonight?  It was fun to watch, even though I still did not win the big money!  lol   There was a point when I tried to buy a vowel and had no money (only the million dollar wedge and the gasoline wedge) but they edited that boo-boo out.  Also, I tried to hug Pat at the end and he wasn't havin' it; he was stiff as a board.   ha ha ha    All in all, a fun experience!  I would recommend it!

Joe and I took Frankie to Drake Park for a walk this afternoon - it was beautiful!! Darn it, I didn't have my camera.  It was only 41 degrees but we dressed pretty well for it, and Franklin seems to do fine in the cold.  He is loving this place, all the new smells and walking paths.  We have had fun exploring neighborhoods, looking for restaurants and stores, the library, the post office, the bank, the Catholic church.  We think we're gonna like it here!!

Please keep good thoughts for us with getting our property delivered sooner than the 20th...  Katie offered for us to come stay with them and that may be an option we would certainly enjoy.

Good night - God bless

Beautiful day...

... even though it was all errands today.  Joe and I hit the Walmart, Fred Meyers, Target, World Market, Bad Breath & Beyond, and, of course, Starbucks.  You know when you move, you always need something -- a new shower curtain, small trash cans for the bathrooms, a drain pan for the cleaning products...  on and on!  It's kinda fun BUT we do not have our things today and that is a bummer.  Back at Holiday Inn Express, as our delivery was promised for yesterday or today (guaranteed) and so Bekins will have to foot the bill for the hotel and dinner.  We just could not sleep on that blow-up bed one more night!  Woke up with a terrible neckache and headache.  Anyhoo......

We have a great location for walking the neighborhood in our rental home!  The name of the tract is Quail Pines; pine trees everywhere.  The house is 1600 sq. ft. and one level; three-car garage; 9,000 sq. ft. lot so a nice size backyard.  It's comfy and going to be great!  We have mentally placed our furnishings in the house over and over, and maybe tomorrow we will get to start the process for real.  If not, we will be back at this hotel and watching my Wheel of Fortune debut!!

More tomorrow.

Love to all and hope everyone is doing great.
ANNIE

DAY ONE

Hello Dears!  This is my first crude attempt at a blog...  may or may not be a permanent thing but I have so much to say it seems like the easiest way to do it. This way, if you care to hear my ramblings, great!  If not, then don't visit the blog for a while and know that I am here when you want to know!  The move to Oregon is a huge undertaking and we are finally exhaling today, our very first day in Bend.  I have one word to describe what I'm feeling right now:


HAPPY!


The angst of leaving our comfy home and great neighborhood, our wonderful friends, and our beloved daughter has softened and now the joy and excitement of a new life here is taking over.  However, as I told Lisa, we will always be attached and in each other's hearts and minds... only a phone call away - and a plane trip if necessary.  Both our daughters have their own busy lives and this makes a mom feel good.  No worries per se; just the constant desire to relate with them, be with them, be there for them.  


Franklin was just a champ on the trip!  We hit every rest stop from Camarillo to Bend and Frankie made his mark at each one.  He slept comfortably on the front seat of each of our cars, alternately keeping both of us company.  The hotels (Ramada and Holiday Inn Express) were great for all of us and Frankie slept on the bed both times.  He is such a joy for us and everyone seems to love this mellow guy.  We're so grateful he came into our lives.


So, that's it for this posting -- next will be how the rental house is (I think it's gonna be wonderful!) and maybe I can learn how to post pictures too.  Love you.
-Annie