Happy 29th Anniversary

 

Yes we got married 29 years ago on September 24, 1982.

I was 30 and Don was 42.

I was teaching Home Economics at US Grant High School in OKC and Don was working for Oklahoma Gas and Electric.

It was a second marriage for both of us.

He had 2 kids and I had none.

When we talked with the minister before the wedding he indicated that it would never last because of the age difference.

We proved him wrong!!

 

This picture was taken about the time we married in 1982. 

Twenty-nine years later

We went to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino and had the Champagne Brunch Buffet with some friends.  Ate too much but enjoyed the company.

 

 

This is my advice for a long happy marriage

Marrying Don was the best decision I ever made.  He is the love of my life and hope we both stay healthy to enjoy many more years together.

Ruidoso Pickleball 2011

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Had to work hard to get this book finished because I had a coupon code for a free book if I finished by the 25th. Made it. Good Memories of the summer.

Ruidoso on Dwellable

Our Lumberjack

Last week Don called Freddie (local tree cutter) to come over the cut some of the trees that were dead or dying in our yard.  He had decided on 5 that needed cutting down.  Thanks goodness he decided to get someone else to do it.  Two trees were large and in difficult positions to our house and a fence of the neighbors.  He had gotten Freddie's name from the forestry man last year.
Freddie showed up about 30 min. after he got our call and gave Don an estimate of $120 for 5 trees and if he wanted them cut up in manageable pieces another $80. This was a very cheap price and Don said yes, cut'em down.  He was a very small man but very talented and strong in what he does. What would have taken Don several days to do with lots of stress on both our parts only took Freddie about three hours.

He climbs the trees cutting the limbs as he goes up. Then he tops the tree and starts cutting the tree as he goes back down.  He cuts with the chain saw in one hand and pushes the tree the direction that he wants it to fall with the other.  It was very interesting to watch him work.  
We thought Paula and Raymond would enjoy watching so we called for them to come over and watch.  The little gray puppy is Nico.  He is the newest addition to their family.  He is only 3 or 4 months old.  Really cute and feisty.

The forestry guy came by while Freddie was cutting the trees down and he and Don decided to cut another one by the house down $30 and one on our neighbors lot that was really ugly $10. After Freddie cut them down he took off his climbing gear and started cutting up the logs and limbs so they could be managed and carried off. 
Don tried to find someone to clean up the mess but never connected with them so he spent the next three afternoon cleaning up the limbs and stacked up the logs.  Hopefully we will find someone that wants to haul them off for firewood.  The drought had taken a toll on the trees & combined with the beetles, trees are dying all over town. It is also a safety issue with them so close to the house.  I guess that means less pines needles to rake and that is always a good thing. 
Today is Sunday and we took a short hike with Sharon and Dan along Alto Lake.  We also took the dogs. Very pleasant temperatures now and no clouds today. 

Dan hunted several of our caches that we had on this trail and Sharon took care of the dogs.

Also this weekend was the Aspen Motorcycle Rally.  It was so loud and thousands of motorcycles were in town.  It is finally quite again.  I went to the Parade on Saturday morning.

Ruidoso on Dwellable

More changes on the Roof

Before – 2005 picture

After new roof – 2011 picture

New chimney –Step 1 – taking off the rock

New chimney –Step 2 – gray concrete

New chimney –Step 3– brown stucco

We like the new roof and chimney a lot.  Now we have to get some of those dead trees cut down and the porch painted.  Maybe next summer.

Last Thursday we had a couple of cold fronts come through and it turned cooler.  Cool enough for me to want to make beef stew.  I invited Paula, Raymond, Jan and Sharon over for Beef Stew and a game of Hand and Foot.  Oh yes I also had six dogs!!!

We bundled up and ate and played cards on the back porch.

Wednesday night we had another pickleball party at Micheal  Dudman's. Good food and good friends.Don was the hit of the party with his cowboy hat!!

We had about 30 that attended. After labor day the summer people have started to head home and we have fewer at pickleball now.  Our host – Michael Dudman

Professor Pickle wants to know where all the dessert went

Hope he didn't see Don take the pie plate

We have some great friends in Ruidoso through pickleball & we get to party a lot.