Congratulations Coeur d'Alene

(Note: This post should have some wonderful photos but because of distance and you will understand circumstance it does not. Instead, please go to the links to appreciate what these young women accomplished.)

Every morning is started with the reading of the newspaper. Whereever we have been the paper of choice is usually the one that most likely captures the regional news. I could go on for sometime about the choices we have made when it comes to newspapers like choosing the Oregonian over the San Francisco Chronicle when we lived in Crescent City, CA but let's just say that we try get the best and most comprehensive view of the area. For our daily paper in Delaware we have chosen The News Journal. Now, with all of that said, you can only imagine my surprise this morning when glancing over the sports section I saw this headline: "Winning Tourney Easier than Trek for Idaho Team."

Reading the article I believe the difficulty in getting to the tournament especially in light of the vast amount of snow that has fallen on northern Idaho and eastern Washington this month. the article served the team well but I do not think the writer fully appreciated the situation given the short distance between Coeur d'Alene and Spokane. The fact that this team got out of the Inland Empire at all is significant let alone surviving the other airline snarls and then making it to the tournament just in time to play.

Congratulations to Coeur d'Alene High School Girls' Basketball Team for the Avon Cup Tournament win. This Delaware based Idaho native is very proud of your accomplishments in winning the tournament and making the journey.

I wish I had known this team was playing in a tournament so close to us. I would have made the effort to go and support them.

Can It Be? Christmas has Come and Gone

Bent and Bill strolling the beach

Here it is December 29. It is 20 degrees cooler than yesterday, the sky is clearer and the wind is not blowing as hard. It reached 72 yesterday. It was off to the beach time for us and several hundred, I am sure, other water loving souls. We went to a beach we have not been to since we moved here. It is one of the nicer areas in Cape Henlopen State Park. Herring Beach appears to be the beach where surfers congregate if yesterday is any indication. It also has distinctive rock out-croppings that make for more a secluded feeling of the area. It is very difficult for me to get down to the beaches here because the sand at the accesses and to the shoreline is so deep. That was a problem at this beach also but because of the great overlook I was able to enjoy the wind and the view without the sand. Bill and Bentley got in their requisite time walking the beach. I think we will return to this beach soon because I want to spend more time exploring some of the history, flora and fauna.

"T'was the night..."

Our Christmas was a very quiet affair. Bill and I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day opening gifts and talking with family and friends on the telephone. The most special time was when Erica called on Christmas Eve and read The Night Before Christmas to her Dad and baby Jacob. Bill read Erica the poem every year from her first Christmas (she was four months old) until she started reading it to him sometime between the time she was 8-10. That has continued each year since and even the years when she is away she telephones and reads through the wires. Now Jacob is part of the tradition. I do not know about Erica but I do know that Bill probably looks forward to that moment more than any at Christmastime.

Our decorating frenzy this year was quite subdued when compared to other years. I think that was wise. The tree held all of the eclectic ornaments collected through the years and has been a comfort to have in this season. It will be up for a few more days and then all the ornaments and other decor will be carefully stored away for another year. Getting them all out and up and then down and stored is a whole lot like opening an old family album, full of precious memories to share and recapture year after year.

Merry Christmas

We have been trying to follow the snow stories out of the Pacific Northwest through media and via friends and family. Except for our California family and friends, all of our west coast connections are enjoying a white Christmas. Not so for us in Delaware. So, I thought I would share our little bit white Christmas through my expanding snowman(woman) collection. Thanks to those who have added to it this year already. I truly appreciate it.

Whether your Christmas is white or not may it peaceful and warm. May you share the love of those around you both far and near. Know that we are wishing you the very best of the season and the year.

We offer our prayers for peace, love and understanding in this blessed season.

George Ann

George Ann Preston

March 15, 1993 -- December 23, 2008

Our black cat, George Ann, quietly passed away this morning. She was a member of this family for almost 16 years.

Georgie was born a in a barn near Frenchtown, Montana. I do not know how many siblings she had but do know that she had a brother Ike. George Ann was a very small black cat and Ike was a very large black cat. Georgie came home to live with Erica and Ike joined the family of one of Erica's dear friends. We adopted George not long after we lost a cat to a coyote. Thus, our goal was to make our newly acquired barn cat an indoor cat. That worked with some success. George loved to go out on the second story deck, jump to a gable and climb over the roof to the little roof over the front step where she would stay and cry until we would rescue her. She would look at us with a "Where have you been?" look and then run off to hide in a closet when we released her inside.

She hated change and our frequent moves always set her in a dither. She would assume her "chicken walk" and find a cupboard to take up residence until we found her. She loved living in Spokane where she was able to live as an indoor/outdoor kitty. She especially like going out in the summer sun. She also like to walk with Bill and our old dog Samantha on their walks.

Georgie did not like strangers coming to the house. When there was a knock at the door she was off like a flash not to be seen until the visitors were gone. She did, however, love Erica, my mother, Bill, Sammie, sometimes Bentley and me.

We will miss her jumping from the top of the refrigerator, crawling out of a cupboard, swatting the dog, knocking things off the dresser at night for attention, crying when she got her insulin shots, and snuggling on our laps for her special attention.

Rest well old friend. We loved you and will miss you.

All is Groovy

We got back from Arlington late yesterday afternoon. I spent the week with Erica, Geoff and baby Jacob. Bill and Bentley came back over on Friday evening. Bill and I spent our 33rd anniversary at Anca's holiday party. The party participants sang a wonderful rendition of the 59th Street Bridge Song in honor of our special day. That was the song played as the recessional for our wedding on a cold, foggy and snowy day in Boise, Idaho all those years ago. Thanks to all and especially Erica who requested Alexandra do it.

We are starting to get used to this grandparenting thing and look forward to more times with Jake as he grows and develops. Like her father who read the Wall Street Journal to her when she was a very tiny baby, I overheard Erica reading young Jacob The Economist one day last week. Goodness!! What's a grandmother to do?

All my Christmas activity was put on hold while I was away so today I will try to make more order of the place. In the meanttime, "Slow down, you move too fast..."

Welcome Jacob Elijah!

Friday, December 12 at 1:10 p.m., Jacob Elijah was delivered via c-section. He weighed 9lbs 5oz and was 21 inches long. He is our first grandchild and as you can imagine we are quite taken with him. We saw him last night for the first time.

Jake is doing well. His mother is tired and comfortable but improving each day. Geoff is most pleased and is not leaving Erica or Jacob's sides until they come home probably tomorrow.

Bill and I getting used to all of this and can hardly wait to spend more time with our new grandson.

Still Waiting for Our December Delivery

Santa came to Milton but didn't have a delivery for us.

The due date has come and gone and the wait is still on. Erica and Geoff are not parents yet which means we are not proud grandparents yet. So, instead of going something productive like get the Christmas tree and put it up, address cards, and finish gifts, I am in wait mode. It's sort of like being in a holding pattern in airplane. Today, I must do something to amend this situation.

More on our status as soon as we know.

Update -- Still Waiting

Thanksgiving came and went and I spent a few days under the weather. We have done a couple of community things since then but mostly we have been waiting. That little one is not in any hurry at all to make her/his appearance.

Just to prove we haven't been total bumps on logs. Here are some photos of a recent outing to Prime Hook Game Refuge and Broadkill Beach. The amazing thing about Prime Hook this time of year is the number of migratory birds making a stop. On this particular day there were what seemed to be thousands of snow geese in one of the waterways. There were so many that the perspective was distorted.

Snow Geese Making a Stop

Heron & Duck butts

Bill & Bentley Back from the Beach.

More on the happenings in this part of Delaware later in the week.