SharivilleLife stories from Shari

What a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  We are having a lovely Indian Summer here in Northern California.  Today we pulled a double.  The day started out with breakfast at kalico Kitchen, steak and eggs with some of their great salsa, Jerry with his very tasty American cheese omelet. Forgot to mention Tom and Joann Husa joined us.  We then drove up to Dairyville for their annual farm fiesta.  I usually always get Angie some special sauces they sell there every year.  I was not disappointed.  Angie is big on cooking chicken breasts, so I got her 4 different kinds of sauces, apricot, raspberry, blackberry and pomegranate….. We taste tested our way thru the festival, all kinds of nuts, flavored prunes, several different kinds of olives, and of course here in the north valley we are becoming quite famous for our olive oils. They really are fantastic, esp the Meyer lemon olive oil…….The craft booths were esp. good this year.  Seems each year there are more and more varied craft booths.  I looked, but bought only the sauces.  I just really cant find anything else in the world that I need.  More like I need to get rid of a bunch of stuff I already have to much of.

On the way home the 4 of us stopped at a new yogurt shop here in Chico.  Angie and I liked to go a similar shop in Keller.  You serve yourself and put whatever toppings you want on the frozen yogurt and then they sell it by how much it weighs.  Kind of fun,and definitely tasty. From there it was home to let Teddy out for a run and then on to our next event for the day.

Our next stop was over to Almond Blossom home where Kathy lives now.  It was their annual fall spaghetti feed.  It was all sooo good. Homemade sauce and homemade french bread.  Friends and family brought salads and desserts.  My contribution was my just baked oatmeal raisin cookies,  baked the night before. Jerry and I always like to attend the festivities  at Kathy’s home base.  There was a good crowd there, good entertainment, there was the Chicken Dance and the Hokey Poky along with lots of songs from times past, pertinent to the age group at the home.  It was really nice, and Kathy enjoyed it a lot.  George was there of course and his sister Carolyn and husband Ron.  They had just returned from a cruise up the east coast into Canada. Kathy was esp fond of the dessert bar, she has quite a sweet tooth.  She really enjoys her visitors tho.

……So we have a wonderful  and exciting new development in kathy’s life. She has just been granted, via a wish foundation locally, a fabulous trip to Hawaii.  Cory, who owns the care facility where Kathy is,  is on the board of the wish foundation and he presented her case.  She was chosen and her wish had been a trip to Hawaii.  Now everyone has to get it all together to make it possible.  It will be a challenge due to her care.  George of course will accompany her. And take lots and lots of pictures. They will either fly over and take the cruise around and visit all the different islands, which will be 7 days of wonderful pleasure and sight seeing or a 14 day cruise over , all around , and back.  All expenses paid. Kathy is very limited in her ability to get around and is now unable to walk. Although she is wheel chair bound she is still fairly alert and able to enjoy life with what she has left.  It will be a life time dream come true, to bad its so late in life for her.  She and I are very excited about the trip, it really makes her smile when we talk about the trip, so I know she’s looking forward to going.  It will leave wonderful memories for George going forth into the future. Kathy has always had a yen for travel. That was our plan in our “golden years.” At least she will have one dream come true…More to come.         Hugs,  Shari

We chose a family day trip to celebrate our 38th anniversary.  It’s so funny because we remember back so clearly some of the people who said it would never last.  Guess we got the last laugh. I admit, I was a risky, wild child, and led him a merry chase, but Jerry never wavered.  We have had the most wonderful life and raised 2 kids together.  He was a brave man and a good man to take me on plus my two kids. They both turned into productive, responsible, citizens.  Hooray!!!

When I say family day trip, our family is Jerry, me and Teddy.  We wanted to take Teddy up to a lake somewhere in the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada’s so he could swim.  Teddy has not seen big water since he accidentally fell in Angie’s pool when he was about 4 mos. old.  It was practically an all day ride.  We went up past Clipper Mills and Strawberry Valley, Forbstown to a lake, called Little Grass Valley Reservoir.  The weather was perfect, clear and warm. 

We drove up through the golden grassy rolling hills of the valley, up through the scrub oaks and Manzanita,  and up into the piney woods.  The leaves are just barely beginning to change on the deciduous trees.  This is a truly beautiful drive.  We got to the lake and Teddy was so funny.  First he stuck his nose into the water up to his eyeballs and proceeded to blow bubbles.  Then he very carefully waded into the water, then back out, then back in.  Going a little deeper each time.  After awhile he felt safer and began going faster through the water. He never did get to the swimming stage.  Had it been warmer at Angie’s, Casey would have taught Teddy to swim.  But Casey did teach Teddy to counter surf, which has absolutely nothing to do with water.  We rolled the windows down and Teddy stuck his nose out the window and so enjoyed the day.  At one point we turned the car around to take a picture of some garden art, Jerry is so good about turning  around to indulge me and my pictures, and we got attacked by 3 big dogs.  I couldn’t get the windows up fast enough, Teddy was going crazy, so we drove off, and never got the pictures.

On the way home from Grass Valley Lake, we got some directions from a camper there.  We went up over the ridge and down into Feather Falls.  I warned Jerry that in the spring we would be hiking to Feather Falls, something I have wanted to do since forever and now with my new knees I can do it.  It was  of course interesting descending on a curvy road, as Jerry has a lead foot.  It was difficult to catch the lovely scenery and stay in my seat, Teddy included, going 50 MPH around those curves.  I had to keep my thumb on him.   Oroville Lake is really down and looks like we will need some rain this winter. I had just bought the record collection, from Time, you know the ones, called The Golden Age of Pop,  esp for Jerry.  It starts in 1950 . Has some really great oldies.  I had to remind him in 1950 I was about 8 yrs old.  We had the cd’s on and enjoyed a beautiful peaceful ride, listening and singing along with the music.   Music like “Autumn leaves,”" Theme from Picnic”, “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”   We have decided to take Teddy on more day trips, he had the time of his life.

We came home dropped Teddy off and went to the Roadhouse for dinner.  It was a great way to celebrate our anniversary.  I had a ceasar salad and pork chops with a sweet potaoe with butter and cinnamon, cooked apples  and a glass of wine.  Jerry had his ever popular cheeseburger with a salad, and a beer.  We spent some time reminising about eating at The Green Barn and The Almond Tree in days gone by, oh my, where have the years gone.  We have so very many memories together, we‘ve had so much fun and done so many things.  Cant wait to see what this next year brings for us.  We have some plans, we always have plans, keeps us young.…………. More Later.      Hugs.       Shari and Jerry.

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Hello again,  I seem to be running behind on my blogs.  I am getting back into it.  Believe it or not I have had requests to continue these meandering  pros.   Sunday last…… Jerry and I went over to Orland to join our “west side family,” for the Portuguese Festa.  There were several hundred people there, even buses from Tulare bringing folks to the festa.  We got over to Orland in time to see the parade.  That was very nice.

The food was especially good.   They had the traditional Sopas, made with beef broth, wonderful french bread, and cooked cabbage.  Then there was the meat platter with the beef, only boiled here, not cooked in the ovens. Along with sausages and cooked fresh pork, most delicious.  On  the meat platter  there was cooked potatoes and carrots, and they had wonderful red wine and sodas.  Mary Hubbard,  my  good friend , and her daughters Renee and  husband Brad and  Denise and the kids met us there. It was really different from the Chico Festa.  First much bigger and I liked the food better.

The auction was fantastic.  There was everything in the world on auction.  Even the cutest little puppy.  Lots of cows were auctioned and of course lots of food.  Wonderful sweet bread, baskets of apples, even baskets of quinces.  The auction took up several hours so we didn’t stay for the music which I really love.  Emily was singing for this occasion, and she’s the real deal.  Straight from the Azores. She sings in Portuguese and shes so great to listen to.

Well it was a wonderful day with some of my very most favorite people in the world and both Jerry and I enjoyed it very much.  The more I get into the Portuguese culture the better I like it………………..Hugs……….Shari and Jerry

The weekend of Sept. 25th, 2010 will forever be precious to me. It was my 50th high school class reunion. It started with a pool party at Judy Lou’s hotel, Judy hosted a fun get together, where she and other out of towners were staying . This was early afternoon. Marlene Valine, My Angel and Hearts buddy and my soul friend was there, we finally met after 50 yrs of not being around each other, and two yrs. of being fb buddies. Judy Lou, Ron Whitehead, Doug Hall and wife, Sharon Howe and hubby and several others were there. We brought snacks and drinks and really had a good visit. Lots of memories, but mostly we talked about the present and what all of us were doing now and where we are presently living. It was a great beginning to a most wonderful weekend.

In the early evening over 100 of us met out at the Elks picnic area for another get together. They had a taco wagon on hand. There were beef, chicken and shrimp taco’s, shrimp was wonderful, with rice and beans. Pretty good grub for 7.00$. Some of our wonderful reunion planners had gotten together and made homemade salsa, by the buckets full, soooo delicious. I know Steve Hegdlen and Gary and Rosemarie Imhoffwere involved with the chopping and mixing, it was perfect. So chips and salsa were available and it was a BYO drinks. This event was very informal,  and we really got a chance to visit and renew acquaintances. We had dinner with Charlie and Connie Augustine and I met up with some of our group that I haven’t seen in 50 yrs. What a joy it was to see so many familiar faces. Jerry also knew quite a few of my classmates from the 45th reunion and also from the local monthly luncheons. The weather was perfect, a slight breeze to temper the occasion. The dress was casual, so we were all in our summer clothes. It was a comfortable and relaxing get together. Visiting with every one and getting reacquainted was the prelude to the big Sat night.

Then the “Piece De Resistance” was of course the Sat. night dinner party and silent auction. It was an affair to remember, and for those of us who attended I’m sure this event will be in our memories for the rest of our lives. The decor was all Red and Gold. I got such a kick out of Judy Lou, she was fluttering around every where, visiting with everyone, taking pictures of all, and to top it all off she was wearing a lovely butterfly fluttering blouse that was gorgeous. She always reminds me of a beautiful butterfly. Got to see Jerry Rassmussen and Gordon Knight, Dennis Aaron, Jeanie Richardson, sooo many happy classmates were there. For a brief moment, while surrounded by the chaos of the evening,  I was back in1960,  in Mr. Scott Lawler’s journalism class.  I was in the halls of that beautiful old brick school, Chico High School, with  my official Red and Gold press card that got me everywhere  because I was the official Red and gold newspaper photographer. Yes, I can brag, after all this is my blog.  For a moment I was on the goal line at our last football game, remember, with our arch rival Oroville High School? Yes, we did lose.  Sob, sob.  It was heartbreaking, and yes, I remember.

 We had NY steaks cooked to perfection at  med rare, fluffy baked potatoes with butter and sour cream, sauteed vegies and buttery dinner rolls. The other entree was chicken breasts with rice pilaf, and vegies. There was a cake bar and coffee bar as well as a wet bar. Jerry and I sat at a table with some of my face book buddies. Marlene Valine, Elaine Wright, also with Joy Norris and Rena Wampler and husband, all the way from Montana. We had a wonderful time, many precious memories, many great pictures. My wonderful precious friend Joyce ( Joy) Shaw Jones was here from Texas. She was there for me in Texas when Jerry was in surgery and remained a staunch supporter all the while we were there. I love her dearly. Plus she makes the most beautiful jewelry, several sets she donated to the silent auction. Her sets consist of ear rings, a bracelet and a necklace. Jerry bid and got me a fabulous pearl set. My very special friend Judy Lou Anderson got the two of us together during the crisis time in Dallas , when Jerry ‘s life was at stake. She was there to pray withus for his successful surgery, and it was successful. There was a memorial board and we have lost 85 now from our class, two in the last month. This was a sad thing, but we all do know now why they did not attend. Gives us all some closure. I’m sure they were there in spirit. There were, last I heard, 212 classmates for the Sat nite extravaganza. Our very own class president and just retired Butte Co. Judge Mike Kelly was there with his lovely wife Kathy.

The silent auction was a great success, lots of lovely donations, afghans, paintings, prints, jewelry,coffee, there was a companion for the cowboy I picked up at the 45th reunion. This one was holding a shotgun, where mine had the six shooters. I like mine best. Jeanie Richardson generously donated wonderful pictures from her great collection, shes become quit the photographer, and she also had photos of the historic Richardson Springs. Lots of money made for the class, it will help with the 55th reunion Im told. Well I will be ready for the next one, will you?? See you all then…………..Hugs Shari

Hello after over 3 mos. Needless to say the surgery went very well. It was inconvenient to have to go to Sacto. for the procedure, but as it turned out it was probably the best thing I could have done. The surgeon Dr. Bluemfeld was a genius.  The knee is perfect.  I really don’t remember much pain, heavy drugs, you know.  Jerry was comfy in the RV with Teddy. I was there 4 days and then home to recover.

Poor Jerry, he quickly became chief cook and bottle washer and did a fab job with it for about 6 weeks.  Then I was up and around doing fairly well.  My husband is one of a kind. I was off the heavy duty drugs by then and making pretty good sense. I seemed to be OK but my family found me to me a bit spacey, so is that something new?

So all in all not a lot to say about this procedure, just want to document some of it for posterity. It’s the best thing I have done, and like I said no more knees.  I spent 67 yrs suffering various degrees of distress, I was never able to do all the things other kids did, no PE in school, never could run on really exercise in any way. Had some people make fun of me for not being able to keep up. Karma is a bitch.  Oh my, did I really say that. I did climb Mt Lassen in my younger days, up was usually OK, down was always awful, my boyfriend had to practically carry me back down.  But I did it.  Now I can walk anywhere and pretty much keep up, too bad it’s so late in my life.

So I have spent the last 6 weeks catching up.  Wandering around my beautiful property and keeping Jerry company during all the various  chores out there. Right now its wood stacking time to get ready for the winter.  It’s still hot here in Chico, we are having an “ Indian Summer,” and it’s wonderful. Problem is we still have to water. Well more soon, meanwhile it’s so nice to not have any pain.

This blog is esp for Angie, who has requested a blow by blow, little play on words there, of my journey with my 6th knee surgery.  Took me until now to take this big step.  I will likely reread it too just to remind myself that I can’t possibly have another knee surgery, unless I grow another leg.

I think anytime you have an impending major surgery there are lots of fears and often brings your attention to the really important things going on in your life.  I always find that to be so.  Suddnely family becomes important and the small things do also.  Jerry and I spend a lot of time taking care of each other, and we are not about to stop now.  It’s difficult to think of one without the other.

It was a really lovely drive from Chico to Sacramento this afternoon.  The rice fields are in flux.  Three different stages of growth.  The completely flooded fields, the fields with some partial rice starting to poke their little green blades out of the water an the most beautiful, the fuffly developed rice.  it has the look of green velvet, very soft and comforting. The white Egrets atand out as they gather their water bugs and crowdads and frogs.  Rarely these days do we see a Great Blue Heron now.  They are very rare.  There’s occasional Mallard duck pairs,  they are so very pretty , esp the males. They seem like such lovcing little couples.  The canals are all full and running  clear blue water to keep the rice covered.  The signs along the read read, ” Food Grows Where Water Flows.” Ive always felt so fortunate to live in an area that grows so much fruit and produce.  Jerry and I have traveled all over and we are always glad to return to Calif. The land of no accent and humidity, except in the rice fields.

We arrived at Sutter Memorial around 2 PM.  Jerry set up the trailer, we have a decent spot, with electricity and water, so he and Teddy  will be quite comfortable during their stay here.  There’s a nice green grassy area behind the trailer to make Teddy happy.  Teddy loves to ride in the truck and is really happy to be in the trailer.  All we have to do is say, “Load up,” and he’s good to go. Of course Jerry is quite at ease pulling this sled thru the Sacramento traffic.  He never gets rattled   even during the rush hour.  He’s the best driver and I always feel safe with him driving.  Tommy is another one I feel that way about because of his Nascar driving experience. We are both lucky gals Angie.

Spent the rest of the day relaxing in the trailer, we have a great air conditioner, because all of a sudden we have summer.  Can’t remember Spring.  Had chicken soup , a banana and milk for dinner,  I just dont seem to have much of an appetite lately, must be nerves..Talked to the anesthesielogist this evening.  We are going with a spinal and propothol and a femeral nerve block for the surgery. That way I wont feel the pain when the Doc starts sawing and grinding while they dessemble my knee joint and glue in a new one. I will sleep thur it all.

Angie and Felecia called to give me a boost and good wishes. .    I think Im finally resigned  and ready to go.  Tomorrow is the big day and I want to blog as much as possible about the experience . Tomorrow is another day, wish me well………….Hugs to all         Shari

I used to call the garden ” my garden”, I can no longer do that , as Jerry has pretty much taken over in my absence, for the last 5 yrs.  It seems medical problems have kept me more or less housebound for these past yrs.  That’s about to end.  I will be back out in the garden in the fall. I have so missed it.  Prior to that everything done out there was done together.

I woke up this morning to the sound of hoeing under my bedroom window.  Jerry was out there clearing the weeds out of my wonderful row of lavender.  He also got rid of the Morning Glories around the tomatoes.  We have a big yard area with lots of things planted.  We also have a huge empty acrage where we took out the almond orchard.  Jerry keeps is disced and mowed , fire hazzared and snake problems otherwise.  One year when I talked him out of mowing the field, feeling that my wildlife and birds, Quail and Pheasants, rabbits etc. would prefer the grass land we killed no less than 8 rattlesmakes, of all sizes.  Therefore,  No more grass lands.

Jerry is very fond of his tractor and mower and disc.  I never knew anyone so happy to be out there mowing or just moving around mounds of garden brush.  He spends countless hours just pushing bush around  out there.  I think he likes this because  it reminds him of the old row cropping days.  Every spring and summer we go thru the same thing, I say “Oh dont burn that pile,  its spring and the birds need it for nesting and nesting material. ” In the fall its the same thing ,” Oh dont burn that pile, the birds need it for winter protection. ” And so on and on it goes, and the piles just get bigger and bigger.  We have lots and lots of bird feeders, they take care of my garden, for sure.  And then there’s the Hummingbirds, Jerry is very factidious about keeping them in sugar water. Jerry is very fond of the Hummers. We spend a fortune on bird seed, I use only the quality seed, otherwise the birds just toss out the cheap stuff.  I have some wonderful ground feeders, I have a huge covey of Quail.  They are so much fun to watch out my bedroom window.  Sometime look up why they are called a covey.  They are beautiful fun little creatures.

Awhile back I took a precarious walk around the yard, it was a beautiful day and all kinds of plants and flowers were in bloom. We have every kind of fruit tree, including Pomagranite and  Persimmon.  We have 3 cherry trees, never see the friut from those tho, we planted them to close to the Redwoods and the birds take advantage. In younger days I picked the plums, I have 4 varieties, and made jelly, maybe someday I will get back to that.

We have a glorious Blue Spruce, which we are very proud of.  Love, love Blue Spruces.  We have the most lovely Betty Boop rose bush, like no one else, by the pump house.  The pink carpet roses are beginning to bloom all along the driveway, they are stunning when in full bloom.  Of course there is a Kitchy part of MY garden, where I have an old footed bathtub an old toilet and lots of garden art, like the precious pink flamingo that Tommy gave me awhile back.  It just got home this year, brought back in our trailer.  The banana tree is still recovering from a very cold winter, also got our avacado tree, not sure if it will recover.  Got most of my lime and pink lemonade tree.  If they recover at all they are really set back.  We have several bird baths, because of our huge bird population.  Teddy knows just where to get a drink and wash his feet.  Im really sure the birds appreciate that. Twelve yrs ago a neighbor donated his palm tree to us and it has grown from 3 feet to  30 ft.  It’s lovely, we have a couple of Mexican Palms to flank it.  I have lavender and believe one cannot have enough lavender or Japanees Maples.  We have several. .I have a fondness for roses, not so with Jerry,  he is constantly being attacked by them.  I have two precious Josephes Coat climber roeses,  and several other rose bushes.  I will be planting more soon, in a sunnier area. The play house for the grand daughters, who have long out grown it will be our new Garden Shed. Its all finished inside and even has a ceiling fan.  I just have to change the paint color inside, take out all the toys, some antique, I will save for Felecia’s little ones someday.  Jerrys old high chair is out there, generously given back to Jerry by his daughter, Debra.  It has raised two grand daughters at our table.  I have pictures of Felecia and then yrs later of Sarah eating in it at our table.  Jerry is proud of that chair.

Well that about wraps up my garden tour of our garden and thank Jerry with all my heart for keeping it all going until I can get out there and help him again. He has really become a serious gardener and is proud of his yard.  Make no mistake our place is not a show place, its very rustic and bird friendly, we stll do have fox tails and Johnson grass, but not a much.  We are completely organic, mybirds take care of the bugs, you can eat the fruit and vegies right off the trees and bushes.  That we are proud of.    Well more later……………..Hugs S and J………….PS, Teddy showing off his credentials.

Well hello again.  Things continue to move right along.  I can’t find anything I’m looking for, I cant remember to reorder scripts, I even for the first time ever will have to hand deliver my voting ballot, because I forgot to mail it before now.  I will surely be glad to get this surgery over with and so will Jerry,seems he has to suffer with me all my mistakes and avoidance’s too. My mind is just elsewhere.

We did miss the McCloud outing with the Good Sams of Durham, just to much walking etc at this time. We will make up for it at a later date. Thurs. night  we did manage to attend the graduation of my nephew Jessee and Denise’s daughter Mia on the West side,in Princeton.  There were a total of 18 graduates. Both Jessee and Mia got nice scholarships.  Mia was Salutatorian and gave a nice speech.  We are so proud of her.  Jesse was just radiant up there on stage.  Jessee had done some home schooling and was behind on credits to start with, so he had to work extra hard to get caught up to graduate with his class, but he came through like the trooper that he is.  It reflects good fetching up. Jessee will be attending Butte JC in the fall and Mia is going all the way down to Fresno to a 4 yr college. I love graduation ceremonies, they are so important and represent such milestones in these kids lives.  Felecia, our granddaughter will be graduating with a degree in business and entrepreneurship  from North Texas University in Aug.  She has managed to work full time and go to Europe for 3 mos, and still get through with flying colors. She is in the top of her class.  We are proud grandparents too. In between it all she’s been very active in her Sorority. She’s just phenomenal, and beautiful inside and out.

Sat we attended the graduation party held at a local hotel in Willows for Jessee and Mia.  It was a swimming party for the kids and lots of food.  Shawn made carnitas, and Denise made 7 layer dips and lots of fresh fruit and salad. There was a big turnout and the kids really had a great time.  We parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles really enjoyed the festivities too. Rene did the decorations and some of the food and there were two cakes for both Jessee and Mia.  It was a beautiful setting and the weather was wonderful.  We were able to eat outside on the patio. It will be fun now to see what these kids, including Felecia, will go on and do with their lives. Angie and I personally know what a college degree is worth and are proud of ours.

I don’t know about you, but when I get behind it preys on my mind, I have only a few more days now before knee surgery, and not knowing when I will feel like blogging, its safe to assume I should try to do some catching up.

A couple of Sundays ago I spent one of THE most enjoyable days ever.  Jerry and I attended the Chico Portuguese Holy Ghost and Fatima Club festival.  About 3 yrs ago I became reacquainted with my niece Tracy and her husband and in laws.  They have become like family to both Jerry and I.  We call them our West Side Family. Mary Hubbard is my niece’s mother-in-law, and has become one of my dearest friends ever.  Mary and her two daughters, Denise and Rene and son Shawn are very dear to  my heart, as are their families.   This had been for me,  exposure to the Portuguese culture.  I was raised as a little girl in the Italian culture, they are similar in many ways.  The Portuguese people are very outgoing and loving people, the food is of course wonderful and this was a food event.  The meal was Soapas, which is french bread and cabbage soup with roast beef and potato salad on the side and orange drink or beer or wine if wanted.  It’s served family style with unending refills of platters of Soapas and roast beef.  The meat is cooked in an oven at the Portuguese Hall.  First they heat the oven to about  700 degrees, then rake the coals out.  The temperature drops to about 50o degrees then they  put the meat in, in huge amounts, and close the door to the oven and the meat roasts about 4 to 5 hours. and comes out fork tender and delicious. Really delicious. French bread is put into a bowl, covered with boiled cabbage and beef broth and served. Like I said potato salad served as a side dish.  Very different food but very good,  Jerry had 3 servings, and he’s not a “Foodie.” There were tons of people in attendance, eating both inside and outside the hall. It’s a big deal for the Portuguese people,  and I can see why.

Mary’s family is from the Azures, specifically from the island of Ler  Ceira.  At the Hall, after dinner there was a Portuguese lady entertaining. Her name is Emily Silva. She is renowned here and in Portugal. Mary has a lot of her tapes.  She was singing Portuguese songs and playing the keyboard.  The festival draws people of all ages.  This especially appealed to the older folks who still speak the Portuguese language on a fairly regular basis.  There was lots of dancing, both young and old.  There was a very old gentleman in a wheel chair who was able to dance briefly,  it was an emotional event.  They danced The Chicken Dance, that was hilarious, so much fun.  There was a Folk Dance,called Chamarita.  The dancing was so enjoyable to watch and the music was so special. Mary and Rene danced together as did Mary with one of her cousins.  Mary also danced with an old friend, one she used to dance with over 60 yrs ago, when she was 7 yrs old and attending festival.   It was obvious he still had eyes for Mary. Next year Jerry and I will dance, I will have a new knee. The Portuguese in our area are a close knit people. They enjoy life and family and are close to God. Both Jerry and I are really getting into this culture and enjoying it so much.  This was the second year we attended the Festa, already looking forward to next year.

In the Hall there are statues of Fatima and also of Queen Isabella, yes, the same one who sent Christopher Columbus over to discover  us.

Well after 100 blog posts I suddenly ran into writers block.  Got some personal,  not so good news , and just shut down.  Angie has been hinting that I need to get back into the swing of things so I have decided to get with the program again.

Jerry and I find the the month of May is always our busiest month except the holiday months. Thank goodness I have lots of pictures to remind me of this month.  We started out the month going to the Garden Show, one of our local Chico events.  Tom and Joann Husa joined us.  Actually the salad lunch was better than usual, they changed the pasta salad recipe and it was really tasty.  Of course the guys would likely disagree. They are not fans of the luncheon.  There were only 4 yards in the garden show, poor response this year.  I’m not alone in rethinking next year if they cant do better.  I was able to make it to 3 of the yards, so personally it didn’t bother me, but come on only 4.  I sat out the final long walk yard, one I couldn’t walk any more and this yard had been on the tour a few yrs before.  For the most part we 4 agreed that the best yard was the smallest yard , and it was made up of mostly potted garden flowers and plants.  From the garden tour we headed to Kwando’s for the Asian buffet, which is always wonderful.  Once again Jerry lost out, he does not like Asian food.  So he eats salads and jello and desserts.  Oh well.  He’s a good sport.

The next May event was a trip to my orthopedic surgeons office, only to find out that no one in Chico is really capable of doing my knee surgery because it is so complicated.  What should I have expected.  I have been dealing with these knees from birth and this will be my 6th knee surgery. I guess I have run the gamut and should have expected something wouldn’t jive.  So now I will be going to Sacramento June 15th to have what they call one of the “Super Stars,” do the surgery.  I really like the surgeon and he seems confident he can do it OK.  So now its no longer in my hands. Need prayers guys.  I will be in Sacramento’s Sutter General for a few days, Jerry will bring the RV and Teddy down for the duration and will hook up to utilities at the hospital.  So he won’t have to  drive back and forth.  It will all work out I’m sure. It is just such an inconvenience to have to travel out of town for surgery.  Who would have thunk it.

On the 13th Angie had Dave Gergenti, founder of,”Wish Upon A Hero,” on her show, and to also show the Wish Mobile that Tommy wrapped for the charity.  It’s an awsome mobile, The show was also awsome.  After the show we were off to the little town of  Princeton for a spaghetti dinner to support the kids in their funraising.  This was in support of our West Side Family, who are such an important part of our lives.

We had a very special Mothers Day tea at Kathy’s care home.  I make those cute and tasty little tea sandwiches, you know the ones that you cut the crusts off and cut 4 ways.  I made 6 different fillings and supplied some of my sandwich plates , I have almost 70 now, for the traditional effect.  You know those glass center handled plates, I really must stop collecting them.  I hardly see them any more now, I must have them all.  A Mary Kay rep came to the house and did facials for the ladies that stay at the home.. It was fun.  Kathy participated fully even tho it was really difficult for her. Shes really movement impaired now.  Shes a good sport too and I love her great spirit.  There was a good turn out and such a wonderful idea for a mothers day event.  Altho Kathy never became a mother, she did share Angie with me, and Angie claims her as her God Mother and vice versa. Kathy is a good role model for my daughter.

Next day Jerry went in for his yearly echo cardiogram to see if the new aortic valve is working as it should.  Must be cause we haven’t heard otherwise. That was our mistake last year before we left on our trip we should have had that test done. It was my mistake because I should have followed thru, what was I thinking, just because he seemed to be doing so well, one never knows.  A valuable lesson for me.  It might have saved us some really scary times.  But then what?  He still would have needed the surgery and let me tell you it could not have happened in a better place.  Good grief, we might  have had to settle for Sacramento. I guess every thing happens for a reason, that’s what Angie keeps telling me and she’s seldom wrong. Bless her heart, and she and Tommy were there for the much needed support.  The only reason I was not such  a basket case was because I was able to stay right with Jerry in the same room for the entire stay post surgery.  What a wonderful hospital Baylor Heart Hospital is.

Sunday was the church barbecue.  It was a splendid affair.  All my favorite people were there.  Shawn Hubbard my nieces husband and church cook, as he’s so good, cooked some awsome  ribs. Everyone brought very tasty side dishes and wonderful homemade ice cream.  Lots of good fellowship and food.  I brought Jerry’s fav, 7 layer dip, he never gets enough of that, with of course, La Comida chips.

Oh good grief, only half of May has past, there’s still more to come, but at a later date.   Stay tuned, I perked up again.  Hugs………..Shari and Jerry……………PS these are pictures of our West Side Family, love them lots.