Randy's Birthday

SWISH.....that is just how my week passed. I can't believe that it has been over a week since I last blogged and I have been trying to post at least twice a week. Please don't remind me that this is age related!

Yesterday, March 31st, was Randy's birthday....his 49th! And, it seems only like yesterday when he was delivered after a very difficult labor. He has been worth every pain and scare I had.

We are very proud of Randy.....he is a very caring and loving son. Quiet, but capable, extremely neat and organized...he keeps everything ship shaped. He is an excellent handyman and very mechanical. He loves his 'Man's Land" in the 3rd bay of his garage. Does this sound like a proud Mom talking? Yep, I am.

Randy has a beautiful daughter, Tiffany, who lives with her husband in California. His delightful wife, Dana, is a Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines. They have a very lovely home in Seattle that they share with two dogs....Bernie & Duffy. He is a Director with Alaska Airlines and a Reserve Officer with the Seattle Police Department. His first job after graduating from College was a baggage handler for a small commuter airlines (he actually loved that job) and he just continued to climb ladders and continued to climb the Corporate ladders. We are proud of his accomplishments, but most of all, we are proud of the person he has become. He has said when he retires, he is going to go back and handle baggage, as he loves to be outside around the planes....he loves the smells, activity and the entire environment.

We rarely get to celebrate his birthday with him, but each year Shari fixes his birthday dinner and bakes his absolute favorite oatmeal cake....we enjoy his birthday dinner and eat his cake...... then call him to sing "Happy Birthday". He enjoys this and thinks it is a hoot.

Thank you, Randy for all the weekly phone calls that I look so forward to....thank you for your kindness to Dad and me. We love you and are soooo proud of you.

I have rarely given this recipe out, as it was a favorite of Freida Odegaards. She made it for us when he was a little boy and it has been his favorite all these years. It has to be made exactly as written, otherwise it just doesn't turn out.

RANDY'S QUICK OATMEAL CAKE:
Pour 1-1/4 cups boiling water over 1 cup oatmeal...let stand for 20 minutes.

Cream: 2 eggs
1/2 Cup Crisco Shortening
1 Cup white sugar
1 Cup Brown sugar

ADD: Oatmeal
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon soda
1-1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Cup chopped walnuts

Bake in 9X13 pan for 35 minutes @ 350 degrees

When cake has cooled add Topping:

1 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup Angel Flake coconut
6 Tablespoons Butter
6 Tablespoons Cream

Mix well and spread on top of cooled cake. Place under broiler until brown...approx 4-5 minutes. Watch carefully as it will burn easily.

Hope you enjoy this as much as Randy does.

Funerals and Legacies

Today was the funeral of one of our neighbors. I didn't know him as well as I know his wife, but I do know he was a Godly man. He was a successful professional gentleman who impressed all that knew him. The service was beautiful and the plan of salvation was plainly given.

As I sat through the service, I was thinking of the wonderful legacy that he left behind and the impressions that he made in the lives of others. Then I thought of my own legacy....what do I want to be remember for? Certainly not my decorating skills, china, or any material possessions......but, I pray that I will leave a legacy of being a woman of faith.....a caring friend....a woman who loves her family, but mostly a woman who is willing to share God's love and the plan of salvation that he so freely gives.

Wow, I think I have lots of work to do.

Mary Ann

St. Patrick's Day

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I am having a hard time sorting all of my thoughts to write this blog. I have many past memories regarding St. Patrick's Day, plus it is a big day in our Park. My maternal great grandparents immigrated from County Cork in Ireland, so St. Paddy's Day has always been an important event as I was growing up. My parents always made this a fun time around our house.
Some years ago, Shari and I enjoyed a fantastic trip to Ireland. We flew to Manchester, England....traveled into Whales (reminded me of Mary Poppins) and ferried across the Sea into Ireland. A few of the places we visited were the Ring of Kerry, the Muckross House, Bunratty Castle, Blarney Castle, County Cork, The Cliffs of Moher.....and of course, Waterford Crystal Factory, where I went wild for myself and a client. Much to my amazement I was able to kiss the Blarney Stone...after Shari assured me that they clean the stone after each kiss! We stayed in Bed and Breakfast Inns, so we could enjoy meeting an assortment of people. Shari did all the driving on the left hand side of the road and to this day she accuses me of leaving my drivers license home on purpose...ain't so. Ha.

Now to the present.....our Park celebrates the day with a parade led by Bagpipers, followed by wagons carrying our Park Linedancers and another with our Park Choir. Decorated golf carts are in the line-up, residents are in costumes and even the dogs are in proper attire. Oh yeah....they have the green beer wagon that is served along the way. Del said the green beeer tasted like the regular....ha! Let me tell you....this is a HOOT. Rob and Ted always skip school to enjoy the fun (along with Molly dog) and this year we enjoyed friends, Del and Pat Bosman, who participated in the parade with us. They were not acclimated to our hot weather and I think our 90 degree day was very well felt.

The day's celebration is always followed by a dinner of corn beef and cabbage at the club house. I did not reserve our tickets in time, so we all enjoyed Chicago hot dogs at Kenny D's. My group picture did not turn out, but Kenny D's is a little hole in the wall that serves great dogs....I still have an aversion to Chicago, as I explained in an earlier post.

Wayne and I finished the afternoon with the boys at Little League Ball. Then home to do a little business in the office.

A big thank you to Del and Pat for experiencing this with us.....and, what an experience it was!! Another day of signing off as a very tired Arizona Gramma, but still able to count my blessings. Mary Ann

PS.....hmmmmm I still don't understand why we celebrate an Irish day in the United States

Awards and Batter Up

This Arizona Gramma is having a hard time keeping up with life. My daily schedules have had me coming and going. The most important schedules have included Rob and Ted. I had forgotten how busy two boys can be.

Today was awards day at their school. I was sooooo proud of them as they each received the highest award....The Principal Award for each of them in their class. This award is for academic achievement in their class. As usual, this Gramma was busy drying her eyes.

Then.....it's time for Little League Baseball. Of course, Gramma has to go to practice and then the games start. Both boys are so tall. Teddy is actually in T-Ball, but they allow him to practice on Rob's team and he does quite well. Rob is the tallest on his team. They are going to be two very big boys. They needed a Manager for their team and when no one else was available... yep, Shari is now the team manager!! The kids call her "Coach Lowell". She definitely is NOT the Coach, but as an organizer, she is right in there managing and keeping all the boys and parents organized. She is a super Mom and very involved with her boys. It is funny to watch her arrive at the ball field with all the bats, balls, water, first aid supplies, etc. etc. Tom handles all the Boy Scout stuff.

A little of my day involved an early Doctor appointment to have some minor surgery on my neck.....raced to pick out new eye glass frames.....stopped to buy gluten free food and flew home for lunch. I comforted a neighbor who just lost her husband and rejoiced with another neighbor who was excited that her dog passed his 'service dog' test. Jumped in the car and raced to the School for the Awards Ceremony.....back in the car to pick Wayne up at the Airport. We went directly to the ball field to watch the boys practice. It is a good thing that I didn't have to walk far with any of these activities.....with my bad back and Parkinson's, I would not have made it through the day.

I feel so blessed and have so much to be thankful for. However, tonight I am signing off as a very tired Arizona Gramma.
Mary Ann

Winter Is Guest Time

Just a quick catch up with activities around here....the days quickly pass and I have a hard time keeping track of the days.
This is the time of year that we host many guest....always a fun time, but keeps me hopping. Often it is just people passing through. Yesterday was one of those days and it was exciting to have friends from Birch Bay, WA to spend the day. We ate a quick lunch here at home and then had the entire day to visit and chat. We were also able to pick oranges and lemons for them to take home We took a tour of our Park....they were especially impressed with our swimming pool as our water is kept at a nice warm temperature all winter. Tomorrow I will be picking up more friends at the airport.

Knitting: I love to make different neck huggers.....not sure what I will do with them, as we certainly don't wear them in Tucson.
One hugger I have completed and the yarn on the needles is the beginning of another....raspberry yarn with a stran of mohair. It really is very pretty. I just have a hard time finding the time to knit. Friends in the Park stop in daily and I love that....the day is over before it begins.

Tonight I enjoyed a Chicago Hot Dog from a cafe close to our home. I love a good Chicago dog, but I must admit it is the only thing I like about Chicago right now. Our world situation is very scary, however, it is also exciting to see Biblical Prophecy happening before our eyes. My prayer list grows daily and I do pray for many of my readers. Continue to count your blessings,
Mary Ann