ChiaChatter

Our granddaughter Luna turned 4 on the 5th of June, and she wanted noodles, so they chose the Olive Garden for her birthday dinner! This isn't as long, but it was just as fun!

Our granddaughter turned 9 on June 2, and the next day we took her family out for her birthday dinner. Her restaurant choice was Subway. We also stopped at Costco for some shopping (receipt at the end), and rescued a baby turtle, who makes a cameo appearance!

When we were outside on Saturday I let Lyra take my little CoolPix camera down to our lower yard, by the river, with her little sister to see what kinds of photos she'd bring back. (I was watching from inside the tent that you will see in one of these pics, at the top of the hill.) This is what she took, I just made them into a slideshow and put them to music.

Vids'n'pics from our weekend. Our 3 grandchildren, ages 14, 8, and 3, came to visit from Thursday evening until Sunday afternoon. We had a blast! These are just a few of the highlights!

morning time with my parrots...afternoon doing a little shopping...evening with the family for Casey's birthday dinner!

I have always loved this song, and what it means! “If you seek perfection, look elsewhere.” ~ Chiafucius This is not a performance; I'm simply sharing some of my music with my friends.

Playing on my Yamaha Tyros5-76. This is sharing my enjoyment, not performing, as always. “If you seek perfection, look elsewhere.” ~ Chiafucius

Pete and I were out and about today, so I decided to take some video. I haven't made a vlog in quite a while! We spent our time in a couple of the small towns that aren't too far from us (though we are "far" from any town!) and I share where we went and what we did.

My birthday was on May 5th. This video shows what my husband and I did on that actual date (hint: I got to go and do whatever I wanted!), and then the pig roast we hosted for our much-loved family and friends the next day! What a GREAT weekend! (There are also photos, they are on my website at chia.owly.net/?p=22812 if you are interested in seeing those as well!)

“If you seek perfection, look elsewhere.” ~ Chiafucius This is to share with my friends, not a performance. But I hope you enjoy it anyway!

Our 3 grandchildren, ages 3, 8, and 14, spent the weekend with us. These are some clips and pictures of the good times we had together!

Just some sweet times with my "PoiBoiz", Maxwell (red-bellied parrot) and Elliot (Meyer's parrot) this morning. I've had them for well over 20 years and they are my sweetest, bestest, smartest, funniest boiz!

Pete had an appointment in Saginaw and these are some clips of our day.

This was a great day! I spent most of the day out in the Tent Shed doing laundry in my little portable washer (that makes laundry fun!). Our helpers, meanwhile, were here working and our landlord (we lease this huge lot) came to pick up the yard waste that our helpers had cleaned up last week. So they loaded his truck, and while they were working - they took out 3 truckloads! - FedEx showed up with our new "outdoor living space"!!! So, in-between all of the other things that our fantastic helpers were doing, they also set THAT up! Meanwhile I was able to get a couple of short walks in around the yard with my service dog...there was a lot going on, a TON of stuff got accomplished, the tent is AMAZING and WAY better than we expected, before they left our helpers did the last of the yard cleanup, the bits and bobs that were laying around here and there, and it looks FANTASTIC out there!! The dogs were totally exhausted by the time we came in but it was a fun day with wonderful people, so much improvement outside as we began setting up for another season of outdoor living and fun...(see also the slideshow of the day!)

This was a great day! I spent most of the day out in the Tent Shed doing laundry in my little portable washer (that makes laundry fun!). Our helpers, meanwhile, were here working and our landlord (we lease this huge lot) came to pick up the yard waste that our helpers had cleaned up last week. So they loaded his truck, and while they were working - they took out 3 truckloads! - FedEx showed up with our new "outdoor living space"!!! So, in-between all of the other things that our fantastic helpers were doing, they also set THAT up! Meanwhile I was able to get a couple of short walks in around the yard with my service dog...there was a lot going on, a TON of stuff got accomplished, the tent is AMAZING and WAY better than we expected, before they left our helpers did the last of the yard cleanup, the bits and bobs that were laying around here and there, and it looks FANTASTIC out there!! It was a fun day with wonderful people, so much improvement outside as we began setting up for another season of outdoor living and fun...(see also the video, vlog #2149, of the day!)

Our grandson was with us from birth through preschool and we did a lot of Bible reading/memorization, and a LOT of music! This was his favorite song during his early years, and I can't hear it or play it without thinking of him and remembering those years, with his sweet little voice singing along! By the time he and his mom moved to another town (when he was 4) he had memorized 24 Bible passages and numerous songs...those were very special days in our lives, and hoping in his as well! This is played on my Yamaha Tyros5-76. “If you seek perfection, look elsewhere.” ~ Chiafucius

Just a series of photos taken through various windows in my house of the wildlife - plus a neighbor's chickens who came over for a while to join in the fun.

A description of how I made this AMAZING crust! I'm a pizza crust snob and haven't loved any of the low carb crusts I've tried over the last 19 years...but THIS, excellent! Especially reheated the next day in the convection oven, it got SUPER crispy!

As you've already seen we had our living room rearranged a couple of days ago. Here are my "poi boiz" - meyer's parrot Elliot and red-bellied parrot Maxwell (both poicephalus parrots) looking around when I let them out the next morning.

I just love using my little portable washing machine, and have posted videos about it in the past...but just had to share how excited I was to get it all set up again this year, and enjoy the fresh air while I worked! This thing washes like a champ, better than the laundromat, and spins the clothes almost completely dry - they were fully dry after only 2 hours on the line. Thanks for sharing in my excitement!

One of our helpers rearranged the furniture in our living area for us yesterday and we love it! We have lived in RVs for nearly 8 years now, this is our first 5th wheel after 2 motorhomes and I LOVE that the furniture isn't built in and we have options! When living in sticks'n'bricks most of my life I would rearrange the furniture several times a year, and I'm thrilled to be able to do that again!

Playing some Good Friday hymns

One of our helpers, whose passion is gardening, is helping me do a garden this year. I will be documenting it on my website, including these videos, of which this is the first. I am starting out at a point of knowing NOTHING. I'm glad E is a patient teacher!

I have been anxious to see the river, so Pete took his camera and walked around our yard at the top of the "hill" (more like a dropoff in most places) and then down at river level. He got 3GB of video which I edited and optimized and made into this video. Where we live is a large lot surrounded by woods, with these heavily treed "hills" along 2 sides that lead to the river about 20-25' below, and what I call the lower lot - a large open grassy yard on the bank. Must of this lot is currently underwater, part of it appears as an island. The river is typically about 30' across on average but right now it is a lot wider and deeper. The Pete went to a nearby road to take some video of the same river as it runs under that road's bridge; he got good footage from both sides.

These are some well-known hymns that I have played together, the common theme is God's grace. And remember, “If you seek perfection, look elsewhere.” ~ Chiafucius