Portland, Oregon June 25th- 28

There are a lot of disadvantages to having your children located all over the country but the one advantage is that in visiting them you see a lot of wonderful country. Such was the case last June when Marvin and I flew to Portland, Oregon to see Joe, Jim and John. We arrived in time to have lunch with Joe, Gillian and Gillian's parents Bill and Jan. An after lunch tour of Portland included seeing Joe's condo and Gillian's parents beautiful new home. Sorry no pictures didn't have my camera.

Joe was being very mysterious about what he had planned for that evening. He made reservations for the four of us on a dinner cruise on the Williamette River that goes right through the middle of Portland. It was very enjoyable and the food was delicious.

Friday morning Marvin and I took the MAX and went exploring. We saw a few art galleries that I will long remember because of a couple of artists that I really enjoyed. Arne Westerman, (my favorite artist of the day.) Barbara Denedetti Newton (her work was in colored pencil/ watercolor) and David Carmack Lewis (he did some very interesting things with perspective).



Around noon Joe and Gillian joined us to go see the special showing of M. C. Escher's work at the Portland Museum. It was fantastic!
Then off to Portland's famous rose gardens!! Wow were they wonderful. (Pictures on future blog)

Then Gillian took us to a favorite cafe for lunch- I can understand why they like it. I ended up gaining three pounds in the three days we were in Portland. :[

Saturday morning Jim came down to Portland and we went to a Kosher restaurant named Kenny and Duke for breakfast, very kosher. We went down to the Street Market but found it not worth the walking effort. We drove east of Portland to see the Multnomah Falls which is the second highest year round waterfall in the nation. It plunges 620 feet. Then we visited a fish hatchery. I guess I will always be a school teacher but it was really fun to learn all about the salmon and trout industry. I had my lessons plans all made by the time we left. :) Actually it was very interesting.

On the way back to Portlland we discovered an art gallery full of the wonderful works of Rip Caswell. He is a sculpture that reminds me of Jeff. Same good attitude and wonderful talent. His internet site is www.caswellsculptures.com Wonderful experience!!!

We then went up to see Pittock Mansion. The estate includes a 16,000 square foot, 30 room mansion and 46 acres of land. How the very rich spend their money.




We had lunch at Lauralwood restaurant with Jim and Joe, another one of Joes favorites. Then Marvin and I "took our meds". Our way of saying we took a nap. :)

That night we went to Water On The Desert. John and Misu's special program of Butoh. This was an art form that we had never experienced before. It was especially fun to see Misu on stage and feel her warm connection with the audience. Her dance explored the feelings accompaning a migration from one country to another. In her own families case from Italy to the U.S. Another number was an expression of the cycle of grief that I related to and recognized some of my own feelings in it.

Sunday we drove up to Kalama, Washington where Jim and Lita live. Lita was in Pocatello so we didn't get to see her but it was fun to see their apartment. Jim went with us to see Mt. St. Helens. What a beautiful drive!

Sunday night we drove back to Portland where we had a nice visit and dinner at an Italian restaurant with John and Mizu.

All in all a wonderful time!!

Major catch up from March to June

This will be a hodge podge of photos from trips to St. George, Redding and Edmonton Alberta Canada.

March 15th: Marvin and I decided it was time to see our new little Great Grandaughter in St. George. We had a wonderful visit with B.J. and Amber but the focus really was on beautiful little Haylee.


Remember this is a photo of her that was taken three months ago. Can't wait to see her at the Fifield family reunion July 20th-23rd.

On April 10th we went to Salt Lake City with Bryce and Laurie to see "Wicked". Before the show we ate at P.F. Changs. Extra delicious!!!


The show was super fun. Well done in every way. A must see.

Couldn't resist slipping this one in. Kyler and Grandpa working hard.

On April 24th I flew to Sacramento to meet Marvin who had been to New Mexico for a site visit. From there we drove to Redding to attend Terry's graduation.



We can't wait for you to meet Roxy, Terry's sweetheart and wife.


After graduation we did some touristy type things. Went out to eat, took pictures, got a tour of the Fun Park that Terry manages, went out to eat, took a nap, went out to eat:) and played with Mitzi. Who is Mitzi? She is the newest Fifield hound. Look closely and you can see her with us.

Below is a picture of an impressive bridge that is in Redding
We drove down to the coast to see part of the Redwood Forest. The words "huge and magnificent" now have new meaning for me.

And finally the trip to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We lived there for twenty three years and it has been twenty four years since we left to move to Texas. I have never been back but I have promised regularly that I would go back for a visit. Well on June 2nd I kept my many promises. The following are pictures that probably won't mean much to the Fifields but to the Schaellings they will stir a few memories.
This is the home that we called the green house. It was white with a little green trim and when we lived in it, it was a few years short of 100 years old. Still standing they are putting new siding on it now. The pink is insulation.


John Mark's bedroom windows and the back yard. Notice the picket fence is gone put they still have to paint the new one!


Driving up the drive way to our log home.
Picture doesn't show it but the logs were in really good shape. They are adding on a garage on the left side.



Very disappointed that there was no one at home so I couldn't see the inside.

Do you remember the Linbrook store? Didn't look like this then but this is it today.The biggest surprise was the Church in Tofield. We were the first members in the Tofield area. They organized a branch there shortly after we moved in and we attended church in the library of the elementary school. Now 24 years later they have this beautiful big stake center in Tofield.
It was wonderful being with Lorne and Linda. So many happy memories. I was able to see Kristie and Stew and their families. I went to church in Edmonton where we attended for so many of those 24 years. There were still a lot of the same people that we knew and worked with back then.
Well that about brings me up to date............... We leave for Portland next week :)

April 14th 2009

On the 14th of April my mother peacefully passed away into the arms of her eternal sweetheart. Mom has had a very difficult two years. She has missed Dad incredibly. It has been three and a half years since he passed away. She had a cerebral hematoma that robbed her over a period of time of her ability to communicate, dress or feed herself or a million other things she had always been so careful about doing for herself. I thought I would only feel joy when Mom was released from all of this. I have been very happy for Mom but it has been surprisingly hard for me as well. There is a huge hole inside of me.

We were able to have all of Grandma's children, grandchildren, their companions and a number of great grandchildren here for the funeral. We had some wonderful visits with each other and saw and heard from many cousins and friends that we haven't seen for a long time.

The other good part of this time was the increased focus on memories and our years with her. My appreciation of mom's life, all she accomplished, her strength, her love of life and kindness is magnified. I realize at this point ( as I should have realized long ago) how much I owe to Mom.

Thank you Mom.

Special Days in Macomb Michigan

I don't know of anything that is more fun than being a grandmother. On Feb 11th I flew out to Detroit to visit Jeff and Sarah and their family. The first night I was there we went to Emma's school program. They really did a fantastic job and it was great to be there and see it. It made me a little homesick for the kids I use to teach.




It has been a long time between blogs because of photo/computer problems but I think I have it all resolved for the moment. "Senior moments" come way too often these days and what is straight and clear one day is nonexistent the next. :) So I am going to hurry and post while I have it. On the 12th I was able to witness the sealing of Maya and Tristan to Jeff and Sarah in the Detroit Temple. They are now an eternal family of seven. Emma, Isabelle and Alex were able to go in and witness the sealing also. They were all dressed in white. It was so very beautiful.




This was the hair station. Every hair was in its place. ;)


Tristan's turn!

Then on the 14th Emma was baptized. It's hard to believe that she could be eight years old already and what a wonderful young lady she is. I adore that kid! She played a piano solo for the program. It was her first time playing for an audience and she did it without a mistake.


It was especially nice to get to visit with Jeff's parents as well. They were back there for these special events as well. Good people and lots of fun.

A little more Kona and on around to Hilo

The temple in Kona Hawaii. It is so pristine and beautiful. It was closed the day we were there. It is only open a few days a week. I was so amazed at all the unusual flowers we saw on the temple grounds and else where. I wish I knew the names of each of them but I don't. Just enjoy.


One of the most memorable places we visited was Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort. It is hundreds of acres, all immaculately groomed and breath taking. Included are many swimming pools, a dolphin pen where you could sign up to play with dolphins, hundreds of pieces of art from all over the world, spectacular viewing areas of the coast and ocean. Because it is so huge they have a tram that runs on rails and a canal with boats to take you around - all free of any charge even if you are not a registered guest.


Black Sand Beach and sea turtles - we saw the turtles but they did not come up on the beach despite all my prayers.



Our Bed and Breakfast in Hilo had a 120 foot fall in the backyard. It was spectacular and we could enjoy it from the balcony.



It was also surrounded with thousands of acres of macadamia orchards.

There is a beautiful four mile scenic drive north of Hilo. As we drove it I kept thinking this can't be real it is way to awesome. The trees and vines went on and up forever, flowers were everywhere. In the middle of the four miles is a Botanical Gardens. We spent almost three hours in the gardens ohhing and ahhhing :) Unfortunately the pictures don't come close to capturing the beauty of the place.







On the last day we took a ride on a helicopter in order to get a good look at the Volcanoes and the lava flow fields. They talked us into doing it with the doors offs so it was a bit scary for Marvin who was sitting with one cheek on the seat and the rest of him over the skids.



This is the steam that comes out as the hot lava flows into the ocean.

We didn't see many surfer's but on the last day we saw these three making us feel like we really were in Hawaii. :-)



Well that is it for Hawaii. Next week I am off to Detroit. Life is oh so good.