Forgot to mention I bought a new car over the weekend. We had been looking to get rid of my truck as it only gets 11 mpg. We started looking around and settled on a Toyota Corolla. I picked it up and surprised Susie with it when she got home. It gets 37 mpg hwy. and 31 in town. We will save a bunch of money on gas. Not going to drive it in the nasty weather, right now. Still have the big truck for the snow and bad weather.

Well, more winter weather for us. Been snowing for a couple of days. About 6" or so on the ground. Susie was over on West side with the grandson while his parents were in Portland for a bike race. I talked her into coming home a day early as the 'Pineapple Express' is coming in behind all of this snow and cold. The west side folks are busy building an Arc as flooding is predicted by Tuesday. She had an interesting trip back, driving through a small avalanche just on the west side of summit and a total white out in Tumwater Canyon. But she made it okay. We may have rain coming to us tomorrow which will create a real wet, slushy mess. Anyway, we're finishing our Christmas shopping and enjoying life. This Tuesday I have a information meeting that the Mayor has put together for new applicants for the Council position. Try to let everyone know what the job entails and the time involved. I think the application process ends Dec. 20. The interviews will be held on Jan. 3, 2008. We still don't know if they will announce 1 or 2 openings as Craig Larson has not, yet, given notice for an ending date. Slowwwwwwwwwww process. More later.

Snow started yesterday, around 4:30 p.m. and is continuing. We have about 3" so far but it is just snowing lightly, now. It's beautiful around here when it's all white. The roads are well maintained as we have LOTS of plows, City, County and Private contractors. Our temp.'s are going down and will stay in the teens and low 20's through the weekend. Will see more snow over the weekend. This is not the 'big dump' though, as we usually get each year of over a foot. That comes in a week or two, I think. Christmas shopping under way, buying for the grandkids. Still working on selling my truck so we can buy a small car for some better gas mileage. We're looking at the Toyota Corrolla which gets about 34 mpg. Would save us $150-200 a month. We'll see how it shakes out. Sue is heading over the pass this a.m. to watch one of our grandsons as his folks go to Portland for a bike race for the weekend. fun times we are having. More later.

It's Monday after Thanksgiving. We are waiting for snow to begin. Doing some Xmas shopping here in Wenatchee. Above is the first walls of our Events Center. They are working very hard on the project, even on the weekends. It's pretty exciting!! Across the street are some Condo's going up. Basement, and first level are up on first units. I think the business portions are on main floor, then living upstairs, as I understand. Okay - we are staying in for the evening. The roads have been coated with freezing rain and it's 29 degrees out. Had to put special 'chains' on my feet to get the paper & mail, out front. Listening to radio, they have multiple accidents happening all over the county from the black ice. We need a good snow cover on the roads. Enough for now.

No pictures to post for Thanksgiving. Too many things going on. We visited with family during the week prior and then had our dinner on Turkey Day. That was a good experience. My step-son and I put a 13 lb. turkey in the smoker. Had never done that. When we ate, we were delightfully surprised. Very rich and very moist. We are going to do it again for Xmas. Came back home to colder weather. Overcast and very cold.

Here is Susie pushing the cut apples down the chute into the grinder. Below that is the container that the ground apples are 'pressed'. Pete, in foreground, is turning the wheel to 'smash' the apples and then the jusice flows into a bucket underneath. Quite a production but lots of fun. We worked about 2 1/2 hours and got about 3 bins of apples made into juice.

Making Apple Juice - grinding and smashing on the top, full process below that.

This is our apple juicing operation. A bunch of friends got together at Pete's place. He's the Manager of the Colockum Wildlife area. He got a donation of 4 bins of apples and he invited a group of us to come help with the process. Washing, cutting, grinding, smashing, straining and bottling. We all took several jusgs home with us. It was a wonderful fall day with lots of sun and blue sky and good friends. And the juice was soooooo good!

Okay - so I'm going to start trying to keep this Blog going and be a little more current. As my election try didn't work out, maybe I have a better chance now. Applications are now out for 2, that's right, 2 vacated positions on the City Council. Seems Craig Larson doesn't want to be a Chelan Co. Port Commissioner AND Wen. City Councilmember. So - 2 positions are going to need to be filled. My chances have gone way up, I hope. The whole process, now, will be slow in coming together. Christy is leaving soon, as her husband has said her new job in Iowa starts Dec. 1. Larson is staying until the Budget is done. That should be about the 1st part of Dec. Now the question is: how will they decide who gets which position. Christy's is a four year and Larson is 2. Christy's spot pays $665 month and Larson's $550. Whoever gets appointed ,on either, has to run for the position in September of 2008. More money for campaign!!! I am excited as I want to be part of this process. Our Arena is started and going very well. The big crane is in position for lifting walls. Walls going up the week of Nov. 19th. Condominiums are being built right now, down on the waterfront, adjacent to Walla Walla Park. Wish we could afford one. Will try getting some pictures to post of the construction. We're all looking forward to winter and the snow flying.

Our Grandson Cory at his 2nd Birthday

October 14, 2007

Fall is here for 2007. It has been one heck of a Summer. Lots of work and fun. We're getting ready for the winter season and welcome the snow. Rick is running for a City Council seat in Wenatchee. the ballots come out on Oct. 17 though we won't know the results until Nov. 6. It's football season and that's great. Up next is HOCKEY!!!!