We LOVE the noise LEVEL!!!

Before the Bledsoe's arrived, mom got her hair done.  She seems to like the ladies at the shop, and wow.. 45 minutes she is in and out.  Dad, Derek and I ran and took care of some errands, and made it back just in time.
(I just so happened to have my camera in the car.  I thought I'd shoot a picture of mom after the appointments.. Hum.. I should have done a before and after.  Mom complains about the wind... it does a number on her hair!)

With Trey & Tian here, the noise level goes up a notch or two, but I can tell that mom and dad enjoy having the boys here.

With Bob driving, they all jumped inside the Ranger and did the irrigation, checked out the cows and checked the level of the pond.  Dad loves being out with "the girls"  (That would be the cows).

Mom is a trooper and is found doing the dishes.  I told dad that I felt bad that mom was left after most dinners to tend to the dishes... he said, "Oh, she doesn't mind!"
 (I personally think she'd rather be inside safe, than outside "jeepin" it!)

It's warming up!

Did I mention to you that our oven broke during our "Break the Fast"?  Well, we have a double oven and the heating element went crazy... it smelled like burning wires.. kind of scary!  Anyway, all week mom and I have been clever with our meals.  I had told a friend that I'd take her dinner... everything I could think of required an oven.  Well, Mom is clever so we made do.  So happy that Sears is going to get our ovens tomorrow!  (Just as mom was getting the hang of my old oven's buttons and controls)

I think it was the first day since my parents got here that they didn't wear a jacket or sweatshirt outside.  It's warming up nicely, but the good thing about Bend, Oregon.. it ALWAYS cools down at night!  (Did I mention that while I was out herding calves that weren't ours.. it was 37 degrees at 6:15.. up, chilly)

Mom's taking a break from the cooking & cleaning!!!

Dad keeps a record of what irrigation systems I have on.  It's a little confusing, but he's getting it.  He keeps the chart in the little glove box in the Ranger, then he circles the "Station" that we turn on, and then marks it when we turn it off.  He likes knowing everything there is to know about the fields.  He hopes that before they head home our hay field will be bailed.  Fingers crossed.  The ranch hand started his field yesterday, so we drove to the fence and watched him work!  Maybe ours will be long enough next week!  (Dad could only wish)

Happy Fireworks!

Dad and Mom slept in this morning till 9:30.  Wow!  (They missed all MY fun morning... cows were on the loose... neighbors thought they were ours.. (Praise the heavens) They weren't ours .. ours are obedient and don't climb through fences)
We missed Bob's amazing BBQ.. he promised us one at a later date.. he was in Portland working!
Tonight we had front row seats to watch the fireworks.  The fireworks are  shot  off  of Pilot Butte.  We turn the radio to a certain station and listen and watch... they are famous in these parts!  Glen Roberts had chairs and hot chocolate ready and waiting for us!  It was quite enjoyable!  I loved hearing the oohs and ahhs coming from mom and dad.  Another late night... it's 11:21 and they are just now crawling into bed.  Good night!

It's WAR!!!

We had a few minutes to spare while waiting to do the irrigation, so we got out the cards and Derek played War with dad and then with mom!  Dad won, then Derek won.

While Derek and I were in Sisters, Dad put together 4 quite difficult puzzles.
They are getting excited about the family reunion coming up.
Dad will appreciate California's warm temperatures.  He's pretty much bundled up here, today's high was maybe 68 degrees.
We read the new way to cook corn on the cob.. WOW, it worked amazing for mom.  Thanks Bob & Aunt Donna! Nothing on the corn but corn!!!

It's after 11:00p.m. and mom was in reading dad a bedtime story.  Derek and I went to the library today (Always on Tuesdays), and picked up a child's book about How they Built the Empire State Building. Mom was interested, so she decided to read it to him before she turned out the lights. 
Mom is concerned with all the fires going on in Utah.  You know fire & heat is not good for the Elderly, one more reason they need to stay here!

P.S. on Saturday

While it was still raining, we all adventured out to the sports room to get the room ready for our Break the Fast Social.  Mom helped me set the tables, Dad untangled some 4th of July Lights, and Bob and Derek exercised. 

When we were done with the tables we decided to get a little exercise in.  Dad did the bike, mom the health rider, Derek the eliptical and Bob the treadmill.  If you can see... after dad got going, he biked for 1/2 mile.  Way to go Dad. 

(Mom made Derek take a picture of me on a machine.. just so we could all be in a picture, I did not exercise!)
Hopefully he won't be sore tomorrow.  I do believe that did didn't have a nap today.. oh, maybe he closed his eyes during the Olympic trials, but only for a second.  It's 11:03 and my parents are just climbing into bed.

A Drizzily Saturday!

Wish we could send some of our rain in the states that are having fires.  But it's sure looking green out in this High Desert. 

While mom was getting her hair done, dad and I stayed home to do a little cleaning, talking and watching the polo player out the front window.  I rearranged the furniture (No one cares, no one but the Home Teacher sits in the Living Room) so dad could have a good look out the windows.  While we were enjoying the "scenery" it started raining and lightning.. hasn't stopped since. Oh, before dad cold get a real good look out the windows, he had to wash them.... He said, "I don't know where you keep your windex, but maybe you could get me the cleaner and a rag."  Like I said, no one uses the living room.

After mom's appointment and after she rain some errands with Derek and Bob, Dad and her organized Derek's Postcards.  Maybe I'll list the States we have yet to receive from... for you that have asked!  Dad's feeling much better today, yesterday wasn't one of his best.  But as we were talking he said he just loves being here and enjoys waking up to see the irrigation going and the cows in the field.. oh, and the polo players practicing on their beautiful horses.  (I went and printed off some information about the sport of Polo.  Very interesting.
Oh, and he did do some exercises to Chris Argento's group.  If you haven't heard the Black Hawk group singing.. you need to.  Thanks Chris for Dad's Father's Day gift!

It's getting warmer!

You can see, yesterday was a coat day, today, not so much.  (Dad prefers the warm days)

I loved coming up to the porch and seeing mom and dad reading the newspaper together.
Scene of one stuborn cow not wanting to get out of our way!

Another day of soaking the garden.
Today was the best for dad getting in and out of the Ranger.  He's getting better each time.

Since I got home late from Sisters, we didn't have time to watch the Polo Match (or I should say their practice).. we had water to tend to.  Dad noticed we had a lone duck in the pond.  Must have been camera shy.. I stopped the Ranger to take the picture and it flew away!  While I was in Sisters, mom ironed my clothes... Thanks mom!!!

Trying to Warm Up Monday!

Before adventuring outside, we did a little exercise.  I love Dad's face.  (Remember, I'm not that GREAT on picture taking)  Mom suggested to Dad that he should be working his arms.  I went and got them both some hand held weights and we did a little weight lifting.

When we thought it was warm enough we went out so dad could water my plants.  I took my camera out to get a better shot of Robert's corn.. but totally forgot until after I wound up the hose.  So I had Derek take a picture of us being outside by the garden, trying to enjoy 50 degree weather.

After Dad's nap he joined me in doing the irrigation.  Once again I got him wet.  I want him to be close enough to the wheel line so he can see what I'm doing.  Well, I need to move faster, so I can get us out of the way in time.  When we got back to the house Mom said, "Oh, I didn't know it started raining".  I nudged Dad not to say a word!

Too cold to go out to play!

The only time mom stepped outside was to get her hair done. 
(Note to us: Keep an umbrella in the car, especially on beauty parlor days!)
It was cold, windy and rainy all day.  We caught up on Hallmark movies (I've been DVRing them), and Bob and Derek went to see Snow White and the Huntsman. (We could have used the yummy movie popcorn during our shows... but we did have some leftovers when they got home)
When this picture was taken, dad had just gone to bed and mom was starting a hat.... a little late at 10:15.  Notice the space heater still on from earlier.  Yup, chilly!!!  The blanket and dad were friends all day today!

A very Cool Thursday

It probably didn't reach 61 today.  WE bundled dad up, a sweatshirt, a coat, a blanket and a scarf and went out to kill some weeds out in the back field.  Dad supervised and found the weeds I was to spray. The weed is called a Mustard weed.  (I pulled a couple to show mom just what we were out spraying)  While we were out it rained, it poured, and the wind picked up.  I kept asking dad if he wanted to go in.. but he said, "No, it's just a little rain".  The Ranger has a top, and a windshield.. but he still got a few drips on him.... When we got back to the porch, he still wanted to stay out, so he just sat on the little bench swing.  As he sat down he said, "I don't know why I love it so much here".  I asked him what it was that he loved so much, he said "the irrigation, the pond level, the cows (He likes to count them), just being outside".
I was happy dad liked the pulled pork tonight, he asked for seconds.  He's not a chicken fan (Which we have a lot of), so looks like we've found something that he'll enjoy eating.
Right now I went in to say goodnight (It's 10:39), dad asked me what animal it was they've been hearing.  I paused, heard it and reported to him that it is a Screech Owl.  He said, "Oh that's great!"

This is the mustard weed.  If you rub your fingers on the yellow leaves and then smell your fingers, it really does smell like mustard.  It's suppose to be edible.. but since it grows out in the pasture, I opted just to smell it.

Oh, the walkie talkie is how we keep in touch with mom while we are outside!

(Too bad our rain and cool temperatures couldn't help the fires in Utah.. our clean, cool air is much better for mom and dad)

It's been a week today!

Wow, it's been a week that Mom and Dad have been here.  Time goes by so fast!

When we do the water, Dad always apologizes for not being able to help.  But today we figured he was able to water my garden.  Hopefully his green thumb will rub off on my vegetables!  (He wore the hat to make mom happy.. but once we went out to change the irrigation.. it came off)  Speaking of irrigation.. two nights now I accidentally didn't move dad out of the way of the sprinklers.. he got hit right in the face.... he laughed as he wiped his glasses off.  The field is so bumpy, I joke that he's going to die of whiplash... then I asked, "Would mom put that in your obituary?"  He laughed again.

I made dad and Bob a little night time snack... he's eating well... but he's not liking chicken at all... note to self, thaw out something other than chicken!

Wednesday July 20th..

 I haven't hardly cooked a meal... Shhh, don't tell mom.. That's why I have her come!

 Relaxing after we did the irrigation.  Look how happy dad is.  Do you like my irrigation boots?

Dad slept in until 10:15!  Well, he's only getting one nap a day (if that) so he is tired.  I love watching Derek and Dad put together puzzles, and work on the I-Pad together.. well, pretty much Dad watched Derek with the I-Pad.  We had visits by Phyllis and then Carol Virgin came with 7 trout she and Terry had just caught.  She thought my mom would like to fry them up.... (I guess she doesn't know my mom).  Bob gets to smoke the fish on Friday.  After dinner I noticed the Polo Players were out practicing.  I hurried and got dad in the Ranger and drove down the driveway right in front of the goals.  Derek, Dad and I sat there and enjoyed watching them practice.  Dad knew the types of most of the horses.  (We left mom inside to do the dishes..j/k)  They watched a Hallmark movie and then got into bed around 10:45.  Before going to bed dad asked "What's on tap for tomorrow"  I think he's enjoying himself!

Tuesday Flew by!

I was glad to have my parents here.  I needed to be at an older ladies home at 7:45 to take her to the doctors.  Mom made sure Derek was up and ready for the tutors at 9:00, and had everything looking great for our Team Meeting.  Later in the day Robert and Heather called to see if we'd like to look at their garden and their apartment (which really is a house)  They moved in not too long ago.  WE loved it.  Their garden is amazing.. so much work they put into their raised beds.. and their place is so FUN!!! The people who own it lived in it while they had their house built.  It's got such high ceilings and I love the wide openness of it.  Mom said that she felt like she was in Lake Tahoe!
Mom and dad thought Heather was so sweet... WE agree!  Mom and dad watched Derek and "America's got Talent" while I went and played Volleyball.  I sure do love having them here!

Monday, Monday!!!

Tried to help mom and have a low key day...yesterday there was too much excitement!
Dad put together Derek's United States puzzle while mom folded my laundry (I sat on the couch and read a book.... just kidding).  Oh also I taught dad some games on the I-Pad.  He'll be good at it before he leaves! 
Dad joined me out in the field changing the irrigation.  I'll post a mushroom we found growing in the field... crazy big!

Oh, and our lost cat must have known someone was around to pet her... so she helped herself to dad's lap!

Super Sunday!

Everyone at church was excited to see my parents. Three friends came over to our car to greet them, even before we could get dad out of the car.  Carol & Terry Virgin moved from their pew to the pew mom and dad were sitting on, they are happy to have them back for a visit.  After Bob's lesson, he took them home to rest.  After changing our clothes we loaded up the 3 cows  (Yes, it was still the Sabbath) and took them to Madras for the big Auction which happens to be tomorrow!  Dad enjoyed the drive; noticing all the cows out in their green pastures, and the beautiful horses that were also out grazing.. mom stayed home to set the table and make some phone calls.  Dad enjoyed my XM radio stations.  We listened to the Pop 40's music one way, and the 50's on the way home.  Bob made a GREAT Father's Day dinner when we got home.  Dad enjoyed his steak and all the trimmings.  But best of all he loved the phone calls wishing him a Happy Day.  He went to bed very tired, but extremely happy!

I put mom to work!

All those years I was put to work weeding the yard... Now it's my turn to have mom weed MY yard.. Just kidding, she insisted! Dad supervised!

Mom even "served" the watermellon rinds to the bull!