Just an Add On

I couldn't resist adding these pictures.

The ducks in my sister's back yard waiting to be fed.

Montana weather - from a Rainbow yesterday morning to

SNOW this morning.  That would be MY car under all that.

MONTANA Again

Now that my Vagabond Year is ending, I guess I've moved on from my picture taking duties.  I forgot to get a picture of the Thanksgiving table this year so this is an improvised version (missing only one person, Marietta Hamilton, Shana's mother).  (Top to bottom) Dick and Maureen Ford, ME, Kellie Campbell, Pat Campbell, Chris Johnson and Jenna Reichenberg, Linda Campbell, and Shana and Mitch Campbell.  Hopefully by now you are clear on how all these people are in my world.  (Matt Campbell and his family, Mike Campbell and his family, and Jason Reichenberg and his family were all at their in-laws for Thanksgiving this year so it was a much smaller group than usual.)


There is one more month until the official end of My Vagabond Year, but that month is going to be spent in Montana, staying with my sister so it's doubtful that there will be anything to write about or show pictures of.  My statement though about this Vagabond Year is that it has been wonderful.  It was truly one of the better decisions I have made in this lifetime.  Having this time of no obligations has given me time to think and to adjust my perspectives on many things.  And the travel experiences have expanded my knowledge base and interest levels.  I actually do feel like a different person, at least internally.

My daughter, Kori, and her husband Matt are going to be moving to Montana in the spring of 2014.  They will be renting a beautiful house on the Stillwater River, just two cabins down from my son's and across the road from my nieces and nephew's.  I will be living with them to assist in getting their business going and I am VERY excited about that.  It will be my first time in about 40 years of spending an entire year (winter and all) in Montana.  I have many plans for the winter months; i.e., knitting, crocheting, practicing the piano so that I can play at least one song all the way through, reading, and maybe even cooking.

Doing this blog has been lots of fun.  It actually made me take a different approach to my experiences this year, mainly paying closer attention and thinking about what would be most effectively shared with you.

So with the idea in mind that this will make you all jealous, here is a picture of my home for 2014 and possibly part of 2015.

Woodland, CA

Coming to the home of Mitch and Shana Campbell (my son and his wife) you are most often greeted by Katie and Jake.

Shana and Mitch

Here are Shana's words of advice from a special couple:

BUT, most of all  BE  YOURSELF!

 

Celebrations

 Granddaughter Jenna is getting married in Mexico in January of 2014.  This occasion is a wedding shower being held for her and these are the family members in attendance:  (Front Row-left to right) Allison Reichenberg, my grandson Jason's wife; Diane Campbell, my son Mike's wife; Jenna; Jennifer Campbell, my son Matt's wife; Linda Campbell, my ex-husband Pat's wife; (Back Row-left to right) Shana Campbell, my son Mitch's wife; Tenaya Campbell, my granddaughter; Kellie Campbell, my daughter; Me, and Maureen Ford, my sister-in-law.  The reason for the hats and gloves is that it was a "high tea" party.

Same day was the 8th birthday party for my grandson Brady.

Oregon/Washington Visits

It has been very important to me to get all my family members on this blog before the end of the year.  Therefore, I made a special trip to Oregon to visit with my sister's daughters and their families.  I had two sisters.  You have already met the oldest, Dione, with whom I have been living in Billngs.  My other sister, the second oldest (which makes me the baby) is Glenda Nyman who passed away in 2010.  

These are her children.

Oldest of Glenda's daughters is (top picture) Tracie Freni with her husband Tom (left) 

and her son Niko.

Bottom Left picture is Tracie's daughter Felicia with her two children Brody and Bailey.

Bottom Right picture is Tracie's daughter Amelia.

Second oldest daughter is Vickie Hughes (back row) with her husband Dave 

and her son Jordan.

Three girls in front are Vickie's daughters Ashley and Rachel, and her daughter-in-law Ellie.

Youngest daughter is Lisa Schmidt (second from right) with her husband Frank 

to her right.

The children (from left to right) are Kaila, Stephen, Michael, Josiah (behind), Valerie (front),

 and Taylor (far right next to his mother)

All of these families live within 45 minutes of each other.  Tracie and Vickie are in Oregon and Lisa lives just across the river in Washington state.  I have had a delightful visit with all of them and look forward to the next time.  Hopefully that will be at a family reunion on the Stillwater River in Montana in 2015 - if not before.

Special Friends

Today I was treated to the 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration of some very dear friends, Mel and Karen Melius.  Mel was best man at my own wedding in 1958.

Their five children were friends of my children.  Karen actually babysat for my three youngest for about a year AND she maintained her sanity 

Back to Montana

I am now in Billings, Montana looking back on this past almost two months of travel.  What a delightful experience.  I saw 13 countries in Europe, 2 provinces in Canada, and 13 states, 10 of which I had never been in before.  As we were loading into the bus in South Dakota we were treated with this sunrise.

(Taken through the window of the bus)

 It seemed to me that was a perfect symbol for ending a series of experiences but more importantly looking forward to whatever lies ahead.  My plans are to be in Montana through October, then to Oregon and California for November, and back in Montana for December.  So far the plan is to spend January and February in Arizona but that is not definite at this time.

Obviously, My Vagabond Year is coming to a close.  I will continue to blog until January first as there are some family members that have not been included yet and it’s important to me that they all get in.