Living History School Days

     The California Living History Service Missionaries are returning to the schools after a hiatus due to Covid 19.  Only in the schools, we drop the missionary designation as we do at State Parks and the like.  We are Living History Specialists.  Although called and set apart as service missionaries for The Church of  Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are not proselyting missionaries and are not part of the missionary department, but Public Affairs.  Our mission is to build bridges of friendship in the community, encourage interest in history, and by extension perhaps genealogy, help increase appreciation for the goodnes of our livew, and promote family values.   For intance, when our rope makers teach the children about ropes, they point out that a single stand is not very strong, but when twisted together, working together, several strands make a strong rope, just as family members or community working together strengthen each other.

    Thursday, we did a program at El Dorado Adventist School.  Doing a religious school is particularly nice.  It is only at such a school that we can have a private group prayer.  Otherwise, we only  pray alone privately before going to the school.  Also the children were well behaved and  comfortable talking to adults.  

     A school program begins with the all the children together and "Load Your Wagon" .  The leaders talk with the kids about the hard decisions about what to take and what to leave as they prepare to go on their journey to Oregon or California.  The children help put things on the "wagon bed" and sometimes have to re-evaluate.  They think about what is in their bedroom at home and what they would be able to keep.  Not much!

    After the wagon is loaded, the children are split into groups and go around to stations.  Thursday we had Bear Flag, cloth dolls, toys, laundry, and rope making.  I helped with cloth dolls.  I was surprised at how interested and excited the kids - both boys and girls - were in making the cloth dolls and appreciative of what the dolls would mean to  children who had to leave all their toys behind or on the trail.  

      After the program, the children invted us to enjoy a snack with them.  We had butter and apple butter (seemed like apple sauce) the children had made.  With muffins the teachers proviced.  Very nice!

       It is, apparently, traditional, for the Living History Specialists to go to lunch after the school program.  A good time to evaluate and develope unity.  I don't know if I am going to do this.  We went to Cascada, a Mexican restaurant in Placerville.  To someone who thinsk Wendy's or Taco Bell is a splurge, a lunch that starts at about $17seems like a lot and is not something i can do regularly.   Happy surprise, however!  Sumner Howes, our District Leader, and his wife  bought lunch for a couple of us single ladies.  Very nice, I  cannot expect that every time, nor would I want to.  That would not seem right. 

      Friday, I worked at the Folsom Pioneer Village.  We had two school groups come through. (Home school groups.  Home School groups are very nice, too, although the children may be slightly more prone to do things their own way regardless of instruction)  When we do school groups at the Village, we charge $10/sturdent and $6/chaperone, and again do much the same program.  (I imagine we charge schools we go to.  I will have to ask.)  We do use up a lot of supplies.  We set up stations through the village with crafts and activities that are not usually available.  I did cloth dolls again,  And again was pleased with the interest and appreciation shown by both boys and girls . 

     One little six year old girl declared her intention to get married.  Then she asked when you can get married.  The mothers/teachers/chaperones stayed quiet.  So I told her that she needed to be quite grown up, maybe 20,and that first she she should get to know lots of friends so she would know what kind of friend she likes best and wants to always be with.  The girl told me that it had to be boys because two girls can't have babies.  I said, that's right, but having friends who are both boys and girls sitll helps you learn what you think is most important.  I also said that if you want a husband who works hard and tells good jokes, you have to be someone who works hard, too, and laughs.   I asked her age and then told her that she had to wait about15 years.  At that point, a mom/teacher/chaperone broke in and said 20. 

Slightly different conference experience

 My Conference experience was a little unusual today.  

We almost always go to the Stake Center and enjoy conference on TV in the multi-purpose room.  We being my household, David and Teresa, Ruth's family, and Benjamin's little family.  The little kids play more or less quietly in the back and the older kids usually take notes or sit and do conference related activities or sometimes play with their younger sibs.  Ruth has small candies which she pays to the kids if they show her conference notes for each speaker - little kids do pictures of something the speaker talked about.  During the conference break we share lunch with the full-time missionaries - often 2 dozen or so missionaries.

Today there was a problem getting the satellite transmission.  No kidding!  Our satelitte dish is gone! Stolen?!  Eventually both the building and people in our room  got confernce via the internet and computers.  We listened through the building's sound from the chapel because it was  better, but we watched on TV through either Teresa's phone or a computer or both.  Some individuals watched on their own computer screen.  The fun part was that most of the time, the visual and the sound were out of sync.  Still we wanted the visual.  There were amusing moments.

When we started lunch, there were only TWO missionaries. A bit of  let  down after all the work and money we spent getting lunch together.  We surmized that missionaries who had come to the building earilier left while the tech guys were trying to figure out how to get conference without the satellite.  Eventually more missionaries came for lunch.  I think we had 8 which is not too bad.  There will probably be more missionaries Sunday.

Conference itself, was as usual, a feast, even though I kept nodding off.  Heavy emphasis on missions and missionary work.  Instead of taking notes, I worked on crocheting bunny hats for premies.  River Park Ward (Marcia RS president) asked Brighton  (her sister Nila, RS counselor) to help with their service project.  They need the hats by the end of the week.   For sometimes amusing, sometimes insightful, and somewhat random notes see Thus We See - Formerly Middle Aged Mormon Man.   Stay tuned to Thus We See for deeper, more thoughtful notes and comments later.

Bittersweet Anticipation

2022.03.25

The weather is unrelentingly beautiful and warming.  The “rainy” season is about over and we have had scarcely any since December.  Third year of dry weather.  They talk about the drought on the news, but I wonder if most of the urban people understand.  We still have water whenever we turn on the tap.  I am sure the farmers feel it.  And the plants and animals.  

I try not to be water wasteful.  I should do better in the kitchen. Too much rinsing of dishes.  But I remember years ago when I would take long showers followed by a soak in a full tub.  Now I get wet and turn the water off to shampoo, rinse, turn the water off to condition my hair and wash myself, rinse again, and then allow myself a couple of inches of bath water for skin softener.  And I don’t shower every day.   I pray for rain and for snow in the mountains.

In the movie westerns, the droughts are awful and everything is parched, but when a rainstorm comes, all is well and the drought is over.  Here and now, rain might be a relief and give us cause to hope, but has not been nearly enough to replenish lakes and reservoirs or make the rivers rise.  

I was supposed to work at the Folsom Pioneer Village today, but had a lot of trouble with my knees and also  felt unwell yesterday and not altogether great this morning so I stayed home.  I did pull weeds for about an hour and I cut up a rotisserie chicken I had purchased recently.  I did some work on the computer while watching movies on Netflix.  Highly productive.

I had lab work done yesterday.  My blood sugar levels are improving.  I am a little worried that the bsl average is better partly because I have been having night time low sugar incidents.  Which is dangerous.  I have been trying very hard to improve my bsl and my morning and bedtime readings have been in range or close.  My afternoon and pre-dinner readings are still running a little high, but are improving. So my bsl is doing better even without the crashes.  I have been advised to slightly lower my dose of bedtime insulin.  We will see how tonight goes.  Low blood sugar can be dangerous.  Worse, symptoms are not as clear and distinct as they used to be, so an incident can get out of hand without being noticed.  I am considering switching from finger testing to a continuous glucose monitoring system.  In other bad news, the test that checks kidney function was way, way high.  I shall be hearing from the doctor soon.   

A good thing about Kira.  We were out in the front yard.  Me trying to thin out the weed jungle.  A PG&E guy went next door.  While he stood in the driveway next to our fence, the little dogs next door yapped up a storm and Kira went over and barked at him.  After a minute I told her that it was ok and to stop barking.  After a minute she did.  He went into their backyard and did whatever it was he had come to do.  When he came back out near our fence, Kira trotted over and watched him intently, but didn’t bark.  I was pleased. 

2022.03.29  Tuesday   beautiful sunshiney day (drat)

We had some lovely rain yesterday.  More than I expected, but, of course, not enough to break the drought.  It was welcome and I pray for more.

Coming up on one of my favorite weekends of the year - the semi-annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We feast upon the word of God in 5 two hour sessions over Saturday and Sunday, share lunch with the missionaries between sessions, and have a family ice cream party.  To listen live to apostles, prophets, and other righteous leaders!  What a privilege, blessing, and joy.

 

   Strangely however my usual anticipation is slightly tinged with sorrow.  I have been listening to the talks from the last session (October 2021) over and over as I generally do and as I will with these new sessions next week after conference.  What’s new to me is I find myself already missing  the October talks.  Some of them touched me deeply.  Not that I can't still listen to them, because they will still be available - decades of conference sessions are available to read / hear, but I will shift my focus to mainly the new ones.  And, doubtless, some of them will feel just as personal, inspired  (ok, I am willing to say all  of them inspired), and just what I need. It is just a little odd of me to miss the October sessions already.

 

Yesterday, the Sacramento district of the California Living History Service Mission had training for school presentations.  We are going back into the schools for presentation - primarily for 4th grades as that is the California history grade.  As I understand it, we begin with all the kids together and the Load Your Wagon presentation.  The kids have to decide what will be packed in the wagon for the trek west and what will be left behind for good.  Then the kids are divided into groups to rotate through various stations such as cloth doll making, the ship Brooklynn, rope making,  laundry,  and the Bear Flag rebellion , I understand that it is traditional for the living history specialists to go to lunch together after the school presentation,  The training was helpful, interesting, and fun.  My first school presentation day is April 7

 

Within the Outhouse

2022.02.21 Sunday

The dress Nila made for me and the pretty collar she gave me were quite the success.  

I dropped Andrew off at church and then went on to Folsom Pioneer Village.  I was a good bit early.  Which meant I got to park close to the Village.  The other Living History Specialists were very welcoming and friendly.   They showed me around and let me “shadow” them.  I spent most of the time helping visitors pan for “gold.”  Partly because it is fun and I get quite a kick to see how excited they are to find their “gold” flecks and pieces.  Partly because I could lean on the water trough.   I wore my back brace and knee braces which helped.  I was surprised how much my leg muscles hurt from standing.  Later I realized that it was probably because my boots have a little bit higher heels than the sandals and crocs I usually use. Changes the angle and puts a slightly different stress on the legs.  I enjoyed working there, but I was exhausted when it was over.  Some of that was due to the stress of everything being new. 

Wisely, I had put a pot roast in the slow cooker before leaving in the morning.  When I got home (and removed my historical trappings), I added rice and carrots.  Teresa and David brought salad.  

2022.02.23

When I bought Storm (2019 Honda CR-V to replace the one that was rear-ended) , I was disappointed that she didn’t have a CD player, but I didn’t think it was a really big deal.   Turned out, I missed it greatly.  And when I think of a long, long drive, I really want to have books on CD.  My children tell me that I can put any CDs I want on MP3, but frankly, I don’t even know for sure what MP3 is and I sure don’t know how.  I bought a CD player that you can use in a car.  IF the car has an auxiliary port (or something like that)  which Storm does not.  I send it back.  The disappointment continued.  But I think the problem is solved.  I got a portable CD player with speakers and anti-skip protection. I used it on a short drive on errands yesterday, and it worked!

2022.02.25    Friday   Sacrament, CA well, mostly Folsom 

I worked at the Folsom Pioneer Village today.  Met more volunteers.  There are two groups, the Living History “Specialists” and the blacksmiths.  There must have been half a dozen blacksmiths working today.  At one point, one of them noticed several children in the courtyard area, had them gather and sit on benches in front of the blacksmith shop, and gave them a short demonstration.

I, again, spent most of my time at the gold panning.  I enjoy it and it seemed short staffed.  Much of the time I was the only one in that area.  At the Folsom Pioneer Village, I have a third name tag which stays there.  It says “Barbara - Interpreter - Folsom Historical Society” (if I remember correctly).   One visitor, reading “interpreter” wondered if I spoke her language.  Unfortunately, no.  She is living in Sacramento now, but was born in Thailand.  In Thailand, not far from where she lived, they pan for rubies!

We get visitors from all over.  Today I talked to people from Massachusetts, Arizona, and Missouri that I know of.  I spoke to at least three people who had spent time in Alaska.  One was a bush pilot.  Well, almost a bush pilot.  He flew into places that had dirt runways.  Apparently bush pilots might have less. 

We have a replica cabin that early settlers would have been fortunate to live in.  Although it is no bigger than any room in a modest middle class house (not counting the bathroom, of course), it certainly beat a  wagon box covered with canvas, or a lean-to, or tent.  

Not far from the cabin is an outhouse.  Much too close for authenticity.  But it serves the same function for the volunteers except it actually does have plumbing.   Sunday when I was volunteering, I responded to nature’s call and was using the outhouse when a group came by and spent some time discussing outhouses.  I waited quietly until they moved on.   Wouldn’t you know that this afternoon, the same thing happened again! A boy kept saying he wanted to open the door and look inside.  As it is not authentic inside, the door is kept locked and visitors are not allowed.   As they were beginning to move on and I was preparing to leave, a key turned and the door opened!  Apparently the blacksmiths have their own key!  He was even more flustered than I.  Now I know that just because the key is available, that does not mean the outhouse is.  

Again, I came home quite tired.  Joseph was cooking up some hamburgers for a rather late lunch.  Surprise that was their dinner.  I had finished food from the lunch I packed on the drive home, so I was not hungry.  I sat down and napped before feeding the animals and watching Jeopardy and MASH, then family prayer & scriptures.  Now headed for bed. 

Saoirse

 It was a welcome respite Friday afternoon when the phone rang to interrupt my hopeless battle with the weeds.  I saw it was Sariah and thought perhaps we would talk about our Disney Alaska cruise in September.  Wrong!  Acadia was in labor!  I thought the baby wasn’t due until late February.  No panic though, everything looking good.   Sariah said she and Ryan were leaving early Sunday morning - he had a business trip already scheduled in Idaho.  They would drive together to Boise, I think, and then Sariah would go on to Rexburg.  But what about Aurora?  She had just missed a week of school for their Marvel Adventure cruise and could not afford to miss 2 more weeks.  It was going to be too long to leave her alone and she needed transportation.  The 2 people that they would most likely have asked to have her stay are dealing with their own issues.  One family just recovering from Covid and the other having suffered the tragic death of husband/father. So, I flew in to stay with Aurora.  Andrew and Joseph will take care of everything at home.  The siblings, especially Teresa will help them as needed.  David and Teresa will take Andrew to church. 

     Our pattern of church meetings is our worship service, Sacrament Meeting, for the 1st hour and  for 2nd hour  on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, we have Sunday School, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, we have Relief Society and Elders Quorum, and the 5th Sunday is under the direction of the bishop.  Today is a 5th Sunday.   They had us sit in rows, the men on one side of the room, the women on the other.  Then they had rows 1 and 3 turn their chairs to face the row behind them.  They gave us pencils and papers with spaces for  get-to-know-you information- name, how many in the family, where are you from, what do you like to do, etc.  We each interviewed the person in front of us for a few minutes.  Then rows 2 and 4 swapped places.  After a few more minutes they had rows 1 and 3 shift to their right a couple of chairs.   People had a great time getting to know each other a little and were reluctant to move when the interview time was over.  After our third interview, we all went into the chapel and sat willy-nilly where we chose.   Some conversations continued until the leaders took control again and talked to us about unity and being one.  It was a good exercise.

In case you were wondering, of course you were! Acadia had her little girl while I was on the plane Saturday flying to Arizona..

Saoirse Rose O'Bannon

4:58 pm January 29, 2022

6lb 6oz 20"

Mother, baby, and father all doing well.

A Simple Solution

  First, let me say that in my years of bicycle commuting to work, I found most of my route, especially the ride along T street safe and pleasant. Most of the way T street had bike lanes and shady trees, The car drivers seemed aware and considerate. Bicyclists and autos got on well. Largely because of the bike lanes, I suppose.

Another disclaimer: I have seen insane, kamikaze bike riders that I marvel are still alive, Here I am talking about normal, reasonable, bicyclists who try to bike safely and legally.

There are other streets in Sacramento where this is not the case. Many streets, busy streets, do not have any bike lanes. Bicyclists are forced to share the road, riding in the gutter or as close to parked cars as they can. Additionally, too many drivers behave in rude and dangerous ways - coming up close to the bicyclist and honking and / or passing within inches of the bike rider even when there is an empty lane on the other side.

The law says that cars are to allow 3 feet between the vehicle and the bike. I am not sure that is even possible. Most bike lanes are no more than 3 feet and the bicyclist cannot realisticly ride on the extreme side to leave the full lane to that space. And some car lanes are not very wide. So, pretty much no one obeys the 3 foot law, but many drivers do not even try. That is not our complaint. It is the honkers and those who crowd the bikes even though they themselves have plenty of room. (Where there is not room, drivers ought to slow a bit when passing a bike where it's crowded)

Nothing is done about drivers engaging in rude and dangerous behavior, basically assault.

Legal definition of assault:

"At Common Law, an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.

"An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in either criminal or civil liability. Generally, the common law definition is the same in criminal and Tort Law. There is, however, an additional Criminal Law category of assault consisting of an attempted but unsuccessful Battery."

"Statutory definitions of assault in the various jurisdictions throughout the United States are not substantially different from the common-law definition."

The bicyclist is too busy just trying to stay alive to whip out a camera and record the activity or the car license, and almost no one else sees it, recognizes what happens, or cares to get involved. Almost never does law enforcement witness the event. And if they did, then what? This kind of traffic and safety violation is seldom, if ever prosecuted.

This is what we think should happen. Drivers committing this assault, should have their "weapon" (vehicle) confiscated and be sentenced to use a bicycle as their primary transportation for one year. Day and night, all seasons. The government can loan them a bike, even an e-bike if peddaling is a hardship, and trade back at the end of the year.

Mother Love

 My heart goes out to my friends who mourn the loss of a loving mother. I also envy them. My mother was only 17 when I was born. I don't know if that made a difference. I don't know when it started, but I never felt like I was good enough. She was never proud of me; I didn't think she liked me. When I came to visit her as she lay dying and we told each other "I love you" my sisters were in shocked surprise. If your mother loves you, cherish that. If you love your children, make sure they know.

Called In

      Have you ever been called into the Principal's Office?  If so, you know the feeling.   I got a text asking me to meet with the Stake President.  I said yes, but I thought, "This can't be good."   Well, I didn't really expect it to be a disciplinary meeting.  That would have been my Bishop, I am pretty sure.  So, a calling?  I could not think of a calling from the Stake that I would hope for.  I would  almost certainly accept, but I was not happy thinking about it.  Right now, I am Brighton Ward Relief Society Secretary.  It can take a good amount of time and certainly has a fair amount of stress and  frustration, but it's not a bad calling and I get to associate closely with some remarkable women.  I was a bit anxious.

     President Langford was, of course gracious and welcoming.  And he showed me a video.  That's different.  A video about Living History.   I was asked if I would be willing to serve on a California Living History Mission. Pretend to be a Pioneer.   Wow!  I was so relieved!  I hardly thought.   He did not extend the call, he passed the word.  A few days later I got an email instructiong me to go to the church website and fill out an interest in volunteering form.   A few days after that I got an email that included the message that my name tags were being made!  Still later, I recieved an official call letter in the mail.  After that, I got an email with attachments with training information, clothing information, roster of other Living History missionaries.  I've got a lot of reading to do!  

     And I need to be set apart.  And trained.  A lot of training is a lot of reading.  Now and as long as I serve.  And working with other Living History Service missionaires. 

     Even before the emails and letters, I had a big concern.  Clothing!  I have done NO sewing for years and never did much or well.  I am pretty sure I know where my sewing machine is buried.  But if I am to sew myself authentic pioneer clothing, I not only will pass my release date, I will probably die before I have it made.  I am going to have to find a seamstress and purchase my clothing. And make sure it is authentic.  or authentic enough

     A mission!  I have never seriously thought I would serve a mission.  Miriam is disabled and lives with me.  I can't be gone too far too long.  What about my pets?  Could I afford it?  I don't think there is an age limit on sister mssionaries,  but wouldn't an old lady really slow down and handicap a young sister? Besides maybe making them crazy.  Is my health good enough for a full-time mission? umm, not too sure.   Serving a regular mission just didn't seem likely.  

     But a service mission?  Much more flexible.  I will live at home and serve in my geographic area (it may be a large geographic area).  I was told that I needed to be able to serve 8 hours a week.  Looking at the training materials, I see it says a minimum of 8 hours a week, and talking to some other service missionaires, it sounds like 2 of 3 or 4  times that and maybe more.  Well, we shall see.  For  some of these missionaires, it is what they do, their hobby, passion, vocation.   I  will be able to work with the scheduler and say when i can work and what assignments I accept.  I am pretty sure. 

     In time, I will probably maybe choose or be assigned or somehow acquire a real woman to portray.  Dick Williams has multiple characters that he represents - depending on location?  event?  mood?  I am not sure.  In the meantime, I can be a random pioneer woman sharing skills (me?), helping with activities, doing demonstrations, and maybe telling stories.   Acting.   I never fancied myself an actress, although I have particpated in small ward plays.  Well, at least one.  And I have a children who have been in church plays and several grandchildren who enjoy doing theater.  I can dress up (if I can get the clothes) and play pretend.  Should be fun.

     Especially as after a day of pretending to live in the mid 1800s, I get to go home to plumbing!  electricity!  refrigeration! appliances!  a real bed!  Modern communication!

     As a Living History Specialist, I will do NO proselyting.  In fact, we have to be very careful in what we  say.  We cannot, cannot, cannot proselyte and must be very careful about answering questions.  We will be at state parks and in schools.  If we are thought to be pushing our religion at all, we will be shut down.  We are to build bridges of friendship and trust, and let the lives and faith of the pioneers speak for themselves.  

     The black name tag with the church name on it is for wearing to church and church events.  The brown tag that says Living History Specialist is for wearing to events and demonstrations - where they allow them.  I was at Marshall Gold Discovery Park Gold Rush Live Friday to look around and talk to my soon to be co-workers.  No name tags allowed there. 

    I am friends with a master seamstress - head stitcher for Broadway at Music Circus here in Sacramento.  She is amazing.  She is also always extremely busy.  I don't know if there is any hope. 

     The call is for 2 years.  At least 1 year.  Or possibly forever, at least this functioning life. 

Window Trick

 

I really like my new car, Storm.  It is rather luxurious.  With a little idiosyncracy.  When I park and open the door to get out, sometimes - often - all the windows and the sunroof open.  Perhaps when I open the door past a certain point.  So I get back in, turn on the accessories and close all the windows.  Sometimes this might be repeated 3 or more times.   Mildly amusing if you are not in too big a hurry, but it would not be amusing in an unsafe area or if we ever get a rainy season. 

I emailed rhe sales guy, Ryan,  who sold me Storm.  and waited days for a response.  I called the service department at the CarMax closer to me and made an appointment although the guy didn't sound too helpful.  Ryan emailed that maybe the key fob was being pushed.  ummm, maybe?  I took great pains to not have anything touch the key fob.  That was not the problem.  

The day before Storm's appointment,we developed a plumbing emergency.  The plumbers booked an all day job the day of the appointment.  Repeatedly, I tried to call to cancel the appointment, but  could not get through.  Without much hope that they would actually see it, I replied to the reminder text.

A coupld of days ago, I got a "reminder" for an 8:30 appointment I do not remember making.  But, we needed it.  I drove to the CarMax South Sacramento (where I had booked previously), but the appointment was for Roseville!  I asked the SS people to call R and tell them I would be late. 

 CarMax Roseville Service was gracious.  I was happy that Storm did her window trick for service guy Jeff who foiund it interesting .  They decided that maybe something was wrong with the programming on the key fob and also that there was an after manufacturer alarm on the car.  So they cleared the fob and removed the alarm.  Hopefully, there will be no more unauthorized window and sunroof opening. 

2021.09.19 Birthday Picnic

My birthday fun continued

     Sunday all my Sacramento progeny (except Joseph, who wasn't feeling well and needed some quiet rest)  gathered at Tahoe Park for a birthday celebration picnic mostly planned by Teresa.  

Esther, Bethany, Lucas, Tom, Debi, Jared (and Sam with his back to us)

Jacob & Benjamin

September 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day.   They drew what they thought my pirate flag would look like and I had to guesss who did what flag.  They guessed how many trreasure chest shaped candies were in a container.  Teresa made chicken salad croissant sandwiches like crabs with craisin "eyes".  And roast beef roll-ups.  Fruit, veggies, Poky sticks (sabers). chips, cookies to decorate - leftover from Sam's birthday party Saturday, I think), and a chocolate cake that said "Happy 70th Birthday Cap'n"

(It was Talk Like a Pirate Day)

We just hung out and talked and ate and had a good, relaxing time.  

And more presents.  Miriam gave me some pretty star weights to hold down picnick table clotes and such.  Jared gave me candies from Hawaii and Utah (he has contacts).  Ruth gave me a wooden ornament man.  

I think we are done with my birthday now. 

For my grandson, Sam's 6th birthday, they had a Christmas themed party (per Sam's request)  including a snowball fight (crumbled paper), a Christmas tree,  and a visit from Santa.  I understand that the whole family will dress in Christmas themed costumes for Halloween.   I do hope that we don't have a Christmas themed Thanksgiving.  Or that they are Christmas-ed out by Christmas.