Mobi

Some people have asked how the dogs are doing with the cats....they are ok.  Here is Mobi eating dinner when Dale comes up for a drink.  At first he looks wondering if it is safe...

 Yep safe....

 She really is a good dog, and very sweet and gentle. 

 One of the things she loves to do is look out the window in the dining room.  In fact, she rests her chin on the window sill and looks out.  So today I go into the dining room and find this. 

 

Yep a ball resting on the window.  She must of been caring it when she looked out.  Silly dog. 

Joslyn turned 4

Sunday we attended a birthday party for Joslyn.  She is now 4!

The cake: 

Opening presents...important stuff

 Both Joslyn and Harlow got hoola hoops....Harlow wasn't so sure...

 

But Grandpa Doug decided he could show the girls how it works...

 

Our Selfie....

Thank you

I wanted to thank everyone for their kind thoughts the last couple of weeks.  We have had an abundance of kind words, cards and flowers.  I just wanted to share some of the beautiful plants and flowers we received.  And I wanted to share a couple of pictures of my dad we found recently.

So many people have commented on how my dad was always happy and smiling.  I have learned that he was quite mischievous at work, and he always made people happy.  These two pictures show what I mean. 

Orlando!

We all know I LOVE going to Orlando.  My latest trip wasn't any different.  I did have a great time.  However, there wasn't any "Mickey" time.  It was a work trip.  A quick one.  We flew in on Wednesday and flew home Friday morning.  This was my meeting.  I was able to bring my entire leadership team (all my chairs and assistant chairs and directors) together.  This was the first time we had been together in one location in over three years.  This was the first time we had been able to meet some members of my team.  Just look at us.  I am so lucky to work with such great people! 

It is hard to say goodbye to a loving father.....

This is a hard post to write. 

Some of the posts below were set to post (pre-dated) before this occurred. 

My dad passed away on Thursday May 30 in the afternoon.  He had worked really hard to be able to come home.  He wanted to be home very much.  He had been home for one week.  He had been doing well and it was quite a shock to all of us.   He was working hard and doing additional therapy, and we were just beginning to be in a good routine with his eating etc.  On Tuesday we were working to take him to the doctor when he collapsed. 

However, he was home where he wanted to be, my mom, my brother and I were all with him at the time, so we are thankful we were able to spend time with him.  His mind was always sharp but his body just could not function any longer.  We will have funeral services Friday June 7, at 11 am.    

If you would like to read the obituary please email me.  

Was Kevin in trouble?

No he wasn't in trouble.  We actually had just cleaned the bed and such and Kevin was putting it all back together.  This is Mobi's kennel...so like Mobi, it is huge. 

Fog on the Ridge

 This time of year, we often have fog first thing in the morning.  It can be quite beautiful.  

Good News!

So it has been awhile.  What has been going on?  A LOT! 

Many of you know my dad has been very ill since Jan.  He spent about 6 weeks in the hospital.  He then spent about 10 weeks in a nursing home doing some rehab.  I am happy to report he is HOME.  He came home on Friday May 24th.  Not only has his life forever changed with his disability, but also so has ours.  We are learning how best to help him, and support him here at home.  My mom has also had a hip replacement surgery, so it will take us some time for all of us to adjust.  We are just thankful we are all together.  I want to thank everyone for their patience in not having any new blog posts all this time.  Most of all, I want to thank everyone, for their visits, their kind words and their prayers of my dad and my family. 

Spring?

We had a very dry winter...OK; it hardly seemed like we had one...that is until mid-Feb.  Then we had snow almost every week.  It was hard when we were driving to the hospital where dad was (about 75 minutes away).  All spring was really wet.  In fact, we had snow May 1st.  

Venezuela Edel-Zartbitter Edelcacao

Venezuela Edel-Zartbitter Edelcacao, also known as Precious Dark Chocolate, is a 56% cacao chocolate bar. While at the less bitter end of the dark chocolates, this bar has a good flavor . This bar has much firmer texture than any of the Ritter Sports, so the chocolate is not as smooth from the start. But once the bar is in your mouth the chocolate melts and has a little bit of the bitter flavor, which still giving a nice chocolate experience that coats your mouth nicely.

Packaging a little different, and makes it good for not eating it all at once

I really enjoyed this chocolate and would recommend it.

Ritter Sport - Gebrannte Mandel

Today new chocolate is the Ritter Sport Gebrannte Mandel (Roasted Almonds). Like all Ritter Sport bars the chocolate is a smooth, soft, not to dark type of milk chocolate. The only issue I have with the bar is the nuts, no so much in the flavor of them, as they do taste good, but the size of the almond pieces. They are very small and in some cases kinda sharp.

So while this is a good bar, if you have a sensitivity in your mouth or choke on small pieces you may find this a little unpleasant.

Chip and Dale

Introducing Chip and Dale....no not that Chip and Dale....our two new Kittens:


Chip is the one with the white chest and feet.  Here is chip on the "tree" and Dale on the table.

Again Chip on top

Here is Chip playing with the feathers and Dale, thinking about jumping up too

 Here Dale takes a swing at a feather Kevin is holding out...

The two together, they were getting tired.  

Since we had lost Kyburz, we decided it was now time for us to have a new cat.  Well, we found these two brothers and were "sold".  They are adjusting well so far.  The big question "how are they doing with the dogs?"  Well, they had never been around dogs, so we are taking it slow.  They have met both dogs, and are a little nervous but it is getting better each day. The dogs are very excited to have "kittie brothers" again.  Stay tuned here for more updates and antics. 

Christmas...better late than never

I am so late in posting...but here goes...On Christmas Eve, Kevin snapped this picture of a small herd of deer out in the back pasture area.  

Christmas Morning we woke up to a little snow (sadly, I don't think we have seen snow since.  It has been cold but no snow.  Fingers crossed for a VERY wet late winter and spring)

 

Maybe you  are wondering how big is Mobi these days?  Tall enough to put her chin on the table (for which she gets in big trouble)

For Christmas, I was able to go get a massage, facial and pedicure.  The first two, are a little hard to show pictures of...but I did finish up with pretty blue toes and very relaxed.  

So that was Christmas....things were quiet here, we relaxed, enjoyed family and tried to rejuvenate for work.  Hope you all had a great holiday!

Return of the Chocolate Reviews! - Dunkle Nugatcreme

After receiving the Christmas box from Florian's family  I was overwhelmed with new chocolate options. There were a few limited edition items and other things that we don't see in the US. So the first one I tried was the Dunkle Nugatcreme. The snow man on the wrapper is a nice touch.

The wrapper

The chocolate was typical Ritter Sport quality, this is a good thing, and it had a a very good flavor. The dark chocolate in the bar is not very bitter and the chocolate melts smoothly on your tongue, without any grittiness.

Recommended!

Christmas box

Today we got a Christmas box in the mail.     It was from Florian's family.  How very nice they thought of us.   It is always such fun to get a package in the mail.   And Kevin of course is in heaven.

Yes that is pretty much chocolate and so many kinds to try....Kevin is going to have to blog about all the kinds as he did before so watch for those up coming. 

Thank you to the Reichle family!!!!

Yum

Orlando Trip

You may know that I LOVE Mickey Mouse and LOVE Disney Parks.  I would go every time I hear a friend going  But I cannot.  I was in Orlando in Feb, but since then I have had friends go.....makes me very sad (ie Jealous). Instead, I sent them a picture of me and said take me a long....they were great sports and did so.  So I took a trip to Disney as "Flat Jody"

Here Duffy and I are ready to head out...

I had a great trip, I saw Mickey right away at the airport...

I did the toy story ride

 And a bugs life

 

 Did some shopping

Saw the tree of life

 And best of all, I got to have my picture taken with Kim and Mickey

What fun....but of course I really just want to go even more now...