Front Porch 2002

 

 

Come and sit on our front porch, have a cup of coffee and visit awhile

 [Leslie]  We've watched a few video's lately during the cold weather. Our seven year old grandson was watching a comedy that Grandpa liked, starring Jim Carrey. I thought it was a family show, it had lots of animals. "Grandma", he said, laughing so hard he could hardly talk,"that guy's so funny! What's a virgin?"

[Leslie] Loved the Olympic games! I really enjoyed the opening and closing ceremonies

[Leslie]  It's late February and the snow is melting and mud season beginning. Last week we had an unusual visitor to our neighborhood. A cow Moose came walking across our road. We feed deer in our yard, have lots of Racoons begging for food & have a herd of Elk that often travel through, but this is the first Moose we've seen in the 25 years that we've lived on this old farm.

 

[Della]  23 Mar 02   Dear Family,  I just can't seem to find a way to let anyone know that I'm on the front porch waiting for a cup of coffee, Maybe this will work.  All doing ok on this end of the porch.  I was pleased to talk to Wilma the other day, and hope all is going well with her treatments.  Betty and Evan were out buying gifts for Evan's Aunt Naomi's 90th birthday this week and also their granddaughter Tanya.  They were planning to attend Aunt Naomi's party this weekend.  Good thing the weather finally decided to behave itself and try a little spring for a change.  Althought I have had Pansies blooming all winter whenever the snow cleared and the sun came out for a few minutes.  Nice to talk to you all, I guess Leslie's going to put this on the front porch.  Please join us there, It's a lovely sight.  Love to all and Thanks Leslie, Della Ann

[Jaime] 24 Mar 02  I wish you were sitting on my front (or back) porch, this is such a lovely time of year in western Oregon, the birds are busy building nests, although a great blue heron has  emptied our small pond of 5 out of 6 goldfish during the last week.  The daffodils  and camelias are all in bloom and tulips and rhodies getting ready.  I've mowed my lawn several times this season, and yesterday planted peas and sweet pea flowers in the garden.  My brother Mike and his family came to visit yesterday from Mount Vernon, Washington and all is well with them.  His boys are in 7th and 11th grades and Sue continues as a maternity nurse and Mike a lawyer for the county.  Mom is going to have surgery on Tuesday to prepare for her chemo and radiation treatments.  She'll have a couple tubes implanted for IV and feeding and start the treatments on April 1.  It's been nice to read and hear how the family is doing, hope to hear more from you. Jaime

[Leslie] 25 Mar 02  Hi sis & Jaime, sure nice to get together. I'll get you something warm to drink as soon as I tell you about our deer. The snow has melted so we didn't think the deer would continue to come down to be fed, but the other day, just at sundown, NINE of them came running out of the woods & down the hill, single file. It was a sight to behold. Even our neighbor had to call to express her delight at being able to see it. I love to hear about your yard Jaime, it sounds wonderful. Della's always pointing out her pansies when we visit her, they are so sweet.

 

[Jim]  28 Mar 02   As per usual I don't have much time to gab.  Wish I really could just sit on the front porch and put my feet up.  I remember the front porch at Florence and Jeff's home on Haven street...pleasant memories!

I was just over in Spokane on business and spent some time visiting with Mom and Dad.  He's about at the end of his rope trying to provide 24/7 care for Betty.  It's sad, but I'm afraid it won't be long before she doesn't recognise anything or anybody anytime.  We're trying to get some in-home care provided to hopefully extend the time she can stay at home.  I'll be back in Spokane next week and quite often in the future as we go through this difficult time.

Kathy and I are also planning to come to the Mikesell/Allen reunion this summer, we're anxious to see the whole gang again.  I'll stop by and chat again later,  Jim

[Leslie] 28 Mar 02  Hi Jim, glad to have you on our front porch.  Have a chair.  I too remember the big Mikesell front porch.  We used to put a bed out there in the summer and us girls would sleep there.  Evan drove Betty out to the old farm yesterday to see me. I miss ourold Betty.  Our prayers are with her & Evan.  Hope you & Kathy bring your instruments to the picnic, we enjoy your music so. 

[Della Ann] 28 Mar 02   Dear family,  I want to wish you all a Happy Easter   It's so good to hear from you Jim.  Your Dad is trying so hard and doing all he can for now.    We are all praying for them.  Lots of sun off and on today.  I'm afraid Jaime's yard is way ahead of ours, But our's are starting to come out of hibernation  along with we humans. I do hope Wilma is doing o.k.  It's a rough one for sure.  It will be nice to see Jim and Kathy again.  And I hear Carlos and Darlene are having their 50th  anniversary coming up soon.  Seems funny when they're still just kids. As you see I finally got a cup of coffee and really enjoyed the visit with all of you.  Love Della Ann

[Leslie] 29 Mar 02   Dellann, your baby sister, Thelma,will have been married 50 years this year too.  Seems like yesterday.

 

[Jan] 14 Apr. 02    Hi Aunt Leslie,  I  have enjoyed the conversations on the porch and thought I would join in.  I'm not much of a computer person so I tend to shy away from sending messages.  Our family is doing great.  Amy is finishing up her junior year at Augustana College and working for a Psychology degree, along with a minor in chemistry and biology.  She won't be coming home for the summer.  I'm not sure I am ready to let her go yet. She will be working and taking a couple of classes in Rock Island.  She is doing an internship now at the psychiatric hospital .  Ryan finished high school early {Jan.}but will still participate in the formal graduation ceremony on May 31st.  He is working full time as a carpenter and is in the process of getting a loan to build his own house about an hour west of us.  He will be moving on soon also.  Melissa has one more year of high school and then she will be off  to college.  She doesn't know where or what she wants to be, but she has some time to figure that out. She does very well in school so she won't have a problem getting into a college of her choice.  Mitch and I have been working on our house.  We stripped all the flooring out on the first floor and had hardwood put in.  We had ceramic tile put in the kitchen. Mom and Dad were here to help with the tearing out of the old.  It was great to have them here.  We have almost finished with the remodeling {crown molding, painting all the trim work, painting walls}and are looking forward to some rest.  I don't know how you survived all those remodel years with Uncle Boyd.  I'm going crazy.  I'm sure I will enjoy the results if I'm not too tired.  We are looking forward to seeing family in Reno in June.  Anita and Debbie will be there also.  Amy, Ryan and Melissa are going with us.  This may be our last "family vacation" as everyone is moving on with their own plans.   We are keeping Aunt Wilma and Aunt Betty and Uncle Evan in our prayers along with Naomi.  Hope all is well with everyone and thanks for keeping the porch light on.  Love, Jan

[Leslie] 14 Apr. 02    Jan, come on up on this old porch and give us a hug.  We've missed you!  Glad to hear all your news.  As us oldsters know, the kids will be back, sometimes we wish we could get rid of them. [Just kidding.] When the family gets together in June, please take some photos to share with us, we miss you all.

[Leslie] 15 July 02  We really had a lively group at our Allen/Mikesell familly reunion picnic yesterday.  I think we all had a good time but we missed those of you who couldn't come.  Lots of good food & the weather was great!  By the photos I just added to our photo albums here, it looks like the Winters family had a swinging time at Thelma & Wayne's 50th anniversary party. 

 

Go to Our  Front Porch 2003