California wildfires

My mom called tonight. My aunt Laura and her family live in South Pasadena, CA. So far, they are safe, but have been told to be ready to evacuate at anytime. Keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

found a car

Warren and I (well Warren more than I) found a purchased a car. It's a 2005 Ford Five Hundred. It looks like a Taurus and Warren says it feels a lot like his old Bronco.

Speaking of the Bronco, we are looking for a worthy charity to donate it to, suggestions welcome.

our Lincoln

The old Lincoln died today. We are making arrangements for it's final resting place. It was a great car. Okay, the air conditioner didn't work , or the fuel gage, and the dashboard would blink warning lights that would blink for no reason.

Now we will be doing some "emergency" car shopping. If it's not one thing, it's another.

Rainy Day

This weekend was cold and rainy all weekend. Svenja stated that it reminded her of home and that this rain is "normal". She had never seen rain that comes in sideways like it does during storms around here.

You can definitely feel the changing seasons here. The leaves are turning and falling. My menus have went from grilling and salads to soups and casseroles. I am beginning to realize that I am very much a seasonal person. I am sure part of it is living out here as we plant in the spring and are now getting the grape vines and yard ready for winter.

The animals feel the seasonal changes around here too. Warren was moving logs in the garage and came face to face with a skunk that made a nest for himself in between the logs. Neither were hurt or sprayed from this interaction.

That's all that is going on around here.

Update on things

Things are going well here. Svenja is doing well in most of her classes and is going out with friends more.

As the weather is getting cooler, Warren is busy getting ready to do woodworking this fall/winter. He has not really done much woodworking since we moved here, so I am glad that he is getting excited to do this again. We cleaned the shop a few weeks ago. We are missing an important tool, though and have no idea where it is. Warren wants to make a kitchen table and chairs this year.

My hobbies are a lot smaller and less ambitious. I am working on two wall hangings and hope to finish my quilt. I am also knitting a scarf for Svenja (she asked me to and picked out this really cool yarn) and a new scarf for my coat. Last year's scarf is a little out of shape and I plan on making a new scarf every year.

more kities

Here's a picture of Warren reading with Stubby and on of Pearl and Stubby together.

Warren's run

Many of you are aware of how much Warren likes to run. He prefers to run outside and now it is dark in the mornings. He currently has a little light that he wears on a headband so he can run in the mornings.

Yesterday morning, Warren had to run on the major highway near our home. He was running on the shoulder and kept getting flashed by the semis that were driving by. Warren is wondering if his light is too bright and what kind of stories that the drivers are saying after seeing someone running with a light on his head.