Uncle Jimmy

April 1, 1931

August 26, 2023

We said goodbye to Jimmy at the end of August. He was 92 years old. He had lived in the same house for 85 years before we had to move him because he had Alzheimer's. The last 4 years, he has lived here close to us in a retirement home. He was always such a welcoming uncle to his nieces and nephews. Each of them has special memories of times spent with him. We visited him many times through the years, with our little kids along with us and he never seemed to mind having the commotion to his normally very quiet life. And every time we said goodbye, he would say..."so soon?" 

He was a homebody, never wanting to leave his town of Oxnard, or more like it, his home. If he left for an errand, it was get the errand done and get back home to his chair and TV. 

He loved football, played it in high school and watched it on TV every chance he had. He was in the Navy. He was a carpenter and a handyman. He was a bachelor. He was frugal, but generous to us all. 

Two days before he passed, I asked him if he was ready to go to heaven. He opened his eyes and looked at the photo of Granny on the wall and whispered "not ready yet". We smiled, not ready to say goodbye, as always.

But the last day I was there, I told him I was going to leave, but would be back later on. He squeezed my hand. In the strongest voice I had heard in a couple of weeks, he said "BYE BYE!"

He passed a couple of hours later before I could get back to him.

Bye, Bye, Jimmy!

June

It is so nice having such amazing summer weather. We had one day of rain, but otherwise it has been sunny and warm.  Actually hot a few days too!

A tradition that Jessi started with the kids is she saves all of the schoolwork they bring home, each kid has a sack full of their own work. On the last day of school they light a fire and burn it all.  (they have their very favorite stuff saved already)

Evening Grossbeak

a juvenile downy woodpecker with its parent

my solar mushrooms

John has been busy putting in a watering system. A few neighbors have asked if we have a mole problem. Haha! He has it pretty much finished now and it is taking care of the lawn and plants for us. It is so much better than dragging hoses around.

I have always loved bunnies, well, this year, I don't love them quite so much. They have eaten off a few new plants, one being a special clematis. Bit it off at ground level and left it there for me to find. Ugh!

My box gardens are working out so nicely. I know that they are really tall, but it assures that the rabbits don't eat my plants and I don't have to bend over at all to take care of them.

The girls helped me plant them and are so amazed to see how fast it has all grown.

We had fun one day taking hair flip photos.

It is fun to get outside with the kids, hiking is one of their favorite things.

I took them to Dabney park so Josiah could fish. He caught a sucker fish, according to him, it was the biggest sucker fish he has caught. Turned it back into the water for somebody else to catch.

While he fished, the girls threw rocks into he water. Maybe that is why Josiah only caught that one fish...

A dream come true for Josiah! He saved up enough money and bought himself a second-hand boat with a little electric motor.  He is big time now!

My cousin Susan and her husband JR came to town for a visit. It was good to see them.

Father's Day, we let Dad do the cooking.

Dennis had business in Vancouver and so we were able to meet up with him two nights in a row. And it was timed perfectly to celebrate his birthday with him for once.

49 years of roses!!

We went up to Trillium Lake for fishing and a hike. (and photos)

It was a huge day for Josiah. Huge trout! He even cleaned them while we were there.

He was so excited about it, he had his Dad take him back the next night. Here is the beauty he caught that night!