Socks

The weather has cooled down. I finished these socks on Monday. They are child size, thick and warm. The socks will be donated to a knitting support group, which sends warm wool socks and sweaters to Russian orphanages. Post # 400. wow, I am still amazed.

Thanks

Jeff, Nicole, Kayden and me Thanksgiving 2006.

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This is post 399, I am amazed. I started this blog, almost a year ago, not sure about my future in blogging. I have been very chatty. I have posted a lot of photos. Blog ideas just come to me, different memories or photos of Nicole. It has been helpful in my healing and hope the same for Jeff, Julie and Gary, too. So, what my next year of blogging will be, we will just wait and see.

Thank you to my readers. I do like to read your comments.

Nicole

Nicole, very sweet, 2 years old

Nicole

Nicole 556
Originally uploaded by jlwboo

Jeff

Happy Birthday to Jeff

Nicole

Nicole 553
Originally uploaded by jlwboo

Nicole with an adorable smile, and a couple lower teeth.

Nicole

What a great facial expression

Nicole

Nicole with her reindeer friends

Nicole

Nicole with a friend. Too cute

Fall Days

Today is equinox, the beginning of fall. The weather is beautiful and sunny. My travel over the mountain passes, I saw a bit of color change.
I am on vacation, this week as the office is closed. I have a list of errands and appointments, but will some relaxing time, too.
I did scan a few more photos of Nicole, while at Jeff's.

In Loving Memory

A memorial rock was placed at Nicole's school

Jeff, Julie and I went to see it on Sunday, after a leisurely coffee time and breakfast.
I am back home, now.

Nicole's Yearbook

This is the first page of Nicole's yearbook from last school year.

Roses

Beautiful color and aroma

Happy News

Julie's son, Tyler is back in the states, returning from Iraq. Co-worker Pam's son Ryan is back in Washington, returning from Iraq.

Busy Week

A quick post from work at lunch time, this is a busy week for me. I work 4 days and have a few meetings, like a fire commission meeting.

Another Milestone

Nicole's service was a year ago, today. It was a beautiful service. Jeff helped choose pictures and music for the photo slide show. Sharon organized the photos, made photo boards. Several of Nicole's classmates sang during the service. Some of her soccer teammates wore the team jersey. The principal from Nicole's school spoke, surrounded by school staff. The boys and girls club helped with food service.
After the service, flowers were loaded up to take to Jeff's. A bit more visiting with family, then it was just Jeff, Julie and I. We enjoyed the quiet after a long, hard day. The flowers seemed to overwhelm the house. So, we decided to take them to the cemetery at sunset. We took the flowers, shared some with the babies. Then in Nicole's honor, we went to Dairy Queen for ice cream. We each picked out favorite treat to share with each other and in Nicole's memory.

Nickel Socks

My first sock design

Garden

Pansies, recently planted

Rose, blooming again

Colorful Poppies

A Year Ago

On this day, last year, Jeff was released from the hospital. He was glad to get out of the hospital. Our routine changed, Jeff, Julie and I would start the day together with coffee for an hour or longer. We would review appointments, errands and plan our day. Then, breakfast and off to errands, either as a group or individuals, depending on the day's tasks. We keep things, as simple as possible, yet getting stuff done. I was at Jeff's for another 10 days, and really enjoyed our time over coffee in the mornings. I really missed our coffee time, when I returned home.

Fireworks

Jeff said, they saw a great firework show in St. Marys, Idaho for Labor Day weekend. The best show, he has every seen.
My favorite firework show was in the 80's in Valdez, Alaska. The fireworks showed the snowy mountains in the background. It was a cold, winter firework show.
Meggen (dog) doesn't care too much for fireworks, just too noisy. Do you have a favorite firework story?

Frank

Nicole's pet frog, Frank

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About 5 years ago, Nicole captured Frank from the wild and brought him home.

Jeff and Julie took an extra long weekend in Idaho. They came home to find Frank had passed to the big frog pond. Jeff told me, Frank had not been eating well, the last couple months.

Last September, I had put my cell phone on vibrate, renamed my phone Frank because it made a funny sound, vibrating on the table next to Frank.

Nicole, August 2008

Fishing

Friday, fishing on the Skagit river.

My Workplace

Holiday weekend at the office.

Meggen

Meggen on an adventure at the play field.
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A blustery day, today.

Foggy Morning

Light Humor

Last September, I had to cancel a massage appointment, since I was in eastern WA. I get back home and call Gina to schedule a massage. We find a date and time, then I say by the way, I got a tattoo with my brother and Julie. Gina is a bit conservative and says OK. I am laying on my stomach, she is massaging my back. No tattoo on my back or arms. So, she usually massages one leg, leaving the other leg covered, but decides to check both ankles for a tattoo. I remember chuckling to myself and thinking not on the ankle. I then, roll over to my back and there is my tattoo, upper left chest. My Nicole tattoo close to my heart. I had a massage today, as Gina finished she circled the heart and placed her hands on Nicole's signature and we both said, "Nicole" together.

Thoughts of this day

One year ago, we got the news of Nicole and Jeff. I had gone to bed early, didn't feel well. Dad called around midnight. So, I was up, wide awake. Gary did try to go back to sleep. I sent a few emails and packed. We took showers and had coffee. We were on the road at about 2:00 a.m., Meggen, too. It is 300 miles. We did stop at my office and left a note, my hand writing was shaky. As we drove we keep focus on the dark and sleepy scenery. We saw a bunch of trucks pulled off the road for a bit of sleep for the drivers. I remember the sea of lights in the Ellensburg area. The sun was rising as we drove through the Yakima valley. I remember thinking, those lucky people, just commuting to work on a normal day.

We arrive at the hospital a little after 7:00. Took Meggen for a short walk and went in. Got the directions to Jeff's room, as we walked towards his room, I see he is in ICU. A extra shot of worry went through me, but kept walking. First, we found Julie in the hall for a big hug. Jeff was getting a x-ray, so had to wait a few minutes. I walked in, held Jeff's hand and just focused on his face with as much love, compassion, courage, I could muster. His eyes welled up, mine too. Neither Jeff or I said a word, there were no words to express feelings. Gary tried to hold his other hand, which was on his injured side of his body switched to his foot.

The day continued on in a bit of a blur. Dad and DA came, Gary and Julie went to Jeff's house and to get Julie's car. I stayed with Jeff, some people came to visit with prayers. We got into a routine, Julie stayed at the hospital overnight with Jeff. I stayed at Jeff's house and Julie would get a break from the hospital, when I arrived. Julie and I lived on yogurt and coffee. We would ask each other , if we had eaten. The answer was always a coffee or a yogurt. Gary and Meggen returned to our home, I used Jeff's car. Julie (a nurse) monitored Jeff's medications, doctors, and treatments. I took care of some tasks for Jeff. I spent time in his hospital room, knitting and thinking I am helping his bones knit. I talked on my cell phone a bunch, I sent emails. Jeff was in the hospital a full week. I took 3 weeks off my work. Julie took a month off her work. It was a flurry of activity, with one of us with Jeff at all time.

Cherish

Cherish your memories.

Share your memories.

I will be cherishing my memories, today.

9/2/09