Wanted to share Harvest Decorations.....

======================================== The Decorative Pumpkin is slowly matching the small varmint eaten pumpkins from the garden - it now has a big hole in it's side. Those pesky varmints!

The Bounteous Harvest

Fall is Here….

With the beautiful turning of the leaves also comes the Harvest. == Shown is our bounteous harvest... this was the sum total with a couple small squirrel chewed pumpkins, a few extra tomatoes and a few more tiny summer squash. We were kind this year and shared our garden with any varmint that wanted to taste of its good abundance. We spotted squirrels, rabbits, mice and quail enjoying the feast. And... I'm not so sure that our lizards were not in on the taking!

== Harvest is a special time of the year. As a young girl even though it meant a lot of work picking potatoes and bringing in the harvest, it also meant those hours spent cutting potatoes, weeding beets and potatoes, helping Dad with the irrigating would finally bring those crops to harvest. Bringing in the crops ended the harvest year. It was hard to believe that those seeds were now a crop in full bloom. Amongst the beautiful turning of leaves, we would be able to get this life giving harvest of crops. === Early on we children helped in the crops. My sister and I would fill 50 pound basket of potatoes and dump them into 100 pound sacks, that had to be shaked down, so they would stand up in the field ready for the haulers to come by and pick them up. Later we worked on a potato harvester, and I remember clearly the hard work and the cold weather. But, we were glad of the work as we were able to buy all our clothes for the school year. ==

Part of harvest was the process of canning food for the winter. Hours were spent helping Mom can peaches, pears, string beans, tomatoes and many more life sustaining food. Part of my time this year has been spent renewing that canning process, as I have not canned anything since 2002 and really canned since Portland which was from 1972-1989. ================================================================================ Salsa Cooling on the Counter

================================================================================== List of the bounteous harvest Water Bath Canned this 2011 year: ================================================================================== 24 Quarts Peaches --------------------- 14 Quarts Pears ------------------------ 3 Pints Applesauce ---------------------- 3 Quarts Salsa ----------------------- 18 Pints Salsa --------------------- ================================================================================= Frozen Fruits & Vegetables ================================================================================= 10 Bottles Strawberry Jam -------------------------- 7 Bottles Raspberry Jam ------ 10 Bottles Peach Jam ------------------------------- 6 Bottles Peach Butter ------- 6 Bottles Pear Butter ----------------------------- 10 Bottles Salsa----- - - ================================================================================== My Canned Harvest...!

======================================== I am so grateful for the bounteous harvest of this land and for the opportunity to partake of it's bounties.

Raku Pottery

Just in case you wanted to see yet again... Pottery...! =========================================

Raku Ruffled Platter using 2 coats each of Copper Sand & Luster Duster Glaze. Everyone voted this piece the best of the day! =========================================

White Crackle Glaze Raku with Dragon design. =========================================

Copper Sand & Luster Duster Glaze Raku Vase

UNR Graduation - December 4, 2010

Today I am recovering from surgery from a torn meniscus. It is the same right knee that I had surgery on when we lived in Minnesota. Because I have much time on my hands, I thought that I might blog about my December 4, 2010 graduation from University of Nevada, Reno. ==================================================================================

This picture is taken in front of the Lawlor Events Center looking back over the new Library and Student center that were built during my years at the college. What great fun to watch those huge holes grow into these magnificent buildings. My degree is in Psychology and my Minor is in Art/Ceramics. =============================================== What an incredible journey! ======================================================= Many of the family were able to attend my graduation... Anthony & Rachel's family, Geneva & Jared's family, & Kandra; plus. my brother Doyle & Norma surprised me. -- They all made my day so special.

========================================= Shirl, my companion, was my support, cook and bottle washer. Most of the time he was able to maintain his patience with my late hours and my last two semester schedules that were enough to kill an ox in the myre!

The Grand-kids with Grandma:

My beautiful Daughters & Me: =========================================

My Queen's Wave as taught to me by George Brown, Shirl's cousin from England: ========================================= The Graduation Party:

======================================= Below read my: Ending Essay: Incredible Long Journey ====================================================================================================================================================================== I finish this, my last essay, on my incredible long and even arduous journey to obtain a Psychology Degree, with a Minor in Art-Ceramics, at the University of Nevada, Reno. My last semester to finish requirements, ended up as 19 credit hours, as well as teaching 2 classes for the first half of the semester @ TMCC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is just a small run down of what was required in my classes: ----------------------- 4 - 2 page Sociology Essays - 1 the Final Test -------------------------------------- 2 - 5 page Essays - 1 Sociology / 1 Psychology ----------------- 1 - 15 page Sociology Research Paper --------- 4 - Essay Tests 3 - SOC / 1- PSY 1- Lectora Art Portfolio ------- 15 Art Projects with Reflections -------------- 4 - 3 page Art Critiques --------------- 1 - 5 page Art Artist Paper --------------------- 20 Sketches -------------------- 13 Pieces of Pottery - Including ------------------------------------------------- 3 - 16 - 22 inch cylinders (2 high fire - 1 Raku) ----- 2 - Obelisks ----- 1 - 18" Medieval Lady - 1 Plate & 2 bowls, ----- 5 - small Vases ------- 6 - Slip Poured Vases -------- 1- 12" Foot 4 - Week-end Classes --- In class Worksheets of "Tahoe Experience" --------------------- 1 - 5 page paper - Virginia City and Mark Twain Experience ----------------------------- 1 - 3 page paper - Wellness Class --- In class Worksheets - Art of Encouragement --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I completed my last test on Tuesday, Dec. 14,2010. No more 1 am, 2am and even 3am study nights! A real relief! I made it! I'm grad-ge-ated! I'm Grannie Graduate! Come see Me in My Tent in the Backyard @ Grannie's Psych Place! ======================================================================================================================================================================

Grand-kids cheering me in my new Backyard Psych Place:

This posting is a testimony of the great joy that I feel to have been able to accomplish this feat in my 68th year. Who would have thought that a dream started while in high school would be able to be accomplished lo these many years later. I Thank You all in helping me attain this goal. More especially, I thank my Heavenly Father for it was only through his help that I was able to overcome the doubts and difficulties and have the strength to work for and fight for the end goal. The certificate of graduation made all those hours of meetings with advisers to receive credit for work accomplished in Mount Hood Community College worthwhile. To my Family and especially my Grandchildren... Please keep your eye on the goal, the work will be hard but the end results will be well worth the fight. You are the greatest and I love to call you my own. You make we the happiest Mom and Grand-mom in the world!