Friday, May 23, 2008

Lempi, my Finnish grandmother

I was just organizing my books (bought too many more at Goodwill yesterday!) I have my Mom's copy of The Kalevala in the back of my book cabinet and was flipping through it when, back in the appendix, "Lempi" jumped out! I had flipped past and had to go back and find it. Well, this is what Lempi means "... this name, today a woman's name but until recently a man's name, occurs in Poems 40, 42, 43, and means 'pet, love, favorite'." Is that cool or what, my Finnish Grandma's name!?

And. . . upon further investigation in another appendix, C., Reference List of Finnish Names Lempi has a name-day in the official Finnish calendar of personal names according to Kustaa Vilkuma. (Nov 24)

Back to my organizing,
Betty

Friday, May 16, 2008

Journeyin' - 14 years and counting

Full time RVing is living and traveling full time in a recreational vehicle.


When Gary and I started full time RVing we didn't know if we would do it for six months or ???. Here it is, 14 years later, we absolutely love the lifestyle and have no intention of stopping. The thought of living in a home we can't move is scary!

Our "home" is a 2007 36' Escalade fifth wheel. Check it out: http://www.kz-rv.com/escalade/index.html We love it, love it, love it!

People have said to us: "Oh, I couldn't live like that - I couldn't do without my . . ." We have everything we ever had in a large home only it is a bit smaller and space efficient! We have two satellite tv's, (very important for the survival of a marriage - Gary is a football/sports fan, Bj is not!) each of us has a laptop computer, an all-in-one printer, my sewing machine and craft area, Gary has his tool area in the exterior hatches and in the truck toolbox. We have it all!

Of course, living in a small space involves living VERY close to your partner. Neither of us requres a large personal space. In fact, when we visit our kids' homes we feel a bit lost in their larger spaces!

We have traveled to all 50 states (but you know we didn't take the fifth wheel to Hawaii) and are making it around again. Where is our favorite place? Monterey, CA. Our second favorite? Santa Fe, NM. Having said that, there is almost no place that we didn't like - our's is a wonderful country.

Think this is enough going on for today. Off to the races! http://www.laguna-seca.com/
Gary at his studies.

Monday, May 12, 2008

"The Little Red Buckets" inscription

While we were thrift store shopping awhile ago Lee (my sister-in-law/friend/fellow fulltime RVer) found a nice sweet little book "The Little Red Buckets." It was a quick read and I enjoyed it, but it is handwritten inscription inside that is wonderful. It is signed Love Always, Lyn but that's the only clue as to why, etc! Is it a published poem? I don't know (I Googled it but found no matches) but here it is:

To my special angel

Day in day out

Month in month out

Year in year out

You laugh with me

You cry with me

You pray for me

You listen to me

But most of all

You love me

and

Day in - day out

Month in - month out

Year in - year out

I say a prayer of thanksgiving

for having you as my

Special friend -- my special Angel!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Kildeer bird nest









We have a bird nesting down in the storage area off B Road at Laguna Seca Recreation Area. As you can see its nest is in the open! When the nest is approached it acts as if it is injured and flops away! Jackie, Jim, Gary and I have been watching it for several days. This morning I went down and took some photos to see if I could identify it. I did...I think...its a kildeer?! Do you like Jackie's sign?