Good Telephone Poles For Sale

I never really know what I'll be doing in a day, like today, learning about treated telephones that my husband wants to sell. These nice telephones poles were going to be used to take power to our back property. That's where they are right now, patiently waiting to be put to good use. We've decided to sell them and eventually put underground utlities back there.
Treated poles have 100's of uses, some are the obvious, power poles for utilities, also fence posts, pole barns and other buildings. I like seeing them used for entrances to homes and ranches. There's one such entrance near-bye that has the ranch name up on it with iron work. I've studied up on treated poles today and found that the telephone company uses them for about 45 years, then replaces them, however, they are thought to be good for 75 years. The ones we are selling are new.

Good-bye Kimmy, it's hard to say good- bye to a faithful dog.

As I hurried outside on Saturday to take photos of the sunset, my two dogs followed me, as always. Older Kimmy, followed by younger Buck. Kimmy has been my constant guardian for many years. People knew how to find me on the ranch, "Just find her dog, and she'll be right there," they said.
After photographing the sunset,Kimmy caught my attention. The way she was sitting, a little sentinel, always watching, always protecting. This time, she looked different. I noticed the gravel road behind her and something inside me whispered, she'll be leaving you, just like that gravel road is leading away, she will be leaving. I took her picture, with the gravel road next to her.I felt it would be the last picture I would take of her. She was aging and her health was starting fail, I thought, "Her health would continue to fail, a 15 year old dog is an old dog."
Little did I realize that this would be her last day.
A speeding car took her life. My neighbor Stephanie was the first to know, she broke the sad news to me.
In an instant, she was gone.
My husband John and son Johnny took over her care as soon as we knew she was hit. Johnny said, "Mom, she didn't feel anything, it was instant."
Tears. Lots of tears. Grief; a lump in my throat, pain in my chest, disturbed sleep and the sadness of seeing her food dish the next morning, all a part of the process of saying good-bye and feeling the loss.
Good-bye my faithful friend, I will miss you. You took your responsibilies so seriously, never letting up, always dilligently protecting all the little critters from chickens to kittens. You even patrolled the sky above, if ever a hawk flew too close, you barked and chased it away.
Many people said kind words to me, of comfort and understanding, which I am thankful for. I was told, "All dogs go to heaven." I'm sure Kimmy is there, with all the other good dogs that were loved, and horses and cats and all our loved ones.
I was not Kimmy's first owner. I adopted her from the animal shelter. I looked for a dog for about a year, and when I saw her in the cage, I knew instanly, she was the right one for me. I inquired about her and was told she was a new arrival,her name was Rimmy. Rimmy was 7 and belonged to her first owner until she was too sick with M.S. to take care of her or her other farm animals. She was raised on a farm. I vowed to take good care of her, and remember her former owner who would have appreciated knowing her dog was going to be loved.
I wanted to name my new dog something that had meaning to me, but was close enough sounding like her old name, that she would easily adjust. I had been looking for my childhood friend Kimmy Kirkman for decades, searching every means known to me. I thought, "If I name my new dog Kimmy Kirkman, it might help me find my friend."
I did find my long lost friend Kimmy Kirkman, a series of events lead me to her, not the least, my new dog.
Kimmy is re-united with her first owner. Some day, I will enjoy their company, until then, fond memories and thankfulness for the time we had here will adorn my thoughts.

Good bye Lucille, My mother-in-law's celebration of life.

My family celebrated the wonderful life of their mother, grandmother, aunt, loved one and friend on Friday February 3, 2012. After trying to figure out a funeralprogram, Peggy Howell, my sister-in-law, Lucille's daughter found the family Bible and inside was a note, that she had never seen before from her mother that outlined how she wanted her funeral, including the song she wanted sung, "Come Home", the location, a church, (not the funeral home) and she wanted food following so people could visit and enjoy themselves.

The program included family and loved ones sharing their memories of her life of 93 years, well lived.
Here is the program and obituary:
Officiant - Pastor Don Courtain
Eulogist - John Holbrook
Organist - Ron Nunn

http://youtu.be/IDVAcgdRbNw

Musical -Come Home by Steve Howell
Participating
Eastern Star, Mizpah Chapter 30
Closing Song - God Be With You Till We Meet Again
1. God be with you till we meet again; By his counsels guide, up-hold you; With his sheep securely fold you. God be with you till we meet again.
-Chorus-
2.God be with you till we meet again; When life's perils thick confound you, Put his arms unfailing round you. God be with you till we meet again.
-Chorus-
3. God be with you till we meet again; Keep love's banner floating o'er you; Smite death's threat'-ning wave before you. God be with you till we meet again.
Chorus: Till we meet, till we meet, Till we meet at Jesus' feet, Till we met, till we meet, God be with you till we meet again.

Casket Bearers
Randy Schwirse David Holbrook Ryan Holbrook
Jim Burri Josh Sullivan Brad King

Obituary
Lucille(Lucy) Caroline Martin Holbrook-Clammer passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on January 26, 2012 in St. Helens Oregon., she was 93. Lucille was born in Jackson Prairie, Washington on April 3, 1918 to Oliver Power Martin & Caroline Graham. She graduated from Kelso High School in 1936. She married Burnell Holbrook, her high school sweet heart, in 1937. She moved to St. Helens Oregon in 1945 where she managed The J.W. Copeland lumber yard while her husband was away in the service. In 1948 they purchased Columbia Lumber Company and re-named it Holbrook Lumber Company. In 1964 She married Robert Clammer
Lucille was an active member of the Women’s Club, Zenith Club, Business and Professional Women, the Yacht Club, Elks, Elks Travel Club and the Eastern Star. In 1956 she spearheaded an effort to receive a National Community Achievement award. She flew to Detroit Michigan to receive the first place award of $10,000. The money was awarded, in part for the many projects which improved and beautified St. Helens, including the building of Civic Pride Park and the trees in the Courthouse Square. She organized a dinner in her home for Governor Mark Hatfield who came in honor of winning the award. Lucille said, “This puts St. Helens on the map.”She enjoyed hunting, fishing, clam digging, cards, dancing and traveling with the RV club.
She is survived by her son John J. Holbrook & wife Laura of Brownsville OR, Peggy Howell & husband Steve of St. Helens OR, step daughter Susan West of Tualatin OR, nephew (son) Jim Martin & wife Kathy of St. Helens, Fred & Linda Martin of AZ., Eddie & Gladys Martin of AK, Grandchildren Randy Schwirse of Deer Island OR, Alisha & LaRon Livsey of Ridgefield, Wa , Peggy Sue & Jim Burri of St Helens, Kimberly & Brad King of Jamul CA, Stacy & Josh Sullivan of Scappoose , Teresa & Casey Tafoya of Flint MI, David & Michelle Holbrook of Escondido CA, Ryan & Wendy Holbrook of Brownsville OR, Julie Holbrook of Eugene, OR, Cindy Martin of Arvada CO,. Abe Nielsen of Portland OR, Joseph & Crystal Nielsen of Hawaii, Tamara & Brendan Smith of Midland Texas, Stephen & Rachel Nielsen of Salem, OR, John Nielsen of Brownsville OR and 23 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Proceeding her in death were, husbands Burnell Holbrook andRobert Clammer, grandson Ryan Schwirse.

Snow on your Beak!

Sometimes we all get caught with snow on our beak, or the human likeness of it.
With the New Year, 2012 just getting started, I've made some resolutions, like I usually do.

It's easy to pass a judgement quickly, and then find it's completely wrong, I've unfortunately done this before.

For many years I've tried to avoid jumping to conclusions about people, but find there is always room for improvement.

Like this chicken in the video, she's unaware of the snow on her beak. It may look like she's an untidy chicken, but she's not, she was just caught in an awkward moment.

Cleaning the Hen House and Gardening January 8, 2012!

I felt so lucky to have a free day today to work outside. A sunny day, in January in the Northwest is rare treat. I even had to discard my jacket because I got HOT. The dogs, Kimmy and Buck stayed by my side while I worked.

Cleaning the barn has to be done every day, but taking the manure outside on a dry sunny day is a lot better then in the rain or snow.

The chickens were thrilled when I cleaned out the chicken house, replacing the used nesting material in their boxes with fresh hay and wood shavings. The main part of the hen house is where the real dirty work was, I shoveled out all the old manure and replaced it with fresh hay and a thin layer of cedar chips. (Wearing a filter mask.)

To make the job more enjoyable, I replaced the 2 x 4 chunk of wood that has been used to prop the chicken door open every day for several years with a chain and hook ... a major improvement. Taking this little bit of extra time to do something I've wanted to do for a long time, sweetened the job and energized me.

The chickens notice these improvements, they are very keen to change, they like to come in, inspect the house and scratch around.

Ann and Rich Anderson who also keep a flock of chickens here on the ranch in my mom's old hen house, cleaned and scrubbed their house today too. We chatted as our paths crossed, sharing the wheelbarrow and tools.

The whole chicken community is clean, happy and healthy!

Nothing is wasted, I put all the manure where it can aged and will be used in the garden and grow boxes. Using as many of the resources right here on the ranch and avoiding commercial products is most rewarding.

Making compost from kitchen scraps, yard clippings and manure is an all around good practise.

Is decorating your home a waste of time?

Some of my family and friends didn't get to see my home decorated for Christmas, so before I take it all down, I took some photos and made a short video.


I put up about 1/3 of my decorations
this year and
really enjoyed it.



This Santa display is new, it was John's favorite decoration.

This year, I came to understand something about decorating and my feeling guilty that I was wasting time. (My confession: I tend to think that "wasting time" means doing something I really enjoy as opposed to "work" I don't like to do, which isn't wasting time. I'm working on this, I know it's not healthy.)

I was starting to feel like I was "wasting time" decorating, because it does take a lot of time, but when my husband John said, "Decorating is one of your talents, I'm glad to see you using one of your talents."
I felt justified in putting one of my talents to use and sharing it. I never looked at it like that before.



Sometimes I feel guilty using my creative talents, because I have a lot of fun when I do and it doesn't feel like "work". If I was practising the piano (I don't play the piano, but have a lot of admiration for those who do) for a Christmas program, that would never be considered a waste of time.

Decorating is like my Christmas concert, it is how I share one of my talents.



It's good to enjoy your home, decorating it for the different holidays. It's a talent to develop, share and enjoy!

Get the Most from Your Lip Gloss!

Until recently, I threw the lip gloss out when I couldn't squeeze any more out of the tube. My husband John gave me this idea when I caught him cutting open the toothpaste so he could use the last little bit in the tube.
When I thought my favorite lip gloss was empty, I remembered my frugal husband's technique and tried it on the lip gloss tube. To my delight, there was another couple of weeks worth of lip gloss left in the tube.
Try this!