Pictures Rick sent me of our Time together at Camp

An interesting note: The way they cut their grass is by sythe & not by lawn mower.

Victoria, Camp Director> Toma, Youth leader for group #! the youngest group> Kate, youth leader for the 3rd group ages 13-14 & myself. We were watching the water ballon competition going on staying out of the way of the water bombs!!! lol
This is Pasha's Possie watching on from the older group.
This is the water balloon competition going on. I think everyone lost count due to having too much fun!!! lol
This is Mary, group leader of #4 the oldest group & Karina, group leader of the 2nd group 10-12's

Egg Drop July 31st 2007

Sorry that the pictures arn't that great, but they were instant cameras. Both of these pictures are of Toma's & Karina's groups This was on the day that Mary's group become youth leaders for the younger groups. The Egg Drop is an activity where they are in groups of 4 and they are given an egg, 30 straws & approx 3 ft. of tape .
Bombs away!!! Each group needs to Create a Company Name: package, sales pitch & demonstrate the package droped from approximately 10 ft.
Out of a total of 15 groups there were 3 "packages that made it" lol

Speghetti Tower July 31st 2007

Again this is Mary's group during the Speghetti Tower activity with the winning tower that held water without falling down. This was also done on a wet warm misty day outside under & on the stairs.

Shackles & Handcuffs July 26th 2007

Otherwise called the infinite circle. Mary's group #4 This was a problem solving activity & very fun to watch & do.

This was one of the days that we were outside under a shelter due to rain. The weather was alot like Seattle except a very muggy wet hot on nice days.

Duct tape July 22, 2007

These pictures are of Group #4 Mary's 15-16 year olds. There were 19 in the group & one of the first activities I gave them was to duct tape a participant on the wall standing on a chair; then on the count of 3 pull out the chair & see how long the participant will stay on the wall. It was very interesting to see who was choosen or insisted on being the one on the wall, who was leadering or directing, who was taping, who was cutting the tape & who was coosing to watch what was going on. They seemed to be having alot of fun!!! lol

Moscow, Russia Camp July 20-Aug.2nd

Paul & Kate, a youth leader> her mother, Svetlana was the person that got the 3 boxes that I mailed & delivered them to me at the airport as well as take me back to the airport after my touring days.

I left for Russia July 19th 6am & arrived at the airport July 2oth 10am & then the camp at noon. It is a completely security gated fenced in "Terratory"(sp) There was a grocery store right outside of the terratory that I visited almost every day to buy my bottled water, pop, banana, & ice cream on hot days. I had my own room (which was good for I had so much stuff that I had sent to use as "tools" for reinforcing the concepts hopefuly taught.) The people were friendly & very helpful. I even met & talked to some of the other guests (for the place is used by the people as a place for vacationing & rest & relaxation.) Some differences> they wear their wedding rings on the opposite hand but same finger, they play with their babies by rolling their r's, their toilets are cool> you pull a knop on the top & the flush hole is in the front instead of the back & seems to really work better for keeping it cleaner longer, the meals to me were not as bad as I've been told: each food item is on it's own plate & never on the same plate with another type of food, I could not use the water from the faucet for drinking, but I did resolve to boiling it when I ran out of bottled water (I never got sick, but did immediately get a couple of cold sores) The person I was paired with, Rick, was an absolute God send> who helped me have the right persepective for different issues that arose & helped keep me balanced as far as my imperfections (yes I do have some lol) The traffic is so bad that it takes 2-3 hours to go what would normally take 1/2 hour due to so many cars & it is said that the Moscow roads will come to a screeching halt within the next few years due to the growing number of car owners (Moscow has at least 15 million & growing population)

Nastia & friend, I have found out that after 2 weeks I have already started forgetting the kids names. I am so very sorry. If any of you see these, please leave me a comment with your name to which picture. Thank you for your forgiveness.

Sasha & Valery
The 3 Musketeers
Pasha & Friend

I planned and did 10 days of 3 groups each day with a day off after the 6th day. I had a totally awesome time of playing with the kids & seeing them form friendships, learn how to work together well in groups, support & keep each other safe during challenging activities and just have loads of fun!!! I will forever remember this experience and oppurtunity of a lifetime in my golden years.

Well that is all I can remember for now, will post more later,

Paka Paka

Alaska Cruse June 07

This trip had been planned for for mother who was no longer with us at the time of the trip, so my grandson came along with us so we would not loose the money paid into it.
The below picture is of Myself, Charlotte & Sue (Blake, my grandson came along but he was always off at the teen center or walking around the ship with other youth. lol)
This one is of the glacier we went into. As usual the cruise ship food was good and everything was fine.


I will try & get a scanned picture of the one with Blake in it but he has that one.

Annie M. Wirth-Washo

As you all aready know, mom had died March 27th. The family memory service was held at Charlottes' & was an awesome time of telling stories, and reconnecting with family members. We were to connect at a family reunion July 4th at Lake Sammaish, but somehow, due to being so busy getting my visa and preparing for Russia, I did not get connected with those following through with that. Hope to be involved next year.
Cousin Noreen had asked for mom's baked beans recipe & if anyone knows mom, you know there is not a consisent measurable bone in her body for baking and cooking but everything always tasted marvelous. So below is what I came up with following in her footsteps but trying to measure for those who would like to try them.

ANNIE’S SOUTHERN BAKED BEANS
Mother never measured or put in the same ingredients every time because of not always having them on hand. This is what I remember her using & my measurements that I created to make it easier for you. lol
1 cup Pinto Beans
1 cup White (Northern) Beans
1 cup Navy Beans
1 tsp. salt
Sort out any undisirables & pour 8 cups of hot tap water over the beans. Gently stir in 1 tsp. of baking soda and let stand overnight.
Pour off the water & reserve (DO NOT RINSE OFF)
ADD
1# salt pork cut into chunks> Brown or sear on all sides in a very hot cast iron frying pan & drain off fat>
(Use in making drop biscuts or corn bread)
1 cup of the reserved water
(keep rest to use in Beef stew made from scratch or gravy)
1 large onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
2 large tomatoes diced
1 medium carrot shredded
STIR IN
1 cup catsup
½ cup blackstrap molasses
¼ cup pure maple syrup or dark karo syrup or sorgum syrup
½ cup packed dark brown sugar
1 ¼ tsp. dry mustard
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 clove garlic minced
1 Tblsp. worcestershire sauce
1 Tblsp. apple cider vinegar
3 bay leaves> take out when done
1 cup apple juice
BAKE IN 300◦ OVEN
IN A CAST IRON BAKING PAN COVERED FOR 2 HOURS
& UNCOVERED FOR 1 HOUR
Stirring periodically and adding apple juice &/or more catsup as needed.

Have fun trying them out. mmmmmm

First have been able to access this in 2007

Hi all, I have been trying to get into my blog for 8 months but for some reason had trouble going through the steps & change (self taught with not alot of patience lol)
Anyway, this year has been a busy one. Lou had been hospitalized & operated on for a hernia, no calcium in his body (cliniclly dead) & a burst appendix of which the doctors did not catch until they opened him up for the hernia. He has progressed well, but still has bouts of caughing alot & not sleeping very well.
In March, Derrick went on a business trip to Vegas & invited me along for us to have some time together of which I did. It was my first time ever in Vegas & I was astounded by how everyone was able to drink & walk the streets, porno everywhere & being solicited. Derrick & I went to two comedy shows & they were very good. I walked & walked lol. He was there on a trade show exabition I I was able to go home with a whole new suiycase of freebees of which most went to Russia with me. Derrick & I had a very soul searching & good time connecting & moving forward in our relationship as mother/son coupled with a building friendship. Thank You Derrick!