SCHS Class of 1968 Reunion ~ 40 Years!

Here is a hodgepodge of pictures I took at the reunion. I thought I took more individual shots than I did. Meant to get a pic of Patrick & me (we can reenact it later on for the camera I guess:<), and Tom & Connie & Barb & Eddie, Diane & Jerry,Don and his wife, and more, but the brain was obviously on overload. Trying to figure out who everyone was??? I'm including more than one group photo because different folks are more visible on some. I'm sitting on the far left in the group picture here, while in reality I was actually on my far right. (I AM very conservative!) Stage left, stage right, I always get them confused. Here's to old codgers reminiscing and enjoying each others company!

I'm Back!!

Currently posting this from Hilton Garden Inn Airport in Spokane, WA. I have to mention that this is one of the best, cleanest hotels I've stayed at in our many journeys over the years...and I do love their fluffy beds! Was kind of disappointed in the Philadelphia Hampton Inn Airport's cleanliness but they did have the wonderful, comfy bed. My plane arrived (from PA by way of St. Louis & Seattle) after midnight so it was best to spend the night rather than endanger anyone on the road at that hour. A very long trip, but glad we went. On the outbound portion of the journey Patrick flew in from Phoenix and we met in Chicago, flew to Philadelphia and spent the night, then drove to northeastern PA. Stayed at my 85 year old mother's house for 3 nights...she smokes like an old chimney so both my sweetie (who has asthma) and I tried our best not to look like we were choking while with Mom. The reason for the trip was to attend my 40th H.S. class reunion (we have never ventured back to Laporte to any of the others). I'll get some pictures up here after I get home and retrieve our dogs and get settled back in. It was quite fun and though I'm only dropping a note at this time, have to relay at least one cool event of the reunion evening now. Patrick & I sat next to my old (sorry Tommy) classmate, Tom & his wife Connie. Tom mentioned that he had read a blurb about my life I had put in one of the past reunion handbooks and knew by it that I was a born again Christian. Turns out he & Connie were born again 30 years ago (me:20 yrs, Patrick:50 yrs!!) and it was such a fine thing being able to talk with both of them and feel time apart melt away because of the fellowship we shared in Christ. Their daughter and son in law work for Campus Crusade at Penn State U. Our Lord is SO amazing. I was flitting about trying to talk to as many old friends as I could, and found out another dear buddy (we passed notes in French class), Cheryl and her husband, Ricky(also a classmate), are born again too. AND, her little sister lives about 35 miles south of me in faaarrrrr north Idaho and they too are saved!! I really would have loved to take a poll of how many folks from Sullivan Co. H.S. Class of '68 have come to know the Lord as their personal Saviour. Those times were pretty messed up, so I'm hoping more than I know have come to salvation. Of course, I'm sure there were those who knew Jesus Christ way back when & I had no cognisance of it. Tom said an interesting thing to me about who I used to be and I was actually quite surprised. He said, "You had very low self esteem then didn't you?" I was surprised, because I thought I did a pretty good job of hiding how insecure I was. I always felt ugly and though I was a good student & participated in a ton of activities I felt like such a fraud and felt if anyone knew who I really was they would never like me. Anyway, I asked Tommy how he knew and he said, "By the guys you dated." Ha! Boy was he right on. Golly I love Jesus and am so thankful that he saved this wretch! Well, I better get checked out of the hotel before they charge me for another day. I'll try to get some pics up by this weekend. Blessings, blessings and more blessings to any and all who stop by this blog. Remember, Jesus loves you and He NEVER fails. love, Cassie

In the Original Language

During the Revolutionary War, there was a small encampment of Patriot soldiers in the woods. Before they went to bed that night, they tied chickens (they were saving them for a special meal when needed) to the trees around the campground.

Sure enough, some British soldiers were stumbling through the woods that night and frightened the chickens. Their screams and clucks woke the Patriots, and they were able to defeat and capture the entire group of British soldiers. A few nights later, the cook prepared the chickens for dinner.

The soldiers said, "This is really good. What do you call it?"

The chef said that in honor of these special chickens who saved their lives, he called it "chicken catch a Tory".

Got Milk?

Hootie & Baby Rocket Dog doing their best 'Got Milk?' faces!

I've Been A Slug Lately

Seems I've been low on energy lately. Could be that the little boy dog requires that I awake 2-3 times during normal sleeping hours. I've included some new pics of Hootie & Baby Rocket Dog so you all can see how much the little stink has grown. Baby seems so mature by comparison now. Amazing. I sure am having fun with them, though I sure wish Hootie would grasp the concept of potty training. He'll be outside for 2 hours, then come in and pee on the floor. Thank the Lord for porcelain tile floors!! He has gotten way better at the crate training part though. Hasn't peed on his bedding in about 5 days now. A record? We'll get through this I'm sure.

Went to the POAC (Pend Oreille Arts Council) Art on the Beach on Saturday. I bought the 2 lodge pole pine switch plates pictured for our basement bath. Really like the way they coordinate with the door trim and basin vanity. That bath probably won't get finished this summer, but at least I have a toilet & switch plates!

I half painted the floor on Patrick's shed the other day. Actually just primed it. Couldn't budge a couple things on the floor, so they remain unpainted. I probably shouldn't have started it until I could do the whole thing, but if you know me........

One of my blogger friends (http://www.logcabininmichigan.blogspot.com/), Shelly, is making me feel like a total slug. She and her hubby just started their cabin a few months ago and are already landscaping it. That's about 8 years in our future. I am totally enjoying reading other folks blogs (check out Jen's www.unglazed.blogspot.com), but can't really set aside much time to do so, since I have to come downtown and use the wireless internet and we have had a few hot days. But NOT yesterday morning. We had a 10 minute hail storm. It was pretty neat. ( A short video of the hail is at the bottom of this entry.) BabyRD got all riled up just before it hit, so I let her outside and boom, marble sized hail. She was funny, like, what the heck is this?! I took her to church with me today, as the weather is lovely, about 65 degrees, so staying in the car with the windows down was okay and makes her feel special. Hootie is at home in the outdoor kennel. He has dug several little holes in Pat's beautiful grass so I figured he can't hurt anything and maybe he will go potty while he's out there. Oh well, maybe we'll eventually just pave it over. Oh, yea, the roses are from my "Veteran's Honor" rose bush. Aren't they fabulous?

Better go now. Hope you all enjoy the new pictures. May God bless all who read this richly. love, Cassie

Busy Week

This past week has been really busy. Decided to paint the basement bathroom so I could have my toilet installed. Gave it 2 good coats and it turned out nice. The shade (deerfield) looks really cool with the newly stained floor. Yippeee. Purchased a pine sink vanity but did not have that hooked up yet as the plumber squeezed us in for the toilet only, and I didn't want to press my luck. Have to stay on the good side of the plumber, you know. ;<) He recommended a book called Water Dogs for help in getting my little beasts in line. I'm at the library now, but they don't carry it. Checked out a couple other books by the same author (Wolters) and hopefully they will give me some good instruction. Gotta go now. Baby is with me & we left the bad boy at the cabin by himself. Better go see what mischief he has gotten into. More later. Hope you all had a good week. Blessings on your heads. love, Cassie