A trip to Placerville was in order to visit my Aunt Amy. The group picture you see was taken a few months before my visit but it includes relatives I saw including my Sister and her son Rob. From left to right is, cousin Bob, Aunt Amy, Cousin Don, Aunt Lil, Sister Pat and Nephew Rob. The person taking the picture was Carolyn, Cousin Bob’s wife. We had a good visit and Cousin Don, whom I had not seen in several years, came up from Sacramento one afternoon.

Right after our visit my Aunt Amy went to live with her son Bob and wife Carolyn. Amy was living in her home, but had been falling and was not able to be by herself any longer. It is wonderful that Bob and Carolyn are able to have her in their home, at least for now. It brings many changes and all depends on how mobile she remains.

My cousin Debbie and her daughter, Ginny and children were able to join Aunt Lil and I, after we returned to Stockton, for lunch one day. I had never met the children so it was a special treat. They were delightful. Ginny has her hands full with the three kids. Grandma Debbie always lends a helping hand.

Aunt Lil and I did errands and managed to have lunch several times at Home Town Buffet. We really didn’t do anything special other than going to Placerville. Time passed to quickly and then I was off again, going back to my sister’s in Los Molinos.

Attended a few of Rob’s events. His Halloween party and Monday boweling. After I left he went to the Special Olympics boweling tournament in Oroville. He placed 3^rd and got his picture in the paper. The Red Bluff team does very well in the tournaments, all team members got a medal in their divisions.

So, now I’m home. Bob did well while I was gone and kept things in order. He kept busy spending time helping his Dad get the city water connected to his house and installing a new water heater. Kicakpoo went until the end of October so that was a weekly outing. The good news on Kickapoo is that the Gov. (you all know about Blagojevich) signed the bill to fund most of the Illinois State Parks. Not sure exactly what money will be available but at least Kickapoo is one that will not have the gates closed. The Gov., will unfortunately, be a continuing saga for awhile.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving. Mike, my son, and Bob’s Dad spent the day with us. Watched the parades on TV. Lots and lots of food that provided meals the rest of the week. Dad took his drivers test in November and will be driving for another year. He is required to take a drivers test yearly and has since he was 80 (fifteen years). He doesn’t drive allot, to the store, bank and a few other errands and here, mostly during the day. He does well.

Have all the Christmas shopping done. Bob and I decided to make donations to the Toys for Tots as our Christmas present to each other. We have very few needs and thought this would be a good thing to do since there are many who are less fortunate.

This brings us to the end of the year almost. Although we don’t have snow on the ground today, the first day of winter, was ushered in with temperatures below zero. The pictures below show the recent ice storm. Not much happened here, pine limbs down. You do get to see the cover Bob made for the garden window to keep the cold out. You can see what would have happened to the window if the cover was not there, it does help.