Hey don't give me any flack, I know it is the end of the year, It has gone by at an extremly fast pace, to quick sometimes for me to keep up on what was going on, let alone keep up with my blog. There were times when I could not even find the darn blog, let alone post on it. It was in many ways a very good year. In other ways it seemed many doors went shut that would never be opened again, but as doors close it seems to me. Other open, all we have to do is be brave enough to walk through them and smile and just do what we have to do.

Christmas came , there it was Christmas day. Shannon and I managed to get to the NIC Christmas concert and have time just to relax and enjoy the music of Christmas. Even the cats learned about bell. We decided to try putting bells on the door and see if the cats could learn to ring them to be let in. They did. Daphine, rings them once, the queen she is and expects that someone will come and let her in. Dakota on the other hand rings them load and clear and does not stop until the door is opened. It took them wise cats about four days to get it down.

And what may I ask am I suppose to do if the Snow blower goes whacko. But all is well, it again is up and running and Joe can relax and enjoy the day.

This is stepper, he never hardly ever sits still, but for some reason even with everone gathered round he took time to relax and enjoy the Christmas Spirit. He and Derrick are buddies. He herds all children. At our house he feels he is responsible for them and so far we have not lost one. He also herds the other animals. They have got to where they just put up with it, and in fact, Daphine likes him. Not so with Dakota.

And each day it comes and comes and comes down. Snow flakes glistening in the early morning sun. Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Clause and we know where he lives, right here in North Idaho.

Santa came early this morning and Derrick wondered why he left him a Doll, then His dad explained it was for Riley. He said, but I like it.

Derrick is opening Riley's presents for her, and she is interested in what she may of got, and wondering just what she is going to do with them anyway.

I bought Curtis a New cap for Christmas, he has been such a great help with all the snow, and ice here and there and everywhere. He put it on and said. Thanks mom for the budwieser cap and smiled. O.K. so I have not learned to read yet. but all is well he liked it.

Early Christmas morning some people gather around the tree with it lights twinkling, Laughter rings and The smell of Hot chocolate fills the air, not so for Shannon, she has been up at dawn for the last ten days, shoveling and clearing snow from Claudets so the dogs have a place to run, and Christmas moring was no differnt. The dogs by the way have fell in love with her. It is one of those things you do when you are a poor college student, you take what jobs are offered you and do it and are happy to earn money in any way that will help you get throught the next Semister. Curtis works at a call center, in between calls he can study, He hates the job, but says, it is a means to helping me through school. His dream is to win the lottery and become a professional student.

Well the Old year ends and the new one is coming, with many promises of changes. I will keep you posted or not.

To end this year I want to say. Happy Life. Happy day. I am grateful for so many things. For Grandchildren, I am excited that I will have a teen age Grandchild his birthday is coming soon. If I have one wish it is this, That he lives a long and healthy life, and stays as wonderful tomorrow as he is today. What a great kid. I am grateful for so much this year. For Uncle Cliff pulling through when we just were so worried he would not, For Jan whom takes care of him so well. I am greatful for friends to share my life with them, and whom share theirs with me. I am thankful that prayers are really answered and over and over again, this year, I know they have been.

I am greatful for sisters both blood ones and ones that we meet along the way. I am also thankful for Joe, who continues to be my best friend, whom loves me and understands me, who listens to my heart and lets me do those things I feel I need to do. Who goes with me when I have some crazy project and helps me throught it. Who believes in me, Who always tells me I am wonderful and hot. What more could I ask for... Love to you all for always.. Love Jeanette

Sometimes snow is fun, but when you fall and get a face full, you find out real fast that is is cold. Derrick will play out side for a long time, with out mittens as who wants to have mittens they just get in you way, but a little snow in the face and he was finished for the day. He has livened up Grandma's house, Heather and the kids came the weekend after Thanksgiving, Daniel has been working in Vernal Utah. Not as much snow there, but we heard it was still pretty cold. Heather and the kids should be moving down there in a month or so if everything goes right.

The Tenth of December when everything was still green here in the North, as I was going down the Road, Not really into the Christmas Spirit yet, Because everything after all was still green, and we all know Christmas does not come to North Idaho unless it snows, I am sure that is some kind of rule or something. At any rate here I am driving down third street, and what to my amazement should appear. Well not reindeer, but a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick and his side kick Santa. For there were two on the crazy old big, waving and laughing as they rode out of site. Wishing a Merry Christmas to one and to all.

And sometimes when you just have shoveled one more shovel than you thought you could, You call on a brother to come and lend a hand. Shannon is care taking dogs and a house for the Holidays, and it has snowed and snowed and she has shoveled and shoveled. She called and Curt came to the recue, It seems to me he gets in on a lot of our projects. and he always does it with a great attitude and we love him for it. He is more than willing to lend a hand and do what ever we seem to need done. He is loving school and hates work but knows with out the one he can not do the other. He said, he wished he had realized how much he loved learning years ago...

Well sometimes the snow gets so deep in the back yard that Someone has to lend a hand. Joel made a snow run for the dogs. Quiggle was not to sure about it, Stepper ran around it and around it in circles. Webster after all is Webster, he just plowed through the snow, made his own path and was happy, He is getting old and stiff, but that does not mean that he still doesn't make a run for it if the front door is open, but it has almost got to th point that I can out run him. I do not know whether to cry or jump for joy. He has been a great addition to our family for so long. Merry Christmas Webster....

I not dreaming of a white Christmas for we have in our own back yard, The tree tops glisten and snow drifts swiften.. as we drive along our merry way. How can you not just wonder at the beauty of it adn as it comes falling down more and more, you think wow that is pretty till it is time to shovel and plow. and even then you love it. It is just the way it is..

And so winter has came to Idaho, just when we thought it would pass us gently by, we had the most recorded snow in one day, in the history of our area. White and more white, so dreaming of a white Christmas became a reality and our world turned white and of course beautiful.

Smiley faces all aglow, this was the day that everyone grabbed there shovel and were out in the snow helping clear it litteraly from the rooftops and off the ground.

Derrick and the snow,, well he is enjoying it.

Just a little more, at this time I am writting this Joel is out once again plowing the white stuff we had about six more inches last night, and where we want to know if Global warming happening and could we go there please.

Well some things just have to be sacrificed, or repaired as the weather continues. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year..

There are things that everyone wonders abotu and one of those things is what is Aunt Rynn up to now. This is her on Halloween after her brother jon used his paint and magic to create , I am not sure what, but anyway off she went to the Halloween dance anyway.

Derrick and Riley have came to stay with grandma for the month of December, they like Grandma big old brown chair, Riley is just sometimes a little worried about what her brother is or is not doing. but he does not mean to be rough, he just loves her so much.

Riley Ka-Rynn is bright eyed and wonderful, she is just fascinating to us all, right down to her little toes.

Derrick and grandma love to cook together, well anyway Derrick loves it, Grandma whom used to always have little one underfoot, is re getting the hang of how this works and remembering, that things only take three times as long to do with good help. Hum, that must be why I did all my baking and canning in the middle of the night.

Well , we want you to know whom is in charge of the Harty house right now, and it is not Grandma Nette, even is she thinks it is. Derrick has a lot of plans for Grandma, and he does not forget promises at all.

Novemeber was a good month at our house, we had a great Thanksgiving with Jon and Erin here, and our highlight was to go and see the lights at the resort. The night was warm and wet and off we went. The first fireworks was spectacular, then because of air inversion, Hum, hope I got that word right. Anyway, the smoke came down instead of going up, and the rest of the fireworks were hidden behind those clouds of smoke. and then the smoke traveled downt to us. Nothing lost it was a great event and we still plan to attend next year, there were an estimated forty thousand peopel there. Leaving a few minuets early made a differnce we got right out of there and on the freeway. Shannon and Rynn whom were probably at the most Three minuets behind us leaving, did not get home for over an hour after we did.

North Idaho is a wonderful place to spend any time of the year, and December is not exception. for one thing the eagles have landed. We just are so blessed with so much beauty. So keep and eye out and I will try to get some pitcures of the eagles posted.

So it's morining, Daphine the cat, wakes up with an attitude and it just lasts all day, she lives at out house but we realy know that her heart is in Samoa. And as Everett says. Granny , you know she still loves us best.

It is Quigleys job to make sure that the grandkids do not sleep in when they come to visit. What fun is it if they do not get up before daylight and welcome in the day with us.

Ok. where did that kid go.

Oh, there he is still fast asleep, just because he keep growing and growing and growing, does he think he needs his beauty sleep.

And Maggie, whom used to crawl out of bed it seemed like just when we all had finally got to bed. Now sleeps in. It seems she has grown to fast and that life after all is a twinkle in time.

Thanksgiving time is fast approaching, pumpkin pies are in the making, well one is in the eating, Who after all wants to wait till Thursday when pie had be had on Wednesday Morning for breakfast, Not Moira or Granny for sure. Early morning with Granny does have it's rewards after all. Things are ever changing when you live in North Idaho, one is the weather, the other is children. It seems that changes and opportunies come and go. Life is an adventure, and we must take the time in our life to enjoy it, to know that come what may, that life is good and wonderful. That challenges come, but the hardest challenge of all, is to figure out in the end, who we want to be. The hardest thing is to take what life gives you and let it sweeten you. Let is seep down to the very tips of you toes and make you better ever whit and fiber. If you do that , in the end of it all, you will win the race, your race, your most fantasic race called life.