A Visit from Grandma and Grandpa Hales

Okay- Sorry Kim- Had a great weekend with Mom and Dad who drove from Cali to see everyone. We spent the majority of Friday at Grandma Mikkelson's Home-well actually in her basement. Has anyone ever been down there? I never decended the steps into her basement. Scary descent! Dad mentioned that he used to sleep in the room where the furnace is now. There in the window (literally small enough to poke a head out but not to crawl through) hung yellow gingham curtains with brown rick rack. Grandma said she made them a long time ago. We found the coolest stuff down there..... gun powder, food storage with the expiration date of 1972, a dead trantula, boxes and boxes of "stuff." Grandma was great about letting go of things. We all know how clean she keeps her house upstairs and the downstairs was definately Grandpas. There was a "shotgun bullet maker" still housing bullet casings from the last time Grandpa made his own bullets. We filled a HUGE trailer with things to haul away to the dump. I am sure that it helps Grandma to know that it is semi-clean down there. Although we did not clean up all the mouse droppings or sweep the floor. All-in-all it was a great day. Lots of progress. And Grandma looked so beautiful. Her hair freshly styled and smelling of sweet powder like she always does. I love that smell. Next trip we can all help her with the attic and then the back room. I was reminded of the life that our Grandparents led. Very frugle, using what they had. Taking care of things themselves. The life of a farmer could not have been easy but surely had joy and peace and quiet. So different from the busy lives that we all lead. No fast food or restaurants. No gyms, or close gas stations, no internet, no movie theatres. Just simplicity and fine company. One of the things I love about going to Grandmas is the time she takes to talk. She loves to talk. She really loves us all and surely has been a GREAT Mother and Grandmother.
Sunday we spent the day eating and visiting with family. There were the usual wrestling matches and tickling fests with the kids.... and adults. The Goodmans were here too and were so kind and friendly. They are such wonderful people. Mom and Dad and the Goodmans both shared funny stories from their own geneology to which we all laughed. Boy do we have some fun stories to tell! The food was yummy and the company was delightful- I wish no one had to leave. Mom and Dad left to go home this morning. They are stuck in Riverside in traffic- big surprise! But they are almost home. We love when they visit and are SO SAD when they have to leave-but thanks for coming up-we know how incredibly busy you are. Don't have pics just yet-I'll post some when I get some-