Grand-Pets

We have bragged about our kids, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren and we are so proud of them all. We have not focused on the very special Grand-Pets that we enjoy along with their proud "parents" who from time to time ask us to Pet-sit for them! It is time to show you the special ones who also bring great joy.

Tim & Marilyn recently traveled to Costa Rica for an 8 day stay. While they were gone Ron & I shared duty with Marilyn's mom to look after Charlie and Charity!




Charlie celebrated with us when his parents came home safe and sound from so far away!
Eli & Rebeccah and her daughter Rachel asked us to watch Peanut over the weekend while they went to the beach!


While I took a little nap, Peanut rounded up all the stuffed animals in the house!

When I woke up and asked him what he was doing with all my stuffed animals - he showed me!!

Opps! There's and ear missing!

Jack & Deb have shared generations of grand-pets with us. Right now they have Clara
who has been with them about 7 years and Sweet Pea (who was a feral cat – very shy).
They are soon going to add two little Sheltie Pups to our grand-pets. We have already seen the babies who will come home to them at the end of this month. You will see much more of them as they grow.


Until Mike & Cynthia left we had Sitka to play with and help us by throwing her ball in the hole Ron was trying to dig!

We have pet birds!

Pet Squirrels - we feed 50 pounds of nuts every 60 days!

We have a Friendly Oak who greets all the walkers passing by!

Last of all – we honor the memory of our sweet Beau who was our very best friend for over 13 years. And there have been many more of these sweet loving little beings who ask for nothing more than our love, and food, and shelter, and medical care and attention 24-7 and for that they return gifts too grand to compare!

On the human side of things – Maria – our Swedish Daughter will soon be welcoming a new baby – in June – we expect. Our wonderful tenants look forward to welcoming a Son the end of May or first of June. We are so blessed! We love Grand –All of You!

Friends celebrate with a baby shower for our tenant friends!
Joy and Love to all . . .
AND WELCOME to the new Babies!

Life Changes

As I look out my beautiful bedroom corner window I see the giant maple leaves filling in the background of the grey sky – bigger every day – they seem so wrap us in a living cocoon of nature at its best. Ron & I watch each year until the sky disappears and our world is a tight knit web of positive present energy in which we thrive. We enjoy watching the birds and squirrels that visit our feeder, and are grateful for the frequent fly over of osprey, hawks, falcons and the occasional eagle. We live in gratitude for this heavenly place that we have helped to create – and appreciation of the deep understanding that this is ours to enjoy now, now, and now. Change is always afoot and when it comes as it inevitably will we intend to be flexible and joyful in the appreciation of the bigger picture of which every soul is a part.




We love and enjoy the special people who grace us with their presence and participation in our lives – and have been blessed beyond measure to have Mike, Cynthia and Sitka share our home for a year and 5 months. We felt the heart break when they announced they were moving "home" to Seattle. It has taken a few days to smile again – but we appreciate that in the big picture – they are very courageous and are pursuing their life's passion as every being needs to do.




We will miss the picnics – the game nights – the laughter and music drifting up from our daylight studio. But we will treasure the ongoing friendship and memories that are forever. Cynthia taught me how to blog! Thanks Cynthia! Mike fixed my computer! Thanks Mike. You two had better keep bloging so we can stay real close!

Next month we will be welcoming two new friends and tenants, Charlotte and Richard. While it seems prudent not to allow ourselves to get so close and care about them too much so we won't be hurt when change again comes, we know the love and caring is worth the hurt.

We have been through it so many times – Maria, our love is in Sweden. Jesse and Laura and their family are in Moses Lake. Ernie and Diana are in Moses Lake. Vicki is far away. Eric who lived with us in the '80's is in a mental hospital. Rich who shared our home for a year in the late 1980's is dead from alcohol abuse. The many "run-away" kids that came for only days at a time while we provided the Polk County Safe House have come, stolen our hearts and moved on for better or worse. But I gave my heart to each and every one in the now, now that they were here. We got to keep Eli our wonderful youngest son!

Our sons Ernie and Eli help Ron celebrate his birthday.
The Love that comes back makes Life Real and Deep and Important.

My Cup Overflows with Love and Joy. Tim & Marilyn, Deb & Jack, Jesse & Laura, Eli, Maria, Ernie & Diana, Thank You for the daily calls and e-mails, the loving concerns and for sharing our love. And Thank You to all the friends and relatives who love us from afar and are always there in a time of crisis. Even though we don't see you often – I can feel your love whenever I think of you.

Ron and his Sister, Pet

Life is good. Another Chapter for us begins.

April Greetings

I hope this blog finds you enjoying the beautiful spring blossoms and birds in the blue sky. It has been nice off and on and hasn't quite settled into warm weather here yet.

Our Son Eli has been a great help this spring cleaning our roof and gutters so Ron doesn't have to go on the Roof. What a guy! He works hard doing Cement Masonry but always has time to give us a hand! Thank you ELI!


It is a ritual in the Derricott Family established by Ron's Mom to color Easter Eggs.
Ron really enjoys it every year.



We celebrated Easter by getting up real early to deliver Easter Baskets to Mike & Cynthia (first) and then to our son Tim & his wife Marilyn, and then to our daughter.


We went pretty early – I thought we could park on the street and place the basket in front of Tim's house unseen – but as soon as I started up the driveway Tim came out, "HI MOM!" I said, "No, no I am invisible! I am going to hop up your drive and deliver this Easter Basket! A big hug and thanks and we moved on to Deb's house where she was expecting us. Since her husband had to work the three of us went to breakfast together.

About 11:30 we took off for the Theater in Independence, bought our tickets for a 3D movie "How to Train your Dragon" (animated). It was delightful fun!

Today Tim & Marilyn will arrive in Costa Rica for an 8 day vacation. They are staying in a lovely little condo near the downtown community of Coco Beach and the sandy beaches of the Pacific. They plan to drive the "Monkey Trail", ride the zip lines through the rain forest tree tops, see the local sites and finish it off with a day-long Sailboat Tour of the Islands. They celebrate their 8th wedding anniversary on May 25th when they return.

Jack & Deb are celebrating their 8th wedding anniversary now – April 7th – at their favorite Oregon beach resort. We wish them all a wonderful time.

Ron is feeling GREAT! We are having the "Good Life". Love to hear from you – do comment or send an e-mail. Love to all.

Goin' Fishin' and Stuff

Ron had such a wonderful time at his birthday gathering. It was so great to have most of the family together. He used his gift certificates and dollars to buy good hiking boots and some fishing flies.

Friday March 12th was probably the prettiest and warmest day we have had yet this spring so we took off for the "Three Rivers" where he had heard the Steelhead run was in progress. This drive takes us toward Pacific City on the Oregon Coast.

Once on the stream Ron soon learned that the Steelhead weren't running and that the Fish and Game Dept. had planted trout in Hebo Lake – up on Hebo Mountain. We'd never been there before – so the adventure began.


We began our climb up the Mountain in the center of the little town named "Hebo". We found the pretty little lake about 4 miles up on the windy paved road. Lots of fisherman were enjoying the beautiful day.


Looking for more adventure – we continued another 9 miles about straight up the mountain to the top to see the "observation tower". There was no tower – but instead a long time used Radar Station.



From the top of the Mountain we could see the Pacific Ocean about 180 degrees out. From that site we could see the big "G" in the inlet of Garibaldi. What a thrill!


Then we came down the Mountain with very warm brakes and headed for the fish hatchery on the way to Oceanside.



Oceanside is one of our most favorite towns on the Oregon Coast. It is nestled in a cove that is filled with wild life. In fact it looks like all the Sea Lions from the Pacific Coast had gathered there.


I took a picture of the "A Frame" rental we have used numerous times. We'll have to go back to stay sometime soon! Click on photos to enlarge view.



The sun was getting close to the horizon when we headed back 101 toward Lincoln City and home. We were really tired from the drive the elated with the beauty of the day.
Wish you were here – those of you still fighting snow! Spring is coming!

Love to All

Ron Celebrates 70

It has been a flurry of activity from the 1st of March to prepare a Celebration fit for the Viking King! Mike & I went to the party shop and got poster letters, cards, candles, a Viking Hat, napkins and planned our covert activities to surprise Ron.

March 4th was the actual birthday so I took him to lunch at the Spirit Mountain Casino. While we were gone – Mike decorated the front of the house. After a nice lunch out and an afternoon spent making $28 dollars we returned to the decorated front of the house. Good job Mike!


Ernie and DD arrived on the 4th and went straight to Deb & Jacks where they stayed Thursday and Saturday. They stayed with Tim & Marilyn Friday night. Diana was pretty put out with us for "evicting" them from their guest room status to make way for Jesse, Laura, and their three wonderful children (our great grandchildren).



Jack bought the chicken breasts and brought them on Friday. Tim contributed to Steaks,and Ron did the cooking in his outdoor kitchen! Nothing could please him more.

We began with a beautiful Green Salad made by Marilyn, Appetizer of Bread Bowl Crab Dip made by Mike & Cynthia, a home made loaf of Swedish Bread made by Pet, toasts with apple cider Champaign and singing "He's a jolly good fellow"!

Then Tim took the steak orders and helped Ron get each steak just right to serve with baked potato's and steamed veggies, and rolls.


Ron's favorite birthday cake – angel food made by Pet was frosted with chocolate flavored whipped cream and topped with SEVEN candles each representing a decade was accompanied by the Happy Birthday Song!


Lots of good cards, cash presents – including one stack of 70 one dollar bills, one check for $70, $50 in cash, a great shirt and vest, and a new talking version of the game "Operation". Then he got two separate gift cards from the Sports Warehouse totaling $45.00. What fun we had. Ron's eyes smiled as he declared, "I'm goin fishin"!!!

Ron Pouts while waiting for everyone to come back to open presents!
Thanks to all our family and friends for making it such a great Celebration Honoring our Dad,Granddad,Great-Granddad,Friend and my Love. We wish him joy and lots of fishing trips for many years to come!

Party Planning

I am getting excited about Ron's 70th birthday. I sent out invitations to all of our kids. Of course our local family will be here and as of this morning it sounds like we will have Jesse & Laura with three little ones staying with us. We will have to find some places to accommodate other guests – but I'll bet we can figure that out.

I am looking for ways to make this a really special celebration. Ron has already bought $50 worth of rib steaks so he is planning to barbeque in his outdoor kitchen as always. I will need to find a way to get him out long enough for someone to appropriately decorate the place! If you have any ideas – let me know. I need help to really surprise him.

If you are a family member planning to come you can email me at bettyderricott@hotmail.com and Ron will never know about it!


While the middle of our Nation is having a bad winter – we are seeing spring here in our beautiful Salem Oregon. The daffodils are blooming now. I have seen Azaleas in bloom up and down our street. My Christmas gift of Amaryllis is beautiful as you can see.


Mike & Cynthia invited us down for an evening of Bingo recently. It was such fun spending the evening with them. Mike had worked all day it appeared making wonderful food for us to share. With a few quarters thrown in to make it interesting – first Cynthia won big and later Ron took the pot! Par for the course – huh? Ron likes to win!!




Cynthia has been in charge of the Food Drive for her office. She has done a wonderful job to get everyone involved. I'm sure she will post all the activities soon. I made a cake to donate and Ron made the pretty box to display it in. Hope it helps!

My daughter got a new puppet. Yes – she enjoys any furry stuffed animal as well as her two cats. She brought the puppet to play with Sitka. Sitka wanted to eat it! I don't blame her. It is sure fun having a dog here again. We love her.


If you don't care to comment on my blog – do send an email to share your thoughts and ideas.

Happy Valentines Day to all!

Never a Dull Moment

It seems that our new year is flying by faster than ever. Here we are about to celebrate Valentines Day with our special dinner out. Ron's 70th birthday will be celebrated on the 4th of March, and we haven't had a dull moment!

We took time off for a winter trip to our favorite beach in Newport. We were surprised to see that the pelicans were there during the wintertime. They are supposed to travel to California – but the weather has been unusual with all the storms pushing California the birds have found better weather but less food in Oregon. The bird sanctuaries have been taking in starving pelicans and nurturing them back to health. Many have died.


The blustery wind gusts coming off the southern coasts caused us some problems as well. In January we got a call from our tenants at the duplex about 10:30 pm to inform us that the top of our 75 foot fir tree had landed on the front of the duplex and covered the driveways. Fortunately – there were no cars in the driveway. One was in the garage, the other had broken down and wasn't at home. So we all lucked out.


Insurance took good care of us – and no one was hurt so we cannot complain. We had the big tree removed the next day – the root removed and proceeded with the repairs to the duplex. Since the damage was to the front edge of the entire roof and one gable corner we decided to go ahead with the replacement of the roof. Insurance helped with the repairs. We have hired a contractor to remove the 3 layers of roofing and replace with a brand new beautiful roof.


When the rains stop – Ron & I will paint the duplex finishing up all of our plans to keep it in the best condition possible. We will also be landscaping the front yard where the giant tree left an ant hill mound of sawdust and displaced dirt. That will be fun!

Ron had his heart devise check up on January 22nd. We were thrilled to read the copy written up by the devise team who did an echo cardiogram and devise optimization. The report reads "Ejection Fraction – 45%"! At the time of his implant in July of 09 it was 23%. The cardiologist said if the devise would help as much as an increase to 28% he would be pleased. Needless to say – we are very happy. Ron is feeling great and is busy with his upholstery and looking forward to some hiking this summer.

Our son-in-law who has been unemployed for some time has a new job and we are thrilled! All of our kids have been affected with some form of wage reduction through reduced hours. They are all doing ok. We will make it!

We hope the New Year is finding all of you well and happy. Nothing is more important than feeling the joy of life each and every day. Love to all.