A smile today

Todays post will go down in "Allison's memory " as being one of my favorites.My husband Dave did not have a very good childhood, matter of fact a pretty shitty childhood as far as childhoods go.He never ever even knew who his father was and still does not 62 years later.

 (My father died two weeks ago yesterday and we have been to southern, Ca. and back for his funeral)

When he met my Dad 6 1/2 years ago, him and my Dad hit it off just great. My husband always told me my dad was like the dad he never had, and my father always told me and my husband that if we were to ever break up (Dave and I) that the door would remain open to Dave (and I am sure of that).

Anyway it has been a real rough couple weeks for us, always thinking and reminiscing. My poor husband is taking it rather hard, so the reason I say that the pictures today will go down in my memory is, a local man who has been here in this town forever happened to drive by and see Dave and I . His name is Ray. Ray has been friends with Dave forever and I was introduced when Dave and I got together. He is considered by us as a very dear friend, and when Dave saw him today, Dave smiled.

The first smile I have seen in a couple weeks.

I think I need say no more.

 

Ray and Dave

 

Just Ray

 

Yup, it was real heartwarming to me to see my husband smile, actually laugh again.

Friendship Award

Cheryl Ann is the name of the person that gave me my very first award. I have seen these awards on peoples blogs since I started blogging and was always curious, (and yes, a tad bit jealous) when I would see people with more than one. But I am jealous no more. Somewhere in cyberspace Cheryl and I crossed paths. I am pretty sure it was through memes.

She stopped by here on this blog and left comments and I did the same. We have a lot in common it seems including a lot of blogs. LOL!!!

(But you can never have too many now can you)

Desert Horses is where I found the award after she notified me, and just like a kid in a candy store, I must have wrote her a half dozen times asking her how this worked, what I do, etc. I am honestly surprised she even wanted me to have it after the way I drove her nuts! LOL!!!

But I do believe I understand it now. And this is how it works,

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these writers.
Deliver this award to eight more and include the cleverly written text into the body of your awards"

So here goes.

I would like to give the first one right back to Cheryl at another of her blogs that I really love. It is called palm desert daily blog. A photo blog with great pics of the desert. This is my way of saying Thank you Cheryl for putting up with me and for giving me this friendship award. It means a great deal!

#2 I would like for Drowsey Monkey to have it. I do not remember how I came across her blog months ago, but it was in her Drowsey Monkey blog where I started noticing the photo memes. Her new on at Mellow Yellow Monday has become a personal challenge for me in trying to find ANYTHING yellow in my neck of the woods! Also her original blog ALWAYS has something going on and I look forward to each and every one of her posts

#3 I would like Jana of Susanville Daily Photo to have one. Susanville is only 21 miles over a mountain from Pinetown where I live. I have lived in Susanville off and on when my husband was alive and our kids were little. So everyone of her posts on her blog hits home for me. She has always commented on this blog here and turned me onto some of the ins and outs of Daily Photo blogs. She has been perhaps my most faithful reader since I started Pinetowns First Lady.

#4 Sarah of Gresham Photo Blog is someone else I would like to pass this on to. I know nothing about her, but her blog is of the town I was born in and lived in the first 1 year and 1/2 years of my life. But my family and I went back every summer to visit our family, of which I still have there living in Gresham. Again her blog is like a trip down memory lane.

I will finish up the remaining 4 in the next couple of days. So to Cheryl, bless your heart and thanks so much AND
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

I really, really have met some kind, helpful, wonderful people here in Cyberspace. Along with great blog reads. Thank you

I wanted to give one of these to Eric S. of Ruminations of a Small Town Mountain Boy. However he states on his blog he does not do awards. I respect that and will of course do as he wishes. But I still think his blog is sooo worth mentioning and checking out. As soon as you start to read one of his posts, you will know what I mean.

Chucks Railroad Rooms Chili Cook-Off

Chuck's Railroad Room is our only bar in my town. Every year now for a very long time this bar also has had a Chili Cook-Off where all the proceeds goes to fund that also was founded by this bar called the Chimney fund. The Chimney fund helps our locals feed their families during the holidays, mainly Christmas and Thanksgiving, along with a lot of other great things.
The Chili Cook-Off is one of our greatest pastimes in Westwood Ca. A time where everyone comes together for a great day of food and a good time for all. Anyone can make a pot of Chili which is to be done right on the front lawn of the bar and all cook throughout the day, Then there are raffles, and chili tasting. There are prizes for the decorating of the booths,the Chili and recently they added Salsa to their tasting. These are pictures of friends that I took at the cook off. Because life goes on and we are all living it, sometimes I only see these people on this date. So welcome to my friends and a great day at Chucks Railroad rooms Chili Cook-off

 

This is my hubby on the right with a friend he used to work with, Ed

 

This is the daughter of my very best girlfriend of my life, Kathy McEntire- Scott , Elizabeth. My youngest son Hunter could not say Elizabeth as a baby and called Elizabeth, No-No-Beth.

Elizabeth is here with her husband Robert a true local.Kathy (My best friend died on July 24th 6 years ago.) Elizabeth and her hubby and son R.J. now make their home in Westwood of which I am very thankful.

 

This is myself with probably the single most important person in Lassen County, Smokey the Bear. With all the fires we have had in California this past summer,we were quite fortunate to have had Lassen County spared for the most part.

 

This is Mandy . She holds a special place in my heart too personal to write about here. Of course in my little town most know what I am talking about!

 

This is Kimmy, another girl that I consider to be a good friend yet it is not like we are at each others house on a daily basis.Let's just put it this way, I consider her a friend who is there if I need back watching.

 

Todd I have known since the 80's up here. I used to see a lot more of him. This is the 2nd time I have run into Todd in quite awhile.

 

This is Cheryl on the left and Cory on the right. Cheryl and I are Grandma's to my grandson Jeremiah. Cory is Jeremiahs mother. She and my son Travis are no longer together, but still a VERY important part of my life. She will after all be Jeremiahs mother forever. Cory is really, really pregnant here and is expecting her second son any day now. Her boyfriend who I have only met briefly a couple of times,seems like a wonderful man and I have nothing but the best wishes for them both and of course Jeremiahs new brother.

 

This is a couple that lives right up the street from Dave and I in Pinetown. Their names are Jim and Beverly and they just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on the 4th of July!

 

This is Jim. There is a lot to be said about Jim. He is without a doubt one of the first people I ever met when I moved to this town. This man and I have been through an awful lot of  loss of friends throughout these years. I am so glad he is still here and always enjoy running into him. 

  

Ahhh , Tommy Jean, another girl that holds a special place in my heart that I simply do not need to write about. I consider her a friend and she means a great deal to me, whether or not she knows it, I do not know.

 

This is Jim. Someone I perceive to always be there for me if I needed it. A very dear and close friend to my husband. Jim is the first person I actually walked over and told of Ed's death. He was always there for me in those dark days and I love him with all my heart and ALWAYS will. He is shown here with his son Nathan (Nate) born just a year earlier almost to the day of my grandson, Jeremiah. Nate and Jeremiah were on the same T-Ball team this year.

Well these are my pics of Chucks Railroad rooms annual Chili Cook-Off and a glimpse into my town and the people from it.