Who called the fire department?

I have told you that Dave keeps working on this yard and wants to make it like a big park.... It bothered him that there were about 20 old tree stumps that he felt needed to be removed to ever succeed in his goal. At Family Home Evening last Monday he asked Uncle Jared what it would cost to bring in his excavator to dig up the stumps. Jared said he would do it for us for the price of the gas and seemed excited to have a project. Jared is 87 but acts like a kid on a new toy!

I was shocked by how much more was under the dirt than out of it! He put it all in a pile and they lit it and the guys have been adding to it and burning it for days. Some of the old growth tree roots are almost as big as a house!

Yesterday afternoon Lynn decided to throw an old fiberglass boat of Brent's on the fire. It was rotten and ugly in the yard. He took off the motor and trim. Wow! What a fire! The smoke was thick and black! Dave came in and told grandma and I to come and see and bring a marshmallow.
All of a sudden here came the fire department! The truck and all the crew! The guy said to me, "Where is your permit?" I said I was from Illinois! He told me there is a $10,000 fine for burning toxic stuff and not having a permit. He said we could have a 4 foot X 4 foot wood fire only. Oops. He called the Chief to see if they had to put it out and what to do. The chief said no to let it burn but no more fiberglass. They are mostly all friends of Lynn or Pops which was very good. At that point the boat was all gone so we are happy... the fire is still burning today and probably tomorrow.... I told you there is a lot of wood!

Watching the fire after a long days work!

Mom's eye

We took mom back to the eye doctor this week to see if her surgery was a success or if it still needed correction. Success!!! Dr. Linart couldn't have been more pleased. She has depth perception again and both eyes look at you at the same time! Also she realized there is not doubles of everything she sees.

She had a patch on her glasses for his tests... she doesn't usually wear that cute funky purple thing!

Veterans Day in Arlington

Today there was a parade in Arlington. It consisted of a few Veterans and the Arlington High School Marching Band. Notice the raincoats on the band. (Only in Washington!)

Moms brother, Leo Baird and Pops brother, Jared Dickson both rode on the WWII truck. They are the first 2 men on the left.

Here is a close up. Thanks Leo and Jared. We are proud of you!

Mom and Siblings

Visiting with the Aunts and Uncles

Aunt Bessie came to to the health food show in Seattle and while she was here we got together with Aunt Alice, Aunt Bessie and Uncle Leo, Aunt Cathern and of course Mom.

We sat around and had a fun visit with everyone. Pictured is my cousin Beth Harston, Sharon Dickson, Dave and Pops.

Still working

Dave, Joel (Sherilyn's husband) and pops are working to fix up the yard. They took out the old fence and leveled the ground a bit so they will be able to mow it and make it park like.

Pops and Dave in their rain gear picking up some rocks.

Picking up more rocks! They got it looking really good and scattered grass seed. Next we will take out the stumps. Fun!

Dave - working hard

Dave and Pops decided to make the place look better by pulling out the fence on this side of the house. Dave already took out the one by the road. And the one in the top picture is half gone.
Now he is working on the rest of it. What a difference it makes in how junky or clean this looks. Dave loves a beautiful yard and is having way too much fun!

Yup.... way too much fun!

Bang Crunch!

Last week we stopped at a chinese buffet in Everett on the way home from moms check up with the eye doctor after her surgery. After dinner we were just picking up pops in front and an old guy backed up over 2 lanes and into us. I saw him coming and started honking but the guy was deaf or almost and couldn't hear me. I'm glad that mom and pops mostly don't drive because it could just as easily happen to them. On rare occasion Pops drives to town but not since we are here! The door still works so we have still been using it but on Tuesday the old mans insurance will pay to have it fixed.

Happy Halloween

This is the total of Trick or Treaters here at Mom and Pops place. Quite different than beggars night in Nauvoo! This is Dorel Dicksons family. (Mostly... one extra and one gone!)