2013 - The year of the dog (puppies)

We've been talking for years about letting the kids take care of a dog.  We've been waiting for just the right time.  I loved having a dog as a kid, so many benefits, especially for active little boys.  Well this year the kids turn 11 and 4, it seemed like the right timing.  The yard is already fenced, the chickens are old enough, we pretty stable, so we did it.  We wanted to get something with no PitBull in it, which is pretty tricky to do around here.  After a couple weeks of looking we found a litter of Labradors up on Chinook Pass.  We checked them out last night and they looked really good.  Short story is we now have two dogs not one.  Natalie, of all people, suddenly got soft and decided she needed a puppy of here own.  So for better or for worse, here we go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RV0_VeeE7c

Starting the party early, 15 years!

To all of our family and friends. Natalie and I are happy to start celebrating our 15th year anniversary. It's a bit early, but somethings deserve a little longer party. That we are at this point in our marriage and so happy is nothing less than a gift from God. I won't go into all the peaks and valleys but to those who've gone with us through some of those journeys, thank you so much. We love all of you, family and friends are part of every marriage and you all have been a great support to us over the years. Some of you we've fallen out of touch with, but we've never forgotten you.

Many of our current friends don't know how much time Natalie and I have spent on two wheels in our time together. When we lived in Seattle motorcycles were our favored way of getting around, great parking that way too. Over time we went from three bikes to no bikes. I was hit by a car in '01 and totaled Nat's '79 GS-550 that I had just finished rebuilding. In '04 we had to seel the Harley to pay bills. Life goes like that sometimes. We are excited to finally get back on the road together. Nat still has her class 3 license and is excited to ride again. The picture above is our new bike, picked up last night. '04 V-Star 1100. I've done my time on uncomfortable seats and fought stiff bikes on the road, this one is a breeze to ride. Can't wait to spend more time on it together. Just like old times....

My favorite time of the year...

I love all four seasons. All the more that here in the Yakima Valley we see all four in such distinct character and flare unique to each. I do though love one more than the others. Winter cannot be beat in my book. It is the time to be driven inside, in more ways than one. It is the time for more sleep, for more thinking, for more talking, and most of all for more reading. Winter is the one time of year I feel I can really focus on my love of books. I like to think it's not just for me either. I hope to pass on the magic of story to my kids. Here are some of the book related things we're doing this winter...

• Adia and I are reading Swiss Family Robinson. This is more difficult than I imagined. I was actually ready to give up after a few chapters. Adia on the other hand had just got the bug and wants to keep at it. She's even taken the book to bed a couple nights and chipped away on her own.
• We're trying to read more to Aksel. This is not easy. Almost three years old is a very hard time to be stuck in doors, particularly for a boy like him. When he does get the notion to sit for stories his favorites are; Curious George, Thomas the Tank Engine, Skippy John Jones, Bible Stories, and a particularly special one called "RoadWork".
• Natalie has been part of a book club for just shy of a year now. I don't honestly know what they're reading this month but she really enjoys it.
• I'm working on two particular projects. I'm meeting once a week as part of a read through the Bible group. I can't say I've read it cover to cover yet, so this has been a good exercise. We started meeting back in April so we've covered a good portion now. My other project, wise or foolish, is to try to read Proust. I started reading In Search of Lost Time / Swan's Way (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Search_of_Lost_Time). My motive is simply to see why it has been labeled a classic. I know it has a reputation of a very difficult read, but want to try it. I did something similar last year with Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage (a waste of paper in my opinion, but at least I finished it).

So, winter is here. Light your fire, steep your tea, settle in, and lose your self in a story.

A much needed break

We are on the eve of our newly annual trip to the Oregon Coast with the rest of my immediate family. My parents left earlier today, I and my brothers will take our families down tomorrow. I don't remember a more timely or needed break from the shop. Just tonight I was again cussed into staying late on a rush job for a customer. I started my day there at 6:00 am and didn't get out until after 7:30 pm. I did manage to squeeze in a 1/2 hr for lunch. Right now I, and my family, need to get out of town.

I'm really looking forward to Aksel being old enough to enjoy the beach more; no crib, no swing, no bottles, no late night feedings, etc. Adia is excited as always. She can't wait to get started on the 14 hrs of "Adventures in Odyssey" that I've uploaded to my old iPod. She's a big help with Aksel too. Their both just a lot fun right now.

Nat hasn't said much about it, but I know she needs it too. She's put up with a lot of my being gone for work these last couple months. We really need this break and I can't wait to put Sunnyside behind us for a few days. I wish it could be more, but maybe some other time.

Out of the blue...

I (we) took a break from the blog for awhile. It took a back seat to other priorities going on. I'm hoping to make some more regular posts. I know there's a few people out there that check it to see what's going on with us. Here's the Cliff's Notes version of what's happened in the last 9 or so months

• Nat is working again, two jobs actually, she loves it
• Aksel is 2-1/2 years old, talkative, and all about "I do it myself!!!"
• Adia is 9 and in 4th grade. Great student.
• Summer was good but typically very busy with chores, typical day would end about 10pm.
• New renters in our rental house, nice family.
• Adia did lot's of fishing this summer, she's pretty good, lot's of small mouth bass.
• Aksel now has a "bunkie" bed, moved him straight from his crib to the big bed.
• We've had lots of play dates with all the cousins. It's good to have a big extended family.
• Our car situation is smoothing out. The Durango is finally getting more reliable.
• I've (Silas) been doing a read through the Bible group study, going very well.
• Work has been difficult due to a perfect storm of conditions.
• If I would ever consider moving to another job, this is the year I would think about it.
• Making ends meet has been an interesting challenge this year. Past years medical bills are almost all behind us.
• Natalie's sister got married in L.A. last month, went down with Nat & Adia for that. Nice wedding, on a small boat.
• Natalie is really, really, good at her new job (she actually had it before and had to quit). Lot's of people have come up and told her how much she was missed. She's a perfect fit for her work (coordinating volunteer help for elderly)
• Adia is TALL! She looks so old, she'll be taller than either of us. She's a big help with Aksel and the cousins, very mature. This is all happening so fast.
• Aksel loves his sister, they fight of course, but they get along really well for siblings.

There's of course been much much more. I'll try to include more pictures and stories in the coming weeks. Thanks for stopping by.

Melvin Carrol Curfman

On March 21st, 2011 at about 4:15pm my grandfather left us to be with the Lord. Today, March 25th 2011, I helped to dig his grave. Tomorrow we will finish saying goodbye, temporarily. Although his life merits so much more, it's all I can do today to say "I love you, I miss you".

A little about work. I'm not a work-a-holic, and work is not my life, I love my family and I'd prefer to have an 8-5 job that puts me home the same time everyday. But sometimes that just doesn't pan out. I'm writing now because I'm thankful I think I'm almost to the end of a very chaotic 6 months. It's a little encouraging to see the end of the tunnel (I hope) and that gets me thinking about things I haven't had time to do. So, if your interested, here's what's been going on...

• Coworker Jack N was diagnosed with cancer in late summer of 2010. Very key employee with very key knowledge, it's been hard/impossible to fill his shoes. He had the last of his chemo/radiation combo treatments a couple weeks ago, hoping to see him soon.
• It's been rough business since 2008, besides the recession our industry was hit with high corn prices and low milk prices, read "less capitol for my customers". Less capitol = no machine purchases.
• Had a very close employee / friend (tricky combination) quit a couple weeks ago with no notice, no gripe, no explanation. Very odd, he was a supervisor and a great painter, two things difficult to train up.
• My dad always warned us "Working with family is not easy", although he's right, there are things about it that are rewarding too, it keeps things interesting.
• Aksel has figured out where Daddy goes every day and has taken a liking to the shop. He knows where we keep the party balloons and helium.
• Adia knows enough about what I do to be thoroughly convinced I can fix "anything", I'll try ;)

Please pray for Jack, it's been difficult to watch him go through the cancer treatments, he could use more help than he'll ask for. He's kept his chin up the whole time and been a great example, but I just know it's taken a real big toll on him. Hopefully some things will happen in the short term that will make life just a little less chaotic.

I also found out last week I don't have to attend our annual trade show down in Tulare, CA (http://www.worldagexpo.com/). Which means I won't have to miss Adia's birthday, Aksel's birthday, or Valentine's this year. My family get's me all to themselves.