Thursday, November 17, 2011

Giving Thanks

Happy November to you all, I write this while visiting Steve's daughter Laura and her family (Jeff, Sam and Ben) in Connecticut.   Steve will stay on till after Thanksgiving to celebrate Laura's birthday and I will fly back to Palm City to spend the holiday with Olivia, my daughter.  I have to confess I bought a Christmas cd today, so I am well on my way to being in the holiday groove.

Sam and Ben love hockey and are 100% all boys, it is a joy to spend time with them and share in their energy.  They are going to see Spiderman on Broadway in NYC (an early Christmas gift from their grandfather and I) this Sunday after a Harvard/Yale Hockey game Saturday night.  Fun Fun Fun...

Steve heading back to our dock after a day out fishing with Abe and Ruby.
Grandpa in his element!
Wow where to start the Lochner/Thompson saga?  Steve and I are now proud owners of a 28 ft. Bertram, I know it's a powerboat... And are we completely nuts, almost hee hee - being we now have 2 boats and a house BUT this fit our budget and we felt it will serve us well during our months in Florida.  Yes that is a hint to come and play/fish with us when you can.

We are becoming better adjusted to being landlubbers again and leading this dual life increases our appreciation for having a summer floating home "Equus" as well.

"Be it land or sea we strive to just be, simplicity is the key to appreciate all of life's glee."  I know my poet skills are weak but I couldn't resist. hee hee

I feel compelled to share a wonderful experience Steve and I had in Miami a few weeks ago "An Adventure in Intimacy."  I could write a book and go on and on however I will leave you to listen and experience Hedy as she speaks at a TED conference.  The youtube  link is on their website, scroll down on the left side just double click on TED.  The link is; http://www.hedyyumi.com/  We learned this communication skill Hedy speaks of and it has added a deep richness to our lives.  I would love to share more, Enjoy!

Steve has been busy in his man cave/wood/work shop, in the spring he built an Adirondack chair for  brother Tom's birthday and he has build a fantastic garden w/2 large beds protected by a rabbit/armadillo proof fence around its perimeter.  I am a happy organic garden girl again; I love playing in the dirt.  I will post a pic soon.

Stephen, his eldest son, and Christie are expecting their third child, this surprise bundle will be lovingly welcomed in May 2012.  Abe and Ruby are getting excited now that they know their mom is feeling better after her bouts of morning sickness subsided.

Erich and Rosalie are settling into married life while enjoying the beauty of living in sunny LA.  We hope to bring in New Years with them somewhere on the East Coast!

My Eldest son Jacob is doing well working toward a closure to a previous life as he builds a promising future with his 4 wonderful children.  I know I am a bit biased however they are some of the best grandchildren a grandma could ask for.

Trey, 15 yrs old and looking fwd to getting his driving permit in Dec. "Oh my, how fast they grow up", Tanner, 13 yrs old has finished his first year of playing football for his new school, Perkins Middle School.  All the children have settled in nicely to the new school and homes.  The three older ones have their own personal computers to do all their school/home work.  Thing have certainly changed - they are also learning Chinese as a second language - not sure I like that much.

Trinity, 11 yrs old, is turning into a beautiful young girl, she loves to create and her favorite subject is math.  YOU GO GIRL!  Taylor, 9 yrs old,  my youngest grand-daughter has had the most difficult transition, but she is such a joy to be around and when she laughs - it is impossible to not laugh along with her.

My mom has been re-hospitalized yesterday after suffering from a lengthy staph infection she got sometime this summer.  Given her 84 years, she is having a time healing.  She was packed and on her way to Columbus to celebrate Thanksgiving with my sister Abbi and her family then on to Florida.  She still hopes to visit us, my eldest brother Robert and Olivia my daughter but to her great sadness her plans have been delayed.  So please keep her in your prayers so she will heal and continue on her journey south.  Thank you

Olivia is out of work and because of the scarcity of jobs has taken to her entrepreneurial skills to marketing herself as a personal assistant, so far she has made enough to keeping her bills paid and allowing her to focus on her real passion of starting non-profit girls home with 3 of her colleagues.
This is a picture of my Mom- Jean, son-Jake, myself and daughter Olivia
I posted this so you could put a face with the next request from Olivia.
She posted this on her facebook and I am doing all I can to get the message out,.
Thank you for your time and any advise on non-profits etc... or support you could offer her.
If you click on her name you will be redirected to her facebook page to join in on that conversation.  The conversation is a pop-up on the lower right hand side.   We have so many blessings and I think it is admirable that Olivia would like to extend some of her blessings to young girls whose lives she will touch!


about an hour ago
Olivia Thompson
  • As we all know, it's hard to ask for help. "OMG it may imply weakness." Or "What if people say NO?" I have always said, "I am surrounded by the most supportive, positive and caring people." I want to put my faith out there in a way that I never have before.

    I am asking for your help. I have a Vision and I can't create it alone. I need your help.

    I have partnered up with 3 other colleagues in Florida and we are working to open a non-profit organization. We want to begin our Vision with a therapeutic group home for teenage girls in the area and hoping in the future to expand to meet the continued growing needs of the youth today and those into our future.

    This is where you all come in, "I need your assistance to make my vision a reality."

    I am asking for support in ANY way you feel willing to show that support. Financially, physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually be as creative as you feel necessary. If you believe in me and my vision please send me your support.

    It takes a Village to raise a child, please be part of our Village!

    With Love and Humility,
    Olivia Thompson
    Hearts Infinity, Inc
    thomp_liv@yahoo.com
    PO Box 881891
    Port St Lucie, FL
    34988


Monday, September 12, 2011

September 12, 2011
A Landlubber return;                                                                           Pat-Steve-Roberta-Tom
Our girl "Equus" is safely tucked away in LaConner WA, thanks to Erich and Steve.  Steve and I brought her as far as Sullivan Bay BC Canada where Tom, Steve's brother flew in on a sea plane.

 Roberta Hawthorn, a long time friend of Tom's.   Steve and I met him at Roberta and Jim's dock (front door) in front of their floating home.  Roberta and Jim own a floating home on this beautiful bay along with about a dozen other residents.  However Jim was not able to join our festivities.
Tom traveled with us to Campbell River, then he and Steve drove me to Sydney on Vancouver Island to catch a plane back to Ohio.  Steve then sailed Equus down to Nanaimo and that is where Erich, Steve's youngest son joined him to take Equus into LaConner WA for her winter berth.

Our plan is to have her trucked to the Great Lakes next spring for a summer near Sandusky Ohio.  The thought of leaving the magnificent PNW is sad, however we have a strong pull to get our girl Equus closer to the majority of our families.  Erich and Rosalie are still west-coasters.  We are in high hopes being closer to friends and family will allow us to spend more time with those we love.
I spent a wonderful two weeks with friends and family in Ohio and Steve flew in and we drove south to our home in Palm City, Fl. We arrived on Sunday the 11th of September.
Picture to the left; apple picking with son and grandchildren 
mmmm they made the best apple dumplings.


After a huge box of mail was gone through and opening up our home (somewhat) from her cocoon state, we decided to leave a few hurricane shutters on for another month, just to make sure we are in the clear.

The weather is sure a change from the PNW it has been hot-humid and rainy but the vegetation is a beautiful lush green, ah in the tropics once again.
My Mother and brother are hopefully wintering about 2 hours from us we have dear cruising friends arriving the second week in October.  We are also going to be able to enjoy Steve's daughter for a visit soon.  So life is good as we settle back into this landlubber life for the winter season.
We hope you all have a wonderful fall and we look fwd to hearing from you in the coming months.

BEARS ooo-MY! Kodiak Alaska 2009, Agfognak Island

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Thailand Memories 2007/2008 (double click to enlarge show)

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