The Early Days~

I have our oldest daughter to blame for this post!  :-)  I was visiting this week on Grandson Mason's 14th birthday!  We were talking about how quickly the kids are growing up.  Courtney asked if next time they visit, I could pull out the old photo albums to show the kids how things were when their mother was their age.  Cassidy will be 12 in Oct.!  I seldom write about the past, or personal stuff - but those albums reminded me of how far we've come~

10/81 Grand Tetons, WY

When Butch & I found each other - lives changed.  He was happy & I was happiest I'd been since the girls were born.  That happiness was so big & wide - that it colored our world!  We decided to make a clean break & leave Colorado for Butch's home state of Washington.  He promised us both mountains & an ocean!  (The girls & I had never seen an Ocean!)  The above photo was taken on our drive out.  (Courtney was 12, Jentry 4)

July 82, Wallace Falls~

By the time we arrived, our funds were running out & we both were desperate for work!  Butch found a job as maintenance on a large apartment property, I found one working for Gloria Marshall Figure Salon, both in Lynnwood.  Luckily - an apartment came with Butch's position.  We were poor, but we had a roof over our heads, food on the table & it didn't cost anything but gas money to go out & enjoy the incredible state that we now called home!

October 82, LaPush, WA

We were oh so lucky in so many ways...  We both worked with some great people - who became life-long friends.  By October of 82, we married - to the great relief of our families :-)  Mom came out for the wedding & we had to take her to the coast!  She's in the red hat :-)

July, 83 The 59 Bel Air - a gift from Butch's grandparents :-)

We left our jobs to move to Bremerton, we both had job offers with a substantial increase in income, but they didn't pan out.  We loved living on the peninsula & were lucky enough to rent a cute little house from a couple who - we scared at first.  They stopped by to find us tearing apart the kitchen.  Soon though, they realized we were making improvements!  We are to this day, best of friends.

It wasn't long before word had traveled that we were again "In the market" for a building to manage.  We were offered a property in Bellevue.

February 84, at Bellepark East  (I'd made the "Holly Hobby" dress for Courtney years before, now it fit Jentry!)

Finally - we had our very own multi-family building to manage!  We took the ball & ran with it, never looking back!  We gained a reputation for turning around the most difficult properties & from that point on - worked at buildings owned by the management company that employed us.

Thanksgiving 89 - Harbor Point

A few years went by, we moved up from small properties to larger ones.  Butch left to work in commercial construction.  I continued my education & began managing a large condominium portfolio that included buildings in Mercer Island & Bellevue.  We purchased our own house in Marysville, to use as a rental - eventually turning the gains we made there into the purchase of the Homestead.

We'd written a list of goals, early on in our marriage.  The day we moved to the country, the top goal was crossed off that list.  Now, 34 years later, our two daughters have blessed us with five wonderful grand-kids, who are too busy to come as often as we'd like!   The world, has indeed, moved on~

P.S. I took all the photos with a tripod & the camera's timer :-)

Seven Years, To the Day~

This morning I was adding a Mt. Adams photo to Farah's Facebook album, went back to look & realized that my very first photo of her - was taken seven-years, to the day - before our win at Mt. Adams.  One of those strange coincidences that can happen in life & leave us wondering?  Was it preordained?

My first photo of Farah, May 16, 2008

My niece purchased her from Amy Lynn Durga - in January of 08, as a long-yearling.  When I tell people that she was a pale palomino at birth - they don't believe me...  (Farah's breeder, Renee - had traded Amy straight across; Farah, for a four-year-old Thoroughbred gelding - September of 07.)

Probably a yearling in this photo

We were returning from a trip to Colorado, it was supposed to be a vacation - but ended up being more of a working vacation.  We'd helped my mother do some downsizing.  On the return, my niece asked if we could go through Greeley to pick up some personal possessions she'd left behind at her brother's, prior to her move to the Portland area.

Nice Stride! 5-16-08

With the back of the truck full & towing a u-haul trailer behind, we arrived in Portland more than ready to ditch the stuff & the trailer!  Of course we had to go see the new horse!  It was late afternoon - I took my camera & was really surprised at the filly we saw!  I gave some advice on hoof care etc. & we headed home.

8-8-08 - Almost 2-1/2 years old.

Early August, we were again in the area visiting friends & stopped by to see the mare.  There was just nothing about her that I didn't like.  She hadn't had much done with her - just a lot of handling.  She was already friendly by nature.

No date, but probably 3-years old

A couple years went by, we saw a few photos of her~

Four-years old - dorsal stripe visible~

By four, there were changes!  The mane had darkened & her coat had almost silver highlights!  Circumstances had changed & the mare was put up for sale unsuccessfully.  Eventually, she was leased out to a couple different people.  May of 2011, we got a call asking if we could haul her up here & board her.  I had Khari, we'd hit a sour note in our relationship & I kept thinking about Farah...
One evening I got up the nerve & asked Butch if we could make an offer?  There was just something about her...   Being the great, supportive husband he is - he agreed & a deal was reached.  As I mention in an earlier post, after my first ride - there was no question which horse was going to be sold & which would stay!

May 16, 2015 By; Jessica Wynne

So indeed!  Seven-years have passed since that eventful day that didn't even seem eventful at the time!  Farah - coming at a point in my life where I have the time to devote to her, is something I'm very thankful for.  She's already carried me many miles, given me some of my most memorable moments & become a full fledged member of our family!

Tribute to Debbie~

This morning I woke - happy to see the sun shining in the windows, to have my husband beside me & looking forward to a nice, restful Sunday to spend with him.  As most of us do - these modern days - I looked at the Facebook news feed...  There - at the very top of the page;
It's so hard to write this..... Yesterday my mom passed away. My dad, the three if us kid and aunt Pam were all there.
In true Debbie Highbarger fashion she left us only after a camp out/ sleepover in her room with her husband, kids, sister and grand kids.
We plan in having a party after Christmas to celebrate her life. If you are in the mood to share, please leave a comment of great memory of mom. We (immediate family) would love to read the stories together as we celebrate her life.
Love,
Mick, Heather Salmen, Scott and Morgan

Debbie

Debbie was my Best Friend - for almost fifty-years... Since the day I started Junior High in a different part of town from where I'd attended elementary school. My parents had recently divorced, my life was upside down, we'd moved & I was starting the school year, without knowing a soul. But - there was this blond! Beautiful, Bold, Pushy as heck & before I knew it - I'd been adopted into her circle of friends. Her family was huge - a sister, step-sisters - suddenly - I had a built-in group of friends!

Linda, Connie, Genji & Debbie - circa 1968

  Debbie was my rock, the friend who kept me sane. I was confronted with many new responsibilities in those days. Taking care of my younger brothers & little sister while Mom worked nights. On weekends, if not working Mom caught up at home. No real teenage fun times for me - it was all about the responsibilities I took on as the oldest, the one Mom had to depend on. Debbie was the one I went to for advice & it was always sound.

August 1966

Our friendship strengthened as the years went by, Debbie lived only a couple blocks away & Mom liked Debbie too.  Not just because she was a good friend to me, but because she smoked. Mom & Debbie would occasionally smoke together. I couldn't go to parties, or out with friends.  It was directly home from school.  Chores, cook dinner for the kids, homework & finally tucking them into bed. I'd lay awake most nights - waiting to hear Mom's car in the driveway to know she was home safe.

Mom, my sister Laurie, Debbie's sister Audi, brother Jeff & Debbie - Feb. 1968

Sometimes on Sundays, Debbie & I would dress Audi & Laurie.  The four of us would walk to the neighborhood church to attend services. Once in a while, Mom would hire a sitter & I'd get to go to the Peppermint Square!  What fun Roller-Skating with Debbie & her sisters! Rock & Roll! Beatles music & skate till you dropped :-)

Debbie & Connie

 In High School, we were forever hatching up plans to ditch & go swimming at Baseline Lake where Debbie's Dad & stepmother were caretakers. There were dress codes too! Anyone remember those? We were required to wear a skirt! It could be SHORT - Yes - the Mini was IN! But NO pants! So - we all decided to wear pants one early summer day.

We'd made it to our first period class when the PA system came on with a crackle as the V.P broadcast our names.  We were asked to come to his office. We did - he explained that he thought we were all scheming something.  He added that by the time we walked home, then found a ride to return, we might as well take the day off.  We would return the following day - back in our skirts! :-)

Debbie spent many a summer trying her best to teach me to swim! The day she made me swim out to the floating dock at the reservoir was a Big Day! I was scared to death!  Debbie would have let me drown if I hadn't made it! :-)

Debbie, Jeff & Audi Summer 1967

 Dating made things tough - we always fell for the same boys! That always caused friction. Eventually - I married & Debbie married Mick. One day I was home, pregnant with my first & the phone rang... Debbie... pregnant too, lonely too & suddenly all was forgiven. We camped together, found crafts to do, bought houses in the same neighborhood & played Bunco on weekends!

Butch & I found each other & Butch moved me to WA. Mick built Debbie the amazing Victorian home in the country she'd always wanted. Never far from the water, Debbie had to have the pool! Butch & I made several trips over the years - always too short... Always enjoying the warmth & hospitality Mick & Debbie were famous for.

Scott, Debbie, Mick & Butch - 2008

To think of her gone from this earth - has knocked the wind from my sails... Now - I'm left - the keeper of those memories.  The days of our youth, when we were oh so young.  Her beauty, the joy of seeing her smile, that gravelly voice, the funny laugh... Her life revolved around her family - always the center of her universe. The strength of her presence...

Here's to you dearest friend...   May you rest in peace - knowing that all of us who loved you - will continue on as you'd want us to do. Your favorite holiday - Christmas - will forever bring happy memories of you...