What a Life To Be Celebrated!

I was prepared to show up to Boccali's (HIGHLY recommend this restaurant in Ojai) for a family gathering of ten to celebrate my Grandma Carol. Not only was I surprised to find out it was going to be a gathering open to the public, but I was not expected for what was to come from learning what the public of Ojai felt toward my Grandma.

One of the most beautiful aspects about funerals are all of the stories. And, boy, were there a lot of stories! And such beautiful stories from the sweet people of Ojai who cherished their friendship with my dear Grandma more than I knew.

Our families always knew Grandma had friends and different social networks, but she kept that information privy for the most part. We knew she had her trolley friends, her McDonald's morning breakfast crew, her thrift store friends, and so forth. But we had never met all of them, heard of some of them, or knew just how many friends she had! It was such a blessing to see the turnout today at Boccali's!

While the family shared memories of the past, went on and on about how beautiful she was growing up, and stated her strong value of independence, which sometimes made relationships rocky at times, her friends shared a different side of Carolyn we didn't know much about. They truly loved her. I had no idea how vast Grandma's social network was on a daily basis. Her trolley drivers, thrift store managers, Vons' cashier, neighbors, old local friends, and so forth, all showed up! It was beautiful to hear what special role Carolyn played in their lives. It was so meaningful, which turned out to be my mother's word for this day. Meaningful. Thanksgiving was valuable and today was meaningful.

Mom sharing pictures of Grandma throughout her life

As Uncle Mike so wittingly put it best, it would have made all of the family be able to sleep a lot better the past ten years if we had had this gathering earlier! We did not know to this extent how many people valued their relationship to Carolyn and helped her, loved her, cared for her, and looked out for her. What a blessing, Ojai. Thank you!

Grandma's trolley

Ojai is a special place.

As I lost my dear Grandmother, I pondered that I feel saddened by the fact that I'm also losing another part of my heart: Ojai. I want to make it a priority over the next few years to intentionally revisit, even though I no longer have family ties that draw me there. There is just something special about towns that have been family ties for the breadth of my lifespan and more. As I come from a childhood of moving around and changing cities, it was always a comfort and joy to be able to visit grandparents in the cities they lived in for longer than my age!

Thank you, Ojai, for treating my Grandma well. Thank you for caring and reaching out to her. Thank you for finding her fascinating and valuing her with interest.

It is still hard to believe that she is gone. Some days will be harder than others in the days and years to come, but I feel such comforting closure from the unfolding events today that were of a surprise to me. An assumed gathering of ten turned into a celebration of life over thirty! What joy, what spirit, and what love filled the room! As a sweet Boccali's employee, Starlit, stated as she walked into the room, she could instantly tell there was a good vibe. Thank you to all who helped make this an honorable and respectable way for the family to find closure. Thank you for celebrating with us.

Thank you to the kindness of Boccali's for so graciously and generously allowing us to hold this celebration of life at your restaurant. Grandma would have wanted it no other way. I kept thinking she would have had such a kick out of being there with all of us since she was such a lover of parties and social gatherings. I also thought she would have been tickled pink to have known Boccali's removed a picture frame off their wall of decorations in order to place a framed picture of HER during our gathering! Tickled pink, indeed!

In order to continue honoring dear Grandma, I brought my own mother a goodie bag full of Grandma's oatmeal cookies I scurried to whip together this morning. Mom always made them for my sister and I growing up and it's a recipe that has stayed in our family throughout the years; it always was one of the most worn recipe cards. I would love to share it and spread the joy!

Grandma Carol's Oatmeal Cookies
Makes 36 cookies

3/4 c. shortening
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3 c. oats
1/4 c. sugar
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat shortening, sugar, egg, water, and vanilla until creamy. Put flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg in center of shortening mix and blend well. Stir in oats. Place teaspoonful scoops onto greased cookies sheet and bake for 9 minutes.

I will always remember my dear Grandma and will pass down the stories, her contagious giggling laughter and smiles, her zest for life, and her recipe for generations.

Today was a day of memories and celebration. Every hug lasted a few more seconds than normal. Hug the ones you're with.

All smiles by the end of the day

I Have Those Memories To Keep Forever....

I, without a doubt, believe that God's timing is perfect. His handiwork was clearly shown to me last night when I pondered my last visit with Grandma Carol as my mom told me the news she had passed away two days ago.

Just a few months ago for Thanksgiving, my mom's side of the family got together in Ojai to spend the holiday with Grandma Carol. It was the first Thanksgiving we have ever spent with that side of the family and the newness of it filled my spirit with extra excitement. We were making new memories. There is such joy to be found in that!

Unforeseen occurrences always seem to happen with visits to Grandma Carol, but despite any bump in the road that occurred, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend precious time with her and my mom's siblings and their families. 

As my husband and I packed for the occasion, I kept reiterating with excitement that my one goal for this holiday vacation was to actually have an adult conversation with Grandma Carol. (By her own choice, she always made it hard for others to communicate with her, via her choice to not have a phone or computer. She only left our families with the option of snail mail, or surprise visits.) Due to my lack of maturity and lack of conversation skills previously throughout my life, I carried my Thanksgiving goal in my heart with much anticipation because now I was ready. Much thanks to my career path of occupational therapy, I feel more apt to creating conversations with people of all different ages, but especially with the elderly. I was so excited to talk to Grandma Carol this vacation! I was also excited for Justin to meet her for the first time. Family is important.

The conversations and encounters I had with Grandma Carol far exceeded my pre-planned goal. I learned trinkets about her I never knew before and I absolutely found joy in making her smile and laugh. Justin told me after the trip, as we recapped on the drive home, that whenever he and Grandma Carol would make eye contact across the table during meals, they would just smile at each other. I love when Grandma Carol smiles.

My favorite encounter with Grandma Carol was with making eye contact across the dinner table on Thanksgiving as well. I wrote about this in my journal just a few days ago on January 3. (God has perfect timing.) 

"...My favorite Thanksgiving memory, though, was when we were eating Thanksgiving dinner on the balcony of the restaurant. Grandma and I made eye contact nearly across the table and she mouthed 'I like your hair.' HOW SWEET!!! My heart overflowed with joy abundantly! Nothing against her, but I don't ever remember her ever giving me a compliment. ... She was so purely kind to me when she said that. It is a giving heart to pay someone a compliment. And, most silly of all, my hair was bugging me and the least put together part of my outfit I was self-conscious about! Oh life. She made me smile ear to ear!!! :)"

I am glad to have that memory I can replay over and over again in my head. It was such a joyful moment as we both were making a connection from across the table and smiling and laughing, ear to ear.

My mother sparked a conversational topic near the end of Thanksgiving dinner. We went around the table and everyone had to sum up the meal and gathering experience in one word. Grandma Carol went first and wisely chose the word "valuable." I do not remember any other word anyone said because her word rang in my ears. This was the first Thanksgiving all of her children and their families spent with her and surrounded her with love and the sense of family connections. And to her, this was valuable. I am so grateful for my Uncle to have arranged this holiday with this side of the family. I call him the Ring Leader. 

God's timing is perfect, as always.

As I reflect on my last encounter with Grandma Carol, her word, valuable, is at the forefront of my mind. I was able to grow closer to her and connect in an adult conversational manner I had never had the opportunity to do before. How very valuable that is, indeed. 

As I attempted to process the news last night, I battled feelings of feeling shocked, sad, in denial, worried, and so forth. As the hours ticked on by, it was my responsibility to inform my sister of the news, once she awoke with the nine hour time difference. I expressed that I felt sad because I had just started forming the relationship I have always wanted with her, and then it's suddenly over. But I realized I'm so lucky to have those valuable memories with her, because I would have a sense of regret if I had seen her recently, but had never taken the time to connect. So, as the saying goes, "'Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." 

My love grew exponentially for Grandma Carol a few months ago and I have those memories to keep forever. Our last encounter together was very valuable and God's timing is perfect.

One of my favorite pictures of my Grandma, Carolyn Schumacher

2014 Big Year

As 2014 came to a close, we went on as many birding outings as we could to try to bump up our Big Year list. Our totals, which we are proud to announce for our first Big Year, came out both to 186. How fitting that we tied on our first Big Year, with five individual species separately.

Also, how fitting that my dream on  New Year's Eve was that the Biking for Birds guy came to our neighborhood and was birding with me and Justin!

Also, we have a new tradition. Watch The Big Year on New Year's Day.

The more we bird, the more we love it. So it was only fitting that we have some birding goals for 2015. Justin's 2015 birding goal is to top out at 300 for his Big Year. I, on the other hand, have opted out on doing another Big Year this year. Although I will miss the excitement of it, I have chosen instead to focus on bulking up my Life Bird list. My 2015 birding goal is to get 100 new life birds. Both are big goals for us, but should be easily attainable. Although we do not plan on returning to Maui this year, we do plan on making a trip to Texas, where we should make up for missing Maui's birds and then some.

As of the first week of the new year, Justin is already over 50 birds for his Big Year list and I have already added 4 new life birds and have also added a new bird to my California list. We saw the Sanderling in Maui, but now we can say we have seen it in Huntington Beach, California as well as Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. And my new life birds so far have been: Winter Wren, Northern Waterthrush, Reddish Egret, and Black-bellied Plover. Huntington Beach (BCER and Huntington Central Park) proved a successful trip, complete with a dinner at Stonefire afterward.

Reddish Egret

Off to a good start! May this luck of birds continue the whole year through!

2014 Big Year List

Justin: 186
Lindsay: 186

There are many ways you can keep a "Big Year List" and we are technically not keeping it correctly, according to ABA. But we like the way we do it! Our Big Year consists of any bird we see throughout the year, which includes the birds we have seen in Hawaii.

A
Acorn Woodpecker-L+J
African Silverbill-L+J
Allen's Hummingbird-L+J
American Avocet-L+J
American Coot-L+J
American Crow-L+J
American Goldfinch-L+J
American Kestrel-L+J
American Pipit-L+J
American Robin-L+J
American White Pelican-L+J
American Wigeon-L+J
Anna's Hummingbird-L+J
'Apapane-L+J
B
Bald Eagle-L+J
Band-tailed Pigeon-L+J
Barn Swallow-L+J
Belted Kingfisher-L+J
Bewick's Wren-L+J
Black-crowned Night Heron-L+J
Black-necked Stilt-L+J
Black Noddy-L+J
Black Oyster Catcher-L+J
Black Phoebe-L+J
Black Turnstone-L+J
Blue Grosbeak-L+J
Blue-winged Teal-L+J
Brandt-L+J
Brandt's Cormorant-L+J
Brewer's Blackbird-L+J
Brown Booby-L+J
Brown-headed Cowbird-L+J
Brown Noddy-L+J
Brown Pelican-L+J
Bufflehead-L+J
Bullock's Oriole-L+J
Bushtit-L+J
C
Cackling Goose-L+J
California Thrasher-L+J
California Towhee-L+J
Canada Goose-L+J
Canvasback-L+J
Caspian Tern-L+J
Cassin's Kingbird-L+J
Cattle Egret-L+J
Cedar Waxwing-L+J
Chestnut Munia-L+J
Chinese Hwamei-L+J
Chukar-L+J
Cinnamon Teal-L+J
Clark's Grebe-L+J
Cliff Swallow-L+J
Common Moorhen-L+J
Common Myna-L+J
Common Peafowl-L+J
Common Raven-L+J
Common Yellowthroat-L+J
Cooper's Hawk-L+J
D
Dark-eyed Junco-L+J
Downy Woodpecker-L+J
Dunlin-L
E
Eared Grebe-L+J
Eastern Bluebird-J
Eastern Phoebe-J
Elegant Tern-L+J
Eurasian-collared Dove-L+J
Eurasian Wigeon-L+J
European Starling-L+J
F
Ferruginous Hawk-L+J
Field Sparrow-J
Forster's Tern-L+J
G
Gadwall-L+J
Golden Eagle-L+J
Gray Francolin-L+J
Graylag Goose-L+J
Great Blue Heron-L+J
Great Egret-L+J
Great Frigatebird-L+J
Greater Yellowlegs-L+J
Great-tailed Grackle-L+J
Green Heron-L+J
Green-winged Teal-L+J
H
Hawaiian Coot-L+J
Hawaiian Goose (Nene)-L+J
Hermit Thrush-L+J
Hooded Oriole-L+J
Horned Grebe-L+J
Horned Lark-L
House Finch-L+J
House Sparrow-L+J
House Wren-L+J
I
'I'iwi-L+J
J
Japanese White Eye-L+J
Java Sparrow-L+J
K
Killdeer-L+J
L
Lark Sparrow-L+J
Lawrence's Goldfinch-L+J
Lazuli Bunting-L+J
Least Sandpiper-L+J
Lesser Goldfinch-L+J
Lesser Scaup-L+J
Lesser Yellowlegs-L+J
Little Blue Heron-L+J
Loggerhead Shrike-L+J
Long-billed Curlew-L
Long-billed Dowitcher-L+J
M
Mallard-L+J
Marbled Godwit-L+J
Marsh Wren-L+J
Maui 'Amakihi-L+J
Merlin-L+J
Mountain Bluebird-L+J
Mountain Chickadee-L+J
Mourning Dove-L+J
Muscovy Duck-L+J
N
Northern Cardinal-L+J
Northern Flicker-L+J
Northern Harrier-L+J
Northern Mockingbird-L+J
Northern Pintail-L+J
Northern Rough-winged Swallow-L+J
Northern Shoveler-L+J
Nuttall's Woodpecker-L+J
O
Oak Titmouse-L+J
Orange-crowned Warbler-L+J
Osprey-L+J
P
Pacific Golden Plover-L+J
Phainopepla-L+J
Pied-billed Grebe-L+J
Pine Siskin-J
Prairie Falcon-L+J
Q
R
Red-bellied Woodpecker-J
Red-billed Leiothrix-L+J
Red-breasted Merganser-L+J
Red-breasted Nuthatch-L+J
Red-breasted Sapsucker-L+J
Red-crested Cardinal-L+J
Red-footed Booby-L+J
Redhead-L
Red Junglefowl-L+J
Red-shouldered Hawk-L+J
Red-tailed Hawk-L+J
Red-winged Blackbird-L+J
Ring-necked Duck-L+J
Ring-necked Pheasant-L+J
Rock Pigeon-L+J
Ruby-crowned Kinglet-L+J
Ruddy Duck-L+J
Ruddy Turnstone-L+J
S
Sanderling-L+J
Sandhill Crane-L+J
Savannah Sparrow-L+J
Say's Phoebe-L+J
Scaly-breasted Munia-L+J
Short-billed Dowitcher-L+J
Snow Goose-L+J
Snowy Egret-L+J
Song Sparrow-L+J
Sora-L+J
Spotted Dove-L+J
Spotted Sandpiper-L+J
Spotted Towhee-L+J
Stellers Jay-L+J
Surfbird-L+J
Surf Scoter-L+J
T
Townsend's Warbler-L
Tree Swallow-L+J
Turkey Vulture-L+J
U
V
Vermillion Flycatcher-L+J
Violet-green Swallow-L+J
W
Wandering Tattler-L+J
Western Bluebird-L+J
Western Grebe-L+J
Western Gull-L+J
Western Kingbird-L+J
Western Meadowlark-L+J
Western Sandpiper-L+J
Western Scrub Jay-L+J
Whimbrel-L+J
White-breasted Nuthatch-L+J
White-crowned Sparrow-L+J
White-faced Ibis-L+J
White-tailed Kite-L+J
White-tailed Tropicbird-L+J
White-throated Swift-L+J
Willet-L+J
Wilson's Warbler-L+J
Wood Duck-L+J
X
Y
Yellow-rumped Warbler-L+J
Yellow Warbler-L+J
Z
Zebra Dove-L+J

Great End to a Great Year

I'm not a fan of goodbyes, but one which I always welcome is the end of a year. It always ends with the festivities of Christmas and the excitement of New Year's Eve. And then there's the exhilaration of new changes, new opportunities, and new experiences for the upcoming year. It energizes me, just like rain does.

Our second holiday season together as a married couple was even more wonderful than the last. Life with Justin just keeps getting better!

Our Christmas party filled my heart with such warmth and cheer and then our time spent with our dear family was just that...dear. Dear people together create dear memories that last forever. I am very grateful and blessed for all sides of my family.

It is always a blessing to have the in-laws visit from out-of-state and our adventures were filled with many birding trips, birding talk, and birding jokes. I can't get enough of birds!

Wood Duck = My current favorite bird

We brought loving cheer to my parents' house in Visalia as we celebrated my dad's birthday and Christmas arrived a few days later. We took my mom officially birding for the first time, where Justin and I saw two new life birds! The Wood Duck and the Green Heron were remarkable species, but my mom insisted the Mallard and Great Blue Heron were more exciting to her. To each his own. We also added the Sandhill Crane in Pixley, California on our way home.

We liked the teepee more
than the birds in this park

I, of course, spent time with my sweet kitty, Jazmine, and we all enjoyed playing our favorite card game together: Euchre (ask Marc to pronounce this for you, if you want a laugh). My dad also took Justin golfing! And, of course, we shared many laughs with Marc and Christy via Facetime in Spain!

After a Euchre hand

Gifts from "Santa"

Content with kettle corn

We also revisited CALM (California Living Museum) in Bakersfield for the holiday lights. One word: WOW! The kettle corn did not disappoint either, with Dad bringing three brown lunch bags to dibby it up for the sake of being even. And, one of our favorites always is the magical light tunnel when the train triggers it. Can't beat CALM, where I want to be anything but calm! And we finished our time in Bakersfield with a delicious meal at, of course, Coconut Joe's.

Lights EVERYWHERE

Coconut Joe's

Time spent with the in-laws was full of birding trips, as mentioned before. Our first birding trip we totaled a number of forty-one species all throughout Chula Vista and Ramona areas! The highlight (either added to our Big Year list or Life Bird list) birds were: Brandt, Eurasian Wigeon, Lesser Yellowlegs, Bufflehead, Mountain Bluebird, Lark Sparrow, Golden Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Bald Eagle, Prairie Falcon, and White-tailed Kite. As the Birding Master stated after our close encounter with the White-tailed Hawk at Lake Hodges Footbridge, the experience was "exhilarating." That is how I felt all day. I loved how the Brandt looked like it was wearing a pearl necklace. I loved finally being able to see the Eurasian Wigeon (the first U.S. sighting for the Birding Master). And I absolutely loved seeing the Bald Eagle flying, as I excitedly exclaimed, "That's America!"

Brandt

Eurasian Wigeon

Ferruginous Hawk

White-tailed Kite

The next day produced a small birding trip to the cemetery across the street to spot seven new species, with one of them being an encounter with a Merlin! The Birding Master and I discussed what we like most about birding. He described how relaxing birding can be and how it is an escape from life's stressors and demands. Amen.

The second big birding trip was to a neighborhood in Hemet to view Lawrence's, American, and Lesser Goldfinches, and then our trek took us to San Jacinto Wildlife Area where we ticked thirty-six birds in less than two hours! This hotspot has a wide array of wildlife and the Birding Master wished he lived close to a place like this. The birding highlights (either added to our Big Year list or Life Bird list) included: Long-billed Dowitcher, Loggerhead Shrike, Snow Goose, and Marsh Wren.

The Birding Master

Hey look! Jeremy birds too!

How could you not love San Jacinto Wildlife Area?!

Beautiful day at San Jacinto Wildlife Area

Like father, like son

White-faced Ibis

Bald Eagle flying with some gulls

Loggerhead Shrike

"Owl be home for Christmas"

Overall, we celebrated three Christmas's together this year, just like last. One with my family, one just us two with our boys, and one with his family. Goofiness and laughter exceeded all of my expectations. And I am especially proud that I got all of his family to sing the phrase "Whattttt could it be?!" each time we opened presents. I hope that stays a tradition. And I hope we are able to ceremonially present Santa Claus (Jeremy) each year down a stairway. And I hope Justin can one day finally accept that every year, without a doubt, there will be something for me from Santa under the tree that he does not know about. And I hope my parents never get rid of the larger than life size stockings that fit so well on my feet.

Mom, me, and Dad

This holiday season made my heart full with delight. I was surrounded by incredible family, friends, and birds. What more could I ask for?