Roads and Rainbows

This morning, I had to go out to the car to get something and I was muttering to myself about how my opinion of a certain head of government that wants to ...anyway you know the rest. As I came around the garage I saw this.... and this....
It made my day!

I found these pictures on my camera, I think Hunter took them a couple of weeks ago. I love these roads. Of course, I liked them better when they were not so well traveled but I still love them.

This short little creature is Lucifer, the devil dog. I don't want to talk about her!

Oh, she is crossing the road. I guess she is good for something.

Driving into Vernon and up the mountain.

Coming down off the mountain.

Heading Home

The last turn.

Quick! make a u-turn and go back. There is no news shows on the mountain to push my blood pressure through the ceiling.

Summer Reading List

Dear Friend,
When I was not this old, I would find a good book and read all night and still make it through the next day. I could read a book and remember the characters and the story. I could take a book with me and read at stop lights. I read anytime, anywhere. All of this seems so long ago. I miss those days.

Now when I try to read, in bed-I have to fight my glasses (now a necessity to read anything), my aches and pains and the inability say awake more than 10 minutes. That and the fact that the computer has taken over my life and sometimes can't remember what I read 10 minutes ago, means I am reading less and it has become a challenge.

The good thing about driving almost 70 miles a day all by myself, I am enjoying audio books. I found a couple of good ones for my summer reading list and keep looking for more.

I just finished Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas. In fact, I enjoyed this story so much, I immediately started listening to it a second time. Her stories of fictional history usually connect to one of my passions, quilts and the women who made them. One of the things I like about her books is the dialogs, the way she has her characters speak in the vernacular of the place and time. In fact, I just learned that she reads a lot of womens diary's and journals as research, using these to build her own library of phrases and terms that she keeps on her computer for her writing.

Prayers for Sale is a story about a very young Civil War widow that goes to a gold mining town in Colorado to start a new life. She is the narrator of her own stories and the people in and around her life. As she tells her stories, she has to let go of her "blue devil" that haunts her for more than 70 years before she can move to the next stage of her life's journey.

I admit, I have read several of Sandra Dallas's books and have enjoyed almost everyone of them. Her last book, Tallgrass, was a story about a terrible time in America's history as we forced the American Japanese into prison camps during WWII.

Another audio book, one of my all-time favorites that I will always reread, To Kill A Mockingbird, narrated by Sissy Spacek. She does such a wonderful "Scout", I felt like I was right there with Jem and Scout Finch as they tumbled through their youth and experiences in Maycomb County during the early years of the 20th century. I will never, though, be able to hear or picture Atticus Finch as anyone other than Gregory Peck, whether I read the book or listen to the narration. There are some great actors that were born for certain roles. this was his and that might be a topic for another post.

I just picked up an audio copy of Charles Dickens, Great Expectations, because I really want to reread some of the classics that influenced me when I was younger. Since I will be working for at another 2 years or more, I will be listening to a lot of books. I will keep you updated.

I do still read and recently read a wonderful historical novel called 1000 White Women: The Journals of May Dodd, by Jim Fergus. The book begins just before the US Army rounds up all the Indians in the Rockies and Plains so the White immigration could take over their lands. The Chief of one of the Cherokee tribes supposedly proposes that the Great White Father send them 1000 white brides to help "civilize" and bear "white" children. This is a fictionalized but riveting account of one woman that volunteered as a way to escape the the insane asylum she was being held in after her wealthy family disowned her. As I understand the truth of the situation, the request was made but never really happened.

I'll keep you updated on my reading list and I would love to have you share yours with me.
Love, Jan

On the Mountain With Hunter & Logann

Dear Friend-
Well I'm back from a great weekend with Logann and Hunter. I love spending time with my grand kids and especially when we get to do a little one on one, or in this case, two on one.

It is so rewarding to see these kids enter adulthood, to listen to them express their views and ideas, and to see them start stepping up to help and do things without being asked or prodded. (Note to families of young children: There is hope!)

The weather was windy and chilly but the time I get to spend up there and enjoy all the wonderful life on the mountains makes it worth bundling up and tying everything down.

I hope that I can have the opportunity to spend more time with each of these wonderful kids as they grow and develop before they move out and on with their lives. Being their grandmother has been the frosting on my cake!
The Salt River from the first look-out on the Globe side.

New Oaks

This red fungus is really sprouting up around the ranch, especially around the wild rose bushes. Does anyone recognize them or know anything about them?

And yes, despite the combined efforts of every Naegle generation, there are still horned (toads) lizards that have survived. Did you know that they are truely becoming an endangered species?



Well, I've got to go. I'll share more later,

Love, Jan

Busy Month of May

Dear Friend,

I just wanted to let you know that I am still here and thinking about you. Things have been happening faster than I can keep up with. Here is a rundown of the past few weeks:

May 8th and May 9th we celebrated Morgann's 17th and Ian's 16th birthday's with dinner at a new family favorite Mexican Food Restaurant in Queen Creek - Rio Rico. Then there was a quick trip to Vernon for Mother's Day.

Last week we had 3 graduations (all on one day) I attended 2 of them, Eli's from Kindergarten-too cute, of course and the big one for Logann on Thursday evening. Seth had a graduation ceremony for Jr High at the same time as Eli's, so half the family went to his. I am still recovering from that one. I offered to take Logann early and save the seats, so I spent 3 1/2 hours sitting in the rain, fighting off all encroachers to wet stadium seats so we could huddle under the umbrellas and watch her do her walk.

Definitly Mr. Cool!

We are all so proud of Logann, she graduated in the top 20% of her class and earned academic honors and a full scholarship for her scores on the AIMS exams. She is going to NAU and is so excited.


That's her in the middle looking for us (the blonde).

Proud Moment.

Friday evening, we had a graduation party for her and then early Saturday, Marla and I drove up to spend the weekend at the ranch. Judy had taken dad to the Doctor in Springerville on Friday and they sent him to Show Low to the Emergency room for a proceedure.

Dad is okay but was still having some problems so she had to take him back Saturday morning. She just needed a little support from us plus the fact that we took Hunter up to spend a couple of weeks helping her and dad with some projects.

Hunter will be planting 2 gardens, getting the chicken coop set up with water and several other things on the list. He thinks it is boring up there and for a 17 year old city boy, he's right. It is boring but he will survive it, I'm sure of that. I told him that being the slave labor in Vernon beats being the slave labor in Wellton-hands down! I don't think he believes me though.

Marla, Hunter and I were the only ones up at the ranch this weekend-we don't count the non-Naegles. It was beautiful, peaceful and cold. It rained so hard on Saturday night, I honestly thought I was going to need oars to get off the mountain. Sunday brought a powerful hailstorm in Vernon and Monday we had a downpour that had snow in it.

The best breakfast in the world, ever, biscuits or pancakes, bacon, eggs, and fresh fruit on the porch of your humble home on the mountain!

Well, the long weekend is over and it is back to work. I did call in sick today-I think I can count on one hand, the number of times I have called in sick, but I can't get rid of this cold. I just need to spend one whole day at home in my jammies, don't you agree.

Enjoy some of these gorgeous pictures of Vernon and the Mountain. Hunter did a good job!

Love Jan

Flowers on the Mountain


Hail in Vernon

I love this flower. I think it is a begonia.



The wild iris is blooming all over the mountain.

Mother's Day 2009

Dear Friend.

This Sunday is Mother's Day and it will be a little different for my family.

I know that a lot of you have experienced the same feelings of those first holidays and celebrations with a missing family member. And now I know what you went through because that is what I am going through now.

I am the world's worst shopper. Looking for a greeting card drives me up the wall (especially the seasonal ones) and I never know what to give someone-gift cards are my gift of choice. But driving home yesterday, it dawned on me I hadn't got a Mother's Day card for mom yet-then I remembered.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Marla and I are driving to Vernon to celebrate a little Mother's Day with Judy and Dad. They have set the gravestone and we will go visit with Mom and place some flowers at her grave. I know she would appreciate that.

In the meantime, I am offering to you this wonderful piece about being a Mom because it brought so many memories and emotions back. Enjoy being a Mother. Treasure every minute of it and do not let a day go by without telling your children and your mother how much you love them.

Before I was a Mom,

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom ...

Happy Mother's Day to all of you.
Love, Jan

Nicoll Footprints

Dear Friends and Family,

I want to tell you what an amazing family I have. This past Saturday was a success due to the talents and the help of a lot of Nicolls. I know that we would not have been able to do this without each of you, even those that couldn't be here but encouraged us to go forward.

Ann (Nick) Shreeve and her daughters, Mindy and Miriam, were awesome. Ann and Mindy handled the food assignments and let me tell you, we ate like rich kings. The spread was fantastic. Miriam volunteered to do something with the younger kids to keep them busy. She really came prepared and those young ones that sat with her enjoyed her offerings. Miriam also had a winning Reunion "Momento". Thank you!

If you didn't get one of these, contact Miriam at purpleyum@gmail.com , she is making more and selling them for $2.00 each.

Another talented family member brought her great items to the Reunion for a Silent Auction. Thank you Patti. These were great.

After reimbursing several people for some of their expenses, I am opening an account at WF for the Nicoll Family Reunion so that we have funds to help with the 2010 gathering.

I hope more of us can contribute next year. If you want to be a part of this, let me know. I think the best way to do it is split the proceeds with you and the family but we can talk about it later.

Marla Olson had made arrangements to use their Ward building and then called as soon as she could get home from church last Sunday, to tell me we had to find another location (just one week prior to the Reunion). I started calling all family members in the Mesa area to see if we could useget another building and Steve Nicoll came through. Steve was able to make the arrangemenst to use his Ward building on short notice and we really appreciate both of their help.

A big thanks to Ashley (Darren) for being swept into "official photographer" for the family groups. If you are looking for a great Mother's Day gift, visit her blog http://embraceyourcreativity.blogspot.com/2009/04/mothers-day-mini-sessions.html.






A special thanks to everyone that showed up early to help set-up and those that stayed late to help clear and clean. All of you are the reason we had a successful Reunion.

And a big thank you to Rodney and Denise Standage for volunteering to put together the 2010 Don & Ethel Nicoll Reunion- Saturday, November 27th. That is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We look forward to seeing all of you then. As soon as I can get an E-mail contact for them, I will share it with you.

To my friends who read my blog that do not have a large extended family, I don't know what to say except that I am sorry you are missing one of life's richest blessings

To my family members who live too far away to attend this year, do try to join us in 2010. I want to get to know you, we want to get to know you!


Don and Ethel Nicoll struggled everyday of their married lives to meet the needs of their large family and we are rich for it. We are growing outward and older so fast.

On Saturday we recognized these events that enforces the need of regular family gatherings:

• Susan passed away 15 years ago on April 25th.
• Barbara and her family were attending the wedding of one of her grandsons. Did I say we were growing fast?
• We took 2 group pictures of Phyllis with 5 generations. (for those of you that don't count-that's 6 generations for Don & Ethel.)
• Shirley just celebrated her 62nd birthday. (Yes, we are getting better, aren't we!)
• We have so many members of the family we don't know or recognize, that we had to spend 30 to 45 minutes just going around the room introducing ourselves and updating, as quickly as we could, our families and a little about those that could not be attend.

Now I have to work on spelling every one's name correctly (Glorya, y not i; Phyllis, 2 l's; Corey, with an e; so far)!


Here are some pictures I didn't post on Facebook-my grandchildren had my camera and took pictures of their view of the reunion.


I'm not sure who "kick-a-pooed his joy-juice", but Stu (Marla) was happy to be there.





This is a picture that only a grandmother could love. Nikki assures me that he is only laying his finger at the side of his nose, trying to make the big decision: 'Which dessert do I want now?'

And the sweat and rosy cheeks on this 10 year old is from making the church hallways unsafe to walk.

By the way, I heard that Jordan (Megan's husband) and the kids were doing karaoke in the RS room. Why weren't we invited?

I've got a lot to do today so I'll close for now.

Love Jan

The Fire In the Next Subdivision

Dear Friend,

I usually drive to and from work using the same route-Ocotillo to Ironwood, Ironwood to the 60, the 60 to Priest and then to my work site and then, I turn around and come home the same route. But, fear not, sometimes I detour. The detour I took last night is one that I really enjoy because I come into our neighborhood the back way-a sort of stop and smell the roses route. This is were I see families out in their corrals, working their horses, mowing their yards, beautiful homes, trashy homes, fences covered in banks roses, goats, sheep, new ponies, well you get the idea. It's just a nice break-until last night.


As I came south on Kenworthy, this man was walking his dog and waving one arm and then the other-I thought he was either demented or slapping at insects. As I got closer, he actually was waving me to stop-he wanted me to call 911 to report this:





This is the unfinished and abandoned housing project just north of ours. These houses have been left as framed projects for probably a year now. When I first saw the homes they were just beginning to blaze-it probably took less than 10 minutes for them to go completely. I could see 2 distinct fires-across the street from each other. After I called 911, I came home because everybody in Queen Creek suddenly needed to use that back road and they were just stopping in the middle of the street! I don't know how the emergency vehicles were able to weave through the parked cars.





On the other hand, I came home to this too:

Nikki was making yummy cinnamon rolls for a presentation project in her communications class. We were glad she chose to practice on us.

I'm home today to do a little sewing and some cooking in preparation for the Nicoll Reunion on Saturday. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone. I hope we have a good turn-out. I wish we could plan this so that it would work for every one's schedules and that all of you that don't live in this area could be here. Hopefully, we can put another reunion together that will work for more of us.

On another note, does anyone have a clue what this is? Well, here is your first hint-This is Shawn holding his newest and biggest favorite Fathers & Sons Outing toy.

Bingo! It's his newest potato gun. Watch out world. Shawn is hunting for a potato target. Actually, he just wants to see how far he can shoot the potato. A man with a dream!

More Later, I had to boil all the potatoes for Saturday before Shawn found them and they need my attention now.

Love Jan