Debbie’s Blog
Bedroom Etiquette
I went to the dentist this morning to have my teeth cleaned. Somehow or other an entire year passed since my last cleaning. I don’t have a clue where those months went. Zip and they evaporated. One question the hygienist always asks is, "Are you wearing your night guard?" Actually, I’m pretty faithful when it comes to that guard. It’s a molded piece of thick rubber that protects my teeth from grinding. Wearing it, however, does not improve my looks. Wayne claims it’s the best birth control we’ve ever used! Read more
Ahoy, Matey!
Wayne and I built a fort for the grandkids overlooking the ravine on our property. Because we have six grandsons and only three granddaughters, I’ve decorated it in a pirate theme, complete with cannon and mast. To get down to the fort there are 66 steps. The kids race up and down those steps as if on an escalator. I, on the other hand, need to pause and pretend to look for ships on the horizon about half way up. My brother probably said it best: "If I go down there, I’m packing a lunch." I will say it’s an adventure and gives th Read more
Wedding Anniversary
Wayne and I celebrated our wedding anniversary yesterday. It was very low-key, and we stayed close to home. Contrary to what people assume, my dear husband, bless him, is not the most romantic guy in the universe. Past anniversary gifts include . . . hum . . . funny, I can’t think of a single one. He did get me a pocket knife one time, but I think that was for Valentine’s Day.
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Thank You
I’m back in the office today and am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from my readers. Your kindness and sympathy have felt like a warm hug; I want to thank you for your notes and cards.
Life continues. It doesn’t seem that it should, but it does. Our family has always been close but never closer than now. With God’s help we will survive this tragedy, and at the same time I know we will never be the same. Again, thank you one and all. Read more
In Memoriam
Debbie and her family are mourning the death of their beloved younger son, Dale, who passed from this life on Tuesday, August 9. To read more about this exceptional young man, read the touching obituary written by his sister, Adele.
Messages of condolence may be sent to Debbie via her website guestbook, or via postal mail to PO Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366.
My Roots
I’m back from Grandma Camp. This year’s camp I wanted to share my roots with the girls, so we traveled to my home town of Yakima, Washington. I was able to show them the house where I grew up, but unfortunately the house where mom and dad lived when I was born burned to the ground in the late 1950s. We stopped off at the school where I attended classes for eight years and the church where their grandpa and I were married. We had lunch with my best friend from my childhood, Carol Brulotte, at a fabulous Mexican restaurant. Read more
Breakfast at Lunch
I’m having lunch with my breakfast friends. This group has been meeting for almost twenty years. All of us are entrepreneurs who have (or have had) our own businesses, with the exception of Betty, who was a local bank vice president. We have encouraged, supported and advised one another in business and in life. But why lunch for a Breakfast Club? Now that some of the group are retired and not out and about early in the morning, lunch is a more convenient meeting time. Breakfast, lunch—it doesn’t matter. Read more
Where Does the Height Come From?
One comment I get from readers once they meet me is, "Oh, I didn’t expect you to be so short." Or, "I thought you’d be taller." Frankly, I hoped I would be, too. I fully expected my three granddaughters to be taller than me, but by age eleven???!!!! Jazmine, at sixteen, is 5’ 7” and often wears heels so she towers over me. Bailey is tall and lean and at twelve she’s already 5′ 4". Maddy Rose, the youngest of the three girls (and the one who shares my birthday) shot past me this summer. Read more
Grandma Camp
This is a special week. I’m doing Grandma Camp with my three granddaughters, starting Thursday. We’re heading to Yakima, Washington, where I was born and raised. I’m going to show them the hospital where I was born (it has a new name now!) and the house where I grew up (new owners, of course). We’ll go to the church where their grandfather and I were married. (The priest who married us has since left the priesthood.) Plus the parking lot where my high school once stood (St. Read more
Technology & Me
My alarm didn’t go off this morning. I have one of those iPod clock radios, and apparently the iPod portion is smarter than I am. This, sad to say, isn’t the first time it has happened. I’m beginning to feel technology is overwhelming my brain’s capacity.
A friend of mine told me his grandmother crossed the prairie in a covered wagon, and before she died she flew in a jet plane. I wonder if my grandkids will brag about me one day. My grandma saw the first transistor radio, and before she died she was on Facebook. Read more
Winter Hats in July
Two of my children and five of the nine grandkids visited the movie set of TRADING CHRISTMAS last Friday. Ted and the kids were extras in a scene at a rental car agency. While the temperatures were in the mid-seventies and the sky slightly overcast, they were required to don heavy winter gear. The reason I mention this is because the hats and scarves worn by the grandkids are ones I personally knitted. When the film airs, please pay special attention to the Fair Isle hat*. Of course I want you to watch the movie, but that Fair Isle hat with S Read more
One Lucky Guy
My husband is one lucky guy . . . and I’m not just saying that because he married me. He’s just plain lucky.
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Christmas in July
This is a stellar day in the Macomber household. Five of our nine grandchildren are heading to Vancouver, BC and the movie set of TRADING CHRISTMAS as extras. The scene takes place in the airport, where the character, Faith, is looking to book a rental car. It’s the heart of winter in the movie, so they’re required to wear coats, mittens, gloves and scarves. All of our kids and grandkids are hams, so this should be very interesting. Read more
Puppy Love
If my typinggggggg isd a bit weird, it’s because Bogie is sitting on my lap. WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWayne thoughtfully brought him to the office to visit. Bogie is intent on licking all the make-up offf my face. Visiting the office is a rare treat for him. He runs to see me and then Renate, my assistant, and then Heidi and lastly Wanda. He gets lots of attention and then heads back upstairs to me and hopp[[[[[s into my lap. If my book is late I have a valid excuse. I had a dog in my lap demanding attention. Read more
Treasures of a Different Sort
While most of the country is suffering through sweltering heat, Seattle and Port Orchard have been dealing with day after day of rain. Saturday I took advantage of the gloomy skies to sort through some of the items I’d tucked away after my mother died. She had boxes and boxes of recipes that she’d kept through the years. As I read through her handwritten notes, I realized how much of my heritage has been passed down through recipes. All four of my grandparents were dirt-poor immigrant farmers. I own very little of what was valuable to them; no j Read more
Ask and You Shall Receive
My friend and gifted knitting designer, Nicky Epstein, is in town for Stitch and Pitch. (She tosses out the opening pitch at the Seattle Mariners game tonight—go Nicky!) Nicky, along with her husband, Howard, and Bob and Jean Dunbabin, who own Cascade Yarn Company, were at our home last night for a pot luck in Nicky’s honor. Wouldn’t you know it, rain was forecast. Twenty some people were scheduled to spend the evening on our deck. It simply couldn’t rain. It would ruin everything.
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Knitting & Relaxation
I’ve been knitting on this incredibly complicated Aran sweater for my grandson, Collin. It was supposed to be for his birthday last month, which tells you how long I’ve been working on it. The sweater has been giving me fits and false starts from the beginning. I was up to the shoulders on the front and read the pattern again. That’s when I realized I’d made a mistake when I cast off for the underarms. I debated if I should leave it or not and decided I would rip that whole section out and start again.
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More Driving with Jazmine
My sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Jazmine, is attending summer school. This morning I picked her up on my way into the office. I was a few minutes early and thought I’d let her drive, as she needs the practice. Our last adventure behind the wheel was traumatic, but I’ve recovered. Jazz was extra cautious this time. She went 20 mph in a 45 mph zone. (Mind you, this is on Mile Hill Drive with a nice downhill slope.) The line of cars behind us stretched from Port Orchard to Seattle. I bit my tongue and let her drive. Read more
That Righteous Feeling
I walked two miles in my swimming suit this morning. (If that isn’t enough to make you gasp in horror I don’t know what is!) I should explain that I was wearing a jogging outfit over the swimsuit. I was up at 4 a.m. and ready to beat the water at the local swimming pool into submission only to discover the pool was closed for repairs. Since I was already up and awake, I dragged Bogie out of bed, attached the leash and took off. There’s no feeling more righteous than exercising early in the morning! Read more
Bleary-eyed
I think I must be getting old and crotchety. The neighborhood fireworks frenzy went on well past midnight last night. Just when I started drifting off someone would set off another firework and I was instantly alert. (I think I’ve watched the movie Red Dawn one too many times.) Even though I’m bleary-eyed this morning, I’m eager to dig into my day after a wonderful holiday weekend.
Nurse Debbie Takes Flight
Wayne is settled in for the day with the remote, telephone, computer, pillows, pills and other paraphernalia at his side, and I’m off to Seattle to visit my cousin, Shirley. It’s her birthday. She recently had hip replacement surgery, so instead of our usual birthday treat of buttered popcorn and a movie we’re planning dinner at her apartment with plenty of chatter and laughter. Shirley is a former nun and the inspiration for my book CHANGING HABITS. No one can be around her bubbly personality and not laugh. It’s going to be a good d Read more
Nurse Debbie
It’s a dark afternoon in Mudville, and I’m not talking about baseball. Wayne is in pain, bad, bad back pain with a bulging disk. To put it mildly, when my husband is hurting he isn’t exactly Mr. Read more
Driving with Jazmine
My oldest granddaughter, Jazmine Lynn, has her driver’s permit. She was with me the other day and said, "Grandma, let me drive so you can relax." Relax. You’ve got to be kidding me! An entire spiritual renewal took place two minutes after Jazz got behind the wheel. I haven’t been this close to God in years. In fact, when Jazz ran the stop sign, my entire life passed before my eyes. I wanted to tell her she missed the stop sign but my mouth was so dry I couldn’t speak. We arrived at the store, and Jazz parked and smile Read more
The Dating Game
My daughter, Jody, introduced me to the young man she’s been dating recently. (Jody was divorced several years ago, and I deeply admired everything she did to save her marriage.) Wayne and I have waited patiently for her to get back into the dating scene, praying God will send a good man into her life.
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Hobbies Are a Good Thing
My dear husband has made a momentous decision. He's decided to take up golf. First thing Monday morning, he went out and purchased golf clubs. We hadn't even finished unpacking the car! Then yesterday Wayne and his best friend, Norm, were out at the driving range, swinging their clubs and enjoying some “man time.” Wayne was enthusiastic and excited, and I think this will be wonderful for him. His new hobby may be a good thing for me, too. Let’s see–more time to knit, shop for yarn, play with the g