Happy Half Birthday!

I'm a Pesticide Investigator...Or What I Do When I'm Not Home With You!

Mommy is a Pesticide Investigator for the Oregon Department of Agriculture. And, yes, Mommy gets funny looks or stunned silence when she tells people.  Mostly people wonder just what the heck that means I do.  I thought I'd share a few of the things I might do on an average day:

• Meet with a pesticide dealer to go over their record of pesticide sales
• Take complaints when someone thinks something has been done wrong
• Visit with growers about their restricted pesticide use
• Visit with applicators that apply pesticides for hire
• Write-up reports about these activities
• Audit a class that helps train people to become licensed or keep their license to apply pesticides
• Visit a site of application and take samples
• Help develop and maintain a database to keep track of our reports
• Give presentations
• Go to stores to make sure the products available for sale are registered in Oregon
• Observe routine pesticide applications as they are occurring

What I do depends on the time of year.  I tend to look at application and sales records in the winter when people aren't out making as many applications.  We take more complaints and do follow-up investigations in the spring and summer because that's when more applications take place.  But anything can happen anytime!

Mommy collecting residue samples in a home treated for bed bugs.  Photos by Michael Odenthal.

Mommy meeting with a grower in the field.  Photos by Jan Fults.

Cute Picture of Grandpa Loren

Good Bye 20s...Hello 30s. You Are So Gonna Rock!

Today was my 30th birthday.  You won't remember and that's okay.  I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you.  I feel that I've had a good life.  Having said that though, it just seems to be getting better and better.  Your Dad and I can't believe how much you add to our lives.  You are so full of joy and that translates to joy for us.  Thank you!

While you won't remember my 30th birthday, I thought I'd share my memory from your Grandpa Bud's 30th birthday.  I was eight when he turned 30.  Grandma Abbie made him train cakes (one car for each year he was old) when he was 8 and 10.  She decided to do this again for him on his 30th.  She and Grandma Colleen worked quite hard for a month or so before his birthday making 30 different "cars" for his train.  Did I mention it was a surprise party?  He had no idea!

The cake took up the entire table.  There were cars hauling logs, ones with animals, ones that were oil tankers, ones with placards showing pictures of the previous train birthdays, and more.  Your Great-grandma Abbie is a very talented and creative woman.  No one made me a train cake today, but lots of people made me feel special.

Visit from Grandpa and Great-grandma and Great-grandpa!

We got to share you with your Grandpa Bud, Great-grandma Abbie and Great-grandpa Keith yesterday and part of today.  Uncle Matt was here as well.  You feel asleep at Red Robin and nobody could believe it; the place was so noisey!  You were in a good mood and they all seemed to enjoy their time here.

Watching the Girls

Today was a beautiful day.  You and I took the opportunity to sit outside in the sun and watch our honeybees.  This is the first winter we've had with them so I'm quite interested in seeing how they do.  It's early, but where we put the hive they get nice and warm and Gertrude (the neighbor) has some things blooming in her yard like a big white camellia.  You seemed interested in the bees too and I think you thought it was kind of fun watching their shadows on the fence.  Ironically, your dad had dressed you in your bee shirt. 

Letter from Great-Grandma Lougee

January 16, 2011

Dear Dylan,

          It was a wonderful day when we heard that you had been born. A new baby is truly a blessing from our Father in Heaven. You are a special child of God who has been sent to a wonderful mother and father. They love you so much and will do everything they can to keep you safe, healthy and happy.

          There is a song called I am a Child of God that tells about being given an earthly home with parents kind and dear. Maybe your daddy will sing it to you some time.

          Dylan, my hope for you is that you will grow up to be a good man like your father. I hope you will be a good brother to any future siblings that you might have. A brother like your dad is to his brother. Your dad is a wonderful brother to your Uncle Donald. He is patient and kind to him. He is a good example for you to follow.

          I love your mom and dad and I am so happy they have you in their family because that makes you part of my family. Families are wonderful!

          Love from your great grandma Lougee