Crazy Afternoon

This afternoon I had a little bit of excitement here at the funeral home. I had just gotten back from a funeral and was in my office eating lunch while doing some paperwork to get ready to meet with two families that I had scheduled to come in and make arrangements. I heard a loud crashing sound like someone's car hitting the building. I looked out my office window to find just that. I went down stairs and checked on the driver. She was fine, so I called the Davis Police Department and asked for an officer to come over to take a report. The lady said her car just took off on her. Since I didn't see it happen, I can't say for sure. All I know is, it did a fair amount of damage. The best way to tell you about it is in pictures!:

The view from the sidewalk looking down the driveway. She somehow managed to drive her car from the parking lot to the left, through/over the brick wall, across the driveway and into the building (and yes, that is the entire brick wall that fell over).


The front bumper of her car on the corner of the building.


Looking from the parking lot she was trying to park in toward the funeral home.


Tow truck driver preparing to pull the car out (he couldn't get it out the same way it went it).


Ugh, the poor Magnolia Tree. It may have to be replaced - not to sure if it will be able to recover.


Damage done to the flowerbed after the tow truck pulled the car out.


Luckily, this is the only damage done the building, it self - at lease as far as visible damage, someone with a trained eye will need to come look at it to be sure.


The hole her car created in the brick planter:


Driveway after the car was removed:

Famous?!!!

Famous? - No not really. As part of an advertisement I did with Sacramento's News10 web-site, they came into the funeral home and filmed me giving information about our services, then took quite a bit of film of the funeral home to use in the video. This is the final version that is published on their site under our funeral home. It is quite obvious that this was my first time doing it and I am nervous, but overall, I think it turned out fairly well!!!
Please feel free to share on your blog, Facebook, or any other social network you are with!

March Madness - Bicycle Style!!!

In the month of March, the local bike club puts on "March Madness". The Davis Bike Club donates one penny per mile ridden by each participant and applies that amount towards bicycle helmets for school age children (click here for the full details).
Since this was my first time signing up, I pledged to ride 250 miles, to see how I would do. Due to poor weather this month as well as being busy with work I did not reach my goal. In fact, up until Monday, I only had 50 miles. I knew at that point I would not reach 250 miles, but I still wanted to get in as many miles as possible in hopes that I can help as many children as I can. So, between Monday and today (Thursday) I rode 120 miles! Thanks to the cool GPS watch mom and dad gave me for Christmas, I am able to see on a map exactly where I have been! I have included a map of each day of my rides this week.
I also got a VERY SMALL glimpse at what my 100 mile ride will be like in October, and you know what? ... I do believe I can do the full 100 miles!!!

30 Miles (to Winters and back)



30 Miles (to Woodland, around some of Woodland and Back)



20 Miles (just some country riding - it was windy and I wimped out!)



40 Miles (to Winters, then back taking a long way around!)

Smith Girls Weekend 2011

This last weekend we had our annual Smith Girls Weekend. All the Smith ladies 12 and older attend this wonderful event. This year, everyone came to my place! The event started Thursday evening with Pizza then wonderful crepes from Crepeville. On Friday we all boarded Amtrak and rode the train (switching to bus for the last little bit) to San Francisco. We spent a great day eating, touring, walking, eating etc. Saturday we went to the Davis Farmers Market, then wandered around several of the cute shops in Davis. In the afternoon we held a baby shower for Melissa. We also took a field trip to Trader Joes and to World Market. For dinner we ate at Thai Recipes (which for some was their first experience with Thai food!). On Sunday morning most left for the trip home. Matti and Brenda had a later flight, so we went to Winters for breakfast at Putah Creek Cafe. I had a great weekend and I so grateful that everyone was so willing to come out here, since I was not quite ready to leave my new business for a full weekend! Thank you ladies for a GREAT time!!!



San Francisco:


















Davis Farmers Market:








Baby Shower:

Antique Buffet

When the Wiscombe's moved, one of the items they left was this antique buffet. It is absolutely beautiful, and just needed a little sanding and refinishing. As most (if not all) of you know, I enjoyed doing wood-working, so I was excited to have the opportunity re-finish it! The pictures don't really do it justice, but you can a good idea of how it turned out.

The front:
Before


During


Finished



The Top:
Before


During


Finished


Set up in my foyer:

"Angels Among Us" in ASL

This is a very touching Video a friend posted on Facebook this morning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Small Business Owner!!

As most (if not all) of you know, I recently purchased the Funeral Home I have been working at for the last 4 1/2 years! The sale was finalized and official on December 1, 2010. I am quite nervous, but also very excited at the same time. I am looking forward to this new adventure in my life!!!

Front of the Davis Location.


The front of the Winters Location.


Pulling the for sale sign up.


No more for sale sign on the lawn!!!


The new furniture in the arrangement office. The Wiscombe's replaced the furniture that was in there with this!