where would I like to be right now?

That's a good question..

Actually I enjoy being up in the mountains.. We do a lot of traveling and I have been fortunate enough to see a lot of different places. Between Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce and Yellowstone it would be very hard to pick a favorite.. I expecially like the fresh air and to see all the beautiful rocks, trees and animals.. But usually the one treasure we look for is "waterfalls".. We are hoping to add the Smokey mountains to our collection this summer.

I also like to walk on the beach and feel the sand between my toes..
Even though the desert is sometimes beautiful.. I don't really like it..

10 objects that have sentimental value..

Hmmm. where do I begin with this:

and not in this particular order but...

1.) My Mom's bible.. she would make little notes in it and I love to read them..
2.) My Mom's wedding ring and some of her other jewelry.
3.) Jewelry I received as gifts from Bill through out our marriage..
4.) Jewelry box I keep them in..
5.) Photo albums and heritage keepsakes..
6.) Christmas ornaments given to us all through the years..
7.) Disney dishes from my kids..
8.) Creamer and sugar bowl crystal from my Aunt Ruthie..
9.) 25th year anniversary clock..
10.) Sweetheart ring from Lyle..

this is only a short list, I am sentimental about a lot of things to numerous to list them all...

Have I ever been in a band or orchestra?

This is short and sweet.... NO...
I did sing in the choir when I was in school, does that count?

What if anything is changing my life right now..

I guess I would have to say.. my not doing tax work anymore.. I was always so used to being busy all winter doing taxes, that I never even really noticed the weather, unless I had to drive on the icy roads. When tax time was done, spring was here and I would go right out into the sunshine.
I am finding new ways to fill my time and even though it's a lot more fun and relaxing.. sometimes, I have to admit, I do get bored...

What is my most indispensable possession and why

I am going to assume that family and friends are not included in this, because they are blessings and not possessions..
I would have to say my home.. A while back I put everything into storage and for six months I did some traveling out to the west coast.. Although a lot of people do that, and I had a great time.. the fact that I had no home to come back to, really bothered me...
Inside my home, the most indispensable possession I have is my Bible.. it's where I get my guidance and direction. I would be lost without that.
And the list continues:
scrapbooks..
photos
music
etc. etc.etc.....

Nicknames..

That is so interesting.. While I was back in Mass. we were all trying to remember the nicknames that Dad gave to us as kids.. Mine was (and don't laugh) "chatterbox". Dad told me he called me that because when I was 3-4 he would take me to the local drugstore, in Rockdale, and sit me on the stool and I would carry on a conversation with anyone willing to chat with me..
Another nickname I use for the computer: pokadotsunshine came from a few people combined. A patient in the nursing home where I worked called me pokadot, so that stuck, and then Lyle started to call me sunshine.. so put the two together... wala..
I am also called "mimi".. (shortened, but loving version of gramma, from Alexis)

January was a blur for me....

I spent most of the month of January in Massachusetts with my Mom.. She had been a resident of Beaumont Nursing Home for the last 5-6 years and suffered from dementia. When my sister called and told me that Mom was doing badly and they didn't give her much more time.. I knew I wanted to spend her last days with her.. so I packed a bag, took the train, and got to be with her for 3 weeks before she passed away.. Seeing her wither away was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I took comfort in knowing she would soon achieve her life long goal of being in the arms of the Lord she loved so much..
I think of her often and how she used to be all those years before she got sick.. She was not only my loving mother.. she was also my closest friend...

My Daily schedule??

That's easy... I don't really have one!! But I do have some daily habits...
I get up around 7am and make a pot of coffee.. I enjoy my quiet time.. I go on my computer, and check my e-mail, head for face-book and do some games.. Once Lyle is up, we have coffee together and maybe some breakfast, then I do daily chores..
Depending on the time of year and the weather.. I like to get outdoors.. camping, walking and riding my new bike are just some of my favorites. In the winter months, I like to have a jig saw puzzle on my little table that I can work on at my leasure.. Being new here in New York, I joined a card club and found it's a great way to meet neigthbors and friends..
Of course, scrabooking, I always have something to work on.. and can vision so many projects that it gets overwelming..
I have noticed that since not working, I really have to discipline myself to get things done, it's so easy to just let the days slip by and get nothing accomplished.. So I set some goals for myself.. like finishing a project by the end of the month. It makes me feel good to know that I can relax and yet I can still get things done too..

Hobbies as a child..

Other than the usual dolls, and games.. I really liked paper dolls.. I tried to collect the books with the famous characters.. one I remember was Shirley Temple.. I also loved to color, especially winter scenes.. That must be where I get my creativity for scrapbooking.. love to see the finished products..

What is my favorite memory as a child?

Hmmmm.. One thing I remember is all of us piling into our station wagon and heading for the drive-in movies in Sutton.. Dad would make pop-corn and fill the cooler with drinks.. Seeing as how there were 10 of us kids, we were looking for places to sit.. Some on blankets, lawn chairs, and some nestled in the back with the seat put down.. With so many of us.. a family outing was treat we all enjoyed..

what is my full name and was I named for someone?

My full name right now is Dorothy Anne Walker.. My maiden name was Gagnon. I also went by the name of Graves for 9 years. I was named after my Mom.. but she never used my name.. Her name was Dorothy Viola Gagnon, but during her teens everyone called her Viola, so she went along with that.. You can imagine my surprise when I saw it on her legal documents, and we had quite a conversation about it.. Back then nicknames really stuck..