I'm still here!

Just haven't blogged in a loong time! Just a quick update: I left Mendocino in Sept. 2013, got my left knee replaced in late Oct. (did fine-no complications, d/c'd in 6 weeks from the Doc and PT. Same as the first time 3 years ago!). Then in Mid January went south to AZ to meet up with friend in Quartsite and later Yuma....Got back from AZ in mid April just in time to get ready for a very special cruise. Most of the time I was too busy to take pix-but here are a few:

We were just leaving Skagway, where we viewed the totem pole park and a few sights in town.

I've been to Alaska 3 times and each time is different-just seeing the sights through my grandchildren is priceless!

I think we could have left Miss C for a month-she was so sure she would strike it rich and find gold! Everybody had a good time gold panning in the creek near Juneau. After gold panning we feasted on wild salmon-so yummy!

Of course there was lots of time for just goofing off...and grammy's room was ideal. My girls are such a delight-

Right after we got back Miss C had her first tap recital-so cute! Never missed a step-we were all so proud of her!

Christmas 2013

Ahh, always a special time of the year for young and old alike......And my grandchildren are no exception! Misses C and E came to my motor home Christmas morning ( I bring my MH and park it in the driveway-it's an escape house for me) and we waited for mommy to come home from feeding their friends dogs.

Cand E were so excited! C was sure she heard Santa sometime during the night-he left a thank you note for the cookies and goodies for Rudolf-he even said he took a break in the rocking chair and Belle sat on his lap the whole time! But there were questions this year like, how can Santa eat all the cookies left out for him? Well, she's 8 going on 21........They look so cute in their "Hello Kitty" jammies....

Miss E didn't care what the gift was.....she loved it all..she's sitting in her new bean bag chair..

C was thrilled- a new real guitar!

Mommy and Mama were in maching jammies, too. It's our "tradition" to open gifts in our jammies-no makeup are hair combing allowed...Mommy hands out the gifts-elf style.

Grammy (me) gave both of them a crayola air brush set. It was a hit! Merry Christmas to All, and a happy, healthy safe New Year!

Mendocino Redeux

It's been a long, long time since I "blogged"....And I'm  back in Mendocino, volunteering at the Ford House for the summer...and loving it! It feels like coming home-even though the faces have changed.

Here's some highlights of the season.......

Every year we celebrate the 4th of July with a parade....and the Ford House uses the occasion to offer coffee, scones (donated by Alegria B&B). Then shortly before the parade we offer polish dogs w/wo chili and soft drinks. It's our biggest fundraiser and helps us keep our doors open...We got a fresh coat of paint and a new roof last year so we're so sparkley!!!

The parade is like nothing you've ever seen...Lots of local talent, political views, and people just having fun.

Cecile Thompson came for a visit and sold some of her jewelry at the arts & crafts fair. Of course, we had to go to Anderson Valley and our favorite, Brouttico Winery, for Gary's birthday present...

Just after Cecile left my family came for the weekend and brought their good friends, the Cassidys. John stopped at the Noyo Harbor to get fresh oysters-yuk!

Here's the gang L to R: John Henry, Allyson, me, Sandi, Cassidy, Eryn, Kris (with the blue baseball hat) Charlie and Kennedy

The time went so fast! I loved having all the company-now everything is so quiet...

Yuma and the Desert

About Mid January I get very antsy for some fair weather and sunshine and this year is no exception. I'm not that fond of the desert per say but it's better than freezing or worse yet digging out from the snow! I don't have these pictures set up in an organized fashion-part of my letting go. So, I'll begin the journey and caption the pix as I go along... I left Coarsegold and headed for Quartsite where so many RVers gather in the desert. I missed the social hours that the SKPs Nat'l office  hosts but I stayed there for a while and contacted a few folks I knew were in the area. Del and Connie invite dme over to their campsite where their son Mike made a super chili in his cast iron pot. It was the best chili I ever tasted! It was great to see them and catch up. They were on their way to help crew for a car race in Parker...

I also got in touch with Mike and Lori Sanders. They were enjoying their new rig and desert ATV their son had rebuilt and modified for them. We caught up all afternoon and the Sanders were leaving for a Memorial for Mike's Dad who passed away in January. My condolences to you and your family.

I've been so bad this trip about getting photos!  

This is Duke and I believe I introduced him when we met in WA. where Denise and Paul were working at an RV park. We met again down here in BLM land. We played cards, games and generally hung out for a couple of weeks, then the Roberts were heading for the annual fireworks display in Lake Haveseau. Paul gave me some great lessons for my phone. I should have paid more attention or takennotes......

Shirley drove down to Lake Haveseau with Cliff and then he drove her down to Quartsite so we could go visit our friend Laurie Coyle. Laurie and her husband John were squaredancers in the same club in San Jose. They moved to Mesa about 15 years ago, and I remember Ray and I parking on the street overnight so we could visit. Sadly, John has Alzhiemer's and is placed in a very nice facility. We all went to visit and brought a cake as it was John's birthday. Again, no camera! What's wrong with me? Am I getting old?

Then back to the desert-cudos to Shirley for braving the elements (and me) for how well she did on her first (and last) desert boondocking experience.

I warned you-I'm jumping all over....Now I'm in Yuma, will stay till the end of the month. This is the Thompson barbershop-Cecile has been doing Gary's hair forever.  They're prepping for a cruise-their Christmas tree boss takes  them on a cruise every other year. It worked out vey nicely-I was able to cat sit Mittens while they were away. We're renting from a private owner who's lot can accommodate 3 rigs. And it's enclosed for privacy with brick about 5ft. 

This is what really attracts me to the area-beautiful sunsets, gentle temps (65-75) and lots of seritonan! Will have head home in March-have to get ready for my cruise! 

Christmas 2012

Christmas! A magical time for everyone-but especially for the children. It was so hard for Miss C to fall asleep on Christmas Eve-she kept checking Santa's travels on Norad every two minutes but finally she fell asleep and miracle of miracles it was morning! C and E left carrots for the reindeer, cookies and beer for Santa and they were all gone replaced by lots and LOTS of presents...... 

It took a lot of time to get them all unwrapped...

Sometimes Mommy had to help 

But for the most part those little fingers did just fine all by themselves....

Just what I always wanted! My own mini I pad!

Mom got a big surprise- a new tent! She was so excited she Pam and Alex put up an eight man tent in the living room!

Mama is modeling her specially made t-shirt. It's a one of a kind creation.....

And mommy is proud of hers-she wore it all day! 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Cookies!

As most of you know, every year I decorate cookies for Christmas with my granddaughters. This year was especially important after the events in Newtown, CT. I'm so blessed to have two beautiful healthy girls!

The preparation gets more and more complicated each year-but at least we don't have to start from scratch.....Everything that could decorate a cookie is made available...

And every year there's some new type of sugar to try out

This year there were 11 children and about 25 adults and zillions of cookies! 

Can you pick out Miss E? She's kind of standing next to her sister, Miss C. We had a nice combination of returning participants and newcomers this time. 

 Nobody could tell me why these three sat staring at the couch...a new kind of sugar high?

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is one of those traditional meals we look forward to-turkey, stuffing, Kris's special mashed potatoes, Linda's  yummy yams, lots of salads, and Sandi's special pumpkin squares. The grandchildren are so excited when I pull up! Of course, my motor home turns into a playhouse of sorts. This is the view from my side window.

Here's the two munchkins-growing up so fast! They're relaxing in the MH after a rousing game of hangman....Miss E and Miss C learned the Christmas classic "Jingle Bells" and E was happily singing while coloring and C and I played hangman...

Our special project this weekend was to create a gingerbread house. Since the "house" had to set up overnight  Miss E and I put the pieces together while the rest of the family went to see The Rise of the Guardians (I don't think I have it right). Sandi and I slipped away on Friday to see "Twilight" thought it was the best in the series.

Everybody was pleased with the results: although  we had to assemble (twice) the house finally set up!

Lots and lots of gooey frosting, sugar candies and the obligatory peppermint posts made our first house memorable- and now we have cookie decorating in just a few weeks!

One more special project -it's a secret- for Christmas!!!