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!!!

Boooo! Happy Haloween!

My two grandkids were invited to an early Halloween party so I got to see them dressed in their finery...Miss C was a cat and Miss E was dressed as a panda....Don't they look Cute?

Of course, they can't wait for the big day-I'm betting the little one will be scared out of her wits!

TWTWTW (That Was the Week That Was)

I went to Michigan for a family wedding and took time to reconnect with some old friends. MI was hot and muggy-I expected it would be much worse! The wedding-Jennifer Siebert and Sam Sherer- were married  in Gross Point Woods and the reception was at the Anthenium in Detroit near Greektown. Here's a few highlights:

Mary Beth and Steve Rivas-Mary is my niece, Steve is her husband. They're so good for each other!

The last time Ray and I were in MI was 6yrs. ago for their wedding.

Crissy  and Catherine Stephens...They are my great nieces (Mom is Rachelle and Dad is Howard). Oh, they are so pretty! Crissy  (L) is a Jr. Bridesmaid and Catherine is a flower girl. 

Jennifer and Sam were the perfect couple! They were full of energy  and transmitted some of that energy to everybody there.....

Here's my sisters: (L to R) Isa Pomponi, Me , Aunt Rita, and Ellen O'Connell. Ellen is Mary Beth's mom. The guy in the rear is Bob Pomponi- Isabellas' husband and the proud grandparents of the bride. 

After the wedding I stayed with my friends Mary Ann and Jimmy Henry. We've been friends since 2nd grade, and they are Kristins' godparents. Next year we will celebrate the 50th class reunion. While in school the six of us girls hung out-probably since 4th or 5th grade, so it was a real treat to see them! It's been 25 years since I saw some of them. They are (Lto R) Me, Pat, Marse, Janice Kathy and Marilyn. It's remarkable that they all stayed in the same area....Of course, I had to be the outlaw.....

Jimmy is just Jimmy...what can I say?

Jim took me on a nostalgic tour- We renamed it "It's time for me to die" tour....He's pointing out the area where we all skated and did lots of other activities-the fairgrounds...now gone!

My church is no more...sold to another religion

We HAD to have white castle-AKA rank burgers-for lunch. A Friday night tradition!

This cute little bunglow was my home in Royal Oak...I sold it in 1976 for $23,500. I'm told this is a very desirable area now and the houses are worth $250k!!!!

Memories....they're great and now it's time to go home! 

Lavender!!!

The Sequim Lavender Festival should be on everybody's bucket list! I was here 8 years ago-just happened to be here at the right time. This year I planned a little better, and several friends were here to share the enjoyment. Sequim is located on Washington's Olympic peninsula and is well suited for growing all types of lavender. There are farm tours and street fairs-something for everybody and lavender products you might never see anywhere else! Each farm offers acres and acres of lavender, some areas where you can cut your own, musical entertainment, food and gift shops filled with locals' crafts. Just before the weekend we (Jeanne Williams, Teresa Johnson and I) visited the Sunshine Herb and Lavender Farm owned and operated by the Ragsdales. Jeanne thought they might be relatives, since her maiden name is Ragsdale. There's a possibility they may be cousins.....

You can drive yourself to each farm or pick up a shuttle to visit the 8 farms on this venue. There are many more farms you are invited to visit.  On Saturday, Cecile Thompson and I visited the Olympic Lavender Farm, The Jardin Du Soleil, and the street fair with over 100 venders. Whew!

At a u-pick, this gentleman has a lovely bunch!

And, she's gathering a fragrant group...I just bought a few plants...

Now, I have to plan a trip back to Coarsegold....going to MI for a wedding!