April 23, 24, 25, 2013

Before I forget, here’s a pix of daughter, Jenn and granddaughter, Guiliana on Sat. 4/20 at the Farmer’s Market.

4/23 – Made our way from Blythe, CA on “the 10” to Redlands, CA…about 3 hrs.  Very hazy, so I didn’t take photos.  Beautiful temps – 70’s.  Got settled in at the Elk’s Club RV parking.

Enjoyed pizza dinner with Jenny (Daughter-Daughter) – so named because as she and daughter, Sarah, were growing up, Jenny spent a lot of time with us…thus like another daughter.  Jenny’s daughter Eva is so darling.  Kicking myself I forgot my camera so no pix of them.

4/24 – had a relaxing am and then about 3 PM went to the post office and grocery store.  Made parmesan crusted chicken to take to Jenny’s for dinner, along with salad and French bread.  She bought a strawberry-rhubarb pie, so we were in food heaven a bit later at her place.  Her hubby, Ben was there tonight and we had a great visit.

4/25  Up and on the road by 10 am.  Headed up I-15 and made it up the longgggg grade.  Here’s a pix of a huge mansion out in the middle of no-where.

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Here’s a pix of the Cajon summit area at 4105’.  Stopped just south of Victorville for fuel $4.299/gal.  Knew it was going to be higher in CA – had paid $3.73 in AZ before leaving that state. Really windy here today.  Here’s a scenery shot just before Boron, CA.  There a lot of Joshua trees growing here in the high desert.

At Boron, noonish, we met, for the first time, some “Kissin Cousins” that I found on Ancestry.com.   They are part of our Vinall tree (by marriage in the past) and live in Lancaster, CA.   They had suggested we meet at Domingo’s in Boron.  Boron is an interesting small town just outside of Edwards Air Force Base.  It is a favorite restaurant for the Astronauts.  Lots of pictures around the restaurant walls like the one below showing various astronauts dining here…one was of eating here as their first meal after being up in the space station.  Scott and Marilyn were telling us they saw 5 of the first 9 space shuttle landings here at Edwards AFB.  How thrilling that was for them and their children!

Domingo’s is located on Twenty Mule Team Rd. and Scott gave us a sunset picture he took (prior to the huge sign being torn down) of the 20-mule team –the transportation method used to haul the borax mineral on a torturous two-week trip in the 1880’s from Death Valley where it was originally mined and processed, to the Mojave, CA railhead (Mojave is a nearby town.)  The mule trains traveled near Boron and ironically drove over one of the two largest borax deposits in the world.  Today the well-known Borax mine works this deposit.  We went past it as we left town – Huge!

We had a delicious lunch while exchanging life’s info and a lot of genealogy stories. When going to pay our bill, Jerry discovered I had not returned his VISA card to him after getting fuel.  Oh oh. 

Our waiter took our pix with “Domingo” as we were leaving. 

Outside the restaurant.

I immediately called the gas station and they had our card.  I apparently dropped it on the way to the truck and someone found it and turned it in.  He said it was right after we left, so he is sure no-one had used it.  He will mail it to us at the Santa Maria Elks where we will be 4/26 for a few days.  I will check with Merrill Lynch to be sure no one has used it.  Egads.

2 pm on the road again.  Lots and lots of bikers going the other direction.  Lots of longggg  downhills with some uphills mixed in for interest.  LOL  Lots of windmill farms on the hills as we go down towards Bakersfield.

Went past (though couldn’t see it without pulling off) the hlghway, the Tehachapi Railroad Loop – the elevation so steep that they had to build the railroad tracks in a loop he grade wasn’t so huge…the trains end up going over themselves.  Would be interesting to see if you could catch a train doing the loop-de-loop!

We are finally out of the mountains and into fruit growing areas.  Signs for farmers markets (below), u-pick fruits, cherry festivals and fruit stands abound.  (not open yet, though – darn.)

We see a few blooming trees and these gorgeous yellow roses.

Orange groves with the trees shaved off in squares for easy picking.  Other fruit trees and grapevines are abundant.

 

Finally to Bakersfield about 3:30 pm.  Stopped at the BMW shop to get the starting problem fixed but they didn’t have the part.  Traci in their office located one and we will get it in a few days when we get north in San Luis Obispo.  Easily found the Bakersfield Elks not that far away, went in to sign in and pay for our parking, had a beer and set up camp.

Solved the water problem we had had all day with water gushing out of the inpipe when we turned on the pump.  After much to-do and putting in a new water pump – under the kitchen sink in all kinds of contortions due to the cramped conditions under there – we determined it wasn’t that.  Finally checked the water inlet filter and when Jerry had cleaned it out this morning after unhooking the water hose, he had inserted it backwards, and the metal screen filter was pushing on the valve – duh!  Oh well, a learning experience!  LOL   Had light supper as we had a big lunch and relaxed with TV. 

A very busy day but very interesting and fun.  So glad to meet you,Scott and Marilyn Shackelford!  And so awesome to have two evenings of visiting with Jen, Ben and Eva!  Life is so full of blessings!

IA, AZ, CA in 24 hrs.

 

Had an absolutely wonderful trip to IA.  Few out of Mesa on 4/14 (Jerry drove me up to Mesa from Tucson) and cousins/friends, Ron and Diana picked me up at the airport about 7 pm.  Rude weather – cold and rainy!  Grabbed a bite to eat and was home by 9 PM.  Met our renter, Margaret.  She is a real sweetie!

Monday morning, had an eye appointment and picked out new frames. Shopped for new outfit for Hall of Honor Friday. Spent several hours with daughter, Jenn and great-granddaughter Guiliana.  Tuesday had a Dr. appointment and was able to spend more time at Jenn’s.  Granddaughter, Jessi, and her baby Myliana were there.  So many blessings!

Guiliana watches as Myilana swings.  Below, Jessi and Myilana 3-21

Ran errands both days…renewed canoe license, etc.  Picked up new glasses – not quite right.  Adjusted them.  Hmmm.  Wear them til Thursday and come back if not OK.

Wednesday did post office run and some other errands. Met  friends, Barb and Steve at our fave restaurant, Azteca 4.  (Used to be El Rodeo)  Had wonderful visit with them.  Thursday hung out with Jenn, Jessi and greats. 

Friday was the DHS/CHS Hall of Honor Induction at Central High School (my alma mater and where I worked for 33-1/2 years.)  I had nominated my friend, Tamara, and she was inducted into the hall of honor.

Class of ‘63 Inductees, Tamara Duggleby and Ed McCormick

 

Tamara and me in the Hall of Honor.  Her plaque is to the far left of the picture.

Nice ceremony, brief reception, tour of highlights of remodeled CHS and then we went to lunch at Riefe’s.  Mary and Marilyn went their own ways and Tam and I drove around Davenport to see our old haunts.  Dropped her off at the motel, drove to Blue Grass to change and back to get her.  Outing Club dinner was lovely and speakers were funny…Finally home at 10:30!  Long….but awesome day.

Saturday, took Jenn and grandkids Zack, Jessi and two greats to lunch.  Granddaughter, Abbie was at a friend’s house, so didn’t get to see her again.

Sunday, picked Tam up for church and then had lunch in her room.  Son-in-law Donovan gave me a ride from Little Acres to the motel where we chatted a while, then friend, Mary picked us up for dinner at Biaggi’s.  Was a lovely end-of-the weekend event with delicious food and several friends.  Mary took me over to the airport after dinner.  Flight was late leaving (10:15 pm instead of 9:15 pm.  So by the time we landed in Mesa, it was 1:15 AM my body time….wayyyy past my bedtime.  LOL.  Anyway safe landing, Jerry picked me up and he had found a close-by parking space so we boondocked. 

This am, got groceries at a Superwalmart and on the road about 11:30.  We’re both tired so won’t go too far.  Stopped at Blythe, CA (just over the AZ line on I-10.  Will crash early and proceed to Redlands tomorrow.

Here are recent pictures of Sean and Cailey from Sarah in MT.

Newest favorite food – spaghetti!

  Year 1 birthday cake 4-3-13

First ice cream cone.

What a big girl – and so pretty!  5-1/2 y.

Catchup

(lGolly, it’s been a while since I’ve blogged.  Not a lot to report.

We’ve been relaxing and enjoying the million dollar weather!  Highs from 75-85ish and lows in the mid 50’s so we can sleep with the windows open at night – the best!

Went to the semi-annual 4th Ave Street Fest – about 400 vendors from jewelry to pottery to art (all quality stuff.)  Met our AK friends, Bob and Mary Anne there and enjoyed wandering the booths. Bought important “stuff” a tye-die hat for Sean for is 1st birthday (tomorrow) and caramel corn and fudge for us…Had beer at our favorite place, the Sky Bar and pizza from The Brooklyn Pizza Co. (lunch), then ate at Magpie’s Gourmet Pizza for supper (shared a salad and a calzone with Jerry) and a beer.  (Bad diet but yummy).  Home about 9:30 (wayyyy past my usual crash time.)  LOL

Determined the generator fuel pump wasn’t operating correctly.  The gen would start ok, then quit after about 15 minutes.  After speaking with Simonton, the local Onan expert, and after doing a few “tests of disconnecting this and running the gen, and then changing that and running, it, we decided it was the fuel pump.  So a new one on order. 

Jerry finally got around to taking the truck to an alignment place since it pulled to the left and the steering center bar wasn’t level when it should have been.  They said the pitman arm, idler arm and ball joints needed replacing…Egads.  So he took it to Motor Mike (real business A-1 Total Recon) a neighbor down the street who does this.  We bought the parts at NAPA with a discount and he is taking the truck apart this am and determining for sure if the replacements are needed and then  will align it.  (Good news would be they were scamming us at the repair shop and not all parts are needed….???  Will know soon.  Then an oil change and it should be good to go on the road again.

Still awaiting Jerry’s new glasses…ordered4rom the VA on 3/14 and they said 3-4 weeks and we should see them in the mail!  Right now he is operating with only once lens in the glasses…looks kind of strange but he is seeing well – the best news.

Treated ourselves to a massage at the Asis Massage School last night.  The class will graduate next week, so they were very good.  Decadent pleasure…then a beer and pizza at nearby Sky Bar and Brooklyn Pizza.

Have been enjoying my free time with adding to my genealogical families.  This week have made contact with a new “cousin…many times removed” who is descended from Eliza Jones who married James Vinall, a brother of our Henry Vinall who came to the USA in 1849, my 2 Great Grandfather.  She lives in the Scottish but is originally from New Zealand.  She has been sending me some Briitish census records from 1841-1871 which places James and his family in Portsea, Hampshire, England and working at the HMS Dockyards there.  (Interestingly Eiza’s father was a police officer for the dockyard.

Found out from the Sisson Family website (part of my Lord to Soule Mayflower line, that they will be having an 11th Biennial Gathering in June, 2014  in Providence, RI…so that’s on my calendar! 

Well, that’s enough blather for one day.  Let us hear what you’ve been doing. Hugs to all.  Love you…bye!

Tucson, AZ, continued

Hi all,

Haven’t posted for a bit, as we haven’t been doing too much to write about.

Jerry had a very successful cataract surgery and we’re down to one drop of two meds a day (down from 3 drops 4 times.)  Had exam yesterday with his eye surgeon who has proclaimed him 20/20 with new lenses and he does not need his 2nd eye cataract done at this time.  Should receive new glasses in about 3 weeks.

Went down to Green Valley for a fun day with our AK friends, Bob and Mary Anne.  Had a Mexican Train domino marathon and great dinner.  Wonderful to see them and have a visit.

Took our friend, Rick, out for pizza at Brooklyn Pizza in downtown Tucson.  Great pizza and dark brews.  We have also eaten at BJ’s, a great brewery and good food. 

Went up to Cornville (north of Phoenix about 2 hrs) to visit Roger and Jackie (Jerry’s uncle and wife.)  They started up their outdoor spa for us and it was heaven…beautiful setting with rock waterfall, warm sun and birds singing!  Great Italian dinner one night, then up to Jerome for Mexican at Quince.  Jerry conned our waitress out of a bumper sticker which reads:  “We’re all here.  Because we’re not all there.”   LOL!  He hasn’t decided where to place it! 

Going to meet Boomer friends, Frank and Gloria at Poco and Mom’s for lunch today…great Mexican restaurant that Bob and Mary Anne introduced us to.  Hope to get some motorcycling in, as it is now warm enough…ya think?—gonna be 90 today! 

Have been checking the AZ Patriot Guard website, but no missions lately.  Hope to do some while we’re here.

Have a new photo of Cailey (5-1/2) and Sean (10 mo in this pix), now 11 mo.

 

Cailey is in dance lessons and pre-school and Sean is in walking, climbing and pulling her hair  LOL!

Let us hear from you!  Love and hugs from us both!

Feb 18 – Feb 23, 2013

 

Left Lake Havasu City around noon on Monday.  Stopped at Tonopah, AZ and soaked in the hot mineral springs there…twice – once before dinner at a Mexican restaurant – awesome authentic food – and then after dinner for an hour.  Very relaxing – what a treat!

Made rest of the trip to Tucson on Tuesday after stopping at Eloy, AZ on I-10 to dump our tanks and get fuel.

Here’s our parking spot in Tucson – friend Nancy’s sister’s home and the parking area that Nan and Lou use when they are here in Tucson.  It’s our for now.

 

 

Tuesday afternoon, Rick, Jerry’s cousin and his girlfriend came by.  They live in the St. Louis area but are in AZ for a vacation.  They came by and we had a nice visit and out to dinner at Chili’s.

Wednesday was cold and rainy.  Jerry and Rick went to the Pinal Co. Air Museum and boneyard.  They were in heaven looking at all the old planes and in the museum.   Finally had to call them at 4 pm and tell them happy hour was at 4:30!  LOL

Tae-Young and I went to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (thanks, Nancy, for two free passes.)  Decided to do the outside first and lo and behold it started snowing – huge flakes.  Made the cacti even more beautiful.  Then it turned cold – dropped from around 48 to about 36 in an hour, and we had enough snow/cactus photos, so went inside to warm up with a snack and coffee.  Then toured the inside museum.  Had a great time!   Then back to the RV and I cooked a yummy meal of Low Country Shrimp and Grits (thanks to Stormy for teaching me how), huge green salad and fresh aspergras.  Yummy! 

 

Jerrry’s cataract surgery at the VA Friday am was very successful.  Took him back in the pm for a check and Dr. was pleased.  (Back in 1 week for checkup).  Went to grocery store this am, then a bit of “garage saling.”   Friend, Rick, will chauffer us tonight (J isn’t driving at night yet) for Brooklyn Pizza – the best in Tucson,

Haven’t posted any photos lately of our grandkids, so here’s a few I have captured.    Cailey on the left (ready for her dance lesson and found a cute headdress to model) and Abbie on the right (ready to deliver her Nat. Honor Soc. speech on The Titanic and Jessi below.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any new ones of Zach or Sean, nor of the greats:  Guiliana or Myilana.  Will have to rectify that soon! 

 

 

Feb 5 – Feb 17, 2013

 

Arrived in Lake Havasu City on 2/5 after spending a week at Parker, AZ, with a small group of friends for the Parker 425.  We are parked at “The Steps” a free parking area about 15 miles south of LHC out in the desert – The Colorado River and California at the top of the picture.  Counted 100 rigs here in our group on Saturday.

Haven’t been doing a lot.  Enjoying warm weather finally.  Did get our Generator fixed while here – a circuit board $400…Egads.  Thanks to friends Lisa and Bill as we plugged into their generator while ours was on the fritz.

Saw the Winter Blast Fireworks (Western Pyrotechnics Association convention public display) Sat. night.  Amazing.  Didn’t take any pictures as I just wanted to enjoy them.

 

Below is a picture of “Ed’s” Birthday Party.  An annual hot dog roast/potluck which is held here with our Escapees Boomer’s group.  Think this is the 5th annual.  Cute story as to the name:  When Betty, Duane’s wife (the birthday boy) went into town the first year to get a birthday cake, they were all out except one at half  price marked, “Happy Birthday, Ed.”  Come to find out, no one had picked it up after ordering it (Ed had died.)  So, it has been come to be known as Ed’s birthday party and we always include “Ed” in our Happy birthday Song. 

On to Tucson – travel days Monday and Tuesday.

January 15 – February 2, 2013

After Jerry picked me up in Mesa from my Missoula trip, we went back to the rig parked at the phoenix Elks and got ready to leave on Tuesday. 

Arrived Quartzsite and set up camp.  Didn’t take any photos, but enjoyed the beautiful saguaros, lots of friends, shopping in town, Thrifty ice cream cones for lunch and good food.  A busy and fune time. 

From Quartzsite, went to Tucson, AZ to visit best friend, Nan and hubby, Lou.  They had great welcome dinner for us.  We didn’t do much while there but visit and play scrabble cubes, eat and eat.  Went out for dinner to their fave local Mexican restaurant for my birthday, and another birthday dinner at their place with surf and turf.  Also had delicious meal at Mama Louisa’s, a great Italian restaurant.  A great visit to catch up, but all too short.

Jerry’s eye appointment there with Dr. Lindsay Tavaras at the Tucson VA went very well.  She is the surgeon who will be doing Jerry’s first cataract surgery on 2/22.  She was very thorough, informative and nice.  Think it was reassuring to hear  all the details and timeline, etc.  We will return next day for check, then in one week.  Then back in one month,for check and glasses if needed.  Also hope to do 2nd eye 1 mo. after first surgery with same timeline scenario.  Should be all set to go north after released! 

Went to Parker, AZ on 1/29 to boondock near the edge of the wash where the Parker 425 race vehicles scream by on Saturday for the Parker 425 Best of the Desert off road race.  There are about 15 different classes of vehicles from trick trucks to buggies to volkswagons.  Always a fun day visiting with people as we watch the race from different areas.  We hosted a potluck at 5 pm with about 25 attending.  Delicious food as always when Boomers get together.

 

Jerry and Ron relaxing.  Just past the bushes in the pix is the race wash. Our two rigs making a nice private yard. Beautiful sunsets every nightWatching the race with Vicky and Terry’s grandson visiting from Washington state. Terry brought his dirt bike out and the boys had fun taking turns riding it.  Unfortunately a flat tire was a problem…how many people does it take to change a flat?  Jerry made the boys do it til they got it right while he supervised.  Fun day.