What an interesting week-end! We knew one of the high school girls who was in a downtown theatre playing in "RENT". We had never seen the movie or known what it was about. So we got the last tickets, and because they were in the front two rows right next to the stage with a runway going right beside us to the third row--we got the bargain price of $5. Right in our budget! It turned out to be magnificent acting and singing and we considered those the best seats.
Then yesterday a gal knocked in the morning and asked if we would accept a free cleaning of one room to help them advertise their new store (and earn her $30) so we said yes and scheduled it for later as we were on our way to the outdoor Bkfd spring festival to walk thru their displays and get our H1N1 shots (finally). One hour late, the 2 guys showed up to give a Kirby demonstration but we let them go ahead and vacuum our family room and then said, we thought they were going to shampoo. It turned out they were, the new machines do both so the carpet under our dining table looks better than it has for awhile but we didn't buy (at $2300 reduced to $1500 for us by trading in all 3 of our garage sale vacuums).
We were going to go to Arvin (about 30 miles away) for a drive through the wildflowers and to a performance by a symphonic band at 4 pm but the wind is blowing hard and dust is flying so we will read and take naps instead.
We head to Stockton Tuesday to do our income taxes and then overnight at Kevin and Sara's before going to Sacramento for our 1 day Spring Fling of Retired Clergy. It will be our first time there without the RV so we'll see how we do sleeping in the retreat rooms. Then Sunday we head to
Santa Barbara for confirmation of both Brittany and Brooke on their mother's birthday.
Four of our rose bushes burst into bloom this week with multiple flowers and the apple tree is also blossoming as are the grapefruit and orange. The almond and peach trees are already setting fruit and we also hope our two newly planted tomatoes survive this wind.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Where does time go?
We are trying to see if we can stay home for a whole month! It is hard to see the RV sitting there and not jump in and go somewhere!
We had a great January and February. First Erv and Danny Pat brought their RV down and together we volunteered again at the Indio rally of Family Motor Coach. However, I did not work too hard as I spent two nights in San Diego being the driver for Karla's tests for severe anemia (fortunately she has now gotten her numbers back to normal and tests showed no abnormalities). After Indio, we stayed at Fountain of Youth for 3 nights by the Salton Sea and it was warm enough for capri pants. Jim and Joan McCracken came with us and became the host site for our rotating suppers as the first night, we were 8 and then kept inviting other friends so last night we were 12 or 14. Then we 3 couples drove on to Emerald Cove at Parker AZ. Group went to Quartzsite, Blue Water buffet supper, and relaxed. Saturday Erv and Danny Pat headed home while J&J and H&I went back to Quartzsite and had a great time over lunch visiting Pat and Larry Brown who were our tailgunners for our British Columbia Sunshine Caravan in 2004.
H&I then headed to Borrego Springs where rain began falling but we had a great time seeing what Dan and Karen do when they are not co-hosting at El Capitan with us. The antique-gift-general store where Karen works had fascinating items and it was also good to see the metal animal sculptures which are out in the desert.
We then took the RV to the Walnut United Methodist Church parking lot and drove home for 4 days with the car. Unfortunately, as we approached Grapevine in blinding rain, sign said "Closed, detour" so we did. Were glad to get home safely as the rain turned to heavy snow in Palmdale and we were grateful to be in carpool lane which was a little less traffic. Saw several cars spun out on side of rain, but most were driving cautiously.
Then back to Walnut where we volunteered with RVers in Mission group doing church repairs. I was soon designated "gofur" as planned person did not show up and with our GPS, it was great way to learn the area and even Home Depot had plenty of help to show me where to gather the supplies. Weds, Jan 27 we met Jane and Les at LAX and brought them back to boondock in our RV (but did give them beautiful view of snowcovered mountain out our windshield). Jane was soon making deviled eggs, etc. for our potlucks and snack times and Les was invaluable in knowing how plumbing changes worked which none of the crew knew.
After Walnut and a tour of a United Methodist retired clergy property (we thought it was lovely but not in the area we want to be), we drove on to Catalina Spa in Desert Hot Springs to relax and Jane and I took part in their morning aerobic water class. Then we went to campground in Hemet which has world class shuffleboard arena so we got to practice several times and enjoy their hot tubs.
We then came to Bakersfield for several days and then headed the RV to Brentwood to stay with Kevin and Sara. We watched the two boys play great basketball and Sara and Kevin gave Jane and Les their only time of "country living" complete with horses, dogs, and cats.
Next we parked the RV at the Pleasant Hill home of Diana Hill and headed for a hotel in San Francisco. We managed to visit Fishermen's Wharf and downed the Ghiradellis sundaes before we left. We also took a bus tour to Muir Woods and Sausalito and then the boat cruise out for a tour of Alcatraz. It was the first time I had seen the exhibit and video of the takeover of Alcatraz in 1969 and realized that it probably had a profound effect on Native Americans for the good. Visiting the cells and hearing the history of the people in Alcatraz as Jane said "Is good to do once, but probably not again."
After a great evening and supper with Diana, we then drove to Morgan Hill for a Thousand Trails campground stay and tour and then on to El Capitan. Then the next morn, Feb. 27th we enjoyed breakfast with Renee and family and then headed to LAX where Jane and Les learned they would be landing in Sioux Falls in temperatures in the upper 20's and low 30's instead of the minus 20's that had been most of the month of Feb.
After church with the family and a most amazing cleaning of our carpets, dinette seats and pillows (the later 2 of which I figured would never come clean again) by Renee, we headed home March 1st, grateful for all the good times and travel with family and friends and ready to catch up with mail, etc.
We had a great January and February. First Erv and Danny Pat brought their RV down and together we volunteered again at the Indio rally of Family Motor Coach. However, I did not work too hard as I spent two nights in San Diego being the driver for Karla's tests for severe anemia (fortunately she has now gotten her numbers back to normal and tests showed no abnormalities). After Indio, we stayed at Fountain of Youth for 3 nights by the Salton Sea and it was warm enough for capri pants. Jim and Joan McCracken came with us and became the host site for our rotating suppers as the first night, we were 8 and then kept inviting other friends so last night we were 12 or 14. Then we 3 couples drove on to Emerald Cove at Parker AZ. Group went to Quartzsite, Blue Water buffet supper, and relaxed. Saturday Erv and Danny Pat headed home while J&J and H&I went back to Quartzsite and had a great time over lunch visiting Pat and Larry Brown who were our tailgunners for our British Columbia Sunshine Caravan in 2004.
H&I then headed to Borrego Springs where rain began falling but we had a great time seeing what Dan and Karen do when they are not co-hosting at El Capitan with us. The antique-gift-general store where Karen works had fascinating items and it was also good to see the metal animal sculptures which are out in the desert.
We then took the RV to the Walnut United Methodist Church parking lot and drove home for 4 days with the car. Unfortunately, as we approached Grapevine in blinding rain, sign said "Closed, detour" so we did. Were glad to get home safely as the rain turned to heavy snow in Palmdale and we were grateful to be in carpool lane which was a little less traffic. Saw several cars spun out on side of rain, but most were driving cautiously.
Then back to Walnut where we volunteered with RVers in Mission group doing church repairs. I was soon designated "gofur" as planned person did not show up and with our GPS, it was great way to learn the area and even Home Depot had plenty of help to show me where to gather the supplies. Weds, Jan 27 we met Jane and Les at LAX and brought them back to boondock in our RV (but did give them beautiful view of snowcovered mountain out our windshield). Jane was soon making deviled eggs, etc. for our potlucks and snack times and Les was invaluable in knowing how plumbing changes worked which none of the crew knew.
After Walnut and a tour of a United Methodist retired clergy property (we thought it was lovely but not in the area we want to be), we drove on to Catalina Spa in Desert Hot Springs to relax and Jane and I took part in their morning aerobic water class. Then we went to campground in Hemet which has world class shuffleboard arena so we got to practice several times and enjoy their hot tubs.
We then came to Bakersfield for several days and then headed the RV to Brentwood to stay with Kevin and Sara. We watched the two boys play great basketball and Sara and Kevin gave Jane and Les their only time of "country living" complete with horses, dogs, and cats.
Next we parked the RV at the Pleasant Hill home of Diana Hill and headed for a hotel in San Francisco. We managed to visit Fishermen's Wharf and downed the Ghiradellis sundaes before we left. We also took a bus tour to Muir Woods and Sausalito and then the boat cruise out for a tour of Alcatraz. It was the first time I had seen the exhibit and video of the takeover of Alcatraz in 1969 and realized that it probably had a profound effect on Native Americans for the good. Visiting the cells and hearing the history of the people in Alcatraz as Jane said "Is good to do once, but probably not again."
After a great evening and supper with Diana, we then drove to Morgan Hill for a Thousand Trails campground stay and tour and then on to El Capitan. Then the next morn, Feb. 27th we enjoyed breakfast with Renee and family and then headed to LAX where Jane and Les learned they would be landing in Sioux Falls in temperatures in the upper 20's and low 30's instead of the minus 20's that had been most of the month of Feb.
After church with the family and a most amazing cleaning of our carpets, dinette seats and pillows (the later 2 of which I figured would never come clean again) by Renee, we headed home March 1st, grateful for all the good times and travel with family and friends and ready to catch up with mail, etc.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Life keeps bringing faster and faster surprises
Has it really been 14 months since we last blogged? We'll begin with just the adventures of this past 9 days.
Last Saturday, I was in bed asleep at 10 and Harry was taking a shower when he heard the helicopter buzzing our house so awakened me. So we peeked out the window and saw the helicopter spotlight bouncing off the wall where we were standing and our next door neighbor's house (she was gone). I climbed back in bed as helicopter stayed for close an hour. I knew there was possibility someone might break into our house, but I am virtually helpless for my last epidural and then hip shot reduced the pain but I move extremely slowly. Harry continued shower, and I decided if someone walked in our bedroom, I would use my El Capitan greeting: "Can I help you?"
Pretty soon, I heard the yipping dog and knew the police now had a K-9 dog here so climbed outof bed, just in time to see 7 or 8 policemen walking down our driveway to one of the many police cars. Police knocked on our door a half hour later(we made sure it was police!) and told us they had tried to arrest someone and he took off (possibly from DUI checkpoint many blocks away) and he was hiding in our bushes (apparently on other side of our driveway). Neighbors across street said they heard ruccus in their backyard and opened patio door and police screamed "Close that door".
Then Tuesday, our wonderful neighbor, Bob, stopped by to see if I was improving and said that he and another neighbor had just picked up Evelyn from fall on driveway. He had no idea we knew Evelyn (from our church) and in fact, she is the one who knew we were house-hunting and called in 1975 for us to check out this house, for couple had left with two horse trailers going two different directions in middle of night.
So we and Bob went to Evelyn's house where they had sat her in chair and locked door so we talked her into being checked out and took the keys Bob had. Her doc said "Bring Her In" but she was determined to go to Urgent Care (we tried to urge Emergency) so Bob lifted her in our Prius. She is only 81 but very frail and legs were useless. Urgent care is not allowed to help bring anyone in, and we knew Harry could not lift her. (Bob and Harry had gotten wheelchair from our church). So we and helpful young woman watched people exiting until we saw a strong young man with his 6 year old son. He lifted her into wheelchair for us. Then after dr saw her and said maybe a pelvic fracture, it took another bigoung worker to lift her on x-ray table & she had a broken hip. She had been carried four times, ugh! Then ambulance came and took her to hospital. We were with her 9 hours and were able to find her kids phone numbers but because of their illness and distance, they couldn't come. Three days ago she was moved to rehab center and fortunately, another friend of hers and neighbor Bob are calling as often as us. Sunday her daughter stopped by to pick up the bills we had found that Evelyn wanted paid and today we finally found key for mailbox which was stuffed.
Meantime, I have been spending most of my time in our stand-up and sit recliner with heat and vibrator on for my back and hip pain (tests show it is probably half and half) and fighting a cold, but today I am determined to get better so climbed onto the recumbent bike and did short 5 minutes and will repeat as we so want to go to granddaughters' homecoming football game. Both girls are involved with it for Brooke is one of two freshman on student council responsible for "Spirit Week", etc. for their class and Brittany is one of the 6 girls in the homecoming court.
Backing up, in April H & I took Ken to Stanford Med Center for the first tests and interviews towards heart transplant. Then in May, Sara went with Ken and I for second tests, etc. while H chauffered Ryan and Landen to orthodontist and gymnastics.
(They wanted someone who could be caretaker after transplant and Kevin and Sara had thought they could maybe do it.) But two weeks later, Ken was in Fresno hospital in ICU. He surprised all of us by improving for awhile, but then started failing. He was surrounded by wonderful people who came from North Fork to see him as well as Harry and I and then Kevin came down too. Cardiologist contacted U of San Francisco Med Center who agreed to try a very difficult ablation (stopping the faulty electrical stimulants which were causing powerful fibrillations which his defibrillator could not always handle). Ambulance began transfer at 3 a.m. June 4th and we saw him off while Kevin went to meet him at the U. We then headed to Bkfd and on to Santa Barbara for Brooke's graduation where she delivered a great class speech, even though she had to be persuaded by classmates and teachers! A father delivered what I considered the best grad speech I have ever heard (he was technological savy and knew what dangers kids could get into and spoke their language). After the lunch honoring the grads we headed to San Francisco. Kevin met us in parking lot and we were up in waiting room about half an hour before Ken came out of surgery. Drs (3 cardiologists and a cardiology anesthesiast had done an 8 hr ablation) were hopeful they had gotten it all as they couldn't shock heart back into fibrilating, but next morn fib began again and with 3 docs explaining to Ken that they could do no more and with Kevin as the questioner, Ken agreed that he did not want anymore done since he would be on machines the rest of his life. It was really hard, but we were so fortunate to be have so many who tried so hard to save him and to have the 3 of us expressing how much he meant to us right up to the time he died on June 6th.
Ken's wonderful friend of 20 years, Lance, was a wonderful gift to all of us and was with us shortly. He worked out so many details for us, including planning a pot-luck to precede the memorial service and arranging details for us to use the North Fork Community Center. Our long-time friend (who is serving our former Fresno church) and who had many, many hospital visits with Ken led the service on June 25 and at our request,lance had arranged for two Native American Drummers to conclude the service followed by an Indian blessing sung by Lance's aunt.
Last Saturday, I was in bed asleep at 10 and Harry was taking a shower when he heard the helicopter buzzing our house so awakened me. So we peeked out the window and saw the helicopter spotlight bouncing off the wall where we were standing and our next door neighbor's house (she was gone). I climbed back in bed as helicopter stayed for close an hour. I knew there was possibility someone might break into our house, but I am virtually helpless for my last epidural and then hip shot reduced the pain but I move extremely slowly. Harry continued shower, and I decided if someone walked in our bedroom, I would use my El Capitan greeting: "Can I help you?"
Pretty soon, I heard the yipping dog and knew the police now had a K-9 dog here so climbed outof bed, just in time to see 7 or 8 policemen walking down our driveway to one of the many police cars. Police knocked on our door a half hour later(we made sure it was police!) and told us they had tried to arrest someone and he took off (possibly from DUI checkpoint many blocks away) and he was hiding in our bushes (apparently on other side of our driveway). Neighbors across street said they heard ruccus in their backyard and opened patio door and police screamed "Close that door".
Then Tuesday, our wonderful neighbor, Bob, stopped by to see if I was improving and said that he and another neighbor had just picked up Evelyn from fall on driveway. He had no idea we knew Evelyn (from our church) and in fact, she is the one who knew we were house-hunting and called in 1975 for us to check out this house, for couple had left with two horse trailers going two different directions in middle of night.
So we and Bob went to Evelyn's house where they had sat her in chair and locked door so we talked her into being checked out and took the keys Bob had. Her doc said "Bring Her In" but she was determined to go to Urgent Care (we tried to urge Emergency) so Bob lifted her in our Prius. She is only 81 but very frail and legs were useless. Urgent care is not allowed to help bring anyone in, and we knew Harry could not lift her. (Bob and Harry had gotten wheelchair from our church). So we and helpful young woman watched people exiting until we saw a strong young man with his 6 year old son. He lifted her into wheelchair for us. Then after dr saw her and said maybe a pelvic fracture, it took another bigoung worker to lift her on x-ray table & she had a broken hip. She had been carried four times, ugh! Then ambulance came and took her to hospital. We were with her 9 hours and were able to find her kids phone numbers but because of their illness and distance, they couldn't come. Three days ago she was moved to rehab center and fortunately, another friend of hers and neighbor Bob are calling as often as us. Sunday her daughter stopped by to pick up the bills we had found that Evelyn wanted paid and today we finally found key for mailbox which was stuffed.
Meantime, I have been spending most of my time in our stand-up and sit recliner with heat and vibrator on for my back and hip pain (tests show it is probably half and half) and fighting a cold, but today I am determined to get better so climbed onto the recumbent bike and did short 5 minutes and will repeat as we so want to go to granddaughters' homecoming football game. Both girls are involved with it for Brooke is one of two freshman on student council responsible for "Spirit Week", etc. for their class and Brittany is one of the 6 girls in the homecoming court.
Backing up, in April H & I took Ken to Stanford Med Center for the first tests and interviews towards heart transplant. Then in May, Sara went with Ken and I for second tests, etc. while H chauffered Ryan and Landen to orthodontist and gymnastics.
(They wanted someone who could be caretaker after transplant and Kevin and Sara had thought they could maybe do it.) But two weeks later, Ken was in Fresno hospital in ICU. He surprised all of us by improving for awhile, but then started failing. He was surrounded by wonderful people who came from North Fork to see him as well as Harry and I and then Kevin came down too. Cardiologist contacted U of San Francisco Med Center who agreed to try a very difficult ablation (stopping the faulty electrical stimulants which were causing powerful fibrillations which his defibrillator could not always handle). Ambulance began transfer at 3 a.m. June 4th and we saw him off while Kevin went to meet him at the U. We then headed to Bkfd and on to Santa Barbara for Brooke's graduation where she delivered a great class speech, even though she had to be persuaded by classmates and teachers! A father delivered what I considered the best grad speech I have ever heard (he was technological savy and knew what dangers kids could get into and spoke their language). After the lunch honoring the grads we headed to San Francisco. Kevin met us in parking lot and we were up in waiting room about half an hour before Ken came out of surgery. Drs (3 cardiologists and a cardiology anesthesiast had done an 8 hr ablation) were hopeful they had gotten it all as they couldn't shock heart back into fibrilating, but next morn fib began again and with 3 docs explaining to Ken that they could do no more and with Kevin as the questioner, Ken agreed that he did not want anymore done since he would be on machines the rest of his life. It was really hard, but we were so fortunate to be have so many who tried so hard to save him and to have the 3 of us expressing how much he meant to us right up to the time he died on June 6th.
Ken's wonderful friend of 20 years, Lance, was a wonderful gift to all of us and was with us shortly. He worked out so many details for us, including planning a pot-luck to precede the memorial service and arranging details for us to use the North Fork Community Center. Our long-time friend (who is serving our former Fresno church) and who had many, many hospital visits with Ken led the service on June 25 and at our request,lance had arranged for two Native American Drummers to conclude the service followed by an Indian blessing sung by Lance's aunt.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Our laugh of the day
An unusual day--hosts are now opening kiosk for Monday,Tues, Weds, and Thurs. We are going down around 7 to print out four different types of info on incoming campers. We then are (1)recording on each sheet in blue those who are coming in for the first time today,(2) putting site number in front of each one on continued stay and(3) circling in red--those who early outed (and will get money back from reservation company for unused days). This morn I waited til 7:45 to go down just to help them if they still had problems or questions.I was home by 9:25 and other host ran kiosk til 10 when paid aide came in and we could relax.
But as Harry said a few minutes ago, today we had 2 unusual requests--it is the first time anyone has come at night to ask where to go to get beer, and this afternoon Harry came home just in time for me to tell him that I had only found one clothespin for the man at the door who had requested them because his zipper was broken on the tent so "H, don't we have the diaper pins still?" H came and found them and the man was amazed because his daughter had just gotten married last week and they had even gone to "Babies R Us" looking and they didn't have any diaper pins. I told him these were at least 40 years old and maybe 48--gee does that make them a valuable antique? He thanked us and promised to return them when he left and Harry said "if you don't need them anymore".
Well, anyway Harry just told me he thought I had really treated this very calmly and cooly--it turns out Harry missed the words "for his tent" and thought the guy was asking for his own pants!
A busy day for Harry--he has built a wooden trough big enough to hold our day/nite shades, lined it with plastic and with water and spray and wash he got our 3rd shade clean--and people thought you couldn't put water on them. Another host came and got Harry to go help paralyzed man who came with scooter on wheels. He wanted H to set up his new satelite system so he could watch professional football game but in two tries of over an hour each, it could not bring in signal.The guy rode his scooter down to 3rd host who lives in small trailer and could open bedroom door so man could be on their driveway and watch the game thru their door. Not quite a typical day for us hosts!
But as Harry said a few minutes ago, today we had 2 unusual requests--it is the first time anyone has come at night to ask where to go to get beer, and this afternoon Harry came home just in time for me to tell him that I had only found one clothespin for the man at the door who had requested them because his zipper was broken on the tent so "H, don't we have the diaper pins still?" H came and found them and the man was amazed because his daughter had just gotten married last week and they had even gone to "Babies R Us" looking and they didn't have any diaper pins. I told him these were at least 40 years old and maybe 48--gee does that make them a valuable antique? He thanked us and promised to return them when he left and Harry said "if you don't need them anymore".
Well, anyway Harry just told me he thought I had really treated this very calmly and cooly--it turns out Harry missed the words "for his tent" and thought the guy was asking for his own pants!
A busy day for Harry--he has built a wooden trough big enough to hold our day/nite shades, lined it with plastic and with water and spray and wash he got our 3rd shade clean--and people thought you couldn't put water on them. Another host came and got Harry to go help paralyzed man who came with scooter on wheels. He wanted H to set up his new satelite system so he could watch professional football game but in two tries of over an hour each, it could not bring in signal.The guy rode his scooter down to 3rd host who lives in small trailer and could open bedroom door so man could be on their driveway and watch the game thru their door. Not quite a typical day for us hosts!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Vacation and now camphosting
We had a wonderful time--the larger Dutt cousin reunion had a program that went well with about 45 in attendance and the immediate family enjoyed their extra 3 days together even meeting 7 day old Rosina who came from Yankton with her mom, Natasha and brother, Owen. It was absolutely wonderful to have the Radabaugh cousins come together for a day at the farm. 21 of the attendees were Arlene and Deans offspring and their families who had also come for their aunt's 50th wedding anniversary that evening. It was a real treat to see the cousins who had not seen each other for 8 years and to have them meet my sis's children and Dean's family.
Then while we were in rain at Forest City IA awaiting our next day app't for repairs at Winnebago factory, Harry invited all our fellow a-waiters for ice cream and 15 people sat down in our RV and shared their RV beginnings and ice cream--a fun event.
At Fargo, we were shown around by our hostess, Ruth Hill, to a quite different town then we left in 74. It was great being with her and also attending the Dakotas United Methodist Annual conference where we saw many old friends.
We made a quick trip back home to Bkfd and had 7 days to get ready to head to camp.
We began by working 5 out of the first 6 days at El Cap, including over July 4th so were really busy but then other hosts could help after that so we alternated working and going to Renee's to relax and feed their bunnies and for one week, the neighbor children's bunnies.
This week, we are seeing something new--empty campsites. They have obviously all been reserved but when they don't arive,they get credit back on their cards for the 2nd and following nights and we resell their spots. Trying to figure it out, most people think the gas prices have canceled people's long-planned vacations rather than them thinking erroneously that the big Goleta fire still affects this area. It certainly is a surprise for people to drive in at 2 (the hr that cancellations are recorded if not showing the previous night) and get a campsite. Since a campspot rents for $25 a night and is the cheapest away from home vacation, it certainly shows that the economy is hitting people.
Then while we were in rain at Forest City IA awaiting our next day app't for repairs at Winnebago factory, Harry invited all our fellow a-waiters for ice cream and 15 people sat down in our RV and shared their RV beginnings and ice cream--a fun event.
At Fargo, we were shown around by our hostess, Ruth Hill, to a quite different town then we left in 74. It was great being with her and also attending the Dakotas United Methodist Annual conference where we saw many old friends.
We made a quick trip back home to Bkfd and had 7 days to get ready to head to camp.
We began by working 5 out of the first 6 days at El Cap, including over July 4th so were really busy but then other hosts could help after that so we alternated working and going to Renee's to relax and feed their bunnies and for one week, the neighbor children's bunnies.
This week, we are seeing something new--empty campsites. They have obviously all been reserved but when they don't arive,they get credit back on their cards for the 2nd and following nights and we resell their spots. Trying to figure it out, most people think the gas prices have canceled people's long-planned vacations rather than them thinking erroneously that the big Goleta fire still affects this area. It certainly is a surprise for people to drive in at 2 (the hr that cancellations are recorded if not showing the previous night) and get a campsite. Since a campspot rents for $25 a night and is the cheapest away from home vacation, it certainly shows that the economy is hitting people.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
In the state that will decide the Obama-Clinton race?!?
The barbershop concert was good and the visiting quartet from Minnesota and Nebraska was wonderful and the best humorists we have ever heard. The cell phone rang just before the concert and it was the minister from Fairmount,ND saying "Yes, we'll be glad to let people know and even serve coffee on June 8 from 2-4 so you can see folks you haven't seen for 36 years, but we are sorry you can't come for Bethany's 100th anniversary on June 22." Then during the concert, I felt the phone vibrating and so right after the concert, checked our messages. It was Hans Freuden telling us we had missed his parents by 2 days but that his brother Carl also lived in Farmington. We called Carl and he urged us to come right over so at 9:30 pm, we met this gracious archaeologist who we had babysat at age 2 and his anthropoligist wife. His parents who had been good friends since they served Onida Presbyterian church while we were at the Methodist church there had just arrived in Rome on a cruise, but we had a wonderful visit with Carl and Kathy.
Next morn at church, we met the widow of the doctor who cared for the children who had been at the Farmington Methodist Mission School who also introduced us to woman minister who with her husband had worked at the mission. We learned that our general church had cut funding some years ago but that tribe had continued excellent school now known as Navajo Academy which is really a prep school and that the Women's Division of United Methodist Church had kept one dorm which it used as a center and residence for abused women and children. We drove by the buildings and saw what a large campus it was. Now I know that there was both a Farmington Methodist Mission and a McCurdy School at Espanola so I think I now understand my memory.
We had a beautiful drive going east through northern New Mexico with lots of beautiful outcroppings of rock as we climbed to 10,000 feet going thru Cumbre Pass (and the RV did great). We drove to Colorado Springs to Passport America campground and parked in such a tight pullthrough (H said we had 1 inch between us and other vehicle to maintain as we pulled in) that we got applause for our parking job. Fortunately, Joan Backus Thaxton called just as I was looking for her number. She was amazed that we were in Colorado. We stopped next morn to leave RV in warehouse lot by I25 and drove car over to see Joan and John. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. They are each such fascinating persons and as a couple, they become even more
amazing as they make sure each other are included in all conversation. Their new apartment looks out at the mountain and is a good fit for them though it is quite an adjustment after 4 bedroom house. Joan would never have let it be known, but John told us that she was offered a Fulbright Scholarship which she did not use (Doug and she were married at age 21 as he was about to be shipped out to war.) Likewise, John graduated from Berkely and worked in forestry first mapping areas where he never saw people for weeks and just left word for packers where to leave supplies for him. Once they missed him and he had to kill a deer to have food. We felt very fortunate to have been able to visit with them again.
After hooking up to RV again, we drove through Wyoming and arrived at Hart Ranch at Rapid City grateful to be able to spend 3 nights here. It was good to sleep in this morn, enjoy their breakfast at cafe and spend day relaxing, puttering around RV, and even making a lemon pie.
Next morn at church, we met the widow of the doctor who cared for the children who had been at the Farmington Methodist Mission School who also introduced us to woman minister who with her husband had worked at the mission. We learned that our general church had cut funding some years ago but that tribe had continued excellent school now known as Navajo Academy which is really a prep school and that the Women's Division of United Methodist Church had kept one dorm which it used as a center and residence for abused women and children. We drove by the buildings and saw what a large campus it was. Now I know that there was both a Farmington Methodist Mission and a McCurdy School at Espanola so I think I now understand my memory.
We had a beautiful drive going east through northern New Mexico with lots of beautiful outcroppings of rock as we climbed to 10,000 feet going thru Cumbre Pass (and the RV did great). We drove to Colorado Springs to Passport America campground and parked in such a tight pullthrough (H said we had 1 inch between us and other vehicle to maintain as we pulled in) that we got applause for our parking job. Fortunately, Joan Backus Thaxton called just as I was looking for her number. She was amazed that we were in Colorado. We stopped next morn to leave RV in warehouse lot by I25 and drove car over to see Joan and John. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. They are each such fascinating persons and as a couple, they become even more
amazing as they make sure each other are included in all conversation. Their new apartment looks out at the mountain and is a good fit for them though it is quite an adjustment after 4 bedroom house. Joan would never have let it be known, but John told us that she was offered a Fulbright Scholarship which she did not use (Doug and she were married at age 21 as he was about to be shipped out to war.) Likewise, John graduated from Berkely and worked in forestry first mapping areas where he never saw people for weeks and just left word for packers where to leave supplies for him. Once they missed him and he had to kill a deer to have food. We felt very fortunate to have been able to visit with them again.
After hooking up to RV again, we drove through Wyoming and arrived at Hart Ranch at Rapid City grateful to be able to spend 3 nights here. It was good to sleep in this morn, enjoy their breakfast at cafe and spend day relaxing, puttering around RV, and even making a lemon pie.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
On the road again
We reluctantly left our home and Prius behind on Thursday at 1:30 pm for another great adventure. While the temp in Bakersfield was climbing to 104, the RV air and motor kept working to keep us comfortable till we got to Northshore Campground in Needles where they allowed us to park sidewise in upper terrace so we didn't have to unhook car. A good night's sleep was welcomed.
Then I awoke at 5:30 am and proceeded to ready the coach to move, including the first time I had unhooked and put away the electric cord (which is all we plugged in). By 6 am we were moving and Harry couldn't resist the beautiful morning to join me in front. We kept alternating drivers as we each got tired and even stopped for a half hour nap in rest area as we moved through AZ and into New Mexico. We wound up being able to do 500 miles and were at camp in Farmington,NM by 6:30 PM.
Today, we visited the Tom Bolack game reserve and took a tour of his 3 buildings of electrical and transportation collections--everything from train to plane to a quonset wall of circuit boards, and generators that weigh 96 tons. We then drove and saw the Aztec Ruins National Monument, a fascinating 400 room pueblo built about 1100 and deserted about two hundred years later. The workmanship is amazing and a good film gave some archaeologists view of what it might have been like to live then. We also walked the Farmington River Walk which is excellent until we saw a festival which turned out to be Rotary sponsored as a family event with the theme "Meth--do not do even once"--very good young speakers and prizes of frisbees, etc. given away (and we enjoyed their hot dogs). Now we are heading out to a barbershop area performance at the college and will head on to Colorado tomorrow.
The irony is that I chose Farmington because I had heard about the Methodist McCurdy School way back in high school. No one seemed to know about it so I called Dakota friends that had volunteered there and it turned out they moved about 150 miles away, possibly when the EUB and Methodists united in 1968. Have you ever known something and been wrong for 40 years??? Well, we'll try for Espanola NM next time!
Then I awoke at 5:30 am and proceeded to ready the coach to move, including the first time I had unhooked and put away the electric cord (which is all we plugged in). By 6 am we were moving and Harry couldn't resist the beautiful morning to join me in front. We kept alternating drivers as we each got tired and even stopped for a half hour nap in rest area as we moved through AZ and into New Mexico. We wound up being able to do 500 miles and were at camp in Farmington,NM by 6:30 PM.
Today, we visited the Tom Bolack game reserve and took a tour of his 3 buildings of electrical and transportation collections--everything from train to plane to a quonset wall of circuit boards, and generators that weigh 96 tons. We then drove and saw the Aztec Ruins National Monument, a fascinating 400 room pueblo built about 1100 and deserted about two hundred years later. The workmanship is amazing and a good film gave some archaeologists view of what it might have been like to live then. We also walked the Farmington River Walk which is excellent until we saw a festival which turned out to be Rotary sponsored as a family event with the theme "Meth--do not do even once"--very good young speakers and prizes of frisbees, etc. given away (and we enjoyed their hot dogs). Now we are heading out to a barbershop area performance at the college and will head on to Colorado tomorrow.
The irony is that I chose Farmington because I had heard about the Methodist McCurdy School way back in high school. No one seemed to know about it so I called Dakota friends that had volunteered there and it turned out they moved about 150 miles away, possibly when the EUB and Methodists united in 1968. Have you ever known something and been wrong for 40 years??? Well, we'll try for Espanola NM next time!
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