SharivilleLife stories from Shari

This blog is esp for Angie, who has requested a blow by blow, little play on words there, of my journey with my 6th knee surgery.  Took me until now to take this big step.  I will likely reread it too just to remind myself that I can’t possibly have another knee surgery, unless I grow another leg.

I think anytime you have an impending major surgery there are lots of fears and often brings your attention to the really important things going on in your life.  I always find that to be so.  Suddnely family becomes important and the small things do also.  Jerry and I spend a lot of time taking care of each other, and we are not about to stop now.  It’s difficult to think of one without the other.

It was a really lovely drive from Chico to Sacramento this afternoon.  The rice fields are in flux.  Three different stages of growth.  The completely flooded fields, the fields with some partial rice starting to poke their little green blades out of the water an the most beautiful, the fuffly developed rice.  it has the look of green velvet, very soft and comforting. The white Egrets atand out as they gather their water bugs and crowdads and frogs.  Rarely these days do we see a Great Blue Heron now.  They are very rare.  There’s occasional Mallard duck pairs,  they are so very pretty , esp the males. They seem like such lovcing little couples.  The canals are all full and running  clear blue water to keep the rice covered.  The signs along the read read, ” Food Grows Where Water Flows.” Ive always felt so fortunate to live in an area that grows so much fruit and produce.  Jerry and I have traveled all over and we are always glad to return to Calif. The land of no accent and humidity, except in the rice fields.

We arrived at Sutter Memorial around 2 PM.  Jerry set up the trailer, we have a decent spot, with electricity and water, so he and Teddy  will be quite comfortable during their stay here.  There’s a nice green grassy area behind the trailer to make Teddy happy.  Teddy loves to ride in the truck and is really happy to be in the trailer.  All we have to do is say, “Load up,” and he’s good to go. Of course Jerry is quite at ease pulling this sled thru the Sacramento traffic.  He never gets rattled   even during the rush hour.  He’s the best driver and I always feel safe with him driving.  Tommy is another one I feel that way about because of his Nascar driving experience. We are both lucky gals Angie.

Spent the rest of the day relaxing in the trailer, we have a great air conditioner, because all of a sudden we have summer.  Can’t remember Spring.  Had chicken soup , a banana and milk for dinner,  I just dont seem to have much of an appetite lately, must be nerves..Talked to the anesthesielogist this evening.  We are going with a spinal and propothol and a femeral nerve block for the surgery. That way I wont feel the pain when the Doc starts sawing and grinding while they dessemble my knee joint and glue in a new one. I will sleep thur it all.

Angie and Felecia called to give me a boost and good wishes. .    I think Im finally resigned  and ready to go.  Tomorrow is the big day and I want to blog as much as possible about the experience . Tomorrow is another day, wish me well………….Hugs to all         Shari

Jerry and I are looking forward to tomorrow, Monday, so we can rest up.  We had a rip snortin weekend, non stop.  Usually April and May in our area is very busy with Festivals and parades and esp get togethers as the weather is so wonderful.

We started Sat morning having breakfast with George Augustine at Home Town Buffet, went from there to Hodges Nursery just down the Midway toward Durham, about a mile from our house.  Hodges has an Heirloom Tomato specialist come in every spring and give a seminar on those wonderful tomatoes,  the only kind I ever plant anymore.  He spoke for a couple of hours and was very informative and handed out lots of material for reference.  Then for goodness sake, they served lunch.  We did not expect lunch.  They had a hot dog grill, which even if Jerry was stuffed like a tick he would still eat, and did.  They had beans, potato salad, vegies with dip, fruit and cookies and cake, coffee and juice, just for showing up.  That was a really nice surprise.  It’s also a great place to buy garden stuff.  In fact we bought 12 Heirloom tomato plants.  I have to have fresh home grown tomatoes for Angie.  She loves them and will be here in July for her class reunion. We all esp. love the Heirlooms.  They just have so much flavor.  So we will have red, pink, green, orange , yellow and black tomatoes to serve when she and Tommy are here.  She’s already happy.

From there we headed for the Patrick Ranch, also on the midway even closer to our place, for the Nut Festival.  I was ready to write out a check for 50$ for the tickets, as we wanted to support the first Nut Festival ever, when a group of people walked up and gave us two tickets they had left over.  What a deal.  Personally I think fifty bucks is to much to pay to get in, esp. since most are free; and it was just an OK festival.  On admission you got a wine glass and red and yellow tickets to use to food and drink taste.  Like we were going to eat again, not really.  We ended up using the drink tickets and giving most of the food tickets away.  It was all local restaurants and vendors for taste samples.  We tried the wine, for one ticket each we could taste 5 different wines from each winery.   I could never get past the 3nd sample, which amounted to about one swallow.  I think they were afraid to give out a real sample.  Point being the wine was so dry it would suck up a mud puddle. We both enjoy wine, but a Riesling, more fruity wine.  All they were serving was the pucker up kind.  They were so proud of their , like Chardonnay, type wine, I already cant stand Chardonnay.  So that was a loss, but the Sierra Nevada booth was wonderful, Jerry loves the Summer fest and I love the pale ale.  So out tickets went there. They were also more generous, you got a glass ful.  There were also lots of samples and freebies from the local fruit and nut people.  We got to taste pomegranate syrup and sauces.  They have 20 acres of pomegranates located just behind our property, and I can tell you if we were younger we would plant pomegranates on this property. They are fab and soooo good for you.  Maybe someday Angie will plant them here, I’ll leave that up to her when the time comes.  We visited with my friend and house sitter Liz, she was manning the cancer booth for Enloe Hospital.  bought some raffle tickets for a cat quilt that took my eye.  If I win the quilt goes to Liz anyway.  She has a thing for beautiful quilts.

Sunday took us out to George’s for a nice lunch and tour of his totally awsome garden.  It just gets better and more lovely.  His garden was in the garden show a couple yrs. ago and now it’s even better.  He invited a couple gals he used to work with who have wanted to see his yard.  George fixed a Chile Relano casserole, mexican corn bread, we brought a salad, called overnight salad,and one of the gals made, for scratch, brownies, who even does that anymore.  We ate outside in the pavillion and it was beautiful, dining alfresco.  George has become quite the cook after Kathy got sick.  He keeps the yard beautiful and the house looking fine.

From there it was home to grab Teddy and take him to the Dog Park.  He had the time of his life out there. There were lots of dogs to play with, once the butt sniffing and checking of the credentials was finished.  With each new arrival the process was repeated.  After everyone was content there was ball playing and wrestling.  Teddy is one tired dog tonight, so he will join the two of us who are also tired in bed tonight, yes, he does sleep with us and we love it.  Got to go, The Country Music Awards show just started……Hugs,   Shari and Jerry.

Today after a great breakfast buffet, oh, did I say go easy on the buffet’s, well really a breakfast buffet shouldn’t count.  Jerry’s favorite meal is breakfast, mine dinner.  His kind of food,  simple straight forward, mine gourmet.  That’s the only way we differ.  But he indulges me most of the time, but occas. I have to capitulate and eat a breakfast buffet.  This I can do.  At least I don’t overdue.

After breakfast, we drove out to Red Rock Canyon.  Four yrs. ago we buried Domino, my precious cat, out there.  He died the day after Angie’s wedding.  Jerry woke me up that morning, grabbing my foot and saying, “wake up, Dommie is dead.”  It seems like yesterday. Dommie was ours since we picked him up, homeless in Ore. about 1992.  He chose us by wading across a stream to beg us to take him.  We were picking blackberries at the time.  He traveled many many miles with us as far back as Memphis Tenn. and all the states in between.  He was inseparable from me.  He had been suffering from intestinal problems, which I think was a blockage, and his little heart just could not go on.   We drove up to Red Rock Canyon and buried him.  He is buried in a beautiful place.  Red Rock is a horse and burro sanctuary.  He hated the cold, it was approp. to bury him in the warm desert.  Domino was about 14 yrs  old and did have the most fab life with Jerry and I who loved him with all our hearts.  Even after 4 yrs. I still cry for him. We usually visit him whenever we are here in Las Vegas.The only sad part is that we couldn’t  bury him on our property where all our babies have been buried.  It would have been more comforting to me.

We visited the visitor center and gift shop.  I love the visitor centers for these attractions.  There is so much educational info available.  There is info about all the flora and fauna and pictures and usually a movie about the area.   We took the 14 mile loop drive. It is a gorgeous drive.  Seems this was a terrific cold winter, lots of cactus and yucca plants bit the dust.  Altho they say don’t count them out, they may still come back.    The mt. in the background of the canyon still have a sprinkle of snow.  It looks like someone sprinkled powdered sugar over them…….we have done this drive several times before, but never get tired of it, we will do it again I am sure.  Like I said before Las Vegas is a special place to us………….more later from fab Vegas.   Hugs,   S and J

Today was a more laid back day for us.   Tomorrow  we head out for further west.  We plan to drive to at least  Quartsite.  The next day we pull into Emerald Cove on the Colorado River for 4 days.  We were there last year only in April.  That’s one of our fav places.  I love to see that gorgeous blue river running thru the desert.

Today we visited the Mission San Xavier Del Bac.  It sits outside the city of Tucson, in the flat desert and can be seen for miles around.  It’s called “The White Dove,” of the desert.  I have to say, It is much prettier than our missions in Calif.  Its very ornate inside, very beautiful.  I just sat on one of the benches inside and felt consumed with peace.  Then a bus load of people arrived and that feeling quickly disappeared.    This mission was founded in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino. The foundation was laid in 1700.  Lots of stuff around here bears the Kino name.  This church took 14 yrs to build between 1783 to 1797.  Boy that seems like a long time ago.  I think they have come a long way around here since then. It sits in the middle of an American Indian reservation.   The floor plan resembles a Latin  Cross.  It has chapels at each end.  The dome is so beautiful looking up from the inside and also from the outside.  It’s 52 ft. high, looks higher to me.  The dome is supported by arches and squinches.  While we were there there was a woman on a rising type ladder doing some restoration work on one of the inside walls.  Most of the paintings are original, altho some what faded.   This church is the oldest Catholic church in America still serving parishioners to which it was founded.  I got some really nice picts.  The lions on either side of the communion rail  represent the ” Lions of Castile,” a tribute to the  reigning family in ‘Spain  during the time the church was being built. They have been redone and re-carved in wood to look like the original. 

The gardens around the Mission are of course cacti.  It is so very lovely and peaceful.   There is every kind of cactus I have ever seen represented in the gardens.  The entire Mission is cared for with the upmost respect.  It was such a pleasure to visit here. We came back to the rig and had pears, apples with crackers and cheese and wine. A very relaxing day.  Have to get prepared for tomorrow.  It should be a pretty drive, the cactus are beginning to bloom…………..Hugs,           S  and J.

March 14, 2010  Sunday

Today we had a really fun and educational day.  We went to the Pima Air and Space Museum.  We had a guided tour to begin  with for the first hour and then we took an hour long tram ride out into the field to get the skinny on all the air craft outside of the buildings.   There were planes from all era’s from WW11 on to the present.  We got the lowdown on all the particulars.  There are some fab air craft at this museum…..There were a couple retired Air Force One’s.  One in particular was the plane that transported the Iranian prisoners home to the USA after 444 days in captivity. They were members of the American embassy, all 53 of them.   That started on Nov 4, 1979 until Jan 20, 1981. They were released from Iran just minutes before President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office.  Tell you anything? The flight home was designated as The Flight to Freedom.  It gave me goose bumps to hear that story told again, and to see the actual air craft that flew them home to freedom.  As an American I can remember how devastated I was to think that Iran had done this to Americans.

The plane that flew down to the antarctic and picked up the female scientist , who discovered she had cancer,  was on display.  It even had the ski’s under the plane, they flew in under extreme circumstances, weather wise  and flew out within minutes.

We also saw one of the planes that participated in the “ Berlin Air Lift,” that was another heart wrencher for me.  Seems like I have always been politically involved, with a true American heart.  America is everything to me, always has been.  I guess it reflects coming form a military family.  This museum made me so proud to be an American and to see the kind of power we have and the caliber of men and women who work with all their hearts  to keep us safe.  Stalin began the blockade in June of 1948 and lasted until Sept 1949.  It was the first confrontation of the “Cold War.”  It became a symbol against Communism.  It  was Russia’s attempt  to dominate the entire area.  It was a massive effort to supply 2 million people with food and fuel by the heroic efforts by the Americans and British.  277,000 flights were made, many at 3 min intervals.  By spring of 1949 an average of 8000 tons of food and fuel were being flown in daily. Then in 1987, there came the very famous speech by, once again,  President Ronald Reagan.  Mr Gorbachev, ” Tear Down This Wall.” Reuniting East and West Berlin.

We saw and heard about aircraft for Korea and Vietnam and the gulf wars and some planes currently being used.  Of course one of my favorite to see was the SR 71,” Blackbird.” The fastest plane ever used, that we know of.  Could fly across the USA in 63 minutes. Well hows that for a history lesson.  Hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did enjoy going to the museum and writing about it on my blog. 

When we left we went to a great Mexican restaurant for a combo plate and a dos XX  beer. Completing a really great day.

Hugs…….Shari and Jerry

What is it for me about the” Desert  Southwest?” I have asked myself  often before, because it keeps drawing me back. I don’t believe I would want to live here full time, but time here is wonderful.  I have a real fondness for Death Valley, its serene, peaceful and spiritual, and it’s on the way from California to the Great Desert Southwest.  Here I get a feeling I cannot explain.

We spent time today in two of the five Mt ranges that surround Tucson.  First we drove over to the Rincon Mts. and then turned around and drove to the Tucson Mts. both ranges are part of the Saguaro Natl. Park.  Everyone knows my fondness for Natl Parks. I now have another one chalked up. Can you say ” sah….WAH….row?  That’s how the ranger told me this park is  pronounced.  Of course it’s all about the Saguaro Cactus and they are something to behold.  They only grow here and nowhere else in the world.  Here in the Sonoran Desert. They are a treasure. They are spellbindingly glorious.  I have seen these cactus’ before but never a forest of them.  Saguaro Natl Park is definitely one of “My America’s” precious sights to see.  This park was created in 1933, that was a good yr.  In 1976 Congress designated over 70 %  of the park as wilderness area, thus providing this area solitude and a place to renew your spirit.  I think that’s just what the desert does for me, it renews my spirit.  The park in the Tucson Mts. varies in elevation and those tall giants can be seen at all levels.  They say the Saguaro cactus can live, if it gets a good start, which is difficult, 175 to 200 yrs.  Can you imagine what these cactus could tell us esp about this area.  From the Apache Indians, the outlaws like Billy the Kid, the Earp brothers and the Clantons, they had to be all over this area. They really did witness the “Wild West ” at it’s glory.  Yet they stand quietly in their place, some with out stretched arms and are ever so silent.  If they could only talk.  but then that would take the mystery away, wouldn’t it?

These marvelous green giants grow ever so slowly.  In a yr a seedling may grow a quarter of an inch.  In 15 yrs it may reach 12 inches. At about 30 yrs it may flower and by 50 yrs it can reach 7 ft. tall.  The Saguaro’ that live to 150 yrs. can reach 50 ft.  After about 75 yrs into this they may sprout arms from small prickly nubs that will grow out and up.  There’s a rather big poaching problem with these guys.  People steal them for landscaping and that’s a definite No No!!!  These are the largest cacti in the U.S.

While I was tromping around in the desert, very carefully, to take pictures I kept an eye out for the various creatures the rangers advised about.  I was so fortunate not to see a Diamond Back Rattler, a Scorpion, or a Tarantula.  But I was looking.  We saw Quail and Roadrunners, cute little guys. But this park is not just about the fantastic green giants, this is the Sonoran Desert, and it supports untold mammals and reptiles and birds of several kinds.  I would love to have seen an Elf Owl.  They nest in the Saguaro’, or a Desert Tortoise. That would have been the icing on the cake.  Imagine this environment with about 12 inches of rain per yr?  And yet it’s a wonderful place to come to to renew your spirit.

The cactus’ are not in bloom yet, but there are so many different kinds of them.  They are all special in their own way.   I love the Ocotillo’. I have seen them in bloom and the flower is orange.  There is lots of Creosote Bush and Barrel Cactus.  We caught the movie at the visitors center and it just explained so much.  I have longed to visit Tucson for as long as I have been traveling and finally we are here.  Tomorrow will bring another wonderful day of adventures, so tune in again, it will be interesting, esp for those who have caught the travel bug.

I was lucky enough to be here in the Metroplex for this momentous snow storm. It has not snowed like this in over 50 yrs.  Here at Angie’s house we got a foot of snow.  I was out side last night at midnight taking pictures, it was so bright out side, Angie said the moon was out but it was still snowing. It looked like a Christmas card picture .  Across the street and down the block they have the most creative snowmen. I am putting a picture in here to show off their masterpieces.  The dogs are having a great time playing in the snow.  Teddy sticks his nose into the snow and pushes it like a plow.  Then he climbs onto the lounge chair by the pool and wallows in the snow there.  Casey runs rings around the pool with teddy close behind.  They are hilarious. Casey has such long legs and Teddy just trudges along on his little short legs.  We thought a Red Heeler was not a water dog, but oh contrare, he seems to love water.  So far he has not seen fit to jump into the pool yet.  He does recognize icy water.  Lucky, the cat, has not requested his usual outside stroll since all this started.

The news reported 22 accidents in Dallas last night alone.  We can watch out the window and see the cars slippingaround on the street outside. Jerry trudged out into the snow in the back yard yesterday to fill the bird feeder for the beautiful red cardinal pair who depends on us. There’s not a lot of food out there right now. Half the flights out of DFW are canceled, 180,000 folks are without power, not us, thank goodness.  They have brought in 2500 repair crews from other states to help out.  The kids are enjoying snow days off from school and using everything they can find to help slide in the snow. They are using laundry baskets , garbage can lids and old election posters. The whole south is getting hit including Fla.  The snow storm of yesterday has now moved on into the Atlanta Georgia area.  It’s been a fun run here and we are so glad to get to be here and see it all. It may never happen for another 50 yrs.

The kids are stranded in Dallas and will end up spending two nights at a hotel.  Tommy shop is in Dallas and this isthe big All Star Week in Dallas and lots of Tommy’s business is tied into all the festivities  there in Dallas.  The roads were to frozen to come home last night so they are doing the hotel route for 2 nights. Its warming up now and the snow is falling off the trees.  That was one of the most beautiful parts of the snowfall.  The snow just glistened on the trees esp last night at midnight. It was truly a winter wonderland that I got to see in person.  Remember I’m a California girl not used to such glorious sights. I will enjoy all this beauty while it lasts, but like most beautiful things , their time in the sun, little pun there, are fleeting and will soon be lost to only memories, blogs and pictures.  Those will last for a long long time.

I was going to write this yesterday, but got sidetracked with the beautiful snow fall we were having, it started right after noon.  Falling in huge soft fluffy flakes that just kept me mezzmorized.  It is something I rarely get to see.  later in the afternoon Jerry actually braved the snow and we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Rose’s Cafe and Tortilla Factory.  They have the best taco plates with off course rice and beans and a great complimentary condiment bar.  There’s two kinds of taco sauce, red and green, I can’t make up my mind which I like best.  there’s jalapeno peppers, chopped salsa, cilantro leaves, chopped onions, am I making you hungry yet? Add these to the already wonderfully spiced beef or chicken taco’s and you really have something delicious.  We get nachos and cheese dip for an added touch.  They also give us 4 homemade tortilla’s which are wonderful with honey dripped on for dessert.  I always get sweet ice tea, which here in Texas out sells regular ice tea. It’s a southern thing. Tommy and Angie usually get margarita’s.  Yesterday the other two generations were hard at work at the shop and couldn’t join us.  They had to come home and eat chicken rice soup that I had whipped up with leftovers from Christmas.  I have really enjoyed cooking for the whole bunch.  Most of them enjoy down home cooking the old fashioned way , and that’s how I cook.  I cook comfort food. There’s lots of restaurants around when anyone feels like fancy food. We drove back home to Angie’s through the falling snow and just enjoyed the whole scene.  Everything was covered in white, with soft flakes still falling.  It was a beautiful winter wonderland. I was hoping for more, but alas it changed to rain and soon washed it all away.  It was lovely while it lasted.  Tonight  Tommy is taking all 4 of us to see the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations in Arlington area before they take them down.  I will report on those in another blog.

Well we started out with good intentions, went to Garden Ridge, in search of the perfect Christmas tree, soon got side tracked because Garden Ridge is as large as a big Costco, and stuffed to the gunnel’s with Christmas stuff, and everything else you can think of for Christmas.  Never did find the perfect tree.  We ended up at RJ Gators for fried pickles and margarita’s. YUM!! Fried pickles are a southern treat, as I’ve not found them anywhere else. If you get a chance try some.  Hooter’s make the best one’s around here.  From fried pickles we went to flavored popcorn at the theater.  Caught a great action movie, ” Law Bidding Citizen.”  Here the theaters are so large we took 2 escalators to get to the area of the movie.  Around here going out is an expedition, you never know where you are going to end up and what most interesting things you may encounter en route.  One thing about our safari’s they are always great fun to participate in. The evening ended with a late night snack, I say snack, because after fried pickles and popcorn, I was anything but hungry. We had snacks at Applebee’s, some really delicious French onion soup.for Angie and I,  Cesar salad for Felecia and nachos for Tyler and Tommy’s stand by Chicken , some type , sandwich.  Jerry is still on the mend, so decided to spend a quiet evening here at the house.  He is getting better by the hour.