SharivilleLife stories from 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.

I’m excited,  have you ever been invited to participate in an event, not knowing most of the people there.  This happened to us this past weekend at the Durham  Good Sam Club outing.  And have you ever had the almost instant feeling that its a fit, personalities just seem to mesh, this is the feeling we got.  We were fortunate enough to have been invited by Chuck and Judy Birtcil to come to an outing as their guest and we took them up on it, much to our delight.  Chuck is a ” Class of 60,” classmate of mine, that’s the connection.

This turned out to be a delightful camp out.  There were 14 rigs in our caravan, with Orland as our destination.  We started out with breakfast for the whole bunch at The Waffle House  in south Chico.  We immediately knew this would be a fun weekend.  Most all of these folks are retired, but definitely not tired.  They were a fun bunch to begin with. This club is a close group of individuals who seem to have a high regard for each other and absolutely out to have a good time.  The food and service was very good considering the large group that showed up.  They made a good choice to start the week end off.

From there we caravaned over to an RV Park in Orland.  The club usually schedules events close enough  to make it convenient for everyone.  No really long distance driving.  The coming itinerary for the rest of the year really looks like fun get togethers in very interesting  places.  I know we are looking forward in participating in the outings and hopefully be accepted by the Club as new members.

Friday afternoon the group met at the clubhouse for crafts and card games.  Cathy our host for this outing had planned to teach us how to make earrings, and had all the beads and tools.  It was funny trying to get about 12 ladies to figure that one out.  More beads were spilled than used I think, but turned out several nice pairs of earrings.   ”Happy Hour”, followed by heading out to the Berry Patch for dinner.  Jerry  had his usual hamburger steak with all the trimmings and I had the most wonderful barbecued ribs. We had dinner with Sandy and Ruth and Win and her husband, John De Kleine, who is also the president of the group.  There was another couple there as guests also, Jackie and Mel, they have been married since 1945, figure that one out, congradulations.     Everyone seemed to enjoy their dinner.  Back to the club house for a really fun dice game called, Left, Right, Center.  We played for nickles and it was hilarious.  Back to our homes on wheels for a restful night.  Sat. some of the ladies from the group went antiquing, a few couples headed for Woodson Bridge to check  out antique trailers on display.  Jerry and I stayed behind and watched the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.   Back for ” Happy Hour,” and a truly delicious potluck. The surprise for me was that there were actually two pineapple upside down cakes. YUM!!!  Anyone who knows me knows that’s my favorite cake.  Did I luck out or what?   I know from experience that campers make the best food.  After the dinner the club had their monthly business meeting.  The meeting  filled Jerry and I in on the way the club is run, Chuck Birtcil, the wagon master, caught us up on up coming events that are planned..  It was also funny to see the club president awarded  “The Ding-a-Ling award.  He was caught driving down the road with his awning unraveling as we went along.  He was totally unaware. I have a picture of Sandy and her little Min Pin “ Levi,”  he’s the smallest member of the group, only 2 mos old and precious.   More games Sat night and back to our home on wheels for another restful night. 

Sunday morning was a breakfast pot luck with some very good and interesting dishes.  More comaradarie and jokes and laughs for all.  Ate breakfast with Chuck and Judy Birtcil, our hosts.  Then it was time to pack up and head for home.  All in all it was a most fun filled weekend with some really fun folks. The time went by TO quickly. Looking forward to many more get togethers with this group.  Thank you Judy and Chuck Birtcil for the invitation.  Stay tuned for more to to come ………..Hugs,   Shari   &   Jerry                                                                                                                  

Win and Bridgette doing crafts.

What a great lunch meeting we had for the class of ” 60 “, today.  This month it was held at Olive Garden and we had about 16 in attendance.  Everyone has some summer plans or have made some changes recently.  Most of the group had the soup and salad with bread stix for lunch.  Olive Garden does a good job with this, the soup and the salad is always good, the bread stix wonderful.  I will tell you about some of the on going plans of some of today’s participants…….Claudia Jenkins ….. is busy taking care of her 92 yr old mom.  She is also planning a 5th wheel trip to Genoa Nev. for some much needed R and R.…….. Greg Watkins and his pardner Dave Owen are planning to attend Greg’s nieces wedding  in Santa Barbara, and Greg is deciding his next step in regards to work to be done on his R ear to improve his hearing after his extensive surgery due to the tumor removal……..Judy Snow Dye has sold her home in Magalia and is headed for North Carolina the end of this month. One of her daughters lives there and her other daughters will soon be relocating there……..Mable Little is working 6 hours a day at a school in Orland with reading and math and such and just loves it………Larry Wahl is thinking of leaving city office and running for county supervisor.  It was so nice of Larry to order a lovely appetizer of Calamari, because we all got to share as Larry had to leave before his food arrived.  Thanks Larry……….Chuck and Judy Birtcil and Jerry and Shari Greenfield will be heading out tomorrow for a camp out with the Durham Good Sam Club, with about 12 other rigs.  Good food, fun and games, did I mention good food.?……Betty Fish and LG, her husband are soon heading for an Alaska tour with 14 other rigs for a grand total of 50 days.  The itinerary sounds wonderful, they will be gone most of the summer.  ……….Mike Brown is semi retired, down to 2 days a week now.  Enjoying some free time……You can see how tired he is, sorry about the picture, Mike, guess you blinked……  Gary Imhoff is undergoing some radiation therapy for his recent L leg surgery..  We missed Rosemarie today.  I didn’t get to visit with everyone, the others in attendance were Linda Lund and Cathy Young.  It was a good lunch with lots of conversation and of course lots of summer plans discussed. I will share some pictures.    Thanks to all until next time. Have a wonderful spring.
 Shari

Have you ever been invited to someones house, gone there, and knew immediately you were in a safe, loving environment.  The atmosphere and surroundings were idyllic, peaceful and you knew you wanted to spend more and more time there?  That’s the very feeling I get each and every time I set foot into the wonderful home of Mary Hubbard.  Mary probably has the largest home in the little town of Willows, and it is filled with love and love from past generations.  Mary is a collector of beautiful things past and present.  She’s also a collector of people.  People are drawn to Mary like bees to honey.  She has a wonderful caring and genuine feel for people, people in various phases of their life.  Mary seems to know when a person is in need, she had become a very personal and cherished friend in my life.  Whether it’s a personal, or a spiritual need or just a good meal.  She just draws people to her because of her loving, caring nature. Jerry and I were so fortunate to spend after Easter services at The Ark , at Mary’s welcoming home for a simply great beef rib dinner.  Mary has talented cooks among her children.  Shawn, my niece’s husband and Mary’s son,  should have his own restaurant along with her daughter Rene who performs miracles with food.  We had the best roasted ribs, with potato and green salads and a delightful raspberry jello dish, we has asparagus and calico beans and rolls and for dessert Rene had made Portuguese sweet bread.  Believe it or not I had never tried it.  I have seen it for sale in the markets but just never bought it.  It’s wonderful and just melts in your mouth.  Mary also had a Red Velvet cake, which Jerry loves.  Everyone brings something and is enjoyed by all.   Rene sent home a care package of potato salad and Portuguese Sweet bread. Mary has 5 children 3 of whom are living close by and with their children it makes for a wonderful family group and we have been included into many family fun events, for which we are so grateful and happy to participate.  We now refer to them as our “West Side Family,” and thank God every day for them.  They have helped us so much in our spiritual growth, and Lord knows I need all the help, I have so much to learn.  We love the great family atmosphere and the love that just radiates from that house.

Mary kept popping up into my life the last few years in various strange unassociated ways.  She’s whats called a “shirt tail relative.”  Not to be construed in a rude way. Her son is married to my niece, Tracy Hartman Hubbard.  I had not been in contact with my niece Tracy for many many yrs. she is my deceased brothers daughter and I have not been close to that side of the family.  The icing on the cake was when Mary’s daughter,Denise,  purchased our previous 5th wheel trailer, via an Internet add.   Mary came over from Willows with Denise to get the trailer and that was it, we just connected.  Mary invited me to a woman’s retreat through her church and sight un seen I accepted….. How often do you meet someone that you immediately click with and trust  so completely.  That happened to me with Mary and her daughter Denise.  The Woman’s Retreat, led both Jerry and I to their church, The Ark, in Willows.  Soon after  attending a couple of church services  we were hooked.  We felt comfortable and welcomed by the church family.  Jerry and I had been considering looking into finding a church and” Wa La ‘ here it was. After the pastor’s first service we felt we had found what we were looking for.  This is a very spiritual church with like minded folks trying to make a difference, and they certainly have for us.  Another thank you to Mary.  I think when she met me she could feel the need I was experiencing and held out her hand to include me that day in the wonderful experience of the woman’s retreat.  It had an immediate effect on me and I was sure Jerry would be able to identify too. I have to admit The Ark is a church of fully participating worshipers who welcome the Holy  Spirit into their  realm with gusto and praise.  I was used to a much more docile atmosphere during church services.  I have come to realize that this is an  expression of powerful   love of the Lord, with lots of music and singing praises.

So this was how we spent our first wonderful Sunday, Easter Sunday, home after almost 7 mos.  It was a very special welcome home Easter holiday.  Thanks to our “West Side Family.”  Jerry and I love all of you…………….S  and  J.

What a totally wonderful drive from Carson City to Chico.  We have done this drive so many many times, but this time was different.  It was different because after having been to so many beautiful places so recently it could have been a very mundane trip.  Instead I noticed many many things that I might not have paid all that much attention to.  This time the drive was bringing us back home after such a long absence.  All the lovely places we have recently been to were no more beautiful than the drive thru that Feather River Canyon on Sun.  We have been out of the state for 6 + mos. and coming home was, for me, somewhat bitter sweet.  Was I so sure that “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” It was thought provoking but  the canyon was glorious.  All the deciduous trees were beginning to unfurl their leaves, the Red buds and yellow Sweet Brooms were beginning to bloom.  In the lower areas the California Poppies and Lupins were starting to show their spring best.  The  waterfalls are starting to glide down the walls of the canyon, bringing wonderful new life to the canyons flora and fauna.  I began to get more and more  excited about getting home to Chico.  As we passed thru  Portola, and Quincy and further on down past Belden Town,  the Stone House and Yankee Hill, I was very in tuned to my surroundings.  Spring in the Feather River Canyon is such an awe inspiring sight to see.  The Feather River, I love that river, was meandering, as it has from time immorial  through the canyon floor  carrying  life giving water to all in its path. Of course when we crossed over Lake Oroville I was at a loss as to just where all that meandering water was, because it was obvious where it wasn’t.  Oroville lake looked like it was an extension of the Feather River, except it was full of moored houseboats strung out along the way.  I’m hoping that all those wonderful waterfalls pick up speed and fill up Oroville Lake.  The trip to Chico from Carson City took us 4 hours.  We were coming home with our family of 3 cats, Sophie, Ziggy, and Scooby Doo and our new puppy, Teddy, after 6 mos. We have had a wonderful last 6 mos, some good and some not so good.  We have had the good Lord riding sidesaddle with us and the angels were our constant companions.  And we had Angie and Tommy for the best support possible.    As we drove in I realized how happy I was to be coming home, Chico is my hometown and we live on the property I grew up on and yes, I was excited.

 We drove down our private road and it was plain we had missed almond blossom time, but the trees are filled with baby almonds.  When we turned into our driveway I could see my georgous yellow Lady Banks rose in bloom.  It’s a climber and has really spread out.  It’s climbed into my bamboo and is splendid.  My yard is what you would call rustic landscaping, I don’t do a lot of pruning except around the house.  My birds are very appreciative of that.  In fact my little piece of Paradise is” for the birds.”  I have about 10 bird feeders, and everything planted here on our 6+ acres has been planted by Jerry and I, and all of it benefits the birds.  We design, Jerry digs, and I plant, and together we take care of it. We have lots of fruit trees and citrus, even a pink lemonade tree.  Yes, when you cut the lemons open they are pink. While Jerry was parking the trailer and hooking it up in the yard, Teddy and I took a walk around the house and property.  I was wondering if  Teddy had any idea about the big responsibility he would soon be taking on.  This would soon all be his to protect, I think he will be up to it.  The first thing that happened is he spotted my garden gargoyle and came unglued.  It took me some time to get him to actually approach and see that it was only concrete,  he looked so foolish when he figured it out.  But then Teddy is still not 5 mos old until the 30th of this month. All of the fruit trees have blossomed and have tiny fruit on them. The wonderful wisteria and Lilacs are in full bloom, so sweet smelling and delightful. My purple in really popping and the white Lilac, that Kathy gave me , it starting to bloom out too. My lavender made it thru the winter and the Japanese Maples are mostly leafed out.  I feel one cannot have to much lavender or to many Japanese Maples.

My yard looks marvelous, despite the need for some serious attention. The pink and white crab apples are in bloom , the Red Maple is leafing out.  All the cherries are in bloom.  Jerry’s avocado tree looks like it finally bit the dust, too much frost in Dec.   Liz had her gardener out to mow the lawn and weed eat and spray around the house.  It all looks great.  I see the trellis needs fixed and the pump house needs painted, looks like lots of pruneing needs attended to.  I think we will need some help this year.    I look around and I am so glad to be home  again, and to my peaceful garden.  Got to get it all in order because we have to all be ready to travel again in the fall. There’s still a lot of my America to see and we will be there to see it.

  Remember, “Never Give Up.”   More later,   Hugs S and J.

I think that I am deliberately dragging my feet on getting home to Chico.  Must be some kind of psychological thing.  I am so close now and not so really excited.  I guess 6 + mos. is a long time.  I’m scared to get home and back into a routine………..maybe.  Time will tell.

So meanwhile, we shall endeavor to carry on.  So today we woke up to a powdered sugar sprinkling of snow on the ground.  Its cold in the mornings but jumps up into the 50s during the day, a real heat wave. So when it warmed up so extensively, we proceeded to drive up to a cooler place in more ways than one. Lake Lake Tahoe, and it was about 37 degrees up there, and the folks were still into snow stuff.  In fact I have a picture of Teddy with snow on his snout.  He uses his nose like a snow plow.  It was so beautiful up there.  We crossed the summit at over 7000 ft, and the town is at about 6500.  We had lunch at the Bear Beach Cafe.  Its was such a cute little diner directly across from the lake.  Such a gorgeous view.  The omelette’s were gourmet.  We didn’t stop at any of the Casinos, by now I could afford to miss them, once again,  in more ways than one.  After Vegas, nothing compares.  We drove around and took some photos, let Teddy play in the snow, and just really enjoyed the area. The magnificent alpine scenery is world  class.  We checked out the M.S. Dixie  2  paddle wheeler at Zhphyr Cove.  There is a mile long sandy beach at the cove.

We then drove back to the Carson Valley, and over to Genoa. The Carson valley is so picturesque, it’s surrounded by scenic mountains, some snow covered, esp the ones to the west, which would be called the Sierra Nevada’s. Vincent would be glad to hear that its said to be one of the nation’s top soaring locations.  The Mormon Station State Park is located in Genoa, and is the site of Nev. first permanent settlement, est. in 1852.  There is a very fine regional museum in the old historic Genoa Courthouse.   There is also some quaint shops and galleries there.  But what I love, love, love about this little village is their herd of White Tailed deer.  We were hoping to see them this time of year, as last time we were here it was in the fall.  We were not disappointed in the least,  in fact we even saw an albino deer.  The herd traveled so fast across the road that I didn’t get the albino in a picture.  I’m sorry.  But as we drove around the houses we found lots more of them.  Teddy’s first sighting of deer.  But then after all he’s only 5 mos. old on the 30th of this month.  He got a close up of a cow, he growled and gave a couple half hearted barks.  Come on Teddy, you were bred to handle these cows.

So as not to waste time we then toured the State Capitol in downtown Carson City. Very nice architecture and lovely marble floors Lake Tahoe,  We talked to the governor’s secretary and she said Nev. governor, a republican, is probably one of the governor’s who will have their Attorney’s General file suit over Obama’s heath care plan.  Interesting.  We drove around the town of Carson City, it’s close to our hearts, as close to 38 yrs ago Jerry and I got married here.  It was in a little chapel called the Victorian Chapel.  We drove by there and took a picture , its now an insurance office.  appropriate .  When Jerry and I got married some of my customers, I was still a waitress at Studio Inn, commented that I had a concrete deal.  At the time Jerry was a concrete truck driver,  how funny……we had a small wedding family and a few friends.  Angie was our flower girl and she was precious. She was not yet 5 yrs old. At the time her hair was so long she could sit on it. She looked so cute.  My girlfriend Judy, and my matron of honor made her dress.  We had our reception at the Ormsby Hotel which was newly opened.  We made prior reservations at the Ormsby.  This was one of the funniest things that went on.  We had a choice of blue rooms or red rooms.  Since red is my favorite colors and I was looking forward to a colorful wedding night, I chose a red room.  The  newly opened hotel had the swimming pool on the 4th floor and were still in the process  of building it.  So I asked for any floor but the 4th as I figured it would be noisy.  So we arrived and our room was on the 4th floor and it was a blue room.  By then I was so stressed over the wedding and all that we just lived with it.  It turned out just fine. After the reception the wedding party drove up to the lake, Lake Tahoe,  to Harrah’s  for the Dion Warwick show.  She was big in the 70s.  So we have some real ties to this area. It always makes me happy to be here.  More tomorrow, I’m enjoying a mighty fine Bloody Mary and getting ready to  relax for the night…………………..Hugs,     S and J

s

Let me tell you, if I don’t keep up with these blogs daily, I find things going on so rapidly that it’s difficult to keep up.  It was after midnight last night by the time we got home from cruising the “Strip,” in  Vegas last night.  We were disappointed yesterday to find that we could not extend for a few days longer.  Seems that Las Vegas if a popular place and they were already booked up in advance.  I know I got my reservations several days in advance.  So we decided to just tear down and head further west. 

So yesterday we caught up with some of the things we wanted to do.  We started out with toast and coffee for breakfast, so we could go down to Skyline Casino and have a delicious shrimp cocktail, and a margarita.  In fact they were so good we had two.  Tom and Joann really like those shrimp cocktails too.  It’s one of the  best deals in the area, each one is only a buck. Came home and had a much needed nap.  Oh what a life.  Then we headed for the “Strip,” that’s Las Vegas blvd. where all the fab casino’s are.  I love to cruise the strip here like I used to like to cruise the Esplanade yrs ago.  The news reports Vegas is hurting and maybe it is, there does seem to be fewer players in the casinos, but everything else seems to be going full blast. In fact there are a couple of humungous buildings going up right now along the strip.  Well another place we like is “Roxy’s Diner”  at the Stratosphere Casino.. its just a fun place  where the server’s take the mic and walk around the diner singing the old “Rock and Roll” songs. These kids that sing are really very good.  Being  in the theme of Old Rock and Roll, naturally it’s a burger place.  That’s what Jerry had, a burger, fries and a chocolate shake.  I had chile cheese fries and and a  banana split.  Oh my. Naturally they serve way to much food so we couldn’t eat it all but we certainly did our best, it will be forever  before I go for another banana split.  That’s what Vegas does to us, we throw all caution to the winds and just enjoy ourselves.

The lights along the “Strip” were as awesome as ever.  We even happened along as the Bellagio was starting their water show.  How fantastic it that.  Teddy was riding in my lap looking out the window and some woman in the car next to us says,” is your dog a mutt?”  I almost took offense, but laughed and told her,” no he’s a Red Heeler.”  I really wanted to tell her that he is a coyote puppy.  I’m dying to do that to someone because he does look a little suspicious now and then, depends  on the angle you’re looking at him.  But here in the desert people are suspicious.  Maybe it’s the shifty eyed look he gives them.  Jerry calls him “a shifty eyed varmint.” We did manage to get some neon photo’s.

This morning we hit the road north west.  It’s not the most interesting scenery on Hwy 95 headed for Carson City.  but then  one can find beauty anywhere if they look.  We did see some Joshua Trees, but only in a small area, they are particular where they grow.  We say some wild burro’s and horses along the way.  We stopped at a fairly nice rest area and had a picnic.  The weather has been so wonderful, nice clear blue Sky’s with wispy clouds. We had our picnic with the background of the snow caped Sierra Nevada’s.  When they came into view I knew I was getting close to home.  We found a nice RV park in Hawthorn, Nv. called Whiskey Flats.  It’s a newer park and nice.  We won’t unhook as we are headed for Carson City tomorrow for 3 days and then home.   More soon……….

Hugs, S and J

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

What a day we had today. What a great adventure.    Good thing we had a quiet day yesterday .  We drove in from Laughlin, Nev. a total of 90 miles.  That’s a record.  We settled in at Sam’s RV park on Boulder Hwy.  We love to come here.  We like the casino and the food and they have an outdoor show complete with wild animals, almost think they are real.  Its beautifully done complete with a bear and a howling wolf.  If you bring an RV to Las Vegas, you would like this place.  We had a great buffet dinner last night and then decided we better slow down on the buffet’s.  It was so good we had to waddle out.

Today we did something we haven’t done in 17 yrs.  We drove about 50 miles NE of Vegas to Valley of Fire.   It has to be one of the most beautiful places there is.  The only drawback was, we forgot how far out the Park was, it’s a state park, and we didn’t bring a picnic lunch like everyone else did.   The park has changed in the last 17 yrs. they now have a visitor center, complete with a gift shop,  Joann,  and many more pull offs, and signs indicating a good picture site, and lots and lots of covered picnic tables.  They also have a small campground with complete hookups.  It was Sunday and not all that crowded.  It’s an out of the way place and that’s just fine.  The fewer people who know about it , the better.  Less chance of spoiling the area as sometimes happens.  Vince and Mike, you would love this place for photo’s.   We were there in the middle of the day, but mornings and evenings  would be great for picture taking.

There are the most unusual sandstone formations weathered by the eroding forces of wind and water. I esp like the beehive formations. Valley of Fire was formed during the dinosaurs age, 150 million yrs ago. To me that just seems unreal.  Other formations in the park include lime stones, shale’s and conglomerates. At one time the Anasazi Indians, the Pueblo farming Indians known up around the 4 corners area, farmed the nearby Moapa Valley. We have been to the 4 corners area and looked at the pueblo’s, fascinating.  The 4 corners area is where  Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico join at the corners.  It’s reported that occupation dates from 300 B. C. to 1150 A. D.  History dictates that a scarcity of water would have limited the length of their stay. The annual rainfall is four inches, usually in light winter showers and summer thunderstorms.  But I am here to tell you that those arroyos where the water runs off are deep and looks like the streams run fast and furious when the water does come.  They have desert tortoise’ here and visitors are asked to please leave these like able and harmless creatures alone to live its life in peace in it’s own environment.  People steal them and take them home and these guys live long long lives and should stay where they live to begin with.  This breaks my heart, like I said, let this wonderful place remain a secret.There are historic stone cabins that were built with native sandstone by the CCC in the 1930′s  as a shelter for passing travelers.  The drive into the park from the north end isn’t as pretty a drive, but the south entrance on into Henderson with the view of Lake Mead  is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been on.  I am so lucky to have such a loving and patient husband who will stop on a dime, turn around in impossible places and do it without question, just so I can snap a picture or two.  The other plus is Jerry loves to drive, so I get to go everywhere and enjoy the ride.  Along the way the desert Marigolds were beginning to bloom.  They bloom in  spaced out clusters and are spectacular.

We came home and I fixed cold cuts with macaroni salad and pear wine.  We got the pear wine up in Oregon last yr.  There is a wonderful winery along the Hood Canal that specialize fruit wine.  Our very fav is their Rhubarb wine.  Now that’s an idea maybe our next trip should be up in that area, esp. with summer coming on.  I think I was born under a wandering star……….more to come, Hugs,  S.   and  J.                                                                                                                                                    

This is known as elephant rock, can you see why?

Hello from “Sin City.”  Jerry and I have an affinity for this riotously unrealistic city.  We come here at least once a year, more often if Tommy or Angie have special business here.   Since those two are the worlds greatest entrepreneurs, Vegas is usually a place to come to.

But aside from that we all four have a special bond with Las Vegas.  It was just a tad over 4 yrs ago that Angie and Tommy got married here  850 ft above the strip at the Stratosphere.   Leave it to them to pick such a remarkable and memorible  place to be married.  The guest list was remarkable to, as guests came from all over the USA.  I have to say it was the best wedding I have ever attended, and it was my daughters.  We were in Texas for the holidays  that yr so I was privileged to be able to help them plan the wedding, guest list and all.  We had about 7 come from Chico.  One of which was her God Mother, Kathy.  She has been attached to Kathy from the time I was a waitress working at Studio Inn.  Kathy and her father were the owners.  Kathy was always there for the two of us and is close to Angie’s heart.

The wedding was what every mother wants for herself and her daughter.  It was a delight.  Jerry was able to walk his daughter down the isle, which greatly touched his heart.  She has always been his delightful little girl and Angie is very close to her dad.  I guess you can’t raise a child without a loving attachment. Jerry looked so good in his tux. The absolutely hilarious part was that before he ran her down the isle, and I say that because he did, he was so nervous and the tears were on the edge that he must have been thinking a marathon. It was not your normal slow trot, that’s for sure.  Anyway, Angie and Jerry were waiting to go down the isle, and Angie said to her dad,” I won’t cry if you don’t,”  well check out the pictures, Jerry was pretty red eyed.  It was emotional for all of us.  Angie was marrying her “Soul Mate.” It was and is a marriage made in heaven. It seemed like we were almost up there near heaven  too.  What a wonderful view from the top of the Stratosphere. Angie and Tommy and Jerry and I were lucky enough to find our “soul Mates.”  They had the most scrumptious sit down dinner reception, lobster bisque and all.  After the wedding dinner party the entire group was invited to the Bellagio, where Tommy had arranged to have a suite, and we did the wedding cake and champagne.  What a beautiful setting that was.We all watched the dancing waters show from way up in that  great hotel.  They had a full bar and fun was had by all.  It was of course hilarious with the cake cutting , but was done in good taste, and lots of laughs. Its so neat to sit here now and think about  how it all went down, and we are so happy with the results.  We could not love Tommy more if he were our own, well now he is.. My little girl always did have good taste.

Like I said, whenever we come to Las Vegas we wax nostalgic because it was all such a fantasy come true for all of us. They make such a gorgeous couple and my beautiful granddaughter Felecia was maid of honor and Tommy’s brother Vince was best man.

Two days after the wedding Angie arranged to have a catered lunch for all her Chico friends held at their Bellagio suite. A lot of the guests were able to stay a whole week after the wedding. It was so special and so thoughtful and we got to eat some more of that special wedding cake .  Thank God for little girls, because they grow up to be such wonderful women.  We love our little girl and woman with all our hearts.  Now you know what happened Feb. 26, four  yrs ago.  It’s called, “MEMORIES.”