Friday December 26, '08

Christmas passed in a surprising hurry. We spent a leisurely week getting ready for the Holiday. No real rushing about was involved. We picked up a little of this, a little of that, a lot of food, cooked a while, and just let it happen.

The result was a time of wonderful family caring. We shared stories of many previous Christmases. We remembered those; here, elsewhere, and gone on, and basked in being lucky enough to count them in our lives. A few small trinkets were exchanged with love. It was so much more sweet than trying to overwhelm each other with exuberant opulence.

Laughter surrounded us all the way through the dinner disaster! Wouldn't you know it -- something was forgotten. All that turkey, dressing and gravy and not a cranberry in the whole deserted desert! Del (with the sweetest, smuggest smile) stepped to her RV and brought forth the golden can of the crowning ingredient. She's our hero!!

Occasional phone calls brought the voices of loved ones. Each with tales of their cosy celebrations and best wishes for ours. The evening found us knowing life was well and comfortable for all our brood. A pleasant peace settled over us and brought a sound sleep.

Tomorrow brings son, Royce, daughter (in law) Jenifer and grand baby Georgia. We're looking forward to giggles and hugs for nearly a week.

Between moments of family fellowship there are little preparatory projects with the RV. She's about ready to be trusted for a safari down the east coast of Mexico to Belize and back up through the mountains. There are about 3,700 miles to do in Mexico, and another 2,500 in the U.S by the time we get back to Scottsdale. The rig's up to it; Are we? Stay tuned!

We hope you are blessed with as warm and loving a holiday as we. I'm sure that's exactly what God wants for you.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

Friday December 19, '08

Well, we've been enjoying the warmer climes and spiffy desert landscapes of Scottsdale for a week now. We got here on the twelfth. We've been alternately lounging, puttering about, and feasting shamelessly. If that sounds like "no news" I guess we'll just have to plead "guilty". Just hanging out with Jim has made it a treasured week.

The icing on the cake - as if the cake need icing - is that Del Alden arrives here tomorrow too! We'll have some new yarns to swap - in between the old yarns we already love. If you don't know, Annie and I have known Del longer than we've been married (42 years). She has been dear friend, confidant, big sister, RV tutor, great pal, and all 'round reliable hug for as long as we can remember.

Kids Royce and Jenifer, and grandbaby Georgia are coming for a few days (27th through 2nd) so right now we're just jumping up and down with no baby to squeeze. I bet we look as silly as it sounds! It's going to be SO good to see them all. We're just plotting and scheming on anything we might do to make it all go well. (I dunno – Ya think we should buy her a truck? A pony? A playhouse? They'd fit on an airliner wouldn't they?)

As much as we were dying to get here and see Jim and get ready for a great family Christmas we were expecting to endure the high-end, hectic, urban-modern lifestyle that goes with the Scottsdale experience. We've been surprised.

Scottsdale is a quieter place right now. In years passed we've watched swirls of activity in all the shopping centers and along all the avenues and boulevards. It seems that this year a new calm has descended. The constant hurry of construction crews in pickups have given way to the occasional delivery truck. Dashing soccer moms seem to be happier to stay closer to home.

What drives this quieter pace? Could it be that an economy that none of us would have asked for - just maybe - brought is a little less hurry and a little more quality to folks' agendas? Do little Cissy and Chad enjoy the smell of dinner cooking just as much as they enjoyed the dash to and from gymnastics or karate lessons? Does Dad appreciate time in the front room about as much as being at that client's house party?

I think I see more smiles at the supermarket. I think I've been waved into a line of traffic more often. I know I haven't been honked at lately, and I hope that these good people have found a new pace that lets them like life a bit more. I certainly like Scottsdale a bit more.

All our love and best wishes go out to you and yours. May all the promise and blessings we find in our Christmas Season come directly from God to you in His fullest measure. Celebrate these holidays as you shall, and we shall all celebrate together as God's family.

Thursday December 11, '08

A beautiful sunny day accompanied us as we climbed into Joshua Tree National Park. Temp's around seventy five and barely a breeze. We're finally shaking free of the damp and drizzly northwest.


We topped the ridge on the north side of the park enjoying nearly deserted roads and a lazy winding cruise through huge sandstone boulder fields. Before us opened a pretty valley called Pinto Basin. A beautiful stand of cholla decorated our way.

By the way; Whoever named them "Teddy Bear Cholla" never hugged one, or has a really twisted sense of humor!


The road climbs out the south side of Pinto Basin and drops down past Cottonwood Springs to I-10. Crossing the Colorado River into Arizona made it instantly an hour later. Three PM became four PM. We grinned at each other and decided it's Quittin' Time!

Parked it in Quartzsite and set out in the Honda for a little mischief. Annie found a bead shop open and fell in love with a few different strings. We had a nice dinner in a fun bar and grill called the Quartzsite Yacht Club.

Sunset treated us to some extra with a brilliant sun dog display. Now we're all bedded down and looking forward to seeing Jim in Scottsdale tomorrow.

G-nite!

Wednesday December 10, '08

Monday evening found us in Lancaster. Both of us were happy to call it off after a relatively few hours on the road. It felt good to sit around and accomplish little. We didn't even go out to eat or shop. Snug and snuggled in, we slept like logs.

Tuesday brought us mechanical issues (brakes and exhaust) so we stayed an extra day in Palmdale. We went out for a lazy breakfast and a little shopping (had to get a little Two Buck Chuck). The rig's much better off for the attention, and we're in Twenty Nine Palms tonight.

Shirt-sleeve weather in the afternoons is followed by frost at night! High desert sure has a huge daily temperature swing - especially when the weather is clear.

Tomorrow brings a cruise through Joshua Tree National Forest. We've skirted the edges and promised ourselves the drive for many years. This time we're doin' it!

Sunday December 7, '08

We had ten solid days of play, and it's just never enough. My brother and I fit together better now than we ever did as kids, and we were inseparable. I've a mind that a couple of great women have honed us into pretty acceptable company over the years, and we're most thankful for it.

Ted taught me so much about playing bass this last week or so. Sitting in is going to be a true joy. I can't wait to stumble across the next session. Thanks, Ted!!

Left Tracy a bit after 11AM. It's never easy to do. There's always one more tale to share, one more "love ya" to say, one more "Thanks for the hospitality", more assurances that we'll see each other soon, and - heck - how about another round of hugs!

We drove out of the overcast by about 3PM and enjoyed a truly tropical environment in our greenhouse-on-wheels. Big windshield and a southbound course does that. Kinda makes ya wanna pull over and nap in the sun!

We're bedding down in Bakersfield tonight. Looking forward to the Mojave Desert tomorrow! Where to stop? Who knows - Mojave Desert? Colorado R.? Palm Desert? Well you already know if you've read the next blog entry, but as I sit here I haven't got a clue!

G'nite for now.

Friday December 5, '08

We discovered "fee-mining" last summer. It seems that there are many places across this land where a tourist can buy a measure of ore and learn to seek treasure within it. The target can be precious metals, fossils or gemstones. Different strokes for different folks and geographical areas.

In July Del Alden took us to an active sapphire mine in the wilds of Montana. Specifically, the Gem Mountain Mine near Phillipsburg, MT.

We thoroughly enjoyed learning that the gem material is just slightly heavier than the rest of the material from the mine so it can shaken, mixed, rocked, sluiced and manipulated to collect in a specific place. Once we got the hang of manipulating the pit-run and equipment we were overjoyed to find many little sapphires!

Most of the foundlings aren't gem quality, but every once in a while one is. Of the 50 or so stones we found 6 were near one carat and reasonably well-formed. Staff at the mine were quite willing to sort the finds for us. They also offer the service of sending the promising stones off to be treated and faceted. For a few dollars per stone they sent our treasures off to Asia to be turned into jewels. A four to six month wait ensues.

Well, surprise! A few days ago a package arrived -certified mail- in Olympia containing our treasures. Darbi opened the package and described the goodies for us over the phone. We seem to have six cute little brilliant-cut sparkleys, nicely clear and mostly medium blue (one pink!). They've come a long way from the little greenish semi-transparent lumps we sent. We're excited to see them when we get home in the spring.

What fun. I'm sure we'll find new adventures in dirt on down the road!

Tuesday December 2, '08

It's Tuesday, and a classic valley fog has settled across central California. We've been here a week enjoying the fine friendship and hospitality of Brother Ted and his sweet wife, Pam. This afternoon will find us at the weekly Tracy Jam Session.

Had fun at Mom's house Friday - got a gang of family together for a great meal and a living-room sing along. Ted kept it going on Guitar, and I introduced my home-made upright bass (yep, I'll have to brag about that one day soon). Still ringing in our ears are the sweet refrains of "The Good Ship Titanic" and Bill Grogan's Goat".

Ted and I have spent time every day singing the old songs through our head colds. I'm glad you can read about it without having to hear it!! Pam and Annie retreated to Pam's craft room where they strung beads to their heart's content. They've sure produced lots of bling-bling things!

As always it'll be hard to say "G'bye", but Wednesday or Thursday will probably see us on the road; drifting in the general direction of desert landscapes and warmer weather.