April 1st 2016

Today is our 29th Wedding Anniversary.  We were going to go

to Denver to the Art Museum or to Boulder and check out the

art on the Pearl Street Mall.  However, I was up half the night

with leg cramps and feel lousy today.  At this point we aren't

doing anything in the way of celebrating.  I am planning a 

special dinner.

Yesterday our new dishwasher arrived and was installed.

I found that more tiring than one would expect, but the

installer seemed to want me to stand by, so to speak, in

case he needed anything.  Mid-stream he had a 

problem, but he, with Robert's help was able to solve

it.  Finally, 2 hours later, it was installed and he left.

I had, at his request, saved a mound of dirty dishes,

but he only ran the machine long enough to make

sure it was working, turned it off and left.  I loaded

it with dishes and tried to turn it on and nothing

happened.  I read the book and then decided I had

to cancel the cycle he had left it in.  Finally, after

that was done, I was able to clear it's memory and

it started and ran smoothly and VERY quietly.

It is a Bosch and they are really quiet, but that is

partially because they have replace the disposal

unit with a filter system which has to be cleaned.

The picture of the filter looks just like the filter

I had in a Kitchen Aid in the 60s! That was a

shock.

Last evening we went to Spice China where we

met up with Carl, Martha and Arren to celebrate

Arren's 17th birthday.  I left a b-day cake and

candles at the Hostess Desk and she said she

would deliver it later.  We had a very nice

dinner.  While we were waiting for dinner I

presented Arren with her b-day present from

us.  The present was a pair of spike-heeled

platform soled shoes in white with blue

trim.  The heel looks like a vertebrae because

it looks like one with cut-outs.  She was

ecstatic with delight.  I found them on her

Amazon Wish List, but I am never sure 

the list is current, but this time it was! The
Hostess and our waiter delivered the cake
with lit candles, after the table was cleared.
They came with cake, plates, napkins and
forks.  It was nicely done.  And the cake
was delicious...thank you KingSoopers.

March 28, 2016

It's rewarding to see Bernie Sanders doing so well in most

of the western states.  I'm wondering what California will

do.  I expect Hillary will still get the nomination, but I'm

hoping that isn't so.  Our society has gotten so splintered

and the Middle Class has been left out as the wealthy

get stronger and stronger.

Today Xcel, our power provider took out three Spruce

trees from our yard.  I would guess those trees were

between 40 and 50 years old and now they are gone; 

all that's left is a stack of fire wood.

Robert had an emergency trip to the dentist last week.

Our dentist was not available so we went to his

designated substitute.  The dentist extracted another

of his molars.  I guess the good thing coming out

of that is that Robert really liked the dentist and

he hasn't been happy with our dentist for some

time.  He has decided to switch to the new one.

I shall stay with the one I have been going to

for ever.  I started with a dentist and stayed with him

for his whole career.  When he retired he sold his

business to my current dentist and that was

probably 25-30 years ago I just kept going to the

new guy.  I seldom have a cavity, but I do have

gum disease so that I get my teeth cleaned every

three months.

March 22, 2016

Last evening Jo and Fred came for dinner. We had
grilled pork tenderloin.  It came out well, as
always.  It's so easy!  In any case we had a
pleasant evening, but Jo got antsy by 7:30 and
they, Fred reluctantly, left at 8:00PM.  I
am not sure why Jo is that way, but she started
that several years before Alf died.  He usually
made her stay until at least close to 10:00 PM.

Today Robert and I went to Boulder Valley Hearing
Associates.  I had my ears checked and then took
a hearing test.  It was quite a bit worse than
two years ago when I had the last one.  We took
home the literature and talked about it a little.
I, later, called and said that I had decided to
order them.  I'm waiting a call back at this
time.  Betty says she has Oticon hearing aids
and loves them.  These are also Oticons.

It is really spring today, 72F at the moment.
However, it is supposed to snow overnight and
the wind is blowing now so I suppose a front
is moving in.  Sigh.

Sunday was really a big day.  I did such exciting
things as folding laundry and water plants and
on top of that balancing my check book.

Things continue on an even keel here.  Pretty
relaxed.  Kate continues to come, but yesterday
she didn't seem quite her usual perky self.
Arrived late and left early.

March 11, 2016 addition

March 11, 2016

Jeanne presumably arrived yesterday
morning and was picked up by her sister,
Connie.  They are due to arrive here
momentarily.  We are all to go out to
lunch.

Lorena is here cleaning.

Yesterday was too busy.  We walked our
mile in the morning.  I then went to
meet Susan Wayland for coffee at 11 AM.
in, as it turns out, Arvada.  I went
through Broomfield and then Westminster
and finally, Arvada near 80th and on
Wadsworth.  We meet at the Starbucks
there.  We had a good chat, but I was
feeling stressed because we met so late.
I came home about 12:30 and more, stress
I was running low on electricity in my
auto, Leaf.  I made lunch and left at 2
to buy bird seed and go to the bank
before I met Hannah at Frasier Meadows.
I stopped at Nancy's and picked up the
jacket I had left there instead of
buying bird seed; the bank took longer
than expected such that I arrived at
my appointment with Hannah 8 minutes
late.

After 20 minutes with Hannah and that was
quite a work out.  I raced home (now
driving the jeep) Jo was coming for dinner
and I had thawed  baby back ribs which
would take 2 1/2 hours at 300 F to bake
and then 5-10 minutes on the grill to
brown.  I added Lemon-ginger marinade
before browning.  They were really good.
I also served asparagus and a green salad.

March 4, 2016

Connie and I celebrated my birthday at the

Madeira in Louisville.  I ordered steak salad,

but we had eaten such a late breakfast that

I was not hungry.  I managed to eat 1/3 of

it and brought the rest home.  It is a really

good green salad topped with thin slices

of steak, cooked as you specify.

More and some repeats of our trip

February 25

We spent the night at Villaneueva State Park
in northern New Mexico.  It is a lovely wooded
park at the end of a 14 mile rough road, but
worth the effort.  Since we were non-residents
we had to pay $14.00/night instead of $4.00.
Our trip is winding down.  We should get home
sometime today.

February 24

We continue on our trek toward home.  We are
taking the quickest if least interest trip
home.  We took I10 east to I25.  As we
drive I follow our route on my tablet, but
this route is pretty dull.  Fortunately,
we are listening to an interesting book.  It's
Alistair Cook's story of his travels through
the US as a Foreign Correspondent in 1943-1944.
He writes well and is an excellent interviewer.
He manages to pick out people to tell him their
stories of the war, so far.

We are overnight at the Golden Eagle Campground
in Eagle Nest, New Mexico.  It is free!

February 23

We drove through Saguaro National Park this 
morning.  It is amazing.  We drove on a road
that had many curves and seemed to be going
steadily down hill.  Driving through a forest
of Saguaros was a unique experience.  I didn't
know there was such a thing as a forest of
Saguaros, but that's what I thought of it.
Jan had told us how beautiful the campground
was so we drove through it a couple of times
and must agree with her.  It is a lovely
spot; each site appearing to have its own

garden surrounding the concrete.  It would
be awkward for a tenter, but great if 
you have a vehicle you can sleep in.

Continuing on our way.  Around supper time
we stopped at a reststop W of Deming New
Mexico.  There was a big sign at the
entrance saying it was illegal to stay
more than 24 hours.  That sounded like an
invitation to us; we drove around to a
covered picnic table and a distance from
anythin else and "pitched our tent" so to
speak.

Monday, February 22

Heading home.  Stopped at the Solar shop
in Quartsite and bought a folding solar
panel which fits into a padded case and
fits behind the couch in the Van whether
it is a couch or a bed such that we
wont have to move it unless we want to
set it up.  I love it!  I am so happy
that we'll have some additional power
without having to plug in all the time.
Robert bought a number of LED bulbs 
that he hopes to use as replacements
for the incandescent bulbs in the Van.
That would be so great.  Lights are
our primary use of electricity.

We stopped overnight in another grungy
but cheap ($12.00) RV park.  We were 
too late to go to Saguaro for the night.

Sunday, February 21

We left Robyn and Jan to go to Quartsite
but the Solar Shop was closed.  We forgot
it was Sunday.

Saturday, February 20

We spent a lazy day with Robyn and Jan.
Had another great dinner cooked by
Robyn and Jan.

Friday, February 19

Alyssum left Joshua Tree heading for
Santa Barbara.  We are back at
Robyn's.

Thursday, February 18

Aspen was happy to see us again as were
Robyn and Alyssum.  

They all went somewhere to picnic and hike, 
but the wind was blowing and cold; I stayed
behind.  It was a welcome chance to put my
feet up and read.

Wednesday, February 17

We drove through the park and stopped at
General Grant's Grove.  The trees are huge, 
not terribly tall, but 4 feet in diameter, 
if you can imagine such a tree!

We left the park about noon; we stopped for
lunch about 2 PM. and then on to Joshua 
Tree.  It rained and rained. Robert drove on
through rain, detours and with a zillion
trucks.  We arrived at Joshua Tree National 
Park about 11:30 PM.  Robyn had reserved
two sites in Many Rocks Campground. As we
drove through the campground I spotted
Robyn's big green Van.  We parked the
Van in front of it and very soon went to
bed.

Tuesday, February 16

We drove to Sequoia Tree National Park.
We stayed at an RV campground outside
the park so that we would have electricity
and water and a dump.  We wanted to get
ready for a few "dry" days in Joshua

Tree National Park.

Monday, February 15, Honeysuckle Lane in
  Paradise, California
Priscilla drove us to New Clairvoux
Monestary.  It is being rebuilt as a
replica of a1200 Spanish Monestary. 
Many of the stones in the new building
are stones from the 1200 monestary. These
were brought to the United States many
years ago and were dumped near the 
Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. It
is a going to be a lovely chapel.
They have a winery there, too, and make 
and sell an excellent wine.

Sunday, February 14

Left the ranch and drove to Paradise.

Saturday, February 13

This afternoon Barbara stopped by to
see how her patient was doing.  Robert
is fine and so reported and gave her
a substantial monetary gift of
appreciation. 

Robert and I moved the Van and Robert
dug a hole so we could dispose of
both black and grey water.

Friday, February 12

We did "do" the Sheep Drive yesterday.  
I thought we were going to watch, but
the community didn't turn out for the
drive; Alyssum and Hazel were the lone
drivers.  Robert immediately was drafted
as a third driver.  Aspen and I were 
"keep with the others and off the road"
drivers.  After it was all over a 
couple of cars went by with young 
people in them.  Where were they when
they were needed?

Later in the day when Robert and Alyssum 
were back working on her electric system,
Robert was sitting on the edge of a tub 
and without thinking he leaned back and 
fell into the tub cutting open his head.
He and Alyssum hurried to Barbara (a
nurse as well as good friend).  She was
able to stop the bleeding.  

Alyssum came to get me since I hadn't
responded to her cry of "Robert needs
help." I hadn't heard the words.  I 
should have realized she wouldn't 
yell and keep going under normal
circumstances.

Thursday, February 11

Still at the ranch.  Aspen in Pre-school
in Sebastopol.  Alyssum dropped her off
and stayed in town until it was time to
pick her up again.  We all are going to
a sheep drive this afternoon.

Wednesday, February 10

At 5 AM. I got up and went to Alyssum's
so she could go to work.  I slept in
her bed until 7 AM. when Aspen woke up.
We went to the Van, I got dressed, made
the bed, and got breakfast for the three
of us.

Aspen and I were busy.  At first we didn't
know what to do so walked down to visit
the sheep.  A lady came to fill the now
empty water containers.  She was upset
because someone hadn't watered them the 
day before.

Barbara has many grandchildren and has
a fantastic play room.  She kept all of
her kids toys.  When her front door is
open then Aspen may go and play there.
Aspen loves it and kept quite busy
until her mom came home.

Tuesday, February 9

We went with Alyssum and Aspen to
the laundrymat and then to the
library.  Tuesday as story time at
the library and Aspen loves it.
After story time Aspen and I were
waiting for Alyssum and Robert
to return from the hardware store.
There is a lovely frozen yogurt
store in front of the laundrymat
so Aspen had a frozen yogurt.
When the shoppers returned we
picked up the laundry and then
went to lunch at a Mexican
restaurant nearby.  Not
surprising Aspen was not very
hungry. 

Monday, February 8

We all went to the beach in the
Van.  It was breezy at the beach, 
but Aspen didn't mind.  She loves
digging in the sand. 

Sunday, February 7

We stopped in San Jose to get Propane.
It was available at Marine Company. R.
thought it would be the wrong kind of
propane, but they had what we needed.
Then, on the fringe of San Francisco
we found a Safeway and I stocked up
for the next few days of our trip.
And then on to the "ranch" to spend
a couple of days with Alyssum and 
Aspen.

Saturday, February 6

Our journey continued uneventfully.
We located a US Government RV park along
the coast. It was Plakette campground we
were looking for and found it sometime
after 5 PM.  We found the camp host and
he showed us where to park..the last
available site.  She came to collect our
rent for the space.

Friday, February 5

It is warm and sunny!  Yea! As we continue
are way south.  We stopped at Santa Barbara,
but the friends we had hoped to visit were
no longer there.  She had died a few years
ago and since we had lost contact with them
we didn't know.  I found an Obit on the 
Internet when I was looking for a phone number
for them.  The Obit also said that Sam, her
husband had disappeared.  I'm not sure I know
quite what that means, but in any case he is
no longer in Santa Barbara.

We arrived at Sunrise RV park where we could
spend the rest of the day and night.

Thursday, February 4

We left Robyn and went to Joshua Tree Nat'l Park.
It was cold and windy.  We stayed overnight and
continued south in the morning.

Tuesday, February 2.

Janis packed a picnic lunch and we went off
to explore Midland, a former mining town and
now a ghost town.  Unfortuantely the cold and
wind has continued.  But we wandered around
and discovered a barrel full of photo albums
and diaries describing life in Midland.  It
appears that the former residents come back
once a year and have a reunion to touch base
with their former neighbors.  It was very
interesting.