May 30, 2011 Memorial Day in Lander WY

Mexican Lasagne

Plated

Denny

 

Will

 

Happy Memorial Day - we started the day looking out the window and groaning - more snow!!! Oh well, let's get this day started!

We went to the local VFW who was hosting a free pancake, sausage & egg breakfast - David is a lifetime member, so we were warmly welcomed. Besides the food, there was orange juice, milk, & coffee to drink. It was all very good, and we got our 'poppies' that we proudly wear each year.

Many thanks to all the servicemen and women out there - the ones that have served our country in the past, including my darling David, and my Dad, Chauncey, as well as all those currently serving, especially our dear daughter Dawn serving in Afghanistan and Son in law Daryl serving in Okinawa Japan. Love you all and very proud of you!

We drove around town looking at all the snow :( Really, what is up with this weather???? Talked to Dad in PA and it was 88 there...here we have snow, in Hondo they have 104...what???? Where is spring? They tell us there is NO global warming - but something is drastically wrong...just MHO!

Christy has a favorite cake that I make - it is an old fashioned oatmeal cake with pecan/coconut icing - so I got that baked today and she made dinner...on the menu was Mexican Lasagne, artisan bread...oh my, how yummy!

May 29, 2011 - Lander and SNOW

Yep, you read it right.  Last night we were warm and snuggly when it started thundering and suddenly it started pouring down rain...at about 7 am this morning it turned to snow - and we have gotten about 7 inches today - a lot melts but it keeps piling it down!  Needless to say, what we had planned today got cancelled!

I made a good comfort food breakfast, sausage gravy & Biscuits, and a big pot of Chili for dinner...we had naps, we snuggled...it is now 7:32 pm and it is still snowing :( 

Springtime in the Rockies!!!

May 28, 2011 Rawlins to Lander

We were up and moving (slowly because it was COLD in Rawlins), I decided to fix breakfast to get a little heat going, made pancakes, sausage and eggs - by the time we got cleaned up, Cinder walked and unhooked it was 9:30. 

We arrived in Lander at Chris & Denny's about noon thirty.  David and Chris immediately started working on her computer, and we are set up in her driveway...nice :) 

About 2 ish we were starving, so we went out to the Casino Rose and had a reasonably good buffet...really good ribs and salad - the rest was so so.  We came back and Denny and I yammered while Chris and David worked computer magic - I went for some groceries and when I got back I baked a pineapple angel food cake and we had it still warm with fresh strawberries and ice cream...yum!

It is now 10 pm and I'm snuggled in the motorhome, getting ready to hit the feathers :)  Plans for tomorrow include going to the cemetary in Riverton and putting flowers on David's mom & dad's graves...this is the first time ever we are here Memorial Day, so we gotta do it!   The high tomorrow is to be 43 degrees (too cold), so I'm thinking a pot of chili will hit the spot for tomorrow night...we'll see :) 

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow of the Lander area, and our hosts, Chris & Denny!  Hope you are all having a safe and fun Memorial Day!

May 27, 2011 Grand Junction to Rawlins

We left Grand Junction this morning about 8:45 am - stopped twice for potty stops, and 1 lunch stop at WalMart in Craig, CO...were we thought we might stop, but it was just lunch time, so we thought we'd make Baggs, WY - when we got there it was only 45 degrees...too cold to boondock...brrr, so we drove on to Rawlins.

We are now at RV World Campground, full hook-ups including about 100 cable channels, and with our Escapee discount it was $19.95 for the night - yay!!! 

We had leftover Mexican for dinner from last night, and it was OK - not spectacular, but OK.  We have chocolate cake, banana's and watermelon for our choices of snack tonight! 

Did not take a single pic today, although there was some spectacular scenery - I really think we're scenery'd out at the moment!  I expect we'll be taking some pics around Lander/Riverton area, where we expect to be tomorrow and probably stay 5 or 6 days - David is going to help our friend Christy with her computer, while I shop and have fun.  Yep - the adventure continues :) 

May 26, 2011

Today we went to Palisade...and enjoyed several wineries...bought two bottles, I guess we're just weak! 

We came home and napped...went over to Tanaya's for dinner, watched a softball game on TV and came home.

We are not waiting any longer on this baby - he could be another week or more :(  We will be leaving in the morning and hope to make it to Craig before we stop...it is about 150 miles, so if she goes into labor tomorrow, we can unhook the car and head back down.  After that it will be Skype only :( 

Anxious to get on the road - the adventure continues!

May 24 & 25, 2011

Well, we are still in Grand Junction.  We moved over to a campground, RV Ranch yesterday as our tanks were full - and we needed to clean. 

Dear granddaughter went to doc today - she is dilated and they did the membrane strip thing, so we should have a baby soon - of course we've been thinking that for quite a while :)  Baby Landon will come out when he is ready! 

Pam and Fred delivered a lovely couch today for Kaeleigh - she is so happy for it!  Thanks so much Pam...it is so appreciated!

So - we wait.  Tomorrow we will go back to Tanaya's driveway - and hopefully we will have a new baby soon, and we can get on the road immediately thereafter :) 

Until then - the adventure continues!

May 23, 2011 Grillin' and chillin'

Today was an unusual day in that we did not play tourist at all!  I took Kaeleigh to school, came home and made breakfast, then went to wal-mart - the only thing she did not get at her shower for the baby was a high chair - so we got her that :) 

I had put steaks in my special home made marinade for dinner tonight, and I put together an asian cole slaw with mandarin oranges, Tanaya made rosemary/thyme potatoes, and I made a rhubarb dump cake that we had with ice cream - talk about stuffed!!!  Everything was delicious!

We bid a sad farewell to Aaliyah this evening when her Daddy picked her up for his visitation :(  We're pretty sure we won't get to see her until the next time we come this way - she could be in school by then!!!  She is such a beautiful little girl, and very loved.

I watched Dancing with the Stars, and as always, voted for Hines & Kym...as did Tanaya, Kaeleigh and David...Hines was wonderful - sure hope he wins! 

A bad storm came through a bit ago, bringing very cold temperatures...brrr, we have the heater running - of course, nothing like the storms in MO...prayers go out to all those poor people that lost loved ones.

May 22, 2011 - Dinner with Pam & Fred

We got up this morning and I finished the "Hunger Games" trilogy - I highly recommend for suspense!  I will definitely be watching the movie when it come out!!!  Thanks Tanaya for the tip :)

I made a real 'Sunday breakfast' of Bacon, eggs, homefries and toast - it was excellent!  We hung around for a while, cleaning up and doing some stuff we needed to do, David got a nap and we left at 3 to go to Delta to Pam & Frred's house for a 'friends' fix!  They have a lovely home overlooking several beautiful mountain ranges...I know, these pics do NOT do it justice...but here they are nevertheless!

We chatted a little while and Pam went to 'do something about dinner' - here she is checking the wonderful biscuits she had in the oven!

She also made a lovely crock pot dish with ham, potatoes, corn & a cheese sauce, mixed veggies and a coconut cream pie...we had more than enough to eat!

More talking, talking about travels, travails and fun!  As we looked at some dark clouds coming on the horizon, I realized it was getting dark, and if I wanted to get home before dark, we would have to rush!  We grabbed a couple pics and headed out!

Pam & Fred - thanks for the memories!

We got back just in time to lots of lightning and wind - and went to say good bye to our son in law Rick - he is leaving tomorrow morning at 5 to go to work somewhere in TX - he'll let us know when he gets there :) 

We got to play with baby a bit this morning, and here is a pic of her and her mama, Kelsey!









May 20, 21, 2011 Still in GJ

So, yesterday continued our saga of not so good luck.  I started to make oatmeal for breakfast, and realized that the milk was sour...so off I went to the corner store for a small bottle of milk for breakfast - got back home and made oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast - yum!  Of course it was raining yet again, but we had told Kels, our oldest granddaughter that we would watch our great granddaughter...for an overnight no less :) 

So we packed up and started down the road - David was leading and I had to wait for traffic, but I caught him about a half mile up the road, when to my horror I realized that we had not fastened the cables and electric cord for the toad...and it was swinging free...I immediately called his cell phone, no answer, flashed my lights, etc...nope, he just kept on driving.  Sure enough, a block later it came off the MH - I had no chance to stop and get it because traffic was moving at 40...and there was a line behind me - so I swung around the block, found a parking place, walked back to the spot it dropped off, waited for a clear space, ran in, picked it up and got back to the car without dying.  Of course, it had been run over several time - and one end was pretty smashed.  Sigh...

We got home and Aaliayah was waiting for us...all 13 months of her.  OMG, she is just the cutest little thing!  We all went out to dinner at Tequila's and everything was fantastic - we come home and I got her washed up and in her pj's...she sat on my lap and fell asleep about 8:45 - and slept all night for us. 

This morning she woke up at 7, and we lay and played until 7:30 when we got up and I made her a scrambled egg and she had some muffin.  Of course, while I was making coffee and her breakfast, she decided that the best possible place to be was grandpa's lap...it was so precious! 

After doing some clean up, her mama came and we went to Centennial RV to see if they could fix our toad electric line - yep, so $43.00 later, we got out of there...we stopped at bed bath & beyond where I got a laundry sorter, then we stopped at K-mart for another couple of things - by the time we got home it was time to bake a couple of pumpkin pies (for Kaeleigh) but we still don't have a baby :( 

We got naps and then it was time to go to Genghis a mongollian bbq - where Rick and Tanaya treated us all to a fantastic dinner! 

We're not home and will shortly enjoy a slice of pumpking pie :)  Tomorrow we have a trip to Delta in store, to spend some time with Pam & Fred...see a couple days ago!

And since it is 8:40 pm on May 21, and we are still here, so the adventure continues!

May 19, 2011 - Moose Club Grand Junction

We got up this morning with a plan - pack up and head over to the Moose Club where we can dump and enjoy the fellowship of the Moose...

First of all, we discovered we had to get propane - our tank only lasted a month because we've had to use so much for heat...it has been very cold and rainy!  Even though we use the catalytic heater mostly, whenever the 'big' furnace kicks on it is really sucking the propane!  Anyway, none of the 'close' dealers would fill us, Amerigas, Ferrelgas and some other local - they said they would only fill if we could take our tank off - in other words, they didn't fill motor homes.  We found an RV park that we could buy propane from, so off we went for that. 

After that, we went to the Moose (by now it's 1:30 ish...David swung wide to get into the dump, and hit a soft spot...the motor home just started sinking into the mud.  Now, we've had days and days of rain, so of course he would get the one area where there was a sinkhole.  We looked it over, got out a bunch of boards, put them under the tires, and no go...then he dropped the jacks thinking we could get the boards under the tires and get out - oh no, the jacks sunk in and would not come out.  Good Sam's emergency road service to the rescue.  I called them and they sent out a vendor - he was excellent, but I didn't get his name, but he was from A-Pro Towing.  He raised the back end so we could retract the jacks, then he winched us out of the mud.  By this time we discovered that the entire grounds of the moose club were taken over by goat heads, or thorny things. 

We finally got a dump and hooked up to electricity.  We had an hour for 'happy hour' which we sorely needed!  We then went into the Moose Club and watched a presentation of Tommy Moose - followed by dinner - they were serving burrito's...we each got a beef/bean burrito, with salad & green chili, tostitos and salsa, ice tea, orange sherbert with cinnamon sugar chips...for $7.50 each!  What a deal!  We also sat with a couple from Buffalo WY - who moved here in 1989...they were great dinner companions!  We talked about Riverton, and Hudson (they asked if Svilar's was still in business - big YES) and other changes in the area. 

We hated to eat & run but dear grand daughter Elena had a concert that we had to see - she and three other girls did a 'solo' song - Justin Bieber "prayer" I think it was.  The concert was good - we stayed for the whole thing and I must say there is a lot of talent out there! 

Got home and both of us were in bed by 10...just exhausted from the day!

May 18, 2011 Colorado National Monument

Once again, scenery overload!  The weather was just as forecast, rain rain rain...but we decided we were going anyway!  So, after showers, Cinder walk, groceries, we headed out - first stop at the post office to mail my daughter a package to Afghanistan - then off we went to Colorado National Monument. 

19 miles - of twists, turns, breathtakingly beautiful scenery.  Here is a small sample:

We stopped in a little cafe in Fruita and had a bite of lunch - it was wonderful, but pics are in David's phone and I haven't figured out how to get them out of there yet!

We came home (Tanaya & Rick's driveway) and I started cooking...I made marinated asparagus, broccoli salad, and a 5 lb meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas & rolls for dinner - and then after watching some TV and chatting, we had S'Mores...yep, Rick had built a fire and got all the ingredients, so we roasted marshmallows and put 'em on graham crackers and hershey bars...YUM! 

Tomorrow we will be rolling the 'home' over to the Moose club.  Here in GJ they have a wonderful, smoke free Moose Lodge with 30 amp electric hookups, water and a dump...no charge except that they ask you to participate in at least 1 meal a week - like that won't be hard :) 

Kaeleigh went to doc today - baby has made no more progress right now - so we'll wait - besides, they are still having lots of snow in the mountains and we don't want to travel in that! 

Life is what you make it - and we make ours the best we can!

May 17, 2011 Downtown Grand Junction

Well, once again our plans made in jello changed :)  We had planned to go with Pam and Fred for a drive up on the Mesa, however, this morning was cold and rainy down here, and snowing up there - SO plan B, we went downtown, found a post office, and then cruised a couple stores - found a brewery and it just happened to be lunchtime...I'll let the pictures tell the rest of THAT story!

 David had a patty melt :)

 I had the special Chicken Stirfry - Yum

We stopped at Wally world where I bought fixin's for Spinach Salad with strawberries & spiced pecans with raspberry vinagrette...andTanaya made veggie lasagna and garlic bread...SO Good! Wonderful to have it all come together! 

Now I'm watching Dancing With the Stars - and Hines and Kym made it to the finals - how cool is that!  Go Steeler Nation!

May 16, 2011 cruisin around Grand Junction

Today was a different kind of day than we have been having!  We took Kaeleigh to school, went for some groceries, then tried to find an RV place open - seems they are all closed here Sunday and Monday - very weird!

We had soup, salad & bread at Johnny Carino's, then I wasn't feeling very well so we came home and I got a nice nap.  After naps I went into Rick & Tanaya's and made a huge pot of Taco Soup for dinner - everyone really enjoyed it with shredded cheese, sour cream and frito's!  I put a butter pecan cake in the oven after we ate and got it iced during Dancing with the Stars...and Hines and Kym got a perfect 30...woo hoo! 

David and I are now snuggled into our home on wheels and about ready to hit the feathers for the night! 

Here are a few pics that I haven't put on before of some of the beautiful scenery we've seen!

May 15, 2011 Visit with Pam & Fred

Ya know, sometimes things just come together!  Been corresponding with Pam Smyth for several years on the RVer's & Camper's thread on the 50 year old thread on the Weight Watcher discussion forum.  We'd been close a couple times, but could never make it work to meet up face to face...so since we are in Grand Junction, and they live in Delta, we decided to give it a try, only to find out that they are camping about 15 miles from here...so off we went today to meet them! 

Pam is every bit as nice in person as she is on the thread - AND through email!  We hugged, chatted, talked, looked at pictures, talked, watched some other campers, chatted, then we did what campers do best - we went out and had a fine meal and talked some more!

Of course we also took a couple of pics of our 'girls'...and grandpa...just love seeing them!





May 14, 2011 - Grand Junction & Aaliyah

This morning I woke up at 4:30...laid there until about 6:15, and said to myself I'm getting up at 6:30 - phooey...and the next thing I knew it was 9 am!!!  I rarely sleep that late, but sure did this morning - so we had a bowl of cereal, and soon were on the road.  Of course I had to vacumn before we could leave because of the goatheads and nasty stuff that Cinder drug in - wasn't her fault, it was just dusty, dry and dirty!

By the time we got gas (we got 3 cents off a gallon) and I picked up two salads from Blimpies (coupon for buy 1 get 1 free, so lunch for $4.79) and got on the road it was 11...we got into Fruita about 1, stopped at the welcome center, ate our salads, picked up some brochures, and got to Tanaya's about 2.  Of course, we didn't fit along side the house - when we measured we didn't look UP and there was an AC unit sticking out that we could not clear - so we pulled into the driveway, and our tail end is about two inches on the street, but we parked our cars on both sides, so no biggie.

Here is one of the reasons we are here:

Baby Aaliyah

Grand daughter Kaeleigh - ready to have

great grandson...soon!

 



After we all got settled, I started dinner - we had spaghetti & meatballs, salad with my italian dressing on it, and garlic bread...yum yum - I don't think there were any leftovers! 

Kelsey came home from work and had dinner, then off she went with baby AND Kaeleigh - but they will be back tomorrow morning!  Elena Grace wanted to go with them too, but she has pink eye and was not allowed :(  Too bad, she had to stay home with the 'old folks'...and her mom!  I'll get a pic or two of her in the next couple days - she is growing much too fast!

I may not blog every day while we are here, but then again I might! 

Oh yes, I'm planning on meeting a friend tomorrow evening at a local campground - Pam who I have corresponded with for the last 3 or 4 years and never met in person.  We will remedy that tomorrow unless Kaeleigh goes into labor. 

May 12 & 13, 2011 Bryce Canyon, farewell dinner, Green River

We got up on Thursday morning and headed for Bryce Canyon National Park.  Once again, the scenery almost hurts your eyes it is so beautiful!  Ruby's Inn is a cool place, with lots of 'stuff' for sale :)  However, the star of the day was the scenery!  Here are a couple pics...again the camera does not do justice to the beauty and granduer! 

After lots of getting in and out of the car, we left the park, and went to Beaver UT to a cheese factory outlet - wow, talk about a kid in a candy store!!!

We got back to Cedar City about 3:30, and got a nap (me, David slept the whole way back!)  and had a fantastic meal with John & Kaki, followed by more chatting...and a lovely ice cream pie on the patio...my oh my, it's a wonder we left at all!

This morning we left about 7:45 headed for Green River, UT.  We arrived a little after 2, and got a spot at Shady Acres RV Park where we are sitting under a tree.

More adventures in store tomorrow - going to see that little baby girl great grand daughter - and hold her and listen to her giggle - can't wait!  I'll get some pictures too!







May 11, 2011 Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

We got up this morning to rain, clouds and more rain.  We are parked at John & Kaki's house in their side driveway, which is a real treat - BUT the soil here is very fine, and if it is wet you can't get out .  This has worked to great advantage because we have been able to really get to know them - and I can say without a shadow of doubt that we love them! 

So, with that said, we decided we would take today and clean the shanty, do laundry, clean the inside of the car, and rest from sight seeing!  I made a pot of chili for dinner for tomorrow night, since we will be in full tourist mode tomorrow!

This afternoon John took us to see the Petroglyphs at Parowan Gap - WOW!  According to the signs (it is on the national historic register) these petroglyphs were done around 5,000 YEARS AGO...It is amazing that they lasted all this time and are still pretty clear!  If you could see where some of these etchings were done, you would be sure that they either knew how to fly, or were part mountain goats!!!  Here are a couple of pics of them.

By the way - the pics from yesterday were NOT from 2004 - someone (probably me, since I AM the non-techi) hit the wrong button...the pics really were from yesterday in Zion National Park!

When we got back from playing tourists Kaki had a wonderful dinner ready - kilbassa & saurkraut, mashed potatoes, asparagus, fresh bread, strawberries & blueberries, and we finished off with bumbleberry pie with ice cream...we were all groaning when we left the table!!!

We ended the day by sitting in their living room, watching the sun set on the moutains (that still have snow on them) and quietly getting to know each other better. 

Back to the 'tourists' tomorrow...be sure to tune in :) 

May 10, 2011 Zion National Park

We got off to a late start this morning, didn't leave until after 9:30 and headed to Zion National Park, about 51 miles from John & Kaki's house and our 'temporary home'.  It was overcast, and chilly after the snow and hail of yesterday, but still off we went!

We arrived at our destination after yet another 20 miles of spectacular scenery!  Since we were starving our first order of business in the town of Springdale was to have some breakfast - at Oscar's Cafe.  The waiter was a very personable young man and he sold us on a couple of special dishes - David had a spicy spicy omlet with several different types of peppers and I, yes, wimpy me, had a chili relleno special - here is what our breakfast looked like!  The danged thing was really not 'too' spicy - just right! 

Then we went into the park, and David's access pass again got us in free.  We went to the visitor center, then got on a shuttle and toured the park.  Once again, scenery overload!  There is a reason that these places are National Parks - they must never be destroyed by greedy people but instead preserved so that everyone can ooohhh, and aaawww, just like we did today!  From waterfalls seemingly coming out of solid rock, to flowers growing out of those same rocks - and walls of rocks so high your neck hurts from looking up. 

Once again, pictures simply can not do it justice, but here are a couple to give you some idea of the consistent beauty.

We got back to the house about 5ish, and I started putting together a salad, Kaki made a wonderful italian dish with elk burger, lots of garlic, tomato sauce, mushrooms, oh yum, peas and lovely garlic bread!  I had found a lovely little bakery in Springdale and got a bumbleberry pie for dessert!  We sat and chatted for quite a while, and decided an early night was called for.

So an early night it is!  More adventures await tomorrow :)