2012

Happy New Year! Life is about changes. Old friends and family leave and new ones enter our lives. It seems I think about family at this time of year, I have some great memories. Our holidays have changed over the years. Our parents are gone and our kids are grown and doing well with their own families. Now our focus seems to be on staying healthy and active as long as possible, and of course having some good times along the way. I don't know what 2012 will bring, I'm sure there will be some tears, but hope there are a greater amount of laughter and joy.

Christmas in Port Aransas

We went to Christmas Eve mass at St. Joseph's. The music was fantastic, what a treat. After mass they served a huge table of treats. Wishing everyone a beautiful Christmas and Peace on Earth.

'tis the season

December 16th

Happy Birthday to Theresa Sue, Kyle David and Troy. Hope you all have a great day.

Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean still here, tourists aren't here yet, the beach is pretty deserted.

Port Aransas

We arrived at the coast about 1:30 yesterday. We're busy settling in, mostly unpacked. Stopped in to see Jacquie during half time of #13 win. It's cloudy out this morning, but it feels warm to me. I'm heading to line-dancing this morning, hoping I don't fall on my face. There aren't many people here yet. It's nice to have a bigger condo this year.

Family Christmas

We had a wonderful family get together at Jen's for Christmas. A lot of good food, drinks, presents and bowling. We arrived back home tonight with fairly good road conditions. We hope to pack up and leave here for Texas by Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wood Pile

Thanksgiving Week

We got a couple inches of snow, so Howard is going to burn the old wood pile today. It's supposed to warm up in a couple of days. I hate getting out on bad roads.

We finshed quilting, we made and delivered 110 quilts. I have to work a funeral tomorrow. I'm trying to get some things cleaned up here, but keep wanting to do another quilt.

Family Christmas will be on the 3rd, then the next week we will pack up and move south for a couple of months. I sure hope we can avoid bad roads on the trip south this year.

Happy Birthday Teenager

Weekend in Milwaukee

I haven't posted in awhile. We've been busy with doctor visits, the church rummage sale and a funeral. This weekend we went to Milwaukee. Grandpa is dealing with shingles, but said he wanted to go. We took the youngest grandson to his football game, while his parents were in charge of the school rummage sale. Then on Sunday we all did the Jingle Bell walk for arthritis. Made it home to watch the second half of the Packer game.

Finished Project

The deck is finished. We just need to repair the lawn and do the landscaping in the spring. I think this is our last big project,and all I did was supervise.

Deck Progress

A few more pavers need to go in the lakeside deck, the front deck needs pavers and caps, and of course the steps. Several rows of blocks will join the two decks for a planter for shrubs and flowers. If the weather holds and the Menards truck shows up tomorrow, things will finish up this week. Now the lawn will need to be repaired.

Way to Go Brewers!

Antique Car Museum, Murdo SD

Wooden Car

The General Lee
This was his favorite part of the trip. I think there was 34 different building full of stuff. The "Pickers" had just been there and the show will air in March. I asked how much the property was valued at, and was told no one has fully inventoried it.

Deck Project

The start of the deck project.

Parliment Building, Victoria, BC

Oh The Places I've Been

Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier
Buchert Gardens, Victoria BC

Crater Lake CA

Minot ND

Hopefully this is the last night on the road. We have a suitcase full of dirty clothes. The border guards didn't even care to look at them. Just bought myself a couple of t-shirts, because Canada is more expensive, so didn't need to declare anything. There is still sunshine, but alot cooler than when we left. We had a good time, but are now anxious to get home. Chuck gave us a good trip and really took good care of us. Now I just have to lose all this weight I gained.

Swift Current SK

Arrived in Swift Current, SK for our nights stay. We left Banff and all the mountains for the prairies of Alberta and SK. Two more days on the roads. I heard that it froze in Iowa, so I'm guessing my tomatoes are going to be froze. The time went really fast and we've seen some beatiful country. I'm looking forward to downloading my pictures.

Banff, Alberta

We drove through alot of mountains, I love the mountains, sure glad we didn't have to drive it. Tonight we are in Banff,
We visited Lake Louise. Last night we were at Three Valley Gap, among the mountains and glaciers. Tomorrow starts the trip home. We've seen some unbelieveably beautiful country.

Vancover

We spent today in Vancover, a city tour, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and the Howe Sound up towards Whisler. Tomorrow we start moving eastward.

Seattle

Tom Hanks house from "Sleepless in Seattle"

Pictures of Mt. St. Helens

Mt. St. Helens

Today we went to the top of Mt St. Helens, it was very interesting. Tonight we are in Seatttle. Tomorrow is city tour, boat tour and space needle. We saw Mt. Rainer. The weather has been beautiful, which is great considering this trip is all scenery.

Portland Oregon

This morning we were in Newport Oregon. We watched the sea lions, saw the fishermen come in with their fish and crabs. For lunch we ate clam chowder, also for supper. The coastline of Oregon is really beautiful, this afternoon we saw the second longest waterfalls in the U.S. Tomorrow morning is Mt. St. Helena and Seattle.

Oregon Coast

California

We arrived in Crescent City California late today. We are right on the ocean, the harbor seals are across the street. We spent the morning at Crater Lake in Oregon. We drove through the Redwood Forest, tomorrow we will spend the day seeing redwoods. It was in the 90's today, it sure is wonderful to have great weather, hope it lasts.

Bend Oregon

We arrived in Bend Oregon late this afternoon. We traveled through Idaho and across Oregon, not much to see and few people. Tomorrow we will be in Crescent City CA, so it should be alot more interesting as we move up the coast.
These hotel computers will not allow me to download my pictures. The weather has been beautiful about 88 today. These are not party people we are traveling with, so we get to bed early and leave early in the morning.

Day Two

Tonight we are in Cody WY. Today we traveled through the Big Horn Mountains. It was a beautiful day.
I keep running into this "Mary" she goes to Curves with Doris. She is traveling with 2 other women, I met her yesterday and again today. She thought she recognized me until she got up close and knew it wasn't Doris, when I asked her where she was from, she told me she knew Doris.
Tomorrow we go into Yellowstone. So far we are having terrific weather.

Day One

After and early start this morning we arrived in Rapid City SD for the night. We are in a brand new bus, as their other bus got stolen an stripped out in New Jersey in June. Things are going well, it seems like a good group. We visited a car museum and Wall Drug this afternoon. We stopped at Wall Drug 45 years ago when we came here on our honeymoon. Then it was just a stop along the road, now its a whole shopping complex. There is a bucking bronco here to have your picture taken on, I swear it's the same one that Dad had his picture taken on 50 some years ago. Tomorrow we will going through Yellowstone.

This Week's Wrapup

All the grandkids have returned home safe and happy. We had a terrific time fishing, doing projects, playing games and eating alot. I even introduced Beth to the sewing machine, we have picked out a design for a quilt. They are busy getting ready to start school. Cole started on Tuesday, Debby started last Wed.
My back seems to have returned to normal, so I'm trying to get back to normal activities. The Pacific Northwest Tour is back on, they still had an opening.
Yesterday we went to Rice Lake. We are going to rebuild the deck, doing stone this time instead of wood, no more staining. It looks like it's going to be a busy fall.

This Weeks Fisherpersons

Family Picnic

S'Mores

Big Fishermen

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Another Project Done

A Quilt As You Go, this would have been a pretty simple quilt if I hadn't had the idea to hand sew all the borders. I would like to try making another "quilt as you go", but I won't hand sew it again.

Happy Birthday Debby

Cute haircuts. Have a terrific day.

Double Header

We went to Schofield yesterday to see Kyle play a double header baseball game for Jr. Legion Ball. He was a catcher, pitcher and 2nd base. It was a good time.

Evening Visitors

Credit Card Thieves

I had my credit card used in California on Wednesday, $100 in a grocery store, $100 at Target and $2.85 at Hardees. If I was going to steal someones credit card numbers I sure would get more than that. Last year someone used it in a shoe store in Texas. Thankfully Chase fraud department spots it right away. It's just so inconvenient, because I have automatic payments tied to it. We both have our cards, so someone is printing cards up with our numbers.

My Week At Eating Rock

It was a cool and wet week, but we still caught fish.