Golden Sun, Apache Junction AZ, Idaho Falls-Emily's Baptism, Valentine's Day 01/26/10 - 02/16/10

Wow, what a crazy three weeks we have had here at Golden Sun in Apache Junction, AZ. Bob and Lolita were with us for the first two weeks. We made a trip to Payson (about 70 miles) where our boys, Travis and Ryan, live. We went on a Sunday and attended their Church Stake Conference. They fed us a great steak dinner afterwards.

The park has scheduled hikes each Wednesday and and Friday. I went on one (Terry had a bum knee so he didn't go.) It was only a 3 1/2 mile hike, but it was all uphill for almost two miles. Of course, then it was all downhill on the way back. It had been a while since I had been on a hike like that.

Here is part of the hiking group. It still amazes me what good shape some of these "old" people are in. I had a hard time keeping up with some of them!

The scenery was just awesome. There were a lot of cactus and in this spot it looked like someone just dumped a big load of rocks in the middle of the hill.

We hiked about 540 feet up. Looking down at this bridge is where one side of the freeway crosses over the other side and everyone drives on the wrong side of the road for a ways. This is the road that takes you to Payson where Travis and Ryan live. I can't believe we walked that far!

There were so many saguaro cactus. This one was just kind of on the hill by itself and is near to perfectly shaped.

Friends of ours and Bob and Lolita, from Emmett, Ken and Sandy, were also at the park for part of the time. We played shuffleboard one day and Bob and Lolita were the grand champions. We had fun sharing meals and playing cards with them.

The first week we were at the Golden Sun, we rented a car and drove the 900 miles to Idaho Falls for our granddaughter's baptism. Here is Shay and Emily just before she was baptized. Shay did a great job and then confirmed her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gave her a really nice blessing. We are proud of both of them.

We stayed at Shay's house and had such a nice time. After the baptism on Saturday, we went back there to change and eat lunch with everyone (over 30 people were at their house.) When we came up from the basement where we changed our clothes, all of our kids and grandkids were wearing these fun t-shirts. They had our engagement picture on them with either "Mom and Dad" or Grandma Susie & Grandpa Howie" above the picture and "40 years ago" below it. We were married on Valentine's Day, 40 years ago!! It was so fun and we were soooo surprised!

Thanks, Shay, Sarah, and Jill!

We spent the night on our way to Idaho Falls with my Aunt and Uncle, Terry and Nancy, who live near Ogden. Then on the way back to Apache Junction, we spent the night with my good friend Ruth who lives in St. George. They both treated us to good food, good beds, and great company. Thanks so much to them.

I took a beading class at our last park and made bracelets for each of the granddaughters. It is so much fun. I didn't get pictures of their bracelets, but this is a picture of several of the ankle bracelets that I have made for myself. I did some of the same things for their bracelets. I think I would kind of like to get into this beading. It is really a fun activity. I told Terry I would teach him to do it!! He really needs a hobby!

This past weekend Ryan and Lori came down with their kids and Nic (Travis's son) and spent Saturday with us. We had a really full, fun day. After a breakfast of waffles and strawberries, we went to the Swap Meet, then to the movies, and then to Costco for a hot dog lunch. After dropping Lori off to go to the theater with Travis's wife, Shannon, we came home and went swimming at the park and had pizza for dinner. I am sure the kids slept all the way home. We wore them out, and Ryan said he would stop for a Mountain Dew to keep him awake while he drove home. It's great to be near enough to kid's families to get to spend time with them.

We tried to sign up for the Valentine's dinner dance at the park (which happens to also be our wedding anniversary,) it was all sold out. So, without Terry knowing about it, I booked us on a dinner cruise on the Dolly Steamboat at Canyon Lake. After Church on Sunday, I told Terry I would like to go for a ride. Even though he was in the middle of the Daytona 500 race, he agreed to go. I guided him up the mountain road and then convinced him that I was lost and told him to pull into the marina so I could find a map.

Well, he didn't have it figured out until we pulled into the parking lot and he saw the steamboat. We had a great meal and a fun ride.

We saw mountain sheep, although they were all up high and could only see their silhouette. We could even see some lambs right up on top jumping and playing. I hoped that their parents were watching them closely. They were a long ways up. We also saw a bald eagle and several other birds.

I had talked Terry into wearing our t-shirts that Jill and Sarah had made for us. We got smiles and "Happy Anniversary" from the boat Captain and the other people on the boat. It turned out to be a really fun Valentine's Day and 40th wedding anniversary.

Colorado River Oasis, Ehrenberg AZ 01/12/10 - 01/26/10

Note: Sorry, I have gotten really behind on my posting!!! I have put 4 new postings (from Christmas until now) on at the same time to catch up the last couple of months! Hope none of you get too bored reading it all. I will try to keep up a little better!

Colorado River Oasis is an RV park in Ehrenberg, AZ, along the Colorado River, which separates Arizona and California.

When we cross the river into Blythe, CA, to shop or go to Church, we gain an hour. But, when we go back home, we loose an hour! It gets kind of hard to keep the time straight!

It is different being in a park with gravel, cement, and electricity again, after being in Wikieup for two months. Terry's sister, Lolita, and husband, Bob, were already in the park and we were able to park right next to them. Uncles John and Gary (they are our age) came for a couple of days and were in a KOA park just across the river. We also got to see several people who were staying in near-by parks who were from Emmett. So, we did a lot of visiting the two weeks we were here.

The hardest part is being so close to your neighbors! It is sometimes literally wall-to-wall RVs in some of the parks. It is a good thing we like people. If you didn't, you certainly would not like this kind of lifestyle. One thing about it, if you don't like your neighbor, you just move in a couple of weeks! It is pretty easy to meet new people and some of them actually become good friends.

The Colorado River was pretty low when we were here. The main river is on the other side of this island that is formed by a tributary along the park.

They even have a boat ramp in the park. It would be fun to some day bring our pontoon boat with us and take it out in the Colorado and do some fishing.

One of the big reasons we like to come to this area in January is the HUGE flea market that is held in Quartzsite, AZ, which is about 15 miles from the park we stay in. There are acres and acres of vendors and then the RV vendors have a big sale in this huge tent. All of this draws thousands of RVers every year. There is everything imaginable for sale.

Most of the RVers boondock out in the desert. Most places don't cost anything to stay there, but there are no hookups. There is a water truck and a honey wagon for sewer dumping that comes around for a charge, and lots of people using generators. If Ron and Alice, Terry's brother and wife, would have stayed out, we were going to join the boondockers this year. But, we decided we didn't want to do that by ourselves. Maybe another time.

It is hard to imagine how many RVs are parked in the desert. You just have to see it to know what I am talking about!
There was a bad storm while we were at Ehrenberg. There were 80 mph winds and lots of power poles and trees were blown over. A tornado touched down about five miles from us! Who would have thought there would be a tornado in Arizona! Some of the parks in the area had all of the people leave their RVs and go into the clubhouse, but ours didn't. We didn't hear of any RVs that were damaged too badly in the storm, but the Condo was sure shaking!

I just love seeing the orange trees. They seem to be everywhere. A lot of people have them in their yards. I imagine the people in this area would be just as fascinated with an apple tree in our yard in Idaho.

Starting the New Year at Wikieup 01/01/10 - 1/12/10

A couple of days after the kids left, our friend (and neighbor) Dutch came from Ogden. We were sad that his wife Gail didn't come, but we were glad to see Dutch. He owns some property right next to Nettie's Place and I have known him my whole life. He was a schoolboy friend of my Dad's. He was with us on New Year's Eve and we ate dinner and played dominoes until late into the evening (I think we quit at about 9:00), when he left and then we stayed up until midnight and then went to bed! Happy New Year!

For the last couple of years, there have been these three slabs of cement that someone "dropped off" in the wash down from our place. We asked about who they belonged to and no one seemed to know. So, we told the land owners where they were that we were now "storing" them at our house. They said it was okay with them. With Dutch's expertise and help, we figured out how to pull them the mile and half along the gravel road with the Hippo. We were not sure if we could do it or not.

Well, we did it. Two of them cracked, but there was enough rebar in them that they held together. We felt a little like thieves, and there were several hunters who went by and looked at us kind of funny as they passed us. So, for the next few days, we kind of expected the cops to come visit us, but no one showed up. We made sure that Dutch got one of the slabs so that we were not alone in our "dirty deed."

We had planned on mixing our own cement and pouring slabs for a couple of RV spots on the place this year. These slabs work really nice. We got one set in place and will do the other one next time we go to Wikieup. It is really nice to step out of the Condo onto cement!

Dutch worked with a come-a-long and got his slab in place. He really worked at it, a little at a time, and after a couple of days, he had it right up to his door. He had to move quite a bit of gravel and rock, but it sure looked nice when he finished. He wouldn't let us help him much. We only hope we will be in as good of shape as he is when we get in our 80's!

A few days before we left Wikieup, our friends from Emmett, Russ and Louise, showed up. It was fun having them with us. They are birders and it is always fun to walk the desert with them. We left Wikieup together and then spent one day at the next RV park before they left to go on. Hopefully, we will meet up with them later in our travels.

Terry had a brainstorm on how to make a bike rack to fit above our motorcycle, since we have two bikes now. When we had our tandem bike with us, it fit along side the motorcycle. He used a friend's welder and made a really nice rack. I took this picture but the the cover is on the bikes and you can't see the rack, so I will have to take another picture of it sometime.

Well, it has been a great two months at Wikieup and we have mixed emotions about leaving. It was fun having company quite a bit of the time we were there this time. We got better acquainted with some of the people, especially the Church members. We are thinking that some day we may spend most of the winter at Wikieup, when we get tired of traveling around so much. But, for now, we are off on another adventure!

Fun With Kids at Wikieup, December 2009

The weather was really nice after Christmas while Ryan and Sarah and their families were with us. The kids played outside a lot. We told them they could go wherever they wanted, so long as they could still see the house (only because the snakes were not out yet.) We could see them walking all over the desert around the house. They even made a "clubhouse" in Mom's old wash room, gathering treasures to put in it from all over the place.

There weren't too many lizards out, but they spotted this one and tried to catch it, with no luck!

Sarah's kids even tried their luck at flying kites the first day they got here. They did a good job!

Cameron was a big hit with the kids. He brought his four-wheeler and took them on lots of rides. We really enjoyed having him here and hope he makes it back to Wikieup sometime.

Here is Chaz, Ryan, Lori, and Terry relaxing in the swing.

One day we went to Dazzo's (one of the local businesses) and had ice cream. Here is Sarah and Lori sitting with some of the kids.

Ryan's three kids, Wesley, Chaz, and Ryley.

Sarah and Ryan brought their schnauzer dog and one day I found Lindee in the "dog house."

One day we went to Burro Creek campgound. It is kind of traditional that we visit here and go through the cactus garden and go down by the water.

Of course, one of the favorite things to do by the water is to throw rocks in it. Ryan is showing off for all of the kids!

Burrow Creek was nice and calm. Sometimes at this time of year it is flooding. We found a really nice sandy beach area and played for a while.

Then the "older boys" got into a rock skipping/throwing contest. I am not sure who won.

Before everyone left, they did a "project." This is also kind of traditional, to do a project at "Nettie's Place" each time we come. They dug up the water line across the driveway and buried it deeper so when the vehicles crossed over it, it didn't make it leak. They also went and filled up some wash-outs in the road cominging to the place. Good job, kids!

Two Christmas's ago, we took family pictures of Travis and Shay and their families on the picnic table, with the cactus in the background. So, now we have a family picture of Ryan's family--clockwise starting at the top, Chaz, Wesley, Lori, Ryley, and Ryan.

And Sarah's family--from the left, JT, Ryan, Lindee, Jenna, Sarah, and Luke.

Christmas at Nettie's Place, Wikieup AZ, 12/2009

We had Christmas in Wikieup!! We keep a Christmas tree in Wikieup, one in the Condo, and one at home. So, no matter where we are, it can be Christmas!

We don't keep any tree ornaments in Wikieup, except we kept the angel Shay made two years ago. When we had Christmas in Wikieup then, the grandkids made home-made ornaments. They were pretty much trashed after Christmas, so we had to start over this year. So, we put all of our very best gifts on the tree--our kids and grandkids. We took a picture of each one and put them in a little "gift package" and hung them on the tree. The grandkids had lots of fun finding theirs (we made sure the pictures of the grandkids who were coming were right in front). It was lots of fun making them and they are sturdy enough (plastic canvas) so they should keep for many Christmases.

We put up bows all over the outside of the house. Ryan's and Sarah's families all arrived, along with our nephew Cameron (my brother Ron's son). We had a full house and it was great to see it full!

Christmas Eve we had a bonfire to guide Santa to "Nettie's Place." Just before we went back in the house, there was a red blinking light crossing the sky. Some of the kids were sure they saw some of the reindeer's antlers. So, they all hurried back to get ready for bed so Santa would come.

Santa did find "Nettie's Place." He filled the stockings and left presents galore!

Christmas morning, the kids were all anxiously awaiting all of the adults to get up so they could come out and see what Santa left. Ryan's kids, Ryley and Wesley, and Sarah's daughter, Jenna, are sitting on the bed. Ryan's son, Chaz, and Sarah's boys, Luke and JT, are on the floor. Sarah's little one, Lindee, was with her Mom and didn't get in the picture.

The stockings were all spotted first.

There were lots of treasures found in them. Then Ryan did the honors of passing out the gifts, trying to get the kids to open them only one at a time so we could all watch.

The kids all showed off the tennis shoe slippers from Grandma and Grandpa. It was quite cool that morning, so they were nice to wear--and they all fit!

As usual, Terry and I made a real haul. The kids make sure we have a great Christmas!

It was sure nice having Cameron with us. It wasn't Christmas with his own family, but we tried to make him feel a part of ours. He had lots of help opening all of the gifts his family had sent him. He even got a pair of tennis shoe slippers!

Sarah and Ryan were even good enough this year that Santa left them some car jumper cables in their stockings--one for each car!

Here's the gang, with Cameron missing because he took the picture. What a great Christmas at Nettie's Place in Wikieup!!!