Happy New Year!

Laton & Carrie

We had a fun New Year's Eve!  There was a dance here at Picacho Peak RV Resort.

It was a BYOB and snacks to share. A nice time was had by all.

Steve & Barbara from Canada! EH!

Boxing Day

Happy Boxing Day

Christmas Eve

Sarah, Vance & Lumara

When the kids were little, we would have clam chowder and a snack tray for dinner, pile into the car and look at Christmas lights and sing carols.

Our daughter Lumara continued part of the family tradition. She served snacks and  New England clam chowder.  We admired her lights and listened to rock and opened gifts.  It is nice to add to the traditions.

We even had a Chinese Gift Exchange (also called Rob Your Neighbor) and it was really fun and created lots of laughter.

Lumara, Steve, Vance & Amanda

O' Christmas Tree

Pre Christmas Morning

Our son and his fiance had to have their Christmas morning early because the kids were going to be with the other parent. 

Bottom line - Christmas is in the heart, not in a date.

Sarah & Lee

Sarah, Lee Valentino and Natalie

Cute Kids

Lumara and Vance

Cookies!

There was a cookie exchange here at the RV Resort. I baked my dad's favorite cookie, Date Nut Drops.

DATE NUT  MERINGUE COOKIES


2 CUPS CHOPPED DATES
2 CUPS CHOPPED WALNUTS
2 EGG WHITES
2 CUPS SIFTED CONFECTIONERS SUGAR
1 TEASPOON VANILLA
PINCH OF SALT

BEAT EGG WHITES STIFF, ADD ½ CUP OF SUGAR AND BEAT,
FOLD IN REST OF SUGAR AND ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS, 
MIX WELL TOGETHER AND DROP ON GREASED
BAKING SHEET OR PARCHMENT PAPER AND
BAKE AT 300 DEGREES ABOUT 15-18 MINUTES.

Santa came early!

My parents bought me a bike for Christmas.  I was so excited waiting for it to arrive.  I got to pick the color.  Now I can fly around the RV resort and race all the old people in their golf carts! LOL

What a difference a couple of years make!

December 2011

Lumara said Vance was really happy to meet up with Santa this year. Lot of smiles, giggles and hugs for Santa!

December 2013

Gourd Bird House

I took a class to create a gourd bird house.


The seeds from inside the gourd make the shingles on the house.  The design is burned on with a wood burner.  Then it is stained with some alcohol ink and sprayed with a shellac and VIOLA! A terrific creation.

  There will be a gourd bowl class in January.  Can't wait!

BRRRRR!

Laton traveled north to camp out with our friend Rob while he was elk hunting near Williams, AZ.


This is how they kept warm.

It is cold!

Isn't this the cutest picture. It wasn't really snowing but Lee added this to the photo he took of Tino and Natalie in front of our Christmas Cactus! It did feel cold enough to have snow.

Our Christmas Tree

I didn't want to buy another fake tree and then have no room to store it again, so we decided to put up  garland and hang all our favorite ornaments on it. Now we can enjoy our ornament collection, still store it easily and continue to travel around!  It is all good!

Happy Thanksgiving!

All the kids had plans, were out of town or working so we attended the Thanksgiving Dinner here at the RV Resort. The ham, turkey, dressing and gravy were provided and the residents brought all the side dishes.  There are some fabulous cooks at this location.

Family Dinner

Our daughter Lumara had us over for dinner and cooked for us and her brothers. We had a fun evening hanging out with our grandson, Van Diesel and our newest granddaughter, Natalie (Lee's future step-daughter).

Let It Snow!

Southern Utah

 We had a snowy and rainy drive through Utah and Northern Arizona on our way home! Feels good to be home.

Flagstaff, AZ area

Grand Junction

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us, what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

 

I love the saying on this service bench. Laton and I popped up to Grand Junction, CO for some doctors appointments.  The VA hospital there is wonderful for check ups and appointments.  Well worth the drive.

 

 

 

Aloha!

 There was a fun luau here at Picacho Peak RV Resort.  Hawaiian shirts and bright colors were the rule.  Dinner consisted of pork, rice, rolls and salad and a lively dance afterwards.

This park is a lot of fun!

Christmas is Coming!

 This was a lot of FUN!  Don't forget:

38 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

I had a table at a craft sale here at the Picacho Peak RV Resort. I had cards, gluten free peanut butter dog treats, egg white and catnip cat treats and some apple peach pepper jam.  I put some cream cheese and wheat thins out so people could taste my jam.  Usually one taste sold it!

Beta Babes

Beta Sigma Phi is a non-college sorority I have been part of for many, many years.  I joined in the 70's and continued to participate as we moved around.  When we retired, I became part of an online chapter that meets online once a month.  The rest of the time the 70 or so members chit chat on line and meet around the country a couple times of year. If you are interested check it out HERE!

I had the pleasure of meeting up with some members from my old land chapter (land instead of online) on Thursday for a fun dinner at PF Changs. YUM! FUN!

Veteran's Day

There was a very nice program for Veteran's Day in the RV Park.  Laton is in the blue shirt standing between the 2 seated red shirts.  There was a presentation of the MIA table setting and a sweet story of the origins of TAPS.

I am so proud of my sons, husband and father for their service to our country.  THANK YOU!

Picacho Peak

This is the view from our site.  I found some interesting information about the Peak.  Per the Civil War Trust site:

The Battle of Picacho Peak
Picacho Pass
April 15, 1862
In February 1862, a band of Confederate Rangers under Capt. Sherod Hunter raised the Stars and Bars of Tucson, Arizona, part of an effort to create an ocean-to-ocean Confederacy.  In order to thwart this move, a Union "Column from California" under Col. James H. Carleton set out across the lonely desert toward Tucson.  On April 15, Union cavalry under Lt. James Barrett met with Confederate Rangers near Picacho Peak, a rocky spire 50 miles northwest of Tucson.  Barrett was killed almost immediately and fierce combat continued for more than an hour before the Federals retreated.  Although the Rangers' victory at Picacho Pass delayed the Union force, the following month Carleton's Californian's eventually took Tucson without firing a shot.

Battle Facts

Location

• Pinal County, Arizona

Dates

• April 15, 1862

Forces Engaged

• 13 Union
• 10 Confederate

Estimated Casualties

• 6 Union
• 5 Confederate

Result

• Confederate Victory

Bat Cup Cakes

 These were on the snack table at the Halloween Dance.  Chocolate cupcakes, with a fudge stripe cookie for the wings. The face is the bottom of a Hershey Kiss with two white dots for eyes.

Bet it would be scary if the dots were RED!

Halloween Dance

 Laton went to the dance as Schultz from Hogan's Heroes but as my crazy cousin, Scott, pointed out; he looks like the General from the car insurance commercials.

There was dancing, snacks, and a fifty-fifty raffle.  We did not win :(

There was a coven of witches there this evening!

I love you!

AWWW!

Maggie will sit with her paw on Laton's foot for several minutes. She doesn't want anything, she is just letting him know she loves him.  I tell him she is texting him.

Snow Birding with a Twist!

Laton and I have finally accomplished one of our goals. Winter in Arizona.  We start workamping at Picacho Peak RV Resort on Monday.  We will be here until April, 2014.  We are excited to be spending the holidays with our kids and friends up in Phoenix. Laton will be doing maintenance and I will be helping out in the office.  The park here is lovely: a heated pool, activity center, meals, dances, bingo, lots of classes and craft fairs.  I think it is going to be a lot of fun.  Here is a pic of our spot. We have just set up. I am looking forward to getting some fun plants out this winter.  Maybe even growing a Salsa Pot (peppers, tomatoes and cilantro). Join us if you have time!

On Our Way to Arizona

Kirsty & Alan

UH-OH!

We always stop and spend a day or two with our nephew and his wife in Yuba City, CA on our way to AZ. They are moving to Baltimore, MD next month so guess that will be a little out of our way in the future.

One flat tire in Rough and Ready, CA (how appropriate, LOL). Got a new one under warranty in Reno, NV. Back on the road again!

Good Bye!

Carlene and Carrie

 We accepted a workamping position in Arizona and leave in a couple of days.

Carlene took me out to lunch at the Chart Room in Crescent City, CA.

Carrie and Carolyn

Carolyn and I had a wonderful Macaroni and Cheese Pizza for dinner. This is one of the offerings from Zola's in Harbor, OR.

TIMBER!

There was a huge windstorm that damaged a tree that leaned right over our RV.  We have moved to Prairie Creek State Park temporarily while they cut and remove the dangerous tree. Where it is now landing would have put it right across our bedroom.  Whew!

My company this morning - I didn't offer them coffee!