Happy Birthday America!

Hayden and Ellie Belle celebrate the 4th of July!

And then there were two...

We are heading to Alaska this summer and so I will try to keep up the blog a bit as we go.

  But first, you must also see our little Ellie Belle, Hayden's new little sister.

Born on October 22, 2013,  she shares love with Nan and Paps!

Now we each have one to love!

These two little ones make the departure to the North a bittersweet one, as we miss these little guys so very much. Can't wait to get the sweet hugs when we head back south...but first, it is North to Alaska, for us!

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round & Round...

Where does time go? It's hard to believe that it's been a year since this blog was updated, but it's true. And what a year! Being grandparents continues to be about the best thing in the world to us. Little Hayden and his precious smile keep his Nan and Pappy smitten and every minute spent with the little guy is a cherished one.

Of course, there are many photos of the little man......



Grandchildren really do complete life's circle of love!

One of our favorite songs is now "The Wheels on the Bus" and we sing it to Hayden often. It's truly a special song for us as he lights up a thousand-watt smile when he hears it, and we still love to turn those motorhome wheels! We spent most of last winter back in Virginia and kept Hayden for many of those days as Tiff transitioned into a three day work week. Those were truly special days for us as we discovered the joy of being "grands" and loved every day of it. He is such a happy boy and we got so attached to him.


We shared many fun days in Catonsville stolling little Hayden to local cafes and for ice cream during what turned out to be the warmest winter season back home in our memory.



"It's my birthday!"



 

"I see you Nan!"

 Most of the family gathered at Harryhogan for Hayden's first Thanksgiving. The tradition of roasting oysters and frying turkeys continued and I finally celebrated my first Thanksgiving as a grandma!

Hayden's first Thanksgiving Day...and my first Thanksgiving as Nan!






"Just call me Rudolph!"

There have been wonderful weeks working on the house at Harryhogan......

The project we call "Harryhogan"!



...and the projects are nearing completion! 
 
Escapade continues to keep us busy and the work we do on the road preparing for it each year is fun and engaging.   After enjoying Christmas week and  celebrating Hayden's first birthday on Christmas Eve, the motorhome fired up and headed Southwest.  We spent a few days with dear friends Keith and Donna in Lufkin.  After a few stops in the Hill Country of Texas, we headed west to Arizona and landed in Quartzsite for another round of boondocking in the desert. 

After all the fun we could stand, we headed on down to Yuma, AZ where the sun is (almost) always shining and every day is WARM!  After being very cold up in Quartzsite for several days, the weather here is just perfect!  We even  sleep with those windows open at night, as the nights are getting warm!

I remember my mom saying never to wish time away as it passes much more quickly as you grow older.  I think I know this to be true as the days just fly by and before we know it, another year has passed.  If only we could make time stand still!  Instead, a year goes by almost before we know it.  So many things to do and places yet to see, and days that we want to share with little Hayden. We can't wait until he can go with us in the motorhome, and yet we selfishly want to keep him just a precious little boy sharing tiny hugs and smiles.

Thus passed the last year in our lives so quickly...can't wait to see what's around the next bend!

Words of a grandma....

A truly wonderful and amazing thing happened on Christmas Eve; little Hayden Eric showed up, almost right on time, and what a Christmas gift!



There was no question that he would be loved...but there was NO CLUE that he would just steal your heart right away, until I laid eyes on him and held his sweet little self. There really is something special about grandbabies and now I know it for myself!


He calls me "Nan"...well, not just yet, but soon!


His mom and dad are pretty smitten by the little guy too..


So, the travels of the year and the fun of Escapade have dimmed in our rear-view mirror just now. Not wanting to miss seeing this little guy grow, we'll stay here in Virginia at Harryhogan and back in Maryland at Catonsville with the little man until around June, when the wheels will turn again for a while.

Just one more photo of the little guy we love to pieces...




With love from Nan!

It's been a long while....

Funny thing about writing a journal is that once you get out of the habit, it is hard to get back in to it! So, here it is, almost the 4th of July and the Grand Tetons National Park has been the lastest excursion. Quite probably the most beautiful place we have been, displacing Acadia National Park and the Porcupine Islands that has long held that title for us.

Grand Teton viewed from Menor's Crossing on the Snake River
The winter spent in Yuma was almost perfect; the weather was really nice, warm and sunny ALL the time. There were many folks wintering there and lots of fun happy hours most days.

Leaving Yuma, we spent the month of April in Congress, AZ, just north of the cowboy town of Wickenburg. This Escapees Rainbow Park is really delightful and the folks there make it even more so. The weather was pure springtime...except for one Saturday when we awoke to rain and there was 5" of snow on the mountaintop of Yarnell...so along with TS and Harrell and Denny and Susie, we drove up and had breakfast at the RanchHouse Restaurant and watched the white fluffy stuff fall all around us...a little winter wonderland in the midst of the high desert!

Mountain top Yarnell, snow covered in May

The little town of Wickenburg is a true 'uptown' old west town and we found several little cafes to share lots of great meals and explored the cowboy legend and lore there.

Along about the first of May we flew back to Virginia for Mother's Day and it was the most special Mother's Day ever for me, as we got news that I am going to be a GRANDMOTHER! Words cannot tell you how exciting this is and I just can't wait...I'm quite out of practice, but just know that it is going to be amazing. I think my name will be Nan...but whatever I am called will be just perfect! December 26th is the time and Catonsville, MD is the place... I will be there!!

The rest of May was spent in Cottonwood, AZ where we spent much time with Bob's brother, Ronnie, who had most of his foot amputated (diabetes) and we cooked many meals and shared lots of days together.

One fascinating event while in Cottonwood was the annual sheep drive that comes thru the Verde Valley Preserve. Each year, since the late 1880's, a herd of about 1200 sheep are driven north from Casa Grande to the Flagstaff area for summer grazing.

Sheeps crossing Verde Valley, AZ

The shepherds drive them down the Verde Valley and cross the Verde River a few hundred yards from our site. It was a sight to see!! Complete with sheep dogs, donkeys and shepherds, it was like a step back in time!

Visiting Sedona,Prescott, Jerome and the Red Rock Coconino National Forest to explore early Indian petroglyph sites and ruins, we learned much about early Indian farming and survival techniques and gained a new appreciation for these heritage sites and natural beauty of the red rock formations that grace the area.

Bell Rock in Sedona Red Rock country

V-Bar-V Heritage site petroglyphs illustrate planting,harvesting, and the passing of years in Indian life in central Arizona

Leaving Cottonwood near the end of May, we traveled north to Flagstaff, crossing I 40and traversing the Navajo Reservation on Route 89. This high plains desert area was virgin territory for us and the stark beauty was a most pleasant surprise.

The road never ends...towards the Vermillion Cliffs

The road stretched endlessly before us and the landscape was almost moon like. The Painted Desert lies just to the east and Grand Canyon to the west of this route. Along the way were tiny Indian huts where the Navajos sold jewelry made of mostly imported beads. There were a few creations made from the cedar berries gathered on the plateau tops, strung and dried. A cedar-strand eye glass chain looked like a good choice so that I won't be leaving the glasses behind so often now!
Climbing the mountain to Jacobs Lake, near the north rim of the Grand Canyon brought us into the ponderosa pine area and lovely cool weather. We had learned of Sharlot Hall http://azmemory.lib.az.us/cdm4/index.php?CISOROOT=/shmcurator, early 1900's champion of Arizona and southwest culture, and following her footsteps along this trail brought the history to life as we viewed her beloved Vermillion Cliffs along the Utah/Arizona border.
Arriving in southern Utah in the town of St. George around the end of May, we found lots more sunshine, warmth, a rich history to explore and many friendly folks. Keith and Donna joined us in St. George, Utah for a couple of weeks and we all managed to gain a pound or two trying out all the cafes in town. We also shared some nice meals with Paul and Mary who were also there to visit Zion National Park.

Zion, Cedar Breaks and Bryce National Parks and the Mormon Trail were the highlights for June....and highlights they were, indeed! It was a great month spent with good friends and amazing sights...then it just kept getting better as we traveled further north thru Salt Lake City and into Idaho and Wyoming.....Jackson Hole, Tetons, Yellowstone are yet to come!

Forgive me for not writing regularly; Hugs and love to all!

Down in the Southwest corner of the USA

Yes, that is where you will find us in Yuma, Arizona; over 300 days of sunshine each year; warm and arid…not too shabby for spending the winter!! Mid seventies most days, so life is pretty good.

We spent almost two pleasant weeks in Benson, AZ at the SKP Saguaro Park. A lovely park terraced upon the hills, with an amazing view of the Dragoon Mountains. Keith and Donna arrived a day or two after us and we spent lots of time enjoying the surrounding areas. We also got to spend a little time with Ken and Cindy and Doug and JoAnn, and Glenn and Sylvia which was a nice treat. We all drove down to the old mining town of Bisbee, which has become a delightful and modern little eclectic town in it’s own right. Breakfast at the Bisbee Breakfast Club was great fun then we did some touring and shopping.

(Photo by Joann! We loved our bags!)

Tombstone is another fun, old west mining town of Doc Holliday fame. It is very much a step back in time to the old west and we visited Tombstone several times with different folks.

We left Benson around the middle of January, headed to Quartzsite, AZ to camp in the desert with a lot of other RVing buddies. Donna and I claimed the wheels, driving thru Tucson towards Q, so those rigs were driven by estrogen most of the way. We arrived in Quartzsite to meet Denny and Susie (and a bunch of other folks) at the Escapees Happy Hour site, where we played in the desert for many days, sharing campfires, stories and great meals everyday.

The desert and mountains surrounding it, provides such a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Despite the dust that does wear on you after a week or two, it is one of the loveliest of natures icons, and we love spending time, off the grid there in the Arizona desert.

And it is a lot of FUN! Since I am remiss in keeping up with my diary (blog), please visit Dennis and Carol to see a few of the shenanigans from our weeks in Q. (or blogs from some of the folks above!) Just remember, what happens in the desert, stays in the desert!!

Hugs and love from sunny Yuma!!

A Texas holiday behind us

Tommie Sue planned a wonderful Christmas week in Texas with fine seats in the magnificent Majestic Theatre to see the original Tuna Christmas. We laughed until we thought our sides would burst! It was a picture perfect day, sunny and seventy or so and we had a Mexican brunch then walked the Mercado….

…and strolled along the River Walk as twilight fell….

to view the lovely yuletime lights. Indeed, we had to stop for dessert at one of the cafes along the walk….

…more yummy treats!

Then we strolled to the see the Alamo in Christmas dress…

…and the Cinderella-esque carriages frequenting the square.

TS hosted a nice traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas day…it was a wonderful day, but I did miss the kids. Tiff requested her reservations for next year already and we made a date!! I’m pretty sure it won’t be in Texas…but Rio would be nice too! :)

Later in the week, we trekked to Llano, Texas to Coopers BarBQue, with Ken and Jan Tilton and Jo and Pete Peters and few other Spring Branch folks.

Now, THIS is a barbque place! Bob had one of those two pound pork chops…it was fabulous!! They smoke EVERYTHING…brisket, sirloin, pork, chicken, sausage and even goat!! After stuffing ourselves with smoked meat, we had to stop at the Bluebonnet Café in Marble Falls for Pie Happy Hour. I’ve heard about this place for several years and it was everything we'd hoped it would be…every kind of pie you can imagine…I had german chocolate and banana crème (1/2 of each!)…delicious!! A few more fun memories were made!!

And we had a lovely lunch with Paul & Mary and Sandy & John in Boerne before we left Spring Branch.

It was fun sharing laughs and conversation and we’ll see them before long down the road a ways, I’m sure.

So, the holiday season is over and the new year is here…West to Benson, Arizona is where we’ll be for a little while!!

Hugs to everyone!

Feliz Navidad….

After almost three weeks in Red Bay, Alabama, we pulled out of the Allegro Campground and headed South last Friday evening.  Needless to say, it was a happy day!!  

The weather was a dramatic improvement….seventies over fifties and lots of sunshine….glorious!!

  We spent a great weekend with Keith and Donna, eating really good Mexican food and playing Hand n Foot….Donna and I finally got the groove back…we won four out of five games (we had to let the guys win one!)  Since there has been a major women’s losing streak for about the last six months, we were really happy gals to score a win. 

We hated to leave them, but needed to get on to Spring Branch and Tommie Sue and Harrell’s,  so Monday we drove deeper  into Texas….everything in Texas is a six hour drive….unless it’s more!  It takes at least a day and a half to get  into or out of Texas…unless you’re going to El Paso and then it takes THREE days!  So six hours later we arrived at TS and Harrell’s lovely place in the Hill Country.   This is one of our favorite areas and the drive over 306 is so pretty.   The peeks at Canyon Lake from Devil’s Backbone are so beautiful…maybe one day we will capture it in a photo, but not yet!

We put our little LED lights on the tiny tree that sits on the credenza…

…put on the Christmas music, lit the Christmas candles and then put on our SHORTS to enjoy the eighty degree weather!

The sunshine and warmth feel so good after the cold days in Red Bay!  

It was great to see TS and Harrell and we have been busy making Escapade plans and visiting.

On a sad note, Cathie called yesterday with the very sad news that Joe had suffered an aneurysm and the prognosis was not good.  What a great loss of a truly wonderful man, as he succumbed early in the afternoon.   As the co-founder of the Escapees RV Club, he showed us all how to be better people and to share joy in life with all around you.  He will be missed by so many people.   Keep them all in your prayers, please.

I find myself missing the kids very much, but not the cold and snow back home. How’d you like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?     I would love it…and it’s still one of my favorite Christmas songs!

We wish wonderful Christmas blessings to everyone as we remember the reason for the season.   Hugs and love you all!

Red Bay, AL

Eight degrees yesterday morning in Red Bay....too cold for anywhere, is what I think about that!

We have been at Coldwater Inn in Tuscumbia, AL for the last ten days, and with the frigid weather that has been a good thing! It snowed almost all day Sunday, but no accumulation, thank heavens!! What is up with the weather??? Cold everywhere except where we are supposed to be!!

Dennis Hill http://rvdrivingschool.blogspot.com/ arrived Sunday to enjoy the cold weather. It sure was good to see a familiar face! We've had custody of the now almost famous "Little Green Man" since we left Abbeville....

....so we decided to return the little guy to his rightful owner! He has recovered nicely from his recent 'turtle napping' and hanging at the rally in Goshen. He really needs a jacket though...it's awfully cold outside!!

As an update, they should finish with the MH in the cabinet shop today! Yay....in the last ten days, they have replaced much of the tile floors and done a tremendous amount of cabinet and wall work; all of the technicians have done a nice job and we are pretty pleased. Today they should move it to the paint bay and bring the cleaners in, to get all the sawdust and grit cleaned out.

So, if the creek don't rise, we hope to be driving out of here on Friday....oh, happy day!!! :)

I am one of those that LOVE travel days...it is always exciting when Bob fires up the engine and I climb in my seat and buckle up...I can't wait to see what's coming up around the next turn, especially if it's new territory for us. Not to mention finding warmer weather and good friends ahead...leave the light on for us...the countdown is on!

Where in the world….

…have we been? Well, it’s something like this…from the Escapade in Goshen back to Virginia…. then on to the Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY with Paul and Katie. En route we experienced our first-ever break down in a motorhome…

and the great big tow truck delivered us to Lee-Hy Truck Stop in Lexington, VA where they installed an emergency belt on the engine and we were on our way the next day, none the worse for the wear.

It was a lovely time to drive through the mountains to Kentucky; the leaves were turning and the nights were brisk. We toured the Bourbon Trail stopping at the Wild Turkey plant…

Paul inspects some bourbon barrels in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Only spirits processed in Bourbon County can be labeled as bourbon…otherwise it’s just a whiskey!

We spent a good deal of time with Tiff and Scott up in Catonsville and then flew to San Juan, where the Celebrity Summit took us all on a cruise.

Scott and Tiff…

Trunk Bay, St. John…one of the loveliest beaches

Dinner on the ship was fun and delicious…

A view of the ship in St. Lucia Castries harbor…

Leaving Warsaw, we headed South to Abbeville, LA where some of us got caught in Betty’s web for the Thanksgiving week…

Recognize any of these guys???

How about now???

Keith, Bob, Dennis, Denny, Bob and Chuck-Bob hammed it up a little…Boss Hawg and Don were MIA in this photo! The time spent at Betty’s went by all too fast…it was wonderful spending time and just having fun there in Cajun country. The girls got beat consistently by the guys in Hand and Foot (‘nuff said!) and then it was time for us to head to….Red Bay, Alabama where we will be for a little while (that’s Alabama time, you know!) and then we will head West to the Texas Hill Country to see our good buddies Tommie Sue and Harrell.

The days fly by so quickly, it seems…thanks to all of you who emailed or called to check and see where in the world we’ve been; it’s always wonderful to hear from you! Big hugs to everyone!