Fun and Family In the Sun

So good to be warm at last. Rock and I had two days of quality time with Danielle and just hung out. We met Dionne, Brian and Amya on Friday and got to see our baby walk (for our first time). We went to a very fun flea market but mostly watched Amya waving at everyone and walking up to them. She really is a very friendly little person and we don't wonder who she takes after! We then met Cliff and Sue at the baseball field to see a Mariners game. It was so hot that day that I mostly walked around. I did, however, get to see Ken Griffey hit his home run in between running after Amya. Danielle met us for Mexican food after the game. The whole weekend we just hung around Danielle's complex, which has two swimming pools, barbecue areas and all the amenities. Amya loved the water wall! Everything around Danielle is within walking distance, which is so nice. That day we took advantage of a bar and restaurant and were introduced to "Sake Bombers!" We never did make it to our baseball game that day, nor did we go out to dinner. I guess the DeWitts and Irvins were just having way too much fun. The Irvins left on Sunday and on Monday and Tuesday Rock and I just shopped, walked, and hung out. Danielle and I went to see "Confessions of a Shopoholic!" Hmmmmm. A very fun movie. Leave the men at home though. Rock was faced with the drive home Wednesday after spending our last night answering questions in a trivia game at an Irish Pub called "The Skeptical Chymist!" Talk about brain power lost!

My bikini from last Easter fits me now Grandma

Go Griffey

See me walk Grandpa and Grandma


Take me out to the ballgame.......

I like the bracelet you made me Aunty Danielle.

What are you drinking Grandpa?

Meet Sport and Muffin

And Tinks

You are so cute, I think I will give you a hug

Watch out everyone, here I come.

Watch out everyone, here I come.

Sliding Out to Arizona

Well, we "slid" out as planned on March 16 although on Sunday it was doubtful as to whether we would be able to leave!! Rock just drove like a crazy person getting us to Medford to spend our first night with Katie and Mike Morrow (Susan's daughter and son-in-law). We had a very nice visit while eating pizza Katie had ordered in. Sorry Heysus, that I was the first to see the wedding album...We left next morning and drove straight down I-5. This day Rock was more crazy than the day before and just kept going and going till we came to the "stopover" town only one hour away from Phoenix. Yes, good old Blythe. I will not forget this town as all we could find at 2 a.m. was the "Roach" Motel! Oh well, I was too tired to look at scuzzyville anyway....I-5 is really boring (and all I saw were a few rolling hills) especially when you can't even stop to take a picture. By the way, most of my pictures were taken from a moving vehicle out of the window on this trip (except for the family of course!). I can only say Rock must really miss his driving. We got to Arizona on the 18th as planned and were so happy to see Danielle and meet Tinks, my new grand dog!


I see Phoenix (through groggy eyes)

I like my new Grandpa

Trying to "Skid" Outta here to Warmth!!

Well, our "summer" car is parked quite a way from our house and is pretty much snowed in for
the winter, however, last day before leaving, Rock finally gets around to see if and how we can get it out. First he hires ($50) later, a guy who sometimes plows our driveway, to "dig" it out, knowing full well that his truck is unreliable and that a plow could not push ice too well. He told Rock that yesterday! So, half way of going up and down, his clutch blows out!! Now we have his truck stuck in our driveway to the red car! Apparently most of us on the Res, at this time, need something to do, even me, blogging away, rather than packing, so here come at least a family of 7, but Rock did find out that the Dad has a "skidder!" Looks as if the skidder, will skid right past our orchard to the shed that houses the red "summer" car so we can head South tomorrow, after all! Guess the skidder had to move the stuck truck out of the way first!! Going to pack now and will be reporting about sunshine and warmth in a couple of weeks. Oh, and by the way, typical Rock style, it is now 5 p.m. and I never did go and pack, still need to pack, however, I just had all the "res"idents on a home tour and beer was handed out! "Will work for Beer!" That's good, as now at least I have the car for tomorrow and the total cost was $50, even though that went to the guy whose truck got stuck!! You gotta love the "Rock"!

Now I know what a "Skidder is! Look at the
tires on that sucker!

The "stuck" truck, oh well, the locals "res"idents have something to do on a white Sunday!

Skidder to the rescue! No wonder it was able to
climb and glide over ice!

This truck apparently didn't make it!

VOILA!!!! The little red car, sunshine here we come!

Happy to see the Plow Man

We don't have a plow, however, we are so grateful that we do have a reliable neighbor, who owns one. He is over today trying to plow the driveway to where our red car is parked, so we can get in it tomorrow and drive to Arizona. Usually at this time of year, my crocuses are up!! Now, I am still seeing white, white and more white!! By the way, I say reliable, as that is an unusual asset around here on the Colville Indian Reservation!! Wish us luck. Well, see the above posting and you will notice that all the luck in the world would not have helped our reliable neighbor, but all turned out well!


You go Cloud, we need to go to warm weather!


All roads need to lead to Arizona!

Bye Bye Rocky Mountains and Moores

Do you love the Moore Lodge?


Stairway to the third floor!

Finally, some snow where it should be!

For all those Google fans, I know I couldn't live without Google!

!

Golden Gate Canyon State Park as seen on a trip to the dump

The Front Range and Gateway to the Indian Peaks

Rockies Expresso in Spokane!! Brrrrr....

More snow next day! Bring back the land!

Just when I was starting to see land!

Well, Susan is making great progress with her new knee and that is wonderful news. Amya is walking around everywhere now and that is wonderful news. I got to see her on Skype and then again when I came home to cold Washington. We finally had a little snow in Colorado, but still warm, sitting in the sun days. Dear Larry took Susan and I out again, uphill!! We went to a restaurant called Wundervue and no doubt the views from up there, of the Front Range (Indian Peaks), were amazing. Good Mexican food and margaritas too. A couple of days before I left, Larry took me to meet Zach who works for Google and oh my, what an experience that was. I would have loved to work for a company like that as would many people I am sure. A progressive, upbeat, treat their employees well company. Way to go Zach and keep that Google Earth expanding to encompass the entire world!! Hope to see my house on there soon. Rock picked me up at the airport in Spokane in the snow! Came home late that night and did have a whole week of bright sunshine, but cold. Today it snowed and Rock is planning our route to Phoenix as there seems to be snow around here and there, no matter what way we go. Oh well, all I can think about is that in a few days I will be in warm temperatures and warm nights. We are excited to see Danielle and Chad and Brian, Dionne and Amya will join us for a couple of days. We have two Mariners Spring training games to attend and will meet Cliff, Sue, Jeanne and Dennis after one of the games for Mexican food. I will be back with Arizona news and pictures, no doubt. Hopefully when we get back at the end of this month, the snow will have melted and Spring is in the air!!

March 2009

Well, February ended in Sunny Colorado with beautiful sunsets over the mountains. Whenever I am here with Susan and Larry (our best friends), I call my time here "Rocky Mountain High!" It is just beautiful in these mountains. They live at around 8,000 feet and so it is either we go down, which is into town, the town being Boulder and other small towns around, or up, to this little mountain town called Nederland, the gateway to the Indian Peaks (the Front Range). A couple of nights ago, we had dinner in this quaint restaurant/lodge, which is at around 9,000 feet and I was able to catch the most beautiful sunset over the mountains. Now, if that isn't a "Rocky Mountain High!" I could also see a ski area called Eldora, which is where their youngest son, Zach, spends a lot of time snowboarding. The highlight of this trip, besides the beautiful sunset, was that we saw three large herds of Elk on our way, and I had the best Brie Burger and Fries, so now Rock can stop talking about that burger, as he had it a couple of times with Larry, on previous visits here. Susan had knee replacement surgery and it has been my pleasure to help Larry take care of her in her recovery. We wish you a speedy recovery Heysus. Larry left for one of his trips this morning and will be gone for a week. When he gets back, I leave for home, Saturday. Zach works for Google and before I leave Saturday, we are meeting him for a tour of the Google offices in Boulder. Next week he will be in California where they are head quartered. I am excited to do this as, like many of you, I couldn't live without Google!! Sounds as if I will be getting great pictures from his office of the Flat Irons, which is a beautiful mountain range. I am sure I will be back from Keller with the "Google" experience. This coming week, Susan has physical therapy three times, so I will accompany her and Andrea, her friend, will drive us in to town. If Susan is up to it, we will do lunch one of the times and perhaps a movie. I have been able to go with her sister Kayda to a couple of movies, that were nominated in various categories for this year's Oscars, so that has been great to be able to catch up with movies. We have also watched many here, thanks to Netflix. Of course, last Sunday was my "Superbowl!" We had a wonderful Oscar night with good food, good wine and most of all good company.


A view of the "Moore Lodge" from the upper deck

"S'Moore Lodge!






Wow, what a Sunset over the Rockies!






Look at these beautiful animals


"Quivering Aspirins!" In Moore language this means
"Quaking Aspens!"

Kayda adding to the Oscar feast!


"S'Moore Lodge shots!

The Gazebo and the "Gabito", which in Moore
language is small "Gazebo!"