Happy New Year!

Hey, Happy New Year. Here's our big night out!
Check me out by clicking the link below.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=7b4df3f06ab022b85d2984eG06123018

Christmas and 16 Inches of SNOW in Albuquerque!

These pictures show lOTS OF SNOW in Albuquerque, even on cactus! It was the worst snow in Albuquerque history-from 16-36 inches in some places. They were out of snowshovels so Ron made the wooden one to shovel us out. All the highways are closed so we can't escape even if we wanted to! But, there's something beautiful about this winter storm when you know you'll be back in AZ soon!

It's been a great holiday with Jamie and Eric. Jamie is teaching me how to cook. Maybe now we won't throw so much food away. If she can do this, she's a miracle worker!

Gcast Demonstration-The intro and ending were created in Audacity and the middle was recorded on my phone. Add them together in the playlist manager!

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Ron and Carlene at Grand Canyon Video

Travels on the Apache Trail to Tortilla Flats

The mountains were beautiful on this sunny day. We started our journey today at Cave Creek and Carefree, northeast of Phoenix. The towns were interesting western towns.

But, then Wow! We then traveled southeast of Phoenix to the Apache Trail. It took us down a long narrow winding mountainous road with many cacti in the surrounding cliffs. We had lunch at Tortilla Flats, population 6. Check out their website: http://www.tortillaflataz.com

Then we ended our journey at an old mining area and headed home, Leona and Chuck both snoring away!

Verde Canyon Train Trip

We went for a four hour train ride in Verde Canyon. It was a ride through a beautiful mountain region with high canyons and a river. We were mostly in the open air car and often we had red cliffs on all sides of us.

The pictures will tell it all. What a great time!

Up in the Mountains by way of Prescott, Sedona and Montezuma

This was another great day for the adventurous foursome. We found that same hitchhiker and Chuck insisted on feeding him. Leona babied him!
We went through the mountains at Prescott where Leona said she didn't like mountains any more. They were a little scary on her side of the car!


Then we climbed the rocks. Boy! Can that Chuck climb! Take a look at him up there!
See that red shirt in the next picture? That's the climbing monkey!


Then we went to the red rocks of Sedona.
What beautiful mountains!

We finished the day at Montezuma's Castle-
Native American ruins.
Here's Chuck in the wonderful sunshine!

Here's Leona and Chuck at the beautiful neighborhood pool. They love it here!

Today we had to take a break from travel so we enjoyed the sunny 80 degree weather by going for a walk, swimming and sitting outside all day. We played cards outside on the patio table but Ron and Chuck just can't win gracefully. They danced around the patio table when they beat us at cards again! I think they must cheat! They aren't very good really.

Grand Day! Oh, My!

Brother Chuck and Sister Leona are here for a visit so today we went for a day trip to the grandest of places-the Grand Canyon. It was a great sunny day, we even had a picnic at the park.

Chuck without the railing.

Ron and Carlene, happy as usual.

Leona all bundled up in 55 degrees at this coldest of places.

Tomorrow we go to the pool and then we are off to many other places.
Keep watching for updates of the trips of this wild bunch.

Native American Art from Sky City!

This is a link to Sky City information:
http://www.collectorsguide.com/ab/abfa22.html



Salina Sanchez made these pots. She learned the art from her mother in law. Here is some of our art that we acquired at the Sky City Cultural Center. It is hand made from clay in this area and painted by the Acoma. They use yucca branches that are chewed very small to make brushes to paint the fine lines.




These are zuni carvings. Each fetish is believed to have a spirit within.
Here is a link with info on the background of the fetishes.
http://www.indiansummer.com/fetishes.htlm



This is a storyteller. It was not made by native americans but was made by a local potter.
It reminds me of my love of storytelling and all the children I have taught.

Sky High!

We had a sky high Thanksgiving at Eric and Jamie's house in Albuquerque. Jamie made a wonderful dinner and we were able to visit for a couple days at their beautiful home.

On our travels, we drove through the mountain curves at speeds well above my tolerance level. We also went through the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert area. I was in my glory at the rock places. We will spend more time there later when my brother and sister come to visit next week.

We visited the Zuni pueblo and purchased traditional stone carvings. Everywhere you go here, it is steeped in culture and history.

On the way back, we spent most of our time at the Sky City Cultural Center in Acoma, New Mexico. Sky City is 370 feet above the desert floor and for 2,000 years has been the homeland to Acoma people. The pueblo has clay adobes built in a city on a high rock. It is amazing. They were having an art show complete with potters, storytellers and traditional dancers. We were very fortunate to have discussions with some of the artists and to be able to acquire some of their work. We have some nice videos and pictures of the potters and storytellers. I have an autographed copy of a coyote tale. I think this trickster is becoming one of my favorite characters.

Back to the Mountains...but through the desert!

Today we went north of Phoenix again to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon near Flagstaff. On the way, we saw lots of tall cacti and we imagined all sorts of things in them, like you do when you look at clouds. You don't want to know what Ron saw. The canyon was beautiful with red cliffs, a river running through it and lots of very narrow places (side of the cliff type) to park to take pictures.

By the way, I talked to my Mi sister, Leona today and she said that she hasn't seen the sun in 5 days. I told Ron and he said "my heart goes out to them" as he laughed uncontrollably.

Too much fun?

Well, we are still having fun-I played tennis, went to the pool and played some frisbee with Jack. But I couldn't do much else...too sore! My whole body aches from all this activity. I may have to find some bad weather so that I don't have too many activities scheduled!

Mountain Time

Today we went to Prescott and the red rocks of Sedona. It was a great day. The only issue was the brakes were not behaving -making noises - so we didn't explore too much but it's just a couple hours a way so we will go back soon.

But somehow we picked up this annoying hitchhiker pictured below. Looks alot like Ron, don't you think? How do I have the knack for picking up such characters?!

Tennis, anyone?

We have moved into our new digs and are pleased as punch. The weather is absolutely beautiful with sunshine every day. We played tennis this morning and got beat by some old people but they were sneaky! Tonight we go to the neighborhood pool party and tomorrow we're off to Preston and Sedona to enjoy the cool mountains. We'll just have to miss the tennis party-whoa-way lots to do!
This morning on the way back from tennis we saw 5 coyotes together on the golf course, just enjoying the shade of the trees and wandering around the golfers. What a surprise! Ron says they are urban coyotes. That's what you see in the picture. On top of all that, we saw two monarchs already. This place is amazing!

I have been continuing learning on the computer-learning how to use a free video phone through skype. (PC World Article with resources: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123758-page,1/article.html and download skype here: http://www.skype.com) Free calls anywhere on your computer and just pick up a cheap computer camera and you're all set! You can make an interesting character talk instead of you-check out this free download: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/videoeffects/welcome/US/EN,crid=2354&categoryid=446
You need the right camera but there's one on the list for $79 which is pretty reasonable.

Well, enough computer stuff...we're off to something new!

Phoenix

Well, we spent a great few days with Jamie and Eric. It was wonderful to see them again and doing so well. The drive to the Phoenix area was beautiful with lots of mountains to explore in the coming days. We arrived in Peoria today in Eversole's beautiful home. The neighbors have been over already to welcome us. There is only one problem. It is so nice that there is not a good place for poor Jack to do his job. We sure are country people. Oh, well. We will just figure something out.
We are locating the fitness center, pools and tennis courts and I, of course, am finding the malls. Can't wait to explore the mountain areas. Hope we have all those visitors this winter. You will love it here.
Ron and Carlene, still happy after 39 years together!!!

The Adventure Begins

We took off from Michigan today with the van filled to the top with things to help us with our adventures-wetsuits, flippers, bicycles, hiking boots, winter and summer clothes. Jack and pinhead were packed in the back seat and we all made the v-formation for our wintering in the south west. We are west of St. Louis for our first night. The only wildlife today were other birds flying south and a couple coyotes running in the field. We hope to get to Albuquerque on Nov. 4 in time to spend our 39th anniversary with Eric and Jamie. And so the adventure begins...