A little trip

Hubby and I scheduled a week-end getaway and even though we had been to two of the places before it was still enjoyable. We headed up to Flagstaff and as is our tradition, we stopped at the Cliff Castle Casino for a "Johnny Rockets" hamburger. He tempts me with this so he can get in a little gambling on the way:) If you have followed my blog you know that I am a loser when it comes to gambling and hubby usual wins enough to cover me and himself so you can imagine how proud I was to find him and show him my ticket of winning $100.00 on a penny machine!!

 

 

Well he just smiled and showed me this and he had already won back all that he had put in so only Uncle Sam and tithe will come out.

We headed on up to the Twin Arrows Casino where we have stayed before (posted about it here) and was thrilled that it rained while we were there. Only problem, we couldn't open our window up on the top floor :(

It is a great place to stay and don't you love the mountain views...

 

If you look close you can see the train cars

 

Here are few things that caught my eye ....a metal Kachina

 

 

 

 Check out the cougar...

 

After a nice dinner and breakfast the next morning we headed to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I am a Native of Arizona and have been to the Canyon a few times but always on the south side as it is not as convenient or fast to travel to the north side.

 

  

 
 

 

Along the way is desolate land (our gift to the natives)but we kept headed towards the star:)

 How cool is that!

 

 

We saw this old restaurant/hotel called Lee's Ferry Lodge at the Vermillion Cliffs (can read about it on the link)

 

 

 

 

love the old rock work!

 

Decided it was a good place to stop for lunch. Was not disappointed, it was quaint and had good food however our first look at the waitress almost sent us running. I can only say that she looked just like a very tall, heavy man (baggy pants and a man's shirt) with a very long face and long hair but she ended up being not only a good server but funny too.

 

Don't you love the sign for the men's room?

 

 

 the locals eating here is a good sign. 

 

The road was curvy and continued up to the higher elevation until at last...green meadows and trees.

Now here is question for you.....How is a natural meadow created? Just look at that, it is as if someone drew a line and said "trees can grow here".

 

There were some areas that perhaps there was a reason due to the buffalo roaming.

The local story is that "Buffalo Jones" had these buffalo but they wouldn't stay in the area he had so he sold them to the state where they now roam.

 

As we made our way up we also went through miles and miles of burned out area due to a forest fire in 2012 

 such devastation.

 

 

We finally arrived at the entrance to the park...

 and was pleasantly surprised that since we are "Seniors" we not only didn't have to pay the $25.00 per car fee but rather paid $10.00 for a card that would let us and anyone in our car to enter any park in the U.S. free! How about that!

(to be cont.)

 

 

Heart warming

My daughter gave me this sign for Mother's Day and I put it in my office so I would easily remember that with it she sang.......

 

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy, when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

 

You wiped my butt, and cleaned my mess

You shopped with me for each prom dress

You stayed up late, and heard my woes

Thank you Mom for your sacrifice

 

Then I grew up and moved away

But in your heart I always stayed

Now grandkids see, all they can be

Through the eyes of your legacy

 

My sweet Mom, My sweetest Momma

You've always been here by my side

In all my searching you never left me

Thank you Mom for amazing grace

 

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy, when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

 

She's my girl and check out two of her bunnies in the background...they like how she sings too:)

 

 

 

Somethings to ponder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Shrimp and Rice

For a single serving:
All of the below and as much as you want....

Cooked stir fry frozen vegetables
Cooked white rice
Pre-cooked frozen jumbo shrimp thawed and sliced into chunks.

Mix all together and heat through. Add a little soy sauce to taste.

  Yum!

 

Stepping out on a limb

As most of you know I knit for charity but recently I was drawn to a pattern for myself and decided even though I do not normally knit anything very large I would give it a go.....

 

 

Well the first obstacle for me was that it called for silk yarn........

 

Yarns, yarns and more yarns so here is a question for my fellow blogger/knitters. Do you have a favorite luxury yarn and if so what is it?

Well the cost of the yarn was a bit overwhelming and then to think I had to do all the work and what if it doesn't fit????

I decided to just ignore all my warnings but try to find a silk yarn on ebay cheaper.

I found the amount of yarn I needed in this cashmere merino silk so I bought it.

I can't say that it looks expensive but it sure feels nice and it knits up nicer than other yarns I have used.

 

Do you use more expensive brand of yarns like for socks or certain projects? I have convinced myself that if the sweater doesn't work our I WILL find something to use up this yarn:) Wish me luck:)

 

The Great Ocean Road

If I could wiggle my nose and be transported somewhere....this is a place I would go.

A  coastal drive along Australia's southwestern shore that winds its way around rugged cliffs, through lush rainforests and windswept beaches.

A little history via the internet....
By the time of World War I, the rugged south-west coast of Victoria was accessible only by sea or rough bush track. Besides being dedicated as a memorial, it was also envisaged that the road would connect isolated settlements on the coast, and become a vital transport link for the timber industry and tourism

Construction on the road began on 19 September 1919, built by approximately 3,000 returned servicemen as a war memorial for fellow servicemen who had been killed in World War I. An advance survey team progressed through dense wilderness at approximately 3 kilometres a month. Construction was done by hand; using explosives, pick and shovel, wheel barrows, and some small machinery, and was at times perilous, with several workers killed on the job; the final sections along steep coastal mountains being the most difficult to work on.

 

 

 

What awesome beauty

 

 

and Koala to boot!