Wheat Field

I borrowed this picture this morning. It reminded me of the time I spent in Montana as a kid visiting my Grandparents. Montana is flat and when the wind blows the wheat field looks like waves of water and the smell.......................you will never forget the wonderful clean fresh smell. Thanks for the memory Kidscattleblog.

Timeshare

Wyndham Kona Hawaiin Resort

Several years ago while on a vacation to the big Island of Hawaii my hubby and I bought this timeshare. We have never stayed here but rather have traded it in every year to go to a different location. Our first trade was to Whistler, Canada then Panama, then Branson, Mo. and then Mederia, Portugal. This year we are hoping to go to Quebec, Canada.

Now we have had our timeshare long enough that it is paid for with the exception of the yearly upkeep fee and the exchange fee required if we go with a bigger company like RCI but here is some advice if you have never owned one and are thinking of doing so.

1. If you are not really open on your travel dates.......forget it. Even with giving any travel time for one whole month, it is still a maybe to get into your desired location.

2. NEVER buy a brand new one. There are many, many for sale at a much cheaper rate for people that have become disenchanted with them (Be sure and use a licenced Realitor).

3. Know your reason for buying one....is it to travel around the world or is it to go back to the same location that you dearly love year after year...the last one is the best reason because you will not have any need to make exchanges and are assured your yearly trip.

4. Try to buy one that is in one of the larger groups like Wordlmark. You have more opportunity to be able to make a trade within your own group and not have to use the RCI group which allows you to trade with all groups and requires not only an exchange fee but also a yearly membership fee as well.

5. Never buy one below a gold rating (that means the desirably of it and gives you a greater exchange power and resale value).

I don't think that this has been the best financial endeavour we have gotten involved with and we have considered selling it a few times but I always go back to one fact........it encourages us to go somewhere we may never had gone had we not had it:)

HAPPY TRAILS.........................................................................................

Celebration of Independence

http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh289/Impish_Dragon/?action=view&current=Untitled.flv

Issue changes

For months on end all we heard was the controversy of the war....should we have gone in, are we winning, when will we leave, why did it start, what was the goal...................

Now we have a new song to sing:

I recently heard someone on TV make the statement that maybe our gas woes was good for us..............I think I may agree with that statement, we are indeed the most blessed country in the world and the biggest whiners ever! Typically we blame someone else..............but the truth is, out of sight out of mind. Ten years ago congress tried to get the okay to start drilling but President Clinton veto it. If we would have drilled then, we would have the oil we need today and be able to tell these other countries to take their barrel of oil and you know what but people are still singing the same old song...."Even if we start drilling today we won't get any oil for 2,5,10 years". Well, maybe it isn't just about us and fortunately there are some who's song and life reveals this truth. http://g.dwgsee.com/wake/index.htm

Movie

Friday's are our movie day if we are in town but yesterday there was absolutely nothing playing that I wanted to see and to top it off my hubby is on a get-a-way so I was really wanting to go to get out of the house and eat popcorn. I came up with an idea......................................
I will go to the library and rent some movies, enough to keep me busy all week-end and pop my own popcorn. Well, I guess a lot of people had the same idea because just getting up to the movie section was a wait in line type deal so just quickly grabbed a few that looked like they might be of interest. Now most of the movies that you can get from the library are old but then sometimes the oldies are the best.
After a quick bite out, I came home to and sat down to wine and a movie:
Half way through I was crying and accidental bumped the remote control and it stopped the movie mailto:#$@#%$%^%
Well, it was late so I just went to bed. Got up this morning and decided that I really wanted to see the ending and thought I would fast forward the part I already saw...........nope, watched it all over again and still cried so it was the movie, not the wine.
Really a good movie and touches so many issues in life. If you haven't seen it....get your Kleenex and get it:)

Just when you thought you were too old to learn a new skill!

Travels

It is a long ways from Arizona to Providence, RI


I went on a tour with http://www.elderhostel.org/

People ask me why would I go on trips without my hubby.....well, this is the deal. I have been married for over 41 years now and have not done much on my own sooooooooooo I just thought it was time I got stretched a bit and have put myself in these situations. I would like to tell you how wonderful and fun it always is but it is also very hard and sometimes uncomfortable but what I can tell you.........I ALWAYS learn.


I have started a little travel journal and in the back I put things I have learned and most of the time it has something to do with assuming. For example it said "Breakfast at a nearby restaurant". I assumed it might be next door? Well, it was 3/4 mile uphill and had to cross a four lane road on your own.

Free time really means......you are on you own to find your own way around and try to figure out what you are seeing. Shoppers love this category and feel very safe in stores....sightseers on the other hand simple feel lost or at least I do.

People over-all are good people.....maybe they are different from yourself but they mostly are good people and some are exceptional. One lady from Utah had a huge impact on me....she was at least 10 years older than I, never married, no children and she simply bubbled with joy no matter the situation. This was her 48th elderhostel trip not including many other places she had traveled! and she sent back 60 post cards to her many friends. Her traveling companion was a person who had learned to continue on after losing her husband that was the light of her life for 59 years. These are people I can look up to and hope to attain to.


One of my favorite things on this tour was the trip to the Whalers Museum In New Bedford. The displays were awesome!
This is a scrimshaw done on a whales tooth.

This is a replica of a sail ship used for whaling.

A sampler of crochet

Another favorite was the SE Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard.

Not only was this a beautiful lighthouse but we watched a movie prior on the bus that showed how they had saved it from falling into the ocean because of the coastline erosion. They moved it 300 feet in one piece and it was connected to the house you see. It cost 2.5 million to do so and was an amazing feat. To top it all we were able to go up in the light house and what a sight that was!!

It is rare to be allowed next to the prisms that reflect the light

and the only thing you can say about the view........beautiful:)

The touring of Newport mansions was also part of this tour and the best one for me was the behind the scenes of the Elms mansion. Twenty workers lived on the top three floors and functioned in a way so that they were never seen by the visitors. It appeared that this huge mansion ran itself. The gardens and grounds were breathtaking as exampled from this roof view:

It is hard to imagine the lifestyle these people had. Millions and millions of dollars were spent on these mansions with full time staff and they only were here 8 weeks out of a year. The most over the top one was the 70 room Breakers mansion (Vanderbelts). It was almost nauseating for all the gold and glitz but mansions became a competition. You should see how many are for sale now and many have been torn down because no one can even afford the taxes much less the upkeep.

I have found when I travel alone that one of the things I enjoy the most is simply having my own room:) If you are married, you know that there is always a give and take as it should be but on your own....it is all take. Warning though, if you are bored or dissatisfied you have no one to blame but yourself :)

Will I continue my travels alone? Absolutely! I come home a better more grateful person and it is wonderful to see just how big the world is and varied apart from my own little cocoon:)
Maybe you aren't in a position to travel or don't want to but I do encourage you to find something that stretches you....living things grow.

Happy Trails!

Off again

Yep, that's me headed to a tour "Explorations of the Southern England Islands". It will be a bit of a culture shock since it is 102 here and the temp's there are in the low 70's with rain.
You know they say pack light...........since United is now charging $15..00 per bag you check that isn't a problem. Here is a tip for anyone that travels a lot....keep an extra makeup bag and nightly cleanser bag always packed, then all you need to do is re-fill and add clothes.

Why I don't go to the beach

Now I would be doing good if I could suck it in this much and it might be worth the pain:)

From Mexico to Vertigo cont.

Sunday's schedule was the 7 hour Sierra Madre Expedition tour. First a taxi to the Marina and check in...then we climbed into the Mercedes Benz/

See those hand holds hanging down from the top? We put them to good use......over hills, over water, over tree roots and etc. Talk about power....these trucks were amazing...our job was just to hang on.


Now you need to know that for some odd reason my hubby was the only man on the tour and all but two of the women were 40 yrs. and up.....one lady was in her 70's if she was a day. So here you have my hubby, a Mexican driver that didn't seem to speak a lot of English and our very young tour guide

and we are heading into the jungle.

A large part of the tour was him explaining how the Mexican people lived and I was amazed how resourceful they are!

One example was a tree that had a vine like thing on it that was like cork...you could cut a small piece of it off and chew it and it would relieve pain, like a headache. He told us scientist found that it had the same ingredients as Ibuprofen.
Our guide (Fabio) was the best......he was very knowledgeable and funny and took good care us. The end of the tour was lunch on a private beach and I am not talking cold sandwiches....it was a feast with a view........................................................................

Monday was the plane ride home and out to dinner with our kids............................Tues. morning I awoke with my head spinning and wanting to throw up.............all I could think of is that I had contracted some strange monkey disease!! After several days of it I went to the Doctor and found out I had vertigo. Now some people think this is a joke but if you ever really have it....you won't be laughing. It has been a week and a half and I still fell off balance at times. It really didn't have anything to do with being in Mexico but thought it was kind of cleaver.....Mexico to Vertigo:)

From Mexico to Vertigo cont.

Sat. was a lay back day........coffee on the balcony, a walk on the beach, a nice quiet breakfast next to the beach and some book reading and napping.

Our plans for the evening were to go to the El Faro lighthouse

for a drink and the view. It really is awesome, I had never been up in a lighthouse before and was totally thrilled when I saw there was an elevator!!!!!! Talk about some stairs:) We opted to have dinner there in the Marina and I order rock lobster.......................It was delicious!!!! I understand that in some parts of the country this is a crawfish? That doesn't sound too good....think it will just be a rock lobster to me.

Then back to the hotel for the evening breeze and a metropolitan (their idea of a chocolate martini)..................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

(more to come)

From Mexico to Vertigo cont.

No, I had never been on a canopy tour and a zip line but it sounded fun and I have come to the conclusion if you think you might like to do something...at this age you best go ahead and do it!

Yes, we were the oldest people in the group but the advantage...they were very nice to this chunky old lady:) First you go into this little staging area and in a flash you have on the harness, gloves and helmet (which makes everyone look stupid by the way). Next comes some quick instruction and a few safety tips and you are one your way..............................

Now, what I hadn't thought of that in order to get to those wonderful HIGH zip lines, you have to climb, climb, climb and climb. That indeed was the hardest part and especially since the weather was near 80 with 70% humidity, but let me tell you.....it was worth it!! The staff was so very nice to me...the pulley weighed around 25 lbs and you were to carry your own but they always carried mine for me (I am sure that my beat red face helped them feel sorry for me), but honestly the staff was really great. There was a total of 14 zip lines with each getting higher and faster. I would do it again in a minute if they install elevators haha.

After you are done you are back at the staging area and everything is removed and nice clean hand wipes helps you feel refreshed. You then go into the Cantina to have a shot of Tequila (if you are brave enough) and then free to go into the Jungle Restaurant for lunch or swim in the river with water slide and all. The bus and tour runs every hour so we had decided to have a nice leisure lunch at the restaurant Down below is where you could go swimming and a couple of the girls on our tour did. There was another area up to the left of the restaurant where they had some monkeys in cages and a python that you could put around your neck if you wanted (I passed) but you could also go into one of the monkey cages and feed these two little squirrel like monkeys.....I opted to do that. The girl that went in with me was not that impressed so wanted out but I was just fascinated with them...they would jump on your shoulder and eat and etc. I asked the man if I could stay in and feed them some more and he said no problem....he forgot to give me more food but low and behold the one little monkey decided he liked me and came and sat on my shoulder without the food...next he was on my head giving me a good grooming, he checked in my pants pocket to be sure there was nothing there, he gave me a hug and.....................................................................................................................

cuddled under my chin, laid on his back in my hand and folks.......I fell in love. He was the sweetest thing ever and if I could have I would have brought him home.

___________________________________________________________________

Now I have debated whether to share the next part of this tour because the last thing I want is to leave a negative view of Puerta Vallarta or this tour but I have decided to tell the rest of the story but please read all of it...........................................................

As I was getting ready to leave the little monkey cage we heard a loud blast and then suddenly two more small ones. The next thing we knew people were running out of the restaurant in a panic and the guy was hollering at us to get out of the cage. We were all herded up a dirt road away from the buildings. No one seemed to know what had happened but it obviously was not something good. A lot of people were saying all kinds of things and some people were responding in such a stupid manner, like saying, well we are all fine so we can just relax etc.

To make a very long story short the Bandito's got information that it was Friday (payday) and there would be a lot of cash on hand so they came down from the jungle and robbed the Cantina, one of the drivers tried to stop them and he was shot and killed. From sharing this with you these are the things I want you to take with you...............................

Bad things happen everywhere

Mexico is a anti-gun country......which really means that only the bad guys have guns, not the good guys and there aren't enough cops to be everywhere.

They got the buses ready as quick as they could and drove us back to the city, as we departed from the bus one of the guys ahead of me told the driver he was sorry....the driver was near tears and said "He was my best friend". So the last thing I leave with you is that even in the mist of such tragedy they did everything to keep us (tourist) safe. This isn't something you just shake off and my heart goes out to them even now.

Now you may call us crazy but we had another tour scheduled on Sunday that was going to take us into the jungle and .....................................................................yes, we went.

(more to come)

From Mexico to Vertigo

For 41 years we have shared joined hands and to celebrate we decided to go to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We had gone here over eight years ago and it was our first trip to Mexico....we were scared out of our wits and did nothing but stay at the hotel, thus deciding we didn't like it here. Well, we have since become a little more seasoned and decided to give it another try.

Our idea of a great time is to take some tours and try some different restaurants and mingle with the locals, as well as taking naps and eating chips and salsa and drinking margarita's:)

My first tidbit of info will be that when you arrive at the airport keep walking to the exit no matter what anyone says to you!!!!!!!!! The timeshare sharks are horrible there...When you get to the exit you will see the wanted sign......Taxi.

Amazingly I choose the very same hotel to stay in that I had chosen all those years earlier and didn't realize it until I was showing my hubby some pictures of it and he remember it:) We still like the sounds of it so opted to stay there again. I am so glad we did........The Fiesta Americana was wonderful. There was always a wonderful breeze in the lobby and upper bar and in the afternoon heat and humidity of the area it is most welcomed. We were amazed at the comfort of the beds and pillows...if you have traveled in Mexico you will know it is renowned for hard beds and flat pillows:) and three of our meals were eaten here and were some of the best.
Our balcony view. To the right was the ocean and across the way the city and below the pool.

As I said before we like to go on tours and eat at different restaurants and of course I try to do a little research before we go.

One restaurant that caught my attention was Cafe des Artiestes so on our first night this was where we headed. It was downtown so of course the taxi ride was exciting to say the least. We sat in the bar for a while and chatted with the little bartender girl who was amazed we had been married so long (she was all of 21 years old) and she surprised us with this little treat.......

Isn't it amazing how people will go out of their way to make you feel special????? The thing that attracted me to this restaurant was that it was to be like having dinner in the jungle....true enough it was all of that and more, I forgot that the jungle included the hot humid temp as well but even so it was a great time.

Our next day was our first tour.........Los Veranos canopy tours (check out the video on this site).

yep, flying through the jungle on zip lines!

(more to come)

Award

I have recieved my very first award and I have to say.....................................

I am thrilled!

Thank you Kittyjustice

How did we get here?

WRITTEN BY A 15 yr. old SCHOOL KID IN ARIZONA :

Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore because the word 'God' is mentioned....A kid in Arizona wrote the attached:

NEW School prayer :

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

In Memory

A Lesson For Americans by Mike Dalka
My Grandfather was a glider infantryman in WWII, an advisor in Korea, and lost one of his sons, my uncle Gary Edwards, in Vietnam. I worked in his auto repair station during high school and he flew his flag in front daily. One day while I was sweeping the oil dry out of the bays it began to sprinkle rain. He told me to go get the flag and I said "gimme a second." He said, "It is raining, go get the flag NOW." Well I popped off my mouth about how he should cool it, it isn't going to melt or some such typical teenage comment.
My grandfather is the toughest man I've ever met. He explained once that he thought basic training was some sort of country club during WWII, because he was used to hard work anyway, and at home he didn't have indoor toilets or hot running water! And when I said whatever it was that I said to him, he turned deep crimson and I thought, "God save me, he's going to kill me for talking back." Instead tears welled up in his eyes and he squeaked out "You don't understand what this family has paid for the right to fly that flag." Then he turned his back on me and went out and got the flag. I just stood there feeling like the smallest person to ever live. Those words cut me so deep. I wish the entire country could have heard them.
[ I ] hope that this Nation might yet have enough people who understand the cost of liberty to turn things around.

Pray for our troops, thank a veteran and fly the flag that represents the land of the free.

Around Town

Chloride, Arizona.....never heard of it?



This popular song was filmed there Seven Spanish Angels (takes a while to load but worth the wait).

An old ghost town that began in 1860 with the draw of silver. It was serviced by the Butterfield Stage and holds whispers on high..........................

Do you know

Do you know the names of these when they are babies?

1. Rhino

2. Rooster

3. Seal

4. Shark

Breakfast

In our Red Hatters group the custom is that the person or persons with a birthday in the current month plans an outing...usually lunch. I was the only May birthday and chose to have a breakfast at the Lakes Restaurant. The timing was perfect, not too hot, a wonderful breeze and a gorgeous view.

This is a sunset picture but early morning is just as pretty.

Think I might consider inviting friends out for breakfast more often. How about you, do you usually do lunch with friends? Have you ever done breakfast?

Give a Hoot!

Hopefully you have a desire look out for the welfare of others as well as caring for your own and here are just a few opportunities to do that. Click on the click everyday , (also on this web page) and you will see that there are several organizations listed on the top....each one can be clicked on and responded to in less than a minute. Go one step further to Let's say thanks and send a card to one of our soldiers that is serving for our freedom. All in all it takes less than three minutes and can make a difference in a life.

Babies

This is the season to share pictures of babies and here is mine

(click to enlarge)

You will have to look hard but there are 10 baby quail with mom and dad:)

Interpretation

I picked up this little book for 49 cents and it has been a fun little read but I discovered a long time ago that statements could mean one thing to one person and a totally different thing to a different person so I am asking you for your interpretation of this little statement: "Don't burn down your house to kill a rat" found on page 41.

A shopping headache

Well the old washing machine bit the dust and I can't complain because it has been washing for nearly 20 years:)

The dryer sitting in the back is 16 years old so obviously we needed to buy a set. Simple right???

The newest and best thing is the front loaders...saves water and energy and etc.

What they don't tell you is that there is no control panel on top so they sit below the standard hook ups! So even if you didn't think you wanted to buy the extra pedestals to sit them on you now have a very ugly view............ so it is off to the store to buy the pedestals but wait there is more..................

My son-in-law pointed out that the way the hook ups are the washer is on the right and the dryer on the left and when you open the doors...............

So the solution? Buy an extra long hose and switch them so off to the store.........and people don't understand why I hate to go shopping. Please forgive me for grumbling..I know I should be thankful but 20 years ago things were so much more simple...buy it, hook it up, slide them in.

Cinco de Mayo

May 5th is a day of celebrations. Many Mexican restaurants have special menu's and activities to celebrate this Historical day and in Scottsdale there is a parade and much more. Click here to find out more about the origin of this holiday.


Do you celebrate this holiday in your area or is it only in places close to Mexico?

Success!!!!

Our party came out without a hitch and everyone came plus a few surprises:)

The weather cooperated and did not have high winds like we have been having, so we were able to light the torches and all the candles etc.

Our theme was a Mexican Fiesta and we ordered food platters of tacos, flatus's chimi's and of course, chips and salsa. I added a chicken enchilada casserole and trimmings of lettuce, tomato, olives, and hot chili's.

The highlight of the party was the cakes....My daughter had the idea of using the colors in our napkins and plates which were very bright purple, lime green, hot pink, and gold to name a few to use for the colors of the cakes and each one was a different flavor.....Strawberry cake with Bavarian cream filling and butter cream frosting, Yellow cake with raspberry filling and butter cream icing, Marble cake with chocolate mousse filling and whipped cream icing and last.....white cake with lemon filling and whipped cream icing:) One for each birthday star and here they are:

See how they match the plates in the center?

They turned out so pretty and I was the hot pink!!

One of the birthday boys provided a full bar and bar tended for the evening....that was a hit:)

It was worth all the work and of course.........today is clean up:)