Here it is June 7 already. Virgil is off at chain saw certification class. Tish and I had to cut 180 2 ft. squares of weed block fabric for Carole J. for the new trees she planted up to Savanac with a childrens group.  That was fun!  We have been keeping very busy. Last trip was to Up Up Lookup tower to see if  the snow was gone.  What a fun trip. Lots of trees and rocks in the road from the winter. This is a one lane mountain road so passing obstacles can be a little unnerving.  Plus it was going to storm.  We did make it. Some snow banks still left on the sides of the road but doable. They hope to have it open by the 15th for rentals.
 We have many jobs on our list already.  Painting here at the work center.  There is a new bear proof shed to keep the trash barrels in that has to be done. Then more bases for the trash barrels at the campgrounds to be built..  There have been some bear problems already.  We have not seen any this year yet.  Lots of mowing and raking.  We are doing dispersed camp spots in the  mountains.  We have to check them on a regular basis for trash left behind.  That means lots of riding.
 We do have a crew cab pickup this time.  Now we can  travel in comfort most of the time.
 Other jobs are a fence here around the propane tank, signs to erect.  The doors on the garage here need repair.  New boards are needed.  We have to remove the old ones, lots of nails to take out. They were built a long time ago.  The fellows had to get the mowers going.  We mowed for days when we got here.  There is a helicopter area out front that we mow. Think of a big farmers field.  The firefighters use this area to camp in when needed.
The woodpeckers have been busy on the bunk house again. Laurie covered the last hold with a window screen. It works but not very pretty. We'll fix it and paint the repair. The last ones we did  2 years ago are still good.  I think that is an ongoing problem.
Now, every evening the deer have been coming in.  Fun to watch them.  We have seen one elk and one moose on our trip inspecting camp spots.  None here in St. Regis yet tho.  The other day we had to go put up a warning sign about a mountain lion with twin kittens.  She came in close to a girl hiking the trail. That would sure put me in a panic.
Well enough for this time. Hope to include some pictures next time.

We are all set up in our camp site for the summer. Had a great trip out, no problems.  We made a few stops on the way. We stayed two days at Theodore Roosevelt Nat'l. Park. We saw so many animals.  The park is beautiful in the spring. All green hills. Our camp site was nice, a little tight to get into but we make it.
Also made a stop to see the grizzly bears at a place near Bozeman.  Lucy , the youngest one, put on quite a show for us. She played with everything they had for her from the pond to logs.  Good stop for families.
Now it is time to work, we have already mowed our sites and cleaned up the pine needles and pine cones. No one was on these sites last year so lots to clean up. The deer have been in already.  Fun to watch even if we do see them at home all the time.
Yesterday and this morning we worked on mowing the lawns around the building here at the work center and the heli port field out front.
Now it is time to go to the big swap meet here in St. Regis. We can walk over there so do not have to drive and hunt for a parking space. I think there are a lot of people here judging from the traffic we have seen while we were mowing. Have a great holiday everyone.

Well it is time to pack up the 5th wheel again and be on our way to Montana for another great summer volunteering for the forest service. We will again travel with our friends the Palmers.  That is always a good time.  Never a dull moment with Tish around.
We spent the day going thru closets and drawers trying to decide what to take. Since is can be cold there in June that means warm clothes and the when it gets to be really summer  a different set of clothes.
Virgil ordered a new tripod for the TV dish so he spent the morning setting it up for the first time and making sure it works. Have to have TV.
Now I did more fun packing when I got to my sewing room, What to take to work on? I basted a quilt together last week to hand quilt and naturally I have many other projects to choose from when I need a change of pace.
We are looking forward to going this year, in fact we have changed the departure date three times. It keeps getting earlier and earlier. First it was Friday, then Thursday, now as soon as the Palmers finish at the doctors on Wednesday afternoon we are on our way. Wish us luck.

Well, we are on the road again, this time to volunteer for the forest service in Colorado. We had a great 5oth dinner party with family and friends and now on to a new adventure. We will be working a visitor center and doing a little maintenance work. The forest service rents a log cottage that needs to be maintained and we will do whatever needs doing. We'll be with friends that we worked with last summer in Montana. They are waiting patiently for us to arrive. More on our activities will follow after we start our new "job".

Riding thru the mountains inWy is a beautiful trip This year there is snow on all the mountains.
This is in Utah traveling on I-80 going to Salt Lake City.
Road side rest in Wy is Independence Rock. We took a nice break from the road and had lunch and a walk around the Rock. Its impressive! Lots of pioneers passed this spot in Wy on there way west.
Sitting at my brothers house and looking out the window you can see the weather coming across the valley. The mountains that can usually be seen are gone in the clouds.
Virgil took himself off to the car show while Linda and I went to the quilt shop. He enjoyed his morning as we did also.

well, this was a productive few days. In between other things, I sewed this tote bag. My friend Pat let me cut into her stash after I admired her bag. this is a large one and it sure looks like a quilter. I have my sewing machine set up so I don't have to put it away each day. One of the ladies here in the park came down one afternoon for an applique lesson. We had gone to a trunk show and lecture at the quilt shop last Friday and I happened to mention that applique was my favorite way to make quilts. Pat and her husband Jim are leaving on Sunday. They do volunteer work for the Lutheran Church. They help with building projects for the churches and will be doing one in Neb. for the summer. Sounds like fun to me.
Virgil and Harold are trying to figure out where to store the woodstove Harold gave us. They took it all apart and even then it was really heavy. It had been the heat source for their house before they moved in and had been sitting outside their back door for the last 15 plus years. They tried to sell it but no one wanted to buy. Lucky for us as we had been looking for a used one for Virgil's cabin. now all he has to do is get it home unbroken and put it all back together. He went on line and got the manuals just like that!! It is a 1983 model. You can find anything on line. Gotta love that computer. Before starting the stove project Virgil and Harold had installed and uninstalled a new hot water heater. Theirs had sprung a leak the morning we were coming in. They put it in three times before being successful, finally no leaks.
As is usual Pat and I attended the Tucson Quilt Guild meeting. I'm lucky enough each year to get to go to at least one meeting. They have the best speakers. The quilts shown were great and the speaker very entertaining. I am astounded at their budget. It had to be voted on, get ready, $195,000. I can't imagine a guild with that large budget. Wow
This I call "sights of the highway. We were on our way to Tucson and I spotted this truck. Rascal Flats all over it. I quickly got out my camera an snapped a picture. As we passed I waved to the fellow driving and got a beep on the horn and a wave in return. Always on the lookout for different trucks. We see some interesting ones.

Quilt shop in Rodeo. Unique isn't it.

Sunsets were like this each evening. We have many more pictures. It is hard not to take more and more.
Well, Slow could be my name, I really mean to keep up this blog better than I have been doing. We spent a week in a very small town called Rodeo. Most people would not know or care where this place is. It sits on the Mexican border in what is called the Boot Heel of NM. The owner is woman named Rusty. She is quite a talker and if you go in the office you are sure to be there awhile. We stayed here last year and enjoyed the area. The sunsets here are spectacular and the days all sun.

This year to my delight there is a new quilt shop. Since I needed fabric for a project that had to be sent home in March I got myself right into this shop. Next door to it is a feed and grain shop owned by the quilt shop owners husband. Also a gun shop out back. Virgil went to visit in the feed and grain and I did my thing in the quilt shop. Both of us were happy.

We did a ride into the ranch lands near by and also crossed the mountains on an interesting road. One lane and lots of rocks and dust. The only people we saw were the border patrol. They are everywhere. The ranches are hugh, more acres than you can imagine any one person having. Some of it must be leased BLM land.

Next stop Benson, AZ for a month. We have friends here from past years stays. Always nice to be welcomed back. Already been into Tucson for dinner with Pat and Harold Shoemaker and their friends from East Jordan. This has turned into an annual event. Always good food and conversation. Well time to get out and do something, more later.

Well I've been a little slow getting back to doing this blog.  We have really enjoyed our stay in Texas.  We've made some new friends and will have fun keeping up with them during the next year.  This deer is one of many we saw at Davis Mountain State Park.  They are so used to campers that they will come right up to you.  Virgil was feeding this one cookies.   I think they are so cute.

Now these guys are not my favorite.  The havelina came in to visit us in the morning.  We looked out our window and they were coming looking for some breakfast.  They do not smell good but the babies can be so cute.  This was actually a good sized one!
We visited this museum with our friend Elaine,  The patio here was all shade and patio stones and set up with benches and places to just sit and enjoy the place.
Many of the displays here were done in separate small buildings.  This one had a lot of minitures.  It is a wonderment to look at and think about all the time it took to make it.
One of many of the beautiful sunrises we had in Del Rio.  Del Rio is a town of little distinction.  It has an Air Force base for training new pilots.. Also it is a border town.  So many people come here just to cross the border for medical,dental, and eye care.. Also can't beat the shopping.  We were  not impressed with the cleanliness of the streets.  They were very small, broken side walks and vendors everywhere.  Our friends Elaine and Ann ate from these vendors, but I was not sure I wanted to do that.  Who knows where their hands had been!!!

Virgil and I did go once, but probably that was our only time.  

Now we are in NM.  It is a campground in a town that is very small sitting at the base of the Cherrichula MT.  We love to take rides there.  We'll go this afternoon.  Who knows what we'll see.

OPS!  forgot to post this picture. It is the Indian display inside the visitor center. Nice, isn't it!

Well, this past week we did a canyon hike with a ranger. Seminole Canyon is known for its pictographs that range in age from 3800 years to 4100 years old.  Is is a short drive off the main highway into the visitor center. They have a great visitor center with nice displays. One is the Indians pictured here  The top picture is what is called the High Bridge. It is where the Pecos River meets the Rio Grande. Very pretty place.

 This is just one of many pictographs in the caves here.
This is the canyon. We enjoyed the hike down into it.  Really a surprise.
This is a sample of what the winds does to the sand stone rocks walls.  It sure is pretty and unique to see. The wind circles up with bits of sand and wears the rock into this intricate designs.
This is a metal sculpture outside the visitor center. Actually a copy of one of the pictographs. This was a fun day and educational too!!!   See we can learn things even when we get old.  The ranger knew her subject.  She was born and lived here all her life.  We could tell she loved her job.

Well hello again from Del Rio.  We made it in and out of Mexico on Sat. with no  problems.  It was an old town. pretty much what you think of when you picture a Mexican town.  Old buildings. small streets, and many people.  This is a mecca for people wanting dentists, eye care, pharmacys and stuff like that.  There were many street vendors selling food and candy and sweets of all kinds.  Shoe shine stands and lots of shops.

We did go to a very nice restaurant for lunch.  Our friends are Ann and Elaine. They live near Dolly Wood at a Outdoor Resorts Park and are  full timer RV'ers..  Good food and fun for all.

This is a picture of the interior of the Mexican Restaurant.  Music also provided with your lunch.

Today was lunch, we eat a lot, at a little place that is only open for lunch.  Great hamburgers and home made soup.  Nice an warm outside so I'm going out to sit in the sun for a while and then make salsa  from all fresh veggies. Tacos for dinner. Food again.

Well, more next time.

Del Rio Texas

Well, it is almost the end of Jan. and I've been slow getting back to this.  Cindy, sure glad to see all that snow at your house.  We had a cool day here yesterday, but today is nice. 68 degrees and all sunshine.  That is why we are here. 

This past week we visited Laughlin Air Force Base for a tour.  Very interesting. They train new pilots and bomb sniffing dogs.  We had a great demo of the dogs being trained, you would definitely not want to have this dog attack you, and a trip into the simulator for training pilots to deal with G- Forces.  Also had a great steak and baked potato lunch at the officers club. They

I'm new at adding pictures so bare with me. sometimes they are not where I wanted them. 

We also in the same week visited a movie location.  They make westerns here at Alamo Village.  That was an interesting place.  Lots of stuff.   We had lunch in their cantina and you can see Virgil at the bar.  We took two ladies that are here for a month also with us. Their names are Elaine and Anne.  They are very entertaining.  They came to Del Rio to go across the border to have dental work done.  Many Americans do this.  It is way cheaper than in the states.

Virgil is outside waxing on the trailer.  That is his job.  As you can see I'm doing mine. Computer work! 

Our campground is nice. It is new and the owner is a nice young man.  He was a border patrol guard for 21 years. Grew up on a family ranch and did cowboying as he calls it.  Put his all into building this campground.  Sure hope he makes it.  Him and his wife are really working at it.  So far a great job.  Got us to stay a month!!!

Well, tonight we are going with a group for steak night at the local Cantina.  As you can see STEAK is a staple in Texas.  It is a small place but we told it is good.

Saturday we are going to cross the border for lunch in Mexico with Elaine and Anne.  Hope our birth certificates will get us back across.  Otherwise someone will have to bail us out!!!

More to follow at a later time.

 Well, it is now Jan. 6 and we are in Victoria TX.  We left Cindy's on the 29th of Dec after having Christmas with the family.  Great highways all the way down. We traveled the Natchez Trace from Nashville TN to Natchez MS, 444 miles of parkway. NO TRUCKS.  We stayed with friends in Orange TX for two nights.  It was a nice visit with a couple, Bill and Tish Palmer, that we worked with in MT last summer.  They actually spend their winters parked at a friends house.  We enjoyed our visit. Had great BBQ and seafood. Larry and Phyllis, the Palmers friends. took us all for cake and ice cream to the extended family's house.  Just like home, Wild!!  Phyllis and Tish are hooked on the WII playing Shrek.  We left their place on Sun. morning so we could get thru Houston when the traffic was not too bad. That place is a zoo to cross.  It was 77 degrees when we left and going west on I-10 the temp dropped to 43 degrees.  So south we went!  Now it is getting really nice. hi 60's today and mid to high 70's the rest of the week.  We are staying for a week here. Tomorrow we'll take a ride down to the gulf and perhaps have seafood for lunch. We are only 25 miles from the beach.  We'll also see what if any hurricane damage is still there.  They have a big zoo here we'll also visit.  There is an old town a few miles south of here that has shops and restaurants and old buildings to visit.  Well, Cindy,  this will have to do. If dad shares the computer tonight I'll download some pictures. Love to all 

Well it's another Sunday only this one is only beautiful if you like SNOW.  It has been snowing all week which is not good for packing a trailer..  We have been making a disaster  of the house.  I have stack s of stuff everywhere.  I have to say tho getting clothes out of the closet made me remove clothing we are not wearing and fill three bags to give away.  Virgil has been busy carrying it all to the trailer.  Needless to say I have to go out and put it all away.   Maybe tomorrow will be better.  Wish us luck on getting out of the north country.  Cindy better be ready for us!!!!!

getting this trailer ready to go again

Well another day passed by to fast,  I have not wrapped a gift or send a Christmas card but I am busy in my sewing room. Next week we will start packing this trailer to head out to warmer climates.  

A beautiful Sunday morning in the north country

This is a very snowy day in the north country. V had to blow out the driveway. Only good thing the sun is shining for the first time in days. Makes the snow really beautiful. My view out my front window looking at the lake is a sight to behold.  The lake is frozen and snow covered.  Makes me happy to be inside looking out!