TUCSON TIME WITH LUKE & THE YAVS!

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MONDAY, March 21:

Rick and Mom at Memorial Garden in Benson

We pack up from Albuquerque and are on the way south by 8:30 am - loaded up ridiculously for three people for three days!  But much of it is food treats!  Shortly below ABQ Rick runs into a head wind that seems to last the whole rest of the day!  HIGH winds throughout southern NM and Arizona resulted in dust, dust, and more dust.  We could hardly see the mountain ridges in the distance.  And the otherwise brown scenery just looked even worse.  I sat in back and was highly productive:  Bible study, improve and refined and drew three more Doodle pictures, and then I  made five macramé necklaces.  That's a total of 8 pictures to date, but I had alot of them to draw on this trip just to catch up!  Probably good that we didn't go to church on Sunday - this way I might have a chance!

 Arrive in Benson around 3:30 with the time change and visit for awhile with Kathy and Ron.  Mom is very excited for her three day visit.  We are glad to see everyone welcome her back so well.  We stopped at the Presby church first to see Pop's name on the plaque for the Memorial Garden.  


Then on to Tucson to spend the evening and next few days with Luke at the YAV house.  We stopped and picked up some pizzas and found the house without any problem.  Luke had beaten us home - barely.  Kady had given Luke a haircut while he was in McMinnville!  That was my first surprise!  We got the pizzas into the oven after layering some vegetables on them.  Then a tour of the house - we are in the back bedroom called the Parents Room!  It is a really nice spot.  


Gradually everyone filters in and grabs a bite to eat.  Tucson YAV leader Brandon comes over at 7 for their Monday night SHIT night: Spirituality Hour in Tucson.  Luke was the leader tonight.  It took a little while to get started as the group hadn't been together for awhile.  Eventually we gathered in the living room with candles lit for about an hour of sharing and reflection.  Nice evening.  


In bed early as all of us will be going in to work tomorrow at CHRPA.  


TUESDAY, MARCH 22:
Up around 6:15 to do my exercises in the "quiet room" under the hammock and then out to the living room for Bible Study (more Revelation!)  I say goodbye to Jacob, but sorry I didn't get a picture of him before he leaves today to go out on his recruiting trip.  We take leftover pizza for lunch (well for Rick and Luke - I am eating a PowerBar!) Anyway....on our way shortly after 7:30, Luke probably joyful over a ride to work instead of the bike ride today.  


I was wrong as to the location of CHRPA (Community Home Repair Project of Arizona) - it is NOT west of downtown Tucson, but rather about 7 miles to the east.  We arrive just a few minutes after 8 (oops, took time to put on our boots out in the parking lot!) and walk into the main room just as the gathering meeting is starting. About a dozen volunteers gather together each morning for Scott to make the assignments.  He is a quiet, rather dry wit sort of guy.  I can see the comraderie in the group right away and witness why Luke enjoys his work here.  


The "Rembold Team" are assigned four jobs for the day: one is a furnace issue and the other three are swamp cooler start ups (two with broken water pipes probably due to the extreme freeze the end of January.   There are about 7 CHRPA rigs, each with an individual name.  We are assigned to Brutus, a big truck.  Luke loads up the equipment we are going to need and we take off.  I am assigned as navigator!  And Luke gives me a big book map of Tucson.  It really is a good map!  


First stop is the home of Aurea, an 86 year old lady who is worried because the fan on her furnace won't shut off and seems to be heating up.  Luke and Rick check things out, switch a few levers, relight the pilot, and it seems to be working.  She has medical conditions that make her cold alot, so even though the weather is suppose to warm back up, she wants her furnace back up and working!  It seems to be ok as we leave, but Luke assures her to call again if she has trouble!  

Brutus our truck and Joanne's bright pink gate

Second stop is the home of Joanne, where Luke thinks he worked to fix a broken water line earlier in the year.  She has a bright pink gate to the outer courtyard in the front of the house.  As with Aurea, we seem to be coming early in the day and both ladies excused themselves to get dressed as we caught them in their housecoats!    Joanne has five dogs and asthma and emphysema issues.  Listening to her breathe a few times I can see that!  

Luke visits with Joanne while finishing paperwork

Luke and Rick clean out the swamp cooler

At Joanne's house I learn about swamp coolers!  And how hard the minerals in the water around here can be on this equipment!  Evidently the swamp coolers are shut down in late October or so and then they have to be reconnected before the heat hits in the spring.  Joanne used to do this servicing herself (much to the chagrine of the men in the neighborhood!) so she supervised us completely with a running banter of conversation!  Her yard was filled with trees and birds - the music was glorious!  I didn't help alot here, mostly taking pictures and talking with Joanne.  We did have some problems with the shopvac as it seemed to keep blowing the fuses.  So....we left briefly to run to Home Depot and pick up more fuses and a few spare floats, just in case we needed them.Joanne said I could take her picture when we were done because Luke was a handsome young man and she hadn't had a picture with a goodlooking guy in a long time!    

Egret at Reid Park

After finishing the job at Joanne's, we stopped at Reid Park for lunch.  A busy place next to the zoo with classrooms visiting and plenty of other people in and around the pond.  The pond was filled with turtles and ducks and even an egret that kept flying around!  Weather was very pleasant as long as you were in the sun - the breeze is cool still.  

Ginger and Rick clean up the deposits from the cooler

Our next job is at the home of Walter, a man four years younger than me but on disability.  He had a wonderful long white beard!  Very pleasant man, who let me take his picture as long as I remember to send him a copy!  This job only took about an hour - Luke told Scott we were a well oiled machine!  I helped Luke run new copper hose while Rick scraped and shopvac'd the minerals deposits from the cooler.   We had this job done in a flash!   

Rick and Luke assess the water leak 

Our last stop of the day is at a house of a man named Tim.  (He also has an flowing beard!)  Tim was recently in the hospital during the freeze and had someone come by to turn off his water hoping to save the pipes, but unfortunbately he still has a leak inside the house.  The cooler itself is a different model, with THREE sides of vents and filters.  And what a mess of mineral deposits!  I immediately get started with the scraping of them up on the roof, while Luke assesses the cooler and then heads downstairs with Rick to check out the leaking pipe.  It is warm in the sun up on the roof, but fortunately the cool breeze blows often enough.  I still got a little sunshine, especially on my arms.  We take another trip to a Heating/Cooling supply store, Naughton's, and then back to the house.  I back on the roof and Luke and Rick back to fix the pipes.  By 4:15, when ANOTHER leak is exposed downstairs, and I told Luke I thought the filters should be replaced, it is apparent this job will not be completed today.  Luke may end up on this one Thursday!  We get tomorrow off!  


Back to the CHRPA headquarters to fill out our volunteer paperwork and Luke to update Scott on Tim's situation.  Everyone else seems to have already returned as we are the only ones in the office.  


Showers, a visit to meet the chickens and look for eggs (found one!) and a load of laundry into the washing machine.   By then we are ready to hop on the bikes and ride toward downtown in search of a place to grab some dinner. We end up at The B Line, lured in by the advertisement out front of Fish Tacos!  Luke and I have them while Rick orders a Mahi Burrito.  All are very good.  Good meal and conversation with Luke over goals and aspirations.  It is dark by the time we head back north on 4th Avenue, but there are lights on the bikes and the distance isn't far.  


We see Alli and Meredith this evening.  Stevie is at work, but will be leaving in the middle of the night to fly home for a death in the family.  Alli will be taking Stevie's Borderlinks delegation tomorrow and not returning until Thursday evening.  So....we bid them goodbye.  Only Mer will be left tomorrow night and she works late again!  We have driven them all away!  I hope not.  

Laundry hangs out at Luke (this is Wed am, not the starry night!)

We hang out the laundry by the light of the stars.  I can't say I have ever done this before - hoping my clothes will dry overnight.  And typically it would be dry in the morning if the weather was a little warmer!  


Into bed to be ready for another early morning....bound for Lincoln Park and Jamie Moon's softball game at 8 am.  Lincoln Park is even further to the east than CHRPA!  


Goodnight.  


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23: 


Up early AGAIN!  Quickly do Bible study and grab breakfast (we finish eating in the car) and head back to the east side of town for Jamie Moon's Lewis and Clark College softball game.  It is their last game before they head home to Portland.  Brandon (Luke's YAV supervisor) and his daughters are calling it PE curriculum and coming to watch as well!  (They are home schooled)  Brandon met Jamie coming home from Louisville and the YAV Gathering last weekend.  

Jamie takes a cut and hits a double!

And the Pioneers win with a 7th inning come from behind 3 run home run!  Wow!  Exciting.  Also great for the team to win 4 out of 5 games while here.  Shows how tough a league the NW Conference is for softball when LC is at the bottom of the heap.  It was a cool game to watch at first as the breeze was quite frosty!  

Luke & Rick at Gates Pass "Pride Rock"

Teddy Bear Cactus with Sajuaro

Back to the house to gather in the laundry, change and head WEST of town to the Mountain Gates Pass in the Tuscon Mountains.  Good desert area to visit and we walked out to what Luke calls "Pride Rock" (from Lion King) to survey the valley west of Tucson.  He and the YAVs like to come out here to watch the sunset.  We could see Kitt Peak Observatory (just barely) in the distance.  Octotillo is in bloom and the Teddy Bear Cholla is very fuzzy right now.  LOTS of sajuaro cactus, prickly pear, ocotillo, and the teddies.  The sun felt good, but my arms are already burned enough.  The CCC built several stone shelters up in this pass area and it is laced with hiking trails.  

Ocotillo in bloom

We stopped at a fruit market just before getting back to Luke's house to pick up some oranges and grapefruit and a few more apples.  Then a little quiet rest time before we have to head out to Benson this afternoon.  

Luke, Mom, Rick and I at Halls in Benson.  

We take off for Benson around 2:15, having told Mom that we would be there around 3ish.  Smooth sailing east, Luke pointing out some of the landmarks he has visited along the way.  Ron and Cathy have prepared BBQ ribs, sweet potato fries and baked beans for dinner, plus some "leftover" blackberry tarts from last night for dessert.  Wonderful meal topped with a little wine or beer.  We had a really good visit, but had to leave around 6:45 so we could get back into Tucson at a decent time.  Luke has to leave shortly after 7 in the morning and Rick and I can't be too much later if we are to meet Jed for a late lunch tomorrow, especially with the time change!    We drive back to the west with the glow of a sunset still lingering.  I told Luke the sky looked exactly like the t-shirts I "drip-dyed" for the YAVS at Christmas time.  


Back in Tucson to pack a few things up and prepare to leave in the morning.  

NEW MEXICO & SANTA FE WEEKEND

On top of Atayla Mountain east of Santa Fe. 

DESTINATION?  NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA, AND SUNSHINE FOR SPRING BREAK!  


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THURSDAY, MARCH 17
We are off from Baker City, following a brief snowstorm and gusty cold winds, around 5 pm bound for Boise and an 11 am departure in the morning.  I am soooo ready for a break and a chance to soak up a little sunshine!  When I checked the weather tonight at 8pm Boise time, it was 37 degrees in Baker City and 74 degrees in Socorro (at 8pm at night!)  Aaahhhh!  We have packed shorts and sandals and tried to ignore the rain and snow and cold of the week.  


Boise night at the Sleep Inn - comfortable and relatively cheap with free wireless, breakfast, and parking for 7 days for the car.  We ended up having to pay an extra $3 for the additional night parking.  Still cheaper than the airport parking!  We can spend a relaxed morning and be ready to take off at 11 for Phoenix and then on to Albuquerque.  Jed is suppose to meet us at 4:30 pm.  He has been up at Randy's the past few days enjoying HIS spring break which was this week.  


FRIDAY - TRAVEL DAY TO NEW MEXICO!  
Smooth sailing for the most part, except it is windy in the southwest and EVERY one of our three landings was NOT smooth! We stopped first in Las Vegas, but didn't get off the plane.  We could see the pyramid and the sphinx in the distance.  Then over to Phoenix - which is in the process of rennovation and a huge airport!  By the time we got to Albuquerque,  Rick was definitely ready to be off a plane.  We were running late all day due to a snowstorm in Denver, but made connections fine.  Jed was there to pick us up around 5.  I told Rick it took us exactly 24 hours to get to Albuquerque - same as driving!  We left Baker at 5 pm last night!  Much more rested this way, however.  


Up into town to pick up Mom at the Fountains and go out to dinner at Papa Felipe's Mexican restaurant.  Mom and Rick enjoyed fish as part of the Lenten menu and I tried out a California Tosada - loaded with avocado!  I don't even want to guess the point value on my diet!  We enjoyed the time, but then dropped Mom back off and headed north to Santa Fe. The setting sun makes a great vista with the storm clouds in the west as we leave Albuquerque.   

Western sky

We have reservations at a fairly NICE motel for the Rembold clan, but we got a good deal! This will be nice!  Relax in the room and check out hiking options for Saturday.  Eventually, Jed and I play a game of cribbage which he wins with a ridiculous hand at the end!  


SATURDAY, MARCH 19:
A beautiful morning - crisp and sunny.  We enjoy a great "healthy smart" breakfast compliments of the hotel (Don't ask me, that's how they advertised it!  It was a good buffet of choices!) and head out to find the Atayla Mountain trail near St. John's College.  A coyote crossed the road right in front of us as we were driving up.  Turns out that was the only wildlife we saw all day! 

View toward Santa Fe from our rendezvous spot with Jed. 

Too late in the morning to get a parking place at the upper trailhead, so Jed drives back down to the lower trailhead at the college and highballs it up the extra mile and a half to meet up with us.  I appreciated it as it is still a good 1600' climb to the peak from the UPPER trailhead - the lower would have added another 500' to the trail.  Too much for this lady!  Jed met up with us much sooner than I expected, however!  

Three of us on top of Atayla

We wind through pinon and ponderosa forest with occasional juniper and cactus type plants.  Not much new growth showing yet, and we even pass a few snow patches here and there.  The peak is at 9127 feet - not alot of snow on top, but you could tell some of it had recently melted. The view from the top of the peak is awesome - south down to Sandias and Rio Grande valley, west to Santa Fe area, and east to more mountains of the Sangre Cristo range.  A cool breeze up on top, but the rest of the time we were hiking in shirt sleeves.  Overall, ended up 7 miles RT for Jed, and about 5.8 miles for Rick and I.  A good climb, but perfect temperatures!  

St. Francis Basillica

Back to town to shower and ready to head into town for some shops and dinner.    We haven't had enough exercise yet today, so we walk.  Part of the reason we chose this motel was the close proximity to the Plaza area.  We walk toward the Railway area, past numerous galleries and shops, and check out the two restaurants Jed had picked.  We end up at Zias out on the patio.  A little cool as the sun is started to sink lower and the breeze is still strong, but we were the only ones out there so it was nice and quiet!  I ordered from the "small plates" - a smoked salmon quesadilla with avocado and asadero cheese.  It was wonderful and just the right amount.  Jed had a Buffalo burger with sweet potato fries.  And Rick blue corn enchiladas!  All of us thoroughly enjoyed the meal, and then the opportunity to "walk it off"!  We basically spent the next hour and half wandering around downtown Santa Fe, visiting more shops than Jed probably wanted, but I am looking for something appropriate for the boat christening!  I wasn't sure how many places would be open on Saturday evenings, but quite a few were open at least until 7ish!  Also enjoyed checking out the old Catholic churches - St. Francis Basillica, Loretta Chapel, etc.  The latter had an amazing kinetic sculpture garden outside of it.  Fun to watch in the wind.  Most open back up tomorrow morning around 11.  We are also hoping to visit the Museum of International Folk Art tomorrow.  Jed said he wasn't in any hurry to get back down to Socorro, so that was the go ahead to stay a little longer!  

Kinetic sculpture

Rest of evening spent in room watching March Madness basketball, downloading pictures, writing, and grading papers!  


SUNDAY, MARCH 20:  
Up around 7:30 to Bible study by the light coming in the window from the east.  Jed and Rick are sound asleep and I didn't want to turn on a light!  It is a beautiful day outside!  
After breakfast in the lounge (which was packed with people today!) and some time outside reading the paper, Jed joins us for a bite to eat.  We get checked out around 10:30 and take off for downtown Santa Fe.  Will finish our shopping and then head out of town to the Folk Art Museum. 

Paper Cuts flutter in the breeze outside a downtown shop.

A successful morning of noseying into a variety of shops, and time spent back at Lucille's where I bought two things last night.  We were successful today in finding an appropriate dressy flowing jacket to wear with my black pants!  Also found a new t-shirt top all sparkly on the neckline!  Also visited the Blue Moon Toy store which was fun.  Jed spent time in a bookstore while I was shopping at Lucille's. 

We decide a bite to eat is in order before the museum, so go to the grocery store, Whole Foods Market, which advertised a deli bar.  What a spread!  I get a spinach salad, Jed a sandwich, and Rick Chicken Postle, which was a really good soup he said.  Then it is off to the "museum hill" where three of Santa Fe's museums are located.  We are going to visit the International Museum of Folk Art.  

Entrance to main gallery at Folk Art Museum

This museum is largely the efforts of one man who donated his entire collection of over 100,000 pieces of folk art from around the world to New Mexico.  He also set up all the displays just as he wanted them arranged - like multiple little dioramas from all over the world.  Much of it is from South America and India/Persia area.  Fascinating stuff!  Also a section dedicated to "Winter Arts" which had pictures as well as nativities from around the world.  I have to say I have as good a nativity collection, however!  Some of his are just bigger!  

Detail on one of MANY dioramas filled with folk art figurines.

A whimsical look at the Last Supper

Another section of the museum featured textiles and clothing and finally a section called "Empowering Women"  which highlighted many of the folk art cooperatives started in developing nations to help women make a living wage and support their families.  


At 3:30 ish we leave the museum and head south toward Albuquerque and dinner with Grandma!  Arrive at 4:45 and I head over to the Wal-Mart next door while Rick and Jed take our bags upstairs to the apartment.  Pizza and fruit for dinner and Jed takes off around 7 to head back to Socorro.  We will see him again on Thursday as we drive back up from Tucson.  

Quiet evening with Grandma getting ready to leave in the morning.  The next portion of our blog will be from Tucson!  See you then!  

Eagle Crest Family Gathering!

We are off this weekend for a winter get away and time spent with FAMILY!!  All of my sister’s family will be gathering at Eagle Crest Resort outside of Redmond, Oregon for either the weekend or all week!  People are coming from New York, Colorado, Bandon, Baker City, Vancouver, and the Portland area!  What fun!  New babies to hold!  Two year olds to play with in the snow! 

We get away from Baker around 2:45 pm on Friday to clearing skies and beauty!  Rick drives the whole way over three passes that are snow covered, but not too bad.  Rest of the way the highway is clear.  As we drive from Prineville to Redmond, Rick calls my attention to the back window….and a rising full moon coming up over the horizon!  The clouds are making it a misty fuzzy orb!  But it looks huge and beautiful! 

Everyone comes together nearly simultaneously around 7:30!!!  Gretchen and Shawn welcome us to our “suite” in the hotel unit up near the road – we tell them to take the bedroom with Tucker and we will take the sleeper sofa in the living room.  It is a nice unit and will work just great for us – only a mile down to the condo where everyone else will be. 

Main condo for the rest of the group is down near the river to the south of where we were a couple years ago.  Staying there will be Liz & Dave, Grandma Mac, Doug, Kirsty, Erik & Kaila, and Reinhart and Kate, Erik’s dad and step-mom. It will be a full house.  Four will be sleeping out in the living room!  No sleeping out on the deck this time – it is snow covered and more forecast for tonight! 

 Erik and Kirsty have brought 3 Papa Murphy’s pizzas (the Vegetarian Grande is wonderful!) The evening is spent with a late dinner and good conversation, and of course a little entertainment provided by Tucker and Kaila, although the latter goes down to sleep FINALLY for the night.  Kirsty said she had been awake most of the day. 

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We arise on Saturday shortly after 7 to SNOW!  And currently snowing!  Oh boy!  We should have brought the snow shoes.  After exercises, devotions, and a quick breakfast I head down to the condo with Gretchen, Shawn, and Tucker.  Rick opts to relax in the room and make sure he is over his cold before joining us later.   

Overall the next two days are filled with visiting, sharing, games, way too much food, and occasional walks or skiing outside.  Saturday it snows off and on ALL day – a fine powdery snow much different from the heavy wet stuff they got last week.   Tucker plays outside in the snow for awhile, Kaila eats and eats, and Grandma and I try on clothes, watch the Boat Christening videos, plus Grandma teaches me to play Kings in the Corners, the card game Tom’s gal Heather taught her last fall.  Fun game.  We also taught Reinhart and Kate how to play Qwerkle, which they really enjoyed.  Plenty of pictures taken, mostly of cute little kids of course! 

Liz and I went for a walk late in the afternoon along the river in the snow!  We headed downriver at first, but got blocked by downed juniper trees over the trail.   The wet snow from last week has really done a number on the trees at the resort – considerable breakage, etc.  There are piles of tree branches everywhere as workers have cleaned up the grounds. 

Gretchen makes chicken and dumplings for dinner!  Wow – good meal.  I can see I am going to eat way too much this weekend!  Cookies everywhere, good food, wine flowing…..oh dear!  After dinner we all learn how to play Oh Hell!, a Boëhme family traditional game (that’s technically Erik’s family name).  A game of bidding and tricks, but not ALL that complicated! 

Sunday morning Rick and I picked up Liz and Grandma Mac and went to the Community Presbyterian Church in Redmond for their 8:30 praise service.  Can’t say I enjoy a service of totally praise music, but the timing was right as Gretch & family and Doug need to leave shortly after noon.  The later service wouldn’t have worked as well.  Rick and I would have preferred a trip down to Bend to hear a sermon titled “Jesus in Blue Jeans”!  We stopped at the market and picked up salad fixings for lunch.  I have brought an enchilada casserole for lunch, which ends up fairly tasty and enjoyed by all. 

After lunch – goodbyes.  Gretchen and family take Doug back to Portland to visit friends before flying back to NY on Thursday.  Then…..an afternoon of more games, a walk with Kirsty, Kaila, Dave and Liz, and more food!  AGGGHH!  We play a game Reinhart and Kate brought that builds trains all over the German countryside!  (Reinhart immigrated to North America - settling in Vancouver, BC- when he was in high school, so the German is still strong within him!) When Rick and I left around 9:30, after a round of more family pictures and our goodbyes, they were just settling in for a good game of dominoes.  I opted out so Rick and I could get an early start in the morning. 

Tucker is full of fun and an active little boy.  He loves to play jokes and be “funny”.  He is so smart!  Kaila is still very much a mommy girl, but she is tolerating strangers and beginning to be aware and awake more often!  It was wonderful getting to spend some quality time with Kirsty and Erik and meet Erik’s father and step mom – both delightful people! 

Up Monday for an 8am departure and a BEAUTIFUL drive back over the center of the state through snowy mountains and sunshine!  Home around 1pm. 


Click HERE to see all the pictures from the weekend! 


PS.  My computer is being really grumpy, so I am going to post this sans pictures.  Just click above to see them all!  Sorry!

Emigrant Springs Cabin & Snowshoeing!

For the past several years, Jed has flown back to New Mexico around MLK holiday weekend, so Rick and I haven’t taken our winter “get away”.  But both Jed and Mom Mac flew home last weekend, so we had the Monday off to play.  We decided to head back up to Emigrant Springs State Park and the inexpensive cabins for rent.  This time we splurged, however, and went for the deluxe cabin rather than the tiny little Totem Cabin with its concrete floors and filled holes reminiscent of the former restroom that it once was!   

Reservations were made and a hugely busy week at school ensued.  Everything looked great for a weekend away, but…..the weather did NOT cooperate.  Forecast was for rain, rain, and more rain!  Flood warnings even in places!  And then the Steelers were on TV for a playoff game on Saturday afternoon, so we didn’t even hit the road until nearly 5 pm.  (Fortunately in good humor with a victory!).  Rick paid the price for his faithfulness, however, as he fought the darkness and a downpour on the highway to drive the hour up to the top of Meacham and the state park. 

We found a cozy little place to hole up for the weekend and HOPE we might get out for a little winter exercise.  (The fast that I ran a heavy table over my foot at the Spanish party Thursday night and it hurt to put my boots on might limit that endeavor anyway!)  We brought both snowshoes and cross country skies in anticipation…  The cabin sleeps 5 with two double beds and a bunk single above one of them.  A small table with four chairs, a heater, and a fridge round out the interior.  On the covered porch outside there is a gas stove and oven and bench for sitting.  Also available is a picnic table and fire ring, but we didn’t make use of those!  We had brought Luke’s college microwave to help with our cooking.  Only downfall?  There is NO “facilities” – a walk down the hill to the restrooms provide the only accommodations! 

Saturday evening we enjoyed our typical weekend retreat meal of sourdough bread, fake crab, gourmet cheese, and a bottle of wine!  And a chance to really talk for once!  I couldn’t believe I forgot to bring any games, but Rick was armed with books and puzzles and I had a pile of drawings to do.  We did eventually find one deck of cards in Luke’s side of the back bins in the van!  They worked for rummy on Sunday evening! 

And it rained and rained!  The cabin has a metal roof and we loved the sound of the rain!  It put us both to sleep soundly for over 9 hours! 

Sunday morning dawned……WET!  Very wet!  A very lazy morning of breakfast, books, and drawing.  I completed the Sharpie part of six Sermon scribbles!  Plus the powerpoint test for a class (we had the laptop with us which we used mostly for music). 

Around 1pm the rain had died down to a drizzle between storms, so we drove down the road the mile to the entrance to Westminster Woods, parked, and took off on snowshoes.  My snowshoe straps cut into my injured toe, so we only tromped around for about 45 minutes.  Rained hard midway, but that was the LAST rain we saw for the rest of our visit! 

Fun time visiting the new chapel and other landmarks from our two mission trips at the Woods.  No one was around, although we did see other old XC ski trails and snowshoe tracks.  Seems like I could tell that they lost a lot of trees over the past few summers.  My regret?  I forgot and left the camera back at the cabin, so no pictures! 

Our little cabin in the woods gives off its warmth at night. 

Back to the cabin to head down to the showers and warm up a little!  Then dinner time – no cold dinner for us tonight.  I had splurged again and bought little steaks and two microwavable side dishes, plus a little peach pie to microwave!   More sourdough bread and wine and we were in heaven!  The skies are clearing, the stars are beginning to shine.  A beautiful evening.  I went outside at one point and took a picture of our little cabin in the woods. 

Another 9 hours of sleep and Monday found us heading down to Pendleton to the Honda dealer to test drive the Ridgeline truck.  We are thinking of purchasing one but needed to take it out for a spin – and to make sure my legs would reach the pedals!  It was smooth! 

Home to Baker City around 3 to find a beautiful sunshine day!

Rick & Ging and Gunsight Mt. at Hoffer Lake

Rick winds around Anthony Lake. 

So….where is the rest of the snowshoeing?  Well, that happened the NEXT weekend, today on the 22^nd of January!  This morning the sun was absolutely glorious, and the temps were even above freezing.  Rick and I took off around 11:30 to drive up to Anthony Lakes for a snowshoe up to Hoffer Lake.  I discovered if I moved my foot about a half inch forward in my snowshoe, the straps didn’t bind on my recovering, but still sore, toe!  Hurray!  We were able to snowshoe in shirtsleeves, soaking up a little of the Vitamin D the sun was giving us!  I found the climb up to Hoffer still worthy of a good sweat, but not nearly so hard as when I was carrying 30 pounds more!  We were later in the day, so we didn’t have much time in the Hoffer basin before the sun went behind the peaks.  Cooled things off quickly, but also resulted in some spectacular pictures!  Fun time!!  Good exercise!

View of the Wallowa Mountains driving  toward Anthony Lakes.  We love our valley!!

Christmas Blessings from Baker City, Oregon

View through a frosted window hole of the Elkhorns
from Ginger's artroom window. 

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!

December 3, 2010

            As I take pen to paper, it appears we have a good chance for a white Christmas!  It’s about 10 degrees outside, we had -7° the day before Thanksgiving, and we have about 6” of snow on the ground.  I went snowshoeing last week and our local ski hill opened yesterday.  Winter is here!

Jed ponders the volleyball score. 

            We are eagerly looking forward to many trips to the Boise airport in the next month as we gather family together for the holidays. 

            Jed is beginning the analysis and writing phase of his doctoral thesis through New Mexico Tech in Socorro, NM.  He is filming the moon, when weather permits, to see if he can spot objects striking it.  That will be the research upon which his thesis is based.  He is still teaching labs, but has no more classes to take!  He is very active on a club volleyball team through the college.  His projected finish is May of 2012, and then the search for a professorship at a small college in the Northwest will commence!  

Luke takes off from Boise airport
for a year of YAV service.

            Luke is serving as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) through the Presbyterian Church.  He is living in Tucson, Arizona, with four other YAVs.  Thank you all for your generosity during his fundraising.  He is working with an organization that helps with home repairs for seniors and low income households (CHRPA).  He is loving it!  He bikes nine miles to work, fixes roofs, digs ditches, jackhammers walls, and does whatever else is required before biking home.  Needless to say, he’s tired when he gets home!  The YAVs have one or two weekend activities and retreats during the month, so he isn’t bored.  Jed and Luke spent Thanksgiving with my mom and Randy’s family before heading to Phoenix for their annual Trans-Siberian Orchestra fix.  Both will be home for Christmas, although Luke will only be here for five days. 

With Grandma Rembold after services for Grandpa.

            You may have noticed that I only mentioned my mom was at Randy’s.  After years of declining health, my dad passed in June.  With the help of hospice, his passing was peaceful.  He has left a huge hole in our hearts that we are trying to fill with great memories.  Mom is doing well.  She is living in their apartment in Albuquerque, with visits from Ran’s family and Jed.  She is set up for email and her address is doris.rembold@gmail.com  We plan on visiting her at spring break and then bringing her to Baker in June and July….when it’s warm! 

            We are excited to have Ginger’s mom with us again at Christmas.  She continues to enjoy her church and little coastal town of Bandon, Oregon. 

Near Hyder, AK

            Ging and I continue to teach, she in middle school art and computers, while I enjoy my third graders.  We are doing our research on retirement options with the idea of maybe this year, but if not, definitely next year.  There are places to visit and volunteer opportunities we want to pursue!  We love our small town of Baker City and its access to God’s creation.  I am out hiking or snowshoeing most weekends, and Ginger is busy with art and church activities.  We try to make a point of running away for one weekend a month to reconnect and explore!  This summer we were on the coast, spent a couple weeks driving to and visiting our “nieces” and friends, the Swansons, in Fairbanks, Alaska, and then traveled back to Greenville for dad’s service. The latter was a beautiful time for family and memories.  In between the trips we squeezed in multiple weddings!  Jed was an attendant in 3 and Luke officiated 2! 

Rev Al's Sermon 12-5-2010

            One art project that has driven Ging all year started as a fluke on a Sunday last spring, when a visual picture of the sermon came to mind.  Now, over 100 drawings later, she is amassing quite a collection of "sermon drawings".  A bible study of Acts spurred a whole series on that book of the Bible.  She's going to do something with them eventually, but in the meantime we'll share the most recent Christmas picture.  

            We are happy! 

            We are reminded, once again, that God came to earth in the form of a tiny baby to bring love and change.    Christmas blessings to all.  Please keep in touch! 
            PS.  It's not Rick's fault the blog is days later than his original letter....it takes me awhile to take his writing and put it all into the computer!  :)

Family picture enroute home from coast in June - Ginger's favorite spot on Mt. Hood

rgrembold@q.com

http://remboldsroad.blogspot.com   (Blog of our travels this past year)

http://lukeintucson.blogspot.com    (Luke's Year as a YAV in Tucson)

Crystal Crane November Escape

Entry sign to Hot Springs south of Burns.  

Crystal Crane Hot Springs – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

November 11 – 13, 2010

Thursday, November 11 – Veteran’s Day!

We have a four day weekend due to a break day awarded after Thursday’s Veteran’s Day.  Guess the school district figured no one would show up anyway on Friday!  So Rick and I have decided to explore a part of Oregon new to us: south of Burns and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge.  We have booked two nights in the “rustic cabins” at Crystal Crane Hot Springs, about 28 miles south of Burns! 

On our way at 9 with scattered clouds and beautiful sunshine.  The weather looks like it is going to cooperate totally for our get away!  Over the mountains (sadly the larch are past their golden beauty and into a brown stage) with skiffs of snow alongside the road much of the way due to the recent storms.  We spied the pyramid peak of Strawberry Mountain poking up above some clouds as we dropped down into Prairie City.  Our last time through PC we remembered receiving the phone call from Randy that Pop was not improving and nearing the end as we traveled to Mom’s on the coast.  This time I was in the middle of a series of text messages with Luke, who was visiting the Alamo in San Antonio at the time!  Much better conversation!

Through John Day where we stop for a sandwich at the Subway and south to Burns.  Just a beautiful drive over the high plains near Seneca and then down the Silvies River into Burns.  After picking up a few forgotten groceries at the Safeway, we parked downtown and wandered a few shops.  Much was closed for the holiday, including a promising Thai Restaurant!  So we decided to just head on down to the hot springs and eat the dinner of choice:  crab, bread, cheese, and wine! 

We find Crystal Crane Hot Springs, about 4 miles west of Crane, and are situated in Cabin D (furthest from the communal bathroom! L)   It is also the one decorated in Victorian flowers!  So much for the hoped for western room.  Oh well.  The room is small – queen bed, big chair, heater, and small table and light.  We shall make it work just fine!  Besides the price is right ($45 a night). 

Rick was ready for a nap (he is fighting the sore throat today!) and I began to read a Hardy Boys mystery I found in the common room.  I haven’t read a HB in over 30 years!  Hour or two later, we decide to EAT!  A little more reading time after dinner and then it is time to check out the hot springs!

The hot springs have two inflow spots – one that trickles down through the rocks at a VERY hot  180 degrees and another pipe that pours into the pond at a bit cooler temp.  The night is cool, however, (under 30 degrees) so the water cools down quickly.  The pond is advertised at around 88 to 90 degrees overall – much cooler than I anticipated.   Another group is near the large inflow, so we use a smaller one that trickles in VERY hot.  We keep a constant swirling of our arms to cool off the water, but also to keep constant hot water heating us up!  Eventually I swim 3-4 laps across the pond to get a little exercise!  Showers in the two separate little stalls (ONLY two available)  and then back to the room.  Read and relax until 10 when my eyes are struggling.  I finished the HB earlier and have read the entire Reader’s Digest I brought as well.  Rick is working on a western novel he brought.  Nothing too heavy for either of us.  Tomorrow I will start the book I brought with me. 

Friday, November 12: 

View from our cabin window as sun rising behind pond. 

I get up at 6:45 to use the bathroom and wander around taking some sunrise pictures and pond shots.  It is brisk and beautiful outside.  I find a few birds on the lower pond (which is considerably cooler) and watch a few flocks swarm and dart around in the sky.  It is a gorgeous morning.  Inside to begin reading my book while Rick sleeps until 9:15!  At 9 am I give up and pull out some breakfast.  I’m hungry!!!

We are on our way south by 10:15 – heading to Crane just a few miles away.  Rick wants to find the store and get some cold medicine just to guarantee a good nice tonight. We drive into Crane proper, find the boarding school, one of only two public high school boarding schools in the country, but no store.  Back out on the main road and quickly see the Crane store, café, RV park, gas station, you name it!   They have drugs! 

Down to Princeton Junction and then west on a gravel road that will take us across to the Malheur Wildlife Area.  This isn’t exactly the main road into the Visitor Center, but it will get us there in a more direct way from Crane!  You can’t see the lake from the road except in just a few places.  The lake is fairly low at this time of the year – the summer has taken its toll. 

Main pond in front of Wildlife Refuge Headquarters

We arrive at the Malheur Wildlife Area – marked by a tall former fire tower that in the fall is covered with turkey vultures roosting!  The buildings are roofed with multicolor Spanish tiles which look really neat.  Cottonwood trees and a small pond – the main showcase for the visitor center bird viewing completes the center.  A free and always open museum is filled with information and over 200 stuffed birds on display.  The gift shop and center itself was closed for the Veteran’s Day weekend.    

We can see the Malheur Lake up north of the center in the distance.  The skies are clearing or filled with fluffy clouds.  So pretty, but we only spy a few birds in the area.  It really is too late in the season to do much birding.  Maybe we shall come back in the spring when the place is teeming with action! 

All day long the views were far reaching and the sky huge! 

From the Wildlife Refuge we pass the Sodhouse (originally part of the Glenn-French Cattle Empire) and out to Route 205, the main North-South route from Burns down to Fields and on to the Nevada border.  We head north briefly to see the area called The Narrows, but this basin and plateau are so huge and flat, it is hard to tell the difference in where the water shifts.  There is no sign of Mud Lake – I think it is all fields right now.  Harney Lake is further to the west – all still part of the wildlife refuge. 

View north from Buena Vista overlook.  

We backtrack slightly to the south and then head on down to our next stop – Buena Vista ponds.  We are amazed at the variations in the landscape.  I guess we thought the whole area was just flat, but we wind in and around rimrock and canyons and little gulches.  Always thick sagebrush and grassland and lava rock everywhere! 

Buena Vista is another set of ponds often occupied in the spring and summer with birds.  Right now the ponds are in a semi-dry state.  Interesting signs tell the story of how managed wetlands are more productive and better for the birds.  Hence, the draw down of the water, the cattle grazing nearby, etc.  Pretty fascinating. 

Frenchglen Hotel

It is about another 18 miles down to Frenchglen and the famous French Glenn Hotel.  The town has a small school, an even smaller post office spot, a few houses, and the hotel.  Seemed like everywhere was closed, including the hotel.  We had hoped to maybe catch their 11:30 to 1:30 lunch service, but instead ate from the stuff in the car at the little public park next to the hotel.  My only other disappointment was that the clouds have totally socked the Steens Mountain in.  We can see a little snow at the lowest edge and nothing up above.  Maybe another time! 

We head north again from Frenchglen and up to the Diamond cutoff.  This route should take us eventually back up to Princeton Junction just south of Crane.  We are making a nice circular trip!  We soon realize we also missed the turnoff to the Lavabeds area which goes through Diamond Craters.  Turn around. 

The next 20 miles are definitely through a volcanic playground of basalt, lava flows, and maar holes (they look like individual hot tubs in the desert!)  We didn’t stop at any of the stops because I didn’t get the brochure until AFTER we had driven through!  It was pretty neat to look at, however!  You could see the fold lines of the aa flows in several places. 

The Round Barn has a new visitor center built in recent years, probably by the Jenkins family who owns the area and runs historic tours on the side.  Dick Jenkins (70’s?) was running the upscale gift shop and museum.  He was a long time friend of the Kirkpatrick family and we visited for some time about Bill Kirkpatrick, who hunted in this region for over 50 years in a row.  I also bought a new Xmas puzzle which was pretty cool. 

Peter French's Round Barn

Rick and I then drove over the Round Barn itself, a 100 year old relic (restored in several places) from the Peter French era and the cattle empire.  He built the barn to train the horses in the winter time.  It really was awesome inside with HUGE timbers and old rock walls in the inner part.  History says his barn was “ahead of his time” in design. 

From the barn, we continue north past vast fields of golden grassland, more rimrock, and buttes and canyons.  Eventually we rejoin our morning route and return to Crane Hot Springs.  The skies have actually cleared off more and clouds are hard to find!  It will be another cold clear night! 

We relax for a short bit and then head out to the pond for a dip in the warm water.  The place is busier than yesterday – more in the RV part, although the rest of the cabins appear empty.  Maybe just some groups using the springs on a day pass too.  We are in the pond when the sun goes down and watch the purple glow appear on the eastern ridges opposite, all through the misty steam of the water.  Have to wait abit at the end to get one of the showers – one of the downsides to this spot!

Back to cabin to finish off the crab for dinner, plus more cheese, bread, and vino!  A relaxing evening reading and not much more.  I finish a second book!  I think Rick finishes one as well. 

We really should start checking into brands of mattresses when we sleep really well in a place.  This bed was good.  Sound night’s sleep! 

Saturday, November 13:

Rising sun on Saturday morning. 

I wake up at EXACTLY the same time as yesterday – 6:46 am.  Weird.  Up to do a few stretches and exercises, catch the sun rising at JUST the right moment, and do my Bible Study.  Rick is up at 7:45 or so, and we are on our way by 8:15.  We decided to eat OUT for breakfast and out diner of choice is the Crane Café, just 4 miles back up the road.  Rick orders the shortstack and gets two HUGE pancakes.  I decide to try oatmeal and fruit, and get a bowl of oatmeal that must be 20 oz in size!  Well over 2 cups worth!  Wow!  I can’t finish it!  My fruit is peaches, which taste good with the raisins and brown sugar.  More WW points for breakfast than I’ve had in a while, but we are eating out! 

The skies are cloudy, gray, and COLD this morning.  Rick had to scrape a little frost off the windows before we could leave.  But….we can see the Steens Mountain in the distance again! 

Enroute home by 9, stopping Burns long enough to pick up a little gas.  Both of us are fighting the sleepies the whole way home, but we make it safely around 12:30 pm.    

A fun get-away into some new territory.  We will definitely put it on a spring trip itinerary when the birds are more abundant! 

Click HERE to view more pictures from our trip.