SAN DIEGO & THE LAUNCH OF THE USNS WILLIAM MCLEAN -

Thursday afternoon, April 14:

THE ADVENTURE  of the
T-AKE 12 WILLIAM MCLEAN LAUNCH BEGINS!

Rick and I both leave school early, with Amanda and Bill Mitchell covering our final class time/period and head for Boise to catch our SW flight to Oakland and San Diego.  Because we allowed a little extra time, we didn’t need it and it was smooth sailing right on in to Flying J for a break and then to the airport.  First time we have ever parked in the Long Term section ($11.50 per day), but we will be reimbursed for the parking. 

We check our one BIG bag and then Rick grabs a fish taco because he hasn’t had any dinner.  I ate mine in the car en route.  Smooth flight on down to Oakland.  I drew two pictures I was behind in creating.  Unfortunately, I LEFT clipboard in the seat pocket and lost not only the two I did, but also about 5-6 other completed ones that hadn’t been scanned into the computer yet.  It bummed me out considerably, but I will not dwell on it and spoil my weekend! 

A quick layover in Oakland and phone call to see if the boys are on their way, and then we are back in the air flying over San Francisco and on down the coast.  A clear night and the lights of the coast and Los Angeles are spectacular!  We are met in San Diego by a military man holding a sign with my name on it.  He had seen a picture of me, so knew what to look for!  The next 45 minutes were long – I tried to track down a way to reclaim my clipboard and Rick and Adam watched bag after bag go around the carousel, but none of them ours.  I was starting to get concerned as all of our good clothes for the weekend were in that bag!  Rick checked other carousels, but it wasn’t until he looked over in a corner, nearly an hour after we landed, that he saw our bag.  Someone had taken it off the carousel and just set it down!  AGGGHHHH!!! 

Adam delivers us to another military driver who takes us to the Omni Hotel, right across the street from the Convention Center and  a  couple miles from NASSCO, the shipyard.  Margaret and Rob are waiting for us in the lobby, but since it is now 11pm, Rob says we can skip the review and hands me my book to read!  Whew!

Classy place, but as Rick says, “I can pay a third of the cost AND get a continental breakfast AND free wi-fi!!”  True, but the view from our 13 floor window over the bay is beautiful.  As I write tonight, the sun is lowering the western sky and it is gorgeous outside!  I feel somewhat like the Beverly Hillbillies in Hollywood, but for a weekend, this could be fun!  Our room has a welcome platter with a bottle of wine, two waters, two chocolate covered strawberries, tiny little apples and plums, and a couple dishes filled with nuts and dried fruit.  Wow!  Not everyone gets this but because we are staying as guests of the launch, I think it was put out. 

Thursday night is late, as we wait up for Jed and Luke to arrive at 12:50 am and then another hour visiting and sharing before we all tumble into bed.  Had to give Luke his birthday hugs anyway as he has spent his birthday on the road!

Our room overlooks the San Diego Convention Center & the bay

FRIDAY, APRIL 15:

            Up to a glorious sunshine pouring through the open blinds.  I love it, but decide to close them tight which darkens the room so my “boys” can sleep a while longer.  I do my Bible study, then dress and set off around 8:45 to see who of my family is up and moving.  I finally find Mom and Mac down in the restaurant having breakfast and join them for a cup of coffee.  I had already eaten my yogurt (drinking it from the container as I forgot to bring a spoon!).    Rick went out and found the exercise room in the hotel and the boys slept! 

            We are “scheduled” to meet in the lobby at 11:15 to head over to the shipyard.  Liz, Dave, Gretchen, and Shawn have arrived at this point  (Gretch and Shawn flew in this morning) and they follow Jenny and Tom, Jed and Luke over in their cars.  Mom, Marg, and myself, along with our spouses and escorts are driven again by our military man in a van.  Basically we never have to worry about transportation the entire weekend. 

With our hard hats and ready for the tour. 

            The next half hour is a blur of meeting relatives unseen in years as we all converge at Gate 6 to the NASSCO Shipyard and get our hard hats, safety goggles and earplugs for the tour.  Not everyone is going to make it for the tour, but most are.  I recognize Pat and John Nelson easily and Don, but after that it is tough!   I find Jeff from his Facebook profile, and know Jack Kearny from his flaming red hair!   Mostly I keep thinking, “everyone is so short!”  Other than Mark McLean, the McLean men are NOT tall! 

Marg takes her practice swings.  

            Once we are “protected”, we board little shuttle buses which take the group to a large open building for preliminary speeches, etc.  Margaret is presented with a golden hardhat with her name on it – (she’ll get to keep her hardhat!), and everyone puts coins into the “masthead” of the ship – a tradition of good luck to purchase our passage to heaven should the ship ever sink.  Don had special coins made which he later gave a copy of to all the cousins. 

            Then it is on to the boat…..the ship.  And the closer you get to right up next to it, the more overwhelming it appears in size.  We quickly witnesses the “first shore removal” ceremony where a female related to the shipyard knocks the ceremonial chock away holding the ship in place.  Throughout the night more and more will be removed, so when the tide is right tomorrow night, and the gate is opened to let the waters flow in, the ship will be free to slip its mooring and slide back into the bay.  I can’t wait! 

            Marg, Mom, and I must go to a short rehearsal for bottle swinging while the rest of the group takes off on their tour.  We will rejoin them at some point.  Mark and Ron go with us as well.  We practice our “jobs” – mine will be to make sure Mom stays upright and sits in the chair provided if necessary and then to help “PUSH” the ship after the christening.  That’s a ceremonial push because it will start to move on its own once the switch is thrown! 

            The tour is awesome!  And filled with MANY flights of stairs.  Anyone who works or lives on a ship of this size will be in shape because they go up and down stairs daily.  Plus we had the additional 7-8 flights to get from the yard level to the flight deck of the ship.  We saw the prop – a huge golden color at the back of the boat – and the words ‘WILLIAM MCLEAN’ written across the back of the ship.  They have posted a number of photographs of Uncle Bill throughout the ships – in stairwells, etc.  Most will be removed and then reinstalled once the ship is completely done.  (It is at 88% right now – they have to launch before finishing because the ship gets too heavy to launch!)  Mark find one picture of him and Uncle Bill working in the garage shop at San Diego – and the officer giving us the tour tells him to autograph it!  So Mark whips out a pen and does so! 

            We eventually make our way up to the Control Deck – a huge room lined with big windows (at $5-7 thousand a pop due to the safety features kn the glass) that is currently filled with electrical cords wrapped and waiting for the ceiling to be installed.  They make sure everything is all connected up before applying that last step.  The windows are so special they will be covered again after the tour – they were unwrapped just for us! 

A little lunch outside in the fish taco cafe

            The tour concludes around 2:30 and we are whisked back to the OMNI in our private shuttle van.  A little time now to relax before the 6 PM reception in Margaret’s honor.  However, we are all starving since breakfast was limited and lunch hasn’t come, so.,.,.

            ….many of us converge on the little Tin Fish Restaurant right next to the OMNI where they advertise fish tacos.  Ends up everyone except Ron, Jen, and Tom who went to another place.  But Marg, Mom, Mac, Liz, Dave, Gretchen, Shawn, and the four of us.  I just ordered a salmon taco ala carte, which was perfect in size and taste!!  It seems silly getting lunch at 3:30, but dinner isn’t coming for another 4 hours, so I guess that is reasonable!  It is absolutely beautiful sitting outside in the patio area, with the palm treeing swaying, the light breeze, and SUNSHINE!! 

Dave and Gretchen all dressed up!

            By 4:15 Grandma Mac is nodding off and we head upstairs for short naps and time to get ready for the big evening  celebrating Margaret as the Ship’s Sponsor.  I had ironed our clothes earlier this morning, so we were ready to go in that regard.  Showered and put on the fancy white bathrobe provided by the hotel – just because I’ve never stayed anywhere that had that service!  I felt quite regal! 

            We are given name tags with our table assignments.  It seems the entire family has been broken up into groups of 4-6.  Jed and Luke are with Tom and Jen, Rick and I with Mom and Mac at one of the reserved seating “head tables” .  Marg and Ron are at the table next to us with the “big brass”!  At the reserved tables, name tags designate the individual seats, with couples next to each other, but alternating man – woman, etc.  Mac and Mom are on the far side of the table from us.  Rick is sitting next to the wife of a NASSCO employee, and I next to one of the head employees of NASSCO.  Both are talkative and it is easy to converse during the meal.  I think Rick got the more vocal of the two of us, as I’m not sure she even stopped long enough to eat much of her meal. 

Ginger receives her gift from NASSCO. 

            I wanted to take pictures of each course because it was all so fancy!  Our soup course of mushroom soup (heavenly tasting and quite rich I’m sure) was crowned with a pastry “mushroom” on top.  I found out later Jen did take pictures of each course!!  I didn’t want to be quite so obvious in my amazement at “High class eating”!!  Dinner was a choice between salmon and chicken.  We had chosen chicken because the salmon was titled “crispy black salmon”.  It would have been fine as the man next to me had a huge chunk of good looking fish.  The chicken was spinach stuffed with an asparagus sauce.  Absolutely wonderful as well.  Dessert was a very light (but WW points laden I’m sure) chocolate torte with raspberry sauce.  Heavenly.  I ate 2/3 of it and then gave the rest away to Rick. 

The quilt Margaret made for the ship. 

            In the middle of the dessert, the program portion of the evening began.  Margaret, Mom and I were escorted to the stage area  and the presentations began.  Margaret, as the main sponsor received a number of items:  a box to keep the ceremonial bottle in, a picture of the boat with insets of Uncle Bill and Sidewinder related designs in the sky area, a box with a clock in it, etc.  Mom and I received a beautiful glass paperweight with colors reminiscent of the Mojave Desert and designs of desert reptiles on it.  Margaret gave a short speech, ending with the first two paragraphs of Dad’s eulogy poem to Uncle Bill from his funeral service in 1976.  Then Don took a turn at the podium and did a wonderful job as well.  More presentations will take place tomorrow evening from what I understand. 

With Mom - wish Liz hadn't already left!

            By the time we took a McLean family picture (all except Rick and Ryan who snuck out early!) and extended family visit time, it was 10pm!!  Liz and Dave left to drive Shawn, Gretchen, Jake and Nicole back up to Oceanside and the condo.   Mac escorted a very tired Mom up to their room, Ron and Marg went to their room, but the rest of us went back over to the Tin Fish and enjoyed some drinks and animated conversation until after midnight!!  Jen and Tom are so much fun!  Mac came out and joined us as well!  Rick pulls the blinds completely closed this time so the bright sunshine doesn’t wake us any earlier than necessary.  A full day!  A special time!  More tomorrow!

The McLean Extended Family at Friday night's Sponsor's Dinner

Addendum:  Forgot to share the story of Luke’s belt!  In a nutshell, he forgot to bring one due to his 10 minute packing Thursday morning because he overslept6!  So….this morning for the boat tour, we discovered underneath his shirt hanging out, he had used the tie from the white bathrobe to tie around his pants!  We discouraged the same belt for tonight.  So he and Jed went Internet shopping for a Goodwill, took a short walk to no avail (it had moved) and then Luke found a place called “Urban Outfitters” about 5 blocks from the hotel.  He raced up there and back to the room shortly before 6 with what Gretchen later told him was a “ladies” belt!  Ah well.  It looked better than the white terry one! 

SATURDAY, APRIL 16:  LAUNCH DAY! 

            We enjoy a little more relaxed rising on Saturday, but do get up and going for a 9am (or so) departure to Point Loma and our family gathering at the Westminster Church park.  We get Jed’s car out of the parking garage and with Ron and Marg’s car, get the 10 of us over to the park.  The church is a busy place today with a plant sale going on, plus an AA meeting in the park from 10-11am!  After we arrive, Jen and I head back in her car for the Von’s store to pick up the birthday cake we ordered for Luke, Jed, Gretchen, and Mark.  Turns out to be a perfect addition to the sandwiches and fruit and veggie platters that Mark and Pat picked up. 

            The weather is perfect – sunshine, temps in the mid to high 70’s.  Luke plays soccer, football, tag, and other games with Scott’s two children.  Eventually John and Susan show up with their two boys as well (ages 6 and 10).  ALL the McLeans are present and accounted for.  Unfortunately John and Susan didn’t arrive in time for the group picture we took earlier.  We will photoshop them into the picture!!    We took several smaller family group shots as well, shared email addresses, and in general did a lot of visiting. 

            Who was there?  Lynn Jones, Don and Pat McLean, Pat’s daughter Rhonda and husband Chris, daughter Courtney and boyfriend Greg, son Trevor, Rhonda’s son Ryan and his wife Heidi and son Brandon; Rick McLean and Scott McLean with his wife Trisha, and son Spencer and daughter Ashley; Mark McLean and wife Meredith; Debby McLean, husband Keith Kearny and son Jack; John McLean with wife Susan and sons John “Mac” and Peter; Jeff McLean; Margaret and Ron, Jen and Tom; Liz and Dave, Gretchen and Shawn, Jake and Nicole; Rick and I, Jed and Luke; Mac and Mom Mac.  All nine of the McLean first cousins were together for the first time in our lives – isn’t that amazing?  At age 54 through 67, we finally are all in one place at one time. 

Jed, Gretchen, Mark, and Luke with their cake!

            Just after pictures, we gather everyone around the cake and sing to Luke, Mark, Gretchen, and Jed.  I divvy the cake up and tell everyone to eat up as we can’t take it with us!  I think Mark was glad to have been included and remembered!  Hope we didn’t leave anyone else out! (The past few years Rick and I have provided a cake at the college tennis championships because it always fell on this “in between birthdays” weekend – realized we could continue it this year as well! Then remembered Gretchen and Mom reminded me about Mark!)

            A few of us wander up through the plant sale to the Memorial Garden in a courtyard area of the church, where plaques to both Uncle Bill and Aunt LaV can be found.  They were long time and supportive members of the Westminster Presby Church family, and instrumental in the construction of the park adjoining the church. 

You can learn to do anything on the internet!

            We head back to the OMNI around 1:30 for a little rest and relaxation before tonight’s festivities – the culmination of the weekend.  I keep pinching myself to see if the weather is truly real – it is incredibly beautiful!  Jed and Luke wander off to try the swimming pool for abit, while I shower, rest, iron tonight’s clothing, and attempt to get online down in the lobby to confirm our tickets for tomorrow morning.  I finally am able to make a connection.    Luke needs to go back online to find out how to tie a bow tie.  He has a new one to wear tonight that will match his brown and gray attire, but it is not a prettied bow tie.  When Rick and I leave the room at 4:45, Luke is still in front of the mirror, by now with Jed assisting, and the video clip on the computer, trying to figure it out!  They do eventually show up for dinner with the tie looking great! 

            The pre-dinner reception is a little fancier tonight, with some “fire roasted vegetables” (artichoke hearts!), mini spinach filo treats, and other tasty morsels.  The crowd is thick, however, and it is hard to keep track of who is where. 

            Tonight is a MUCH bigger crowd.  The entire ballroom is wall to wall tables.  The boys are with Jake and Nicole at Table 19.  Rick and I will Mom and Mac, Mark and Meredith at Table 6.  I am sitting next to tonight’s keynote speaker, a Rear Admiral who flew out from Washington DC for the launch.  He spent two years at China Lake previously, so he and Mark were able to share some stories about people and places.  He did mention a name that recently retired that Mark remembered from the 50’s.  We were amazed that someone could spend a career in “experimental” explosives and retire 60 years later….intact!    Rick sat next to another dignitary from DC, the assistant to the Pentagon for Ship Building – a lady!  She flies out for most of the launches, but it was a first for the Rear Admiral, so we both were in the same boat (no pun intended!). 

            Dinner is beef – a cut of meat I wasn’t familiar with – somewhat akin to a pot roast in texture as it fell apart with the fork.  Very tender and moist.  Tiny potatoes, and full string beans draped over the top, plus a chunk of cooked tomato.   All this after a romaine salad with a thin piece of ham on top and little dollops of cheese on the side.  I skipped the dressing on the salad, but other than that thoroughly enjoyed EVERYTHING!  (OK, so only a third of my roll and no butter either. I do have to weigh on Tuesday!  But I have NO intention of even trying to figure out my points for the past two days.) Dessert was a pound cake type stack with cake, cream filling, and strawberry and blueberry.  Not nearly as big looking as last night’s chocolate cake, but rather dainty and excellent tasting!

            Then more speeches and presentations!  They honor all the individual section leaders for the shipbuilders – both for the McLean and for the Chambers (T-AKE 11).  Margaret, Mom, and I were back up front to receive a plaque for our part in the launch.  The Rear Admiral did not speak at the dinner, but rather is the keynote at the launch itself.  The whole dinner affair was over by 6:20 or so.  We are advised to be ready for the prelaunch briefing (the “platform participants”) and be ready to board our Gold Star bus on time!  I discover that you go about 10 ahead of time  according to the military because everything takes place early. 

            Jed and Luke leave to head up to the room to gather up their bags, pick up the car, and drive down to the parking area.  They will be leaving after the launch and dessert to drive back to Tucson tonight….a LATE night!  Rick and I, along with Mom and Mac, Marg and Ron, etc. all board our VIP bus and are whisked down to the shipyard and dropped off right next to the ceremony area.  I could get used to this kind of treatment!

            The next two hours are incredible.  What an experience.  The ship is gorgeous – bedecked now with patriotic banners all around the top of the bow, giant red, white, and blue balloons waving in the air from the deck.  The platform and ceremony area is absolutely covered in floral bouquets of red, white, and blue flowers.  A military band is playing, the Marine color guard is ready.  There is a festival feeling and high energy in the air of anticipation and excitement. 

Mom, Marg, and I with Don and Mark's wives. 

 Tattiana, one of the NASSCO employees who is in charge of all the arrangements for the ceremony, leads us all up to an area where we are presented our flowers, pictures are taken, and then we have a few moments to “mingle with the crowd” (and show off our flowers) before we have to take our places on the platform.  Margaret receives a dozen red roses, while Mom and I receive a dozen white roses each.  Mostly I am excited because they SMELL!!  Rose scent!  While mingling, I see Pat and Meredith with Don and Mark up front, thinking once again, “What am I doing here?  They should be up here!”  So  I quickly check with Mom and we decide to give one of the bouquets to them to share and we will share the second one.  I will have a hard enough time getting 6 roses home in one piece on the plane, but since they smell so good I will work at it! 

What a ship!

            Then we are escorted up the 8 steps to the platform and take our seats in the front row.  What a view.  The huge bow of the ship to our right, I look out and see all the family seated in the first three rows of the audience, and that big old full moon behind them.  Pinch yourself – you are part of this, Ginger!   Don and Mark are right center front, then Margaret’s family, then Rick and the boys and Mac.  They all have assigned seats right in the front row! 

Marg breaks the bottle!
 (Picture compliments
of Jeff McLean!)

            Promptly a little early, the program begins.  The “countdown” clock is ticking and the show must get going or the boat will launch without us!  The colors are presented, the choral director from La Jolla Nazarene College sings a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, and we honor the Wounded Warriors from Camp Pendleton,  the Marine base just north of San Diego.  Then introductions, and the speeches begin.  I have to admit I thought the speeches long and boring on the DVD I watched earlier this spring from a previous launch, but when you are there and they are talking about YOUR relative, it is a different story!  In the middle of the last speech, as the clock was nearing 7 minutes, we are escorted from the platform and up another flight of steps to the Christening Platform at the bow of the ship.  Looking straight up to the top of the deck is exhilarating!  The air is crisp and cool yet pleasant, the colors seem so vivid in the night air.  The Rear Admiral finishes his speech right on time, and Margaret is given the bottle, which is totally wrapped in red, white, and blue ribbons.  Mom rises from the chair where she has been sitting and with a death grip on my arm, I can hardly get her to move slightly forward and to the side so I can see around Fred Harris in front of me.  Marg, into a microphone, voices the words, “I christen this ship the USNS William McLean” and then gives a mighty swing of the bottle.  The champagne splashes, but not as much as I expected!  Seconds later, the bow QUICKLY slips out of reach.  I didn’t even get to push!  This ship was ready to leave. ( I later learned  the warm temperatures of the day probably helped move things fast as the tracks were smooth and the grease slick!)  I messed up the video camera (naturally) so I don’t have the footage of the first part.  But the band starts playing, streamers pour off the edge of the deck, and the ship just slips backwards into the water.  Makes me cry now thinking about it.  Standing up there on the platform with a front row seat was amazing.  Fred Harris, head of NASSCO, was to my left and kept up a running commentary the entire time.  The gates holding back the high tide of water are opened and the water rushes in like a mini tsunami as the boat falls back.  Within moments, fireworks started exploding from the end of the pier over the bay and you could see the ship with a vanguard of two tugboats out on the water.  As it shifted sideways, a huge spotlight lit is up in the dark. 

            Mr. Harris is a big fan of fireworks, and the spectacular show we had because of the night launch was because of him.  Evidently, environmentalists halt more fireworks over the bay if you apply for the permit within the normal 60 day window.  But if you apply for a “last minute” permit within 6 days, it goes to a different agency and is approved!  We had at least a 5-6 minute show with a great finale! 

Luke and Ashley after watching the fireworks. 

            Then a walk through the shipyard to the Paint Shop area which is set up for a buffet dessert, complete with chocolate fountain, and multiple little treats.  We have a final time to celebrate and compliment Margaret on a bottle well broken.  (Apparently it is Naval tradition that if the bottle isn’t broken on the first swing, it bodes bad luck for the ship.  Thank goodness Margaret rings the bass hand bells, and hence can pack a wallop!) 

            Shortly before 10, the boys make the rounds with their goodbyes to family and friends, board the shuttle back to the parking lot, and take off for Tucson.  They promise to text when they arrive…SAFELY!  Mom and family are some of the last to leave the party….guess it is a lot like coffee hour after church!  NASSCO pretty much has to kick us all out.  One other family member I saw at the launch was Jo, Don’s ex-wife.  That was pretty neat for her to be able to come.  She knew Uncle Bill, and of course enjoyed seeing her sons Rick and Scott and family. 

            Back to the hotel to crash!  What a day!  What an experience!  Oh – prior to the program, the three of us were approached by a young lady who said she was one of the matrons for T-AKE 9, the Commodore Perry.  She said we would be given the opportunity to go out with the ship on its preliminary sea trials, scheduled for the end of August.  Her words were, “Don’t miss this chance.  It is a great experience! Cancel anything, but go!”  We appreciated that because we hadn’t heard anything about that until today.  A good reason for me to be retiring!  I’m free!!  (Hm…..I doubt the Navy will be paying for that airfare.  Maybe I can take it out of the mega federal taxes Rick and I just paid!)

            All day long I kept thinking to myself  that Uncle Bill would be humble with all this attention and pomp and circumstance.  Aunt LaV would be in her element and love every second of it.  But both of them would have deemed it all a wonderful reason to bring the family together, and for all of us, that was the most special part of all.  The chance to gather and pay tribute to Uncle Bill especially, but overall to three incredible sons of some amazing parents, my Grandparents, Robert McLean and Clara Blohm. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 17: 

            Travel day for many.  John and Susan, their sons, and Jeff left early this morning headed for Seattle.  Debby, Keith and Jack are staying in San Diego for the week.  Marg, Ron, Jen, Tom, Mom and Mac are driving up to Oceanside and the condo to join Liz and Dave for the drive back up to Sacramento.  (Margaret had a McLean challenge of packing her car and would have done Dad proud.  In fact, the valet at the hotel complimented her on an amazing packing job as he watched her for 20 minutes!)  We had a text this morning from Luke on a safe arrival in Tucson.  Now to pray Jed homeward to Socorro today. 

            After coffee with Mom and Mac while they breakfast in the coffee shop, Rick and I finish up our packing and find Adam Cox waiting for us with our driver – 15 minutes ahead of time!  
           Not much more to write - a smooth trip home, although bumpy out of Phoenix and into Boise.  Flight from Phoenix was filled with young families and babies.  Fortunately the one behind us with the piercing scream settled down eventually and slept the rest of the flight.  Home to Baker City by 6:15 and early to bed!  After checking in with Jed and Marg to find all have arrived safely!  WHAT A WEEKEND THIS WAS!  


Click HERE to view MORE pictures from our weekend. 


Click HERE for a video of Margaret's speech during the Sponsor's dinner. 
Click HERE for the video of the launch posted by Jen, Margaret's daughter. 
HERE is another video from a different perspective - that of the NASSCO workers preparing the boat!   

FINAL DAYS IN NEW MEXICO

THURSDAY, MARCH 24:

Luke positions his helmet to begin his ride to work.

Today is a travel day to return from Tucson to Albuquerque.  We are up early, as last night we remembered the time change (losing an hour) and we need to meet Jed in time for lunch so he can get to volleyball practice by 4 pm!  I quickly take a few pictures of Luke's house, which I had neglected to do!   Luke takes off on his bike for work at 7:15 and Rick and I pull out minutes later heading east to Benson, where we pick up Mom. 


We have a tail wind today (much better than the gale force head wind on Monday) and somehow the drive seems to go faster than Monday's trip!  We didn't stop as much, the views were much better since the dust wasn't flying all over the place.  Mom insisted on sitting in the back today, so I worked on macramé necklaces, etc. from the front seat!  We grabbed a quick snack or drinks in Deming, which was really our only stop of the day besides Socorro.  Cruised in to Sophias at 2:30 where Jed met us and had a good meal (although I ate too much!).  


Home to Three Fountains by 5:15.  Rick and I promptly unloaded stuff and took off on a walk to get a few kinks out.  I should have changed my sandals to shoes, as I am hoping I haven't developed a blister on the bottom of my foot!  We headed south a couple blocks and hit the bike path that runs along the arroyo coming down off the Sandias.  A good walk, but glad we turned around when we did because shortly after that my foot started hurting.  Good and sore by the time we got back (having also picked up a few groceries from Walmart)


Quiet evening reading the papers, watching TV, etc.  


FRIDAY, MARCH 25: 
Hmmm..  ten pm and I am ready for bed, but it's been a profitable day!  Profitable for the economy of Albuquerque anyway!  We had a change to sleep in a little this morning and have a little more leisurely start to the day than the past three have been!  Eventually Mom and I leave to go shopping and Rick takes off on a walk after finishing a few chores on Mom's list.  
Rick has sent me out with a coupon for a sale at Penney's - so what can I say?  I was just doing as I was told!  I ended up with a new pair of Arizona flipflops, a dress, two new tops (one that will go with my outfit for San Diego), two pairs of skorts (I hadn't been able to find any at Wal-Mart), material for a new shirt, and enough plastic mesh to get started on some Christmas presents.  Everything was sale price!  Came home and got started working on fitting everything into my suitcase!  Mom bought some new shoes and top also!  We had a good time!  

Rachael and Regan

Randy Rembold Family & Mom

Mom and #1 and #3 sons. 

Around 2:30 we leave for Edgewood and an evening with Randy's family.  Rachael and Randy are home when we arrive, and one by one the rest of the family come home.  Patty is first, then Regan, then Julian (Regan's boyfriend who is living with them), and finally Ryan.  A casual dinner and lots of good conversation.  Good to see everyone and I think this was the first time we have met Julian.  I gave two of my recently made necklaces to Regan and Rachael.  
Home around 9:30 to finish up a few things and get to bed.  Randy and Patty will be here late morning to take us out to the airport.  


SATURDAY, MARCH 26:
This will be short and to the point!  We flew home today!  Finished up a few last minute chores for Mom (hanging some pictures) and enjoyed bacon and eggs breakfast before Randy and Patty arrived at 11am.  A little late meeting them downstairs because I couldn't remember where I had "safely" put the keys to the car!  
Randy and Patty drop us off at the airport, we check our baggage, and then discover our plane is about 25 minutes late arriving from back east.  Not a problem....Rick gets a USA Today and I continue reading the book Mom loaned me!  
Smooth flying into Las Vegas, but we are running about 20 minutes late at that point and we only had an hour layover.  We hit the bathroom and then go to find gate C12 ..... which proves to be a LONG DISTANCE from D5 where we arrived.  We walk and walk and walk and arrive just 10 minutes before flight time.  Everyone has boarded already.  These were our BEST seating passes of the whole vacation and we didn't get to take advantage of it!  In fact, Rick and I were not able to sit together for this last leg of our trip because all the duo seats were taken.  Ah well.  
The pilot takes good advantage of the SW winds and we arrive in Boise a half hour AHEAD of schedule!  From sunshine and a forecast of 75 degrees in Albuquerque to 42 degrees and rain and wind!  We quickly pull out the vests and long sleeves we left available for the trip home.  
Quick stop at Win-Co for some supplies and then on to Baker City.  We drove through a couple pretty good rain squalls enroute, but arrive home safely with a little daylight left at 7:30 pm.  


A great visit to the Southwest and family time with Mom, Jed, Luke, and Randy's family!  

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!!