Revised 9/17 to replace missing photos. No idea how I lost them but might be related to our hard drive crash! New laptop up and running...thanks for the heads up from Della.
We just returned from a 30 day trip east. We drove over 6,000 miles and put in about $30/travel day for gas for the Prius. Not bad! It was a fine trip - visiting folks we don't get to see very often. All went very well for us and the dogs. We SO appreciate everyone putting up with the 4 of us...especially those with kids, cats and other dogs.
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| Final Stop at Della & Tom's |
Our first stop was Tim, Eileen and Madeline in Wisconsin. Great fun seeing them and Madison. Visited the terrific farmer's market around the capitol building.
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| Eileen |
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| Alexander,Adam,Karen,Nick |
On to spend a few days with Karen and family and 3 cats. It was interesting with all the quadrupeds. Hope no permanent scars for cats or kids. It was good to see them happy and busy in their new home.
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| Just the girls |
The first reason for our trip was to spend a week with Nancy and Sandy
celebrating their 50th anniversary. So good to see everyone - there
were 24 of us altogether. Doug came from Alaska with his girlfriend
Ellen; his good friends PJ & Mavis were part of the festivities.
Karen, Adam & kids. Four nieces from Colorado, Florida (2) and
Georgia and their families.
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| Joker - can't buy it, must make it |
It was a wonderful gathering with much quality hanging out time. Chuck got to play golf a couple of times with Sandy, Doug, PJ.
There was a heat wave going thru and a little rain, but it didn't bother us. The water at the beach and off the dock seemed warmer than I remember! After all had returned home we received news of a lay-off and a health problem for two of the nieces. They are in our thoughts.
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| Chuck, Jody, Ginny |
From Cape Cod to Franklin, NC took 2 days. We had a good time as always hanging out with my sibs and their spouses. The rental house was above a river in the mountains and had a huge screened porch. We could play cards in the pouring rain - I loved it. We'll be seeing Jody and Donna out here in a few weeks. Hopefully it will be a little cooler by then.
Our final stop was to see Della and Tom in Buena Vista, CO. They've built a wonderful house on a lake in a spectacular setting. Birds! Mountains! Jeeping! We don't see them so much since Zoni days...but it's great to catch up. They're only 2 easy driving days away from Big Pine ... hope to see them out here soon.
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| Della, Pinon, Tom |
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| Della & dogs on their lake trail |
It's good to be home. Most of our tomato plants were in good shape ... heavily laden with ripe fruit! I have already made a batch of salsa. And Buddy is almost completely healed from his ordeal. He had a strange 'wound' on his side and we took him to Pinon's vet in Buena Vista. It was a parasite! ... a hideous 1/2 inch long worm which Dr. Peggy gently coaxed out of his skin. No wonder it wouldn't heal. Della and I were about to puke. It's called Cuterebra. He also got a much needed nail trim. Other random musings: I'm still in search of a massage therapist to loosen up my back from all the travel ... it's just as hard to find someone who answers their phone in Bishop as it was in NC or CO. Our TRX equipment was at the post office waiting for us. Now we just have to use it to become buff. Chuck is trying to dig some of our plants out from the seriously encroaching weeds since we've been gone. The yard gets water nightly and there's plenty of sun. The house got so hot while we were away that my kitchen gloves left on the counter were glued together. I am signed up for my first golf lesson Tuesday morning at 8am before it gets too hot.
We're getting back into Eastern Sierra activities and expecting a visit from Alan soon. I /we might blog some more later ... or maybe not.
