Nevada Trip Part Three

At the end of the valley in Gardnerville, Nevada, the Amacher family bought one hundred acres many years ago and decided to run a horse farm which is still going strong today. My son, Michael rents a small trailer house there and is very happy in it. He knows the horses and dogs by name, and even a billy goat or two. There is yard art as you can see from the pictures and the tumble weed blows in the wind, and I am humming the old cowboy song 'Tumbling tumble weeds."

I walked out every day to get some exercise and fresh air. The weather was really warm and unexpected for November. We were lucky as the air began to change as we were leaving, winter is on the way. The high desert country takes some getting used to as my chapped lips and sneezing attested to. Walking out around around the rutted roads to the entrance gate was interesting as I got to see a lot of the yard art. There was a boat set in rocks with the American flag standing proudly. A statue of the Blessed Virgin surrounded by small rocks. The horses were in their pens eating some luscious greens and barely gave me the time of day as I interrupted their meal time. They are huge animals and although I talked to them I never did touch them. I had no sugar or apples for them. The entrance gate is not automatic. You have to get out of the car, open the gate, then drive the car through and go back and close the gate, annoying but necessary. I found myself locking the chain and I'm on the wrong side . . . well, some of us are brighter than others.

As you can see from the pictures the garden has 'gone' for the season. The last small pumpkin sat there looking like a forlorn forgotten ball of orange pulp, maybe the seeds are doing their thing and will recreate for the next season. There were several big bunches of chard still green and alive but not edible. The sunflowers were spent and the weeds were taking over. There are piles of 'horse feathers' on the ground ready to be picked up and put into the beds and fertilize for the next season. I would like to have taken some home for my garden, but thought better of it, as daughter Pat would protest loudly.

The big white building is the event area where the horses show off and exercise. I don't know if they have many events during the year but most likely they do. I was fortunate to meet Mrs. Amacher and she was very gracious and opened the gate for us. She came over to the car and shook hands with us and mentioned she had read all my books and is a fan., yeah . . . I'm puffed up.

The views of the Sierra mountains is still awesome. I never get tired of looking at it. The peaks had a little snow left on them from a short pre-winter storm. Soon gale winds and snow will abide and they will keep their white coat right up to summer. Progress has come to the valley and houses have been built by the thousands from one side of the valley to the other. Right now, in this down trodden economy, there are many of those homes for sale. The builders were not satisfied with building an economical home but went for those million dollar ones and now they sit. Why anyone thought retirees needed four bedroom homes is beyond me, but they went for bigger and better. Nevada has always had a water problem so it will be no surprise when the plains flood at some future date and the home owners find themselves in trouble. I hope not for their sake but it inevitable like the alluvial fan of the mountains that create mud slides and take over the land. Nevada . . . I am very happy I got to live there and even happier having had a chance to go back and visit.

I hope you are planning a visit to one of your favorite places. It does the soul good. Make today a special day and take your camera for a walk. I did.

Nevada Trip Part Two

The pictures were taken as we rode along the highway from Oregon to Nevada. Daughter Pat and I started out bright and early when the fog lay in our valley. The day began to brighten as we rode along, and I snapped pictures out of the car window due to the heavy fast traffic on the highway seeing there was no place to pull over to take a snap or two of the beautiful fall colors. I saw the familiar Nevada aspens which have bright yellow leaves that shimmer in the sunlight. The valleys were covered with russet colored leaves on small trees, and once in awhile a bright red or a soft orange shade of leaves would peek out. The vistas and views were spectacular, maybe not as brilliant as the trees back East, but surely a close second. We passed through an area that had suffered a forest fire, blackened and desolate. It is so sad to see. It will come back as it always does but it will take a long time.

Arriving in Nevada the lenticular clouds soar and glide across the sky. They are a formation that is prevalent to Nevada and one day imparticular, there was a sky of awesome sights as the winds glided them along. I did not have my camera with me so missed some great shots, but on the way home nature provided me with a few of those lovely clouds, much like UFO's floating above us and I had a chance to take a couple of shots. It is fun to watch them line up and float about looking like we are about to be invaded from outer space.

Nevada has not lost any of its charms for me. It was wonderful to be back in my old stomping grounds. I wished I had the time to visit friends but it was not to be as I was on a mission of great importance to me and I felt I should remain where I was needed. Maybe in a future date I'll be able to set up a time and have a get-together.

It has to be a good four to five hundred miles of road between Brookings and Gardnerville, Nevada. The road traffic is fast moving and never ending, so much different that our sheltered highways on the coast. We have lots of traffic, which we consider busy ---- and awful, but after a road trip we give a sigh of relief as we follow our traffic into town and breath the salt air from the ocean.

I was appalled at the food prices in the stores of Nevada . . . talk about really taking their customers for a long ride with escalated pricing. I was shocked and owe our store here a bit of an apology for my thoughts on their pricing. Our worlds are topsy-turvy and I'm not sure how families get by. The stores are showing high prices for everything and it doesn't make sense to me when people are out of work, the economy is bad and the holidays fearsome for some folks.

So keep that in mind when you are out and about and see a kettle or two that needs a bit of your change. Dig in and put a dollar in the pot and help some of those in need. We probably do not have a lot but we have more than enough to share. As Andy Rooney would say 'those are my thoughts' . . . go outside and breathe the fresh air and enjoy the weather whatever it is. Make your today a good one. Nevada Part Three with more pictures tomorrow.

Trip To Nevada Part One

Son, Michael, (Mike to his friends), was hauling a forty foot ladder around some rocky and rutty area by himself when his foot caught in the rope and threw him to the ground and he heard a pop and soon found out his right arm was hurting. He didn't break a bone but he did tear the muscle away from the shoulder bone thus beginning a painful couple of months waiting for the Workman's Compensation people to put the paper work through the system. Living in Nevada and working on the California side of Lake Tahoe did not help the situation, so he waited from August until now to have things fall into place. Last Wednesday the doctor did a microscopic operation on the shoulder and it looks pretty good, a couple of small holes in the upper arm, but the pain is excrusciating. Of course it had to be his right arm, he is right handed. Thus when he said it was okay if we came to visit, we knew. . . he really could use some help. Pat and I plotted and planned a trip to see him and be there for him. Pat was wonderful taking good care to see that he got to the doctor's and back home after the operation which was done in a small medical facility in Carson Valley. They no longer keep a patient over night and I think this is wrong as the papers they send home with a patient tells you if this and that happens get to emergency....lucky for Mike nothing happened. I stayed with my friend, Helen, then went down to Mike's to spell Pat.

When your arm doesn't work nothing gets done so there was much to do. Right up my alley. All those clean clothing that needed folding got folded. The vacuum got done and the dusting too. I'd say cooking was not a chore as the request was for Chinese and pizza. . . easy to order and so much more fun than standing over a hot stove. I did some cooking and we left a lot of food for Mike to grab and eat without a lot of extra effort on his part.

Leaving Mike was painful. It was a terribe feeling of wanting to be two people at the same time. We couldn't stay indefinetly, nor did Mike want two ladies in his domain for a long time . . . he was happy to see us depart and even stood on the porch and waved us goodbye. He didn't have to look so happy.

Me. . . I felt so sad, mad, guilty for not being twins but after a telephone call today and hearing he is fine...'fine' .... really fine......then we are all settled back into our routines and will light a candle for his fast recovery and hope that soon this will be behind him and all will be back to what is normal for all of us. Pat had a lot of commitments to hurry back for and was torn leaving one handed Mike to carry on. She knew he could handle things, but good old Mom, you know how mothers are.

I am very proud of Patricia for her love and for her ability to step up and be counted on. She is a great sister to her siblings and is there for them. How nice it is to know that family really means something to all of my children. I often prayed for twins, too bad it had not happened as we could have used them at this time.

I was lost without my computer and a chance to blog. I missed telling you all that was ongoing, as if you really truly wanted to know, ha.....ha......ha....but, now I'm home and the computer is warmed up so part two comes up tomorrow, hopefully with pictures. Stay healthy and happy. Be careful of ladders.

Veterans Day

A special day. A day to honor those who serve. A day to remember all of the veterans of all wars and now service men and women who are being shot and killed in our own country. A never ending story that leaves heart break and sorrow. Light the candles, show faith, hope and charity beginning in your own neighborhood. Visit a veteran in a hospital nearby. Send a letter or a card to one who is now serving overseas. There are folks who are collecting and sending and certainly could use a donation or two. Yes, there is some one thing each of us can do. So celebrate Veterans Day with pride and honor for those who have served and who are now serving.

I have just returned from a road trip and have lots of pictures and words but they will have to wait until I retrieve my camera and download. We think son Michael's operation was successful but he is hurting at the moment so say a prayer the suffering will end soon and he will be able to use his arm again. Not an easy time for him, but he is a great patient; nope, didn't say he has patience, but he is working on it.

I hope your day is filled with love and patriotism, join the parades, have lunch out, relax and make your day a good one.

On Hold

I am putting you all on hold for a few days. My daughter Pat and I are going to drive up to Garderville, Nevada for a visit with son Michael. This picture is a view of what Mike sees out of his front door every morning ---- High desert country. We are praying for good weather. Up in them thar hills you can never be sure when the snow will fall and the mountain tops will be covered in a blanket of white.

It takes eight to ten hours to get there from Brookings. It depends on how many stops we make. We have our favorite places and I will have my camera with me so you know I will stop to take pictures to share. I am off to pack.

Take good care of yourselves and know I am wishing each of you a day to treasure. God Bless.

Go Carts

The last time I rode in a 'go-cart- was in Revere beach when I was about ten years old and thought I was the best driver in town as I bumped into everything in sight. I don't remember them being as pretty as these and they certainly seemed much larger. Some one has a really great imagination and so much ingenuity to create a new run about. I bet it would be a lot of fun to ride all over town in one. Wonder when they go up for sale? I wonder if I put it on my Christmas list if I would find one under my tree?

It has taken all day for the blog to become operational. For several days now it has been an iffy proposition. The blogspot. com must have had problems they didn't identify and I have wasted a lot of energy and patience trying to get a picture to come up or a written word down. I wish the blogspot folks would just let us know the system is down, but do I listen when the computer is telling me in its own way to shut it off and go about other business....no.....I have to keep trying and all I got out of it was higher blood pressure. Okay, you can laugh.

I just spent a lovely misty Saturday doing a few household chores. I am enjoy my son John who is home for the weekend. It goes by much too fast. I didn't pull any tricks but treated my children to dinner out at O'Hallorans and was surprised to find we were the only diners for some time. Dinner was okay, but . . . yeah, there goes that but again . . . not as good as their usual fare. I had cod and it wasn't bad. John had ribs that looked like they were better than my cod, and Pat sent her salmon back to be cooked as the center was raw. Nothing stopped us from cleaning our plates and we didn't leave a flower on the plate. Gripe, groan and moan is just part of not eating at home where the chief cook and bottle washer always puts a decent meal on the table. But going out is such a treat and no dishes to clean up. Come to think of it I always loved doing the dishes after a huge meal. There was something soothing about having your hands in hot soapy water and it helped the digestive system as well as a chance to meditate. Now the dishwasher does it all . . . um, some improvements take away a bit of joy.

It's Halloween and it was fun to treat, only because I couldn't think of a trick or two to play. The children were kept busy in town as we only had two little ones come to our door. I am glad I didn't buy a lot of candy or I would be eating leftovers for weeks to come.

I hope you had a good Halloween and had lots of tiny ghosts and goblins to entertain you and eat up all your candy. Wide hips are not in style this year. I have to tell you I am very happy to be able to talk with you tonight. I can have sweet dreams now....and hopefully so will you.

Frustration

I could do with an Irish tantrum or two after waiting for what seemed like hours to have a picture uploaded. Something is wrong with the entire Blog today. I have been all day trying to get on to do my normal blog and add a picture or two, but, no.....no way will it allow it. I can type right now but I am wondering for how long. What mischief does this machine have in store for me? Why wont it let me blog? Why does it have to act up and stay stubborn when I have done absolutely nothing to create a problem for it? I'm thinking of a problem or two I could invent but then I'd be cutting my nose off to spite my face and I wouldn't be able to blog ever again. I would miss musing.

Sunshine today and a ride to Crescent City some thirty miles south of us. The highway, called the Redwood Highway is pleasant in that the redwood trees standing so tall and straight, weave a magic spell as the air seems to open up and the smell of pine makes one feel alive. We did a little shopping in Walmart and that took care of the fresh air in a hurry. The store is massive so I get in my walking exercise. I am in a quandary though as I look at all the shoppers and cannot help but think of those awful "Walmart Shoppers" pictures put on the computer. I really don't think they are funny, more insulting than not. People dress as they can afford, some look neat no matter what they wear and then there are those that could wear ermine and look sloppy. It is the nature of the beast. All of us need to remember we have had our days when we were not always up to par. A lot of the problem is (this is my thinking on this subject) is that over the last forty years or so we have become slobs. We threw out the getting dressed up to go to town. In my day, aha, where have you heard that before?, we would never be allowed out the door to go shopping downtown without gloves and a hat, a dress, coat and hosiery and shined shoes. We became more lenient as the hippy generation took over and then the 'me' generation and allowed ourselves to become slobs. Take a good look around and you will see what these folks with the cameras are looking at. Not very complimentary even though the camera doesn't lie. Today I saw a lady in a conglomeration of colors and style like I have never seen in all of my days, but then I had to remember this is Halloween and the folks are dressing for the occasion...the laugh is on me. or . . . given to our conversation today . . is it? Maybe that is her mode of dress. Dress....dress....I think it has been twenty five years since I have worn a dress, not because I do not like them, but I have very large feet, bad feet as well, and wear the ugliest of Granny shoes so I wouldn't be caught dead in a dress. I wear trousers, the nice kind, the good looking kind (no you can't take a picture of me from the rear.) and am neat, tidy, clean and matched. In fact daughter Pat calls to find out what uniform color I'm wearing so she doesn't have the same colors on. We don't want to be known for twin outfits.

No picture today. It will not work. You will have to guess how Maxine looked when she muttered those words about something hanging off your mouth.....and I wont repeat the rest, after all I am a lady who dresses in style.

I hope you dress in style and are clean, tidy and comfortable in your jeans and top, sneakers or thongs, whatever, smile and the world smiles with you . . . weep and you weep alone. I'm crying....I want a picture....I want the blog to work. I want...I want.....oh well, maybe tomorrow.