Winding Down

Our boy is back from Texas for the holiday!

What a great way to start the weekend . . . grandson Ty and the ponies pulled in this morning after driving since yesterday from Odessa, Texas. He'll get a one and a half day rest and then it's back on the road Sunday, the 10th, to Las Vegas and the Ote Berry Junior Steer Wrestling World Championship and the National Finals Rodeo. We'll all be in Las Vegas by Monday, the 11th, to take in a week's worth of rodeoing, shopping at the Cowboy Christmas, visiting, eating, and just plain having lots of fun!

Week 48 is coming to an end which means there're a mere four weeks (actually three plus one day!) left in 2017. As is the mantra every year . . . how did it go by so fast! This last year, I must say, has been a mixed one for the world, this country, this state, and for days on Vine. I'll let the newscasters review everything except the happenings here on Vine as it is way too much to grasp. 

I've been able to keep up with my digital Project Life project and it has been a real joy; especially looking back to Week One. Having left you at Week 45, I will catch you up to the present with our trip to California and back for Thanksgiving and then last week spent at home with a head cold!

Ole' Bob Carr's place on You Bet Road, November 24, 2017.

We traveled to California on Wednesday, November 22nd, making good time across the Nevada desert and arriving at Dad's before sunset. The weather was mild and the property looked just like the park that it is. By Thursday morning, after a good night's sleep, we were ready to face the turkey and thank the good Lord for a bountiful, blessed life. While Dad and Clare went to Bierwagen's farm to retrieve the mail order Thanksgiving meal from cold storage, I took myself out for a walk to breathe in the musty autumn day and, of course, take photos.  Once the dinner was unpacked and organized for heating, we all took a walk and grabbed a few more photos, like this one of the three of us - old, older, and real old! Haha!

Clare, Hazel, Ole' Bob.

By about 2:00 p.m. the turkey was hot, the sides were prepared, the table was set, and the wine uncorked so we sat down and enjoyed every bite and sip. Although the preparation/heating process took a bit longer than I'd anticipated (probably because of the elevation it needed more time at higher temperature), the meal was delicious! The wine Dad had bought for the occasion was the perfect addition; it was so good, in fact, that Clare went Friday to buy two bottles to bring home.

Dad had the table set with autumn placemats that Mom Delta had made for Thanksgivings long ago.

The turkey was tender, the yams were sweet, the mashed potatoes fluffy, the green beans were buttery good, and the dressing was spiced just right. We waited until the sun went down to slice into the pumpkin pie which was also very tasty.

The lovely white wine - crisp and not-too-sweet.

Friday's plan was to drive over to Reno and have a visit with cousin Kathne, her husband Mike, and their daughter Molly. After a short visit at the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Chicago Park we were on our way over the Pass. The traffic, surprisingly, was not too bad, considering that it was the day after Thanksgiving, a Friday, and Boreal Ridge Ski Resort was open (as I imagine resorts like Squaw Valley were too). We pulled into Reno and the Dowd's place shortly after noon, visited with Kak, were introduced to Riley Joseph, the fat cat (see photo below), and when Mike returned we drove to the Stonehouse Cafe for lunch - no leftover T-day! - where we met up with Molly. Spent about two hours laughing, reminiscing, and thoroughly enjoying a lovely meal together. Kathne is our only cousin on the Carr side, being our Dad's brother Silas's only child. It was a tiny Carr-family reunion of sorts!

Riley Jo - the fat, black cat.

Hazel Carr Allred, Bob Carr, Molly Park, Kathne Carr Dowd.

Uncle Bob Carr was the star of the day and we all had a grand time. We said our goodbye's and headed back to You Bet Road. Kathne had come across some old photo albums and boxes of photos and memorabilia from her mom and dad and wanted very much to go through them with Dad; we didn't really have time but Kathne and I have made plans to meet up in a couple months and browse them before she discards them all. Here is one photo that caught my curiosity that appears to be a rare picture of Carr ancestors. 

Charlotte - Could this be Caroline and Job Carr with Grandfather A.B. Carr and his brother?

There was no date and other identification; however, the photo card is marked "Smith [the photographer I presume], Harvard, Neb." I'm hoping that when we sift through her photos again, we will find more relating to the Carr's. 

Saturday, the 25th, Clare and I bid Daddy Bob farewell and set back out for Reno and home. We stopped at the Sands Casino to meet up with friends for breakfast at the Mel's Diner and then got back on the road for home, making a couple stops for fuel and stretching and arriving home about 6:30 p.m. (MST). I craned my head around to capture this spectacular sunset over the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover. 

The reflection on the wet Salt Flats really was impressive.

It was a truly wonderful trip - short but loaded with goodness. 

I'll sign off for now and get back with the last two weeks either later this evening or tomorrow. Time to get dinner ready!

So Much Life

Hello, hello!

I'm recovering from a really bad case of the stomach flu (I guess) yesterday and figured that since I'm still feeling a bit peaky I'd sit down and talk about good things with you.

Today just happens to be our 31st wedding anniversary; incredible! And what a lovely 31 years it has been. Love this man of mine more each day!

May 22, 1986 - So happy together

Three decades later . . .

December 25, 2016 - Still so happy together

 Grey hair, wrinkles, a bit more weight but upright and taking nourishment! Everyday is an adventure.

Speaking of adventure . . . March 18th our family was blessed with a new addition, great grandbaby #5 for us! Here's how he's growing:

Text from new mom Brittany announcing the birth.

Great Grandpa, Granddaughter Brittany, Great Grandson Dawson (one day old)

April 18, 2017 - One month old with his first toy and quilt made by me.

April 30, 2017 - First visit to grandparents and great-grandparents Allred (one month, 12 days old)

May 18, 2017 - Two months old. Bright-eyed boy.

We are so very happy to have this little boy in our lives. Although we don't get to see him often enough, we do get regular updates from our very thoughtful granddaughter via social media anyway. There is one good thing to be said for Facebook and Instagram and cell phone texting, I guess!

While on the subject of great grandchildren, I was missing the three Arizona greats and so took myself to them last month for a short (three days) visit. I was originally going to fly down but then got to thinking of the hassle of getting to the airport, security checks and waiting at the airport, and having to get picked up, so decided to drive the 683 miles from home to Queen Creek, with a stop in Flagstaff. I left on April 4th and arrived in DaviJo and TJ's driveway at about noon, April 5th. DaviJo got me settled in before TJ got home from work and the three children got back from school. I took a short nap and then went outside with a cold drink to soak up some Arizona sun - glorious!

The kid's backyard - wow!

Me and Easton having a hug in the sun.

Once the kids got home, the busy-ness began! It was Lucas' 6th birthday and what he wanted for his birthday was to go the Phoenix Suns basketball game on Friday rather than have a party. Aubrey had softball practice and Lucas had basketball practice, so TJ took Aubrey and DaviJo, me, and Easton took Lucas. I had made a special shirt for Lucas which he wore for practice.

"I'm not a little kid anymore - I'm SIX!"

Unfortunately, there was no chance to get photos of everyone together but I just tried to keep up with the craziness without getting in the way! I had made shirts for Aubrey and Easton too.

Softball shirt for Aubrey, dinosaur shirt for Easton, and basketball "6" for Lucas. 

Thursday, the 6th, DaviJo and I went shopping for fabric to make a First Lady Dolley Madison dress for Aubrey for a school event in May. It was no easy thing to find a pattern that would duplicate an 1800's dress for a ten-year-old but I figured I could finagle something. We found a pattern and fabric on sale at Joann's and then took ourselves to a local restaurant, Queen Creek Olive Mill, for lunch and a glass of wine. Very nice! Thursday evening was a softball game for Aubrey so the whole family loaded up and went to that; Aubrey's team lost and there was a little meltdown but after we got home and the parents had a chat, things looked brighter. The kids went to bed and DaviJo and I had a glass of wine out by the pool - perfect way to relax and put me right to sleep.

Friday I spent cutting out the dress, reading to Easton, hanging out with DaviJo, and napping because that evening I was home alone with Aubrey and Easton while TJ and DaviJo took Lucas to the basketball game. An active ten-year-old and four-year-old are a bit much for this old lady but we managed alright with a visit to McDonald's, making Easter bunny bags, and watching a movie which I cannot recall but looked like The Flintstones but wasn't. 

Saturday morning TJ cooked breakfast, I hugged everyone, and headed back to Tooele. I got all the way to Panguitch, Utah, by 5 o'clock and didn't feel at all tired, just wanting to be home, so I just kept on going. Clare texted and said that there was a storm brewing and to be careful and sure enough, when I got to the turnoff west at Meadow, the skies had darkened and big raindrops were falling. I hit the turnoff at Eureka right as the rain turned to snow and all the way to Tooele, it was a whiteout but I slowed down and white-knuckled reaching our drive at about 9:30. Here's how it looked here Sunday morning, the 8th:

By Sunday night, all of this (except on the mountains) was melted.

I want to share a few more things but will save those for later. Looking forward to an anniversary dine out this evening. :)

A Day in Yosemite - Part II

Whew! Got through Election Day and now, hopefully, we can move on (to New Zealand or Canada! Haha!).

Anyway, today I am hoping to finish out the narrative and photos of our Yosemite tour and our journey back to ordinary days on Vine . . .

I asked Clare what he thought was the most outstanding thing of our day in Yosemite and he, quite rightfully, said that it was the amazing El Capitan. Not too long after we turned off from Tioga Road into Yosemite Valley, this granite monolith came into sight; is it enough to say that we "couldn't believe our eyes?" And all we had to do was turn 180 degrees west to gaze at the beauty of Bridalveil Falls.

Three thousand feet from base to summit, this is most definitely a breathtaking sight.

At this time of year the 617 foot falls are light and swaying; still gorgeous.

To the south and west of Bridalveil Falls we could see the Cathedral Rocks/Spires which, with the autumn color and dark green evergreen framing them, made for a lovely photo opportunity too.

Wonderful contrasts.

We got back on one-way Southside Drive heading east into Yosemite Valley.

Another shot of El Capitan. 

The forest, right up to the shoulder, was brilliant and the redwoods towered over all. I started getting a crick in my neck gazing out the front window!

Since it had rained, the road was wet, as was the forest floor. We had the windows rolled down to take in the incredible autumn, woodsy scent . . . intoxicating!

All along the drive we caught glimpses of the Merced River (River of Our Lady of Mercy) which begins high in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas and flows into the San Joaquin River. It is fed, of course by the various falls in the Yosemite Valley and in places, is rough and tumbling; in others, smooth.

Before looping back around to Northside Drive and the return journey over Tioga Pass, we stopped at least four more times to gaze up at the mighty Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and Half Dome, east of the road and towering at 8,836 feet. 

The falls look tiny but they are most certainly not!

Zoomed in just a bit.

Half Dome, named for its distinct shape.

Sadly, so many of the trees - Ponderosa mainly - have been attacked by pine beetles. The infestation has not been helped by the many drought years California has experienced.

Another view of the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. 

From this meadow it was possible to hike to the Falls; being the old folks we are, we didn't take advantage of that opportunity!

We continued our drive into the Valley and eventually to the Visitor Center then a bit further southwest towards Curry Village. Stopped at Stoneman Bridge on the Merced and I took these photos:

Black oak branches.

Half Dome in the background.

Another shot of the colorful leaves and Merced River.

Following are photos taken at various places on the Loop Road and then back onto Southside Drive as we headed back to Tioga Road.

At the parking area of Curry Village (closed for the season); One of the many shuttles traversing the Valley and Half Dome looming in the background.

Half Dome. Note the variety of trees in the foreground - Incense Cedar, Black Oak, Ponderosa Pine, and Sequoia.

Yosemite Valley Chapel.

This 1,470 square foot chapel, built in 1879 and placed at this location (trailhead of Four Mile Trail) in 1901, serves the public for worship and has become popular for weddings. Glacier Point is visible in the background.

Directly across the road from the Chapel is the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. There were three ladies (two here in the right corner) painting and sketching the Falls. The view here is definitely inspiring.

A peek through the trees at the wonderful Falls.

Clare took this photo of El Capitan not far off the road at El Capitan Bridge. "Awesome" just does not describe the feeling one has looking at this.

Needless to say, there are many more photos than can be shown here! It is a grand feeling to have seen this remarkable place. This quote from John Muir, conservationist, pretty much sums it up:

“It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.”

“Yosemite Park is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantages of both solitude and society. Nowhere will you find more company of a soothing peace-be-still kind. Your animal fellow beings, so seldom regarded in civilization, and every rock-brow and mountain, stream, and lake, and every plant soon come to be regarded as brothers; even one learns to like the storms and clouds and tireless winds. This one noble park is big enough and rich enough for a whole life of study and aesthetic enjoyment. It is good for everybody, no matter how benumbed with care, encrusted with a mail of business habits like a tree with bark. None can escape its charms. Its natural beauty cleans and warms like a fire, and you will be willing to stay forever in one place like a tree. 
– John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, (1938) 

We continued on our drive back over Tioga Pass and back into Lee Vining, stopping at Olmstead Point, Tenaya Lake and the Tioga Pass Entrance. Those stops will be recorded in Part III of our journey. 

Until next time.

A Day in Yosemite (is not enough!) Part I

Monday, October 24, we put on our woolies, stopped and had breakfast at Nicely's in Lee Vining and got an early start for Highway 120 and Tioga Pass into Yosemite. We hadn't gotten very far onto 120 when we were stopped by a CalTrans worker who told us that the Pass was closed until the snow that had accumulated overnight could be cleared; he predicted a couple hours wait. Well, undeterred, we decided to pull down a side road pointing to Big Bend Campground, part of the Inyo National Forest, 12 miles from the Park entrance. Had a walkabout a mile or so down that road and took a few photos, setting a precedent of clicking at every turn!

East side of Highway 120 starting up. The road was wet and it appeared to be snowing in the peaks ahead. This is just before we came up on the CalTrans crew.

(Just an aside, this is photo #99 - that I edited - for our trip to this point! No wonder this trip is turning into chapters!)

Although it was chilly and the wind was up a bit, we got out and pointed our phone cameras every which way to take in the colorful beauty all around. We spent about an half hour down on this road clicking and foraging and gaping.

Looking west; possibly Tioga Peak.

Looking autumnal (hair blowing up).

The quaking aspen and cottonwood still had gorgeous yellow leaves clinging, making for a wonderful foreground to the dark evergreen and snow-capped peaks in the distance.

Looking southwest; possibly Mount Dana

The Ponderosa pines are loaded this year, evidence of a good water year.

Clare retrieving souvenirs.

Just one more photo from the Big Bend Campground road.

It was beginning to clear to the west.

We drove back up to the highway and saw that the CalTrans trucks were gone and the traffic cones set to the side of the road; we made the assumption that it was clear over the Pass and started up. I had a hard time keeping quiet and not making Clare stop the car for a photo opportunity every five minutes . . . here are a few shots taken from the window.

Again, possibly Tioga Peak (the snow-covered peak).

The wind drifting the snow on these high, rocky peaks. 

Sheer granite cliff right off the roadside.

We did stop at a turnout near Ellery Lake, a manmade lake just a little ways from the Yosemite Park Entrance in the Inyo National Forest. 

Ellery Lake looking east; possibly back side of Tioga Peak.

We had started our journey at 8:30 a.m. and reached the Tioga Pass Entrance (east side of Yosemite National Park) at about 9:30. With our Senior Pass (there are benefits to being blue-hairs!), we collected our map and Yosemite Guide, October 5, 2016 to December 6, 2016 edition and passed through to the greatness that makes this this most-visited park in the United States.

The roadway as it looked just west of the entrance.

It took about an hour and a half to go over the Pass, with just a couple stops for photos, before reaching the junction of Tioga Road with Big Oak Flat Road which would take us into Yosemite Valley. One stop we made was in Tuolumne Meadows, a beautiful open valley where the Tuolumne River and its tributaries meander through; it is ringed all 'round by amazing peaks such as Lembert Dome, Mammoth Peak, Unicorn Peak, Cathedral Peak, Fairview and Medicroft Domes, and Pothole Dome. It is difficult to know which peaks/domes we saw as we turned 360 degrees; it was all spectacular.

Possibly Lembert Dome.

The Meadows.

Rango getting a drink from one of the tributaries.

A fabulous place to contemplate.

Possibly Ragged Peak way in the background.

The amazing immensity of it all.

We would stop at Tenaya Lake on the way back. We stopped at Olmstead Point (named after landscape architects Frederick Law Olmstead and Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. - a very interesting story) and I was able to capture a couple photos of the north side of Half Dome and Cloud's Rest. The wind made it a struggle to hold the phone still and so we decided that, if on the way back it was less windy, we'd stop there again.

Zoomed in to show Half Dome.

Half Dome in the center and Cloud's Rest to the left.

The trailhead at Olmstead Point is at 8,300 feet elevation, down from the 9,945 foot elevation at the Tioga Pass Entrance. All along the rest of the Tioga Road were roadside falls, towering pines, granite cliffs, and glimpses of Snow Creek, Yosemite Creek, Siesta Lake, and the South Fork of the Tuolumne River. Once we got to the junction of Big Oak Flat Road into Yosemite Valley, the temperature had increased to a pleasant 50-ish degrees, the skies were clearing to a bright sapphire blue, and the winds had calmed. The elevation at the junction, Crane Flat, is 6,200 feet, which explains why more moderate conditions were present. Down at this elevation, the quaking aspen and dogwood were in full autumn color and now we began seeing groves of the magnificent Sequoia redwood trees too. 

We traversed Yosemite Valley for about two hours stopping many times up to the visitor center and back. This part of our day, I think, deserves yet another post in order to do it justice! 

Stay tuned . . .