Brotherly Visit and More

Now after the sad news of Lucy, and the expensive truck repairs going on, we had a wonderful time with my brother Nigel and his wife Linda and Kaitlin their 12 year old. We had planned on only 5 days with them, sure that we should not stay too long, as we did not want them to get tired of us. So we had to stay 2 weeks and 3 days because of the truck. See there is a reason for everything. We could not have been in a better place when things were falling apart. Love. We had so much fun together. I got to know Linda so much more because we did not have all the rest of the siblings and families to visit with. So fun time together and naturally Kaitlin too. 

Cookies by Kaitlin

Nigel, Linda's brother in law Steve and the niece and nephew

That is a bit of fireworks over my head.

  We went out for Mexican food, saw Les Miserables at a small playhouse in town where Kaitlin is in plays, played put-put, went to see The Lone Ranger, ate Linda’s father’s Philippine soup. Yummy, they toned down the sour taste a bit for us. We took turns cooking, spent time shopping at a huge Asian market, Trader Joes and Michaels, and JoAnn fabrics, and I introduced them to Tuesday morning. We went to fireworks in the next town with her sister and her family, went to a baseball game in Sacramento, went to a dance school and watched 3 year olds to older teenagers dance to hip-hop, Sat and talked, ate Chinese and more Philippine food.  The men went golfing and golfing and golfing and golfing, watched golfing, played with motorcycles, rode motorcycles, bought more motorcycles and they talked about golfing, motorcycles, and cars. Also I taught Kaitlin and her friends and cousins how to sew my little zipper bags and make YOYOS.  Let’s see anything else?? Oh yes, they helped us find a new dog to love. Yolo!! And off we went with the truck and RV to our next adventure.

Fresno and Sacramento Triple A Baseball

Kaitlin and her friend Ava

Linda Harold and her Dad

Local play, loved it

My dear brother Nigel

Kaitlin sewing some shorts from instructions on line.

Sewing bags today with Kaitlin, cousin and friend. 

The Harold's with Justice.

Off to the next campground with Yolo, it has been a great visit with the Harold--thank you soooo much!!!

Yolo and Roger loving their napping!  This was the first day--would you say she bonded quickly?!!

We stayed 2 nights in a Thousand Trails campground on the Russian River and then made our way up to a “Hippy Campground and Spa” ,Jackson Wells, to see some friends. We had a great time visiting Brian and Mary and catching up with each other’s lives. Ashland, Oregon is such a neat little town. Could move and live there forever happily, except would have to move all friends and family there.

After that we went to Pacific City and visited the beach and rested. 

Yolo running on the beach

YOLO

Old fogies at the beach

Now are in Seaside, Oregon for 2 weeks. This is a beach town that is really busy, especially on the weekends. The campground was very full, then emptied out one day and filled back up the next. We are looking forward to seeing some friends here. Meanwhile I am sewing, walking with Yolo, reading, eating—just chilling.  We found out today that Yolo is a Deer Chihuahua. We always thought she looked like a little dear when she is curled up sleeping, but a man in the park said it is a type of Chihuahua that does not have the apple head of most of them, and she does not. She is cute, well behaved, loves to cuddle and is finally learning not to bark at every dog she sees.  We will be getting Lucy’s ashes on Thursday and that will be sad, but we will be glad she can finish the trip with us.

Yolo the Deer Chihuahua

In Seaside we had a wonderful visit with Paula Crawford, her son and his family. They were there for a reunion with her Her daughter-in-laws family. 2 months before, Michelle and I decided to surprise Paula at this visit. She was in Washington visiting them and they brought her with them to the reunion—it was such a cool surprise. We had fun eating seafood, had my first fresh oyster heated on the grill and my first razor clam. I was surprised how good they were. Had lobster as well. YUM!

Now we are in Pacific City, enjoying walking Yolo. The last few days have been overcast-and we have been lazy. Sunshine is to happen on my birthday on the 13^th—a Leo needs her sunshine. We have visited the area before, went to the local quilt fabric shop, and found a great Mexican food restaurant. I think we are going to go to Camp 18 restaurant Tuesday like we did 3 years ago.

We hope you are all doing well and able to tolerate the heat without too high an electric bill. Love to you all!!!
Roger and Janet

Lake of the Springs and Friends

Lake of the Springs, Friends, and Arrival at Nigels!

Our friends, Fred and Suzanne Eggers come to visit!!! We met them last year at LaConner, WA.  Suzanne is a quilter and knows Libby Lehman--for those of you who know who this is! She is active in the Lake Tahoe Quilt Guild.  So naturally we talk quilting, do quilting, visit the Ben Franklin in Grass Valley that is full of Quilting Fabric--so we buy quilting too!

Fred and Suzanne Eggers

These are Haddock cheeks--sounds gross, but was a BIG fish, and people cook and eat these--they were quite tasty. Along with the rest of the fish


Roger and Fred talked, played Cribbage a lot, went fishing. We all enjoyed the stock car race, eating pizza and drinking beer. We taught them how to play 42 and they taught us how to play Mexican train. We had a great time together and everyday we looked at Lucy and said--it looks better--doesn't it??


So here we are at Nigels!!!

 A block and a half from his house on the steepest hill, there was a LOUD noise and NO GO!!!  So 3 hours later a wrecker brought us up the hill--he had a hard time!! But up the hill he came, left the RV in the middle of the road and was off with our truck.  We had soccer markers in the road,and the lights on the RV for 3 days and nights until we found someone to pull it into the driveway---and the RV place did it for nothing for us!! There are still nice guys!!

Meanwhile we are at my brothers!!!! Some place to stay instead of the middle of the street!!! People who love us and will keep us cool and entertained!!!

Sunday night, Linda, Kaitlin and I go see the local Theatre do Les Mis--loved it, Simple scenery makes you enjoy the story more and the lead was a much better singer than in the movie! Nice girls night out.

But Lucy is not doing well, having trouble breathing thru her left nostril, the one on the side of her abscess and her lump that is not going down. She is not eating well, seems to be getting skinnier. Roger is carrying her around and cuddling her a lot--Something is wrong with her. So Monday, I call Nigel's vet and Kaitlin and I take Lucy in. He looks at her once said-she has an abscess- I say no, she had that taken care of--he looks in her mouth and says, OH, I am so sorry, she has cancer. Prognosis very bad. Here she is with Kaitlin petting her at Linda's office. Roger and Nigel are off golfing.----

Later Roger gets the bad news. Monday evening and Tuesday were the sweetest but saddest times. Roger spent time holding Lucy and talking to her, going over all the wonderful times together. Lucy just stared at him, would not fall asleep with him talking. I asked if he would do that with me if I am on my way out, and I will do that for him.

Then on Tuesday we took her back to the vet. We had decided not to have her suffer any more, she was not herself, and the vet had said it would take her within the week. She had lost a quarter of her weight and just did not feel good, no tail wags or kisses. The whole decision was what was best for Lucy, not us.  Nigel Linda and Kaitlin had come to love her and went with us, even in the room when Lucy was given a nice long peaceful nap.  So nice to have family there for support.   They will send us the ashes where ever we are so she can finish the trip with us.

Hey sweet, sweet girl we miss you so.

The next day, Kaitlin is in the garage "working on a project"  all day.  She had earlier asked what was Lucy's favorite color. I said she always like that red chair in the corner of our living room. So here it is, she cut the wood, sanded, sanded, put it all together, upholstered, made a pillow, added lace, put Lucy's name on the very top.  It is to hold her box of ashes when we get it.  Such a sweet sweet gesture. Kaitlin is so creative too!  


So that is it for this post. Will write another soon. We have been here at Nigel's for a while and had a wonderful time. --But that is for the next post.

Love your pets in memory of Lucy.

Snowflower

Hi there! Have not been good about catching you up on what we have been up to on our trip in California. We have made several trips on the Harley just to see the scenery. Beautiful pines, a few lakes, small towns.

Where we are parked in Snowflower

The view from our bedroom and front door

 and more views in this mountain top park in Tahoe National Forest

Lake Tahoe, clear beautiful water

Kelly Lake where the campground is.

And Donner Pass, there is a railroad going thru those tunnels, they were built so the  snow would not  squish the trains.

We have made friends with several couples the last week we were at Snowflower campground. So we met quilters, fishers, some we will see later this summer. Found a wonderful Ben Franklin Crafts in Grass Valley, CA. Lots of fabric, yarn, beads, paint, any craft you want—did that a few times, once with friends. Neighbors introduced me to $2 buck chuck wine—merlot, Normally I do not like merlot, but this was smooth and good! Great way to start the afternoon.

Lucy had a tooth abscess that was not improving with my limited skills and she had to have Dental surgery. Found a great vet about 30 miles from the campground. She is doing well, but the swelling has not gone down on the side of her face. Hot packs and massaging are going on daily. She had quite a few teeth removed and now is trying to figure out how to pick up food without her front teeth—they are on her Christmas list. Maybe get those dentures they show on TV for dogs!!!

We have moved on to another campground on a lake. It is north of Sacramento. Lots of families here for Father’s Day. Lots of spaces, really big park. Some friends we met last year in Washington came today with their motorhome to meet us –going to a stock car race tonight together.

We have been reading, watching the basketball playoffs, movies we recorded. Playing on the computer or Kindle. and sewing.

 

My sewing room when the back of the toyhauler is open.

My machine and my view

 and some of my purses or bags that I have done

Add caption

One one of our rides-Emigrant Gap

 Emigrant Gap, where people moving to the west actually let their  wagons down the side of the cliffs to get thru to the west of California

Now will send this and start another one soon. sure hope I don't loose this one too!

Voltage Vagobonds 2013

Voltage Vagabonds, 2013

On the way!

\We started off on the 17th of May, a day past our original plan. We needed the time, and wanted to see the last of Elementary for the season and who won Idol. So off we go-

San Angelo--Walgreen's listed the temp as 73--across the street at Mueller's it listed 102--Guess which one it really was!!! We were getting out of Texas a day or 2 late!

Here we are --the Voltage Vagabonds. This picture is in Flagstaff, Az at friends.

 This is how I traveled a lot, feet up, reading a book or Kindle, or just relaxing looking at the scenery

Comfort.

Comfort and quilt magazine

Flagstaff, AZ

Monday afternoon we arrived at our friends, Mike and Susan Golightly!  Pine trees, fresh air--35 degrees in the morning!!!  We certainly accomplished our plan of getting out of the heat--brrr. This was a little excessive, but the days warmed up, sunshine and pine trees, wonderful friends and food, going back to memories, and nice long deep talks with one of my very best friends. AAAAHHHH not much better than that!!

Susan showing of her little silk evening bag, made of ties. 

here is the inside and then next is the finished product:------cute huh?!

and guess what is her new little purse!

 Susan and I went to a Recycled Art Display. She had been to the showing of all the dresses and gowns made from recycled plastic and other odds and ends. She said they looked much better on the young college students from NAU than the manaquins. Lots of imaginations

Beautifully made over a muslin base.

Cute

 Design around the neck made of all sorts of metal pieces

                                                     The tie umbrella.....

                and underneath all sorts of flowers blooming                      

crazy gadgets and rides

beautiful dolls

rulers,clocks, all sorts of things, you could look at this for hours

here is a use for all the ball wheels left over from office chairs

fish made from bullet casings

bug display all  made from electronics parts

slippers for the dragon of the house

TAHOE National Forest

Now we are West of Tahoe high in the mountains, beautiful --will send some pick here.

Love  Roger and Janet