Family, Friends and Food for 6,468 miles!

We returned home late January 8 to a nice warm welcome from the animals and a cozy house. We brought with us loads of fond memories, hearts filled with love and a few extra pounds!

We shared Thanksgiving in Iowa, seafood in Seattle, roasted vegetables in Klamath Falls and Christmas dinner with our kids, Randal's dad and JP Prouty a long-lost relative. 

We brought home a variety of jams from the Northwest, green chilies from Estrella, hazelnuts, and green chile pine nut brittle from Albuquerque!  The fantastic elk from Paul was consumed in Oregon!  How our food has changed since we were kids. We had no canned peas on the entire trip!

We had Lady Luck on our shoulder and had great weather. We paid as low as $1.76/gal for gasoline!  Tom and I want to thank everyone for such " a once in a lifetime" experience.

We look forward to the adventures of 2015. 

What a country we live in!

One week ago we were at Crater Lake snow shoeing in the snow and 5 days later we are enjoying the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. 

Yesterday we arrived in Albuquerque with sunshine and blue skies. Had the Camry serviced as we have gone well over 5000 miles!  Pruda met us and we delighted in great New Mexican food and drink. 

At present we are somewhere in the great state of Oklahoma!!  "Brand new state, brand new state, gonna treat you great". Anyone want to sing along??

The compass indicates we are heading due East. .....

Happy New Year 2015!!

We spent the last day of 2014 in a most perfect manner!  A day with bright blue skies, the bluest lake in the world, pines frosted with thick white, glistening snow and surrounded by our family. What a day!

Tom celebrated his birthday and we headed to San Francisco to see Charles and family fly off. 

We were welcomed in Dixon by our nephew, Kyle and his family. Estrella made burritos with red and then with green chili which we loved. Tom and Kyle discovered Irish Whiskey accompanies everything!

Then on to Las Vegas!  We watched football and rested. The Bellagio has a Chihuly piece in the lobby which we had to check out. 

Will continue later.  We are heading East!

Staying busy

Katherine is working, Randal is taking care of business, Kenda, Elisabetta, and the kids are shopping Charles is out buying shoes and I am trying to keep a low profile.
There hasn't been any slow down after Christmas. I have avoided any work around the house so far but this afternoon I think I will be Installing some flooring.
We have checked out Randal and Katherine's building, explored lava tubes in northern California, went ice skating, hiking trails in and around the area.  We have checked out Katherine's hospital and place of business.  Busy busy busy
Everyone has just returned so I now have to show excitement over their purchases.

Busy in Klamath Falls

It has been busy this week in Klamath Falls. There was a beauty parlor visit for the ladies. Cookie baking with Lois and then with Josephine. 

Tom and Randal strung popcorn for our tree and the grandchildren ate popcorn and decorated. We have a lovely fir tree this year!!

Santa brought Josephine an Elsa doll and we have all become too familiar with "Let it Go". 

Abby Gitlitz, glass artist from Bloomington, has a piece at the Oregon Institute of Technology. Out dear friend, Sandra, helped create it and it was wonderful to see. A collection of separate  windows with images from science but when viewed from a certain angle you see a heart and a brain. Fascinating!

Daniel has been helping Katherine cook some delicious meals. 

Katherine has been showing us her impressive work. She is spear heading a group to build a walking trail for which they received a grant. This picture was taken close to the trail site. Beautiful view and a family that I love. 

We hope your Holidays were filled with good cheer and love. Tom and I did miss our traditional Christmas Eve at Old Clifty with friends and family. 

Christmas is coming

Kenda and I have arrived at Klamath Falls and we are having a great time. Charles and family arrived in the states last Wednesday and made it to Randal and Katherine's on Saturday the 20th. 
They have put me to work wiring some switches and receptacles and then the bathroom sink plugged up so Randal and I spent a day fixing that. I'm still trying to avoid mudding the drywall but they are turning up the pressure.
All 8 of us drove to the forest to find and cut a Christmas tree.  We manage to all agree on the tree and decided it was the best one in the forest.

Randal and I also found some road kill but didn't really know what to do with it. 

Almost there

Kenda and I left Seattle this morning after saying goodbye to our host's Roger and Susan. We had a great time seeing Seattle and eating the food with them.
After a 5 hour drive we stopped in Albany Oregon to pick up Lois. Unfortunately to make room for Lois we had to leave 2 of the 4 kitchen chairs behind that we have been hauling around since Indiana.
Currently I am in the back seat with 4 suitcases and other various and sundry items while the 2 ladies are chattering away unaware or unconcerned with my predicament.  I am trying to suffer in silence.
We are now passing through some beautiful mountain's and should be arriving at Katherine and Randal's in a couple of hours.
Starting to lose feeling in my legs, send help.