A Break Until the New Year

I am taking off the holidays. After the first of the new year, I will do my blog once a month. That way I can do other things too!

Getting Things Done, and I'm Stopping My Blog

While I was on vacation, I got an email from my solar power company  that my usage was not being registered on the system.  I said I was on vacation and when I'd be back.  They called Monday and they guided me through everything I needed to do.  They called on Tuesday and said it didn't work and she gave me different directions. Then they called me Wednesday to let me know it has been booted to a higher level person.   Someone will come in 3 weeks to see if they can reset it. 

I have a friend, Annemarie, whom I haven't seen in several months.  She called sharing her plan to move out of state to be near her son, his wife and a new granddaughter.  She is a psychologist who is burned out doing what she does.  She has put her home up for sale and has had two offers, but not to her liking.  She has already purchased a fixer upper where she is moving.   I had been so impressed with what she had done with her home here which was also a fixer upper, that I think she can do wonders with her new home.  So she is scared.  I think that is understandable, but she does have a plan and is willing to live off less.  Besides, she could come back and get another job here if it doesn't work out.   I have made very big moves not having a complete plan, and it has worked out.  I agree with making a move when you aren't liking what is going on.   She'll survive it and probably do very well!

Barbara, the one I went with on our road trip called to see whether I wanted to accompany her to buy winter plants for each of our vegetable gardens.  It was inexpensive. We split on a couple of the six packs and planned to return later this week to check out other plants that were brought in.  Another day, we went to see Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.  It was okay.  I preferred the book by far.

Barbara tallied the money spent on our trip which came out fairly even. We settled up and I was impressed at how close we were. 

We had our Red Hat dinner Wednesday night at Uricchio's.   Their food is quite good. There were six of us, much smaller group than usual.  Shelley could not be there. I think it is Shelley who has gotten us into taking pictures again.   I just plain forgot.  Our leader Evelyn works in a hospital, as supervisor of the pharmacy next door to the Emergency Room.    The staff were trying to save an officer shot in the face.   So staff were also dealing with a traumatic death at the hospital where she works.  We had been hearing about it since it happened on the news. I wasn't even thinking about Evelyn being there, since it was in Lancaster, but that is where she works.  Evelyn said there were about two hundred officers lining the hallway in which his body would be transported out.  It was very emotional for her, the staff and of course all the officers.  It's a long drive for Evelyn to come to our meetings, but she was particularly drained with this.  She will be retiring in early January.   

When I went for chemotherapy, my nurse said the coloring books and colored pencils are a real hit.  She said a young mother comes with her three year old and while the three year old is using her coloring book, mom is using hers. I really am glad it is helping people.  

Janet and I got together after not seeing her for three weeks. I picked up some owl themed items on my trip which I gave to her.  She gave me a cute box of Belgium chocolates made into little pumpkins. We shared a plate of chicken wings when I felt one of the veneers on a front tooth come off.   It wasn't painful.  I called the dentist and got in the next morning. Since it was close to the next dental appointment, I had a full visit.  After X-rays and checking my teeth, he found I had a cavity under the veneer next to where it had fallen off. So I had a temporary crown put on it and the veneer glued back. That was a costly visit! It is sensitive, because it is not completely sealed.  I look forward to the permanent one in two weeks. 

On the same day, I got my organic vegetables and fruits from Hopeful Harvest, plus wines from Fermentations and a box from Blue Apron which had three dinners for two.  One of my sisters is using it and had recommended it to me.  I went to Kaiser to pick up my prescriptions.  They had a sign up to get your flu shot, so I took care of that too.  When I finished that, I started fading fast.  I tried to keep going, but it wasn't in the cards. I crawled in bed to read before sleep overtook me. 

Shelley's a wonderful grandmother.  Bentley is getting lots of love!

Shelley with Grandson Bentley

I told you how Daisy empties my drawers. She did it while I was gone and she continues to do it.  It does not make sense to put it back in the drawer just to have her remove it again!

Daisy Can Do This All Day Long!

I found this on Facebook.  It was touching to me and I thought others might identify with it. Christopher Walken shares what it is like to lose a loved one:

Christopher Walken Shares What It is Like to Lose a Loved One

I am stopping my blog. I don't know if I will pick it back up or not. I'm fine, it is just that I would like to do other things.  I hope you are well and I wish you the best.   Rachel

Barbara and I Did a Road Trip to Yellowstone Park, Plus another one added to the Family!

Barbara and I planned to do this trip a few months ago. We went to the Auto Club to get  a room near Yellowstone. "Most people made their reservations a year ago."  Destiny, our agent was not optimistic about our making arrangements.  We insisted we wanted to check it out anyway. We did find a room for five nights in Jackson Village, about eight miles from Jackson Hole.  I was in this area with My husband Paul,and three of the children Scott, Jennifer and Jerry about 25 years ago.   This trip was 2 1/2 weeks and I didn't want to post it until I came back. We got home early Friday evening.  This has been an eventful time.

Outside of Jackson, we went through 2 tunnels under animal bridges. I've heard about them but haven't seen them until now.  If you are at least 62 years old pick up  a senior pass at one of the national parks.  You must have ID showing your age and it costs $10 for the rest of your life.  Since admission can be $30, you save a lot of money especially if you are going to several parks on a road trip, like we did.  Then show your card and ID at entry stations. We saw several signs of the Continental Divide, where water drains to the Atlantic or the Pacific Oceans. We missed every one of them the first day  in Yellowstone, with the stops being crowded, or, going too fast, it was like an afterthought. 

Around Jackson, they have speed signs with one stating 45 MPH, and another one below staying 35 MPH at night. They also had a lit up speed and then showed your speed, then if you were going faster, it was blinking in red, otherwise it was green below the speed limit or at the limit. It works.  Most drive much slower. 

We weren't going to make any other reservations, but as I was checking the route going east, many of the hotels were  filled or almost filled, so we did reserve the rooms going east. The weather was good and we took salads to start and fixings for sandwiches which was an excellent idea. Barbara is vegan, so this helped. Subway was another good option, as were delis where we could get salads and sandwiches. Every place was willing to modify their choices to meet Barbara's needs.  Jackson Hole was pleasant, but was modernized and expanded from my trip 25 years ago.  

We went to this wonderful restaurant called Gather, where the previous chef competed and won on the television program Iron Chef. The current chef had a tough position to fill, but he bowled them over. Barbara had gnocchi and I had trout. We shared roasted brussel sprouts and fried green tomatoes.  Delicious!  We made room for dessert, bignets with sides of custard, raspberry and chocolate.  Yum!  One serving was six bignets which was enough for both of us.   The pictures below are in Jackson Hole.

Wonderful Restaurant!

Me, Rachel

Barbara

Barbara

An Arch made of Elk Antlers in a park in Jackson Hole

We drove through The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone taking pictures along the way. It rained off and on, but the weather was mild.  The trees were in their Fall foliage, the colors gorgeous.  I'm sure the traffic was much lighter than summer. Also, some of the roads  were unpaved, perhaps a plan to replace.  We saw trees burned in recent fires.  When we passed Lewis Lake, it seemed very large until we came upon Yellowstone Lake. Now that lake was huge!

The Grand Tetons

The Grand Tetons

The Grand Tetons

Grand Tetons Earlier in the Day

Grand Tetons Earlier in the Day

Museum in one of the Visitor Centers in Yellowstone

Barbara Looking this Way

Beautiful Skies!

The Fall Colors had Started

Bison and Horses Feeding Together

We got there just as Old Faithful was Blowing!

Barbara in Front of Old Faithful

Me in Front of Old Faithful

Such wonderful forest and sky!

A Lovely Stream with mini-waterfalls

This is Lewis Lake.  I thought it was huge, (you aren't even seeing
all of it).  But, Yellowstone Lake was so beyond this that it would
be a little finger to a hand!

Having done this trip and many others to our National Parks, Monuments, etc,  I am awed by this beautiful land that is a part of the United States. Listening to politicians, there are people who want to privatize these lands.  What a mistake!  Teddy Roosevelt and others made sure that future generations would be able to behold the same scenes of nature. The problem of not being political can be that these lands may not be available for future generations. It would be selfish of us not to consider what their lives would be like.  So, though I don't expect everyone to have my politics, our environment affects all of us, and politics are used to affect our environments.  You are affected by the decisions made and if  you had no input, wouldn't it be disturbing that this was not there for all the people?   It is the numbers that make the difference. What is going on is being decided by a few people and is often not  what the majority would want. We need to preserve and protect these areas.  I have to tell you, people from all over the world are so impressed with our parks.  I don't think they have anything quite like this.  So they are coming here and spending their money to see it.  Let's keep this going!

I was struck by how modernized the area around Old Faithful was.  I think I liked the wood walkways there used to be. It had rained earlier in the day. The clouds were puffy and moved with the wind. Barbara had brought salads she picked up the day before - so tasty!  We stopped in Jackson Hole and ate at another wonderful restaurant called Figs. They were able to make Barbara's dishes vegan. Barbara thought it was the best restaurant. I loved them both. Heading back to our hotel room, the GPS was giving wrong directions!  Since it was very dark, it was even harder to determine. Ugh!  We were snapping at each other. When we finally got back, we could not find a parking spot after two loops through the parking lot. I went to the front desk which told us of an overflow parking lot behind the hotel, climbing the road then finding a place to park in the dirt. 

The following day we thought we would take the south entrance to go by the Grand Tetons again, but all those roads were closed until Thursday. Thank goodness we had seen this the previous day since we'd be leaving Thursday. On Tuesday we took Highway 89 getting in at the Moran Station. Just before that, we made a stop where there were horses and bison.  What a sight. All these animals were very relaxed.  We went to The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.  Barbara walked further than I did on this and also when we saw the geysers,mud pots and calderons. When I think of the movie,  Journey to the Center of the Earth, I don't think that can be done by humans. The water/mud  on the surface was doing a hard boil or a soft boil.  There was lots of  steam and signs about danger- stay on the trail.  The sounds are unnerving.  I especially noted this at the Dragon's Mouth Spring.   There were also holes (sink holes?), even in the parking lot.  The Bison appeared to be ignoring us, but signs say they can move fast and have been known to kill people. I'll keep my distance.  We drove up to Canyon Village, but if you already ate, had your fill of groceries and memorabilia, there was not much more to see.  The road to Mammoth Hot Sorings was closed.  We also saw deer eating grass at the edge of the road. 

Driving Through Grand Tetons Park

Barbara in Fall Foliage

Lake Lewis

The Fall colors were brighter, on Tuesday, more orange in the mix. The Grant Village Dining and Lounge was quite good. We stopped for lunch. They had vegan and vegetarian choices and our waitress along wth the waitresses in the other restaurants were attentive and kind.  When we got back to Jackson, we had dinner at The Blue Lion, a very popular restaurant and another excellent choice for both of us! I don't think we expected to do that well eating and sightseeing.  But, we really were doing well. The skies were bright, the temperature was mild. We had little to complain about. 

Barbara and I went to the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, the largest of its kind in the United States. A great selection of paintings and sculptures from many countries and many, many decades. They display the art of over 550 artists in a 51,000 square foot museum. They even had sculptures outside. There was a cafe with sandwiches, salads and soups. They also had a children's area allowing them to put their hands on skins, furs, other items and books. This was a wonderful experience for both of us. 

Walkway with Art

Barbara doing the walk

I loved this one!

An African Elephant

This was the artists idea about how we treat other species!

This is a Painting!

I liked seeing a Cowgirl!

We also went to this store called Jackalope where they sell toys and art supplies. I couldn't get what I wanted, but they had these wonderful coloring books. They really were special enough that I bought several.  Barbara and I decided to do laundry before our last dinner in Jackson Hole at Nani's, a tasty Italian restaurant. 

The next day Thursday, we called to get a room in Salt Lake City Utah for two nights which gave me time to work on my blog and for Barbara to do her genealogy research. Many of the hotels were very expensive in Salt Lake City and Barb thought she could get an $89 rate at a particular hotel. We got it for $139 a night and we got one queen bed. We sleep on our own side, so neither of us would feel crowded.  It was about 280 miles to Salt Lake City going through Idaho.   Part of the drive was really rough!  It was raining so hard, we couldn't see past the car several times I was driving then, because Barb needed a break. We didn't realize that it would rain like that. I drove very little on this trip. I kept moving my head closer to the windshield, but it did not help in seeing more or better. 

We stopped in Blackfoot because we saw a sign advertising the Idaho Potato Museum and Gift Shop. There was more information than you probably knew, including on where it started - in Peru with the Incas.  They continue to harvest the way they always have. So, for a small price to enter this museum, there is a lot to learn. They also have a cafe where Barb and I each ordered a potato with toppings we'd like.  

While in Salt Lake City, Utah, Barbara did work on her genealogy and I worked on my blog. I sent an email to Linda Dial who went to school with my brother Ben. Her husband Tom and I were in the dance band in high school and at junior college. Tom played trombone and I played an upright bass. Good memories for all of us. I'm so glad we got together.  It is almost 50 years!

Linda Harris Dial and Tom Dial

Barbara, Tom, Linda and Me at a wonderful
Chinese restaurant where they treated us.

We left the following day for a three nights stay in Moab and to see the sights there.   When we got there, I was so exhausted and stressed, that I fell across the bed, falling immediately asleep. I think I slept eleven hours!   We went to Dead Horse State Park and Canyonland National Park. We saw a dead elk on the side of the road going up, probably hit by a car.  When we were at the visitor center in Dead Horse State Park, we saw a Kit Fox, but it moved too fast for me to get a picture of it. It went into a water drain under the walkway. I got a picture of it peaking out to see if it was clear.  Dead Horse got it's name because it was an area they could catch wild horses, but often they were penned in unable to reach the Colorado River to get a drink, so many died.  The sights were really beautiful.  

Picture in Canyonland

Picture  in Canyonland

Dead Horse State Park

Dead Horse State Park

So Rocky!

There is a Kit Fox on the right looking out of the drain
to see if it is clear!

Dead Horse State Park

Trees go to the greatest depths to get water!

This is actually how they do walls for cattle!
I think it is a good idea!

Canyonland State Park

Canyonland State Park

Canyonland State Park

The next day, we got up late, with the plan to go a rock store and run errands since we were leaving Moab the following day.  We got in the car and there was no sound when you turn the key. We were fortunate.  We called Auto Club and he checked it finding it needed a new battery.   This issue was solved within an hour.   Thank heavens for Auto Club!  We left early evening to Arches National Park. Our guide Carla was loaded with lots of facts that made the trip so much more interesting than if we had gone on our own; it would not have been nearly as interesting.  She was also very willing to take pictures of us. One at Balance Rock looks like we were holding it!

We are in Arches State Park

Barbara in her desert hat and I

Barbara and I

Barbara and I

These are often not as solid as people think.  Our
guide knocked on a big rock,  Some part sounded solid and
other parts sounded like there were air pockets.
Very Dangerous!

It still lives!

Balance Rock

Carla took pictures in such a way it looks
like we are holding up the rock!

Carla, Our Guide

She was soon good I'd ask for her again.  She
researches regularly to find interesting information
for her talks.  Perhaps the other guides are as
good.  I don't know.

Barbara

This spot is surrounded by rocks, but not at the
top.  It was at least 20 degrees cooler than it was
outside of this area.  Those who took off their shoes
said that the sand felt very icy!

Barbara

Me

Me

Like sand dunes, but they have solidified

Wonderful formations!

The tree will die in parts to let another part live

Don't know if it is alive or dead

Very cool here!

We took off for St. Georges going through another national  park called Capitol Reef per Carla's recommendation.  We stopped at some terrific sights - petroglyphs (I have not seen this before.  That was spectacular!), an adobe brick cabin, a one room school house, and fruit groves. We went to the visitor center.  Behind it was a ten mile scenic drive.  Since we added this to our trip, I didn't want to go past the Gifford House. It is a museum and shop. Carla told us to try their individual pies. We got a rhubarb and an apple. Since they weren't wrapped, we felt obliged to eat them both!  We split each one to try both. Delicious!

The walkway out to some petroglyphs

A large branch fell over the walkway and
they had a sign of  5 mph, where we walked
They had part of it cut off from going by it.

If you look carefully, you'll see petroglyphs

This one is more obvious.

Some here

Some here

Definitely here

Some here

The Gifford House in Capitol Reef National Park

A stream by the Gifford House

Trail by the Gifford House

Deer hoping to get tidbits from people, though
they do not want us to feed them.

When Barbara woke me up, I thought she said it was 5:30 and we needed to get going to get breakfast and head to Bryce National Park.  I asked why we had to get up at 5:30.  She was laughing saying it was 9:30.  Coffee was not good, so we picked up cups at Starbucks.  Bryce had some beautiful view points. They do have a shuttle you can take from the visitor center at the park entry that hits all the stops up and back.  We drove, but it is free and I think it would be faster getting around in the shuttle because there is a problem parking. 

We went through two of these before
getting to Bryce National Park

It looks like castles!

Beautiful scenes everywhere!

Barbara taking pictures

Beautiful!

Great Scenery

I think it looks like a castle!

So amazing!

Lovely!

There were people from all over the world visiting
all these parks.  So many languages!  I would say
everyone is awed by what they see!

More castles!

This little guy was hoping for scraps.  He gave up
and went to the next person!

And, this is Nature!

We had no hand in making this and it is in our
own backyard!

We were hearing about wild weather in Bakersfield with  thunderstorms, flooding,  dust storm and a tornado. Electricity was out for many people. We were glad to miss this. Then my daughter Shelley said there was a rainbow and felt it was a sign that her grandson Bentley was about to be born. I'm thinking of Bentley's mom Alyssa, my granddaughter. 

We parked in the town just outside of Springdale, but there was poor signage as to where we could park. I found that particularly anxiety provoking. From there you take a shuttle to the entrance to Zion National Park.  It made several stops but any trail would be at least one mile. I fear my doing this will increase my back pain.  I won't do this. We did get off at the first sight which was a museum, and one other spot which had a beautiful spot take pictures.  I did not want to hike which would start at each sight.    So these pictures are from Zion National Park.  Had I hiked, I could have gotten more.

                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                  

The day before heading home, we drove to Zion National Park. When the shuttle is running,you cannot drive through the whole park.  The shuttle in Springdale before getting in the park can get incredibly packed. It was also very confusing where you could park. They need better signage for parking in Springdale and perhaps add a couple of parking lots.  I agree with cutting the number of cars in the park, but they need to develop the infrastructure to accommodate this. The shuttle in the park was less crowded. There are speakers sharing what you are looking at and what is at the next stop if you desire to get off. There are hikes at each stop.  we didn't see as much here. My sense was that a hike (though not hard for most people) was required to see several of the sights. I wasn't feeling up to this, so I didn't participate in the hikes, though Barbara did do one of them.  We at lunch at the Brew Pub, which had dishes using vegetables in a creative and tasty manner. 

Back at our hotel room, I received a message from Shelley that she, Jennifer's family cleaned my home including washing my bedding so I would have a fresh bed to climb into upon getting home. Marvin, Jennifer's ex fixed a closet door in my bedroom.  Wow!  I am so fortunate!

The day we were heading home, we were gathering all our stuff to take to the car. When we opened the refrigerator, one bottle blew up with glass and the dark blue/red drink splattered everywhere and all the food frozen.  We stopped at Starbucks for strong coffee and we were on the road at 9 am. I checked my Facebook to see how Alyssa was coming along. There were a couple of false calls.  Saturday she went into active labor, which went all day. Around 5 pm, Bentley was born 6 pounds, 9 ounces.  Alyssa had a long labor!  She actually started labor Thursday night.  It was so slow, they kept sending her home.  They finally admitted her on Saturday.  I went by on Sunday to see her.

Shelley and her daughter Alyssa, the night
before Bentley was born.  My granddaughter-in-law Meagan
said her son who will be born January 21 will
also be named Bentley!  Wow!  This will take a while
keeping them straight!

Alyssa with Bentley the night he was born

Bentley, was 6 pounds, 9 ounces - So cute!

Alyssa and Bentley

Alyssa and her cousin Crystal (Nylah's mom)

Bentley and Grandma Shelley

Shelley holding Bentley and Great Grandma Sandy
who said she wants to be called G G, for Great Grandmother

Shelley and Bentley

Shelley, Grandmother and Chris Grandfather of Bentley
They have different partners now.

Bentley, opening his eyes

Bentley, who isn't happy!

Great Grandmother, Rachel holding Bentley who
is giving a big yawn!

GG and Bentley

Aunt Heather with Bentley

Aunt Heather changed his clothes!

My kitty Pepper came out to see me, but not Daisy.  I checked under the beds, in all the closets and the drawers in my room (since Daisy empties the two bottom drawers at least daily. Shelley came over to help me look and we set up the Havahart trap on the patio. We also went out for dinner and went to Alyssa's apartment to check on her. Later when I was in bed, I hear scratching at the drawer. I didn't see her until I pulled out the drawer completely . There was Daisy standing behind the drawer and hissing at me.  Both are wanting a lot of attention now.  I'm just so glad they are okay!

So we decided this trip went well, that we are looking into a trip north into Oregon, Washington and Oregon.  Another trip would be Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.  And, another is to Death Valley. So we have three trips, perhaps one a year.   We traveled well together. We each have our idiosyncrasies but we didn't find it that much of a problem.  We both really liked Arches National Park and Capitol Reef National Park (I had never heard of this before this time).  I am going to get this posted and then I think I will lie down.  I'm beat!  

See you next Sunday!  Hope your week was good and this next week is even better!        Rachel