A little more fun in Camp Verde...

Sara mowed some tracks for Bodie to ride on....plus it helped Steve out with the mowing...it was due....and Sara and I both agreed.....WE LOVE TO MOW....ON THE RIDING MOWER!!!

Bodie...that is after he had his fill of riding the motorcycle in the orchard.

Brock was just happy messing around and picking berries.

Wyatt was in love with the horse.....I tried to make up to the horse, but it didn't want much to do with me.....but was very calm and interested in Wyatt...and it was a mutual admiration.

I don't know who was more curious...the horse or Wyatt?

Berry Juice!
We went over to pick blackberries...of course we took the motorcycle.....but the main purpose was to get the berries. Saturday I had looked at them and we had about 3 pints that needed to be picked.....they weren't quite ready....and then when the boys came down, we decided to go over on Tuesday to get the berries......SURPRISE!!! There were only about a half of cup of berries....someone came and picked all of our berries.....I think I will post a sign that says: "Please, get permission before picking berries!" Brock was still able to eat all that he picked and I wanted there to be enough that he couldn't even eat them all......maybe next year....there are a few more vines that haven't rippened yet....we have had a "Peach Pirate" in the past and now maybe there are some "Berry Pirates"! Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

Motorcycles?

Who would have thought that at the age of 5 it would be time to get your first off road motorized vehicle?...but that's the way it is....I didn't get mine until I was in my 40's and it was a riding mower!
This arrangement did not work.....Wyatt did not understand the concept of holding on....fortunately he did not fall off....but he wanted off before the ride was 10 feet long.....that works for me....one has to know one's limits.


Bodie was in his glory.....he really doesn't go very fast and it is all his when he is driving....

Jess came the back forest roads down from Flagstaff (45 miles or so) on his dirt bike.....no wonder the boys are have motorcycle envy!

and here is the "real deal".......honestly this movie looks like he is going faster than he really does....he really goes about the same speed as one of the senior citizens out on errands...with their motorized "Amigos".

Something from the past....

Years ago as one traveled down Baseline in the Mesa/Gilbert/Chandler area one would sometimes be stopped by sheep going down the road. This was a very rural area 50 years ago. You would see fields full of sheep...in the summer it was too hot in the Valley of the Sun, so the sheep would be moved from the valley areas, some as far away as Buckeye, up to higher elevations, not by trucks but by traveling on foot and herding, Some would travel up along the desert trails, across the Verde River at Sheep's Crossing then journey to the Mogollon Rim....there they would either head over to the Heber area or they might go up to Flagstaff and graze in the the broad meadows of the San Francisco Peaks. Later I went to college at Northern Arizona University and in the early days of September we would often go exploring and come across the sheep in those same meadows. Even after the sheep had moved back to lower elevations you could picnic at their summer corals. The men who herded the sheep had little gypsy type wagons that would be pulled along by donkeys, mules or horses. The little caravan wagons were brightly painted....On my way back from Flagstaff a couple of days ago along 89A, I was admiring the way the forests had been thinned to protect the area from massive forest fires....I looked and thought, "I don't remember white boulders being in this area"....and then I realized that I wasn't seeing white boulders. I was seeing sheep walking slowly and grazing as they journeyed through the forest........I loved it....I had to pull over and watch them for a while.....it was a real treat for me.....all I had was my cell phone to take the picture, but I was glad I at least had that.

Swim Trip.....

New goggles...We are off to the Pointe to go for a swim day and night.......

Checking in .....

Checking out.....

We had a great time...SPF 70 - waterproof sunscreen..and no burns...worked great!

Tired kids...came in for a rest....had a nap and then ate pizza for dinner...

a good time all the way around.

The Zen of It All....

We were walking around the yard this morning and walked by the old river willow and this is what we saw and heard......listen for the little squeaks toward the end:

We had never noticed a "bird house" in the tree...and it is such a great design... a double awning made of bracken.......We tried to see inside, but it was dark. I put my camera up and tried to get a couple of shots.....I didn't think I captured anything...but when we went in to view the pics on the computer ...this is what we saw:

Needless to say the mother wasn't very happy with us. When we would step away the woodpecker would stick its head out to see if we were gone.....what a rude surprise to have someone flash light in your eyes! We could hear the babies inside...what fun! This is what "retired" people do....they have to make their own fun! (BORING?.....not to us!)

Fun With Papa

Wyatt...and the Toads

Wyatt got to come down by himself to Nana and Papa's house. His older brothers went fishing at Black River. He didn't seem to mind that he got to come here. He is having a great time....this is "Toad Season" ....all of the toads are coming out, in fact it is a little into the season , because when the toads first come out they are as small as a nickle...these toads are about the size of an apricot. He started off being a little afraid, but now they are his new best friends. He couldn't understand why he had to wash his hands for lunch.....a little too much toad for Nana.

Day one.....

Day two......

I am all for exploration...but I do feel the little animals need some protection too! Nana needs to take a chill pill....little boys are higher up on the food chain than toads!

Got my garden planted....

Just a little garden....only 18 plants right now....I may add some more when I go to Flagstaff and go plant shopping with Sara on Friday.....but my iris have just about taken over the edges of the garden....I need to thin them out.....and will get that done soon....they were beautiful this year. The fencing around the garden is almost all covered with roses and other plants....most are perennials....love that, because I don't have to plant new plants this year. Sara gave me "butterfly garden" seeds, so I will sprinkle them around too.....I love to watch the butterflies in the summer......hey, Bodie, Brock and Wyatt...the raspberries and blackberries have blossoms...so we will have some for you to pick soon!

The job continues.....

Steve is just about done with the grouting of the satillo tile....what a job it has been. He keeps saying, "There must be an easier way..." , but we don't know what it is....so he continues to grout and have to wipe off the face of each tile before it sets.....he does about a 5 x 9 ft. section at a time...and if he does more....it is rough getting the tiles clean....He is just about done and I know he will be glad to be DONE!

Chef de Jour

Steve checking the pizzas....we did use the old firman's glove...thanks Jess!

Who ever thought we would see Steve Maier cooking!!! Not only can the man build the oven ...He can cook in it!!! Believe me we needed him doing that last night when we had a group of people here. I made enough dough for 16 individual pizzas....and had a little more in the refrigerator....so we made 18 pizzas. We used the woodfired oven, the BBQ grill and Glen Langford cooked some in a dutch oven he made a baking system for......really interesting. The girls had fun...and so did the leaders. It was a nice evening.....warm, but cool....frogs singing in the background and lanterns glowing under the fairy lights.

Glen Langford helping the girls.

Two of the younest girls...having fun....Gloria and Fran.

Kristina and Tarin

Girls from age 12 to 17,

Everyone enjoying sampling their pizzas.....they made some good ones!

Resolution Challenge 2009

I am doing a healthy living challenge with Sara and quite a few other people. Sara started it. It involves doing 10 things a day that are good for you:
1. 7 hours of sleep
2. 48 oz. water
3. 45 minutes of exercise (not necessarily consecutive)
4. 2 servings of veggies, 2 servings of fruit
5. No soda, beer, wine, unhealthy snacks, or bad fast food [anything FRIED]
6. No sweets [desserts, pastries and sugary snacks & cereals] * sugar-free alternatives are OK
7. No eating after dinner/8pm
8. 15 minutes of scripture reading (or other spiritual text if you don't do scripture)
9. One journal entry (any length)
10. Express sincere appreciation or praise to your spouse (if single, to another person)

Can you guess my weak areas? (exercise, and scripture reading...what a confession). I have more than one.....this is our 3rd week....and I haven't got a 140 points......but this is a new week, so maybe I will do better.

If you want to see what healthy eating looks like....click here. Sara keeps a pictorial record and journal of what she eats. I am going to just copy her meals and make them .....I will see how that goes. It will help I know! My problem is that I don't like to "have to do" anything anymore...I am just to lenient with myself...but I am doing better than when I was doing NOTHING AT ALL, so for now that is good with me.

Boy can this boy eat!

Wyatt saw the bottles of canned peaches and wanted some. They are quart bottles ( 4 cups). I opened one and Brock, Wyatt and I each had a custard cup of peaches....Wyatt ate the rest and wanted to drink the juice too....I drew the line there for fear the little guy would explode. This is just a sample of his enjoying the peaches....he finished them off a few minutes later.

First pizzas from the woodfired oven.....

The pictures say it all......It was great pizza. Pops and I still need to learn more about getting the oven fired to the right temperatures...but it was fun and delicious and makes the meal an experience.....the boys ate two pizzas!

New adventures with the boys...

Nothings better than throwing rocks in the water to make a big splash....and then finding rolly-pollies under the rocks to play with....the simple pleasures of being a little boy!

Katie returns home .....with company!

No one said it would be easy!

Have dog will travel.......notice the weed whacker on top of the car.....hmmmm...who's going to work that.....that's right...Katie!

Having fun yet, Lily?

W

Who knew it was the biker rally in Laughlin? They were thick as flies!

Lunch at San Luis Pier

Jana and Katie at Morrow Bay

Our new discovery...the little town of Los Olivos...loved it!

Slovang...settled by Danish families.....All of us have Danish ancestors.

Katie finds shoes that fit.

Santa Barbara....outdoor mall and above that the Farmer's Market

Lunch at Paciccuci's....Italian food...very good!

The early morning gardeners....why change into work clothes, when you can work in your jammies?

Future producer of tomatoes and herbs for the farmer's market!

The 7:05 a.m. train to Burbank.

Comfort and good company...who could ask for anything more!

We are not one's to let a good trip pass us by.....so we asked Jana and Myrna to join us for the return trip. Myrna is always ready to go with suitcase in hand....Jana did not realize we were serious...but Glen, her sweet husband did and he wanted her to get away and have some fun, so he surprised her with a ticket. We drove over to Arroyo Grande....with 4 crazy, yakkity-yak ladies...it made the trip go by fast (11 hours) and had a great time. Then we took time and saw the sights: Laughlin, San Luis Pier, Morrow Bay, Los Olivos, Santa Barbara....On the return trip we took the 7:05 a.m. train to Burbank and caught the plane home....it was a fun adventure...and we did it so well....even though we almost missed our plane....almost doesn't count...we made it!