New Mexico Mountain Retreat

Have you missed us?

2012-02-04T21:52:00.000-08:00

Where have we BEEN?

A little Christmas travel.

Starting in Ruidoso, we spent a few days with family,

celebrating Mickey's oldest brother's birthday

and Christmas.

Next stop? Midland to be with kids and grands!

Exciting gifts.

and lots of fun!

On to Dallas...

Family Christmas with Nani Dot at Steve and Debbie's home.

Who is smiling?

Who is sleeping?

Off to Spartanburg, SC

Sweet

Happy New Year!

Proud grandparents!

My aunt's birthday in Ft Worth.

Someone was kind was kind with the number of candles.

90 would be impossible to blow out!

Isn't she cute?

Isn't this a good looking couple?

My brother and two of his kids!

Proud grandparents!

The Caribbean!

The Navigator.

That is the name of the ship, not him!

I love waking up in a new place every morning!

It was truly a relaxing week.

Now, we are home in the mountains for a couple of days!

We have a project

and brought a friend to help

so, check back!

General Maintenance

2011-12-17T21:35:00.000-08:00

Because we haven't been here in several weeks

and because there has been lots of snow and freezing temperatures

and because we missed the mountains

and because of some minor maintenance needed,

Mickey the Maintenance Man and I are here!

The first project was the hot tub.
Mickey replaced the filter, drained, cleaned, filled and shocked it.
The water sparkles again!

Next on the water maintenance list was the water purification system.

A new UV light was needed,
the housing is cleaned and four filters changed.

Done!

Outside, he started the jeep and the 4-wheelers.

He has been maintaining everything!

Me? Well, let's see... Hmmm...

I... uh... repaired his jacket.

And, I took care of some Longaberger business.

Oh oh yeah, I watered my inside flowers.

I was a great support to my maintenance guy.

The view from the hot tub this evening.

Wishing you were here!

Tonight, we finally saw The Help!
Missed it in the theaters
because I refused to see it before I read the book.
So glad we have Direct TV!

While not in the mountains...

2011-12-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

We had the honor of a quick visit from 'the boys'!

I was so glad they came because

I had a little gingerbread project and needed some help.

Dividing the house into three areas worked really well.

Each boy chose his area and went straight to work

Frosting

Decorating

Sampling

What? Oh, just a little break to burn off some energy.

Front

Back

Side

Well done!

Let's make some candy, too!

Now that the temps have warmed up to 24,

they MUST get outside!

Firecrackers in hand!

This is some serious fun!

More serious for some than others.

Three at one time?

Light fuse...
and

GET AWAY!

Thank you Li and Fung!

Congratulations!

2011-12-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

Jean, you are the winner! New lighted grinders are coming your way! Enjoy!
And many thanks to our participants! Keep reading and watch for the next give-a-way!

Just because...

2011-12-02T09:47:00.000-08:00

So many of our guests have loved our lighted, electric pepper grinder. Unfortunately, it has been really hard to find one like it. Most do not have the light. It's such a fun thing that we often have a guest volunteer to grind pepper for everyone! When Mickey found this set, he bought an extra for our next blog drawing! So here it is!

To enter, leave a comment below about a salt or pepper grinder. Be sure to be a follower and enter by December 7. We will conduct an in-house (literally) drawing ad the winner will be announced on December 8!

DONE!

2011-11-30T19:46:00.000-08:00

The Amarillo kitchen update is DONE! We think that it came together nicely! There was lots of thought and preparation involved. A few changes occurred throughout the process. The back splash was particularly difficult, but the color enhancer/sealer was the deciding factor that really seemed to bring it all together. The biggest challenge was the cook top. A down draft is very expensive with limited choices in the 36" size. We went from two burners to five! So far, we have used two, but it is nice to have options.

My general contractor was fabulous!

We are pleased.

So, what do you think?

The Saturday Evening Post

2011-11-26T19:40:00.000-08:00

The Amarillo Project.

It should be completed this week!

And the winner is...

2011-11-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

... a smart girl

who entered a smart contest

for smart wool socks!

Crissy, your smart wool is enroute!

Your feet will be warm soon!

Thank you for following and for your comments

Crissy, Haley, Linda and Christi (unknown)!

Annual Turkey Shoot

2011-11-23T19:38:00.000-08:00

Aim

Fire

Check

Adjust

Fire

Check the targets

Ready

Aim

Adjust

Good shot!

Consult

Dead on!

Accurate!

It's on!

Dead Center!

Awards

Nice shooting, guys!

Thank you, my little helper.

Rock Climbing

After their departure,

we rode the new 4 wheeler trail,

then went for a walk.

It is just too quiet here, now!

We are so thankful for our family

and our time together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Fun, Fun, Fun Day!

2011-11-22T21:35:00.000-08:00

Some mornings are quiet.

You know it's gonna be a great day

when your breakfast starts out like this!

And continues like this.

Thank you to Mickey and

Pioneer Woman!

It turned out delicious

and pretty!

After breakfast,

we worked on an edible craft.

Acorns!

(doughnut holes topped with chocolate frosting

and sprinkles and a pretzel stem)

After a fun movie 'Ice Age',

we had a quick game of

cheez-it scrabble!

Everyone was a winner!

The work crew arrived to remove the brush

from yesterday's tree trimming.

The reward?
Walkie Talkie Commandos!

Paying attention to the instructions.

Watching from the front deck.

The commands were received.

Command: bird.

Command: 136.

Command: 090.

Back to work!

Clearing the new trail.

Enjoying the day!

"Help?"

Checking the wind damage.

Planning the trail route.

Where have you been?

And who is driving?

The evening by the fire.

A little cranberry salsa.

A little love.

A little silly.

A little reading.

And a delicious dinner!

Today in the mountains

2011-11-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

You never know what obstacles may arise

when feeding the blue jays.

Helmet and goggles may be required.

Oh wait, this is required gear

for safety when skiing!

Carry on, little man.

Sipapu is always the first ski area to open.

After breakfast, off they went for the day.

Speaking of safety,
this tree is down and needs removal.
Chain saw in hand, off he goes.

And in less than an hour,

the limbs were removed!

Moving limbs may be a job for the boys!

Boys.. Boys.. Boys..

2011-11-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

One of their favorite things
to do in the mountains is ride!

Little boys on little 4 wheelers.

Big boys on big 4 wheelers.

And sometimes they ride together.

This looks like a plan in the works.

Where do they find all this energy?

Can you see the target?

Time for a splash.

Break time.

Preparing for the Turkey Shoot!

Something just looks a little awkward here.
This BB gun is so new and so big,
but he will grow into it.

Time to reload.

Our creativity today produced
turkey luminaries!

It is Thanksgiving Week

and we are thankful for our family!

Smart?

2011-11-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

As the cool weather turns to cold,

I look for something smart!

Smart cars?

Smart phones?

Smart Wool!

They are a winter staple for me,

my daughter, my daughter-in-law,

and my mother-in-law!

Have you ever worn them?

Tell me if you have or not as a comment.

You need to sign up as a follower to leave a comment.

Your name will go in a drawing for these cute socks!

Value is $18.99

Random drawing will be done in house (literally).

Winner will be announced on Thanksgiving Day and

Smart Wool Socks will warm your feet

by the first day of winter!

Friends and Family

2011-11-14T15:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you for coming, our friends:
sisters, mothers and daughters!

We enjoyed having you!
Please plan to come again!

Mom and daughters!

Mom and step-daughter!

Guess what?

The power went off again Sunday evening.

The laundry was almost finished

and we had planned to grill.

Good plan, huh?

We enjoyed the quiet evening outside with a fire,

then a candlelight dinner inside!

The power was back on this morning for coffee and breakfast.

Whew! Good news!

It was a clear morning in the mountains.

Just another Saturday in the mountains!

2011-11-12T22:26:00.000-08:00

We woke up in the dark this morning,
literally with no electricity!
Cooking breakfast for eight by an oil lamp
on two burners that don't require electronic igniters
was a bit of a challenge.
Notice the "camp" coffee pot!

When the power came on,

Mickey decided to do a little electrical work.

It's a heavy duty,

four outlet extension cord.

It still requires electrical current.

When we have power, it will be used!

On a lighter note...
I love this cookie mix!
The cookies are soft, flavorful and so easy to make!
It is available at a store near you now.

And this is my favorite fall pie!
Plush Pippin Apple Pie, $3 at Walmart!
(I haven't found these wonderful pies
in several years, so I stocked my freezer)

Add my favorite pie plate:

Woven Traditions® Grandma Bonnie’s™ Pie Plate

Item #34479POT

This pie plate is perfect for any pie or dessert your family loves. At the Longaberger home, one pie served four family members. Big slices for big appetites, but if you do have leftovers, don’t forget the Woven Dish Cover for easy storage. Also great for quiche, fruit, veggies or appetizers. Woven Dish Cover is Dishwasher Safe.
9"d; Capacity: 32 ounces
Order yours here www.longaberger.com/bettyrichardson.

Move the frozen pie from the container and place in your Longaberger Pie Plate. Bake according to package instructions, maybe a little longer. Cool one hour.

Praline Topping:

1/2 stick butter

1C firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 C whipping cream

1t vanilla

1 C powdered sugar

3/4C chopped pecans, toasted

Bring butter, brown sugar and whipping cream to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan over medium, heat, stirring often. Boil one minute. Remove from heat. Whisk in vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. Pour praline mixture slowly over pie, spreading to cover. Sprinkle with toasted pecans.

mmmm...yummy!

Adding about a half cord of East Texas oak

to our mountain pine will keep the fireplace going!

And just in time...

Here comes the snow!

A request this weekend was Chicken Pot Pie.

Crust

Filling

Perfect comfort food!

After being away for a month...

2011-11-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

On our way to the cabin...

the turkeys crossed our path!

When we arrived,

this beautiful potted geranium was waiting!

I really thought that it would not survive

the month long drought inside.

But they did and I am so thankful!
After a nice big drink of water, they are happy!

The outside flowers did not fare so well!

This makes me look forward to a Spring trip

to Salman Ranch for flowers.

Better yet, I will use my 10% off coupon

that I received when I picked my raspberries this summer.

But for now, did you see the snow?

This is certainly not fresh, but there is 2" remaining!

The hill is 90% covered and 4 wheel drive is required

on the mountain road today!

Little Boys Like...

2011-11-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

riding behind the 4 wheeler

feeding the cows

playing with a severed hand

figuring out the cattle chute

being taught how the chute works

chocolate milk

building a fire

climbing

dogs

riding on the tailgate

tackling a big job with PawPaw

team work

BIG pwer tools

leanin' on the truck

entertaining Nani Dot

being behind the wheel

driving the farm truck

riding the range with their dad

earning awards at the end of the work day

being scared

family time at the Diamond R

Saturday Evening Post: What is our newest project?

2011-10-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

After about 24 hours of recuperating from our Disney trip,

our own Amarillo kitchen makeover began.

Somehow, the cobalt back splash tiles

just didn't work with the new granite!

Off with them!

Saturday Evening Post

2011-10-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

We returned yesterday from a magical vacation at Disney World and are still recuperating! Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon ~ oh yeah, we did it all, some more then once. Favorites? Definitely, Soarin is the best ride in all of the parks with all ages really enjoying it. I loved all the roller coasters mentioned in the previous post, but also, the Rockin Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios with Aerosmith playing through the speakers! Oh and the Tower of Terror! And the Star Tours. OK, I will stop now. Unfortunately, Mickey is still waiting for his dream ride. He wants to drive a tram. Hmmm.... maybe we can retire to Orlando. He could get a job driving the tram and I could ride on the back telling averyone to keep their manos, piernas, and brazos inside the tram at at all times. I just have to say many thanks to our tour guides Crissy and John and to our little excuses for frequent bathroom breaks and early bedtimes, Jack, Holly, Mitchell and Charlotte. We had a magical time!

Saturday Evening Post - Carousels and Coasters

2011-10-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

Too busy or too tired for even a quick post on Saturday! Oh my! We are vacationing in Orlando with our daughter and her family! I have always loved carousels (the one in Magic Kingdom is absolutely beautiful), but I just found a new love - roller coasters! Imagine, at my age! I love Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Expedition Everest! The fast pass is the best thing to happen to Disney World and the stroller swap offers a couple of additional rides each time it's used. I tell ya, Disney has come a long way in the last 25+ years! If we are not in the mountains, this is definitely a fun place to be!

The Saturday Evening Post

2011-10-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

Let it snow.. Angel Fire and Sipapu had snow last night! We are so glad that we left the heater on! You just never know when the first snow will fall! Sorry we missed it, but there will be more, I'm sure.

So long... Farewell...

2011-10-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

What a fun weekend! We enjoyed having you!

Next trip? March, maybe?

See ya then!

It is really hard to leave this weather and these beautiful trees!

But, it is time to go for now.

Our favorite season!

2011-10-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

Lunch today was chicken caesar salad, simple and healthy

with great presentation!

With such perfect weather, it has been most enjoyable to be outside to see the fall color form all around us.

Hard at work inside.

The afternoon mountain shower was light, but such a pleasure!

Yes, our favorite time of the year!

It's all about the food!

2011-10-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

It seems that appetites increase in the mountains and we are prepared. Today we served lunch outside on the west deck at the picnic table. This is an all time favorite of roast beef sandwiches au jus with chips and pickles. The daytime temperatures were perfect, the sky was beautiful and the trees are turning bright yellow on the mountains to the southwest. Does it get any better than this?

A new recipe to try!

2011-09-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Mmmm... after coffee in the hot tub,

we made this delicious egg recipe.

Mountain Egg Cups (aka Puddin' Place Eggs)

Ingredients
6 Canadian bacon slices
1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
6 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
3/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon paprika
3 English muffins, split and toasted (optional)

Preparation
1. Place 1 slice each of Canadian bacon on bottom of 6 (6-oz.) lightly greased ramekins or custard cups or Longaberger mugs. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on top of bacon in each ramekin, and push cheese against sides of ramekin, making a well in center of cheese. Break 1 egg into center of each well. Sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Pour 2 Tbsp. whipping cream over top of each egg. Sprinkle each evenly with paprika. Place ramekins on a baking sheet.
2. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until egg is cooked to desired degree of doneness. Serve with toasted English muffin halves, if desired.

We knew we would need a hearty breakfast filled with protein for a busy day.

Old removed and new hot tub cover in place - check.

Clean out the gutter - check

Spread more gravel - check.

Enjoy the flowers - check

Fall Foliage, Craigslist Coffee Table and Coyote Candle Company Cowhide

2011-09-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

It's official! Our favorite time of the year is here!

Now showing at Ocate Pass!

It is just beginning,

but promises fabulous fall foliage

and coming soon to the mountains near you!

Don't you love fall in the mountains?

It was all going so well...

until...

we discovered that we had recently had an unwelcome visitor.

Being the detectives that "we" are, we followed his trail.

Yes, right to the scene of the crime! Right where he left the new grill pushed over and in pieces. We will investigate the extent of the damage tomorrow and hopefully my 'fix it' guy can make it work again.

For now, I just want you to know that I love craigslist

(where I found this great rustic coffee table)

(did you notice the fire?)

and Coyote Candle Company in Lubbock!

where we found this fabulous cow hide!

Saturday Evening Post

2011-09-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

from Midland, TX!

This Saturday evening, we are in Midland with family!

These grandsons are so much fun!

They are definitely 'outside pets' and we spent Saturday afternoon 'outside'.

This cannon is located near Midland/Odessa Airport. It's fun to climb on and pretend to go to battle. There is a new discovery about this old piece of history every time we play on it.

At the little park nearby, we enjoyed a cool picnic snack. The boys ran off more energy than PawPaw and I could comprehend. We just sat in the shade with a cool breeze while they played and played.

Returning to their home, we made a couple of edible crafts. These are as much fun to make as they are to eat!

Lips are red apple slices,
teeth are mini-marshmallows,
held together with peanut butter.

The square butter pretzels are topped with Rollo's candy and heated in the oven,
then topped with marshmallow pumpkins.
YUMMY!

Alvin and the Chipmunks entertained us for movie night while we had pizza delivered. This is a big treat for the grandparents because there is no pizza delivery to the cabin or to our house in Amarillo!

The parents? We really enjoyed visiting with our son and daughter-in-law this weekend. They had a big date on Saturday in Lubbock at the Tech game.

We had a big date with the boys!

It was a winning weekend!

Side note (at the bottom):

Sam's Clubs carry different products in different cities.

We found canadian bacon, chocolate chips and various k-cups in Midland. These items have been discontinued or unavailable in Amarillo for weeks! Score!

The Saturday Eveing Post

2011-09-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

Amarillo, again?

Yep, here we are!

It was a Saturday of errands,

followed by a pleasant evening on the deck and under the shade trees.

Saturday Evening Post

2011-09-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

With a free weekend,
we spent this Saturday evening camping
at Palo Duro State Park.
Just the two of us.

Although we were not the mountains, we had a great time.
Whoa, I didn't see this coming, but...

we made the six mile round trip hike to the Lighthouse!

And watched a beautiful moon rise
over a ridge across from our campsite!

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Goodbye Hoylers - what a sweet family!

Thank you for spending Labor Day Weekend with us.

We just can't believe that you guys brought food and cooked for us!

Such a treat - Beach Mix, Steak Dinner, Scrambled Egg Breakfast and

Chicken with Alfredo Sauce Dinner! YUMMY!

Mickey and I only prepared a couple of lunches and a breakfast.

VACATION!

My typical end of summer routine is to pick and freeze raspberries - check!

And to purchase roasted green chilis and freeze them - check!

Staying busy...

2011-09-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

Katie and Caroline with their project - painting rocks.

Alex and Mickey prepare to grill.

Sleepy Logan.

Logan and Ruth.

David and Chef Alex!

What a great meal!

Chicken and white sauce, Italian Green Beans and Garlic Toast.

Yummy!

Raspberry Picking Day!

2011-09-03T21:54:00.000-07:00

David, Ruth, Alex, Katie, Caroline and Logan came for the holiday weekend.

Logan on the baby zip line with a little help from Ruth (Coco).

Caroline zips on the big line!

We girls picked raspberries this morning. It wasn't the best picking - too much cold last winter and too little rain this summer, but I have seen worse. They are still yummy.

Alex took the kids on a 4-wheeler ride and they enjoyed the hot tub.

We spent lots of time outside today, enjoying the beauty of the mountains and the cool weather.

Mickey fired up the charcoal for cooking steaks this evening.

All is well...

2011-09-02T23:55:00.000-07:00

As we entered the neighborhood last night

(yes, our arrival was after dark),

we saw a good sign.

I just couldn't resist these beautiful sunflowers on the side of the road.

They really brighten a room!

Projects?

Well, we have a few...

Time for deck maintenance!

It's a perfect day for it!

This one required a short hike.

House numbers that can be read from the road!

A little TV upgrade for your video pleasure!

A quick check on the flowers!

All is well!

Saturday Evening Post

2011-08-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

Where would you rather be for the next few days?

Uhhh... yeah... me, too!

Amarillo, TX

99°F

Current: Partly Cloudy
Wind: N at 0 mph
Humidity: 13%

Sat

101° | 68°

Sun

101° | 68°

Mon

94° | 65°

Tue

97° | 67°

Guadalupita, NM

72°F

Current: Clear
Wind: S at 16 mph
Humidity: 38%

Sat

76° | 50°

Sun

76° | 52°

Mon

70° | 52°

Tue

74° | 52°

They Teach It at Stanford

2011-08-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

(this came to me via email this week)
"I just finished taking an evening class at Stanford. The last lecture was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.

At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings? Rarely.

Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged—not true. In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!

So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. Sooooo let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it's very good for our health." ~ copied

Reserve a date, grab your girlfriends and come on up!

It will be good for your health!

The Saturday Evening Post

2011-08-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

He's back!

Welcome Home!

After a week in CO,

4-wheeling,

and looking a little scruffy,

I am so glad to see you!

After unpacking, sitting on the front deck to watch the rain, lots of talk about the trip, a little two hour nap, and a couple of loads of laundry, we grilled steaks. It was the best meal that I had all week!

The bear was back this afternoon, too.

Have you seen my flowers lately?

They are perking up.

Blooming.

Beautiful!

A little rain goes a long way!

(Cory, Christi, Will, Grant and Brock, thank you again for these geraniums!)

The Clouds

2011-08-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

It's always fascinating when the mountains disappear in the clouds -

really pretty.

Blue Jays

2011-08-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

I was enjoying my coffee in the hot tub this morning when the "scout" blue jay appeared. He shows up in the morning to see if there is anything for the birds in the feeder or on the ground or on the driveway or anywhere around. If he finds something, he immediately informs his friends and they fly right over. This reminded me of an incident a couple of weeks ago when Mickey and I were enjoying our morning coffee in the hot tub. The "scout" had notified his friends and they were gathered. They all suddenly started chirping or whatever it is that blue jays do. We laughed and thought that they were fussing at us to provide seed. Seconds later, the fox was headed up the mountain and when he disappeared, the chirping stopped. It seems that they were totally unaware of our presence with or without food. Now we know the "danger" alert of the blue jays.

Bear Claws and Raindrops

2011-08-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

I decided to start my vehicle today. As I age, I find myself doing things that I would never have thought of before. I never think about the engine starting in Amarillo. But from here, it is a long way to find help. As I opened the door, I looked down and to my surprise, here is what I saw. Unfortunately, I didn't think to set something beside these prints to indicate their size, but they look HUGE to me! My thought is that these were here when I arrived, but I was busy unloading and didn't notice them. Please make note of the claws at the top. YIKES!

Fortunately, I have not seen a bear since I arrived. It seems that about this time of year, they move on. Where? I don't really know, but I am happy to see them go and hope that the only thing left behind is footprints.

Sometime after my bear track encounter, rain started falling.

It was a gentle rain, but as it ran off the roof, I just couldn't resist trying to get a picture of it. So, if you will look closely, you will see vertical streaks below. They are not scratches on the lens. Oh, I am not a photographer or really even a wannabe. I just don't have the patience for that. But there are some fun things that I could catch on film if I were.

Where is it?

2011-08-16T19:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever lost something? Today was one of those days. I spent some time scrap booking and finished GrandKids Camp 2010. As I picked up my camp scrapbook, I was horrified to find that the last pages scrapped were from camp 2008. Now realizing that I was actually three years behind was bad enough, but where are the pictures from 2009? It was a fun camp and the theme was It's A Circus! We held a backyard circus at the end of the week and had a great time with lions, tightrope walkers, and tricks under the Big Top (well it was a little big top). As I panicked through my photo packages, I really couldn't remember if I had actually scrapped that event or not. If so, I should have pages, not pictures in photo envelopes. Ah-ha! There in three photo holders were the missing pictures, obviously untouched since they arrived and we smiled as we went through them. So, now they are sorted and waiting for tomorrow. I am happy to find them. Now, where is the invitation from that year? Tomorrow will bring about another search, I'm sure. For tonight, I am exhausted and off to bed.

And the winner is...

2011-08-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

Staci!

This cute CM Mini Album is coming your way!

Thank you all for your comments.

Stay tuned, there will be more give-a-ways coming.
Keep reading this blog and watch for the next prize.

Here are some landscape shots taken this evening before the rain shower.

I have had an uplifting day today preparing for Bible Study this Fall
with my "Merry Hearts".

Good News!

2011-08-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

I arrive today to find the fire danger warning sign at moderate! That is fabulous! There has been some rain and there is more in the area!

Apparently, the Cayenne Pepper worked around the flowers to keep the chipmunks out of the flower garden. I have some blooms again!

However, the sand between the flagstones is a mess! Maybe the chipmunks have been too busy spreading my sand to eat my flowers!

Tonight, I am off to bed early to watch a chick flick and read my new Cabin Life magazine! Good night, all!

Oh, and don't forget to leave a comment on the 8/8/11 Leave a Comment post below! The winner will be announced tomorrow evening.

The Saturday Evening Post

2011-08-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am preparing to head for the mountains.

Mickey is going to CO on his annual 4-Wheeling trip with a group of guys.

I'm glad that I will be in a quiet and peaceful place for a week. I'm thinking that I should really accomplish a lot. We'll see!

Hey, don't forget to comment on the post below to be entered in the drawing on Monday for the cute CM Mini album!

48 Hours...

2011-08-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

We were without Internet for 48 hours. No WIFI. No iPad. No laptop. No iPhone. We felt very disconnected. As of this afternoon, we are obviously back. It has been time consuming to catch up.

So, here is Mickey's latest project!

I love this new drawer!

It is installed below the TV and holds all of our DVDs, with room for many more!

We fully enjoyed these girls this weekend!

We made three new friends and reconnected with three old friends! Thank you for coming.

What do you suppose did this?

Those pesky chipmunks!

Where are our grandchildren and their BB Guns when we need them?

I'm thinking about a chili pepper outline around the flagstone patio and the flower garden! This flower should be protected!

Don't forget to read and comment on the post below!

It is finished!

2011-08-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, my grandmother lived with us, specifically with me as we shared a bedroom and bathroom. She was an incredible woman and I loved her dearly. She had an old trunk. We would go through it periodically and I would get inside when it was emptied. Then, we would refill it with her treasures. I loved it. It was a part of my life. I don't know what happened to Grandma's trunk, but I found many of Grandma's things in my mother's cedar chest.

This was my mother's cedar chest. My daddy bought it for her many years (more than fifty years) ago and it was badly in need of a makeover, but no real repairs were needed. It too was a part of my life and was filled with her treasures and memories. There were Bibles, pictures, birth certificates, death certificates, baby dresses, pocket knives, jewelry, scrapbooks, check stubs, house plans, letters and cards. It held the memories of my mother and I am thrilled to have it. It is now my treasure of memories.

I am glad that my project is finally finished. After many hours of work, it is beautiful and I am proud to have it. Thank you to Mickey and Vaden for encouraging me and baby sitting me as I stripped, sanded and finished it.

We have had a fun and relaxing week!

2011-07-31T22:35:00.000-07:00

Jacob's Lincoln Log Village.

My project?

It requires lots of steps.

Still working.

But hey, how about these cushions?

And then there was rain

with hail.

Wii

Scrapbooking

S'mores

Just a marshmallow.

Fulfilling a Request!

2011-07-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

As we were getting coffee this morning, Mickey made this discovery.

This food is for the humming birds!

It is not for you, little bear!

And the corn is for the blue jays!

It is not for you, little bear!

Go on your way!

On a quick trip to Angel Fire for furniture refinishing supplies, Jacob saw a deer, horses and prairie dogs. Wait, what are prairie dogs doing in the mountains? Why aren't they on the prairie?

We took a long ride on the 4 wheelers this afternoon.

Mickey and Jacob.

Vaden and me.

Then a quiet evening...

We had a request for a picture of the new grill.

OK, here it is!

The Hummers

2011-07-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

Jacob started the day with the humming birds.

Look at that!

He is incredibly patient as he waits for them,

They have become friends,

He offers them a hand and they are getting spoiled!

This is not a gourmet meal, just humming bird juice.

These are some of the cushions we found at the Arden Sale. They are inviting you to come sit a spell!

Jacob took a walkie talkie and headed to the tree house this afternoon. En route, he saw a blue jay, a deer and one of the kittens.

As the rain came again today, the temperature dropped!

So, a fire was a must!

And a chat beside it!

But now, I am tired. Good Night!

Projects

2011-07-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

Early this morning, Jacob made a new friend. Can you see the kitten? There are two wild kittens and one is a domestic wannabe!

The real purpose of this early excursion is to test the zip line.

Mickey explains it.

Jacob understands

prepares

plans

and projects!

Looking for the kitten.

Time to feed the humming birds.

A beautiful sight - rain!

My project is my Mother's cedar chest.

It needs a new finish.

Mickey's project - a drawer for our DVDs.

Done!

Move in ready!

Jacob's project -

wood carving.

He really wants to have a humming bird land on his finger.

Success!

The evening Farkle game!

A little cool this evening, we decided to stay inside.

Jacob spotted a bear! Very exciting!

New Tire, New Grill, New Legos!

2011-07-27T21:40:00.000-07:00

I wish that I could say that we had an uneventful trip up today. However, as we entered Las Vegas, a man pulled up beside us, rolled down his window and told us that we had a flat tire! Great! Fortunately, there was a tire store a block away and we made it there. Forty-five minutes, a new tire and $335 later, we were back on the road up the mountain.

We unloaded. We unpacked. We cranked up the new grill. The old grill? Well, there's an interesting story, Earlier this month, on our way to the back door of the cabin with seven grandkids for camp, Will said, "PawPaw, that grill!" As PawPaw ran over something, he said, "What was that?" Will said, "PawPaw, that grill!" It could not be seen from the driver's side of the truck and it really needed to be replaced, so here we are with a new grill.

Today my brother, Vaden and his grandson, Jacob came with us. I had some Legos for Jacob and he went right to work following the directions. After completing five mini sets, he staged them. Here they are:

Toy Story 3, Atlantis, Snowman, and a Christmas Tree, all being photographed by a traveler!

Very cute, Jacob!

There was a plan for a hot game of Farkle.

And we all joined in.

Jacob kept score.

And he won!

It is so good to be in the cool mountains!

Saturday Evening Post - 7/23/11

2011-07-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

This Saturday evening was spent in our travel trailer! Our air conditioners are out - yikes - and it is 100+ in Amarillo. The good news is that the AC in the camper works GREAT! Hopefully, we can get someone out Monday to repair or replace both units. We will be headed for the mountains mid-week, where we don't need air conditioners.

Saturday Evening Post - late again!

2011-07-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

It was a fun weekend with our guests...

visiting outside...

exercising...

scrap booking...

bear watching...

and more bear watching...

and just enjoying the beautiful mountain sunsets!

Call or email now to plan your trip!

Weekend Retreat

2011-07-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

WELCOME!

The Texas Girls Bar

CHEERS!

Relax!

Watch for bears...

And beautiful sunsets.

A few of our favorite things...

2011-07-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

GKC 2011

Old Favorites

Snow Cones - the perfect way to cool off in Amarillo (aka - great bribe to avoid popcorn and drinks at the movie theater)
Cereal and Ice Cream!
Zip Lines
4 Wheeling
Walkie Talkie Commandos
Rest Time (ahhh...)
Hot Tub
Playing at the Creek
Measuring and Marking

New this year

T Shirt Ceremony - this has lots of potential and we plan to expand the concept next year.
Electronics - great for travel, confiscated at camp, offered only to big kids at rest time, remember to charge!
KidDecals - wonderful for t-shirts, probably don't need the overlay as they washed beautifully.
Afternoon at the movies - perfect for a short nap for the grandparents. It was cool, quiet, dark and the kids were confined!
Hydration Station worked with no mess! It kept the kids responsible for their hydration.
Chef cooking - this was fun as we did not make assignments, but simply asked for volunteers and always had plenty.
Chores were well accepted, done cheerfully and actually the kids looked forward to seeing what each day held for them.
Building a 4-Wheeler path was really a spur of moment event that grabbed the big boys' desire for riding.
Active Life Explorer - exciting, new wii game that the kids really enjoyed!
Painting - first time that we had the nerve to try this and it was a success with little mess and good artists!
Bear Sightings - 10 sightings of 3 bears (the most we have ever seen) - they are hungry!
Sanding the patio - who knew that the kids would consider this fun?
Team work, always refreshing!

Disappointments (handled extremely well by the kids)

No fireworks
No campfires

My favorites

Holly entertaining the little kids and preparing for Charlotte's birthday!
Brock singing Happy Birthday to Charlotte for 2 days!
Will's organizational skills!
Jack's inventions!
Mitchell's huge hugs!
Grant's enthusiasm!
Charlotte's sweet smile! ("Wite Gwammy?")
Every "Thank you"!
Paw Paw's patience!
Our kids' indulgence again this year!
Waking up with sweet children in bed with us.

Saturday Evening Post

2011-07-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

Friday morning around 5:45 AM, we were wakened by an early visitor! He was drinking from the humming bird feeder on the front deck. With Mickey at the front door, he tried to hide behind the post - no good, he was still visible.

OK, let's try for a quick get-a-way.

The slippery excess lumber on the railing created a bit of a challenge for speed.

Safe on the ground, at last it was time to return to the forest. He was the talk of the day! But our little guys were getting hungry, too! Chef Mitchell wanted to help make french toast.

Mix

Dip

Cook

Self serve at the breakfast bar.

Jack presents the flag and Will is the color guard.

With the morning routine completed, it's time for a craft.

Pretty brave, huh? Seven kids with paint and brushes?

Given complete freedom, their creativity really showed.

Everyone knew just what to do...

and they did it!

This is my favorite part of GKC camp! Team response and team work sets the standard for everything needed to plan and executing a foot race.

READY

SET

Will, Grant and Paw Paw worked on the 4 wheeler trail.

So I decided to work on my little project. The kids asked if they could help me! Score for my side!

And then, "Thank you Grammy for letting us play in the sand!"

"Thank you guys for helping me with this sand!"

At the creek...

We avoided it for as long as we could, but today is the day for water shoes and swim suits. Because beavers have damned the stream, the water is becoming stagnant! YUCK! Fortunately, you cannot smell or see the sludge from these pictures. But, no GKC is complete without a water experience, so here we go...

One huge crawdack, as Charlotte says made his way into one of these nets! Fortunately, the catch and release program is still in effect.

The big boys had lashed landscape ties together to build a raft.

Oh no! It's coming apart!

Well, it still floats...

as long as there is no weight on it. Nice try, guys! Good work!

Preparing for the ride back up the mountain

with last minute instructions.

Ahhhh... nice clean chlorinated water!

A fun game.

Back outside, let's sit for a spell.

and discuss the day.

on the newly sanded patio

while we watch for bears.

Saturday Morning...

the annual measuring!

Everyone has grown 2" to 3" this year!

Garden guard duty. Chipmunks beware!

It is an active life!

2011-07-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

We had several chefs in the kitchen this morning!

Chef Charlotte helped slice the friendship bread.

Chef Grant cooked hash browns

and scrambled eggs!

Chef Brock

mixed grape juice.

The little guys enjoyed a break today in the hot tub!

Will presented the flag.

And Mitchell was the color guard!

Everyone looks forward to their chore for the day!

We really appreciate the good attitudes!

These little guys no longer must stay inside and wait for entertainment!

They provide their own and I love to watch!

Will and his bungee cords!

He has lots of experience. Trust me, that helmet will make it safely to it's destination!

Little Bear showed up again today and was spotted by Jack and Will while we were hiking the new 4 wheeler trail!

Walkie Talkie Commando

The call names from the last couple of days:

Charlotte - Pink Biscuit

Brock - Black Lightening; Commander Weenie

Mitchell - White Ninja; Racing 4 Wheeler

Grant - Grant; Epidermis

Holly - Black Ninja; Bucket

Will - Bucket Head; Beevis

Jack - Javelin; Vlademir

Today's prize was glow sticks. Comment on the prize, "Score!"

Time to cook, again?

This evening, Chef Jack will prepare his famous fried fish!

Chef Grant is his helper!

Together, they battered

prepared,

fried,

entertained

and served!

Also salad, corn and carrots.

After dinner and showers, we had a new wii game to try!

We sure are glad that these kids are here to set it up!

Bonded!

GO! GO! GO!

JUMP!

DUCK!

RUN! RUN! RUN!

Faster!

MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!

CLEARED!

RUN! JUMP! MOVE!

This is the way it goes with Active Life Explorer!

Happy Birthday, Charlotte!

2011-07-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

Featuring Chef Holly and Chef Brock!
Brock is helping Paw Paw fry sausage.

Holly is helping Grammy make special pancakes

with whipped cream!

Celebrate!

Charlotte cleaned the table while Holly vacuumed under it.

What a team!

Grant presented the flag with Brock as color guard.

Time to bake a cake!

With the cake in the oven, Holly is content to have a little alone time.

It's a party!

A birthday party!

The chocolate birthday cake looked like a BIG oreo cookie, filled with butter cream frosting and was a huge success!

Grant was sweet to read her card to her.

Ready for a present? It's a safe!

Birthday spanking!

That was fun for everyone!

Coloring.

This is the new owner of the rock shop. Her business plan incorporates a warm, friendly atmosphere with low overhead, future expansion plans and clean rocks!

RAIN!

So close and yet so far!

Another project is beginning - road building for the 4 wheelers on our property!

moving rocks

removing rocks

cutting

trimming

clearing

contemplating

relocating

discovering

thinking about it

lopping

All this hard work makes a man thirsty! How about some ice water?

This little set up on the deck has kept everyone hydrated.

The counter top ice maker and the water dispenser have been a good addition.

Chef Will helps make pizza.

The yeast, sugar and water mixture is fun to watch and the food processor is fast and easy.

Something for the meat lovers.

Making the crust.

Topping with sauce.

Chef Holly joined us.

She helped with a crust and toppings.

Will spread the sauce.

Holly finished the crust.

cheese pizza + sausage pizza + popcorn + movie candy = movie night

Just good clean fun, but such dirty clothes at the end of the day!

2011-07-05T23:52:00.000-07:00

Chef Brock and Chef Grant wanted to help with breakfast. Brock was in charge of the scrambled eggs and Grant had the fried eggs.

Grant was anxious to learn the art of flipping eggs, so Paw Paw encouraged him.

This is the way it's done. OK, your turn!

First attempt. In the pan! Great flip!

Second try good, too!

Jack's chore today is cleaning the table. Job well done!

Happy Mitchell is vacuuming!

Charlotte and Brock feed the birds.

Holly presents the flag and Charlotte is her color guard.

Mitchell takes a ride.

We had tacos for lunch on the front deck, followed by rest time.

Charlotte, Brock and Mitchell fell asleep right away.

But the four big kids had more than an hour of reading and/or game time...

in the Tree House.

Just after lunch, Will had spotted a bear out back. The kids were a little skittish about the tree house. We assured them that no self respecting bear would come around as long as there are kids making noise outside. They took BB Guns and enjoyed their time.

We had to wake the little guys, have a snack and on to craft time.

These cute little buckets will produce beautiful flowers. Well, that was the selling point. We will see.

Mix the soil and water, add to the bucket, sprinkle with seeds, cover with soil, mist with water. Easy, right? My thumb is no greener now than ever before, but some of these kids grow things other than themselves, so we'll give it a try.

Mark your bucket and watch it grow! (ahem)

Inside to finish the Chef's Aprons and towels or bandannas, as the case may be.

We put the KidDecals on them, but Will and Holly made a few personalizations.

Very cute!

Off to the hot tub for Holly, Charlotte, Mitchell and Brock.

Holly seemed to enjoy a little Paw Paw time.

Paw Paw did, too.

And here they come!

Round and round and round they go!

How about a little Walkie Talkie Commando? Grammy decided to sit this one out and photograph from the command center.

The little guys are so cute doing this!

Those walkie talkies are just so much fun, although very hard to get the hang of the talk button, when to press, when to talk and when to release.

And as if that isn't hard enough, then you must listen to and follow Paw Paw's directions to find the prize.

Is it a box of matches?

No, it's a b~~aricceaner~~ caribbeaner!

Holly, you are up next!

Yours is pink!

Charlotte and Brock entertain me with their shadow puppets behind the sun shade! I am easily entertained. Grammys are an easy audience.

Love their simple, creative and confident spirits!

Meanwhile, back at the command center, Grant asked for a hard mission! It was, indeed, as it was found in the spring! He persevered until it was discovered!

And here is the commander himself in the command center.

This one is a delicate mission and the commander forgot where the packages were. Since he hid them, we had to wait until his memory returned.

Dinner tonight was make your own shish-ka-bobs.

Very interesting to see what combinations were chosen. But, they all look good! It is difficult to remember what belongs to whom. We were certain that Mitchell's was the one with meat, vegetables and a strawberry.

Waiting and Whittling. Whittling and Waiting.

How old can these guys be?

The desserts were just a much fun to make as to eat!

Pound cake, strawberries, bananas. Oh, and see the third one from the left with the grape tomato? Who do you think made that one?

The old Favorites are back!

2011-07-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Cereal and ice cream -

what a way to start the day!

Simple fun!

Finally, we are in the mountains

checking out the new zip line!

Grant

Will

Brock

Charlotte

Small project.

Mitchell and Brock cleaning for money.

Jack's catapult.

Very creative! All the kids were impressed.

Ridin'

Charlotte found the puzzles.

And she recruited some help!

The little chefs were awarded a day off,

while Grammy and PawPaw cooked.

Apparently, they liked it!

Time for the ever popular 'Walkie Talkie Commandos'.

Pink Biscuit

aka Charlotte

Purple Nugget

aka Brock

Blue Dragon

aka Mitchell

"I found it!"

Black Ninja

aka Holly

Pink Princess

aka Will

Grant the Ant

aka Grant

Steely Javelin

aka Jack

Unfortunately, we had a disappointing evening. We drove to Eagles Nest only to find that the fireworks show had been cancelled. Just two weeks ago, I was assured that it would happen because it is shot over the lake. Well, 2/3 of my passengers were asleep by the time we got there, anyway.

But, we did stop at the Mini Mart for 4 wheeler gas. Ready to ride, again!

Cooking, Climbing and Cones!

2011-07-04T04:37:00.000-07:00

Chef Brock

cooked breakfast!

Brock, "PALO DURO CANYON, HERE WE COME!"

Charlotte, "We are coming little canyon!"

Our climbers.

Whoa!

Charlotte is too little to go to the top!

Discussing serious issues over a picnic lunch.

Just the girls.

After seeing the movie Rio,

SNOW CONES!

Home again...

Chef Holly is the Cook!

Early to bed tonight for the big trip tomorrow.

A huge thunderstorm caused a power outage,

but brought RAIN, refreshing and cool rain! We are so thankful!

Electronics and T-Shirts, Horses and Horse Pills, Crafts and Cooking and a Contortionist!

2011-07-02T23:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to GKC 2011!

Cooking Camp!

It is an electronic age: this year we have 2 portable DVD Players, 2 Leapsters, 3 Nintedo DSs, 3 iTouches and a cell phone, not to mention the 2 old fashioned and outdated Blackberries that we old folks use. Amazing! I should have taken an electronics class for this! There are enough cords, chargers and wires here to hang us all and still have plenty left to charge something! In fact, hang on, while I go check on the battery levels, please.

OK, I removed the last Leapster and DVD player. Did I mention that each device has a different charging system? Oh yes, the Leapsters have a plug in, a charger AND a backup battery! The portable DVD Players were charged, but who knows if I used the right charger or not? Please keep in mind that I have trouble with keeping charged batteries in my camera!

Lest you think that we are all about these entertainment forms, please understand that we see their advantages (especially when travelling) but we keep them in their place. They have been confined to our limitations and along with the electronics are about two dozen books and books on CD and lots of crafts and outdoor acivities to fill the coming week.

We started our camp with a little T-Shirt Ceremony.

There was a time of applauding each grandchild with praises, followed by the awarding of two camp t-shirts.

Charlotte

Brock

Holly Grace

Mitchell

Will

Jack

Grant

Fort Lodmell. Jack had this fun surprise for us to see upon arrival!

No time for sitting around, people!

We have places to go and animals to see!

The American Quarter Horse Museum!

With fun statues.

And cool rides!

Interesting exhibits!

Will in the Western saddle.

Brock doing a little trick riding!

Grant, start your engines!

Oh no, wait, I mean, "Giddy up!"

Isn't this a little strange?

These are actual horse pills filled with M&Ms and

Lemon White Chocolate Suppositories! My friend, Robin is a Pharmacist with a great sense of humor! Love these and the kids do, too!

Now back to business, the cooking business!

But, first we really need hats!

On with the Kid Decals - really lovin' these!

(Will have a quick review when the laundry is complete and a full review at the end of the week.)

Grant and Holly season the patties.

Charlotte toted them to the grill!

Jack slicing.

Will Slicing.

Brock is trying to clean up the aftermath and he did a great job!

Just happy...

to be together.

Brock is a bit of a contortionist and Charlotte is impressed.

What a fun surprse this is! There is a bag for me and one for PawPaw! Can you tell which one goes to whom? Oh, and please keep this quiet. We really don't want to share with these pesky kids... uh, I mean sweet grandchildren! Thank you Cory and Christi!

Saturday Evening Post?

2011-06-27T21:34:00.000-07:00

A few days late, but...

Still preparing for GKC.

T Shirts!

New Mexico Mountain Retreat

Have you missed us?

General Maintenance

While not in the mountains...

Congratulations!

Just because...

DONE!

The Saturday Evening Post

And the winner is...

Annual Turkey Shoot

A Fun, Fun, Fun Day!

Today in the mountains

Boys.. Boys.. Boys..

Smart?

Friends and Family

Just another Saturday in the mountains!

After being away for a month...

Little Boys Like...

Saturday Evening Post: What is our newest project?

Saturday Evening Post

Saturday Evening Post - Carousels and Coasters

The Saturday Evening Post

So long... Farewell...

Our favorite season!

It's all about the food!

A new recipe to try!

Fall Foliage, Craigslist Coffee Table and Coyote Candle Company Cowhide

Saturday Evening Post

The Saturday Eveing Post

Saturday Evening Post

Labor Day Weekend

Staying busy...

Raspberry Picking Day!

All is well...

Saturday Evening Post

They Teach It at Stanford

The Saturday Evening Post

The Clouds

Blue Jays

Bear Claws and Raindrops

Where is it?

And the winner is...

Good News!

The Saturday Evening Post

48 Hours...

Leave a comment ...

It is finished!

We have had a fun and relaxing week!

Fulfilling a Request!

The Hummers

Projects

New Tire, New Grill, New Legos!

Saturday Evening Post - 7/23/11

Saturday Evening Post - late again!

Weekend Retreat

A few of our favorite things...

Saturday Evening Post

It is an active life!

Happy Birthday, Charlotte!

Just good clean fun, but such dirty clothes at the end of the day!

The old Favorites are back!

Cooking, Climbing and Cones!

Electronics and T-Shirts, Horses and Horse Pills, Crafts and Cooking and a Contortionist!

Saturday Evening Post?