Breakdown in Arizona

We decided to get out of the heat (forecast 112 degrees), so we headed up through the Phoenix area toward Payson and the White Mountains. About 20 miles out of Payson on the Beeline Highway, the truck just stopped. 6 hours later, we had been towed into an RV park in Fountain Hills (where it was only 106 degrees) and the truck was taken to the Chevy dealership. After 2 1/2 days, we were able to get back on the road and up in the cool pines. This picture of Denny was taken while we were mountain biking right along the Mogollon Rim.....like...... on the edge! It was beautiful, and we had a relaxing time hiking, biking, reading, exploring. Now we are back in the heat but at least we had a little break.

Summer Fun with the Grandkids

Staying close to home in the summer isn't all bad. We had such fun with the kids and grandkids. Brian and Chandra and family were here for three weeks, and we had a chance to get to know our grandchildren from California much better. We miss them now! We wish they lived closer. Here are a few of my favorite pics:

Being Held Captive by Grandma! Help!

Well, we have had five of the grandkids with us this week. Last week we went camping with Brian and Chandra and their four ages 4, 6, 8, 10. Caitlin came along also. This week we are on our own with those same five. We are very thankful for videos, popsicles and the swimming pool! We used playground chalk to make pictures of igloos on the concrete driveway (in 103 degree heat!). We have played in the sprinklers, visited the Children's Museum, and today we made hot pretzels in all kinds of fun shapes! Denny has decided if he were to take a job as a Nanny he would charge a lot of money!

Night Blooming Cereus

We have these two dead looking cactus, called night blooming cereus in our front yard, far up near the fence, in a very inaccessible spot. Each year they bloom just once in the dark of night. This year we have 10 blooms. It is pretty awesome!

Cody Promoted from 8th Grade to High School

Can you believe it? Cody just finished middle school and will go to high school next year. He is our oldest grandchild, and we are so very proud of him. This is a kid who has survived leukemia and all the associated physical complications in his short life. He is a survivor, and he is our dear grandchild, and we just feel so very blessed...

Retirement Isn't Always Fun!

Well, we enjoy retirement, but you should know about the bees......
We have been fighting bees in our gables for over a year. We have tried everything we know. They just like our house! We have taken everyone's advice and tried every remedy that we know of. Any ideas? Here is Denny up on the top of a ladder spraying them with wasp and hornet foam,hoping they will get annoyed and leave!

A Quick Getaway to California Coast

We decided last minute to help drive Joni as far as Ventura (HWY 101) on Sunday. We wanted to get her through LA traffic, and we knew once she was on 101 she would be fine. We took the fifth wheel and parked at Emma Woods State Beach, intending to take a bike ride the next day. Brian, Chandra and the kids surprised us with a quick visit, and we were able to play in the water and go out to eat at Joe's Crab Shack.
There was a very odd odor at Emma Woods when we were trying to park. We got kind of busy parking and forgot about it somewhat, but it was very pervasive, and as the wind changed, it got much worse. We soon found out there was a dead Elephant Seal on the big (as big as a horse!). It was a terrible smell. We found out that California has decided they cannot afford to dispose of such dead sea creatures, so it had been on the beach for 10 weeks! We commented to the campground host that he should tell people before they take those camp spots. He said, "Believe it or not, the smell has gotten a lot better!" Well, we had a great bike ride (34 miles.....) went to Santa Barbara and looked around in the evening, and then headed back to Tucson.