Happy Birthday to ME -- 62!!

Frustrated with this post!!  Can't figure out how to make corrections???

Fun in Colorado

Found a beautiful state park to camp near Eagle but the dirt road in was 5 miles long.  Not too bad n the motorcycle but shook the heck out of the RV.  Spent 3 nights there in absolutely beautiful surroundings.  Yellow aspens, great views.  Then found a very small camp area right on the Eagle River.  Closer to Jen and Derrick's, only one spot had a camper out of six spots.  So we headed over and found the park empty except for day use hikers and fishermen.  Near route 70 so there is some road noise but not bad and the price is right at $10 a night.  Had a nice dinner with Jen and Derrick at his parents' house.  Then on Friday, Jen brought chicken fajitas that we cooked here on the grill.  We had a lovely campfire and watched the stars come out and the crescent moon fall behind the mountain.  The daytime sky has had some haze due to fires in Wyoming. Oregon, and Montana.  But the night sky is clear with so many stars and the Milky Way shining.

Went on a bike ride up to Leadville, which is the highest city @ 10,200 ft.  Old downtown buildings from the 1880's.  Great mountain views on the ride up and back.  Stopped at the monument to WWII soldiers who did their mountain training here before heading to the mountains in Italy in 1944-45.

River rafting trip down the Colorado today with Jen and Derrick.  They have a great pontoon raft that is really comfortable and fun.  Hit a few small rapids but only got slashed a little.  The river was so beautiful with all the fall colors.  Had lunch on a small beach and hiked up to see a deserted homestead built from Railroad timbers.  Saw a couple coal trains and one Amtrak passenger train go by.  Took some pics for Colty.  Peaceful evening, reading and relaxing.

On a farm in Nebraska!

My Sunday morning surprise was I have another grand dog.  Wendel (Andy & Cathie's French Bulldog) got a new brother.  Cute as a button!  His name is Winston.  I predict sibling rivalry for sure as I think Cathie's lap is only big enough for one dog and I do not think Wendel is into sharing!  

Long day of driving past many, many corn fields lead us to the Stony Fork Vineyard in Ogallala, Nebraska.  No wine here - they just grow the grapes.  Farm is right off Route 80 -  got to post some pics-- there's an old rusted out 1950 Chevy, a baby blue 54 or 55 Ford pick up and lots of animals.  When we arrived the Mr. drove up in a topless Honda Accord with no doors to greet us.  It's the wife's car for driving thru the vineyards.  Pretty cool!  So I took lots of pics for the grandkids to see the chickens, a crowing rooster, several kitties, a black and white bunny, several goats, a llama, a big draft horse, a mother horse and her colt, 2 Border Collies and a peacock.  Mick picked up a couple peacock feathers, too.  Beautiful sunset, peaceful and perfect weather.  Got to go out to check out the stars.  Tomorrow we arrive in Edwards, Colorado.  Good night all!!

On the Road Again!

Back on the road after a summer of grandkids, weddings in Michigan and Hawaii, camping in 101 degree heat at Lakeport and 90's on the Outer Banks at Camp Hatteras, North Carolina.  

Andy and Cathie had a beautiful outdoor wedding on a balcony at the Casino on Belle Isle.  Jeff and Becky also were married outside to the sound of the ocean waves at Kona by the sea on the Big Island of Hawaii.  So nice to see the love they share and be part of the festivities.

We enjoyed all the time we got to spend with the grandkids in Michigan, Hawaii, and North Carolina.  Had fun swimming and throwing rocks in the water with Griffin and Colton on Lake Huron.  I loved hitting my favorite Hapuna Beach with Willie and Hiku in Hawaii. And we really had fun and great food with Brody and Ella on the Outer Banks.  The Ferry ride was cool, going on the Cape Hatteras Ferry to Ocracoke.  Ella would not let Bapa pull her tooth even though he tried bribing her with a bonus $5.  

After we left North Carolina, we headed up the East Coast into Virginia.  Spent a night at the First Landing State Park and visited the Edgar Casey Foundation in Virginia Beach.  He was able to diagnose and heal people telepathically and all his readings are recorded in a huge library there.  He was ahead of his time using alternative therapies to heal.  Then we headed to New Jersey to visit my old favorite childhood beach at Avalon, New Jersey.  Also had a chance to have dinner with my cousin Russ and his son Shawn.  So good to see him after almost 40 years.  Stayed 2 nights at DiMatteo Winery in New Jersey.  Then on to Pennsylvania to visit Aunt Rene who is 91.  She just moved out of her house into a very nice apartment in a senior center.  Stayed at Wycombe Winery near Ambler, PA.  Learned a lot about wine making, loved their wine and brought some home to share.  They had a delicious dandelion wine made from the yellow flower petals.   So glad we joined Harvest Hosts so we can stay at farms and wineries when we are on the road instead of Walmart parking lots.  Much prettier, quieter and more fun meeting the owners and sampling the wine!  

Back in Davisburg, Mickey helped Patrick reroof the pole barn this spring.  They just finished an enormous play structure that should keep the boys happy and busy till they are in their teens!  Chanda and Pat and the boys are finally settled into the house so we can travel without worrying about grass cutting or snow shoveling!  Yeah!!

Now that all the kids are back in school, we are heading to Edwards, Colorado to visit with Jennifer and Derrick (I will be meeting them soon).  Can't believe Griffin started Kindergarten, Colton is the only one not in school yet!  Brody is in 5th grade, Ella in 1st, Willie in 3rd, Hiku in 1st, Jesse is still homeschooling and just turning 14, and Matthew is a senior.  Wow!!  We are blessed with healthy, happy, beautiful grandkids.

Just got sad news before we left that one of Chanda's close friend's baby girl, Amie, who is almost 2 was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had surgery on Friday.  It is a cancerous tumor so she will have to start chemotherapy in 2 weeks.  She is such a darling child, I cannot believe this is happening.  She was just visiting with her sister and they were all playing on the new play structure last weekend.  Now this!  So we are praying and sending her positive healing thoughts.  And trying to wrap our heads around the crazy, awful things that happen for no good reason! 

So we left Davisburg on Friday afternoon and drove across the state to Indiana.  We tried to camp in a state park near Lake Michigan but it was over an hour wait to see if we could even get in so we left and spent the night in a Walmart Parking lot near Michigan City, Indiana.  Left there this morning and drove over 400 miles to Stuart, Iowa just west of Des Moines.  This afternoon we stopped at Dale Valley Winery and got to enjoy some wine and music.  They had a guitar player with a great voice and delicious wine.  The place is beautiful with the winery in an old school house, rolling hills, and a beautiful sunset.

Mickey is snoozing after a long day of driving.  tomorrow we head thru Iowa on route 80 to Nebraska.  Heading to South Fork Vineyard in Ogallala, NE.  No wine, they just grow the grapes, but it will be a good stopping point after 425 miles on the road.  I hope to do some driving to give Mick a break.  I am usually in a semi comatose state unless there is something on the radio that keeps my interest.  

Today there was a show on NPR about research on the skills that differentiate people who have a GED from those with a high school diploma.  An economist has been researching this for 10 years.  The important differences are called non-cognitive skills or social skills or even personality traits.  They include self-control, self regulation, impulse control and the ability to delay gratification.   Kids in poverty suffer from stress that impacts their brain development and affects these skills.  Studies have shown that attachment parenting especially in early childhood helps the brain develop these traits, but that even in the teen years they can be developed with mentoring or training.  Even a few sessions in middle school or high school can help teach teens better coping skills that will help them stay in school and succeed in college.   The US has a horrible rate of college drop outs.  One of the worst in the world, so this research may help more kids stay in school.  

Tutu's Times Welcome!!

Just found this blog that I started a long time ago after I took a tech class for school.  My life has changed so much now that I am retired and traveling with the love of my life!Hi This is my new Blog. I am getting to be a techy granny. I hope we cabn use it to talk online for the whole family to have contact and enjoy.

LOVE TUTU