February 2014

February is incredibly busy…… We started with Mike’s 67^th birthday
and the Super Bowl both on the same day! 
Go Mike and Go Seahawks!

We had a “Tail Gate” party…and a Bocce ball tournament. 
Unfortunately Mike and I lost….but we had a bunch of fun on the way.

We had a Ladies Pearl Luncheon…… fun and the pearls were beautiful!

Just a few days later Mike rode his bike 100 miles in the Tour de Palm Springs.

He did so well.  He amazes me how he keeps himself so “in fit.”

My sister Jeri was in town and I’m so glad I got to see her and her husband
while they were here enjoying the sunshine!

We went to the Indio performing Arts Center and saw a performance of “Honky Tonk” ….
 A live rendition of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline’s music.  A great performance!

The Topless Cruise had a fun outing.  We went to a local race track under construction.

This race track is not for people to go and watch others race…..it is to go and race your own car . 
We took all of the topless cars around the track a few times.
 (Mike really liked that)

After a tour of the race track……. We drove to Desert Hot Springs and toured the
Cabot Pueblo Museum.  Cabot Yerxa built this incredible house in the early 1900’s. 
He dug two wells……one cold water well and another well less than 100 feet away
that is a hot water well…… this house was built very
close to the San Andreas fault…. All built by hand.

The middle of the month, we went with a group of motorhomers to Lake Havasu City for a Fireworks festival.  It was so great to spend some time with Pat and Rollie. 
They are loving Lake Havasu and are incredibly happy there.  One afternoon,
Pat and Rollie took us out on their patio boat around the lake.  Fun day on the water!

Mike and Rollie went off roading one day and I went out with Mike the next day.
(both days with a group)  This unusual rock formation is called the Eye of the Needle.

Five evenings were filled with amazing fireworks.  The weather was
great and the fireworks were even better.

We went to the “Desert Bar” a very eclectic bar built way out in the desert…only open
on Saturdays and Sundays…….no electricity….very unusual.

We ended our trip with a great barbecue at Pat and Rollie’s place. 
We had such a good time!!

Back in Indio…..our next Topless Cruise took us to Joshua Tree National Park.

At the Keyes overlook, we were able to look to the Salton Sea.

What a great day.

We had a fun evening with Paul and Vickie Williams while they were in the Coachella Valley….
and the Bethlehem Party at the resort was fun – as always.

Returning from my bike ride, I noticed how incredibly beautiful and colorful Outdoor Resort is. 
This is the most beautiful place to spend the winters……

I love it here!

January 2014

2014 already…….Time is flying by at an amazing rate.

We continue to Jeep….Mike more than me. 
Off roading is one of Mike’s passions.

Our second “Topless Cruise”  - Many thanks to Fred and Paddy for
loaning us their BMW Z4 for the rides…….. So much fun!

Mike took his annual trip to Oregon to golf at Bandon Dunes with our boys. 
This year, while Mike was gone, I drove over to Lake Havasu to see Pat and Rollie.

The weather was great – we spent one afternoon at the car races.

That evening we went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival Night Glow.

The balloons were awesome……and really BIG!

While I was in Lake Havasu City….Mike was enjoying time
with the fellas at Bandon Dunes.

My passion continues to be quilting……This year several of us gals took the
bus over to the “Road to California” which is Southern California’s quilt show. 
Thousands of quilters and tons of magnificent quilts.  We had an outstanding day!

Our third “Topless (Convertible) Cruise” brought us to a gorgeous
Orchid farm located in the middle of the desert in a
very remote location.  What a great find.

We also stopped at “Pioneer Town” built to be used in the movies –
also in the desert.  Thanks to Kim and Alice for the use of their convertible.

Our friend Sheri Rand owns these two adorable Westies…..Nikki and Maddie.

Sheri and I take these two sweeties on Tuesday mornings, to the hospital radiation area,
where patients can enjoy them while waiting for their radiation treatments.

Nikki and Maddie remind me so much of Stoli……I still miss Stoli.

One of my bike rides took me out to PGA West. 
Beautiful ride in a beautiful area.
This is such a great place to spend the winter.

December 2013

What a beautiful ORI Christmas tree this year…….

At Outdoor Resorts, we have an annual toy drive at Christmas time.  This year we donated 100 bicycles, (all with helmets) and hundreds of presents to the Indio Fire Department who distribute them to needy kids locally.  We have a big party (admission is a toy) and a lot of warm fuzzy feelings at giving to the kids.

Mike has a new car!  Well – not really.  We have friends who went home for the holidays.  Our friends are the organizers for the ORI “Topless” group.  (Convertibles)

Our friend asked Mike if he would lead one of their runs and Mike could use his car for the run!   Well – WOW!  We drove our friend’s BMW on a fabulous day trip to Temecula, CA.  What fun buzzing along in the sunshine in this great little convertible!

FUN – FUN – FUN  !!!

Off roading in the desert, we came upon a well-kept little cabin- in the middle of no where!  It had a concrete “house” – no roof, doors or windows, a clean little patio, even a little cactus garden with a solar light, and an American Flag.

The evenings are beautiful…..and a little cool – but I guess it is winter.

Christmas is finally here.  Mike is having fun with the ribbons and the grandkids!

We spend The Christmas holidays with Marc and Brandon in the Portland, OR area.  We had so much fun.  The grandkids are growing so fast.  

Our entire family all together for Christmas.  What a great crowd. 
(Colby – I can see in the picture that you are taller than me  L )

We want to wish all of our friends and family a Happy and Healthy New Year!

What kind of great places will we find on our travels in 2014?

November 2013

 We started out November in St. George, Utah…….at a Jeep Rally.

My favorite part of Jeeping is the beautiful sites we have seen in the desert.
I especially love the slot canyons.

They are cool, calming, restful and oh so beautiful.

We found this slot canyon southeast of St. George in Nevada.

This big fella just watched us pass by……He was very close.

The winds have hardened the blowing sand and left these unusual formations.

On the last day of the rally, Mike led 30 Jeeps on an incredibly beautiful trail.
We drove through the waters of the Virgin River 28 times.

The day was so beautiful and we had a great time.

We are back at ORI now.........

I finished this quilt this month.  I love it – It is one of my favorites!

The black swan has returned……He is in our pond this year.

He is so beautiful.

We had a tree decorating evening……with a visit from Santa.

Our resort is collecting bicycles and toys for “The Spark of Love”
So far we have collected 100 bicycles for needy kids in the Coachella Valley.

A Jeep off roading trip took us to these ruins – It must have been where the miners lived back in the gold rush days.  There were two graves and mine sites nearby.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with some of our great friends.
We enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner at the clubhouse early in the day.
In the evening, friends came over to our place for sandwiches and
apple pie with ice cream….. YUM!

We want to wish all of our friends and family a Merry Christmas.
Our hope is for everyone to spend the holidays with the ones you love.
We wish for health and for peace………

October 2013

 Yes – California was calling me and it is beautiful….warm and sunny here!

Can you believe it?  Yes on rare occasion, I drive the motor home……I’m driving
our home down the highway.  40 feet of motor home, 15 feet of Jeep and
5 feet of towing mechanism.  YIKES!  It gives me a real appreciation of all
the driving Mike does! 

Indio Here we come!

Days after we arrive in Southern California……..Our refrigerator goes out!

Bummer - Bad Luck!

Mike works miracles…..He replaced our electric, gas, battery motorhome refrigerator with a residential electric fridge.  Below the fridge is our furnace making finding a fridge that would fit difficult……..but we found one.  Mike and our neighbor Kim Hansen removed the old fridge, and installed the new fridge…..all through the door!
(no removing the windshield like most folks have to)
I love my new refrigerator!

With all of the sunshine and 90 degree weather, my nasturtium seeds came
up in just days.  They love the sun!

We got everything set up in Indio and then we took off for 11 days. 
St. George Utah – an incredibly beautiful area.  The weather is cooler
than Indio but still sunny.

When we get to St. George……..Our washing machine goes out!

Bummer – More bad luck!

But we got a new Washer / Dryer in just a matter of days.

Mike’s back has been bothering him for quite a while…….It is getting worse and so we go shopping for a new mattress. (This is becoming an expensive month)  Found a great one in St. George so we had it delivered the same day the new washer came.  I am glad to say that after only five days….Mike’s back is much better!  The new mattress was a good thing!

We are in St. George Utah for a Jeep Rally.  Great time with great friends. 

There are almost 200 people at this rally (95 Jeeps) with trail runs going out every day.  This was a trip where we crossed a beautiful waterfall.
The fall colors and awesome scenery make this such a beautiful area.

We celebrated my 66^th birthday with our outstanding friends.  

Another day out on a trail shows us amazing views.

I know I’ve said this before but here it goes again – Utah is my favorite state!

The red rocks and incredible mountains.......

What a great fall we are having.

September 2013

September started beautifully…. We made a day trip to Kah-Nee-Tah RV
resort to spend Saturday of Labor Day Weekend with Brandon, Karen,
Ben and Anna and their friends.  Warm - Sunny - couldn’t have been nicer!

Back in Sunriver, the deer were enjoying the beautiful weather.

Mike and his friend Perry were able to take in an Oregon State Beaver
football game in Corvallis, OR.  The Beav’s won!

We made a trip to Vancouver, WA and stayed with Brandon and Karen. 
We went to Ben’s football game.  Anna is on the Gymnastics team
and is becoming quite the performer!

We drove up to the Dalles (on the Columbia River) where Karen’s dad lives. 
Karen introduced us to “Letter Boxing”.  It’s very much like geo-caching but
easier for the kids.  It was much like a treasure hunt.
 In this picture, we stopped in Mosier to do some letter boxing
and for an ice cream cone!

And of course in the Dalles local pub for a brewski at the end of the day!

Next day Ben had a baseball game.  Gee Whiz – These kids keep busy!

I made a quilt to hang over Anna’s bed in her newly recolored bedroom!

We were so happy to see Tom and Linda West in Bend. 
Spent a few hours visiting!

Remember that beautiful sunny start to September? 
Well – the weather changed and now it’s rain.  Time to leave Central Oregon.

We packed up the motorhome and headed to Marc and Maria’s to stay
with Camryn and Colby while Marc and Maria were out of town.

Colby had a “Fun Run” at his school and we went to watch  (in the rain)

Camryn plays soccer for a Portland Team and we went to two of her games.

(in the rain)

Colby had a football game (also in the rain)

We also went to a friend’s football game (once more in the rain)

This is how much we love our grandkids!

Did I mention that it poured and the wind blew and the lights went out briefly. 
I hear Indio California calling my name…….It is saying "Janet – Come to the sun !!"

This morning – we are on our way!