Many happenings and a new place to call home!

Over the last few weeks we have done some traveling: Spring Arbor, Michigan, Mesa, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada and back to our new home in Desert Hot Springs, California.

Spring Arbor, Michigan was the celebration of education.  We actually flew from San Francisco, California to be with Paul's daughter Jennifer and attend her graduation.  She graduated, with Honors, from Spring Arbor University with a BA in music. This is one very talented young woman.  Her mastery of music is incredible! The celebration included her Uncle Robert, Grandmother Barbara, boyfriend Jason and many of her friends.  We shared meals, played video games on the TV, Apples-to-Apples, went swimming and had a wonderful time.   Her future plans at this point are undetermined, but we are sure that whatever she aspires to do, she will be a success!  

Proud dad

Congratulations!

After arriving back to Bethel Island, California, we packed up the rig and headed down Highway 5 through the desert, over the hills and mountains to Desert Hot Springs where we parked our rig, set up and  plan to stay for a while.  We accepted a job at Caliente Springs Resort [http://www.calientesprings.com/]. It will be hard to leave my daughters and new grandson, but in reality I'm only a few hours away instead of being on the other side of the U.S.   More on that later...

Kevin, Elizabeth and Gage

Ajim and Coren

Mesa, Arizona: We visited with my cousin Mary and her husband John.  It was great to spend time with them.  Great home-cooked meals, sharing memories, laughter and went to Fort McDowell Casino to play one of our favorite communal slot machines “Reel Em In” or as us four call it “Here Fishy, Fishy”.  While there we even had lunch with their son Kevin and his wife Josie and congratulated them on the announcement of a new addition who should be arriving next year.  They are expecting their first child and Mary and John couldn’t be happier at the prospect of being grandparents.  This comes bittersweet for them as Kevin will be accepting a job in New Zealand.  Sometimes this world seems so small with all the mass communications and super jets able to fly anywhere in the world but when your first grandchild is being born half way across the world, it can also seem too big!  We wish Kevin and Josie all the best on this new adventure and hope that Mary and John will be able to make a visit to see them in the future.

An old picture of Mary and John taken in 2010

Las Vegas, Nevada: We drove to Vegas to meet up with our friends Terri and James after our visit in Mesa, Arizona.  It was an uneventful drive through more barren desert and shrub-filled hills.  We crossed the new bridge at Hoover Dam.  It was a different experience from what I remember in the past.  The old road took travelers directly down to the dam where there were always crowds of people sight-seeing and traffic backing up as cars would stop in the middle to snap pictures and bikers would be pulling in to parking areas to don their helmets before entering Nevada.   Things sure have changed with the new by-pass bridge.  But, since Paul had never been to Hoover Dam we decided to do a little sight-seeing.  We turned onto the road leading back down to the dam.  It was amazing how much the creation of the new bridge changed the atmosphere of Hoover Dam.  Yes there are still tourists and a few bikers, but the crowds are much thinner and the awe of driving down the original road and seeing the dam as you come out of the hills has a different feeling.  We parked the car and as Paul put it “We strolled, skipped, walked and drove” over this majestic monument.  One thing we did notice is that the water is very low.  Not sure if this is due to "global warming" or if it's a natural occurrence for this time of year. Paul had to take a picture of the men's restroom latrines.  He said he had never seen any like them in all of his travels. One more thing crossed off his “Bucket List” (the Dam, that is).  I must say this, I was in complete awe of the new bridge when seeing it from down on the dam. It is massive and since I had visited many times in the past, I just could not help repeating to Paul how amazing the new bridge looked!    

View for the top of Hoover Dam

One more thing checked off the "Bucket List"

The new bridge

Latrines

Back to Las Vegas: The last time we visited Vegas was on our trek from Colorado to California.  It was in November and the weather did not cooperate at all.  It was cold, raining and very windy, and there was no chance of walking up and down the strip to enjoy seeing the lights or any of the outside shows.  This time was completely different, the weather was warm and sunny.  We watch the “Battle of the Sirens” outside of Treasure Island, the “Volcanic Eruption” at the Mirage and enjoyed the “Dancing Fountains” at the Bellagio and rode up to the top of the “Eiffel Tower” for a skyline view of the famous Vegas Strip!  Vegas never ceases to delight the senses as the street musicians play their music, the hawkers constantly try to give you flyers advertising “girls” for your pleasure and the giant lighted billboards advertise shows and meals at the various casinos.  It was good to spend some time with friends Terri and James and catch up on where life has taken us over the last few years.  We may not have come out “Big Winners” at the casinos but our latest travels proved once more that we are rich -- loving family and friends are priceless!

Terri and James

Paul and I at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Desert Hot Springs: We have planted ourselves in this small green oasis out in this desert wasteland to take jobs.  Paul will be the Assistant Manager at Caliente Springs resort and I will do Front Office, cleaning or anything else they can find to keep me busy.  The resort, actually two resorts, Caliente Springs and Sky Valley, are owned and have been operated by the Manthei family since the 1970’s. All of the Manthei family are very involved in running the Resort from dad Tim to daughters Christy and Rachelle and son Garrett.  They also have a few cousins, Adam, Austin and Luke helping to make this oasis in the desert a warm and welcoming place to live!  They are all very outgoing, friendly and diligent at keeping the resorts running smoothly with a focus not only on the business aspects but in keeping their guests and residents happy.  We are looking forward to this new adventure and hope to contribute our past experiences to enhance both resorts.   If you are ever in the Desert Hot Springs area, don’t hesitate to stop by for a visit and enjoy the warm relaxing mineral pools and spas, exercise room, a game of billiards, ping pong, shuffle board and wildlife.

View of the nearby mountains

Billiards anyone?

A daily visitor

Peeking out behind the RV

Relaxing pool and spa

I think that's all for our latest updates.  As we continue to explore this new area I’ll be sure to post our adventures.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jo


"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
— Confucius

From Mother’s Day to Mountains

It has been an exciting month since I last wrote on our blog.

BBQ and family gatherings started the weekend before Mother’s Day.  Paul grilled burgers, brats and some chicken legs and breasts on our two grills.  Homemade potato salad, some corn on the cob and we had a feast fit for kings!  My son happened to be in the area working which was a fantastic treat for me. It’s not often that I have the opportunity to have my children gathered together as they live all over this beautiful nation. The girls drove out from the San Francisco area, and my son made the trip from where he was working in Sacramento.  Being in a campground seemed to bring back some very fond memories of old childhood camp songs.  Listening to the laughter and friendly brother/sister teasing brought joy to my heart and a smile to my face.

Playing Wii games

Mother’s Day:  We gathered together again at my youngest daughter’s house.  She had prepared a “Mother’s Day Brunch” which would have put the fanciest restaurants to shame.  Two types of quiche, stuffed pancakes, yogurt and fresh fruit parfaits and enough snacking foods to get us through the 3 hours of playing different games on her Wii!  We danced, bowled, boxed, raced and laughed so hard our sides hurt!  Who knew you could do all that in a living room filled with the people you love most! It was a great Mother’s Day for me and the first official Mother's Day celebration for my daughter with her new baby who blessed our lives in February.   

Our family's newest blessing

A wonderful day spent with my children and grandson

Caliente Springs Resort

On to the mountains. We had planned on spending our summer in the beautiful pine treed Colorado Mountains, but we received a call from Caliente Springs Resort which is located very near Palm Springs, California.  They contacted Paul regarding a long-term position.  So we were off once again to explore a new area and possibly a new job. Life changes and sometimes its best not to question why, but to go with the flow!  Caliente Springs is a 55+ resort that offers many activities for the 55+ age group.  Not only are there four natural heated (volcanic) mineral spas and  two pools filled with the same natural flowing hot mineral springs, but also golf, tennis, a fitness room, shuffleboard and many groups to fill our hours including everything from cards games to quilting.  Of course, we had to spend one evening enjoying the relaxing hot bubbly spas and a dip in the warm pool for a swim.   It was marvelous!

Caliente Springs has a sister resort, Sky Valley.  Sky Valley is an all age group, and offers much of the same resources, mineral spas, pools, tennis courts, a restaurant, and activities. In the off-season (Summer) Paul would be Assistant Manager for both resorts. In the on-season (Winter) the work toll would be so high and the resorts filled to the max with snowbirds, that Paul would just manage the Caliente Springs Resort.  I would be working in the office and doing whatever they find for me to fill my days.  

Tram cables and towers

While in the Palm Springs area, we explored some of the desert, the surrounding city of Desert Hot Springs, the mountains and of course the casinos!   We did visit a couple of the many casino’s in the area and even came home with some of their money!  Now that’s a great way to feel good about a new adventure.  We also went up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the San Jacinto State Park which took us through four temperate zones within a 6000 foot, upward, ride! They say it's like going from the Caribbean beaches to the Canadian tundra in just 10 minutes.   The State Park offers novice hiking, a one and half mile loop with incredible views of the Coachella Valley to hiking for the expert hiker, a 12 mile round trip to the top of the second highest peak in southern California.   We shouldn't have been surprised  at the amount of snow still on the mountain; there can be up to a 40 degree difference in temperature from the Valley Station which is at 2,643 feet to the Mountain Station which is at 8,516 feet. 

Paul standing near the Cable car

Cable car going up as we descended

We plan on doing a lot of hiking up there and hopefully will spot the abundant wildlife that the Ranger spoke about.  Bluebirds, Bighorn Sheep, hawks, owls and Mule deer are just a few of the many animals that roam the mountain. The city of Palm Springs offers everything we will need from the big box retail stores such as Home Depot and Wal-Mart to small specialty shops where you can find those “one of a kind” creations!  Yes, we know it will be a HOT, HOT summer.  But, can you imagine a winter day when it's 60 or 70?  

A view of the San Jacinto Mountain Range

We also had the delight of Paul meeting up with his in-laws, Norb and Barbara, who graciously invited us to their home for dinner.  Barbara is a very amazing woman as she cares for her husband who is recovering from a very bad fall. She is full of good cheer and even shared some of her life experiences and stories with us.  She and Norb have lived in the Palm Springs area for many years and are sure to be a great resource of information as we head into this new part of our lives.

  

I never realized that so much of California is mountains!  If we weren’t driving up and down, we were gazing into the near and far distance in awe at the wonders of the majestic landscape.  For several hundred miles, without even a home in sight, just an occasional farm warehouse, we drove through acres and acres of fruit trees, crops of tomatoes, corn, lemons, oranges, even pistachio and almond trees.  The amount of food grown in this region is amazing and most don’t really give it much thought.  But after this last trip, it made me more aware and appreciate all the hard work that goes on before walking into the local market/store and picking up the food needed to feed ourselves.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jo and Paul




"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.
Delicious Ambiguity."
— Gilda Radner

A visit with our granddaughter Rio

It has been a very busy couple of weeks.  Planning a flight to Michigan for Paul's daughter's college graduation, mapping our road trip to our next workamping stop in Colorado, getting the RV and truck ready for the 1900 mile plus trip.

My granddaughter came to visit for a week.  She spent some time with my daughters and then some time with Paul and I.  We did Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, which was a rainy cold, windy day.  You could barely see the Golden Gate bridge.  The seals at Pier 39 where enjoying the weather a lot more then we were.   Off to have dinner at Bubba Gumps and then a night of making plans to visit Yosemite.

Life is like a box of chocolates!

The seals at Pier 39,
 San Francisco, California

It was a three hour drive up into the mountains that gave us some breathtaking sights!  We drove through fields of freshly planted crops, orchards of a lot of different fruit bearing trees, small towns and pastures filled with "Happy Cows".  After all, this is California, the place for happy cows as the television adverts tell us.

Making memories at Yosemite National Park

El Capitan and  Half Dome Rock

Yosemite has a natural beauty that can be found in things big and small, from the towering granite cliffs and giant sequoias to the smallest of wildflowers.  We spotted deer, squirrels and saw many different birds flying overhead. We climbed trails, roads and the rocky edges of waterfalls.  The waterfalls were at their peak as the cold winter snows have started to melt.  There were still walls of snow packed on the side of the roads, in some places it was at least 6 feet high.

Wildflowers on the road up to Yosemite

Paul served as an excellent tour guide and chauffeur, taking the time to stop every time I squealed "Oh, look at that!"  He even made it a point to make sure that the two days we spent in Yosemite took in as much as one can see for that short period of time.  We entered the park at the Big Oak Flat entrance and discovered that the entrance fee was waived as this was National Park Week.  Yea, no fees!    The next free days to visit the National Parks will be June 21, "The First Day of Summer" and September 24, which is "Public Lands Day".  Also free is November 11-13, which is "Veterans Day Weekend"   After the first day of exploring "Bridal Veil Falls", yes, we did get wet, we exited  the South Entrance past the Mariposa Groves.  We drove into the town Oakhurst to find a motel for the night.  One place that advertised vacancies looked much like the "Bates" motel from the old Alfred Hitchock movie.  We decided to pass on that one and make our way to a Comfort Inn.

On our second day, the weather warmed up and we were on our way to seek out the awesome sights of small creeks turned into massive waterfalls created by the melting snow.  We were not disappointed!    The road to the Mariposa Great Sequoias was closed to cars when we arrived, so we decided to hike it!  What would have been a 15 minute car ride turned out to be a 3 hour hike up the side of a mountain.  Worth every step.  We were about half way down when the road was fully opened to automobile traffic.  But the exquisite and stunning sights we saw would have been missed if we drove instead of hiking. My granddaughter took to climbing rocks and realized she had the freedom to venture out and discover the art of exploring.  This made me a little nervous and I watched her climb out of site, but my heart was in joy at seeing the smile on her face as she turned popped up from out of the rocks and waved to me.

Enjoying the waterfalls close up!

We left the park along the Merced River.  The river was in all it's glory, rushing over rocks and flowing freely down the mountain, fed by the numerous waterfalls and the warmed melting snow.

Precious time spent with a wonderful granddaughter

Yosemite never fails to leave me in a state of awe, it's beauty and wonder is there for all to see.  If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend a visit here.  But plan for a few days or even a week to really experience it majestic splendor.

Thanks for taking time to stop by our blog.  Hope you are enjoying our journey!

Jo

"Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space"  - Ansel Adams

Family visits

The past two weeks have taken us both traveling for family visits.  I went back to the mid-west to visit with a very sick friend and to spend some much needed time with my sisters and other family members.  As always, it's a delight to share old memories and create new memories to share in the future.

Paul traveled to the mid-west too!  His daughter Jennifer hosted her senior recital on April 5, 2011.  She played pieces from Mozart and Bach.  She also played, as her final song, " Carmen Fantasy on Themes from Bizet's Opera"   She is a very talented  flautist.  

Family, there is no other circle of life that will greet you with open arms and a warm smile to soothe whatever ache is in your heart.  Paul and I had great visits and are looking forward to doing more, together!

Jo

Thoughts and feelings

Am I concerned?

Yes, actually I am very concerned.

This is not my usual "happy" blog but, one that comes from my heart. I just feel the need to express a few concerns that I have.

With the way things are going in this present world, and especially over the last few weeks, how can I not be concerned?

The earthquake in Japan, followed by the Tsunami and then the Nuclear Reactor problems, has more then saturated my senses with a dense and dark sense of gloom and doom. Now, while sitting here in California, I am told not to worry about the minuscule amounts of radiation that currently is in the air I am breathing. A small amount today, tomorrow and next week seems to be much like filling a cup, a drop at a time.

My heart aches for those affected in Japan and across the world. I cannot begin to imagine the suffering they are dealing with on a day-to-day basis. The mere fact that I have uncontaminated food on my table, can flush a toilet after use or turn up the heat because I'm chilled, overwhelms me with feelings of sadness for the people suffering without these day to day necessities. My mind boggles that these are now luxuries to those that have lost everything. I can not imagine their suffering. 

As I watch the TV and read the news, we, as a nation are involved in bombing Libya along with the British and the French. The uprising in Yemen where people are killing their own countrymen leave me feeling that we are all doomed. I watch as it seems all the countries of the world, have began to take sides as they point fingers of accusations and fists of hatred towards each other. I have to wonder, are they using the media to fuel the fires of humanities destruction? 

Are we, the people of this beautiful planet we have named Earth, starting our own self-destruction? Or did it start long ago when we were just a few people, only to finally reached an explosive point much like that of a volcano? Will this be the end of humanity? I feel an emptiness in myself as I can only wonder.

I am sure my ancestors felt much the same way during World War 1 and World War 2, but at the same time cannot help feeling this is more threatening, more menacing and hostile then what we have done to others and ourselves in the past. How do we explain to our grandchildren the catastrophic casualties we are creating by our self-destructive decisions and behaviors for energy, oil, power, and wealth? How do I look my 8-year-old granddaughter in the eye and tell her that her future is tainted by nuclear fall-out from a power plant that is far across the ocean in a land she has probably never even heard about until last week. How do I not cry as I hold my newly born grandchild wondering if the air he is breathing has already planted trace amounts of cancer causing agents into his thyroid and lungs that will affect him many years down the road.  How do I face my children knowing that the decisions and actions of my generation may well be responsible for the demise of the earth as we know it?  Have we become so callus and cruel that we have forgotten how to care for each other?  What has happen to the human race?  When did life become expendable?

Where can I go to feel safe again? How do I get past the feelings of gloom and doom? The feelings of hopelessness that keep me awake at night and flood my mind in waking moments make me wonder if there will ever be peace in this world. When will I be able to enjoy life without these nagging demons reminding me of the turmoil in the world today?  Have we forgotten that life is fragile. All life! 

Here I am, 55 years old and I have never felt so besieged by feelings of vulnerability and helplessness. How do we continue in our day-to-day living, day to day working, following our usual routines and not feel the effects of what is happening?

Yes, I am concerned.

I am afraid. Not only for myself, but for those that I love. Not only for those I love, but also for those I've met on my journey in life.  I'm concerned for the complete stranger who is a thousand miles away from me.  I pray. I was taught by my parents to pray, especially when you are scared, worried or frightened, you pray. And right now, with the world in all it’s turmoil, it is the only thing I know to do.

We Conquered the Mountain!

Woke up in the morning to a slightly overcast grayish sky with the weatherman promising sunshine and warm temperatures.  Seemed like a perfect day to conquer Mount Diablo.  So with bikes on the truck, a few snacks and extra water, we were off.  

Getting there was a bit confusing.  Seems the GPS in the car didn't know where to go.  It insisted on taking us the long way around through Danville.  After a few deliberations, we found signs posting the way to the South Gate entrance.  The roads on the mountain are very narrow for a truck the size of ours and we realized we'd never be able to take our RV up this grand rock!  There are many hairpin turns, and steep cliffs.  The reason is very clear why there is a 15 mile per hour speed limit.  As you climb up to the summit there are turns that appear out of nowhere and if you happen to be speeding, you could easily go over the edge and find yourself several hundred feet down the side. While on the mountain, we spotted  a lot of mountain bikers struggling their way up with an effort that made my thighs hurt just watching them and others, flying down faster than most cars would be able to go and remain safe!  

One of the many ground squirrels

Here's looking at you kid!

A small waterfall

While on the mountain we did some of the Geocaches located there.  Here are a few of the many geocaches we did while on the mountain. 

"The Pillow Basalt"  Pillow Basalts form where two plates of the earth's crust were under water and moving away from each other.  Their blobby shape is characteristic of an underwater volcanic eruption.  It was really confusing to think that this rock could be located here as Mount Diablo is a mountain and not a volcano according to geologists.

Pillow Basalts rock formation

"Overlooking Livermore Valley"  had us running down the side of the mountain as it was so steep it was hard to walk.  Climbing back up was a chore and made me realize "I'm no spring chicken!"  This cache gave us beautiful view of the distance hills and cities below.

"Wind Caves" This is a stunning sandstone formation, also known as "Tafoni".  Although commonly referred to as "wind caves" the element most responsible for forming this creation is water.  Mount Diablo is probably only 2 million years old and these caves are estimated at only being a few hundred or thousand years old.  While standing this high above the valleys and outer hills, it made one wonder how this could have all been under water so many years ago and what changes will the future bring. 

A portion of the "Wind Caves"

We walked and explored different areas.  One that stands out most in my mind is Elephant Rock.  If you looked at the right angle, it actually looks like a Woolly Mammoth was frozen in time for all to see. 

Elephant Rock

Mount Diablo offers tent and very small, no larger then 20 foot, RV camping.  With an abundance of secluded camp sites one could feel they are all alone and on top of the world. 

Camping and picnic area

Interesting mossy rock that has been split over time

Interesting plant that seems to form it's own water pocket

As the sun was setting in the West, we made our way down to the North gate and home.  I'm looking forward to more hikes on Mount Diablo and can't wait to see what other discoveries we will make.  It was a great day and we "Conquered the Mountain!

Hope you enjoyed sharing in our adventure atop Mount Diablo.

Jo

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, 

Love like you'll never be hurt, 

Sing like there's nobody listening, 

And live like it's heaven on earth." 

William W. Purkey

Life

I have once again realized that Life has a way of moving forward and interrupting the best of intentions.


My intention, when I started this blog, was to write something every week, or at the most, every two weeks just to keep our followers up to date.  I really didn't think that weeks or months would go by without me posting a small tidbit about our RVing life and adventures.  But that's exactly what has happened


The reason could be, and probably is, twofold.  On one hand, since we are Work-Kamping, staying in one place until May and the weather has not been cooperating with warm temperatures and sunshine, limited our ability to go out hiking, and exploring has been very limited. It's tough to get out when it is raining cats and dogs and the temperatures hover near the 30's and 40's. So with that said, we haven't done much in the way of experiencing our surroundings.  I'm sure that will change with Spring on it's way with warmer temperatures and abundant sunshine!   And on the other hand, I've been spending a lot of time with my daughter.  One of the reasons for being in California was to be here for my daughter.  She was due with her first child in February.  How could I miss this exciting part of "Life"   Welcoming a new precious soul into the world! Being the mom that I am, I wanted to spend as much time as I could helping her prepare for the new little one.  With sewing sleeping gowns, making curtains, cleaning the house, helping with shelves and crocheting blankets, we had things together just in time.  My new grandson is here!  He put up a good fight with entering this world.  Seems "little boys never want to leave their momma's", quoted by one of the nurses at the delivery!  He weighed in at 8 pounds and is perfect in every way.  He is a delight to hold and cuddle and as Great grandma Pearl would do, I get all the "sugar" I can with kisses from his nose to his toes!  He has brought a new joy to my heart and proven once again the miracle of life. He is adorable and I'm not just saying that as a doting Grandma, see for yourself!

After much consideration, we have purchased bicycles.  We spent hours looking at different types of recommended bikes; road bikes, hybrids, flat foot bikes, and beach cruisers. We didn't need bikes for speed, and comfort was high on our list, so we decided on a pair of grayish colored Trek Hybrids.  The bikes are now outfitted with baskets, water cages and bells to alert any walkers that two old fogies are coming their way. We have done a little bit of riding here on the island and find them sturdy, easy to maneuver and very comfortable.  Now to share a few photos: a log cabin that is built on top of a big concrete garage and some of the furry creatures that live here.

Our future hope is that we will find the time and energy to explore Mount Diablo. Mount Diablo stands alone on the edge of Califonia's Great Central Valley. The Coast Range at this point consists only of low hills, none high enough to block the view from the upper slopes of the mountain. Several colorful yarns describe how the mountain got its name. The most popular account supposedly arose from an 1806 expedition of Spanish soldiers from San Francisco Presidio who marched into the area to do battle with the local Indians. In the midst of the fighting, a shaman clad in striking plumage appeared on the mountain. The Spaniards were convinced they saw El Diablo -The Devil- and quickly retreated. 

In 1851, Mt. Diablo's summit, long a landmark for California explorers, was established as the official base point for California land surveys. Even today, Mt. Diablo's base line and meridian lines are used in legal descriptions of much of California real estate. Toll roads up the mountain were opened in the 1870s and a fancy hotel was built. In order to make their California holiday complete, tourists of the time just had to climb Mt. Diablo and take in the majestic view.  In 1931, the upper slopes of Mt. Diablo were preserved as a state park. In more recent years, the lower slopes were added to the park, thanks in a large measure to the efforts of Save Mt. Diablo, a local conservation organization.  Today the park consists of some 19,000 acres of oak woodland, grassland and chaparral. Stands of knobcone and Coulter pine, as well as scattered digger pine, are found all over the mountain. 

That's all for now.  I hope to post more often, but please, don't hold me to that!  We are living life to the fullest and sometimes life becomes surprisingly busy and I struggle to find time to do creative writing for this blog.

Jo

What we call the secret of happiness is no more a secret than our willingness to choose life. ~ Leo Buscaglia