Wreaths Across America, Eric's house, visiting Bryan, cleaning and baking day!

We had a nice drive Saturday to Dixon, CA and getting off the freeway it was really backed up from the cemetery.  They had us enter at the area we usually leave from..hmmm. Parked us quite a ways from the usual area.  The volunteer who parked us apologized for us being parked so far out and then he said "We've got way too many people".  More people than we've ever seen.  Nice there's so many patriotic Americans!  This probably will be our last year of being there on Wreaths Across America, but we'll go visit during the Christmas season after the wreaths are laid.  It's so gorgeous. Even here at the smaller National Cemetery in Fernley, NV they said they had way too many people also.  When Daddy and Mom were buried there in 2010 there were only 8,000 graves. Now there's over 35,000! 

People! 

Flags at half staff in honor of George H W Bush..

So many volunteers...

We've seen this Marine every year..in hearing his story we
figure him to be at least 85 years old.

So cool! 

The plate..meaning he loves America!

Niece Tasha and her mom Wendy..

Jesse, diane and Ken 

Starting the placing of the wreath..

the wreath but needs to be adjusted..

My momma...

It's always very emotional for my sisters and me going to visit mom and daddy.  Diane, my sister in law, grew up with us and it's emotional for her as well.  She is actually the one who came up with the epitaph on Daddy's headstone :) Her son, Jesse was with my mom until he graduated high school, so he loved them both. 

Ken, Jesse and Diane

My Daddy...

My mom loved pigs..so Tasha brought one out..

Diane

Amazing how fast the wreaths are placed

Boxes and boxes of wreaths..

Beautiful wreaths..

Our nephew Michael...

Love the way it looks with all the wreaths...

Heading out..

Afterwards we parted ways and headed back towards Eric's house.  On the way up we stopped at Edelweiss Restaurant in Auburn and had lunch.  When we lived in Colfax we were there most every weekend for breakfast. Good as ever! 

We got to Eric's in the afternoon and enjoyed visiting with them.  They planned on fajitas for dinner and OH they were awesome.  Afterwards I was helping with the dishes and Ken said Eric had started a fire outside.  OH Boy!  Ken, Eric and I had a great time with the fire and a prolonged Happy Hour! haha. Seth visited a while and so did Mason. It was 0115 when we went to bed. 

Sunday morning we were awake about 0700.  Had our coffees and computing and then checked inside the house.  We got ourselves ready and then I went to make breakfast for the boys.  I had brought breakfast burritos which got ate and then I made pancakes because the boys like them. 

We said our goodbyes and then headed for Bryan's and got there about 1000.  Had a nice, but short visit with Bryan, Cheryl and Adam.  Exchanged presents and off we went. We headed out and drove up highway 50.  Stopped for gas near Polluck Pines and Ken discovered a nail in the left rear tire..so we pulled over to a parking lot and he changed it pretty quickly.  

A nice drive to Minden so we stopped about 1330 and had lunch at CVI. No Carmen on the weekends but still good. I always have the Five Alarm Burger but with a turkey patty and no bun and I ate 4 fries.  Figure that's not too bad. No dinner for either of us last night. :) 

We got home and saw Karen and John had a fire going, so we ended up over there for a bit. work night for John so we left about 1830. It was an early night with me falling asleep on the couch.  Made it to bed fairly early. We were both tired after that late night with Eric. 

Monday morning found me awake before 0400.  I waited until 0500 or so to start the coffee.  Visiting with friends online.  After we got going, Ken took the tire to Carson City and I cleaned the house.  Then it was time to get started on some baking and making some munchies to take to Ken's mom's house tomorrow.  It's her 91st birthday so we're heading back over the hill for the night.  WE'll be home Wednesday after a stop at Walmart to do some shopping for Christmas cooking. Wow time flies.  Looking forward to some down time in Parker, AZ right after Christmas. 

Ham, turkey, cheese wreath for Grandma's tomorrow..

Ken's banana bread

3 ingredient chocolate chip cookies for my sweet tooth..

Out of the oven..yummy...

Have a good night!! 

We're in Cool, California for a couple of days...

Good morning all from Cool, CA.  We headed over yesterday after a nice week at home, barring the day we went to lunch and running around.  Had our neighbors over Thursday night for a nice fire outside.  Just love looking at the lights on the bunkhouse and outhouse.  

We've made some changes to our plans in January.  We'll be in Parker, AZ for New Years and then we'll head back our way slowly, stopping at Death Valley, NP for a couple of days.  We're pretty sure we've sold the Money Pit to a friend of ours who knows this truck. We'll work on getting it over to him once we're home. 

We then will regroup and head south to spend time with our blogging friends near mid January. After that we're not sure, but it looks like Tennessee will happen after Ken's eye appointment March 6th.  As we all know plans are subject to change!! 

Getting ready this am to head for Wreaths Across America in Dixon, CA.  We've participated in this event almost every year since 2011. Both of my parents are buried there along with our nephew, Michael. Time to get a move on, but thought I'd do a quick blog.  With any luck they'll be pictures this evening. 

Heading home tomorrow after dropping off gifts at our oldest son's Bryan's house.  Yesterday we delivered to Russell's and stopped my dear friend Joanie's to drop off gifts for her great grandkids.  We missed her though :( but the gifts were dropped. Now we're in the Jayco at Eric's here.  Santa's job will be done early this year! Yay! 

Got some pics on the camera, but still in the truck and it's too dark to get it..hahah..Later! 

Eric and the boys went last weekend to get their tree so i stole these from Facebook...

Eric's truck in the icy area

Looks dangerous to me...icy!

Seth and Mason..

They always look for a Charlie Brown treee..This one looks
pretty good to me! 

A quick catch up...

Gosh darn time sure flies in December!  So let me catch up a bit.  Last Wednesday Ken changed the oil in the orange Patriot.  We've had the 4 WD Patriot 3 years now, so warranty is up.  We were trying to get it up to close to 36,000 just in case anything popped up. It's a really good car and we haven't had any issues, so hoping it stays that way.  

Thursday we were basically caught up and it was too darn cold to be outside we headed for Carson City.  I had something to pick up at Kohl's and wanted to go to Ross for a few things so it was a good day to get it done. We finished and headed over to CVI and our favorite waitress, Carmen for a late lunch/dinner before heading home.  

On our way to Carson City

Snow is mostly gone

Friday was a wrapping day!  Waiting on 2 more gifts this week and DONE for this year.  

Saturday we were home until a little before 1700 when we headed into town for their 2nd Annual Parade of Lights.  I didn't take my camera, but next year will for sure!  Once it was done we headed back to the house and a fire in the backyard.  Highs have been running in the high 30's and once in awhile low 40's.  Very cold!  So we hung out near the fire until a little after 2100.  It looks so nice out there with the lights on and the fire. 

I loved all the lights on this one!

Gingerbread house

This was one of the churches floats..
The manger scene and a beautiful cross

Inside the bunkhouse looking out :)

The fire was so nice and looking at the lights just made us smile ;)

Sunday morning we slept in until about 0600 and then started our day as usual! Visiting with our friends online and seeing what everyone is up to! Breakfast and then some general cleaning and the day has flown again. Decided it's time to get this blog done! Ken's out front bar b quing some chicken and a turkey burger for dinner. I'll make sides inside the house haha..We made it to 35 degrees today ...brrrrrrr. Have a great evening! 

Owen, his Great Grandpa Pat, Cassidy..
Dusty, His Dad, Bobby, Chelsea and Auntie Vickie
Happy 87th Birthday Pat!!

Happy Birthday to my little sister! Carson City and a generator! Seth went to MEPS and was sworn in!

First off, Happy Birthday to my baby sister, Linda!  Love you lots sissy dear! There are very few pics of her now, so I'm going backwards a bit! 

Linda on the hood of her first car..

As a baby with our Oma..over in Austria

She's the one holding the Partridge Family Album which she
still has!

Last night's lights lit up..

Our little dusting of snow.  

Monday was a stay at home day.  I worked on getting Christmas gifts wrapped. I used to be quick, not anymore but I'm getting there.  It was cold so we had a fire going all day.  

Ken worked on the lights on the bunkhouse and outhouse.  Looks so cute now. I had Hallmark Christmas movies on so later on I found him relaxing in the bunk house. My movies don't thrill him LOL.

We walked over to Karen's to take pictures of the car that they bought for John's daughter in Oklahoma.  They've decided to sell it and get her another one instead. I offered to post it on the FB website as she doesn't do Facebook. We had a quick visit and then back home. 

Nothing too exciting for dinner so we just grabbed what we could. Some TV and then off to bed. 

Grandson, Seth left home at 0330 Monday  to meet his recruiter and head to downtown Sacramento for MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). He spent the day going through physical exams and other things.  Sometime in the afternoon he was sworn into the United States Marines! So far there is no picture of this as he was supposed to call his dad, Eric but didn't have time. There is another swearing in before boot camp so hopefully they'll be pictures then!  His leave date for boot camp is August 26th with a graduation date of November 22nd.  Our son Russell had a leave date too, but they called him sooner so we'll see.  Very proud of our Marine Recruit! Looks like we'll all be in San Diego next November for sure!


Tuesday morning I was awake about 0400 and waited until 0500 to get coffee for Ken.  Cold, cold morning.  About 0630 we noticed that we had a dusting of SNOW! So pretty!  

On our way to Gardnerville  the mountains looked so pretty..

We had our breakfast and got ourselves ready to go.  We were heading to Gardnerville to pick up Ken's chain that he had sharpened for the chainsaw. Then over to Carson City to get a new chain for the saw, Ahern didn't have it so we found it at Home Depot.  A quick stop at Dollar Tree and Marshall's.  WE then headed over to Nevada Power Tools to spend some money on a new generator.  We love our Honda 2000, it's 13 years old and the rope broke and some starting issues.  So we bit the bullet and got a brand spanking new Honda 2200. Won't run the air conditioner but it does everything else we need when we're camping. Then off to our favorite Chinese place for a warm lunch and then home. We killed another day! 

Now we're sitting here watching it snow! It's so pretty and Christmasy looking! 

Our son Bryan (third from the right standing in the first row) and his team at work
participated in NO SHAVE NOVEMBER supporting men's
health.  Group pic of these handsome guys with their mustaches.

Youngest son Russell participated too! He put together a
little collage..middle pic is now, he's clean shaven once again!

Tomorrow looks like another day at home and getting things done. Getting close to Happy Hour Time! Have a good night everyone!

Happy Birthday to my Hubby! A nice surprise in the mail and finally my wine delivery!

A couple of days ago Ken brought the mail in and it was something from Amazon. Now I order stuff, especially at Christmas, but knew I hadn't ordered from there.  Opened it up and there were 3 Chris Stapleton CD's. When Eric and the boys were here a in November Eric, Seth and I were out back with the fire going and listening to Chris Stapleton.  Eric told Christina about it, and she ordered the CD's and had them sent here.  Very sweet surprise.  

Our 3 Chris Stapleton CDs

My Happy Camper bracelet from Bryan and Cheryl :)

Love this wall hanging from Bryan and Cheryl..will find a
wall in the Jayco for this :)

Last weekend we got a email from Revelwine and it was order 12 bottles for 50% off.  Woohoo too good of a deal to pass up! Usually it comes Fed EX on Tuesday.   Got a message it was coming, waited and then nothing. Finally Thursday afternoon it was delivered.  You have to have someone over 21 sign for it so it meant staying home until it was here. Oh my is that good wine. No added anything to it, and so it's considered organic. I have to thank my doctor for that one!! I haven't ordered in awhile, but it's my favorite! So worth waiting for!!

I was talking with Owen and Chelsea at Thanksgiving about my favorite Christmas movie so we ordered it for him.  Got it in the mail yesterday. Hope he likes it..an oldie (1984) but a goodie! 

Owen with The Night They Saved Christmas :)

Yesterday, December 1st was Ken's 67th Birthday!  He got lots of phone calls and FB greetings (even though he doesn't have FB).  We decided to take a run to Carson City to pick up the Tundra tire he dropped off at Discount Tire the other day.  It had a slow leak and needed repair, but they were so busy it was going to take at least 4 hours to fix so a return trip needed.  

Even though this pic is a few years old..my favorite of Ken and Russell..67 doesn't
look too bad :) He hasn't changed a bit!

My mostly veggie pizza (someone thought I needed a little
meat on top) broccoli crust..

Ken's spaghetti squash crust pizza with lots of goodies..

Off to the city, Tire fixed and for no charge, even though we hadn't bought the tire there. Target for a pick up of a Christmas gift.  Ross for some more shopping for some special kids we like to help out with at Christmas.  Headed over to Gardnerville for a stop at Ahern to pick up a sharpened chain saw chain and to buy a new chain...oh oh they closed at noon! Darn!  Walmart for some groceries and then to Linner at CVI.  It was 1400 when we got there.  Delicious meal and then heading home I was talking to my sister in law, Diane so I didn't get my nap in hahah.  

We had a pretty pink sky yesterday morning!

Carson City snow! 

Home, unloaded and then we just enjoyed the evening. No cake for Ken, he's just not a sweet eater. Wish I could say the same..haha.

This morning, we're up at 0530, having our coffees and visiting with our blogging friends. Not sure of plans for the day, but sure we'll come up with something. Starting the day at 22 degrees feeling like 16! Cold, crisp morning! Have a great day today!! 

Our nephew Dusty ran the California International half marathon today! He had a cheering crew there at the end.  A few pics of family! Congratulations Dusty! 

Dusty and Chelsea at the end of his run!

Of course Owen cheering for daddy!

Dusty and his dad, Bobby

A well earned bloody mary a little later in the morning! 

Ken's out in the cold putting up some lights on the bunkhouse and the outhouse this afternoon.  We decided against lights on the house since we're leaving right after Christmas but that's ok! ..

Have a great day!