A wonderful Mother's Day, Aaron and Kenna all dressed up! Couple of days catch up :)

 We've enjoyed being home the last few days.  Ken's working outside most of the days. Yesterday, being Mothers Day we were home enjoying our Champagne Sunday once again. Heard from all my boys and more! 😍

Our handsome grandson Aaron 
and his sweetie, Kenna 💗 All
dressed up for her Senior Ball 

Aaron and his dad, Russell

Aaron and mom, Lori

Another of the cute couple! 💙

Later in the afternoon we headed next door as Karen was barbecuing some ribs. We took a couple of appetizers. Nice afternoon and evening. 

The axe throwing game is a hit with young and old alike

John started a fire and that's Karen's mom Izzie 

John and Karen took an old trailer gutted it, resided it, added decking
and now it's 2 extra bedrooms for guests. Turned out
cute! One room will be beachy themed and the other shabby
chic.

Today we slept in until 0730. Yesterday was a tough one LOL. The temps are heating up, 85 expected today and it looks like a thunderstorm could be coming this afternoon. 

Paul, Ken and KC at the wedding 
last week. They all used to work 
together 14 years ago. 

Great nephew Phoenix, eating his first moon pie. He turned
15 months on the 11th. 💙

Champagne Sunday and Mother's Day

I was craving pizza, so why not make it cauliflower. 
Oh so yummy! 

Still lots of tumbleweeds! Ken burned a lot today! 

Tomorrow we're headed to Carson City so that'll take most of the day! Lowe's, Walmart, a shop to drop off one of our generators that's leaking. 70 miles one way. The joy of country living! :) 

Heard from Grandson Mason and it looks like he and a couple of friends will be visiting here Memorial Weekend. I invited nephew Jesse and his mom Diane too. 

Have a great evening. 

Aaron and Kayla's beautiful wedding day. Subaru's first service. Mason started his new job, Aaron's playing football tonight!

 

Mason with his tool box and new tools for his new 
career as a diesel mechanic. He had a good first day
on Monday. 💙

We enjoyed our night at the Crystal Springs Campground. Saturday morning we got out of the campground about 0715 and headed over the hill to beat the incoming storm. Luckily we made it! 

Our view from the campsite..Only $10.00 a night with
America the Beautiful Senior Pass

Our site at Crystal Springs 

Once we were over the hill we pulled over at Riverton took our showers and had breakfast. Then it was time to head over to Highway 80 and the Auburn area. The wedding was scheduled for 1630 so we didn't want to get there too early. We pulled over and parked in the rain. Boy did it rain. About 1400 we headed towards Aaron's uncles place where we were going to be parking the Mansion for the night. 

About 1530 KC stopped by and we all headed up to the house. The party was already beginning! Aaron and Kayla have a beautiful place that just gets better every time we see it. 

Aaron was out visiting with everyone, but we didn't see the lovely bride until the actual ceremony. 

The rain quit enough that all the guys were able to get the hay bales down and burlap on them for seating for the wedding. Just perfect. 

Once this was rolled out there were white rose
petals all along both sides 

Aaron talking with he preacher who did a wonderful
job! Aaron made the arbor and platform 

It was a wonderful ceremony, just down home and simple but beautiful. The way we like it. Neither one of us got any pictures of the ceremony, as we just wanted to enjoy it. Once it was over we headed back up and the reception continued. 

Dinner was served a little later and it was yummy. Beef, chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, rolls and a very delicious fancy salad. They really went all out! Cake later, of course. 

Aaron made the frame for the dining canopy. He's
very talented! It was so beautiful! 

The only picture we got of the bride and groom. 😔
Such a great couple! Heading to Hawaii for their honeymoon

Aaron made all the dining tables from old barn wood.
Chandeliers were a nice touch 😊

We partied until about 1230 then Aaron gave us a ride down to our trailer. 

Sunday morning I was awake early. Tried to have our showers, but we were nearly out of water. Ken didn't fill it full at home, because of the Lippert frame, we don't any more.  Oh well, we had breakfast and then headed home. 

Thought about going 80 but because of the storm they were holding traffic. More snow was expected. The idiots that don't know how to drive in snow, didn't help it either. 

Back to 50 and we got home just nearing 1530. Just in time for Happy Hour next door LOL. 

Monday we had to be in Carson City for the Subaru's 6000 mile servicing. Yep, going to Tennessee and back added those miles quickly. It was only an hour and then we headed home. Gave us plenty of time to get things done there. 

Tuesday I rode with Ken to town, just because. It's been cool and windy here. Tomorrow it's supposed to start warming up for a beautiful Mother's Day on Sunday. 

Today was just an "at home" day getting things done. These months are just going too fast. 

Grandson Aaron has a football game for Sierra College today. 1st time playing in more than a year and a half since he tore his ACL/meniscus in his last high school game. He's in the record books for lifting for defensive backs at Sierra. He power cleaned 305 three times and benched 305 for three times! (Stole some of this paragraph from Russ and Lori on FB.)

  GO AARON! I know you'll do awesome!! Can't wait to see some games later in the year!! 

Have a wonderful evening. getting close to Happy Hour here in windy Nevada! 🍻🍷

Home, Happy Birthday Allissa! weed control, Crystal Springs Campground, A Wedding tomorrow!

 

Happy 23rd Birthday to our sweet Allissa! 💖

We had an uneventful drive from Ely, NV to Fallon, NV on Sunday. We stopped at The Depot and had a delicious linner before heading the next hour home. 😁

Not surprisingly we unloaded a few things and then headed next door for Happy Hour. The pups were definitely happy to see us after 3 weeks. 💗

Honestly, the rest of the week is a blur, we were home mostly getting things done. Thursday morning,  the winds were calm so Ken got the sprayer and ATV ready. We sprayed the weeds that had come up while we were gone. 1 more time is needed, hopefully that's it this season. 

After that we headed the 56 miles to Gardnerville, to do some grocery shopping and prescription pick up. Then it was on to Sharkey's where Ken had their amazing fish tacos and I enjoyed the salad that comes with it. I ordered there turkey sandwich that I could only eat half of. Ken had it and fries for lunch today. 😀

So, right now we are at Crystal Springs Campground near Hope Valley. We got the Mansion loaded up and left this afternoon. Having Happy Hour in this beautiful place. It's a NFS campground so with Ken's senior pass only $10.00 a night. 

We will be leaving here tomorrow morning early to head for CA. We've got a special wedding to attend. 😊💗 Honestly, we're trying to beat the weather as they're expecting snow over the summit. So, we get an extra night of camping! 😀

Adam's been in San Bernadino all week attending a PIO class. (Public Information Officer). He's called, class went well, but he's done with SoCal. He said he was trying to go to a chicken place for lunch, took him 25minutes to go 1 1/2 miles. Uh Yeah, I'd be done too. LOL. He drives home tomorrow and then on the 7th he will be getting the keys to his and Erin's place in Placerville, CA. She graduates from Chico State on the 19th, so we'll be in Chico that weekend. 

Got a package out to Jacob this afternoon. Hoping the woman got it figured out. So funny, she asks me "so where is he?" On a big boat in the middle of the ocean. Really, she can't read where it says, "USS Theodore Roosevelt" I don't think they have a clue, but his packages have gotten to him. Thank goodness. 

Well, I have pictures of our campground and of our Grandson Mason. He spent a fortune on tools and a tool box to start a new career as a diesel mechanic! Proud of you Mason! Hopefully next blog I can get them posted. 

Surprised we had service at all honestly. Have a great evening everyone! 

Happy Birthday Bryan! From Oklahoma to Ely, Nevada, Home tomorrow..

 

Happy 51st Birthday to our oldest son, Bryan! 
Cheryl got him that flag! Made in America! :)

We left Bartlesville Ok on Thursday morning. We decided to have breakfast in Pawhuska at Buffalo Joe's. The reviews were good, sounded like all the good ole boys ate there. 

I decided to splurge and have a side order of biscuits and gravy..uhh don't bother. If I'm eating all those calories it'd better be excellent. NOT. Definitely not what i'd expect out of Oklahoma. LOL. The omelet was ok. Ken had a scramble but definitely we've seen and tasted better. Along with the fact that we were there and maybe 5 other people, it took forever to get our breakfasts! We definitely wouldn't go back. 

Before that, because we were looking for a cinnamon roll to split with our morning coffee we stopped at Daylight Donuts in Bartlesville. Got two, because they were small. Ken had $3.00 and change out and it was $5.42 for two. WHAT?!!! It's been forever since we've even been in a donut shop, but won't be going back anytime soon! LOL. 

Got the day going, planning on staying off the interstate for as long as possible. A beautiful ride through Oklahoma and into Kansas. Ken drove and then I did for awhile too. 

Just out of Dodge City, KS

We planned on stopping in Garden City, KS for the night, but it was still early so we thought let's stop in Lamar, Colorado just over the border a bit. 

We found online a motel there that was of the Route 66 style. It worked for the night and most importantly the a/c /heater unit worked well with the fan running all night. I hate when the fan goes off, until temp is reached and then comes back on. I like to feel the air movement. 

Friday morning got going, another beautiful drive through Colorado. Such a beautiful state! We ended our day at Green River, Utah. Never paid so much for a Motel 6 that was packed! Yes it's a tourist area being near Moab, but oh boy the prices for motels is ridiculous! Most motels were filled and expensive. Noticed this morning that there were alot of young Asian people staying there. 

We got going, with the goal being Ely, NV which is where we are now. Took a little mud drive out to the Ward Charcoal Ovens. We wanted to see the campground that's been put in since we were out there years ago. 

Just out of Green River. UT

We didn't stop much the last few days as we've been through the same roads so many times over the years. 

So here we are in our room, enjoying Happy Hour on our last night of this vacation! Ken's watching a movie on his phone and I'm getting this done. A nice motel, but couldn't get the TV to work. The girl from the office came down and it looked promising, but didn't happen. She offered to call her manager but it's not that important. Again, more of a route 66 motel. Seems it's been here forever and being renovated. We have parking in front of the room, which is what's important to us. Seems most of the chains nowadays are being built with hallways inside. 

Time to get some dinner and call it a night! Tomorrow it'll be Happy Hour with the neighbors and to see if the pups still remember us! Have a wonderful Saturday night! 😊🍺🍷

Baby Phoenix and his mom at the park 😀

Baby Phoenix looks a little worn out
from park time! 💙

Hazen, Arkansas to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Visited Pawhuska today and a good Mexican lunch! Headed west tomorrow! :)

 Yesterday (Tuesday) we left Hazen, Arkansas about 0900. We had a good drive and worked our way to Bartlesville, Oklahoma pretty easily. WE got off 40 on what was stated as a toll road, but we never paid any toll. It took us nicely through Tulsa, Ok. 

We arrived at Motel 1 around 1500. I found this motel on Hotels.com but didn't want to book it as we weren't sure how crowded it would be and if we could get a 1st floor room. So, we paid an extra $10.00 a night but still, at $59 a night we were ok with that. We have a huge, remodeled room with a king bed, upscale bedding and everything new. We'll take it! 

We spent the evening relaxing and then had our chicken and salad that I had made at Bryan and Cheryl's before we left. 

Bryan bought Cheryl a new weed eater, Looks so cute

Love their little place in Arkansas!!

This morning we knew we were headed for Pawhuska to spend most of the day. We took our time and then went next door to have breakfast. A good, but not great one. Probably wouldn't go back, but out the door for $22.00 including tip. 

Then we headed out the 22 miles to Pawhuska. We stopped at the Frank Phillips park for a few minutes. Phillips founded the Phillips Petroleum Company in 1917 here in Bartlesville. 

The 940 is back where it belongs at the Bartlesville Depot
over 100 years old

I went inside the cab of the 940 

We parked in Pawhuska and then toured the town. Not our first time as we were here in 2015 when it was just a tiny, run down town. Ree and Ladd Drummond had just bought the building that would become The Mercantile. 

The girl in the car took us on old US 60 to Pawhuska. Obviously
this used to a business of some kind at one point.  

The corner building, which is now the Frontier Hotel

Brands fro different ranches in the area

Drummond Ranches

Looking at the Boarding House, Ree's Hotel. They have a 
Happy Hour out there in the afternoons for guests. Reservations
area booked way out! 

2nd story of the Mercantile. There's a bakery, we were looking 
for a cinnamon roll for coffee in the am. Only with maple icing.
Don't you think they could have cream cheese and maple?? 

This Pharmacy was on many episodes..their claim is a 
1950's soda fountain..

Not quite, but you're in cattle country! 

I had too! Russell and Seth! 💙

I loved watching her shows on Food Network and making some of her dishes over the years. Still do. We don't get Food Network anymore so I haven't see the shows in years. Loved watching her kids grow up on the ranch. 

We've been back several times through the years and watched the town grow and be revitalized. Last time was 2018 though. 2019 Ken had shoulder issues and then of course 2020 and forward was a bust. 

We definitely enjoyed today, but probably won't make this a destination anytime soon. There is growth, and it just doesn't seem as personal as it has been in the past. The prices in the Mercantile are up there and stuff you can find at any gift shop in my opinion. First time I walked out of there spending no dollars! 😱

We did buy a couple of little things at a vintage store, but not the sale of the day! LOL. 

We left there and headed to what was our favorite Mexican place for Linner. They no longer have wine (WHAT) but beer and a full bar! So I had a margarita with the meal. Food was still awesome and more than I could eat for sure! 

22 ounce Dos Equis and 18 ounce margarita. I'll take it LOL. 

YUM!

We left there and came back to the room to have happy hour and just relax. Tomorrow we move on. 

Christina and Eric are on a mini vacation...

Grandma Wendy bought baby Phoenix a pool. I think he
loves it! 

       Eric and Christina are in Berkley (of all places) to see Willie Nelson in concert 

                                                          tonight! 

Time to get this finished and enjoy the rest of the evening! Tomorrow we should be somewhere in Kansas if all goes as planned!