06 June 2015

June has been the month of FUN! I told Dawn before we go on our mission to Nauvoo Temple in September, we need to visit our family and to have fun with them.  So far we have had fun with them and are continuing as the summer unfolds.

Summer is here. We have finally had warm days and cool nights. The month of June has been filled with excitement for Dawn and I and family members.

The month started out with visitors from Utah.  Jon, Holly, Ella and Brock came up to stay with us at Julia’s house. While Jon and Holly went to the beer festival,  we took the kids. We went to the movies, had frozen yogurt, went shopping at Ross, Dawn and Ella had their nails painted while Brock and I shopped at the new Cabellas store.

The next day we ran with the kids in the Color Vibe  fun run. Dawn fell, however, and sprained her ankle, broke her watch and glasses, head, elbow and skinned her knee, but finished the race. Ella was covered with color after getting caught up in the mosh pit. We had a great time.

The next week Dawn and I flew to Miami to meet up with Christine and Aubrey to attend her graduation from med residency. Before the graduation we went to Key Largo in hopes of diving Pennekamp Park. Not so, the weather was not cooperative and the seven foot waves kept us out of the water. We did visit the Marathon aquarium and had wonderful meals.

On Sunday we were invited to the graduation ceremony at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Miami. Very impressive! Aubrey was one of eight finishing her residency in osteopathy. The meal was superb and the  desserts beyond compare. After the graduation Aubrey took us to South Beach in Miami where we relaxed by walking along the boardwalk.

Back to Ft. Lauderdale to catch a transit to the Carnival Ecstasy and meet up with Christine for a cruise to Key West and on to Cozumel,  Mexico.

Our visit to Key West was lovely. The weather was perfect and the tour enlightening as we passed through the town seeing the sites along the way. Hemmingway House, Jimmy Buffet’s bar, the southern most point in the US were all visited. At one point, we were closer to Cuba than to a Walmart store.  We spent much time at the Mel Fisher exhibit displaying the discovery of the Atochia laden with treasure.

A day at sea was spent in the sun and sliding down the Twister water slide on the Ecstasy. The entertainment on board was marvelous and so were the meals. We had a wonderful time with Christine.

When we reached Cozumel,  Dawn and I chose to scuba dive with Sand Dollar dive operation. Christine had scheduled a photo instruction with a lady from Germany.

San Francisco reef was our dive destination. Antonio was our dive master and Joey filmed the dive. It was spectacular and so easy in and out with the help of our dive master. We saw an endless array of fish and invertebrates.  Dawn was at her best and is mastering the skill of scuba diving. One of the best dives I have ever had.

On our way home we spent two days in Las Vegas at the Harrahs. The town was filled with youth attending the Electric Dixie Carnival. Much like the Woodstock of modern times, there were 500,000 youth at the cost of $350 each spending sundown to sun up for three days at the Nascar speedway listening to music and possibly having mind altering experiences.

Once home we had a few days to relax.  My mother, Julia has had a turn for the worse. She had severe back pain and weakness. She is on a heart monitor and has to be very careful not to over exert herself. Her health has changed drastically. We keep a close watch on her at home.

Lastly, Dawn and I did manage to go to the temple several times this month. We have to travel to Rexburg, ID since the Idaho Falls temple is closed for 1 ½ years for remodeling.

The last two days of the month were spent camping at Kelly Island camp ground near Heise. Once we got our tent secured we went back to the hot springs and swimming pool at Heise. After  going down several times through the water slide we were ready for diner. We ate at the golf course restaurant . Then we played 9 holes of golf. The wind came up and we had to go back to the tent. Once situated in the tent the weather got bad. The wind was terrific and the rain intense but we were secure in our little tent. The next morning I fished the Snake River but with only bites from the swarm of mosquitoes.

After we broke camp we rode our bikes from Heise to Kelly’s Canyon ski resort, some 3 ½ miles up steep hill and back down at break neck speed.

We could not pass up a chance to slide down the tube again before coming home.

Looking forward to July for more fun and to be with more grand kids..

The day of the Color Vib

Brock and Ella

Dawn after crash

Picnic with family

Pool at the Aquarium

Marthon Keys Aquarium

Waiting at the Ritz Carlton

Dr. Aubrey Taow

Relaxing on the Ecstacy

The Twister

Ship at Key West

Ben Walters finishing a 40 mile Bone and Back

Fishing the South Fork of the Snake

Ready to ride to Kelly's Canyon

Steep climb

05 May 2015

The month of May has been the wettest month so far this year. Idaho looks like Washington. Everything is green and growing. The garden is remarkably advanced for this time of year. The beginning of the month was marked by a trip to Washington to visit with Dawn’s brothers. We stayed in Baker City, Oregon the first night on our way to Vancouver, WA.

Multnomah Falls was a great diversion along the Columbia River road.  Christine, Dawn and I climbed to the top of the falls on a beautiful day. Then on to stay with Louise in Vancouver, WA, while we were there we met with Benny, Mike and the Sangalli family. Some of the fun things we did were eating at Sushi Land, golf, visits with Mike and Ben, playing games with Machaela, Orion and Eleanor.

The Kurowski’s joined us in Vancouver and we spent time with Benny and Mike. Christine, Benny, Dawn and I had a golf outing on a beautiful spring day. All the flowers were gorgeous and the lawns green from the rain. The last day we were there we had a meal with Natalie and her boys, Ryden and Brennen.

The long ride to California played a toll on my sacrum. The travel from Vancouver, WA to Cornish, California took all day. We dropped off Christine at her in-laws near Cornish, CA and then back to Cottonwood, CA to stay with Harry and Connie Hunziker. While we were at the Hunzikers we did many fun things. We hiked the Brandy  Creek tail, visited the Sun Dial bridge and Turtle Bay museum, movies, Indian restaurant and hiked the West Side trail at night hoping to see the full moon rise.

Harry was scheduled for a surgery on 8^th of May the day we left to return to Idaho. I gave him a blessing at his agreement. Things went well.

Our trip home was without incident, just a lot of back country through Alturas, CA and on to Burns, Oregon. We stayed the night in Burns and visited the “Bell A” ranch outside of the town. I worked there in 1966 with Eric Henningsen . It brought back memories.

Once we got home my back hurt from the long drive. I ended up at the chiropractor adjusting a subluxation and now nursing a priformis syndrome causing sciatica pain.  I am still having problems with pain in my sciatic nerve area.

Right after arriving back to Idaho Falls we had planned a flight to Mesa, AZ to spend a few days with the Mariners. While we were there we went to the Phoenix Zoo with Burton, Roxy and Monica. It is such a thrill to be with those kids.

At the end of each May we always visit the grave sites of our dear relatives who have passed on. Julia and I visited the gravesites of Lloyd and Virgie Russell, Ben and Minnie Sage (also Theda Cartwright), Linda Russell (my first wife) and finally Benton Carl Russell my father. Dawn and Christine visited their brother Brian who is buried in the New Sweden cemetery.

As always when the weather is warmer we jog around the Green Belt or walk with Julia and Woody. There have been a few nice days when we have golfed at Heise or Cedar Creek and once at Journey’s End in Shelley. Lastly, we had a wonderful picnic at Woody’s place playing with the grand kids.

Brennan is Brian and Natalie's boy

Mike and Dawn

The Kurowskis

Ben and Orion playing chess

Dawn and Connie on the trail

Harry convalescing 

Sundial Bridge in Redding, CA

At the Zoo 

Burton and Grandpa with finger jello

Gilbert Arizona Temple

Maltnomah Falls

Dinner at the Sushi World

 
                          Bell A Ranch Burns, Oregon

Garden at Woody's

Dawn and Roxy relaxing in the park

1512 West Shawnee Chandler, AZ

Julia and I at the Taylor cemetery

Bar B Q at the Russell'

s

04 April 2015

Back in Idaho and enjoying a slow start to spring. The weather in Idaho this winter was remarkably warm and with very little snow. The first two weeks while we were back from Arizona were rather cold and windy. There is evidence of spring but mixed with the possibilities of continued winter.

Woody has resurrected the green house and Julia and I supplied it with newly planted garden starts we purchased from the garden center.  Within one week the 6” potted plants were frost bit and many of the peppers, tomatoes and flowers did not survive.

Dawn and I were welcomed back into the ward by Bishop Ziel and immediately called to be nursery leaders with Sister Loper. This was an adjustment from our regular tasks in the church. However, we have enjoyed working with the little ones in the ward family.

Hazel Cummings is a sister in the ward whom we home taught before leaving for Arizona. She had a serious back surgery and has been convalescing at a center here in Idaho Falls. We have taken it upon ourselves to help her through this tough time of recovery and are now called to be her home teachers.

I have had back issues as well. It began with a serious spinal nerve pinch in the lubo-sacral joint. Dr. Livingston has been working with me to realign the spine and sacrum. I am still sore but improved over the acute pain of a pinched nerve.

We (Dawn and I) to exercise regularly and I have seen great gains as a result of the medication to support growth of muscle and strength. Ben (my son) and I are both taking enhancement meds to put on muscle. It has been remarkable how much muscle I have gained and how much fat I have lost.

I suppose the most remarkable event of this month has been the “ Front Runner” bicycle ride we finished in Utah. Dawn and I both signed up for the 100K ride from SLC to Ogden supported by the Utah Transit Association. We started at 7:30am from the UTA station downtown SLC. Then we followed a course on my cell phone GPS coursing west and north through many communities riding midway through Layton, Utah right in front of my son’s (Josh) home. After 5 ½ hours riding we rolled into the UTA station in Ogden, Utah. My bike registered 64 miles by the time you include the distance traveled to and from the hotel we stayed in SLC.

Now we can enjoy the flowers and trees blooming throughout the valley. On the few nice days we did have in April we golfed. Woody and Val have been gone most of the month to Washington this month visiting their son Ben and family. So Julia, Dawn and I have golfed in Heise and Shelley.

This week Dawn and I and Christine (Dawn’s sister) leave for Vancouver, WA to visit her family. Also, we plan to visit Harry and Connie Hunziker in Cottonwood, CA before coming back to Idaho. The trip will be reported in the May blog. 

Dawn up ahead jogging the Green Belt

Spring along the Green Belt

Snow in April

Julia putting seed in the feeder

Tulips starting to flower

Golf at Heise

Walking the Green Belt in April still need to dress warm

Nurser Leaders 3rd Ward

Biking the "Front Runner"

Dawn at the finish line

Happy to finish after a long ride

Starting to look like spring at the convalescent center

Changes in my body from exercise

03 March 2015

Out with the old and in with the new!  The last of the Bullhead City, AZ  adventure and back to Idaho Falls, ID at the end of the month.

There were two short trips we made in this month one to Needles, CA (very close to Bullhead City) and one to Peach Springs, AZ (Grand Canyon Caverns). The Needles trip was to satisfy our curiosity of travel in the sixties on route 66. The town has since dried up and has just old reminders of those days when car travel took them through Needles on the way to Chicago, ILL.

We did a day trip to Grand Canyon Caverns, another rout 66 stop. Along the route past Peach Springs is the largest dry cavern in the US. We were taken down 11 stories into the earth which was discovered in the 1850s. Inside the cavern was a giant ground sloth trapped thousands of years before. Also one dead and dried up bob cat whose misfortune was to fall in to the cavern without a way out.

Our last month in Arizona proved to be an exciting time with family and friends. We visited our family in Glendale, AZ before packing up to leave.  The ER Williams family invited us to their home and meet with the Miners and Cartwright family members. Julia, Woody, Val and Brad met Dawn and I at their home in Scottsdale, AZ.  Dick and Devona Dudgen, Larry and Sharon Miner, Jay and Linda Miner, Steve and Patty Miner and the Williams (Pat, ER and Erin) had a wonderful day visiting and eating a most delightful meal.

Dawn and I also visited with the Mariners for the last time before leaving Arizona. We will miss Burton and Roxy. They are such wonderful grand kids.  We have invited the Mariners to join us in Santa Cruz this summer for the Wharf to Wharf 10K.

Fortunately, we had visitors before we left Arizona. Dennis and Dorothy Croft drove their RV to Bullhead City and we had three days of fun. We visited the Davis Dam along the Colorado River by hiking along the well-developed trail.  The next day we went to Spirit Mountain to look at petroglyphs the on to Oatman, AZ along the route 66. The mining town is crowded with burrows wandering around the town. That evening we had dinner on the Centennial river boat out of Laughlin. That evening we went to the movies. So good to see these fine people.

The next week Connie and Harry Hunziker visited us for two days. Our time was well spent by staying with them at the Harrah’s hotel in Laughlin, CA. Back to Oatman and then dinner and cards at our home in Bullhead City, it was so great seeing our old friends once again.

Our last few days were spent golfing at Chaparral Golf Course. Finally we cleaned our home thoroughly and left for Yuma, AZ on our way to Imperial Beach, CA.

While we were in Yuma, AZ , Dawn and I had a wonderful bike ride along the Colorado River. Woody and Val joined us as we visited the Territorial Prison in Yuma, AZ. Our travel to Imperial Beach, CA was uneventful across the dessert of southern California.

The trip to Imperial Beach, CA was planned by Robyn and Wayne Lau. We stayed at a condo rented from a dentist known by Robyn. While we were there Wayne and Kesler surfed for three days. We jogged along the beach to the borders of Mexico. Dawn and I had fun with Indy swimming in the condo pool. Woody, Val, Robyn, Indy and Dawn and I spent one day at the San Diego Zoo. It was wonderful seeing all the animals and exhibits. Just before we left the zoo Woody had chest pain and was taken to the San Diego University Med Cen for observation. He was able to come home that evening.

 The day before we traveled home we went to Lego Land.  After such a wonderful time with the Laus we drove to Las Vegas and on the next day we stayed with the Nebekers in St. George, Utah. Dawn and I did golf at the Southgate Golf course.

Our trip home through Utah allowed us to stay with Holly and Jon in Salt Lake City. We also spent one day in Layton, Utah with Josh and Danielle Russell. We played golf at Swan Lake Golf Course while in Layton. The grand kids were happy to see their grandma and grandpa.

Now that we are back in Idaho Falls we were able to make contact with our ward members at church. We are staying with Julia until we go to our mission to Nauvoo, Illinois.  

Route 66 Needles, CA 

Grand Canyon Caverns

Dorothy Croft at Oatman, AZ

Crofts at Spirit Mountain

Dinner on the Colorado River

River Dinner

Connie and Harry

Yuma Territorial Prison

Legoland

Dinner at Imperial Beach

Family at Imperial Beach

Woody on his way to the hospital in San Diego