FAIR TIME

IT WAS COUNTY FAIR TIME IN SPOONER AND WE CAUGHT HANNAH AND UNCLE HANS GETTING HANNAH’S HORSE READY FOR THE 4H HORSE SHOW. HANNAH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SOME SOME YOUNG 4H KIDS.

HANNAH HAS ONE BEAUTIFUL HORSE!

WOODLAND TRAILS BSA

 

 

 

MY SCOUT CAMP ADVENTURES IN OHIO WERE ACTUALLY A DOUBLE HEADER. THE SECOND CAMP WAS A THREE DAY, TWO NIGHTS WITH THE CUB SCOUTS HELD AT CAMP WOODLAND TRAILS. THIS TIME IT WAS JOEY AND I, AND WE HAD TO PROVIDE OUR OWN TENTS.

WE HAD THESE TWO LITTLE (7’X7’) PUP TENTS AND THE PLAN WAS TO SLEEP IN ONE AND STORE OUR GEAR IN THE OTHER. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD A PROBLEM AS IT WAS TOO HOT AND CLOSE FOR GRANDPA TO SLEEP IN THE TENT WITH THE DOOR ZIPPED UP, AND TOO SCAREY FOR JOEY TO SLEEP WITH THE DOOR WIDE OPEN. I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 2AM AFTER SWITCHING TENTS IN THE DARK A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE WE GOT ANY SLEEP……

PICTURES OF CAMP:

IN MY OPINION CUB SCOUTS ARE TOO YOUNG FOR SUMMER CAMP AND SHOULD SETTLE FOR DAY CAMPS INSTEAD. ALSO THE JULY HEAT AND THE HUMIDITY ARE TOO MUCH FOR GRANDPA’S ! CAMP DISMISSED…..

BEFORE AND AFTER

MY PROJECT HAS BEEN TO TAKE APART MY OUTSIDE PARK BENCH, SAND IT ALL DOWN, AND PUT A NEW FINISH ON IT.

BEFORE

 

AFTER

THE BEFORE HAD A SPAR URATHENE FINISH WHICH I SANDED OFF AND THE NEW FINISH IS AN OIL STAIN FINISH. WE WILL SEE HOW IT HOLDS UP DURING THE MONSOON SEASON.

MY NEXT PROJECT IS NEW FLOORING IN WHAT WE CALL THE BASEMENT, WHICH IS A DUG OUT AREA UNDER THE CABIN. WITH ALL THE WATER PROBLEMS THE FLOOR IN THE WALKWAY, MADE OUT OF CHIP BOARD, ROTTED AWAY.

THE WEATHER HERE IS “SUNNY & SMOKEY”. WE HAVE A WILDFIRE JUST SOUTHWEST OF SHOW LOW. THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WE’VE BEEN IN A PRE-EVACUATION MODE. ABOUT HALF THE RESIDENTS OF THE RV PARK HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR PERMENANT HOMES IN THE VALLEY. WE HAVE A PILE IN THE LIVING ROOM TO LOAD INTO THE CAR IF THEY GIVE THE EVACUATION ORDER, BUT HAVE DECIDED TO STAY SO FAR. THE WEATHER FORCAST AT LOWER ELEVATIONS IN ARIZONA THIS WEEK-END IS 120 DEGREES.

 

HAMFEST

FIRST, A LOOK AROUND THE YARD THIS MORNING. WE HAVEN’T IDENTIFIED THESE PRETTY BLUE FLOWERS THAT COME UP EVERY YEAR ON THEIR OWN.

WE LIKE THEM SO WELL THAT WE DUG SOME OUT OF A DITCH BEHIND HOME DEPOT. FOR ALL WE KNOW IT’S A WEED?

WHEN HEATHER WAS HERE HELPING HER MOM WITH PLANTS SHE BOUGHT THESE MINNESOTA VIKING PANSYS TO MAKE FUN OF MY GREEN AND GOLD BLOOD.

THOUGHT I’D POST A PICTURE TO SHOW HOW WELL THEY ARE DOING. JUST REMEMBER BESL’S THEY ARE PANSYS.

HAMFEST IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS IS AN ANNUAL JUNE EVENT AND STARTS AT 6AM. ACTUALLY THE RV’S ARE ALLOWED TO PARK OVERNIGHT AFTER 5:30 PM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

DOOR PRIZES, VENDORS, AND FOOD.

DID I WIN THE GRAND DOOR PRIZE? NOPE. GOOD THING, IT WAS AN HF RADIO, AND I WOULD HAVE HAD TO BUY A BOOK AND TEST TO UPGRADE MY LICENSE IN ORDER TO USE IT.

  “SUNNY & 80”

HAM RADIO

A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN ALAN TOOK A HAM RADIO CLASS WITH THE SCOUTS, I DUG OUT MY HAND HELD HAM RADIOS, AND BOUGHT NEW BATTERIES FOR THEM.

DOWN IN MOHAVE VALLEY IN THE WINTER I WAS ABLE TO HEAR A FEW LOCAL MOUNTAIN TOP REPEATERS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO TALK ON THEM WITH THE 5 WATT HAND HELD RADIO, ESPECIALLY SITTING ON THE PORCH WITH AN ALL METAL ROOF.

WHEN WE STARTED SPENDING SUMMERS IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS I FOUND HAM RADIO TO BE MUCH MORE ACTIVE. I JOINED THE LOCAL KACHINA HAM RADIO CLUB AND ORDERED ONE OF THE CHEAP CHINESE BOFANG HAND HELD RADIOS, AND A LADDER ANTENNA. YOU TIED A CORD ON THE ANTENNA AND THEN TIED A ROCK TO THE CORD, AND THREW THE ROCK UP OVER A TREE BRANCH, AND PULLED THE ANTENNA UP INTO THE TREE. THE RADIO AND ANTENNA WORKED GREAT WHEN WE LIVED AT PINE SHADOWS. I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED CHECKING INTO THE 6:30 PM KACHINA SOCIAL NET DAILY.

WHEN WE MOVED OVER TO TALL PINES I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SIT ON THE PORCH AND TALK ON THE RADIO, SO THIS SUMMER I ORDERED A NEW 65 WATT YAESU RADIO AND INSTALLED AN ANTENNA ON TOP OF THE ROOF.

NOW I DON’T HAVE ANY TROUBLE HITTING THE MOUNTAIN TOP REPEATERS AND TALKING ON THE RADIO, WHILE SITTING ON THE PORCH.

I DECIDED WE NEEDED TO BUILD A WOODEN BOX TO PUT THE NEW RADIO IN, AND SO IT BECAME THE PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK.

 

IT DIDN’T TURN OUT TOO BAD……

  “SUNNY & 80” (FINALLY!)

BEEN BUSY

BETWEEN URBAN HIKES, SCOOTER RIDES, AND WALKING TO SUPER WALMART WE’VE BEEN BUSY. MARY LOVES HER SUMMERS “OFF” AND HAS A LIST OF PROJECTS.

HERE SHE’S PAINTED A COAT OF SEALANT ON HER NEW MOUNTAIN BEAR.

DECORATIONS FOR THE CABIN…..

THE FAMOUS “RECHSTEINER” CLOCK IS 35 YEARS OLD, AND AFTER HANGING PERMANTLY IN THE SUPPER CLUB, AND ON THE FIRE PLACE IN SPOONER, HAS ONCE AGAIN FOUND A SPOT TO LIVE, IN THE MOUNTAIN CABIN.

LOOK AT MY NEW NEIGHBORS OFF THE BACK DECK…

AND IRIS BLOOMING AT THE POND…..

WHILE MARY ENJOYS HER PROJECTS, REX HAS BEEN AGGRIVATED BY A 3RD WATER LEAK.

THIS LEAKING PIPE BEHIND THE WALL IS ACTUALLY THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE CONDUIT TO THE BREAKER BOX. THE JOYS OF CABIN OWNERSHIP.

SOLAR POWERED

IT WAS CINDY HOHLFELD WHO FIRST EXPLAINED TO ME THAT HER HUSBAND DAVE HAS BECOMED SOLAR POWERED.

IN MY FIRST YEAR OF RETIREMENT I’VE FOUND THAT I’VE BECOME SOLAR POWERED AS WELL. BACK IN THE DAY, I SLEPT UNTIL NOON, AND SAT AT THE ROM-NO-MORE TILL 2AM (OR MAYBE 3AM) EASY PEASY!

NOW…….. I’M IN BED WHEN THE SUN SETS. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW A PHOTO ON THE BLOG OF A BEAUTIFUL ARIZONA SUNSET? WHAT, DID YOU THINK MAJESTIC ARIZONA SUNSETS HAVE DISAPPEARED?

OR SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, THE SPRING BREAK CAPITAL OF TEXAS, NOTHING BUT SUNRISES….. DAY AFTER DAY, A BLOG FULL OF SUNRISES. IT’S AN ISLAND FOR GOD’S SAKE DON’T YOU THINK THE SUN SETS?

I HEAR YA, I NEED TO GET A LIFE…. , BUT WHEN YOU’RE SOLAR POWERED YOU JUST RUN OUT OF ENERGY WHEN THE SUN SETS AND I’M REQUIRED TO RETURN TO MY DOCKING STATION LIKE A ROOMBA VACCUME.

ON THE OTHER HAND, I’M WIDE AWAKE AT DAWN. SO, NOW I DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 5 O’CLOCK, I  POP THE FIRST MILLER LITE AT 11 AM.

AND I HAVE A LIFE !!! I LIVE IN ARIZONA WHERE THE SUN SHINES 360 DAYS A YEAR !!!

9 TO 5

I’VE BEEN RETIRED SINCE JANUARY, AND OF COURSE THAT STICKS OUT THIS WEEK AS MARY RETURNS TO SLAPP’IN JACKS IN THE CASINO. TODAY I DID 9 TO 5. YUP, I LEFT HOME AT 9AM ON MY SCOOTER AND DIDN’T RETURN UNTIL 5 PM.

THE SCOOTER GETS USED A LOT MORE IN THE MOHAVE VALLEY THAN ON THE MOUNTAIN, AND YESTERDAY THE ODOMETER ROLLED OVER TO 6,000 MILES.

FIRST THING WAS A DENTIST APPOINTMENT ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN AT 10AM. NEXT WAS A HAIRCUT AT 11:30AM. HMMM…… IT’S AFTER 11 AM GUESS IT’S TIME TO STOP AT JESTER’S FOR A BEER ($2.00). NEXT IT WAS ACROSS THE RIVER AND A STOP AT THE MALL. I DID A “WALK ABOUT” IN LAUGHLIN TO SEE WHAT’S CHANGED AT THE LOCAL CASINOS, AND STOPPED AT THE REGENCY TO LOOSE $10 IN A SLOT MACHINE AND HAVE A BEER ($10).

AFTER LAUGHLIN IT WAS DOWN RIVER TO BAY SHORE WHERE THE BEER WAS $1.75, BUT I HAD FOUR SIXES DEALT TO ME IN VIDEO POKER SO I WON 400 NICKLES ($20).

LAST STOP WAS THE AVI CASINO TO LAUGH AT MARY STANDING BEHIND A BLACKJACK TABLE AND THEN HOME.

NOT A BAD DAY, 9 TO 5. 70 MILES ON THE SCOOTER AND MORE GOOD NEWS, GAS FELL TO $1.96/GAL. IT COST ME $2 TO FILL ‘ER UP.

MARY’S OFF TODAY, SO IT’S BACK TO WORK, STARTING WITH SEVERAL LOADS OF LAUNDRY.

“SUNNY & 73”

MOHAVE VALLEY

WE’RE STILL HERE IN THE MOHAVE VALLEY, KINDA KICKED BACK AND JUST ENJOYING THE LAST WEEK OF MARY’S VACATION. MARY IS RETURNING TO THE CASINO NEXT WEEK AS A BLACKJACK DEALER AFTER 200 DAYS OFF.

WE HAVE THE FALL “TO DO” LIST AND A WINTER PROJECT LIST TO WORK ON, BUT SUNSHINE AND SCOOTER RIDES HAVE BEEN THE CASE THIS WEEK.

ONE WINTER PROJECT WE DID DO WAS THE REMOVAL OF THE DINNING BOOTH IN THE SLIDEOUT. IT’S ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS WE SHOULD HAVE DONE 10 YEARS AGO, BUT WE NEVER FOUND THE RIGHT CHAIRS, AND WE DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE UP THE STORAGE UNDER THE BENCH SEATS.

 

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CABIN LAST SUMMER WE INHERITED A COUPLE OF THESES CHAIRS AND THEY WILL WORK GREAT AT THE EXISTING TABLE, WHICH WE MOVED ABOUT A FOOT. ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A LOW BUDGET PROJECT.

 

BLOGGING

I’VE NOTICED FEWER AND FEWER BLOGGERS OVER THE YEARS. IT SEEMS EVERYONE HAS TURNED TO FACEBOOK TO STAY CAUGHT UP WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. ANOTHER FACTOR, LIKE  DIGITAL CAMERAS, COMPUTERS AND LAPTOPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY IPHONES, AND TABLETS. SURE YOU CAN READ MY BLOG ON YOUR SMART PHONE, BUT IT TAKES AN EXTRA EFFORT AND I HAVE FEWER READERS THAN EVER.

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH A FEW BLOGS BEING POSTED ON FACEBOOK. I DON’T REALLY CARE FOR IT, SEEMS MY BLOG APPEARS FOR A HALF DAY AND DISAPPEARS INTO FACEBOOK HEAVEN. I’LL STAY WITH BLOGGER, AND BLOG OCCASIONALLY WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING OF INTEREST GOING ON AROUND HERE.

   “SUNNY & 70”

THE GULF

AND THE SEA GOES WILD !!! WE’VE HAD HIGH SEAS AND 7 TO 10 WAVES THE LAST FEW DAYS. THIS MORNING THE BEACH IS GONE.

THE WATER IS WASHING RIGHT UP TO THE DUNES, AND IN SOME PLACES IS WASHING THE DUNES AWAY.

SEE HOW THE SEAWEED HAS WASHED INTO THE PATH UP TO THE CONDO.

BESIDES THE HIGH SEAS, THE RED TIDE IS STILL HERE CAUSING FISH KILLS.

THIS IS WHAT THE VOLLEYBALL COURTS IN FRONT OF CLAYTON’S BEACH BAR LOOK LIKE.

 

 

OF COURSE WITH NO BEACH, THERE ARE NO PEOPLE, EXCEPT MAYBE A COUPLE OF WISCONSIN GIRLS ON VACATION ENJOYING THE SURF…..

SURPRISE !!!

HEATHER AND FAMILY, SUPER-SUPRISED GRANDMA MARY, AND SHOWED UP UNANNOUNCED A FULL DAY EARLY FOR THEIR VACATION ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND.

 

HERE’S REX RETURNING FROM HIS MORNING BEACH WALK.

 

GUESS WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

 

 

THIS YEAR WE FOUND A PLACE TO BUY SHRIMP RIGHT OFF THE BOATS FOR $8/LB. NICE IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST YEAR WHEN WE PAID $15/LB.

OK KIDS…. NOW WHAT’S NEXT?