MonacoMama's Miscellany

The Beauty of the Desert

2012-02-05T22:41:00.000-08:00

I could tell people thought I was crazy when people heard I was going to the southwestern desert area...but I think that is because they have never noticed things like the flower cluster on a Red Barberry...

or the color of a Fairy Duster...

...maybe they haven't noticed the color contrast of cacti against the deeply colored canyon walls...

...or the unique growth of the Teddy bear cholla...

...yes...you can find many different things of beauty no matter where you are if you only take some time...

PS-this post doesn't mean that I am not little crazy...but you will have to be the judge of that!

Birds of Southwest Arizona

2012-02-03T00:46:00.000-08:00

I recently spent a little time in southwest Arizona with very little time and luck to do some bird-watching.

Here is a collage and slideshow of some of the birds I was able to photograph...

....

KofA National Wildlife Refuge

2012-01-24T12:25:00.000-08:00

Arizona has many fascinating places to visit but there is one that I enjoy going to anytime I am in the Quartzsite area...KofA.

Kofa is short for "King of Arizona". It got it's name from the King of Arizona mine located in the mountain range.

You can find many things to do there...including hiking, dry-camping wildlife viewing or photography.

This trip I took a new friend to explore Kofa's Palm Canyon. It was an easy hike with different things to see...and my friend also gave talks along the way to other hikers!

Our hike was a nice way to end the afternoon!

Quartzsite...It Isn't All About the Desert....

2012-01-21T21:54:00.000-08:00

It seems that very few people understand the RV Mecca named Quartzsite unless you have been there.

Quartzsite may be a place of sand and cactus...

....but it is also a place of great sunrises....

...and beautiful sunsets!

Pioneer Historical Cemetery of Ehrenberg

2012-01-20T22:00:00.000-08:00

I have been to a few old cemeteries before - but this cemetery is a bit different from any others I have seen.

It definitely has a "Wild West" feel to it.

The graves are all covered with stones...

...and the headstones are carved out of wood...if the grave is marked at all.

It is worth the short detour off of I-10 to stop by and take a stroll into the "Wild West"

A Very Special Christmas Day...

2012-01-04T21:43:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was the first Christmas that my family has experienced without either of my parents being alive - so I decided to spend my Christmas Day doing something a bit different from all the others and now I can finally share it with you...

...and wish you all a belated Merry Christmas...
.
.

A Special Doll...

2011-12-25T00:39:00.000-08:00

I have mentioned in the past that my Mom and one of my grand-daughters has the same birthday. You may also remember that my Mom went to Heaven to spend the rest of her eternity with my Dad and God...so her is another part of the story...
...rewind 3 weeks ago...My son told me that his daughter had mentioned "Barbie" for a Christmas present...now fast forward to 2 weeks ago while I am at my Mom's home as we are taking care of some family matters...and I came across this...

My Mom was always picking up toys and gifts for everyone...but this doll has been around since 1995-96 and it has never found it's home. I spied the doll and with my sister's permission - I was allowed to take it home.
Here is that result...

Mom...You are still bringing smiles and happiness to your Great-grandchildren! (I even told her it is a special doll from you!)

Grand-Daughter Play Dates

2011-12-20T23:57:00.000-08:00

My local grand-daughter and I may have a favorite place to spend time on our days together...

You may find us at this playground when the weather is good.

She became very brave and decided to go up on her own and take the "corkscrew slide" down.

She was on a very similar slide on Halloween night and would not let go of the side...but she had no problems at all this time!

The Locket...

2011-12-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

...There are times in your life when you happen upon something special. I did just that this last Sunday.
I chose a piece of Mom's jewelry not knowing what to expect. It was a "heart puff" that looked familiar.

I gently picked it up and found the locket latch...I teared up as I opened it and saw a picture of Dad on one side...but the other side was empty.

One of my things I was determined to do this week was to complete the inside of the locket. Today my Dad will once again have my Mom next to him...

This will be a very special Christmas gift that my Mom has left behind for me. I love and miss you both...

December Color

2011-12-12T00:30:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that there might be color in the gardens with the weather we are having - but things just seem to slowly brighten up after just a few moments at Mom's...

\

...Gusts of Wind with A Chance of Giggles..

2011-12-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Today was a day to brave the outdoors with the high winds blowing...

We thought we would practice moving the legs to help move the swing...

Look at the feather blowing with the wind!

Yep...we shared a few giggles!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely Thanksgiving this year with a very small group of extended family members.

Our Princess is still as entertaining as ever....

I am thankful I have them in our lives and that I can share these photos with everyone here!

Another Part of the Day at the Park...

2011-11-17T22:21:00.000-08:00

My "Princess" and I got a chance to check out our feathered friends while we were at the park today... she found feathers and I found birds!

A Day at The Park

2011-11-17T14:06:00.000-08:00

...here is a preview of our day so far....

In Memory of Our Vets

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

...but in particular to my Dad and his squadron.

My father served with the 379th Bomb group as part of the 526th squadron. He was a Tail-Gunner on the B-17G in the European Theater during World War II. The crew flew many missions into Germany.

I have done a search and have found many of his crew are not alive - but I want to thank them for their service anyway. May their memories live with us.

Back Row: John Lohr, Jonny Cascone,Jake Weese, Sweed Johnson, Charlie Cunningham, Ed Whiting
Front Row: Kat Katsignus, Monty Miller, Jack Nowacki, Buzz Hotchkiss.

Information & photos gathered from John Lohr's 379th Bomb Group Stories

In The Land of Make Believe....

2011-11-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

There is a place not far away...

Where you will find all birds singing and playing together...

...and little girls.....

...who love to dress up...

...and make believe they are princesses.....

...or NOT!

Outdoor Honey-Do Project

2011-10-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

Yes.... It seems like forever since I have updated my blog. I have many reasons for no updates so I guess I should start to share them.
Here is one of the joint "Honey-Do" projects that I have been helping with.

The "easel" that we are working with...

Here is some of the "paint" that we are using...
We have been splitting the above stone like you would see in one of those old time "jail scenes"...

This is the start of the project...

..and here are a few more of where we have gotten....

Watering Can Update...

2011-08-26T10:38:00.000-07:00

The granddaughter enjoyed her first experience with the Tin Watering Can. Here is a photo of her with it.

The can is pretty big - as you can see in the picture!

The Watering Can

2011-08-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

I have some special memories of my Mom...One of them is with a tin watering can.
There were many times when I would visit her and she would say..."ooooh...I need to water those plants." We would go out on her patio where she would proceed to fill the watering can with water and then wander around the patio watering her potted plants.

Today...I am the proud caretaker of Mom's tin Watering Can. There will be more memories made with that can. My granddaughter and I will now water my potted plants on the patio...
I will share the story of the times I spent with her Great-Grandmother when she used that same watering can as she lovingly watered her plants.
There is one more thing that is special....You see my Mom and my Granddaughter share the same birthday.

There will be always be a special moment that Grace and I will share on her birthday in memory of her Great-Grandmother. We love & miss you Mom...

Smiles...Giggles...Silliness

2011-08-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

Can you guess why I enjoy my Thursdays off? I will give you a couple of hints.

I can count a walk with the MinPins every other Thursday morning...
I know I will get a little more exercise
..and I can count on many "Smiles, Giggles and Silliness.

And here is the reason why........

Crater Lake 2002

2011-08-09T23:53:00.000-07:00

I came across a photo album on the computer this weekend that had some wonderful pictures of Crater Lake, so I decided to share some information about this wonderful lake. You can find all sorts of facts about Crater Lake on the web - including the amount of snow fall!

You should definitely plan your trip including possibly taking one of the tours that is offered. It is an amazing place to see...

These may be some old photographs - but they are still decent enough to share..Enjoy!

Full Moon Rising..

2011-07-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

I happened to notice the moon last night as I was closing up the house. I had to grab my camera and shoot the following slideshow freehand and with one of the smaller telephotos. I plan to go out tonight and shoot on the tripod and with my biggest lens. These photos are untoched except for cropping on a few. Tiy can see what a difference some of the camera settings make.

VBG Gardens

2011-07-08T22:40:00.001-07:00

I apologize for not having the slide-show in the blog before now.
Here are some photos I took at the VBG Garden. It is a private "by invitation only" garden in Clovis, California. I want to thank the owners for the lovely time we had there!

2012 ‘Garden of Eagles®’ Calendar Available for Pre-Order

2011-07-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

2012 ‘Garden of Eagles®’ Calendar

Dedicated to the memory of the

Mother Eagle at Norfolk Botanical Garden

and the Legacy she leaves behind.

Photo Courtesy of JR Deal (copyrighted)

Once again, through the generosity of the photographers, WCV is extremely proud to offer the 2012 ‘Garden of Eagles®’ Calendar, benefiting the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Last year was an overwhelming success thanks to supporters all over the world. The 2011 calendar raised over $30,000 for the Wildlife Center of Virginia's work with eagles and will be used to build a permanent flight enclosure for Buddy, the 2008 Norfolk Botanical Garden eagle who was removed from the nest due to contracting avian pox. This would not have been possible without the support of so many wonderful people who care about wildlife.
2011 will be a year remembered by so many viewers. The entire world was devastated when the mother eagle at Norfolk Botanical Garden lost her life on April 26th, 2011 when she was hit by a landing airplane. In light of the events this year, the 2012 ‘Garden of Eagles®’ calendar will be dedicated to the memory of the Norfolk Botanical Garden mother eagle - and will include photos not only of this year, but will include photos of her from past years. The photos for 2012 will include the 2011 nesting season - both in the nest, growing up at the Wildlife Center of Virginia and their fledging/release. The photography is a visual feast for the eyes and the subject matter is dear to all of our hearts. This is such a wonderful way to remember the 2011 nesting season of the eagles from Norfolk Botanical Garden - both at the Garden and at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
You can now pre-order your copy of the 2012 “Garden of Eagles” Calendar by clicking here. This 11"x17", 12 month wall calendar will include at least 18 large color photographs and over 50 smaller photographs. Special 'highlighted' dates pertaining to the 2011 nesting season will be imprinted in the appropriate calendar date blocks. Also included in the calendar are photos and information concerning the 2008 eagle, Buddy, who is now a permanent resident of The Wildlife Center of Virginia and will become a member of the Center’s corps of non-releasable education animals. Information and websites concerning the different wildlife organizations will be included, along with some general information about the bald eagle.
The calendar is priced at $24.00 for each calendar and will benefit The Wildlife Center of Virginia. The cost includes shipping/handling. Orders for one calendar will be sent first class mail. Two or more will be mailed USPS Priority with tracking and insurance. (If you prefer having your single calendar sent USPS Priority, please add $2.00) Proceeds will be used to help the Center’s work with eagles and other wildlife. A portion of the proceeds will also benefit the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ non-game fund and the Center for Conservation Biology’s satellite tracking program.
There is also an option on the order form for those who would like to donate an additional amount in honor of 'Buddy'. Simply write in the amount that you are donating in the area listed as 'Buddy Bucks' on the order form.
The calendars make wonderful gifts and will be available in time for holiday shopping, so please plan accordingly. Calendars can be mailed to other addresses and can include a card from the sender. There will be a limited number printed due to shelf life and the cost of printing. It would be helpful if you can pre-order as soon as possible so we can get an accurate count for printing. A word of caution, both the 2010 and 2011 were complete sellouts. As soon as they are printed, the calendars will be mailed out to the address(s) you supply. Expected delivery date is around mid-September.

If you haven't been keeping up with the eagles this year, please be sure to visit WVEC.com's EagleCam. The Wildlife Center has provided a camera for viewers to watch the trio from Norfolk Botanical Garden while they are in residence. WVEC has added many informational links. Tthere is the Moderated Blog to answer questions concerning the eagles. Please visit the website here.
Again, a huge thank you goes out from WCV to everyone for their generous support of this project. If you know of anyone who might be interested in purchasing the calendar, please feel free to forward this blog page to them or please contact Debbi at this link you have any questions.

Photo courtesy of JR Deal

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

2011-06-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

I spent some time at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery this week. It is one of the newer national cemeteries maintained by the Dept of Veterans Affairs. (It is listed at the 124th cemetery out of a total of 131 cemeteries.)

I found the cemetery to be a peaceful spot to be when there was not a memorial service in process.

The VA provides an online grave site locator if you would like to visit a burial site of a veteran.

You can find that service at this link.

I want to thank all of the Veterans who may already be at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery along with those who have the option to be placed there. Your service to the country means a lot to me.

Mom's Garden

2011-06-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

My Mom loved to garden and she enjoyed the birds that came to visit her in her garden.
Here are a few pictures that I took today while in Mom's Garden.

Some Sights You Will Find...

2011-06-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

all at one location...

"Wall o' Wheels"

Hummingbirds...

Funnel Clouds forming..

Pretty weeds...

..and here is a slideshow of many other things you can see when you visit Folsom Chevrolet!

Experimenting....

2011-06-01T00:32:00.001-07:00

Yep..I am experimenting...with my camera!
Here is a few photos I took today. I hope you enjoy!

Now You See It....

2011-05-30T00:54:00.000-07:00

I was doing a bit of "backyard bird-watching" today when I happen to catch this starling.
He will grab one of the berries...

...and fly to the rooftop...

..and then it is gone with one quick toss of his head!

A Day of Joy & a Day of Sorrow...

2011-05-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday was one of my "Best ever" and "worst ever" days that I have had.
Best Ever... Spending the day with both boys and all the grandchildren playing together!

...and you ask what in the world could make you sad on a day like that??
My Canon EOS 300D camera died after almost a decade of loyal service.

A Tribute To Mom

2011-05-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

My Mom left us just a few short weeks ago and joined my Dad in Heaven...so I thought I would dedicate this Mother's Day Blog in her memory...

You can see that our Mom had determination and style - even at a young age. (I have that same walk...people I work with call it my "power walk". )

Mom always had a sense of adventure. I can remember one time when she went deer-hunting with Dad.

Mom always had a sense of humor and loved to make people smile and laugh. She passed that on to me. (I feel my day is not complete unless I make someone else smile.)

Mom lived for her ever-growing family. She always seemed to be in her element when there was family around her.

Mom loved her siblings. She called and talked to each of them all the time. The physical distance did not keep them apart.

...But there is one thing she loved more than anything else - Our Dad. I am at peace knowing she is now with Dad.

I love and miss you Mom. You have taught me so much during "your dash" ... you will be with me forever in my heart.

Mary Lou: September 13, 1927 - April 16, 2011

Another Mother Has Been Found...

2011-05-06T00:43:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share another "Mother Story"...but this one is a bit more cheerful!
Folsom Chevrolet has some mother geese around who are raising their goslings in the neighborhood so I did grab the camera so I could share.

From Work Geese

There was a few times when one "Mom" chased another goose away so that the 2 sets of "kids' could eat. You can see her "carrying on" as she chased the other goose away from the grass near the tree...

Here is a slide-show that you can enjoy also!

Another Mother Has Been Lost...

2011-04-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

..but this is a mother of a different kind...

I have been following the Eagle Nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden for a few seasons now. This nest has brought me much joy and many friendships along the way - so I am saddened to inform some of you that the "Norfolk Mom" has joined my own Mom in the heavens exactly 10 days after my Mom's death. You can read the news story here.

This pair of Bald Eagle Parents have successfully had multiple seasons with 3 eaglets...

..and this year started out in similar fashion. The eaglets were removed on Wednesday with some controversy. Ed Clark of WCV conducted an online discussion today providing information that should help calm many. You can read a transcript here. Please read it if you have any doubts about the eaglets being removed.

I would now like to recommend that many of us should donate to WCV to help raise and support the "2011 Garden of Eagle Nest Kids" This is definitely a "family" in need.

Both photos are copyrighted and are the property of JRDeal. You may not copy or otherwise reproduce either without written permission from JR Deal

In Loving Memory...

2011-04-19T23:12:00.000-07:00

Mom -You were right - You do have a hummingbird nest in your front tree...

I have named the Hummingbird who is building the nest after you.
I miss you so much...but I know you are enjoying Daddy's kisses...
.

Lil' Miss Princess

2011-04-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

There is a Princess amongst us - and I don't have to go to the United Kingdom to see her!
Princess Grace enjoyed showing off her "Princess Room" when I took her home after our day together last week. You can see how much she enjoys it when you look at the photos below.

I Must Have a Twin....

2011-04-04T00:24:00.000-07:00

...because there could be no other reason that I could get a close-up like this...

This fella followed me around the lake today. I met up with him three different times...and it would have been more if the dog that I went past had not been along the lake edge which kept my new beau away.

One of my "Eagle Chat Friends" thinks that someone who looks like me feeds him -so I must have a twin!

The only other explanation is that he has a crush on me...

Amazing Grace

2011-03-31T00:07:00.000-07:00

I have named used this title for my blog because I am still amazed at how many smiles she gives me each hour we spend together!
I have a short slide show of our time last week - (Please notice the lettering just above the first picture!)

New Blog Postponed

2011-03-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

I am having issues with my keyboard and mouse - so it is too much work to attempt my post ...stay tuned...

Things I Have Learned This Last Week...

2011-03-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

I recently started another new project -scanning all my old photograph negatives. This picture represents what I have left to do. (I have already scanned in over 2,500 negatives.)

Here are a few things I have realized this past week...

I actually did document my first bald eagle sighting in September of 1994.

You need to keep your negatives clean - otherwise you will get white specks showing.

Puppies are cute-even when they catch moths...

Trains will always draw a crowd....

You would never actually believe just how blue Paul Newman's eyes were- unless you met him in person.

The above photos were taken with a 35MM film camera. I have always enjoyed photography and I have decent equipment for being just a "run of the mill" home photographer. I have been using a DSLR camera for about 8 years now but Canon makes their cameras last way too long - how can I justify a new camera when my old one still works as well as it does! GRRRRRRRRR

Those "Darling Cobras"

2011-03-10T23:07:00.000-08:00

We have seen a few different things in our travels -but this is one of the more unique...

This is the Darlingtonia californica - also known as the Cobra lily. It is a carnivorous plant that is considered rare so you really should stop by the Darlingtonia Wayside Park if you are ever near Florence, Oregon.
(It is also just across the street from the Elks Campground on Mercer Lake Road.)

The Sock o' Seeds

2011-03-07T10:48:00.002-08:00

The other day I happened to find one of the "Socks" on sale in the grocery store. I am all about "sale items" so I decided to buy it since the seed date was good until December and once I saw that I could re-use the sock if the birds used it.

Well - the birds like it... as you can see from the slideshow below!

This slideshow is over a three day period - one of the days photos you can see the rain drops. All photos have been taken through windows at the house.

One Of Life's Little Annoyances....

2011-02-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

Chain Letters...you know them -we used to spend time on them when we were younger...you know...back when you had to hand-write 5 of them so you could get $5.00 sent back to you after you reached the top of the list. They were fun because you would run to the mail box each day looking for a piece of mail with your name on it...

never mind that it never came - you had something to look forward to each day for weeks on end!

There is now a new form of Chain Letter..the Electronic chain letter - you know.. the one that warns you of immanent bad luck if you do not send it out immediately to everyone in your address book.

These letters come from supposed friends. Why would a friend send something that is going to give another friend bad luck? I have decided that I will stop any emails that will possibly give another person bad luck- or for that matter any luck or anything else from here on out.

I think I will go one step further - I will send out a polite email telling the sender that I will remove them from my email list the next time I get any type of "You must forward this..." email from them... you may think "a bit harsh"? ... well I don't need any more of bad luck...

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2011-02-20T22:39:00.000-08:00

Today I participated in the GBBC. The "Great Backyard Bird Count" is a 4 day event where people from all over take time to count the many different birds they see and also report what bird species they saw.
I decided I have too many feeders out because there was no way I could count the birds as they flew back and forth to the 4 backyard feeders. (This is very difficult with only two eyes!)
I did not leave the yard so I did not see that many species but I do have a slideshow of some of the different birds I saw. I do have a few of the same bird...he was very territorial of the feeder until he was finished -

There is one more day to participate so why don't you grab a partner and have fun! You can find the instructions at this link.
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The Finches Are Back...

2011-02-15T19:35:00.001-08:00

These small birds are what started me taking photos of birds last year - so I thought I would dedicate a blog for their return this past week...

Lesser Goldfinches:
The Lesser Goldfinch is a small, seed-eating finch of the Southwest. It comes in two forms: a dark-backed one in Texas, and a greenish-backed one farther westward.

Brainwashing Of Our Youth?

2011-02-10T22:08:00.000-08:00

Today I witnessed what I am sure must be some sort of secret brainwashing of our young children.
Please take a look at these photos and tell me if it does not look like this wee one is in some sort of trance...

You will also witness these innocent children following the directions given to them...

...and these small children always answer back the responses that are wanted...

...and this is what is causing this trance...

Be aware of "Dora the Explorer" -it has to be a brainwashing program because no child ever responds as well as they do to Dora!!
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Colusa National Wildlife Refuge Birds

2011-02-10T00:26:00.000-08:00

I decided to add a few photos from my trip to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge. The only complaint I had is that the "Auto Tour" road is not wide enough to pull over so others can pass you if they are in a bigger hurry than you are.

It looks like I saw over 20 different birds this time out. I enjoyed watching the Stilts dance gracefully in the sky, the Geese gander around in the water and the Hawk hunter for lunch.
You can actually double-click on a photo to find the bird type if you are interested.
I hope you enjoy the recap of my drive...

Colusa NWR..

2011-02-07T01:29:00.000-08:00

A trip was made to the Colusa Natural Wildlife Refuge today. It was fun discovering many different birds that I had not see in person before. Here are just a few...

Birds of February First.

2011-02-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

I was able to take a few photos through the living room window of some of my local birds yesterday so I thought I would share them with you today.

These last two were taken in the backyard.

You can see more of these birds and others on my Bird Blog.
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The Other Meaning of Quartzsite

2011-01-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

I have had people ask me why I enjoy going to Quartzsite. I tell them it is more than just the comraderie that the gathering provides....

but it is also about helping each other.

You will always find someone teaching or assisting another with something when you are with this gathering...

...I am sorry to have missed all the new tricks and talents that were shared this year!

The photos used in this post are from previous QZ gatherings...owned by MM

The Quartzsite 13 Plus One....

2011-01-23T22:25:00.000-08:00

William Willard saw how much fun the group was having so he drove over to QZ too - and I have proof!

Thanks again for the video, GoneFishin!

Payment in Full??

2011-01-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

Happycarz claims this is "Payment in Full" ....but I am sure it is only for telling William Willard where to park when he pulled into QZ this morning...and not for the other project below that "BP" had done!

I am sure "William Willard" made it to QZ because he got his new residential fridge in - and what a beauty it is!!

Thanks for showing off, BP - now are you heading to Nor-Cal to do mine??!!
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Quartzsite Crowds...

2011-01-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

I have a few photos from Happycarz plus a photo given to GoneFishin by "Mrs wthomas1" that show a few different types of crowds -
The "Posed" Crowd

"The Golf Lesson" Crowd

The "Girl's Club" Crowd

The "Hot Hot Hot" Crowd

The "Holy Moly-Can of Sardines" Crowd

You can enjoy all these crowds plus many others by coming on down to where the gang is!

..and Now Live Video...

2011-01-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

...well, it was "live" earlier today when GoneFishin' shot it!!
Thank You for sharing this with the rest of us "non-Quartzsite" attendees!

Quartzsite 2011

2011-01-21T20:07:00.000-08:00

I have been getting info and a few photos of the "goings-on" down at Quartzsite in the past 24 hours that I would like to share with everyone.
(Please excuse photo quality - photos were taken for my personal viewing pleasure and not necessarily for posting on blogs)

You can see exlaminator helping unload the firewood that Happycarz has brought down for the second year. (Actually this is well-seasoned firewood because it is the leftover firewood from last year! The weather last year was stormy and wet for many days so the campfire went unlit many nights.)

The following photos are of part of the group that had made it by 3:30 PM today.
(I can give you some of the rig owner names from left to right...
Drifter; GoneFishin/Fishbum; AKBrick/CheetahGal; OLYLEN; and maybe Redryder)

I can only be sure of the last three - from right to left...exlaminator; Happycarz; CruisinCondo(aka Mark92587) and continuing on ...an SOB; I think itDave; and the one on the left end might be Deaton OR Duffys' Mom/Duffy's Dad!!!

It certainly looks like there will be a great turnout! Oh...and by the way...here is a preview of the weather....

Saturday Mainly sunny. High near 75F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday night: Clear. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Mainly sunny. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 40s.
Monday Sunny. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 40s.
Tuesday Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the low 40s.
Wednesday Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
Thursday Sunshine. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 40s.
Friday Mainly sunny. Highs in the low 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
Saturday Mainly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 40s.
Sunday Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 40s.

2011 iRV2 Monaco Quartzsite Gathering

2011-01-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

We have gone to Quartzsite each January to meet up with some new and old RV friends. We will not be making it this year but you can find the rest of the gang if you go to the Green Campsite that is on this map...

(You can also find an interactive map here.)

I hope everyone has a great time and enjoys the weather while you are in QZ ..and know that SacsTC and I are with you in thought!

View iRV2 Monaco Owners Quartzsite Location in a larger map

The Eagles Are Almost Back!

2011-01-04T11:20:00.002-08:00

Some of you already know I am a fan of the Norfolk Botanical Eagle WebCam. The season will be starting soon -but here is a preview of the two. (The previous season has been hosted by WVEC ..I believe it may be the same this year.)

You may notice the view is a bit different from previous seasons. The reason is because the two have been busy building a new nest in a tree which is about 140 feet away from last year's tree.

Reese Lukei from CCB keeps an up to date blog of the happenings at the nest that also has some great photos. (Thanks again Reese and everyone else at CCB that has kept us informed of the "goings-on" at the nest)

You can also order a 2011 "Garden of Eagles" Calendar which will benefit the Wildlife Center of Virginia and will be earmarked for construction of a new permanent home for Buddy.

The New Green...

2010-12-31T23:31:00.001-08:00

Our first Chevrolet Volt showed up and was about to be delivered to it's new owners today - but I was able to get one quick photo of it before it left our premises..

I apologize for the picture quality-but it was the best I could do through my office window with my phone.

This Is What Brings Smiles on Christmas Day!

2010-12-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

I know this is not what Christmas actually stands for...but it sure does put a big smile on my face!!

Rare Sightings

2010-12-21T01:33:00.001-08:00

I stayed up to see a rare sight tonight...A Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse" .

The following tells you just how long we will have to wait to see another one...

(This was taken from NASA's website) This lunar eclipse falls on the date of the northern winter solstice. How rare is that? Total lunar eclipses in northern winter are fairly common. There have been three of them in the past ten years alone. A lunar eclipse smack-dab on the date of the solstice, however, is unusual. Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory inspected a list of eclipses going back 2000 years. "Since Year 1, I can only find one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is 1638 DEC 21," says Chester. "Fortunately we won't have to wait 372 years for the next one...that will be on 2094 DEC 21

Here are a few photos I snapped while chatting with the folks on the WVEC Eagle Chat (Thanks for the reminder, Sioux!)

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Cooper's Hawk Revisited...

2010-12-13T01:07:00.001-08:00

Yes...He is still around-and I think he is here to stay.

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...When Birds Fly...

2010-12-04T09:33:00.000-08:00

We now know to grab the camera and search the skies "when birds fly" ! I saw all the birds scatter and take off for the sky this morning so I grabbed the camera and was able to take these two poor quality pictures before the resident neighborhood hawk took off.

We have caught glimpses of him trying to catch a feathered snack -but we have not actually witnessed him being successful.

Water Play

2010-11-25T23:31:00.000-08:00

Anyone have a clue as to where you can find these birds and more in one spot?

...and the answer is.....

GOSH- I Love My New Job!!

2010-11-21T23:00:00.000-08:00

Where else can you find.... not just one turkey...but...

multiple turkeys under a "Thanksgiving Feast" sign....

or a Sunset like this all on the same day?

Experimental Posts...

2010-11-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

I thought I would experiment today...
These photos are of the Blue Angels. (now let's see if this works...)

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Take a Walk on the Wild Side...

2010-11-18T19:12:00.000-08:00

...No...not the "Lou Reed" walk....but a walk where you can see some of the following views...

New Blog...or Am I Crazy???

2010-11-15T23:00:00.000-08:00

Another Eagle Chat Member inspired me (okay...I admit it - I copied Sioux's idea) to set up a blog that has the birds I have seen - or I guess I should say that I can prove that I saw via the camera lens... so I am officially introducing :

Feathered Friends which is actually located at " www.FeatheryFinds.blogspot.com "

I hope you will give me your feedback and/or sign up as a follower of the blog.

Happy Viewing!!

Birds of a Feather....

2010-11-10T00:22:00.000-08:00

I happened to snap a few photos of different feathered friends today - so I thought I would share a few with you. I hope you enjoy them...

...Smiles and More Smiles!

2010-11-08T22:33:00.000-08:00

I am going to tell you that I found myself smiling "ear to ear" this morning as I drove into work at 8:30 AM...and here is why:

It is foggy and overcast at home and I would normally be driving into the fog and I would probably have gray skies most of the morning at my old job... but as I turn onto the freeway and head the opposite direction I am blinded by sunlight shining through the clouds!

I am smiling as I drive into work and then realize the following song is playing too...Yes - life is better than good!!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

My New Employer...

2010-10-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

Folsom Chevrolet is where I will call my new home away from home...and I can not be more excited!! The dealership is known for treating their employees like family. The dealership also has a great reputation with their customers as you can see at this link.

Another added benefit is that I will be so close to Nimbus Dam and the Folsom Lake area. I bet this will be a Birder's Paradise!

(You can see the water in the map photo below.)

View Larger Map

It will be great to have a smile on my face each day when I go to work again!

YIPPEE!!!

2010-10-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

I am Free!!!

Okay...maybe I am not free..BUT I do feel that I will be working at a much better place when I start my new job soon!!!!

Life Ever-Changing

2010-10-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

Life is like the beach...You sometimes have strong powerful waves that you are always struggling against ...

... or you may experience soft gentle waves that make you smile as it tickles your toes...

...But whatever your life path is... it is ever-changing like the grains of sand being washed over by the ocean.

Dedication or Craziness??

2010-10-22T21:03:00.001-07:00

Many of you know that I work at a General Motors Dealership...but few of you may know that all Automotive Manufacturers expect their dealerships to complete the manufacturer training requirements.

I can remember a few years back that the dealership missed the year-end certification completion by one test. This test was through the manufacturer "Interactive Training Class". These classes are at a set time with a limited number of participants. Can you imagine having a month left to complete the course BUT there are no openings in the class? The dealership was not able to complete the certification requirement because they did not complete one of over 200 tests.

I decided that I would do my part this year to make sure that same circumstance did not happen again this year at the dealership I work at now. I have completed eleven certifications at this time. I have 4 more certifications I will complete by taking a total of six more tests. (I am enrolled in two that are similar to the "Interactive Training Class" and the other four classes are still in development.) I can also take 4 other tests to be certified in the Parts Department area but they will not be needed for the dealership certification.

I bet this might be of value to other GM dealerships as well as the one I work!

Here is my Certifications List as of today:

GM CERTIFICATION
Status as of: October 22, 2010

Top Honors

Body Shop Manager 100% N/A

Certified Internet Manager 100% N/A

Certified Internet Service Manager 100% N/A

Collision Consultant/Estimator 100% N/A

CUV Sales Consultant 100% N/A

CUV Sales Manager 80% N/A

Partner Security Coordinator 100% N/A

Parts Consultant 70% 0%

Parts Manager 80% 0%

Sales Consultant 90% 100%

Sales Consultant - Commercial 100% N/A

Sales Manager - Commercial 100% N/A

Sales Manager - New 88% 100%

Sales Manager - Used 90% N/A
Service Consultant 100% 100%
Service Manager 100% 100%

Northern Flicker Play-Time

2010-10-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

I was enjoying a cup of coffee this morning when I heard a different bird call. I grabbed the camera just in time to catch this male Northern Flicker landing in the backyard tree.

Here is a series of photos of what looked to be a "courting dance" - but I am unsure if that is what was going on.

I hope you enjoy the photographs....

I also included a slide show at the bottom of all the pictures I took.

Dedicated To My "Special" Friends

2010-10-14T23:03:00.000-07:00

This Blog has an offensive rating- Please do not allow small ones around....

This Blog is dedicated to all my "Special Friends"..and also a few that don't even qualify as that...

Evidently Jimmy Buffett does not have a You Tube video of his version of a song with a similar name (which is I was really looking for) but I have included the lyrics to his song below...

Jimmy Buffett..."Dickhead"

He ain't nothin' but a Dickhead.
He's been one all his life.
If he ever gets married
he'll be a Dickhead with a wife.
He's got no damned excuse.
God knows how he tries.
He'll be a f * in' Dickhead until the day he dies.

He's got a pretty girlfriend
and he flirts behind her back.
He looks at other women,
tries to get them in the sack.
He tells her that he loves her,
then he doesn't call for days.
When it comes to bein' a Dickhead,
he's got a million ways.

He ain't nothin' but a Dickhead.
He's been one all his life.
If he ever gets married
he'll be a Dickhead with a wife.
He's got no damned excuse.
God knows how he tries.
He'll be a f*in' Dickhead until the day he dies.

When he's out drivin' he's a Dickhead in his car.
When he's out drinkin' he's a Dickhead in the bar.
When he's at a party he's a Dickhead drinkin' beer.
He's got to be the winner of "Dickhead Of The Year".

He ain't nothin' but a Dickhead.
He's been one all his life.
If he ever gets married
he'll be a Dickhead with a wife.
He's got no damned excuse.
God knows how he tries.
He'll be a f*in' Dickhead until the day he dies.

If he's got no job he's a Dickhead out of work.
If he's got no manners he's a Dickhead and a jerk.
If he's got no money he's a Dickhead with no class.
If he's got no brains he's a Dickhead and an ass.

He ain't nothin' but a Dickhead.
He's been one all his life.
If he ever gets married
he'll be a Dickhead with a wife.
He's got no damned excuse.
God knows how he tries.
He'll be a f*in' Dickhead until the day he dies.
He'll be a f*in' Dickhead until the day he dies.

Giggles & Glee!

2010-10-07T12:32:00.000-07:00

We spent some time with Granddaughter and her parents yesterday with many smiles being shown all around. She is quite smart and says some of the funniest things - even though she is only two!

She definitely is a day-brightener!

You can see where the bubble has just popped in this photo!
Hand Puppet Fun!

She is such a happy little girl! Gran'pa even admitted that these two parents are doing an excellent job with her. Don't change what you are doing, kids!

We are very proud of you both. Keep up the great job!!

The Definition of "Ogre"

2010-09-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

I had a conversation tonight where the thought of an "ogre" came up. I decided to look up the word and found this definition of "Ogre" on Wikipedia.

Painting: "Norandino and Lucina Discovered by the Ogre by Giovanni Lanfranco

An ogre (feminine: ogress) is a large, cruel, monstrous and hideous humanoid monster, featured in mythology, folklore and fiction. Ogres are often depicted in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings, and have appeared in many classic works of literature. In art, ogres are often depicted with a large head, abundant hair and beard, a voracious appetite, and a strong body. The term is often applied in a metaphorical sense to disgusting persons who exploit, brutalize or devour their victims.

I can tell you firsthand that not all ogres possess "abundant hair" and Ogres do come in many forms. I think people have known at least one ogre in their lifetime. My Ogre is someone that I have worked with in the past. He went to jail for a weekend once for beating his now ex-wife. She has since divorced him...but this is not his only fault. The Ogre knows how to lie and manipulate people also.

Beware of my Ogre and any others that you may meet.

Commonalities Answered....

2010-09-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Young Cooper's Hawk

Bounce House

Two Candles

Kenny Lattimore

Boney James

All of these things happened on September 18!

Happy Birthday Grace!!!!

Commonalities?

2010-09-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

I think this is called a "teaser" blog...but can anyone take a guess what the following things have in common??

Young Cooper's Hawk
Bounce House
Noise
2 Candles
Easter Seals
Kenny Lattimore
Boney James

...stay tuned...the answer will be posted in the not so distant future!

2010-09-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

Calendar Photo courtesy of Tim Fearington

I just wanted to remind everyone who has not ordered this gorgeous calendar that it is now available to be shipped to your mailbox!

This calendar benefits the Wildlife Center of Virginia & "Buddy". The Wildlife Center is a nonprofit group so you will be able to write off these calendars as a tax deduction too.

The story of Buddy is a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story at the same time...You can read the story and see that the funds from the calendar sales will be used for a great cause!

You can place your order via the Web. Copies of the 2011 calendar may also be ordered by telephone through the Wildlife Center of Virginia reception desk at (540) 942-9453. The Center’s front-desk is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. They accept the three major credit cards - so have one ready when you call to place your order.

Crime in Small Town Americana

2010-08-29T22:16:00.000-07:00

I have always felt safer in the smaller towns in America-but that feeling is no longer there for me. There seems to be an increase of crimes in the small towns of America and I am unsure why.

I have found statistics that covers a 2 year period of time for a town in Northern California that I am very familiar with.

It is hard for me as a female to realize that 41 women reported being raped in that time frame. I cannot imagine how many rapes were NOT reported. (We all know many women do not report this type of crime.)

Can you also imagine 170 assaults occurring? That happens to be more than 130% of the national average. That number is hardly a drop in the pan when you realize that there have been more than 460 auto thefts in this town. That turns out to be more than 400% above the National Average...but even more staggering is the amount of thefts for the two years. There were over 2300 thefts which is more than 20 times the National Average.

I also wonder what type of losses employers in other "small towns" may have suffered due to damages or losses that have happened already - not to mention the guilt that might be incurred due to a female employee being assaulted.

I can honestly say that I will never feel safe in this part of "Small Town Americana" now that I have actually read these statistics...even if it is just walking to my car at night.

Statistics were taken from this location.

Crazy Mama

2010-08-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

QUESTION: Who in their right mind would go "camping" and stay in a non-shaded area in a small compact space while enduring 110* temperatures??

ANSWER: Someone who wants to get away from the phone, the chores at home and yet still have all the comforts and conveniences of home.

(PS...you need 50amp service so you can run both ACs!!)

Pool Play Time

2010-08-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

I was blessed with a visit from an Eagle Chat Member and part of her family yesterday. We met because of the Norfolk Eagle Cam that we both followed this past season. She is traveling with her daughter and grandson to a family gathering but was nice enough to adjust her schedule in order to spend time with some of my family and me.Our grandchildren are only a week apart in ages so we tried to make the visit more of a "play date" for the two grandchildren. I am sharing a few photos of the some of the fun we had.

We will have to plan a visit just so the adults can visit next time, kdg! (The only discussion we had in reference to the Eagles was about the calendar that we are ordering again this year. (It will be a great calendar if it is half as good as the 2010 calendar!)

Mindless Tasks

2010-08-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

This really is a "useless matter" blog topic tonight but it was what popped into my pea-brained head...I started wondering why many claim that females are better "multi-taskers" then men are and here is one thought on it...

Females are taught to do housework when we are young...things like dusting, mopping, sweeping or any other basic cleaning chores. These things require very little thought so we hone our skills over a short period of time. We soon are able to do something else at the same time in order to occupy that empty thought process of cleaning (like talking on the phone). We continue to add things as we become more proficient in each task...which gives us the word "multi-task".

The reason why many men are not good multi-taskers is because what else can they do when they are mowing the lawn??

(Okay - it may be stupid...but this is my blog and that gives me the right to type what I want!)

Hummingbird Fun

2010-08-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

You can hear just how a hummingbird sounds as you watch them eat and chase. Listen closely and you can hear a Mourning Dove coo in the background....(YouTube video is just below.)

Precious Moments

2010-07-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

No Explanation Needed

Twin Pins - Okay, Maybe not...but close!

2010-07-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

Our Miniature Pinschers have been in the family for almost 5 years now so I felt it was time to share some of my "Twins pics".

We chose Rusty on June 22 of 2005 when he was less than 2 weeks old. We decided to get a female a few months after we brought Rusty home. Both of our dogs are from the Prancealots Miniature Pinscher Kennel. Our pups are even featured in a Miniature Pinscher book. (I guess I should break down and buy the book one of these days...)

We have traveled there and brought each puppy home so I can honestly state that I have never seen a breeder that has such a clean and loving environment as what you will find at Prancealots. Robyn..I want to thank you again for giving us such an entertaining set of "twins"!

Unanswered Questions...

2010-07-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a co-worker today and realized there are a few unanswered questions that we pondered but could not come up with the answers. We are not sure if there are any real answers - but why not ask them here to see if anyone else has any insight...

Some people at work will understand this better than others - but...

"Yo Dude...really - how did those sunglasses actually get into your pants pockets? You know they weren't yours."

Can anyone answer just how a pair of sunglasses that are yours can end up in another person's slacks pocket when you didn't give them to the person?

Can anyone tell me why people who have such great talent in some things have the attention span of a gnat?

Many of us have worked with people who are so skilled and are talented in one manner- but cannot stay focused on some of the simplest things. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

...and the last question...

Why do people who get picked up for "Driving Under the Influence" still continue to "drink and drive"?

This has always been something that I have wondered about. You will find some interesting facts about Drunk Driving here.

You see, I was hit head-on by William D. McCauley on February 5, 1995. Mr. McCauley was booked with over a .21 Blood Alcohol Level that Sunday night. I was off work for over a year going through physical therapy. The pain was so bad at times that I wished I had died. I will also admit that Mr. McCauley passed me one time years later on the freeway - driving recklessly - that I almost called 911 and reported a drunk driver. I also checked the paper the next day to make sure there had not been any accidents between where I was and Elk Grove.

The one moral of this blog - Please do not drink and drive - the life you save may be your own or someone else that has more to give than you....

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

2010-07-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

I found a great place to visit when in the Redding, California area. It is the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The main reason for my first visit was to see the Bald Eagle nest. Liberty and Patriot are the parents of three bald eaglets again this year...but the reason for this blog is to tell you about many other wonderful things to see and do around the Exploration Park.

You will find a very unique "pedestrian" bridge appropriately named the Sundial Bridge. On the east side of the Sacramento River you will also find the McConnell Arboretum & Gardens with some very different areas.

There is also a Museum, a railroad historical exhibit, a Turtle Pond and a children's playground - plus many more things as seen on the map.

I will also suggest going early in the day if you are visiting during the summer months. It will be much cooler then. You will also be able to enjoy a cool beverage or lunch at the Cafe at Turtle Bay when it is time to get out of the sun.

PS...don't forget to stop and enjoy the turtles in the turtle pond near the river as seen in that slideshow...and here is the other slideshow of the first visit to the Eagle Nest

Birds to Share

2010-07-08T22:43:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share my "Birds" slideshow tonight. These are some of the birds I have been able to photograph in the recent months. I have been using a great book to help me identify the birds - along with some online friends. The pg numbers reference the page number of the book.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed taking them...

The Garden of Eagles

2010-07-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

This year I started following the Norfolk Botanical Garden Eagles via a live web-cam. It has been a great learning experience along with "meeting" new friends via the "Eagle Chat" which has been sponsored by WVEC TV.

(Calendar Cover photo courtesy of Tim Fearington)

The Eagle Cam has many different groups involved...with one being The Wildlife Center of Virginia. This Center depends largely on donations to do what they do and one way they have found to help raise money is to offer a calendar where photographers have donated their photos of the Norfolk Eagles that were taken throughout the nesting season.

(photos courtesy of S. Taylor)

I believe this is the second year for the calendar project. I did buy one for 2010 and it is beautiful! You can now pre-order your 2011 Garden of Eagles Calendar so you can have them in time for Christmas presents or just so you start the new year with a fresh calendar. It is for a great cause plus you will have some wonderful photos to keep after the year is over! I am sure you will enjoy them as much as I have this year!

Here is a sample page of the upcoming Calendar...

November Calendar Photo Courtesy of James R Deal

Please click on calendar for an enlarged view.

Birds, Birds And More Birds

2010-07-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Little did I know that I would take a new hobby just from viewing a live webcam of a bird nest...but I have.

I have started to take photographs of many different birds.

The process does not stop after taking the picture. I will then try to identify them. One of the best books to identify a bird happens to be this book. I have found it at Costco for about the same price - but some money is donated to a wildlife rehab center if it is ordered from that specific link.
You should really look at the birds around you. They are not as drab as you may think! I will share other photos here soon -

Pretend Friends...

2010-04-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

There are all types of friends that we encounter in our lifetime. Most of these friends are good friends...but not all friends turn out that way.

There will be some of our friends that we will have for the remainder of our lifetime. This is the friend that you may not talk to for a month or a year-but it makes no difference. it is like you talked the day before...nothing can break that powerful bond.

You may also have a childhood friend. You will have nothing but great memories of times spent growing up with this friend. This is a person that you would enjoy finding again and reliving those memories.

And then there are people you thought were your friends - these are the people who will treat you like a friend. They will let you believe they are trustworthy and would never do anything to betray your confidence. These are the people who will talk bad about you and laugh behind your back. They do not have the guts to say it to your face -and they will more than likely deny ever saying anything.

I have decided that these types of so-called friends do not deserve my friendship. My friendship is something that I choose to share openly with people I know will not hurt me on purpose...so those of you whom are my friends..I would like to say "Thank You for Being My Friend". For those of you who are in the other group - please feel free to look into your soul and ask yourselves why you are the way you are.

Lost....

2009-10-17T21:29:00.001-07:00

The word "Lost" can mean many things to many people...

You may have "A Moment Lost" as in missing that perfect moment of a sunset ...

You may have a lost friend - someone that you may have lost contact with over the years. (Try to locate them on "FaceBook" - You might be surprised who you might find there!)

There may be a "Lost Opportunity" -like that perfect job opening that you ignore for a few days too long - only to find that they "found someone" while you procrastinated.

. ..or what about a lost dog .. and the feeling you have in the pit of your stomach until that furry four-legged friend runs into your arms to give you many "dog-breath" kisses.

...and of course - there is the "Lost Love of Your Life" . You may never be sure when you meet "The One" - you may even ignore it when it is there...and sometimes you won't even know it is there until years later. Don't miss your "Lost Love" - Open your eyes - open your heart - take a chance...otherwise there is a good chance that you will be one of those who will realize it "years later"...and then it will be too late....

Oregon Attractions...

2009-10-07T23:10:00.000-07:00

I was telling a friend about a few of Oregon's attractions when I decided it would be easier to produce a "google map" with the locations. It then dawned on me - others might like it also - so here it is! (Make sure you zoom out on the map...there are many 'attractions' all along the coast and also inland!)

Make sure you click on this link of the map- you will find descriptions and some links on many of the attractions listed.

View Oregon Coastal Sights in a larger map

Picasa Fun!

2009-10-04T22:30:00.001-07:00

Have any of you used Picasa before? It is a free photo program that makes it simple for many people to "fix" their own mistakes - or you can even show your creative side.
This program will allow you to do many things- from straightening your picture to correcting the color or even making it a black & white!. Here is a picture I took but you will see a few minor changes along the way.

This program will do many things for you - including keeping track of any photo on your computer. You do NOT need to be an expert..I just want you to go and play!

Just Plain Fun Stuff...

2009-09-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

I happen to be an Administrator on an RV Forum -as some of you already know. It is a great place to meet and help new friends with miscellaneous questions or problems.

It is also a great place to make folks look and think about things.

Right now I have posted a few photos of a project that my husband has just completed...but the members are asking the wrong questions!

If anyone reads this blog in the next day or so - you will see the inverter in my photos is not the normal gray color of the factory installed inverter. That inverter is the Magnum Energy series.

We have replaced that inverter with the MagnaSine (or MS) series. This is a "Pure-Sinewave" inverter.

Many of us Monaco RV owners have gone to seminars on inverters. One of the things we were taught is that the Pure sinewave inverters are white - the other inverter is gray.

So - just in case you are a forum member -go look at the photos in this thread . The inverter clearly states MagnaSine on it and it is white. Now you know the answer!!

Syrupy Sweet

2009-09-30T00:54:00.000-07:00

This post is of a different type. I am not sure that many people realize just how hooked on sugar - especially refined sugar - that we all have become.

I am sure very few of us realize how much sugar we consume. Do you have any idea how much sugar we should have each day? The answer is preferably zero for refined sugar - but they recommend no more than 40 grams per day - and this includes all the natural fructose/sucrose or any other type of sweetener you would think of.

I would bet that only a handful of you know that 7 grams of sugar is the equivalent of one and one half teaspoons of sugar ! Who knows how many teaspoons equal 1 cup? (48)

Are some of you good with your math? Any idea how many grams are in a bottle of "Ensure" and that the amount is very close to a non-diet soda?

My point in all of this is to make many of us aware of the sugar that is being consumed -even by our parents.

I hope many people try to cut down on the amount of sugar that is being consumed. It is in everything we eat or drink and I have no doubts it does effect us later in life - I have seen it first hand....

Northwest RV Supply Does It Again...

2009-09-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

There is more than one thing that Northwest RV Supply does well so the title of the blog may fit many different circumstances. You should know that this would be like a "Do-It-Yourself" RVer's candy store with aisles and aisles of stuff crammed everywhere! You never know what you might find there ...anything from those silly little curtain hooks that seem to just disappear
or the "Smart Wheel" steering wheels.
You just have to know that you may find something you are looking for - along with something that you did not know you needed until you see it. (They specialize in Monaco and Country Coach surplus supplies.)

Joe & his staff tend to always have smiles on their faces even when that silly entrance doorbell won't stop dinging or when they have "crazy ladies" holding on the phone.
You will find an online store at their website ...but you should always call - even if you don't see what you are looking for online.
...I would suggest you call Joe and the crew toll free at 866-678-7467 if you are looking for something (they ship all over) or better yet, stop in at their location on the south end of Eugene, Oregon. (Just remember to tell them you want the "MonacoMama discount"!)

Hospice Care..Is It For You

2009-08-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

I have finally experienced hospice care giving first hand. It is not something that I would wish upon anyone - after all...it means you are having to deal intimately with death. Not many people are comfortable with this fact. Some people have a hard time even admitting to themselves that a family member is terminally ill. That type of person I think would not be able to handle hospice care in their home.

Death is part of living. It just happens at the end of life. We personally found that it was easier to have our family member with us the last couple of weeks of his life - than to have him anywhere else. It is something that we do not regret doing. We know he was given the best care possible with more personal attention then he would have had anywhere else. His smiles and antics made the very private things we did for him worth every moment.

There are cons - you must be able to handle death and admit it is going to happen. It will also more than likely happen with you there and it is going to happen in your home. Can you handle those facts? Another con - Will the spouse be there? We also had the mate here and now they now cannot look in the area where the bed was without deep sorrow. Their partner died there ...nothing can change that. Will they ever get over it... I cannot promise you they will. It has been over 6 months and we still deal with it almost daily.

Would we do it again? ABSOLUTELY YES -it was worth having "Pop" here - sticking his tongue out at me -laughing and smiling those last few days. I know he died with dignity in the comfort and privacy of our home -where he knew he was surrounded with love.

We miss you Pop - but we are glad you are no longer suffering...

Thank You..

2008-11-09T00:07:00.000-08:00

...to the many people who have played a part in my every day life...from cleaning my ears out so I can hear what you told me...

to keeping me on on top of things so I could watch over some of those things I may not have known about...
You also made sure I had many of the fun things that I probably didn't need... Joe at NorthWest RV Supply

...you took care of many of my unknown friends in a caring and professional manner... Deerwood RV Park

along with letting me know the group is "a family" willing to include me in some of the fun...
...not to mention keeping me informed about things that should be done...

And of course to the few who are not pictured..You have all touched my life in a very special way...and you will never be forgotten.

THANK YOU

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