Monday, August 4, 2008

Catch Up Monday



Jim is off walking on the high school track and I'm taking this opportunity to relax and catch up with the world of blogs and bloggers. Before sitting down to the computer, I made myself a nice tall iced cafe mocha. What a nice treat on this perfect late summer day.

So, where do I begin? I've been away so long. We spent Wednesday through Sunday with our friends, Bruce and Shelly, in their mountain home. We laughingly call it the cabin, but it is somewhat more elaborate than a cabin. We have been going there for fourteen years. Bruce and Shelly are so very generous that we feel as much at home there as we do here.

It rained some every day but Friday which was a blessing, as that was the day we planned to take a cruise on Racquett Lake and tour the first of the "Great Camps" built by William W. Durant. The day started out a little "iffy" but by lunch time had turned into a sunny, mild day.




This cruise boat was built by the family of the captain and the entire family works on the boat in the summertime.

We boarded the boat at 8:30 AM and took a short ride to the island where Camp Pine Knot is located. The camp has been owned by Cortland University since 1948 and is rarely open to public tours. We felt really fortunate to be able to have this opportunity to see this camp.

This is the recreation hall and probably the most ornate of the buildings. Can you see the W, for William Durant, in the peak? Also note the ornaments on the side of the window in the second picture.





After we toured the building with this rug, there was a little girl about four years old who kept asking her mother about the bears. "Are the bears in the woods?" "Can the bears smell us?" "What do bears eat?" While her mother was quietly telling her that bears ate berries and nuts, etc., the older brother added "And little girls". Brothers!!



We had toured other of the great camps, but this was probably the best guided tour we have had yet. Just a few more pictures.



I was really impressed with the dishes in the dining hall. These plates would have made a great souvenir.



This is a pine knot, but not the one for which the camp is named.



Bruce and Jim sat down in this really cool swing and said, "Okay, Pam. Blog this."
So here it is.

Back on the boat, we had a really delicious buffet lunch and cruised the the length of Racquett Lake which is named for the pile of snow shoes left on the shore by some escaping soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Racquett being the French word for snow shoes.



Friday afternoon Shelly and I sat on the deck in the sunshine. That was our last day of sun. It rained and was cold the rest of the weekend. We didn't mind at all. We had warm clothes, good company, plenty of food and great books. We talked, laughed and read our way through the rest of the weekend.

Back at home, today, I'm truly playing catch-up. I had a physical therapy appointment this morning. My wrist is coming along, but very slowly. I still have some pain and it is stiff and weak. Everyone says to be patient - and I'm trying.

After therapy, I ran out to the mall to buy a gift (and some new capris - OOPS!). I stopped at the supermarket and a roadside stand (where I bought wonderful blueberries). I came home and made a BB pie for my friend, Dr. Jodie, who is coming to dinner tonight with her family.

I'll close with a picture of the pie and go and began to prepare for my guests.



Y'all come back now, hear?

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

March 29-April 8, 2008



A precious girl







City Center construction in Las Vegas.



Jim and Pam at Caesar's Palace fountain



Watering cans and snails



Butterflies and poppies



Flower egrets in the Bellagio



Beautiful Icelandic Poppies. Could I grow them?



Is this someone's prince?



Father and Daughter in Vegas

Friday, March 28, 2008

March 21-28, 2008



Desert Mobil?



Easter Blessing.



Mt. Charleston










Desert Blooms.



A great day trip.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Death Valley Days

Our kids had no memory of this old classic TV program. We spent some time telling them about watching this program with the "Old Ranger". I had forgotten, until this morning, that Ronald Regan was a one-time host of this show which was on television from 1956-1975. It depicted fictional stories of people whose lives were lived in or touched by Death Valley in the 1800's.

Having watched that old TV show in no way prepared me for the awesome and desolate landscape we were about to view when we drove from Las Vegas to Death Valley on Tuesday morning.

We had lots of laughs driving out from Las Vegas through Parumhp, home of "The Chicken Ranch". Brian and Jim wanted to find a place to buy T-shirts. I think they were planning on sending one to our ex-governor, Spitzer. Whatever, the drive went quickly and before we knew it we were entering the park.

The desert is in bloom. For miles and miles one can see the gorgeous yellow flowers.





Brian had done some research prior to the trip and had a good idea of the things we should see in our short stay, {just a little over 24 hours}.

Having taught about Death Valley for so many years, Jim had some definite ideas of what he wanted to see. Number one had to be the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere, so that was our first stop.




During the taking of this picture, Jim and I got so silly. I think we embarrassed our children. We certainly do have fun together. I think one of the things that keeps our marriage strong is that we laugh together every day.

We went on to a natural bridge, where we saw the young lady hiking in her biking {see my picture blog}. Gretchen climed up to the bridge while the rest of us waved at her. Then it was a ride through an area called "Artists Drive". We didn't stop for pictures, but it was a beautiful drive.

Late afternoon found us at the sand dunes. This is a fascinating spot of huge sand dunes. We hiked out and I was sure glad I had brought my walking stick.



Gretchen and Brian climed this very high dune. The picture is blurry, but I wanted to post it anyway. Jim and I just stook and enjoyed the quiet of the desert. What a time to contemplate the greatness of God.

We were all bushed after a quiet dinner and had an early to bed night. Morning found us ready to tackle more of Death Valley.

We decided to go to the Death Valley Museum at the visitor's center as well as the Borax Museum before going on to the Harmony Borax Works ruins.



The wheel is 7' high.





Gretchen and I regaled Brian and Jim with all the verses of "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah". They were very impressed!!





After this, it was on the a ghost town in Nevada, on the way back to Las Vegas.

March 4, - 20, 2008

In an effort to catch up with myself, I am going to post pictures from our trip to Death Valley all under this one title.



Tin Mountain



Jim and Pam at the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere - I started to grow gills.



This is called "Badwater", not because it is poison but because it is so full of salt that the horses wouldn't drink it.




This is a school field trip. They were leaving as we were arriving and I was pleased!



This is a salt flat. Just under this thin crust of dried salt is moisture. It is really fascinating.



What can I say? It's the desert, not the beach!



Gretchen on the "Natural Bridge" Which, by the way, has a BIG crack in it.



Tin Mountain as viewed from the Natural Bridge.



Gretchen and Brian at "Devil's Golf Course", a really tough place to hike.



Another cool mountain shot!



This was parked in front of the lodge where we stayed at Stovepipe Wells.



A footprint in the sand.



Dunes in the distance.



A hidey hole for a desert beastie!



Dreamin' on the Dunes!!



Another desert creature.