Fall Fun in Arizona

Our vacations include planning different destinations and of course food! One of our first stops on the way to the Grand Canyon was a little cafe with great pies!

This is Dan (as in Daniel Boone), Lloyd and Rayme sporting their coon skin caps getting ready for our adventures at the Grand Canyon. It was rather chilly that morning we were at the Grand Canyon, but it did warm up to a balmy 50 degrees (as long as we were in the sun it seemed warmer).
The first time I visited the Grand Canyon I was in awe, and couldn't believe how beautiful and the creation of it was an overwhelming feeling. It still makes me feel a bit of disbelief of it magnificent wonder.

Another thought, I wonder when the first pioneers came west and came upon this natural creation what they thought?

Cheryle, Dan, Dawn, Lloyd, Donna & Rayme at the Grand Canyon (not to close to the edge).

Dan & Rayme close to the edge. (A little to close for Cheryle and mine comfort.)

The next stop on our vacation was Sedona, and we took a Jeep Tour in the back country. I love gnarly looking trees, and I wasn't disappointed because I was able to take quite a few pictures of the unique looking trees.

I am not sure if you can detect the color of the jeep, but it is Pink! I highly recommend the Pink Jeep Tour in Sedona. We had a great driver - Kristen! No, we didn't let the guys drive!


Definitely a wild ride!

I love taking pictures of the scenery in Arizona.

Earlier I said we like to eat and here is one of our stops - gotta love Texas Roadhouse.

Breakfast outside on the patio in the middle of October!
A vacation wouldn't be complete without a friendly game of Hand & Foot!

And a daily midnight swim in the 97 degree pool. Dawn likes her pool warm, the rest of the us think of it as a big bathtub.

I had a great time with great friends and lots of fun!

It isn't the destination it's the journey. I can't wait until our next journey.

Dutch Oven Delight

Friday night, Rayme & I hosted a Ward Adult Dutch Oven Cookout/Potluck. It was a fun and learning evening. It was to help teach how to use their dutch oven especially under an emergency circumstance, and enjoy the wonderful food.
Being that this is an outdoor event, and the briquette's are used (meaning the use of fire). Weather is a factor, important issue to consider! Yes, again I was watching the weather to try and predict the weather and the forecast wasn't looking favorable. Being in the the great Pacific NW - yep you guess it - rain! As you may understand rain can have several definitions here. When Rayme started the briquette and it wasn't raining yet, and then it started sprinkling after the coals were started and about the time everyone showed up it started pouring rain. Since this event was taking place on your patio (no cover), Rayme fashioned an awning with tarps to cover our guests.
In spite of the rain, we enjoyed some fabulous food, such cowboy type of beans, a couple of different kinds of stews, Carmel apple crisp, and peach cobbler, ribs. Mmmm - good.
Some of the people wanted to know if we were going to cancel the event because of the rain. Rayme's response - No way! If we really had an emergency chances are it is going to be raining.
I would have to say all in all it was a successful night.

New Adventures

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have opportunities to serve in different positions (callings). Since our ministry isn't paid, we all help out. Let me make it clear we don't have a sign up sheet asking for help in Sunday School or working with the youth,etc. Callings are issued with great thought and prayer and are inspired. (Sometimes I think maybe desperation, but I know better.)
Well, I have a new calling - Stake Young Women's Secretary!
Previously I have held callings within the Young Women's organization since my girls where little, and even in the Stake YW. But it has been about 10 years since I have worked with the young women. I have forgotten how busy the youth are. I think in the week or so, I have been to about 3-4 different events, and about that many more are planned for the next week.
If you remember a previous post about being in my PJ's by 6:00 - no more! Maybe we can plan an activity including wearing your favorite PJ's??!!
I am excited about this new calling, and the wonderful women that I will get to serve with. My observation is that people that serve with the youth tend to be more young at heart too. Do you think this is my way of not growing up?

Sickness - NOT fun!

You know Fall is here when everyone seems to know someone that it is sick.
I don't like being sick! OK - that was kind of dumb statement, I really haven't heard anyone say that they love being sick.
Have you ever noticed that being sick always comes at the worst time? It is extremely busy at work, and really can't afford taking time off because of the deadlines are getting closer and the piles are not getting any smaller. Yikes!
But this bug came fast and furious, starting with a little tickle in my throat in the morning and by 2:00 I was down and out. In bed by 3:00 and didn't get up until the next afternoon. Got up just because I needed a new position, and the recliner seemed like a good idea. Thank goodness Dr. Rayme had the day off and keep me supplied with all the needed cold medicine.
Some people need their coffee to get started, well I need my shower (don't drink coffee). You know I am ill when I don't care if I had a shower. That happened twice this week.
The good news I am feeling better today, just don't have much energy. I did have to go to town for the Treasury of Memories big sale, and get a gift card for a bridal shower that I won't be going to because now I have the cough of death. You know the kind, sounds like I've been smoking 10 packs a day for last couple decades.
I think I am rambling, maybe I should lay off the colds meds. :)
Hope the Fall crud doesn't come to your home.

Wonderful Weekend Getaway

A wonderful weekend that started out with a 1 night cruise from Seattle to Vancouver. That evolved into an additional night in Seattle to include a train ride, sightseeing in Seattle (a wild taxi ride, Space Needle, a monorail ride, Pike St. Market, and attending the performance of Phantom of the Opera.)

We had a great time on the train, enjoying the company of good friends and conversation with fun and laughs. Then at the end of our train ride, the passenger that sat behind us informed us that we were the most rude and inconsiderate people he had ever met. And he said all this with a smile on his face. It was the weirdest thing. I kept thinking he was going to say he was joking and tell us to have a good weekend. Nope. The funny thing about this little story is that we were already in our seats before he got on the train, and the train was relatively empty. It just makes you wonder.

There was a few "firsts" that were included in our weekend. One of them was eating at the Space Needle. I was told that it was very expensive to eat at the Space Needle. Let me share with you a little tip - eat lunch. The price of the meal includes your $12 ride up to top of the needle. So the $25 minimum entree subtract the cost of the elevator ride makes it a more reasonable meal price. Right?? It was a little overcast, but it was still fun to see the skyline, and the float planes landing on the lake.

After lunch it was a ride on the monorail to Pike Street Market. This was a first for Rayme, he had never been to market before, and it had been years since I had been.

That night we attended "Phantom of the Opera". I should say most of the guys weren't totally thrilled with the idea of dressing up in their suits and going to the theater, but were good sports and surprisingly they enjoyed themselves. The Cheesecake Factory is one of my favorite restaurants, and what better way to top off a great day then to stop off and have a piece of wonderful cheesecake. Decisions, decisions - I decided on the lemon raspberry cheesecake. Mmmmm.....

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, it was off to the pier to catch our cruise ship to our final destination - Vancouver.

More fun was to be had on the cruise ship!! Food, playing cards, a Band on the Run Show that included the fun songs from the 70's, did I mention good food. Can you guess how many desserts Lloyd had at lunch?? I do have the pictures to prove it.

It was a wonderful memory making weekend.

Update

Ok - I can't believe that I haven't posted anything for so long.

Last week was a busy one for me. Since I usually come home from work and maybe if it moves me I might do a chore or two, and can be found in my PJ's in the early evening. Once the kids moved out I found that the house pretty much stays the same way I left it.

Needless to say, when I have something booked every night and have to stay in real clothes until my later it is a stretch. This last week went something like this-

Went to a REI dutch oven cooking class.

I had 2 scrapbooks to make for some co-workers that are retiring.

Then I had to prepare for Close To My Heart Stamp Club that takes me 1 night to prepare, another night to have the club. I don't know why I do this but I had another club - my scrapbook club the next night.

Go out with friends to celebrate Beth's birthday - fun, fun, fun.

Prepare for my Sunday Relief Society lesson.

I have found that painting my toe nails is something I am not good at - at all! When I went to the mall I found myself at the nail place getting a pedicure and manicure. The pedicure is so nice to look at my toes and have them perfectly painted. But than on Monday when I came home from work I noticed my manicure is not holding up at all. I can't stand chipped nail polish, I proceed to take off the polish. To my surprise it won't come off, nope, nada, no way. Yes, it chips off - but I can't seem to get the rest of it off. Now what do I do to get this nail polish off? And I am a bit disappointed that it didn't last more than 2 days.

I almost forgot the most important thing I did this last week - I sent my first text message on my cell phone. I did it all by myself!

One other thing - the weather has been absolutely gorgeous. Lovin' it!! I have been a little consumed with the weather, not only locally, but with all the hurricanes. Maybe I missed my call of being meteorologist??!! Did I spell it right - that might be a problem.

Weather Update

Just wanted to update you on the weather in my little corner of the world. I am happy to report that yes we had a sunny weekend! OK - I should inform you that it was sunny, but as far as warm - not so much. The picnics & BB Q's we attended over the weekend were definitely benefited from the sunshine. Rayme informed me that he used his "powers" so that we could enjoy the sunshine, and that I needed to thank him for the sunshine success. Thank you! Then he informed me that he could only use his "powers" for good not evil.
Just a side note about attending one of our BBQ, I think I shook peoples hands just so that I could steal some their body heat.