#164 Depoe Bay, OR 12-8 thru 12-14 (only Dixie)

A very wonderful lady, and a great friend, needed some help. So I (Dixie) flew to Portland, OR, where Linda picked me up and drove to Depoe Bay, to spend six days doing computer work, and doing whatever I could do to help her!

Frank stayed with the RV in Indio with Gidget.

December 8, Frank drove Dixie to Ontario airport through the Coachella Valley, a beautiful valley surrounded by snow capped mountains, viewed through the palm trees and gorgeous blue sky.

Our first day in Depoe Bay, we woke up to icicles handing from the escarpment over the ocean water. I know the temperature at one time was 22 degrees.

We walked to the Post Office to pick up the mail and then to the sea wall to view this “unusually” cold snap on the coast! As you can see I was well clothed. Linda said I was the only person on the coast wearing ear muffs. At least my ears were warm!

Linda loves the cold weather, she is only wearing a sweatshirt, no gloves, no hat and loving the ice!

Knowing her best friend was a “sun bunny,” Linda made me a bed right in front of the fireplace. Ah, warmth. I look like a bundled up mermaid!

Duffy, the cat liked my yarn, he also liked getting on the bed in front of the fire. No dumb cat here!

We worked every day on the computer, gathering information, fixing lost icons, and getting reports for the CPA to do tax returns. It was definitely a working week, with a little time off for sight seeing.

Our last evening together we decorated the tree and hung lights over the window. A little tree with pink and raspberry colored decorations. Beautiful.

On the last day, (Dec. 14). I finally packed away my thermal’s and put on regular clothes as we headed to the airport and on to the sunshine in Southern CA.

I missed a big storm that battered Portland the next day. Good timing!

Coachella Valley is sunny, warm in the 70’s and I’m wearing T shirts again! It’s really good to be home, back with Frank and busy getting ready for Christmas.

#163 Ladies Dessert night and Rachel’s Baby Shower.

On Friday, Dec. 4, I joined Nicole, her Mom, Mireko and Aubrey who were going to a Ladies Dessert night with their church ladies.

We had a great time, and I don’t remember the last time I was anywhere with so many little children. And so many good things to eat. My contribution was a couple of little plates of the home-made Almond Roca.

Just part of the goodies that were spread out for us to munch on.

Aubrey and girls playing dolls and tea party.

Aubrey found the big trampoline outside (in the cold) and a friend to jump with her. We had a hard time getting her to stop. Her hands and feet were like ice, but she was having the time of her life. She is a very social 3 1/2 year old. By the time we got home around 9:30 p.m. she was a very tired little girl, as was Grandma Dixie!

The next day we all got together and drove to Lancaster (about 140 miles), for Rachel’s baby shower. Ray drove their mini-van with two car seats, one for Alex and one for Aubrey, Frank and I and Nicole and Ray in the other seats. The shower was at 1:00 pm, and we left about 9:30, with a couple of stops along the way.

The shower was just about to start when we arrived. Laurie’s dad, Lawrence and his wife Sharon along with Lawrence’s brother Jim and wife Juanita were there. They were leaving the next day for a cruise, and the timing worked out for them to attend the shower.

Frank, lower left, making conversation with Lawrence’s wife Sharon. Jim and Nita Martin on couch, and Lawrence in rocking chair. The neat thing about this picture is that Lawrence is sitting in the rocking chair that I rocked Laurie in when she was a baby. (Who says you can’t get along with your exes?)

More food and drink! And more friends and family.

Grandma-to-be, Laurie.

Meanwhile, out in the garage, the grandchildren are beating up a storm on the drums.

Because it was such a long drive back to the desert and the kids were getting tired, we left before Rachel had opened all her presents. But she did have a pile of goodies for the new baby.

It was a wonderful shower and a beautiful day, I’m so happy we were able to all go to the shower together.

By the time we arrived in Palm Springs, the Light parade had started. We found a parking place and took the kids to see some of the show. We were standing in back of the crowd, so it was a little hard to get pictures. Here are a couple of them. It was really pretty, and was cold standing there. We didn’t stay until the end of the parade.

On to La Quinta—another 20 miles—and home with two really tired kids. It was a long and wonderful day!

#162 Thanksgiving-Lancaster and Carlsbad, CA

The Morman Rocks on our way to Lancaster, CA for Thanksgiving with daughter Laurie and family. Can you see the trains in the picture?

We parked the RV at the Lancaster Elks Lodge. It is about 5 miles from Laurie’s, so fairly close and an easy drive with the tow car.

A pregnant Rachel after dinner. She could hardly get out of the chair. We all felt that full. Laurie, Nicole and Rachel made a wonderful dinner.

We all did a little shopping either on Thanksgiving day or the day after, Laurie and I went to K-Mart where Collin works on Thanksgiving evening and took advantage of no crowds. Rachel and her Grandmother Diane went shopping on black Friday, getting up at 4:00 am to get the good deals on electronics. She bought a new video camera—just in time to get pictures of Eldon, once he is born. Nicole and Laurie went shopping on Friday night. One day was enough for this Great-Grandma to be.

Ray and Nicole drove back to the desert on Saturday,

Frank and I moved the RV to Oceanside Elks lodge on Saturday so we could spend time with our grandson, Cameron, who was here from Rutgers for the holiday. We only got to see him for a couple of hours. His flight back to New Jersey left at 6:30 a.m. the next day. But, we’ll take whatever we can get! Sunday, after we got back from church, we went out to a late lunch with Diane, Mark and Andrew. It was a very nice relaxing day. We at at a Mediterranean style restaurant overlooking the water. And the weather was great. Diane is recuperating from shoulder surgery and had her arm in a sling most of the time. Mark has to do everything, Diane supervises. She returns to her job on Monday. Typing on the computer should be quite a challenge.

Sunset on the West Coast, what a beautiful sight!

Monday we packed up and left the ocean and headed back inland to the desert. Tuesday Dixie has a Dr. appointment for her annual check-up.

#161 Indio, CA – Nov 17, 2009

As we park at the Indio Elks Lodge RV park, our map of the states we have driven through and visited only shows three missed, North Dakota, Nebraska and West Virginia. Guess we are not through with our travels and will have to start planning next summer. Of course Alaska is a state we haven’t visited, but we think we would rather not drive there! (Maybe a cruise?)

Frank is doing so well, if you didn’t know that his right side wasn’t working last month, you couldn’t tell anything was wrong. I know the sunshine and being able to walk outside has helped immensely. He is back to doing his exercises, too. Can’t keep a good man down!

La Quinta City park for the afternoon, with blue skies and not a sign of rain!

Who wants to grow up when you get to spend time with granddaughter Aubrey at the park, with her “puppy?”

We are so happy to be here and to wearing our shorts again. Just the way a November day should be!