#12-15 Bend and Medford, OR and on to Lancaster CA

We are slowly making our way back to CA, before the weather turns rainy and cold.  We stopped for one night in Bend, OR and visited with nephew Joe and Carrie Proulx.  We joined them for dinner at a cool restaurant and then Joe drove us around Bend showing us some to the projects he has worked on with his rock and sand landscaping and building business. 

Next stop was Medford, OR where we were lucky enough to be around when daughter Laurie flew up for the weekend.  Of course the girls had to go shopping.  Here is Teresa Martin, daughter Laurie and granddaughters, Marissa and Terena with Gramma Dixie.  What a fun day we had at the Mall!  Terena is off to college in Klamath Falls, while Marissa finishes her Senior Year at Cascade High School.
We also got to spend time with son, Jeff and wife Kirsten and the boys, Hunter and Austin.  Hunter is in his second year of College this Sept and Austin is a Jr in Crater High school.  We spent a couple of weeks enjoying the fall weather, nice 80 degree days and cools nights.  Then took off to Napa to visit with daughter, Renee’ and all her family.
After leaving San Francisco, (we took the ferry back to Vallejo) we headed
south to Bakersfield, where we met up with our friend Rick Post.  We had a lovely dinner with him and even played a game of Phase 10 at the RV!

The Ferry to San Francisco, arriving at the dock.

On to Lancaster to see our new great granddaughter for the first time and to spend time with our Granddaughter Rachel, her husband Allie and son Eldon. 

Great Gramma with Adele Dixie Ree Ivison.  My little namesake.  Our first meeting!  She also gets to meet Papa!
Grannie, Laurie is in Stamford, NJ working, so we all face-timed with her.  The whole family got into the act.  By looking at the i-pad you can see 4 generations of family.

Gramma Dixie, Eldon, Rachel, Adele and Grannie Laurie on the screen.  Ain’t technology great?
It is getting close to Halloween, so one Sunday while we were in Lancaster, Rachel and I and the kids went to a Pumpkin Patch.  Eldon had a great time!

		At the pumpkin Patch VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Eldon picked out a little pumpkin to take home with him, Adele stretched out and on the ride home they both slept!

A great day with the little kids. 

We left before Halloween, but Rachel sent us pictures of the kids in their costumes.  How cute are our little animals!

Awe!!!!

#12-8 Oregon or Bust 7-3 thru 7-19-2012

We left the Coachella Valley, and 107 degree weather, on July 3 and headed to the high desert to spend the 4th of July holiday with family.  A BBQ dinner was prepared by Allie and Doug.  The ladies did the salads and desserts.  We had home made ice cream and two different kinds of desserts.  Rachel below, is holding up the flag cake and on the bottom is the Rhubarb-Strawberry surprise.  We stayed a week and enjoyed spending some time with the kids.  Rachel and Allie’s new baby is due on Aug 6th.  They are going to be surprised when it is born as they didn’t want to know whether it is going to be a boy or girl.

On our way up to Oregon we stopped at the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge and spent two days.  This is where son-in-law, Peter went to college and he told us we needed to visit the Mission as it is one of the most beautiful.  So we took his advise and spent one morning touring the Mission and the area.

		Mission San Luis Obispo VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The grounds around the Mission are filled with flowers and there is a creek running right through the area.  We walked along the creek and took pictures of the flowers.  Enjoy.

Thursday evening is when the town closes down the main drag and sets up a large farmer’s market, complete with BBQ stands and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.  We went early and had lunch and went to a few of the spots Peter told us about.  One such “landmark” is Bubble gum alley where people have plastered both sides of the buildings with wads of chewing gum.  All different colors and sizes.  Check it out!

		Bubble gum alley, San Luis Obispo VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

After leaving San Luis Obispo we headed to Napa, CA to visit the Elks Lodge there.  We have stayed there once before and really enjoyed the area.  Peter and children, Bray and Lauren came over on Saturday and spent the day with us.  Renee’ and daughter Katherine were on their way to Portland, so we missed seeing them.  Peter drove us to Calistoga and  we visited a winery and played Bocce Ball.  Peter and Frank did a wine tasting while we were there.  Below is a picture of Lauren with my “grannie” glasses on.  Peter is in the background.  Oh, by the way---the girls won the Bocce Ball game!

On to Oregon for a couple of weeks visit with our kids and grandkids in Medford area!
We will stay one week in the RV park Cypress Grove in Gold Hill, then we will move to Valley of the Rogue State park for 10 days.  This should give us time to visit kids and friends in the valley.

#12-7 April, May and June in Indio, CA 2012

Pretty much lots of family this spring.  Three months in Coachella Valley with a couple of visits, one to Lancaster, CA and one to Carlsbad, CA.

		Surprise visit to daughter Laurie’s. VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

In April, right after we arrived in Indio, we drove the car to Lancaster (leaving the RV at the Elks Lodge) and went to visit Laurie and all the family for one night.  We really surprised her as everyone in the family knew except her.  Doug brought her home and we were there to greet her and then all of us went out for Mexican food.  Eldon loves to dip his chips in salsa and eat them.  What a cutie.  He loves his uncles, Graham and Collin.  Mom, Rachel and Dad, Allie get to eat in peace while Eldon hangs out between his uncles.

Back to Indio and we attended Aubrey’s awards ceremony from Awana, which is a Christian children’s program. 

Another day with Aubrey and her mom, Nicole to see the movie “The Mirror has Two Faces.”  Just girls day out.

In May we moved the RV to Indian Wells Carefree RV resort.  We knew we were going to be there at least during the month of May as we both had Dr. appointments all month.  We met up with our friend Phyllis, and went to dinner at the Golf clubhouse where our home is.  What an incredible view, and entertainment as well as a great meal.  Nice job new Canadian owners of the golf course!

Picture of the “big” moon taken through the palm trees at the RV resort.  This is the evening that the moon was the closest to the earth.

Memorial day we spent with three of our grandchildren, Micaela, Alex and Aubrey! 

June brought graduations!  Multiple.  Ray and Nicole graduated from their Timothy Training they have been attending for the last year.

		Andrew’s HS graduation, Carlsbad, CA VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

June 14th, we attended grandson Andrew’s HS graduation in Carlsbad, CA.  We drove the RV over and parked at the Oceanside Elks Lodge and spent the weekend visiting and attending the ceremony.  It was a beautiful evening commencement with perfect weather for an outside graduation.

The next day we all went to lunch together.

Grandson Cameron and Frank.                                        Frank and son Craig.

                        Frank, Craig and grandson Andrew.         Daughter Diane, Frank and son Craig

We spent three months in the desert.  Frank had lots of tests, his eyes, his corroded arteries, his heart, his brain, and his hip.  Eyes were fine, corroded arteries same for the last five years, his heart is in good shape, his brain is still there and functioning.  His hip replacement is good, but the bursa is inflamed.  The Doctor gave him a good shot of cortisone, some anti-inflammatory medications and he is feeling a lot less pain.
While all this testing was going on, Dixie had a procedure done to lift the bladder.  Frank had to take care of her for a week.  That was all the time she allowed herself to be sick!  Only one night in the hospital, thank you Medicare!
As you can see we didn’t do much sightseeing during the spring.  Stayed close to our home.  The last Dr. visit was July 2, and we left July 3.  The weather during this time was good until the last month when it really got hot!  We had a couple of days that hit 111 degrees, but most of the time we had a nice evening breeze.  There was a swimming pool right down the street from our RV, so we did enjoy it most every day.