Pictures of our family Seattle to Portland virtual Finish Line Party

Our family, children, and grandchildren were at the STP Finish Line Party with us this year.  We celebrated “together” at each of our homes in different cities in the United States.  It was a virtual celebration, but it was the best Finish Line Party ever!

Jules, Diane, Ian, and Adam celebrated with Fat Tire beer in Seattle, Washington:

Bill celebrated with Kathy’s canned wine in Fort Collins, Colorado:

Bill, it was awfully nice of Kathy to contribute her wine for your celebration, but is her canned wine really any good?

Sean, Emily, Soren, and Sebastian celebrated at Briarlake Forest Park, Georgia:

And Dan and I celebrated in Mesa, Arizona:

As we rode the Seattle to Portland virtual bike ride we each logged our miles on the STP website and were able to watch our team’s progress on-line.  We all had so much fun “watching” each other accumulate miles and cheering each other on as the last day of the STP drew near.  

Our Seattle to Portland ride was a virtual bike ride as we each rode our miles in different parts of the country.  But just because we couldn’t be cycling together, it was no less meaningful for us.  We were a family, nevertheless--together.

It is a wonderful memory to have “cycled” the STP together and to have “celebrated” at the Finish Line Party with all of you, our dear family.  

We finish the Bigfoot Elusive Ultra Run in the the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

On August 1st we began hiking and walking the virtual 206.5 mile Destination Trail Bigfoot Elusive Race.

We crossed the virtual “finish line” 52 days, 6 hours, 3 minutes, and 27 seconds later, eight days before the end of the race! 

Sadly we didn't win.  We finished only 51 days after the winner.  For us, that's close enough!

During the same time we were “running” the Bigfoot 200 we also cycled 580 miles on Daisy, our tandem bicycle.  I'll bet Mr. Big Shot Bigfoot winner didn't do that!  

We look forward to getting out together each morning to cycle and walk or hike.  We feel fortunate that we both not only enjoy, but thrive, on our outdoor activities.  And while we are out having fun (exercising) in our desert, we never get tired of sharing ideas and stories with each other.

Here we are crossing the “finish line“ while hiking in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest:

On September 22 we earned our Bigfoot Elusive 200 belt buckle!

And we couldn’t have picked a more special area to celebrate. 

We set up camp at 7500’ elevation in a small meadow on a mesa above Bear Canyon to the east and Beaver Canyon on the west.  On our adventures Dan drives the Turtle (truck/camper), and I am the navigator.  

The specific spot I had decided for our campsite on this mountain desert trip was four dirt roads off of AZ 260 and each road was more primitive than the previous one.  The goal was to find a campsite that we could reach with the Turtle.....just barely.  That way we would be far out in the wilderness all by ourselves in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

We found the solitude we were seeking with complete silence except for the wind in the trees.  We were nestled up against the pines on the west and south with open skies to the north and east.  

This allowed the morning sun to recharge our batteries from the solar panels on the roof of our camper and to warm up the Turtle and us.  In the afternoons while we worked on our hobbies we could sit quietly in the shade with the sun shining through the trees.  And the camper could keep cool in the shade.  It was lovely.

We didn’t hear the coyotes singing during the nights on this trip, but the first two nights we were serenaded by elk.  It was the strangest sound, sort of like a cross between a flute and a whistle accented by grunts.  Dan said it sounded something like his sister‘s first hour learning to play the flute mixed with the screech of car brakes.

At first we thought it was Bigfoot congratulating us for finishing Candice's Virtual Bigfoot Race.  But then we realized we have never heard a Bigfoot--have you?

It was disturbing and beautiful and oddly comforting as we were snuggled in our little home high up on the Mogollon Rim.  We marveled as we listened to the elk and knew we had found our isolated wild place that we were seeking.

But elk seem to be nocturnal, and it turns out that mid-September is the height of the rut season in Arizona. The bull elks continued to bugle ALL NIGHT LONG!!  And there were so many elk on this mountains plateau that their noises were coming at us from all sides of the camper.  It was no longer comforting! Kept us awake all night.  By the next morning Dan had threatened to hunt down and kill every elk on the planet.

Luckily, Dan brought our sound machine and we closed all of our windows and were finally able to sleep....the second night.

From our first night when we heard the bull elk bugling, we were determined to get a picture of these pesky magnificent creatures...or at least a sighting.  But the only evidence we saw of the noisy elk that roam the mountains at night was abundant elk scat in every grassy meadows  and their “extra large” hoof prints crisscrossing the ancient logging road/trails where we were hiking.

Unexpectedly, on the third night the bugling suddenly stopped and we never heard another peep from the elusive elk.  The bull elk stopped their whistling, bellowing, and grunting our third morning at 8:14 a.m.  We had gotten an early start on our hike and were hiking VERY quietly in a remote meadow hiking searching for these wild beasts.  

Dan thinks that the bull elks were either searching for new cow hunting grounds or they had heard him in the middle of our sleepless night threatening to shoot all the elk he could find.  I think they poor elk were upset that they were disturbing our sleep.

It was kind of disappointing, but for the rest of our trip we slept well with the cool mountain breeze scented with pine needles wafting in the open windows of our little home.  

The hiking was some of our best ever, and that's saying something as we have hiked over 3850 miles in the last eight and a half years while on our road trips.  We continually commented on how peaceful and quiet it was in the forests and meadows.  In five days we never saw any other people out on the old roads and trails where we were hiking.

At Turkey Creek we found an outdoor bar.  I opened for business and served Dan a thermos of wine.

We hiked off trail through the forests and over hills to connect roads that Dan found on his GPS.

As usual, I searched for and found a multitude of interesting rocks and shell fossils.

And Dan very sweetly insisted carrying all my rock/fossil treasures back to our campsite.  He knows I have an arthritic back because of a car accident many years ago, with a titanium disk in it.  He is my big strong Superman!

We once again spent our afternoons working on our hobbies together in this secluded, wonderful, and peaceful mountain meadow where we were camped.

 

Dan progressed well on building his 1930 Bugatti and a 1913 Mercer models.  I just love to watch him at work on his model cars!  

The green Mercer shown below started out as a one-color model, all a plastic-looking yellow.  The fine detail requires a lot of time and a steady hand.  Once in awhile (I hope I'm not busting him) he swears.  I know what's happened then--he has to repaint something because his hand slipped or he has dropped an itsy bitsy tiny piece on the ground that I will help him find.

I started and almost completed the second sweater (with sweet fox buttons) for our other precious little baby granddaughter.

We found a beautiful future campsite with views into a deep ravine and miles of distant hills that are inviting us to explore them.

This was a most wonderful desert mountain trip, but it is always very special to return to our desert home!

September 28, 2020

Dan finished his beautiful 1913 Mercer.  He feels that this is his best constructed model of all that he has completed as of this date.  He has given himself a grade of an A-.  I guess that is his world view....once a professor, always a professor.  It makes me wonder what my grade as a wife is?

This model of an early 20th century car is simply beautiful!  I have given him an A+ for his Mercer (and as my husband).  

Here is the Mercer, already tucked away in our display cabinet. 

Don’t you agree with me.....an A+?

 

Here is what it looked like pre-assembly/painting:

 

 

Grandchildren living in the country

Ryan and Rachelle met in graduate school.  

This is the story that I remember Ryan telling about how they met.  Every morning Rachelle came to class late, balancing her coffee and a big pile of books in her arms.  She would try to sneak into the classroom, smiling and looking sheepish.  And then, EVERY day, after a brief moment or two her books would slide off her desk and crash onto the floor. 

After a few days Ryan would humorously watch Rachelle as she arrived at class, anticipating the books sliding from the desk and crashing to the floor.  He would see her horrified expression that blossomed into a smile, laugh, and apology.  Everyone then knew Rachelle that was there and class could “officially “ begin.

Ryan was smitten and they have been together ever since!

Rachelle had an environmental science degree and Ryan‘s major was engineering and math.  They were getting masters degrees in their fields combined with  a teaching certificate. Their plan was to build a home out in a rural area and they were committed to creating an environmentally friendly, sustainable lifestyle. 

Ryan and Rachelle lived for several years in a 30’ diameter yurt, drove an old car, and saved every penny they could.  They made that tiny yurt into a beautiful, cozy home. They even fit their piano into the yurt, by using it as a wall between the living area and their bed.

Their first two children were born in this little home in the woods.  

They now have their dream home on twenty beautiful acres in the countryside.  They raise farm animals and the children have fun with their pets (both wild and domestic).  There are fields, woods, and wetlands for their children, to run, roam, play, and explore.  

Rachelle and Ryan sent us some pictures of these special grandchildren.  Each picture shows a glimpse into their life at a moment in time.  We can see the inner joy and individual personality of each grandchild. 

Rachelle homeschooling their children:

The eldest in the field near the garden and clothesline (looks like she may have been playing in the pond):

and playing with her kitten:

 

With her mother and her kitten that has grown into a cat:

The middle child loves cars and to build things. Here he is with his Lego vehicle creations:

Harvesting potatoes:

Learning to ride his bike with his father’s help:

The youngest loves to be out in the wild and brings home frogs, lizards, snakes, and just about anything alive he can find on his adventures.  Here he is in his element near the chicken coop:

As a young George Washington (with a wad of sheep’s wool on his head):

Each one of our eleven grandchildren is so special to us and we love each of them so very much!

Spit Pea Soup---------Step by step instructions from Chef Vicky

Vicky doesn't make home-made split pea soup. 

Instead, she makes home-made SPLIT PEA SOUP!

 

It is amazing to watch her.  Takes a lot of planning to get all of the right ingredients.  

First, it starts with a broth.  Here we are at Thanksgiving with Kathy and Bill--where we got the broth. 

 Nooooooo.  

We don't mean that we cooked Kathy and Bill and made the broth.  It is the Thanksgiving TURKEY that we used.  Sheesh.

 That was 10 months ago.  

She starts with the turkey carcass that had been frozen.  Cooks it to make a broth, and then takes out all of the bones.   There is still a lot of turkey on the carcass because we don't strip it after Thanksgiving. We know we will want the extra meat for this soup.

Next comes the dry split peas.  After all, it called split pea soup, although there are many other ingredients in it that might get their feelings hurt. 

Here are the fresh vegetables that she uses.  Maybe they feel it should be named for them, like Leek soup, or carrot soup.

 Don't those veggies look good.  They look almost good enough to eat..........wait a minute.

Here are photos of the stages:

 She adds 3 pounds of ground turkey.

 

And to make it creamier and even healthier, she adds powdered milk.

Then she spoons it into quart jars.  15 meals worth!

Before each meal she will add a can of green beans.  

She estimates that the work involved comes out to about 20 minutes per meal.  So it is a very efficient way of cooking.  For one thing, she only has to wash a few pots and cooking utensils, instead of doing that for every meal.   For another, this soup is not a side-dish, so there is nothing else that needs to be prepared.  It is a full and filling meal in and of itself.

 It is so good.  And so nutritious.  We love it!