January 18 - Drew and Erin arrive

Bill, Lenny, Banjo, and I were able to get a short walk in before Erin and Drew picked me up. Since it was going to be a rainy day, we drove to Pensacola to see the Naval Air Museum. 

Erin’s grandfather attended the Naval Academy and then joined the Air Force. He flew in this plane, the M3N Yellow Peril. 

The next Blue Angels pilots!




It was fun crawling into the cockpit of one of the Blue Angel planes. Not much room in there and soooo many buttons to push. 

After the museum we went to visit the cemetery where Erin’s grandparents were interred. 

On the way back to Gulf Shores, we stopped for some sustenance at Emerald Brewery before meeting Bill at Lulu’s, a restaurant Erin used to go to when she visited her grandparents. 

We topped off the night with dinner at Lulu’s, Jimmy Buffet’s sister. Fun place, good food and music. 

April 14-15 - Progress on the roof and T-shirt quilt

Bill spent more time getting the rafters ready for plywood. Need to wait for Drew’s help for that one. Drew had a conference to attend this weekend. 

This is how we go shopping. 

Hauling home what Lowes forgot to deliver. 

Beautiful sunny day. 

Perfect day for some planting. 

Here’s my daily little man picture. Who does he look like here?

Erin made us Frito Pie casserole. Delicious. When I’ve made it, I’ve just made the chili fillings in a pan on the stove. Strawberry shortcake for dessert. We definitely don’t go hungry. 

Erin had a bunch of t-shirts so she wanted to make a quilt. I showed her how to cut the t-shirts down and start to design the layout. 

Let the piecing of the shirts begin. 

Spring is definitely here in Sacramento

Love this time in sunny, warm California. Trees are leafing and budding and flowers are blooming. Walking in Drew and Erin’s neighborhood is awash with so much color and smells. 

California poppies are popping. 

Drew and Erin’s house has roses blooming, too

May 6-7 - Joshua Tree to see Kya and Caleb

Leaving the Sierra Nevada mountains was hard. Crisp air and beautiful scenery but it’s time to head to Joshua Tree where we will see Kya and Caleb. Drew, Erin and Shan and Carl will join us for our last hurrah in the West. 

The town sign is unique. At this time of the year, you may see tortoises in the park. We were not lucky enough to see any. 

This is our view from the camper ... rocky little hill, the high desert. Our campground is a venue for several music fests in the summer. We keep saying that we want to be here for one, maybe next year. 

Dinner at the RV was brats, salad, watermelon and s’mores. Caleb taught us how his family makes s’mores: slice an unpeeled banana lengthwise, fill with marshmallows, mini chocolate chips and wrap in aluminum foil. Put this in the fire for about 5 minutes, take our and enjoy. Thanks for a great new camping desert. 

A very fun night with lots of laughter and so many memories. 

April 27-28 - Hiking the ditch trail and Beale’s Falls and Rough and Ready

On Tuesday, Bill and the 4 dogs and I hiked the Cascade ditch trail behind Shan and Carl’s house. I’m intrigued by the California ditch trail system. California has all these canals or ditches with water in them. Residents who live off of the ditch can use the water. Since Carl and Shannon have the Cascade, they can use the water. Bill eased the RV with the ditch water. 

Great place to get in a 3 or 4 mile hike. 

Then on Wednesday Bill, 3 dogs and I drove to Penn Valley to hike to Beale Falls. It was a little hot, so the dogs needed to spend some time in the water. 

Jax got in to his belly to cool off. 

More wildflowers along the way, lupine and California poppy. 

Made it to the falls. Was surprised to see so much water with the dry weather. Another nice trail. 

On our drive to the trailhead, I had seen a sign to Rough and Ready. It’s an historic town and I wanted to check it out. So, on our way back, we did. What an interesting place. This town was established in 1849 as a mining town during the CA Gold Rush. They preserved some of the buildings. 

In the center is the opening to the mine called Rough and Ready. 

Came back to Shan and Carl’s to rest and wait for them to get home. 

April 21-26 - Hiking, and some small projects

Since our last post was the monumental pavilion project, we’ve been winding down with smaller projects and even had some time for hiking and biking. 

Carl took us hiking along the South fork of the Yuba while he went for a run. 

This is Jax, Shan and Carl’s dog. 

Not a lot of snow run-off this year so the Yuba is low on water. 

Saturday, Drew and Erin took us to a great brewery in Dixon, CA, the Ruhstaller Farm. They grow their own hops and reused an old grainery for their building. Great tasting beer. 

This is their dog Winnie. 

Back to Drew and Erin’s house for a nut burger dinner. Was so excited when Drew lengthened the table we had brought out to them last summer. So happy it’s being used and loved like we did. 

Bill and Drew finished up a small paving project. 

Then back up the hill so Bill and Carl could work on Carl’s ditch water tank install. 

And just so you know I have something to do, I sewed a window seat cover. I had to sew a 36” zipper!  Largest zipper I ever sewed. 

Shan and I spent a little time shopping Grass Valley. The Holbrook Hotel has just reopened after a huge renovation. It is gorgeous. It’s the oldest continuously run hotel in CA. It was first built in 1862. 

Their bar

Since we’ve been here, we’ve had mostly blue skies. But Sunday some clouds moved in. They were happy for a little rain. They are about 20” below normal with rainfall. There wasn’t much snowfall as usual. 

Shan and I wanted s’mores but it was raining ... microwave them when you’re desperate!

This is the first I had ever tried microwaving a s’more. Its a little stringy. . 

Even the moon looks like it’s wading snow(or rain) as my dad used to say. 

Monday was still a little rainy but we got a 5 mile bike ride in before they got more rain. 

We biked the lower ditch trail that went to Scott’s Flat lake. 

Almost flat with just a few hills.