Enjoying Pasta

We went to Wildflower Bread Company Cafe for dinner one night. We love Wildflower. Here is a photo of Piper enjoying her pasta. Grandma had pasta, too.

Swing, Taylor

I love this photo of Taylor in action. I took it when I was in Arizona.

At the library

I am using a computer at the library. My computer is buggy and is at the repair shop getting scrubbed. I should get it back later today or tomorrow.

Little Flag Quilt

I made this little flag quilt many years ago. It is about 12 x 17 inches. For a while it hung in my cubicle when I worked at Willitts Designs in Petaluma, CA

Fabric

I stopped at only one quilt shop while traveling. It was in Battle Mountain, NV. I bought on sale a yard of Japanese fabric and a yard and a half of rainbow and butterfly flannel and two FQ's. That's it.

See!!!

Home Again

I arrived home a little after 7 PM today. I'm pooped. I had a great trip. I still need to unpack and check my work schedule.

Waking Up in Winnemucca

I left Rio Vista around 10:30 AM yesterday. I stopped at Ross to shop in Lodi, but bought nothing.
I enjoyed crossing the Sierra's. It was a beautiful sunny day. The sunlight bounced of the snow capped mountains. The traffic going east was light. YEAH!
I drove around Reno and found a Ross and TJ Maxx, but bought nothing. Then I had dinner at a Boston Market. It was ok, not great. From Sparks, NV I called and made a motel reservation as I knew it would be late when I got here. It was almost 9 PM. I really like to stop earlier, but the day just got away from me. (Lousie from SK and I stayed at this motel a few years ago - Santa Fe Inn. It is a nice place with huge rooms, breakfast, and wifi.)
I am really tired. It should be an easy 4 1/2 hour drive today - most on I 80. There is really no place to shop.....er...er...er except for a little qult shop which I think is in Battle Mountain.

Rio Vista

I arrived in Rio Vista on Wednesday evening. I am visiting, resting and relaxing at my sister's home. That's about it so far.

Bakersfield, California

I had a nice lunch and visit with my brother in Palm Springs this afternoon.
The drive up I-10 and I-210 was not my kind of drive. The traffic was heavy - including many big trucks.
I am staying overnight in Bakersfield tonight.

California!

I just arrived in Blythe, CA a few minutes ago.
This morning I had a nice visit with my cousin Becky in Gilbert. In the afternoon I had a nice visit with her mother, my Aunt Ella, who is 94, in Winkleman, AZ.
It was a long day of driving -first on dusty desert roads through the open pit mining area and mountains, later on I-10 which had heavy traffic from south of Tempe and west of Phoenix. It was not fun driving west toward the bright setting sun. I usually do not travel alone at night. This was one time I made an exception.

With Twins in Tempe

I arrived in Tempe just before the appointed time. When I got to the door Taylor came running to give her "grandma" a hug. Piper was more reserved at first. I had to ask for a hug. Later we played games and entertained each other. Piper came around and was her sweet affectionate self. Both girls are very "chatty."
I read "The Princess and the Pea" story to them. We got out the quilts I made for the story and showed them how to pile them up and we found a naked Barbie for the Princess. Later Taylor dressed Barbie in a princess gown. We don't know where in there mountain of toys the "pea" is.
Mark and the girls had a work related event to attend this morning. I am going to go shopping. I still have a gift card to Ross that my sister gave me for Christmas.
I am not sure what we will do this afternoon. We are going out for dinner tonight.

Waiting for 6:30 PM

I am at a McDonald's not far from where my son lives. I am going to meet him at his house at 6:30PM.

Leaving Lake Havasu City

I was up at 6:30 AM. The car is packed up. I am back at McDonald's for free WIFI. I need to stop for gas and then I will be on my way again.
I drove around LHC yesterday. It seemed like a was going around in circles. Maybe I was. In the evening I had a nice visit with the priest and his wife at the church - St. Peter, the Aleut, Orthodox Church.
I was not cold last night. :0) It wa about 11 PM when I went to bed.

London Bridge

I am having lunch (Philly Cheese Steak sandwich and Onion Rings) at the Makai Cafe right next to the London Bridge in LHC. Free WIFI. Yeah!

It was down right cold last night when I slept (or tried to sleep) on my airmattress at my friend's house. Silly me. I didn't bring a quilt or blanket. I did notice a space heater in the other bedroom. I should have used that. I was not thinking. Instead I put on a long sleeved shirt over my night gown. Later I added a long denim shirt to warm my bare leg. Sigh.

I spent part of the morning getting my car interior cleaned up and organized. It looks much better.

Now it is hot here. I have been driving around...including driving over the London Bridge two or three times. There is lots of traffic. Tourists, too. There are big umbrella over the tables. You can see just a little of the bridge above and to the right of the couple. I can't get a good photo with my webcam as the sun is too bright. I will try my camera later.

Greetings from Lake Havasu City

Day 2 - Ely, NV to Lake Havasu City, AZ - so far 412 miles

I am currently at McDonald's for WIFI. There is WIFI at my friend's house, but the reception is poor. I can't use my computer there right now. Maybe it will clear up later.
It was a long drive. I was ok with it. Some times it takes me a day or two to get in the "groove." In spite of: 1. "I need a potty right NOW." And none in sight. Close call. 2. A one lane slow down due to road work. 3. Terrible traffic on the Interstate through Las Vegas. And no I didn't stop. 4. More heavy traffic through Bullhead City, AZ. 5 I-40 really needs resurfacing in this area.
Tomorrow I will have a look around LHC. And rest a little, too.

Coffee is Ready!

I forgot to bring in the Melita thingy last night and did not want to go outside in the cold this morning before I had a cup of coffee. So................. I punched a hole in a plastic cup with a fork, put the fliter in, then added coffee grounds, and poured in hot water. I had to hold it over my cup; but, hey, it worked out quite well. I am enjoying my coffee.
I didn't sleep all that well. Weird dreams. Felt stressed. And the old body is kind of stiff from sitting so long.
I hope I will feel like driving all the way to Lake Havasu City - about 400 miles. But...if I don't, that's ok. It will be a more interesting drive today with places to stop along the way and stretch my legs.

The photo is from my room's window.

Greetings from Ely, Nevada

Day 1 - Twin Falls, Idaho to Ely, NV - 263 miles

It was 1 PM when I left the house. Then I went to Costco for gas so I could start out with a full tank. Next I stopped at the Post Office where I found the state tax refund check in my box . I took it directly to the bank. I didn't want to take any chance on losing it or something. It was about 1:45 PM by then. Just north of Jackpot I heard ping, ping, ping. It was very tiny hail. It was really loud for its size. I stopped for gas in Wells but did not need all that much. I enjoyed the scenery - snowcapped mountains in the distance, interesting sky from dark to light. I saw a few snow flurries. Not much. The road was clear.
There were many RV's and campers heading north on Highway 93. I tried to read the license plates, but they were going to fast. It was easy to spot the Idaho tags with the broad horizontal bands of red, white, and blue. (It is easy to see where Idahoans are licensed on regular tags. We have 44 counties. The counties are listed alphabetically. If there is more than one county with the same beginning letter, then there is a number in front of it. Mine is 2T for Twin Falls. The number and letter come first, then a space, and the rest of the number for the individual. )I am sure some of those Snowbirds were going to Canada. I saw a couple of white and green tags, and one RV had a red maple leaf. I am sure those white and green tags were from Saskatchewan.
I have checked into the Ely Motel 6 about 5:40 PM or so. I gained an hour with the time change. I have stayed here before. There is snow on the ground and it is brrrrrrrrrrrr here. The elevation here is about 6400. It is only around 3400 in Twin Falls.
I brought plenty of food with me - some left over from Easter. So I won't have to spend any money today for food and probably tomorrow, also.

Packing

Laundry. Packing. More packing. My car is getting an oil change. It should be ready soon. The sky is very gray. I think it might rain. I was going to get the car washed, but I will hold off on that.

Getting Ready

Today I filled up the gas tank at Costco. The price was $2.90 9/10's per gallon. It was $41.03 to fill the tank. I have noticed our gas prices going up, up, up.
Later, I went back to Costco to get my tires rotated. And, I called for an appointment to get the oil changed on Monday.
Little by little I am getting ready to get on the road and head for Arizona next week.
I checked the extended forecast for Arizona. The temperature will be in the 80's while I am down there next week. Today we had some snow flakes.