Our Winter Trip

Yes, I know that it is Spring now. But we didn't get to make any trips in the winter. Marshal was having problems with a bone spur on his left elbow, so after two trips to the Salt Lake VA, we finally was able to get a surgery date of March 23rd. This is after we made arrangements to meet his son and family in Moab, Utah the 4th of April. The reservations had been made and paid for at least one night. Marshal's surgery was not scheduled until noon, so we did not have to spend a night in Salt Lake. The only problem was scheduling the follow up visits to have stitches removed. The nurse wanted to schedule it for the 6th of April, said no way, we were not gonna be in town. The stitches had to be removed before or after we got back. After going around and around, finally settled on April 3rd in Pocatello. That nurse was not happy with me. But I decided that since it was not life and death, and we had sat around all winter long waiting on a surgery date, they were gonna work around me for a change!!! We do go back to Salt Lake for surgery follow up on the 20th of April. Oh well.

We left here April 4th headed for Moab. I told the son that the season was just starting in Moab, it would be a good idea to have reservations. When I mentioned going down there on a Yahoo group, a friend let me know that being it was the week before Easter, the Easter Jeep Safari would be in full spring. So I made sure that son made reservations. He had to call about 5 or 6 parks to finally get us sites. Good thing.

We stayed at Slick Rock Campground. I can say a few things about this place. Only use it if you can find nothing else. Sites are narrow and close together. Office help, well, put it this way, she needs a crash course in what is pull through and what is not. I asked if there would be a problem if we parked so that our units could face door to door. She said no problem, as one site was pull through and the other back in. Well, we got there in the afternoon, so had plenty of light to see. Both sites were back in. No way could anyone pull through the sites. Not with full, mature cottonwood trees at the one end of the sites. So we did pull in and the kids when they got there that night, backed in.

The place was packed with those that went to bed early. I assumed that meant 10pm. Which was me. And the others that stayed up later and felt no pain, until morning. There was quite a bit of drinking going on. The kids arrived around midnight and yes, we made noise getting them set up. But as we weren't bothering anyone, we went right ahead. Those that were still up, were feeling no pain.

The first day, we took the kids to Arches National Monument. They loved it. Had to cut it short, as the Jeep started giving me problems. So we didn't dare go far. The girls loved seeing some of the arches and doing some hiking.

Next day was kind of a rest day and seeing what was in Moab. There was a local museum that had lots of fun, interesting stuff. The girls really loved that also. Daughter In Law mentioned that taking a tour would be fun. She checked to see which had the best reviews on line and we went to their office to check that out. We decided that the Sunset Tour in a Hummer for two hours would be the best for all. So that evening we headed to the tour company. The Hummer we were in held 10 people including the driver. Our trail for the evening would be Hell's Revenge. Here is a link that comes closest to what we experienced.

http://hobojeepers.tripod.com/MemorialMoab03HR.htm

We did not do the whole trail. Enough to really experience serious rock crawling. Although DIL is afraid of heights, she didn't kill the driver. But we all had a blast doing it.

At the tour company, one of the women talked about how all Jeep owners are Red Necks and toothless. I proudly pointed out my Jeep to her, grinned to show that I had most of my teeth. Then said I was proud to be a Red Neck Jeep Owner!!!!!!!!!! LOL I don't think she got it!! LOL

I at one time did want to do some rock crawling, but figured, oh well, maybe someday. And someday came. Man, I was having an adrenalin rush for this tour. I did take lots of pictures. If you check the link on the right hand side of this page, you can see them. Had lots that I had to delete though.

On Sunday, we loaded up and drove the Sand Flats road, to the Castle Valley Road and to the Colorado River. This was suppose to be an hour drive that turned into about 2 1/2 hours. But we had fun. Saw some scenery that was beautiful.

Over the years I have been through Moab, even stopped a couple of times for the night. Have been to Arches, Dead Horse Point, and Canyonlands, I think that this trip was about the best one there.

Seems like here lately I am spending quite a bit of time at the computer. So much so, that my hand has been giving me fits. The big problem was that I knitted three sweaters in the month of November. And really didn't give my right hand and wrist much of a rest. So I have overtaxed a tendon I am thinking and have tendonitis. So today got around to doing some thinking. I do have a wrist rest for my keyboard and it helps. Why not a rest for my mouse? So I thought, I could whip a crocheted/knitted rest up in a matter of an hour or so. I did look for a pattern on the internet, but didn't find any that I really liked. I read a brief note that putting in an hot/cold pack would also help. Then saw where several have put rice or barley as stuffing. And those can be heated/cooled as needed. Then it hit me. Why not take some fleece, make a little bag, add rice, and viola, a wrist rest for my mouse!!!!!!!!!!! I just happen to have some leftover fleece, sewed three sides, added about half cup of rice, sewed the fourth side and here it is in all it's glory. Fleece doesn't have to be turned and the seams can be plain as I did or fancy. Depending on your mood. Sure does work nice.

Gosh, where does time go? I haven't posted anything here since the end of October. I have been on line, but just have not felt like putting anything here. I have been busy getting Christmas gifts made up, dealing with doctor's appointments for Marshal and my mother. And the first 3 months of the new year have quite a few doctor's appointments for both of them. I want to get all the doctor stuff out of the way, so that I can go camping and traveling.

I have been busy with different crocheting and knitting projects over the past couple of months. Several of the things that I have made have been a couple of Kindle covers, a netbook cover, an IPad cover and three sweaters for Christmas.
This is the first Kindle cover I made. The oldest granddaughter received a Kindle for Christmas a year ago. Thought that maybe she would enjoy having some kind of cover to collect dust. She is reading all the time, so I don't think her Kindle will spend much time in it's cover. Found a pattern some place on the internet using sock yarn, which I just happen to have in my stash. I also had the buttons saved for a project like this. She fell in love with it.

The next project was an IPad cover for grandson's IPad. At four years of age, he is a pro using the IPad. In fact, he showed Grandma how to use it. I asked him if he would like a cover and what color did he want. So here is it. This one is crocheted. It is also a pattern that I found on the internet. I am gonna have to write down the sites that I get patterns from.

On the way home from our last trip, we stopped in Pagosa Springs, Colorado to visit with a brother of Marshal's. One afternoon we went shopping in Durango. That Walmart there happen to have the netbook I had been looking for, but was unable to find one here around home. So I bought it. So when I got home, that meant I needed to have a net book cover. I used purple yarn for this cover. It shows blue though here.

Then it was time to see what I could come up for Christmas for the grandchildren. Decided to use a pattern for a hoodie sweater on the Lion Brand website to make sweaters for the three grandchildren.

This is the sweater for the grandson. I thought that camo would make a good choice for a little boy. Then for the girls I used mint green and light lavender. Was able to get all three sweaters done in plenty of time to ship them for Christmas. The kids love having the sweaters. I did do a couple of slight modifications to the sweaters so that they would fit better.

We stayed at home for Thanksgiving. Did go to the truck stop with friends for dinner.

In November, we did receive a good snowfall. It came down pretty good and stayed for awhile. At the time, we were thinking that we were gonna not see the sun until March or April. So far, we really haven't received any more snow or rain. Just slight amounts. But it has been cold.

For Christmas, we stayed at home. We did go to the free Christmas Dinner at the Senior Center.

For Christmas, one of the gifts I received was a Kindle. I have figured out how to use it and have downloaded several books to it so far. I did want a different type of cover for it. So used plastic canvas and needlepoint. No pattern, just did what I felt like doing.

New Year's found us at home.

Hope that everyone has a fantastic Happy New Year.