Uncle Evan

Evan Dee Nielson

 July 21, 1930 - March 23, 2012

I had the opportunity to fly with Ed to Austin Texas on Monday April 2, 2012 to attend the funeral of my beloved uncle, Evan Nielson.  It was interesting as I was one of the few people attending that knew him as Evan, rather than Niel.  I guess he was given the nickname Niel in the service years ago and it stuck with him.  When I mentioned to one of the people at the viewing that I was Uncle Evan's niece she gave me the weirdest look, like maybe I was at the wrong funeral!

Aunt Dora Nielson

We had originally ordered our plane tickets from Phoenix to Austin (with a layover in SLC!)  because we were down in Arizona when Evan passed away.  When Dora called me and told me the dates were changed due to scheduling the military honors burial at Ft Sam Houston we decided to pack up all of our stuff and drive back to Utah first, so we called Delta to find out how much it would cost us to change our tickets.  Delta was very helpful - they waived the 72 hour limit on frequent flyer tickets and they waived the $100 apiece for changing flights since it was a funeral.  The lady at Delta helped Ed reschedule the flight on the correct date and flew us out of SLC.  When we got to the airport however, we found that she had mistakenly routed us into San Antonio!!  That meant instead of arriving in Austin at 5:30 for a 15 minute drive to the mortuary for the viewing, we landed in San Antonio - an hour and 15 minutes away from the mortuary at 5:30.   So we rushed up the freeway, stopped at a Dairy Queen to get a bite to eat and get online to figure out how to get to the mortuary.  We arrived about 20 minutes before the viewing was over.  It worked out but it did put a crimp in our plans.

Evan's two children, Thomas Chandler Nielson and Shannon Dee Nielson Reid

So after I gave Dora a big hug and met her kids - I walked up to see Evan.  It didn't look much like him - he had lost a lot of weight and also the puffiness that had been prevalent due to the meds he had been on.

Ed and I had been in Austin less than a year ago and got to see and visit with Evan then, right after he had been put in the rehab.

I saw this tall handsome guy walk into the chapel and someone said "that's Tom, there!"  I wouldn't have known him because the only other time I ever met him was at Daniel's wedding a few years ago and he has lost a whole lot of weight since then - I think he must look like his mom Aunt Jean more than the Nielson side.  Tom took me out to the foyer where his wife and kids were and also Shannon and her husband and kids were.

As I say somewhere else in this blog - Shannon looks like a Nielson. :-)   We both have the square jaw and crooked smile - however I felt like a giant towering over her.  But she was warm and welcoming and both Tom and Shannon seemed to happy to see me again.  I felt the love even though we are all practically strangers.

Shannon

Tom

Shannon's family - Ginny's husband and daughter (Kiera?) , Gary (Shannon's husband), daughters Kendra & Ginny, andShannon

Shannon and Gary live in Tulsa OK

Ginny age 30 and Kendra age 28

Ginny and her husband and daughter live in the same neighborhood right now as Kendra in Kansas City although Kendra will be moving shortly

I have to apologize for my forgetfulness re: names.  I met people and gave them hugs and visited with them and got home and couldn't remember their names.  Please comment on this blog or send me an email and tell me the names and I will correct it on the blog spot.  Thanks

Carolyn and Tom

Tom's family - Tyler, Courtney, Tom, Carolyn, Whitney, Daniel

Daniel - age 29

Courtney -age 25

Daniel is married and lives in Provo UT.  He has two darling daughters (his wife and girls couldn't make it to the funeral but as cute as Dan is I am SURE the girls have to be adorable!)  Dan talked at the funeral and did a marvelous job.

Courtney sang "How Great Thou Art"  a song that she asked to sing and later found out that Evan had requested that she sing that very song at his funeral.  It was also a favorite of her Grandmother Ruby Jean Nielson (Evan's first wife and mother of her children).  Courtney has a gorgeous voice and was accompanied by her mother Carolyn. Courtney is attending a local college in Texas this summer but should return to BYU this fall.

Tyler - age 22

Tyler and Whitney are also students at BYU - they are living back at home in Round Rock, Texas which is just north of Austin with their parents this summer.  Thomas and Carolyn have been scouting for jobs in Utah this last few weeks.  Tom is a lawyer in Round Rock and would like to transfer to the Utah Valley Area to be closer to their children.

Whitney - age 21

After the funeral the Relief Society put on a wonderful luncheon for the whole family.  The funeral was at 10 am so that we would have plenty of time to eat and then drive the hour and 20 minutes to the Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery.  The family was informed that the military services were to begin at 2:30 pm with or without us.  They have the cemetery very solidly scheduled  due to the many requests for military honors.  Ed took a video of the whole service, plus I video'd the presenting of the flag as I was standing behind Dora and Ed was out to the side.  Ed has inserted my video into his and it takes about 11 minutes to watch.  I am going to TRY to download it to my blog....we will see what happens.

Flowers to go on Evan's grave

The cemetery would only allow the family to bring three bouquets.  The beautiful spray that we had done and delivered was given to family or friends after the viewing was over - in fact I don't know who got it.  It was done in red white and blue ...red and white carnations and a beautiful blue thistle (I think they were spray painted).  It was moved out of the viewing area before Ed got a chance to take a picture.   I wish I had realized this was what they were going to do with the flowers and I would have ordered a nice plant that someone could have treasured for years.  The metal 'table' in the foreground is where the casket was placed for the burial services.  We sat on nice benches under a gazebo  while the honor guard did their thing.   Besides the flowers, we were able to give Dora $200 in cash to help her with expenses. I had found a beautiful card and written everyone's name on it that donated.  She was very appreciative.  I hope you won't feel badly that I told her we didn't expect individual thank you cards for everything.  I know it meant alot to her that Evan's family 'back home' showed such love and appreciation for them both.

Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas

Ken and Marilyn - son of Dora

I was impressed with Ken.  He is comfortable to be around and yet very proffesional at that same time. He spoke about Evan being a real dad to him for so many years as his real father had died when he was young.

Dora's daughter, Brenda and husband

Both of Dora's children were choice people.  Brenda was so very friendly and we shared our lunch table with them and you could feel the warmth of her personality flow through the conversation.  Her daughter Cassie was a major part of Evan and Dora's life in the late 70's, early 80's....many was the time that Evan would hop in the car to go get Cassie after school.  They also watched Brenda's granddaughter Elizabeth who is now about nine years old.  She was a pretty little thing that loved her Grandpa Niel so very much.  Both girls will miss him very very much.

It was so fun getting to know these new cousins - people I had heard about for a long time but rarely got to meet.  When we were living in Texas in 2001/02 we almost got to meet Tom and his family several times but then something would come up and things would fall through.  I have a great love in my heart for these two already.

This is the center pages of the funeral brochure they passed out.  I love this picture of Evan - it is so true to life.  Everyone talked about the sweet nature of Evan's personality. He hated conflict and would bend over backwards to make sure every one felt comfortable and was happy.  He always had pet names for me...usually Beautiful....he would answer the door and say "Hey Beautiful, come on in".  And then follow that with a big old bear hug.  I often felt that my dad and Evan were very much alike in personality, although Evan was much more outgoing.  My dad is more reserved but still with a warm and happy personality.

I remembered this guy.  I honestly believe I was the only one at the funeral that did - Maybe Shannon and Tom could from way back when they were babies.  This was the favorite uncle that would travel the world in the military and bring home presents to Miss Merrilee and Old Sue.  He was beloved then and still is.

A Day in the Life of a Desert Rat

It is supposed to be 74 here tomorrow - another beautiful day in the desert.  Ed is going out with friends four wheeling while I take myself to the doctor...its hard being 600 miles away from your own doctor.  I will be glad when I am finally on Medicare in May so I can go to any doctor anywhere and not have to call HAFB for permission.  Anyway, I have a boil on my right shoulder that has gotten bigger and uglier and more painful every day for the last week.  I am going to try to get in to the medical clinic here in Quartzsite tomorrow - if its not overcrowded (or if it is even open on Wednesdays!)  If I can't then I will drive 30 miles to Parker to the hospital that has an insta-care facility in its ER.

I didn't think I would ever be so excited to have someone put a big needle in my shoulder and cut me open with a knife but there you go.

My knee is at a standstill.  I still have full range of motion with it but I can't walk more than 20 steps without using my crutches.  I have a small brace that I wear a lot of the time...if I am not going to be going anywhere I will take the brace off and let the knee rest...and the ankle swelling because of the brace, go down.  I am so thankful I have my jewelry....it keeps me busy when I can't go out walking every day.

The days are pretty lazy.  We get up about 8:30 or 9...Ed will usually get up a little earlier and turn on the catalytic heater so the temp is warmer in the trailer.  We eat breakfast and I wash the few dishes and set them to dry in the drainer.  A couple of times a week I clean the toilet and sinks, vacuum the rugs in the trailer and sweep the floor.  Making my bed is the only thing I do every single day.  One day a week we usually go into Quartzsite and do laundry - a couple days a week we go on nice long 60-70 mile ATV rides with friends.  By the time we get back in the Razor my knee feels pretty shook up but I just ice it and take some Arthritis Acetaminophen and I feel good enough to fix dinner.

About 10:30 you can find me laying on the chaise lounge outside.  As soon as the temp gets up to 55 outside I go.  Ed has built a wind break along the Northwest/West side of the trailer so you can sit outside and enjoy the sun without the cool wind hitting you.  Most days the wind is only about 5-10 mph but that can feel cool at 55 degrees.  Now with the wind break we actually can only sit outside for maybe 45 minutes before we get HOT.  So its back in the trailer and that's when I work on my jewelry.  Then and in the middle of the night when my knee gets to aching (and my shoulder too).  Then I quietly get out of bed, shut the little cloth door to the bedroom, get out a warm robe (we turn the temp down to 60 at night to save on propane) and make pretties.

There are several ladies out here who make jewelry daily too so we have lots of ideas to share around.  I am hoping that I can be back out here in the desert by 1 pm tomorrow as that is our weekly Wedn craft day....sometimes someone teaches us something new, sometimes I have taught a class also.  Sometimes we all bring our own projects and work on them together---knitting, crocheting, quilting, beadwork, beading, cutting t shirts to make darling blouses.  I got busy tonight while watching the news on TV and laid out the beads I need for my turquoise pair of foot bracelets.  We are having a dinner and party for Marty Gras Saturday night at the tent and I brought along my Halloween costume with the long turquoise sari to wear.  I don't know if the guys are dressing in costume for Mardi Gras but most of the ladies are.  The days that we aren't out on an ATV ride, or off to Parker or Blythe for fun then we meet at the tent at 4 pm for happy hour with our soda's or water.  Ed fell in love with Diet Coke with Lime in it and was drinking three or four of them every day.  So its back to Sams Club Cola for him.  I have found that I can almost enjoy the new diet coke with Splenda...the diet flavor isn't quite as strong.  I still have one pepsi a day - then I will either have a Splenda coke or water.  We are drinking cases of water...which is much better for us.

I do miss the walks...if I want to go over to visit neighbors (our trailers are pretty spread out) I have to crutch it or hop in the Razor.  When we get home I will go up to the clinic and get a referral for a good orthopedic doctor and figure out first of all WHAT I did to my knee and then next, how do I fix it.   I elevate it, I use my crutches and brace regularly, and I ice pack it.  and it healed to a certain point and STOPPED!  However I took an ibuprofen last night because I was aching all over and when I woke up this morning both my shoulder and my knee felt better.  The doctor wants me to continue taking ibuprofen for the next few days to keep the swelling down in my boil area.  YAY!!

Jane's Jewelry

A month ago we drove over to New River Arizona to visit some friends that we met on the cruise.  Ken and Jane were good friends of Kitty and Larry who went on the cruise with us last Fall.

When we met, Jane and I hit it off like we had known each other for years.   She is a zany fun talented lady.  Anyway, she gave me a bunch of her old jewelry that she asked me to bring back to life.  You know how that is…an old favorite or two that shows wear and tear or just needs something to give it zing again.  So off and on, between making other jewelry I have been working on her necklaces.  

I was going to post it on my petalsoftjewelry.blogspot.com site but then decided that is for stuff I am selling – this is just stuff that I am re-doing and returning it later to its owner.  I didn’t take pictures of the first group I sent back to her.  Most of them were simply shortening the chain and fixing the clasps etc.  But I did want to show you what I have done.  I will add several pictures of the same necklace so you can see different views 

Before we get to Jane's jewelry though, here are my creations to match her blouses...  lavender and creme

 This necklace was created for this wild and zany shirt

This sweater was my inspiration for the necklace on the right



Finally now we get to Jane's jewelry that I repaired or added to:

 This necklace was made up of blue tones only - thin square capiz shells...you can see the blue still there but I added a round shell to each link made up of the same capiz shells but of all different colors.  I kind of rainbowed them from the middle out.

 I am waiting for an order of additional round capiz stones in hot pink to add that color to the mix as Jane has a blouse that has designs of blue, hot pink, yellow and green that we are trying to match.  I changed the closure from a lobster claw to a magnet closure for easier on and off.  I also added shells to the matching earrings

 I loved this necklace - it is worn collar style...right up close around the neck.  It had a pale peach colored ribbon that connected the flowers to the lobster claw closure at the back of the neck.  The ribbon was dirty and frayed so I removed the ribbon and added a double row of brass toned chain that now closes with a toggle.

 The necklace didn't have any earrings to match so I made a pair with pearls and crystals the same colors as the flowers around the neck.  Because the necklace is so 'busy' I made the earrings simple, although I did add some more lightweight chain to dangle at the bottom.  Note the design of the ear wire itself.  I loved these when I found them.  I wish I had bought more of them!

 I added this picture as it shows a LITTLE of the chain at the back of the flowers.

 Jane bought this necklace down in Florida but decided later she didn't like it - it didn't have enough pizzazz, so I added the dichroic glass pendant with matching earrings.

If Jane doesn't like this I will just have to try again.

This next necklace I created myself for a blouse that she just got and needed to find jewelry to match it.  The blouse is a very pale lavender with cream lace...

So I picked crystals that were the same tones as the blouse along with burgandy pearls, antique gold elongated beads, and white stone beads that were a creamy tone like the lace on her blouse.   I matched it up with a striped dichroic glass pendant that I wire wrapped with antique gold and normal gold wire twisted together.  It turned out beautiful.  Again, If the color and style don't match her blouse the way I am thinking it will I will just have to take this one back and try again...I am thinking it MAY be too heavy for the blouse.

Another Busy Week

Its been a fun and busy week.  We have been enjoying increasingly warmer weather ...it was 80 degrees here today!!  I think yesterday was just as warm but we spent the day four wheeling and were shaded by the roof of our razor all day.  I can't sleep right now so I am up on my computer at 1:30 am listening to the coyotes howl!!  Seriously!

Let's see - last Friday we drove to Blythe, California,  with Ed and Jo who are from Longview, Washington.  We found a fun produce stand and bought all sorts of fresh lemons and tangelos, lettuce and tomatoes, pistaschio's and dates!  Then we went to KMart and to Albertsons....much better prices than here in Quartzsite.  Blythe is just 28 miles from Quartzsite.

Sunday we drove to Dave and Rhea's winter home in Yuma to watch the Super Bowl. Betty and Don were there too and we had a fun time - Rhea had been cooking all day long I think and Betty brought some yummies and so did I.  (I took a small basket of dates and cut them in half, removing the pit, and then spread cream cheese on them and topped them with a half of a walnut.  Delish!!  We got the idea from the samples at the produce stand in Blythe.  I normally don't care for dates but combined with the cream cheese and nuts they were great.  So we visited and ate and visited and ate...the guys watched the ball game while we visited some more.  I was/am still gimping so they babied me along but I helped out where I could.  Finally about 9:30 pm Ed and I left and drove over to the Homewood Suites where we had a room reserved....and wonderful, wonderful, they had a BATH TUB!!!  After weeks of just showers I was able to soak to my hearts content and it sure felt good on my sore knee.

Monday morning we found a store about a mile away that rented wheelchairs and got one for $15 for the day and went to Mexico for the day.  We met Rhea and Betty and Donnie for lunch and had a fun time looking at all the stuff for sale.  Bought a few things, not too much.  Most snowbirds go for the dentists or eyeglasses or prescriptions.  It seems like they have the same merchandise for sale year after year and most of it comes from China...not Mexico!

Back to Quartzsite that evening and then we hopped up the next day and headed into town to do our laundry.  Ed carried all the bags of dirty clothes in for me and then he went looking for stuff to build a wind break (for those days that are warm except for the cold north wind) and I crutched around filling the washers with clothes and soap and bleach...then on to the dryers....it seemed like it took all day but we finally got home with clean clothes, towels, sheets etc

Wednesday was crafts day for me and Ed kept busy with odd jobs all day long.  Thursday we met our group of 4 wheelin friends at the guard station coming into LaPosa South campground where we stay with our rigs loaded onto trucks and trailers and headed East on Interstate 10 about 30 miles away.  That was at 8:30 in the morning so we were all well bundled to keep warm because it was still in the 50's when we got the bikes unloaded and headed down the trails.  I should say all of us were well bundled except for Edward who was in his short sleeved shirt and knee length jeans!  I got cold just looking at him!

 We went back into the KOFA Wildlife Refuge and saw some gorgeous country.  Here we are heading up a hill with Jo on her Polaris right in front of us.

 Lots of thorny trees, bushes and Rocks....that is what we see everywhere we look around here in this Desert of Western Arizona.

 I took several pictures trying to get the three or four machines all in a line going up this hill but the sun was right in my face and I couldn't get a good shot...so again, just Jo.

 I thought this escarpment was interesting - also the fact that it continued on in front of us across the road made it even more so!

 Looking down at a desert canyon as we drive along the route.

 One of our stops at an old  cabin built in the 30's - one of the few cabins built with wood in this area from long ago.  Most were built with the easiest materials at hand...which would be ROCKS.  There were 10 rigs with 12 people in our group.

 Kathy and Carolyn - getting ready to go check out the cabin.

 Just a beautiful mountain

 or should I say cliffside

 We got to see lots and lots of Saguerros, Palo Verde trees, Yucca plants, paddle cacti, Teddy bear choya, plus a few yellow flowers and lavender flowers!  By the time the day was over we had taken off the coats and hats and gloves and sweatshirts and were down to jeans and t shirts - nice weather for four wheeling in February.  We traveled a total of 70 miles on bikes over some really rough but beautiful terrain.  It was 5:30 pm by the time we got back to our trailers.  My poor knee was just aching from all the jouncing it got over those rough roads....and that was from JUST sitting in our side by side.  I wouldn't have been able to go if I had been driving my own ATV.

 This was last months trip - you can see we were bundled.

 The Ocatilla have blossomed and now their fresh new leaves make them look so pretty - they are still covered with thorns though.

 A view up the hill

 I took these pictures from my 'front porch'....I wanted to get the skyline all lit up just as the sun is going down.  This is the view looking East.

 This is the view looking West....it is beautiful

 This is our yard.  As you can see, Ed has spent a lot of time laying out the driveway (hence the rock lines) and it lights up at night with our solar lamps.  You can see Ed and Jo's trailer ---they are are nearest neighbors to the South of us.

...this is the 'wash' next to our trailer...I just hung a hummingbird feeder in that middle tree yesterday as the hummers are starting to show up.

Just another view....you can see that we are well spread out here but we get together with our neighbors almost every day with different activities at the group Tent (BIG) ...dances, parties, TV, movies, karaoke, crafts, etc.

Next time I will take pictures of our trailer and 'front porch' or rather big mat that we set out chairs and chaise lounges on.

Anyway - that was the pictures (plus some) of Thursday's big ATV ride - we left our trailer at 8 am and got back home at 6 pm, so it made for a long day.  I figured that I probably redamaged my knee with all the bouncing and jouncing but my knee felt better the next day than it has in a long time!!

Friday morning we got up, ate breakfast and headed in to town to the 'QIA for their local swap meet and Ed set up his two generators that he is trying to sell plus his motorbike he wants to sell.  I added some necklaces and watches.  There are so many people here making jewelry that it is really hard to sell any necklace sets but the watches were popular.  I sold four of them.  Ed didn't sell anything.

Ed went over to K&B tools to get what stuff he needed to build us a five foot tall windbreak to go in front of our trailer while I went after groceries and the mail.  We met back up and headed back to the trailer about 2 pm - it was so warm in our trailer we immediately had to open all the windows and vents and the big back door to make it livable.

Today was a relaxing day - reading, making a new necklace, visiting with friends and then going over to the big tent tonight to see War Horse.  Goooooood movie!!  We thoroughly loved it both of us -- I cried the whole last 30 minutes of the movie.
'
Tomorrow is church and Monday I need to go find somewhere to get  my nails done and then Tuesday is the poker run (ATV ride) over in Brenda.  Should be fun.

Friends

I truly expected that our stay down here in Quartzsite would be quite relaxing and somewhat boring. I knew for a fact that I would be chafing at the bit to get home and play with grandkids and visit with kids and friends. Plus my visits with dad would be far and few between.

Not boring...no!! In fact I told Ed yesterday that we needed a couple of QUIET days with nothing and no one but us .

We got back to Quartzsite on Friday the 6th of January, and yes, Saturday we did veg, except for going over to the tent for our daily gab fest at 4. Sunday was church and Monday and Tuesday were all day ATV rides. Wed I went to our ladies craft meeting at the tent where my good friend Patty from Bear Mtn taught us how to make bird feeders/solar lamps out of clear glass jars, bowls, ashtrays, etc. Mine turned out cute.

Then we headed over to New River, AZ to visit with Ken and Jane that evening where we stayed until Saturday. Home Saturday and we went to church on Sunday again. Monday ATV ride and then I hurt my knee Monday night. All day Tuesday in Parker at the ER/instacare facility at the hospital where I got x-rayed and examined and finally issued big knee brace and crutches. Wednesday was a quieter day ...didn't go to craft day. Thursday was the beginning of the WinterFest activities - it was a fun weekend with a Wild Wild West theme. We started it off with a poker run ...there were 27 of us on ATV's following the trail that Ed and I and Patty and Gary and Robert and Melvina had laid out on the Monday I was injured. We had hung blue and white streamers from the bushes and trees to mark the trail. Everyone started at the tent, signed in, paid their $5 fee and drew their first card. About 8 miles into the trail (mostly across the desert and through some beautiful washes) we stopped at the first station and drew a second card. Another 8 miles we ended up in the mountains West and South of Quartzsite at Deer Run - a fun spot on a popular trail, where we drew our third card. By this point I had a 2, a 5 and a 3. Your dad had a pair of 10's and one other card. Back on the trail again down the mountain and over to one of the old stone mountains that dot the area (original pioneer dwellings....built with rocks and mud as there was no wood around) now falling down...for card #4. I got an 8,,,your dad got a queen. Then the last leg of the trip was back through the washes and across highway 95 to La Posa South campground and back to the tent for card #5. Ed's hand ended with the pair of tens. I picked up a seven. We were actually a little bit excited about my hand because there were two prizes, one for the best hand and one for the worst (and lowest) hand. I had a chance at winning the lousy hand!

Friday we had a weiner roast as a group and then a sock hop that night (no I didn't get to dance, not with my knee!! But at least I could hobble without the brace and the crutches.) Everyone brought munchies to share and we had some fantastic old 50's and 60's music...and the winners of the poker run were announced...and yes!! I WON!! for having the worst hand in the group

;-P But hey, I won fifty bucks!!

Saturday morning we all met for biscuits and gravy for breakfast. We carried our own hot chocolate as the other choices were coffee or tea. At 1 in the afternoon one of our neighbors gave a good basic class on how to protect and clean up your computer. We actually had 29 people show up at the tent with computer, hot spots, cords, and plugs---I was afraid we'd blow the generator but it held up just fine.

At 6:30 that evening was Casino night where we all paid five bucks for a handful of monopoly money and spent the evening having fun. I played poker bingo which is fun and easy and there were about 7 other ladies that played the whole evening with us. I won three hands and lost lots more. There was a costume contest for the best "western" dress and some of them had really gone to a lot of effort and made some beautiful dresses. We had cowboys and indians and dance hall girls. Next year I will do better costume wise but with a bum leg so I couldn't go shopping at the local salvation army store and no sewing machine to make something with, so we simply wore normal clothes.

After the games at 9 pm we took our winnings (and whatever was left of our losings) and spent the next hour in the middle of an auction for all sorts of fun stuff that was donated for the cause. I donated a pair of my feathery earrings, a couple of necklaces, a couple of watches and a pair of foot bracelets (more on that later). We had a great fun time with that.

Sunday morning we went back over to the tent for another hot breakfast of eggs and sausage and potatoes - delicious. Then Ed and I went back to the trailer and got ready for church and headed in for a wonderful Sacrament Meeting. Ed watched football games all day Sunday while I waded through 25 pages of paperwork on dad's VA application while writing up an email to send to Kelly and Jeff telling them what to do with it when they got it! After I finished that I pulled out the ward history and added the last three items (that we had been waiting a week for !) and emailed it to Ed so he could print it out for me so that we could mail it today too. Except Ed's mouse and mousepad has been going out and it died totally and he couldn't print anything out. So I punted - I emailed our counselor in our ward bishopric and also the stake historian and told them I was emailing them the written part of the history and mailing them the pictures and would they please put them all together when they got them. That worked.

So Monday, today we left our trailer at 11:00 am to head into town - generally a 15 minute trip but with the big show opening up this weekend the traffic was backed up the full three miles from Quartzsite to the entrance to our campground. So we crept into town and went to the post office - the line was impossibly long and I refused to wait the two hours it would have taken to get up to the window to buy the envelopes and have them weighed. Instead we drove down the street to the grocery store where we bought three manila envelopes and I put the VA paperwork on the grocery scale to find out how much it weighed and put my own stamps on everything and took it back to the post office and dropped it off. That only took us an hour and 45 minutes !!! The traffic is crazy in this one horse town right now.

Then we met up with Kitty and Larry who are spending tonight with us and then heading on North. We have Chuck and Donna from Bear Mtn who are staying Thursday and Friday with us before they head back to Idaho. At happy hour tonight Dave and Joyce said when things slow down with our schedule they want to take us out to dinner and Larry and Kathy invited us over for some games one night next week....we still want to go over past Brenda to find where Donny and Betty are living so we can visit with them....and Susan and Dell still want us to go down to visit with them in Mesa!

Ed and Jo are already making plans for the four of us to do some major sightseeing this summer in Washington where they live and then down to Bear Mtn for a few days and then to the mtns of Northern and Southern Utah......

we are supposed to be bored!! Things are simply getting busier and busier although we have to say we ARE HAVING FUN!!!