Farewell to Eleanor

Monday we said our farewell to Eleanor.  It was a blessing that she went so peacefully.  We just had a visitation at Taylor Funeral Home since we were right upon Christmas.  Thank goodness for the Paonia Ward.  They supplied four of the men for pallbearers.  It was sad that her son Ed could not make it since he is in Michigan and flights are outrageous at this time.  Also with the weather being cold we were not sure what to do about flowers.  Crystal gave us the idea of poinsettas.

I went to Michaels and found a beautiful wreath for the casket and then bought poinsettas to decorate and use as thank yous to the people that helped us.  I think it worked real well.  

 Eleanor loved  stuff animals so Rudolph got to be included

 Two weeks before Eleanor passed away she told a nurse that all she wanted for Christmas was something red and something sweet to eat.  I think we met her wishes.

 Pallbearers were her nephew Terry, Charlie Huff, Bishop Bayliss and his son-in-law, Don Edmonds, and Harold.  (Gee John you lucked out)

Thanksgiving

Crystal decided to come home for Thanksgiving.  We hardly ever have cake anymore so Crystal decided we needed a Thanksgiving chocolate cake.  She and I braved the crowds pre- Black Friday to pick up sheets and a few other items.  On Saturday, I put up Christmas decorations and Crystal and Harold ran for the mountains.  They rode the ATVs up 16 Road.  It was a very cold brisk afternoon.  Glad I stayed home :)

 Crystal the artistic one!

 There is a little snow on the hillsides

 Harold being Mr. He Man 

 Bookcliffs

Happenings on Ragged

It was a rainy stay on Ragged.  We were surrounded by turkeys and deer this trip.  Harold was in seventh heaven when the elk showed up.  These are two spike bulls (youngsters) but oh well.

 Love the sunsets

 We had to dig up a cattle guard and replace it.  We thought it would only take a bout an hour.  Five hours later we had everything completed.

 Harold loves to play with the skidsteer.

 Real nice four point buck stopped to say Hi

 Here are our two spike bulls again

This group of wild turkeys have been keeping us company :)

Ragged Mountain

Time is flying by too fast this year.  This is the new trailer pads at Ragged Mountain.  It at least gets us away from the Lodge and the constant noise of people slamming doors :)

 

We thought the Wally was high last year but we are even a little higher this year.  Pads need more leveling done on them. 

 It literally takes the help of this two step ladder to get in :)

This is our new 5 star wood shed built by Tex Tolman and helper. We are thinking about hanging to hammocks and charge 10.00 per night to stay in it. 

 Major problem with the water plant.  We have a filter that is cracked.  It will cost $4000.00 to replace.  Thank goodness the plant runs on a two filter system.

 Harold using his new birthday and Father's Day gift to pressure up the base of the filter

 Of course another beautiful sunset on Ragged.

 We had a visitor come to say HI

White Wash

 We met John and Pam plus the kids out at White Wash the first week of April.  We thought it would be fun for the grandchildren to experience all the red sand.  Harold loves this place because speed is the name of the game.  If you go too slow you can become stuck in the sand plus sand is more forgiving than hard ground.  Our first afternoon we road the sand dunes.  It was a perfect afternoon.  The kids loved just playing in the sand and exploring. The night became quite chilly and the wind really picked up. 

 The next day John tried to dutch oven cook with no success, too much wind and dust.

We tried to get out of the wind by riding in the washes and took the kids to see Crystal Geyser. On the way back to the trailers, Caleb took a fall and landed hard on his arm.  John and Pam made a soft cast and put it in a sling when we got back to the trailers.  We spent the rest of the afternoon in the Wally watching a few movies and trying to stay warm.  We had wind gusts p to 60 miles per hour.

The next day we had muffins for breakfast and took another ride down in the wash bottoms.  You can spread out and go up and down the ridges.  Only thing is you have to be careful as you top out that it isn't straight down the other side.  We had great fun.  More storms moving in so we headed home and John and Pam headed to Moab to meet up with her sister.  I think we brought half of the sand dunes home with us :)

Pam, Caleb, and John

 Shannon and Daniel

John, Levi and Ryan

Levi sliding down the sand dune

Dinner time the first evening

 John Jr.

Cooking area covered in sand

 John at Crystal Geyser 

 Photo time with the crew

Levi, Harold, Daniel, Caleb, Pam, Shannon, John Jr., John, Ryan

The Davis mountain goats

 The Demolition kids

 Caleb with his new cast.  Broke his arm above the wrist:)

Holidays in Arizona

The last week in Arizona we celebrated three holidays.  We did Halloween, Easter, and then Valentine's Day.  Aunt Diane, Harold, Carrie and Cody, and I were in different rooms where the kids had to come and knock on our doors.  Cody loved opening the door and dropping in the candy as long as he got a piece also. For Easter, Grandpa entertained Cody while the kids colored Easter eggs.  The kids love to hide them as much as find them.  Cody picks up every egg he can see before we could start looking.  And finally Valentine's Day, we incorporated the kids making their Valentines for school and friends.  Again Cody just wanted the candy.

Cody helping his mom water the grass.

 Kaylynn was a fairy

 Hanna was a bumble bee

 Justin was a ninja

 Coloring Easter eggs.  A lot less mess being outside

 Valentine goodies

 Cody has his own way of watching TV

Sunday and Crystal's birthday

Sunday was Crystal's birthday and we always bake her a cake in Arizona, Skype her so the kids can sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles for her.  Of course we have the added bonus of getting more cake and ice cream.  Here are the kids ready for church.

Kaylynn

 Hanna

 Justin

 Cody

 Crystal's birthday cake