New vanities for our Campground

Well, it took us 2 months to redo the sinks in both restrooms. The top picture is the before and the bottom is the after one. We did the women's first. It took forever! The walls weren't straight-either was the floor! All the plumbing was from the dark ages and was different sizes. After at least 10 trips to the hardware store which is 70 miles one way and of course getting our days off, we finally finished. If you don't look close, it looks good-which is a miracle since we didn't know what we were doing.

Now we are working on the pool. It should be dug out and redone but that costs $54,000.00. So we are doing the cheaper version in which we do alot of the prep. A vinyl lining is going to be put in and new pavers around the outside. That's going to be around $27,000.00. We broke the tile up with hammers and are taking off the ladders and other stuff on it. We had to drain it with too small a hose on the sump pump so that took a week. Now Ed is pressure washing it and then he has to grind the rough spots. Thank God we won't be here when the lining arrives! That will be something for the new workkampers to have fun with.

Oh well, all in all, we've had alot of fun here and learned alot of practical things to help us in the future. So long for now, Vicki & Ed

Hanging out in Seligman

All's I can say is "I'm sure glad I brought Alaskan winter clothes!" We got alitttle snow a few days ago and it looks like the high might hit 40 degrees today. At night it's been right around 15 degrees. We are surviving, though, with 3 small electric heaters and 1 more in our 5th wheel hatch to keep the water lines warm.

Last week we took a motorcycle ride with our little trailer and stayed at the Needles, CA KOA. It was about 60 and low 30's at night. It took me about 10 minutes to get dressed and undressed. I was wearing 2 pair of socks and then fleece snow machine ones. And then I had on two long underwear under my levis and two long underwear shirts on plus two more warm shirts with my leather jacket. Also leather chaps, boots, fleece neck protector, and snow machine gloves. Needless to say, we almost needed a crane to get me on the bike! It was fun though, and we saw Quartzsite on a ride the next day. There had to have been 10,000 rv's at least parked out in the desert. Alot of people go there every winter to meet up with friends and have fun.

Well, that's all for now-I just wanted to say Hi! and let everyone know that I still think of all of you and hope you are enjoying your lives too. You got to do it while you can, because you never know what the future holds. Love you all, Vicki & Ed

Winter in the Grand Canyon

Hi everyone! We went to the Grand Canyon a couple of days ago because I've always wanted to see it with snow. And as you can see by this picture it was spectacular! Enjoy the view! Vicki

My Christmas Vacation

I arrived in Anchorage a day after they got 4 inches of snow. Before that the grass was showing and my son was afraid it was going to be a brown Christmas. It snowed a few times while I was there, but just an inch or two each time, which was perfect. Of course the day after I arrived I got a terrible head cold and it lasted to just before I left. So needless to say I didn't venture out alot. I never made it to my old work, Village Inn, I just didn't feel up to it. I did get to spend alot with my son and grandson, and that made the trip great. As you can see, Little Raymond is growing up fast. His birthday was December 28th and he lets anyone and everyone know that he is now 4! That's all I'm going to write for now because this program is making it hard and my patience is running out. Ed and I wish everyone a Happy 2008!

Arizona's Petrified Forrest National Park

We traveled to The Petrified National Forrest this week. We went there several years ago, but we wanted to spend more time seeing everything. Of course when we arrived the weather was windy and cold. So that meant (wimps that we are) we didn't see much and promised we would come back in the spring. It is still a fascinating place to visit. As with all National Parks, you drive along in perfectly normal country, then all of the sudden scenery so different and incredible pops up that you're speechless. The way petrified trees were formed 225 million years ago here was the whole area was a floodplain. Big trees got washed there and then over time silt buried them and different minerals in the silt gave the trees their color. Then they eventually became exposed as weather patterns changed.

Next week I'll be going to Alaska to spend Christmas with my son and grandson. Ed will be with his mom. I won't have a computer up there so I will tell all of my friends and family Merry Christmas and hoping everyone has a wonderful 2008! Bye for now, Vicki & Ed

Viva Las Vegas!

Last weekend we attended my nephews' wedding to a wonderful girl named Amanda. They were married at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Afterward, everyone got together at The Mix, which is on the top floor of the hotel. The best part was the restroom in the Mix lounge. There was little toilet closets and when you went in the whole wall was glass. So could go to the bathroom and look at a spectacular view of Las Vegas while peeing. It doesn't take much to excite me! We had a great time, but I don't need to rush right back there. Bye for now-Happy Thanksgiving all! Vicki & Ed

Ed-the wild animal wrangler

We finally stooped to a new low for excitement here. We flush water down mole holes, then close all of them up and wait for new holes, then put poison in them. Stephanie was flooding a hole and a mole popped out. Well, it was Ed to the rescue with our rake. He chased it-prodded it and carried it on the rake to the empty field next to us and lobbed him over the fence.

The last few weeks, most of our free time has been spent with our parents. We had Ed's mom here for a few days. She could breath easier here and enjoyed the trains. But with no TV, she was happy to get home to her familiar surroundings. Also, we took a trip to Phoenix and visited with both my parents, who have been divorced and remarried for many years. The traffic there is horrible and you couldn't pay me to live in Phoenix now.

Business is very slow now, but there is alot to do. The work campers last summer couldn't do much work because of physical and old age issues. Needless to say, the campground was overrun with weeds and a mess. We spend a few hours each day we work making a dent in a long list of things that need to be done. Ed and I enjoy the physical work though, and you can see a major improvement in the grounds already.

We are going to Las Vegas on Saturday for my nephews wedding. It's going to be at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and should be fun. I'll see if I can get a good picture and post it in my next blog. So long for now. We miss everyone! Vicki & Ed