How did the early pioneers survive in Nevada? It's beyond my comprehension. It is a desert, folks! If the electricity went out, in 2010, they all would DIE! No kidding. Just coming back from a visit with Ashley in Utah, we flew in and out of Las Vegas. Yesterday, as we prepared to fly back home, the temperature was 110. How can animals survive, let alone people? It wasn't much cooler in Utah. Although it is the high desert, it still was in the 90's and made hiking in the afternoon prohibitive.
The scenery is awesome. Tall, rugged mountains with peaks, and also a healthy mix of mesas (flat top mountains). This area of the country is supposed to be dinosaur heaven for those who like to dig in the dirt. My family does. You can't or shouldn't remove bones if found, but it's fun to look. All we found was some petrified wood, which is pretty cool.
Patrick and I flew to Utah to visit Ashley for a family weekend at Falcon Ridge Ranch. We saw the little colt which she had the privilege of naming (Inferno). Oh, and we all three got to experience equine therapy. It was so cool! Although I was the only one who was thrilled with it. Ashley was too worried about us getting hurt by a horse to really relax. Each of us were instructed to put orange cones arranged on the ground so that we made an enclosure, big enough for a horse to fit inside. So we each made our space. Mine was right next to the white fence, in a rectangle. Ashley's was in the middle of the corral in a large undefined shape. Patrick chose to make a large triangle, using only 3 cones. Next, we were told to work individually, or as a team, to bring one horse into a space, settle it down, and then step out of the space. The goal was to keep the horse in the space. We could not speak nor re-enter the space. All we could do was stand in front of the horse to keep it in place. We had two horses in the corral with us, so on one occasion we had to keep the other horse out of the space, while keeping the other one in! We were to relate the boundaries we had set up to boundaries in our own life. We were each supposed to decide what boundaries are important to us in our family, and don't want others to cross over. The therapist spoke with us as we completed different steps about our thoughts, etc. It was quite fascinating.
Over the course of the weekend, there were a couple of parent-training meetings which were very very good. Also, we had free time with her. We went to Zion National Park one day, and to St. George another. On the day when we had the most time together to freely do what we wanted, it was Sunday and many things were closed! Grrr. I also looked into us going on an ATV ride out in the desert, but it would have been close to $500! Darn. Someday maybe.
Ashley continues to do well at the ranch. She is hoping to come home for another visit in July.
All for now.
Showing posts with label Trips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trips. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Lincoln this, Lincoln that
It's Memorial Day -- and raining. Not to fret. Jeff and I just got back from a fun two days in Springfield, IL. (Did you know there is a Springfield in every state?) We stayed at a bed and breakfast which used to be broken up into apartments. It was built over 100 years ago. I tell you, I felt like I had entered a Humphrey Bogart or Jimmy Stewart movie. There was the woodwork - everywhere. Stairs, winding. A front desk with a small closet where each room's key was on a nail. The amenities were great although i did not partake in all. Each day at 5 pm there is free wine and cheese in a central location. Every evening, after we had been out and returned, there on our door knob was a basket with 4 homemade chocolate chip cookies. Marriott, beat that!
We had a whirlpool bathtub, a remodeled bathroom with a pedestal sink and clean tile, etc. One day, after many people had checked out, I walked on 2nd and 3rd floor and snooped in all the rooms. There were some stunning options.
This was a Lincoln weekend. I'd say there were 3 favorites for me: 1. Lincoln's home; 2. a Frank Lloyd Wright home to tour with original furniture, light fixtures, wallpaper; and 3. (the best) was the new Abraham Lincoln museum. After touring the museum, you feel like you were a fly on the wall and watched him grow up, marry and die. Go see it.
Frankie's home was dark, but the layout and feel of the place was very appealing. It would be a great place to live if only the lighting was better (they had all light fixtures set at 1904 wattage (15) for historical accuracy), and if those darn mission chairs had a curve for the spine. The furniture is great, except the chairs have perfectly vertical backs. Once, when the owner's tried to get rid of the house and the furniture inside, no one wanted the straight-back chairs. This turned out for the benefit of the home - now museum. The chairs did not have to be found and bought back. Go see it too!
Lincoln's home was a two story colonial of sorts. The wallpaper was garish, but in style then. We also toured one of Lincoln's law offices and learned that on occasion, Lincoln came to work after having argued with his wife. His law partner would notice a tear in Lincoln's eye, and disappear for an hour. When he returned, all was well with poor Abe. Did you know his wife was admitted to a mental hospital by her one surviving son? She really was a bit off. Everyone has their own suffering, don't they.
Well, all for now.
We had a whirlpool bathtub, a remodeled bathroom with a pedestal sink and clean tile, etc. One day, after many people had checked out, I walked on 2nd and 3rd floor and snooped in all the rooms. There were some stunning options.
This was a Lincoln weekend. I'd say there were 3 favorites for me: 1. Lincoln's home; 2. a Frank Lloyd Wright home to tour with original furniture, light fixtures, wallpaper; and 3. (the best) was the new Abraham Lincoln museum. After touring the museum, you feel like you were a fly on the wall and watched him grow up, marry and die. Go see it.
Frankie's home was dark, but the layout and feel of the place was very appealing. It would be a great place to live if only the lighting was better (they had all light fixtures set at 1904 wattage (15) for historical accuracy), and if those darn mission chairs had a curve for the spine. The furniture is great, except the chairs have perfectly vertical backs. Once, when the owner's tried to get rid of the house and the furniture inside, no one wanted the straight-back chairs. This turned out for the benefit of the home - now museum. The chairs did not have to be found and bought back. Go see it too!
Lincoln's home was a two story colonial of sorts. The wallpaper was garish, but in style then. We also toured one of Lincoln's law offices and learned that on occasion, Lincoln came to work after having argued with his wife. His law partner would notice a tear in Lincoln's eye, and disappear for an hour. When he returned, all was well with poor Abe. Did you know his wife was admitted to a mental hospital by her one surviving son? She really was a bit off. Everyone has their own suffering, don't they.
Well, all for now.
Monday, March 23, 2009
New Hampshire
Home from New Hampshire. Have you been there? Think of north woods Wisconsin - maybe hillier. This is the ugly time of year for those states that experience 4 seasons - you know, mud, brown trees and grass, some lingering snow. Even so, I could tell it is a beautiful state. I'd love to see it in October when the leaves change - I bet it's stunning.
Colin and I flew to Boston last Friday, got our rental car and headed north on I-93. We landed during rush hour. Why is it called rush hour? You can do nothing even close to rushing! We had Jeff's handy GPS with us so our "lady friend" directed us all the way. After about two hours on the road, we arrived in Henniker, NH. Well, almost. The hotel I found online was south of town and turned out to be a ski lodge, right under a ski hill. I was hoping I had made a mistake - you know, had arrived at the wrong hotel? Alas, they had our name. Okay, we'll deal with it - it was clean enough. Definitely not 5 star, 4 star, or 3 star - well, maybe 3 star. We were only going to be there two nights - we could take it. Later that night, I had my doubts. I awoke in the middle of the night and heard what sounded like a mouse. Hmmm. Did I hear right? It sounds like it's coming from near the bathroom and right about now I could use a potty break. I laid still, listening. Scratch, scratch. That's a mouse, I know it. Should I try to check out at this hour? Or in the morning maybe? Geesh, I get mice in my house - shouldn't I be understanding of them, in this remote, woodsy ski lodge? Nah. They should do a better job than me! After all, I'm paying for a mouse-free bed!
Well, I've got to go potty. Out of bed, I slowly walk toward the restroom and turn on a light. No mouse outside the bathroom. Hmmm. I peer inside and look in every crook and cranny. No mouse here. Good. I do my business and head back to bed. After a few seconds I hear the sound again. Where IS that critter?!! As I moved my feet under my sheets ever so slightly, I realize what's happening. My feet sound like a mouse scratching - and the scratching I heard before was Colin's feet, moving under his sheets! The mouse was my dear son! Whew! Now I feel better.
This reminds me of the time I almost got up to answer the call of one of my young sons in the middle of the night. I heard one of them say, "mom . . . mom?" It turned out to be Jeff's nose. He was squeaking and it sounded like "mom!"
The next day we visited a Christian residential program called, His Mansion. It is a wonderful place with wonderful staff and residents. We ate lunch with them in their communal dining room (think lumberjack dining room with a fireplace). Afterward, Fritz gave us a tour. We saw the barn (cats, cows, pigs, chickens), the maintenance shop, woodworking shop, log piles, a map of the gardens, dorms, chapel, offices, etc. It is located on an old 1700's farm and some of the buildings are that old. You should see one of their stone fireplaces. It towered over Colin by about 3 or four feet and receded two levels into the wall. The outer level had stone seats on the side, where you could sit to warm by the fire. The opening was an arch that rose high over our heads. It was stunning.
After the tour, we met with Fritz in his office. We have some info to get to him and then, of course, Colin needs to decide if he wants to go there. At this point, every word out of his mouth has been super positive. He likes all the staff and all the residents. He feels accepted by them and can tell they are nice guys who did some bad things - but are now getting their lives together. Some are there for other types of reasons. Apparently many of the girls had experienced being raped and are dealing with the trauma of that. We left after our interview and came back the next morning for their church service. Have any of you ever heard of Plymouth Brethren? That's more or less what they are. Fritz compared it to Baptist. A cool thing about their church service is they have a 10 minute silence period, where you are to sit quietly and meditate on scripture or pray. After that, they have a short time they call "The Priesthood of the Believer". This is when anyone can share a scripture, or a testimony of what God is saying or doing in their lives. It's pretty cool.
After church we drove back to Boston, hopped our plane and got home around 9 pm.
Colin is unsure he wants to endure the cold winters working outside. That IS something to think about. We're praying for God's will. Thanks for any prayers you offer up for us.
Colin and I flew to Boston last Friday, got our rental car and headed north on I-93. We landed during rush hour. Why is it called rush hour? You can do nothing even close to rushing! We had Jeff's handy GPS with us so our "lady friend" directed us all the way. After about two hours on the road, we arrived in Henniker, NH. Well, almost. The hotel I found online was south of town and turned out to be a ski lodge, right under a ski hill. I was hoping I had made a mistake - you know, had arrived at the wrong hotel? Alas, they had our name. Okay, we'll deal with it - it was clean enough. Definitely not 5 star, 4 star, or 3 star - well, maybe 3 star. We were only going to be there two nights - we could take it. Later that night, I had my doubts. I awoke in the middle of the night and heard what sounded like a mouse. Hmmm. Did I hear right? It sounds like it's coming from near the bathroom and right about now I could use a potty break. I laid still, listening. Scratch, scratch. That's a mouse, I know it. Should I try to check out at this hour? Or in the morning maybe? Geesh, I get mice in my house - shouldn't I be understanding of them, in this remote, woodsy ski lodge? Nah. They should do a better job than me! After all, I'm paying for a mouse-free bed!
Well, I've got to go potty. Out of bed, I slowly walk toward the restroom and turn on a light. No mouse outside the bathroom. Hmmm. I peer inside and look in every crook and cranny. No mouse here. Good. I do my business and head back to bed. After a few seconds I hear the sound again. Where IS that critter?!! As I moved my feet under my sheets ever so slightly, I realize what's happening. My feet sound like a mouse scratching - and the scratching I heard before was Colin's feet, moving under his sheets! The mouse was my dear son! Whew! Now I feel better.
This reminds me of the time I almost got up to answer the call of one of my young sons in the middle of the night. I heard one of them say, "mom . . . mom?" It turned out to be Jeff's nose. He was squeaking and it sounded like "mom!"
The next day we visited a Christian residential program called, His Mansion. It is a wonderful place with wonderful staff and residents. We ate lunch with them in their communal dining room (think lumberjack dining room with a fireplace). Afterward, Fritz gave us a tour. We saw the barn (cats, cows, pigs, chickens), the maintenance shop, woodworking shop, log piles, a map of the gardens, dorms, chapel, offices, etc. It is located on an old 1700's farm and some of the buildings are that old. You should see one of their stone fireplaces. It towered over Colin by about 3 or four feet and receded two levels into the wall. The outer level had stone seats on the side, where you could sit to warm by the fire. The opening was an arch that rose high over our heads. It was stunning.
After the tour, we met with Fritz in his office. We have some info to get to him and then, of course, Colin needs to decide if he wants to go there. At this point, every word out of his mouth has been super positive. He likes all the staff and all the residents. He feels accepted by them and can tell they are nice guys who did some bad things - but are now getting their lives together. Some are there for other types of reasons. Apparently many of the girls had experienced being raped and are dealing with the trauma of that. We left after our interview and came back the next morning for their church service. Have any of you ever heard of Plymouth Brethren? That's more or less what they are. Fritz compared it to Baptist. A cool thing about their church service is they have a 10 minute silence period, where you are to sit quietly and meditate on scripture or pray. After that, they have a short time they call "The Priesthood of the Believer". This is when anyone can share a scripture, or a testimony of what God is saying or doing in their lives. It's pretty cool.
After church we drove back to Boston, hopped our plane and got home around 9 pm.
Colin is unsure he wants to endure the cold winters working outside. That IS something to think about. We're praying for God's will. Thanks for any prayers you offer up for us.
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