Camping at Fort Bragg

 
 
 
We had a great time camping at Mackerricher State Park at Fort Bragg, CA a week or so ago. The Runyans invited us to come along with them. We actually went a couple of days before them, stayed in a motel, rode the Skunk Train and then set up camp. We enjoyed the kids, both laughing at them and with them. It was great to cool off at the coast. Camping is always fun, but it is nice to get home, shower, sleep in a raised bed, and be rid of the smokey smell. We have this infamous camping box we've been working on for a few years. It is actually a toolbox on wheels. We joke that EVERYTHING you'd need for camping is in the box. It also serves as our 72 hour kit. It is nice to not have to pack up the kitchen for camping - everything is already in the box! We made dutch oven carnitas with cornbread on top - YUMMY! The silverish looking sluglike things on the rocks in the 3rd picture are sea lions.

A Birthday Tribute to Josh - Stayin Alive

This video says it all. Josh was such a fun kid to have around - never a dull moment. He could really bust-a-move. Feel free to leave Josh a Happy Birthday message. Thanks to Micah for having the video clip accessible.

Josh Clowning Around from Micah Stubblefield on Vimeo.

Charleston, SC, Graduation and Myrtle Beach

We had a great trip to take part in Jared's graduation from Chiropractic School. It was a long haul for their family, but they did it, and now they are here in California. Jared will do an externship with his dad, while he awaits board results and licensing. On our visits to South Carolina we have managed to get in some sightseeing. We have seen lots of great stuff we never would have, had they not been out there. We've been to the Smokey Mountains; Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields; Biltmore Mansion; Outer Banks of North Carolina; one of the largest gatherings of the Scottish Clans and Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain, NC; Norfolk, VA Naval Base, home of most of our aircraft carriers; and now this trip we went to Charleston, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Here are some photos of our travels this trip. I will leave the graduation posts for Jared and Debbie to do.

Porch Rockers at Holiday Inn Charleston, SC. This was a great hotel in the heart of the historic district of Charleston. If you ever go - stay here. The concierge was super at getting us on the right tours and to the best restaurant. Yummiest seafood I have ever had!


We took a boat ride out to Fort Sumter where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. I love visiting historical places. We saw dolphins on our ride back to the mainland. We also went on a dolphin watch boat excursion at Myrtle Beach, but I won't post photos - but it was tons of fun!


The cobblestone street of the Old Slave Market in Charleston.

A Gullah woman making a Sweetgrass Basket. These baskets have been made for over 300 years in America by the Gullahs of West Africa. I asked the woman if I could take her photo because some won't allow it (believe it takes part of their soul). She said "yes," if I bought one of her baskets. I took the photo, then looked at the prices of the baskets! I was suckered, but it was worth it!
A way cool cemetary with very old gravestones and cool Spanish Moss.

The best headstone in the cemetary - check out the scar on the forehead of the skull!

From the upper story looking out onto the courtyard of the Pink House, a tavern/brothel. It's one of the oldest buildings in Charleston - built in the late 1600's.


An awesome storm coming at Huntington Beach State Park at Myrtle Beach, SC. I love the oat grass on the barrier dunes. Loggerhead turtles come ashore here and bury their eggs. Then after they hatch, the baby turtles have to make their way down the beach and into the sea.

Mr.Gator - at the marshes natural habitat. He was only about 6 feet from us, with only large rocks as a barrier to keep him from gobbling us up

Cape Fear Harbor, NC. One of the oldest harbors in America. First named in early 1600's, just before the first ship sailed up to Roanoke, VA. I am fascinated by historical harbors.
Okay - that's it. I am done.
I have a movie of Bud hooding Jared, but can't seem to get it to upload to Blogger. I will do some research and keep trying.

Ode to my Mom

I thought it fitting to pay tribute to my mother, on this Mother's Day. My mom will be 90 years old in November. She still gets around pretty good, still has dark hair -not all gray and even makes it to Church with me every Sunday. She and dad live in a lovely assisted living facility. They don't complain about it, although, I know it has been a huge adjustment for them. Mom has kept her sense of humor and is always optimistic about life. She is always eager to participate in family gatherings and likes to be part of the conversation. I often have to remind her that she is not able to continue to do the things her mind tells her she can still do.
A few weeks ago, our bishop and his wife reported to us that they saw my folks trucking across the Home Depot parking lot with their walkers - mom with her rollator and dad with his Jazzy electric scooter. They had called Dial-A-Ride and hitched a ride to Jack In the Box (they had a hankering for a fast food burger), then they decided to walk across the parking lot to Marshall's and do some shopping.
This is a big shopping complex parking lot - Home Depot, Marshalls, Petco, WalMart, Bed Bath and Beyond etc. It didn't occur to them that it might be too far to walk. I called to make sure they had gotten home okay. They were pooped, but enjoyed their little outing.
Not being able to drive, and enjoy their independence has been the hardest part of the aging process for them.
I am grateful they live close-by where I can keep an eye on them!
I love you, Mom and I am grateful for your humor and optimism.

New Mexico and back!

Last week I spent time with the Tripp Family in Los Alamos, NM. I had a great time and got to do some fun things with my grandkids. I even got treated to a spring snowfall. Fortunately, it wasn't the 2-3 feet predicted, but only a few inches - enough for Justin to build a snowman for Ada and Tyghe. Mr. Snowman toppled before the big kids got home from school.

The littles got to sled in their own backyard. They have the perfect little hill for them.



I like to take a craft to do with the grandkids when I visit, so we made hand puppets and pretzel rod candy molds. The kids were very good at doing things on their own, without much direction. And then they treated me to a puppet show in their newly constructed (by Meg and Justin), awesome puppet theatre.
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Friday night is Pizza and Movie night, so while mom and dad went out to dinner and a movie, the kids made a Mickey Mouse shaped pizza and we watched Nightmare Before Christmas. They really enjoyed the movie, but even more, I think they enjoyed seeing how the movie was made in the bonus features








On my return trip to the airport, Meg and Justin got in a temple session, while the kids and I went to McDonald's Playland. Then we all went to Old Town Albuquerque and visited the Rattlesnake Museum. I am wearing my souvenier shirt in the photo with all the kids. I never knew there were so many kinds of rattlesnakes! EWWWWW!


Thanks to the girls for letting me bunk with you. Sorry I snored ;(
I had a great time with all of you.

Fat Tuesday - or I am such a dork!

I knew the missionaries were on the calendar for the day before Fat Tuesday. So I woke up Monday and thought "Man, I have to make a King Cake and Jambalaya for the Elders" We started the tradition of having a King Cake on Fat Tuesday a couple of years ago. We hide a little plastic baby in the cake and whoever gets the piece with the baby inside has good luck for the coming year, and also gets to host the next King Cake Party. Never having made Jambalaya, I wanted to give it a try this year (I even peeled and de-turded fresh shrimp).
I spent all afternoon in the kitchen, invited the Lyons over to enjoy the feast and waited for the Elders to show up. No Elders! Then I went online to read more about Mardi Gras, and low and behold - looked at the calendar and realized I was a week early! Sheesh. We had a good meal, enjoyed the cake, and we all snickered at my senior moment. The leftover jambalaya is in the freezer for next Monday when the missionaries are really supposed to come, and I will make a new batch of dirty rice and a new King Cake - maybe.
Brechin was the recipient of the baby in the cake. He can have next year's party. I will come!

Chilly Days in Iowa

 
 
 
 
We really can't complain about the weather on our recent trip to Iowa. The first day in Omaha was cold, but then things warmed up once we got to Des Moines. We had a good visit with Grandpa Stubblefield and took him out to dinner. I doubt he recalled we were there, but at least we got to check up on him and extend our love.
We did some interesting things, while visiting Josh and Courtney. Grant Wood's painting "American Gothic" was on loan to the Des Moines Art Center, so we made a trip there and got to see the original work of art. There were some other great paintings on temporary display depicting rural life in Iowa. I really liked it! Saturday we went to Tristan's swim meet in Pella. Pella is a quaint dutch community about an hour drive from Des Moines. It is a lovely little town and boasts Pella Window factory. We visited a few cute shops in between Tristan's races and had a big lunch at the Pizza Ranch. Sunday, of course, was Delaney's blessing day. She cooperated great for the actual blessing, but was not happy when it was time for photos. We also went to Jordan Creek Mall, and they have a great play area for kids. Thanks to Josh and Courtney for being such wonderful hosts. And thanks to Asher for letting us bunk with him. He wasn't feeling well our last 2 nights, so I kicked us downstairs, so Grandpa's snoring wouldn't bother him. As you can see - Asher and Grandpa were best buddies and took a Sunday snooze together. From the minute he saw us in his room the first morning, he called grandpa "daddy." He even hung outside the bathroom door when grandpa showered and called for "Daddy." And, of course, Dacia was so excited to see us, and reverts to bad behavior when Grandma is around. I am a bad influence on her!