Outdoors

Long ago, skiing when I was young enough it hurt less when you feel. Hubby, me and DD. DD is now 27...does that tell you how long ago this picture was taken? Anyway, we're in Utah I believe, or maybe Colorado. Not sure which trip this was. Outdoors. Outdoor activities are good for the family. Now I currently don't want to think about snow, not after this long will it ever go away winter; but summer will be here and the kids will be out of school. People need to think about getting outdoors. Do family outdoor activities. Everyone doesn't need to be in their respective place with their laptop and or game boys. Go "Outside".
Another great outdoor activity. Hiking. Get out and see nature. This beautiful water fall was in Colorado, but there are hiking trails, state parks, metro parks everywhere. Find one and go explore. You might have a water fall too.
Another year, after a hike up to the top of a peak in The Great Smoky Mountains. Was beautiful up there. We rest a bit before hightailing it down the mountain, as it quickly got cold and stormy. Who wants to be up high with lightening and wind...not me. Quick stepping down the mountain with our poncho's on being careful not to slip. Rocks get slippery when wet.
A favorite place, Meeker Park in Colorado, in The Rockies. DD, hubby, and Me. This was our home away for home for 3 weeks. We used to take nice long vacations and camp our way all around. Our tent was small, a dome style with a vestibule; but we always stayed dry. Some of the larger lodge style tents just don't do as well.
Hubby and I backpacking here, I think this was also somewhere in Colorado, because DD I belief was taking the photo.
Now this one really goes back. We were camping at the race track in Mosport, Canada here. We were newly weds so believe this was the fall of 1972. Picture over time has faded, and it's one of those mat finishes which looks grannie but was the favorite style of processing back then. We had a very small pup tent, you had to lay down to pull your pants on. I'm changing socks and we're warming up before breakfast by the fire. We were there for The Grand Prix. Facilities were really lacking, but we had lots of fun there and went year after year for a long time.

Reviewing this pictures, hubby has no beard, has a beard, has lots of hair, has very little hair and it's getting gray, my hair style changed too throughout the years. And...um our weight...these pictures cover a wide span of years folks.

**This is my O post for Z-A challenge
post on this blog are:
V post here
U post Here
P post here
R post Here

Picnic with the Pops, Columbus Ohio

Picnic with the Pops. A wonderful summer time activity suitable for young and old alike. Our symphony performs outdoors several times in the summer, it's casual, it's fun. Truly a great summer tradition in Columbus, Ohio. Here's a general view of he stage area. You see people in chairs, on blankets, at tables. Some get dressed up, others come casual. Some bring feasts, others bring snacks. Truly it's your choice.
There's always a patriotic concert that's quite popular. We ladies dressed appropriately. Pictured left to right: Karen, Jane, and yours truly-Sandy. This years Patriotic Concert will be July 2, Sat evening.

Hubby and I. You can see coolers and people behind us. Everyone claims a spot and settles in.

People come and picnic before the concert. Gates open at 6 pm, and the concerts begin at 8:15 pm. Price for adults is $20.00 and $8.00 for children, with kids under 2 being free. Concerts are held on the lawn at Chemical Abstracts, 2540 Olentangy River Road in Columbus. Tickets can be purchased ahead or at the gate. Discounts available for groups and early purchases. Coupon books for $160.00 hold 10 no date tickets. The series Picnic with the Pops runs from June 18th through July 30th this coming year.

Sometimes there's dancing! Ernie and I cutting a rug as they say. He always dances better after wine, lol. Entertainment varies. This coming season will host the music of Michael Jackson which I'll make a point not to go to. Didn't like him when he was alive, no reason to pretend I do now that he's gone. Always a favorite though is The Ohio State Marching Band they pull in quite a crowd. Others listed are: The Spinners, Chris Botti, Daryl Stuermer and Phil Collins.

And who doesn't enjoy a pretty sunset while sipping wine and enjoying friends and music!

Do you have outdoor family appropriate concerts in your area? If so, I encourage you to turn off the tv and go. Celebrate the season, get outdoors.

More information available about tickets, tables, and kids concerts by clicking on the link at the beginning of this post.

**This is my P post for Z-A challenge.

Packing Tips for Travelers

Ski trips present quite a packing challenge. This photo was taken 14 years ago, when the fam and I were all a bit younger, and a few pounds lighter. Geessssssss, it was even before gray hair. sigh

Packing a necessary evil of any and all trips. What to take, how much to take, how much does it weigh, will it wrinkle. First thing to consider is are you driving, or flying. If you're flying that bumps up the difficulty factor. If flying you have to think about weight, how to protect items, how to keep clothes presentable and still have all you need.

Our method of packing for ski trips was a clean turtleneck a day. After skiing, showering for dinner the clean turtle neck for dinner was the one you wore to ski in the next day. 2-3 sweaters was enough for the whole week and maybe 2 pair of jeans. Remember packing your ski equipment takes space so it gets the priority. And, you're wearing your ski clothes the bulk of the time, so you whatever else you're wearing are items used for a short period of time.

Pack ski socks and long johns, which are bulky items in your ski boots, and around your skies. It saves space in your suitcase, and protects your equipment.

**Always pack lots of lip balm, and cloth handkerchiefs/bandannas. Paper tissues don't hold up well outside and can't be used to protect your face or neck.

Folding your dirty clothes for the return trip will make packing easier too. Put them in a plastic bag, but folded gives you the same space you had when you packed the first time. If you have undergarments that are on their way out, you could through them out instead of packing them for the return trip; which frees up space for items you purchased on the trip. Personally I've not used the throw away method; but know several people who have and it worked well for them. People tend to buy new things for a trip and they did just the opposite. Took old stuff, wore it, pitched it instead of packing it to bring home.

Traveling The Historic Apache Trail, Arizona

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Here I am, your friendly tour guide.

Come travel with me as we tour and enjoy our trek into some rugged country in Arizona along The Historic Apache Trail. There's much to see, it's a full day. Most of my reading about this trail before hand indicated the trail took 5 hours, is 41.5 miles in length, and begins 15 miles outside of Phoenix at Apache Junction. The information I read did not indicate how truly rugged the roads were, that bathrooms were limited, and food even more scarce. The scenery though is well worth it. Beautiful outcroppings, sheer mountains, remote desert areas with cactus and lizards, a ghost town, mountains, hiking, camping, and Ancient Ruins. We spent the entire day...well beyond the 5 hours noted.. You'll experience hairpin turns as your drive through the Sonora Desert and see two common cactus -- Saguaro and Fero.

I suggest beyond my usual note to wear sensible comfortable shoes (which do not include flip flops or sandals), a bottle or two of water, you bring a picnic. There is only 1 place to eat along The Historic Apache Trail, and the offerings there (Tortilla Flat), are very very limited. A another word to the wise, do NOT pass up any opportunity to use a bathroom........it's a long day with only a few places available and most of those are pit toilets. You might also be wise to carry tissues. The shoes are needed to avoid the dirt, dust, and cactus. You will be traveling twisting, wilderness type roads. Only a portion of the drive is on a paved road.



So many sites to see along the way. Beautiful vistas from the inside of the car; as well as multiple opportunities to get out, walk and explore. Theodore Roosevelt Lake and Dam among them.
One of the interesting and very educational sites when traveling the historic Apache Trail is Tonto Monument. There's a visitors center, with a nice gift shop.
A pretty good hike to the top of the ridge provides quite a view of Tonto Monument off in the distance, as well as the city below.

The Indian Ruins are reported to be over 1,000 years old.



Goldfield, a mining town in it's day has been reconstructed, this memorial plague so notes this. You can tour this little reconstructed town for a taste of old west. In it's hayday, this ghost town produced 3 Million Dollars in 4 short years between 1892-1896.



We're looking down on the rugged road, one of the most rugged in all of Arizona. Large RV's and other over-sized vehicles aren't permitted. Some rental agencies don't even permit their RV's to be on this road due to the ruggedness.



The road had recently been graded, scraped...notice the dirt ridge on the edge.

Theodore Roosevelt Dam. The building of this dam was the primary purpose of the road (the paved road), which was built in 1930.


At Days end, a beautiful site. A man made bridge against an awesome sky(not man made) before we start our trek back to the hotel.

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Joshua Tree National Park, California

One feels so very tiny here in this vast landscape.

Petroglypys, if only we could read the stories they tell us.


Left from cattle rustling days, a dam. We also saw some tools, and a water trough. Hard to imagine trying to live, and work cattle in this desolate desert area. How hard life must have been.


Climbers....yep they're really there. We were quite a distance and this is a zoom folks. Gives you an idea of the size of things there.


Fantastic outline here of a Joshua Tree against the dark and angry sky of an approaching storm.

Hiking, camping, siteseeing via car, climbing??? Explore nature in many ways. Joshua Tree National Park--something for people of all generations. Got a family, stop in the visitors station and sign the kids up for The Jr. Ranger Program. You'll be surprised how much you learn with them. There are Ranger lead walks, talks, and evening programs. Interested in geology? You'll be in heaven here. Desert yes.....but not in the way many of us think of a desert. It was pretty nippy the day we were there, the climbers though probably liked the cooler temperatures. We were there in February. We spent a day there, our accomodations were in Desert Springs. If traveling from other areas, I would suggest packing a lunch as nothing really much is available along the way.

Entrance into the park is $15.00 (unless you have a Golden Annual Pass). Camp grounds vary from $10.00 to $15.00.

Like to go off road, ride horses? Those activities also exist here.

Layer, take water regardless of the time of year you go.

The Joshua Tree (Yucca Brevifolia)is a giant member of the lily family. If you see a Joshua Tree, chances are good you're in The Majave Desert, but you might also see it growing along side a Saguaro Catcus in the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona or mixed with pines in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Mormon immigrants that reach the Colorado River named the tree after the biblical figure Joshua. They felt the tree's limb were guided travelers westward. All tree limbs reach up to obtain the light, so to me they seem no different than other trees.

You do see the landscape change as you drive through the park from The Mojave Desert to The Colorado Desert.

Hope you enjoy these few of the many pictures I took that day.

Wine Country

Napa is not the only wine country destination in California. We were staying in Southern California in Desert Springs and a beautiful hour plus drive away is Temecula. Up over a mountain pass, some fantastic scenery awaits you...be aware though, in some places the road is narrow and no guard rail exists. A fun day, one I recommend.

You buy a pass at the various wineries which entitle you to taste x number of wines. We did a double pass and got 6 sips at 2 different wineries. Hubby and I tried not to get the same 6 sips. At each winery you leave with your sample wine glass. This is the price list, and special glass from LaCereza. Hubby liked the Champagne's here, though I was partial to The Pinot Grigio.

Mountains in the far distance with the vines in the foreground make a peaceful setting. We stopped for lunch at Meritage, which is just to the right of this field. Meritage is nestled in hills on The Calloway Winery. Here, I recommend Sangiovese.


A fun day, a scenic drive! There are no rest rooms, or places to eat in route across the mountain pass so go prepared. We were there on a Sat., on a return visit I would make a point to go through the week to be able to have smaller crowds.

Adult Day, not family oriented.