To set the mood, the wild west always needs a covered wagon! This old time transport was found just a few blocks distance from our new home.
What I am going to do with this blog entry is move back in time from the present to when we had stayed in Denver mid-April through mid-May. Approaching it this way may be more interesting for all parties and may feel less like catch-up. Well, let's give it a try.
What did you do for Father's Day weekend? On the Friday before that special day to many of us, the seven of us loaded up into the mini-van (Ty and Kristin's) and we headed out for a few days in California. Ty and his family planned to meet up with some family for a mini-vacation on the beaches of Southern Calif, Louise planned to catch a coastal train down to Escondido to spend precious few days with her folks, and great-grandpa (dad, Floyd) and I went for a visit with my brother Craig and sister-in-law, Eileen. The quickly thown together Father's Day event involved all four "boys" and their dad. Knowing that life is a gift and there are no promises for longevity (in this life) we all availed ourselves to the opportunity to gather together. It was a good weekend had by all.
Floyd, Brian, Craig, David and Kevin.
Craig and Eileen happy and informal in their pose. Thanks, Eileen for your wonderful hospitality and good cooking which made a good weekend, GREAT!
Our trip to California from our new temporary home state, Arizona, involves travel through perhaps the most developed and one of the oldest wind farms in the United States. What a scene experienced, a bit futuristic, modern wind mills on both sides of I-10 west of Indio; hundreds of blades spinning all the same direction. Notice the background that spans miles; this picture may show a quarter of the total!
I am going to try a "new-to-me" feature on this blog, a video showing the wind turbines at work as we move along the freeway heading back home.
I would not be a proper grandpa without including some pictures of the two precious souls we are privelged to spend so much time with. They continue to remind us why younger parents should (ideally) raised kids. Our energy levels as grandparents show low on the scale compared to their little bodies.
Buz Lightyear, Tristin.
August Osprey
Of course, there will be more pictures down the road, giving their due as our Arizona grandkids.
For those of you who have followed our journeys from Alaska to the Florida Keys, occasionally I include pictures of our travel trailer. It has found its temporary rest in our front yard and is waiting for its own electrical connection so I can use it as a study and writing studio (and an occassional quite respite area) until it is called upon for future home duty on the road.
We landed into rental just a mile and a half from downtown Prescott on a piece of property hundreds of feet deep nestled in the pines. The home fits our four generation family and the backyard is a special treat. We are anticipating similar weather to what we have enjoyed in Denver, a true and mild four seasons.
Before assisting Ty, Kristin and the boys with the move to Prescott, we spent a week in Brenda, AZ, waiting for the rental to become available and to load up their earthly possessions. The desert has its own beauty, even in the heat of May, topping at over 114F.
Desert Gold RV Park, Brenda, AZ - A great place to stay for the winter season. About 50 residents stay year-round, the few hundred others are snow birds from mostly the west U.S. and Canada.
Did you notice the semi truck? Yes, it can be green in the desert if enough moisture falls any given season.
One observation I wish to share with you is my experience on an early morning rise just as the night dark fled the upcoming sun. I walked outside to be greeted by the fullest expression of dove and quail calls I have ever heard in my life! Their call and cooing resounded for miles wafing through the cool still air; their call the only sound I could hear. The nearby highway was silent. My spiritual lesson gained from that early morning chorus was a reminder of what scripture speaks of - that creation (heaven and earth) speaks to the Glory of God! I also thought it was strange that I could experience more bird wildlife in a few minutes than what we had experienced traveling into Canada and Alaska and given day. Yes, the desert can surprise even the seasoned traveler such as I.
Here is some modern desert rock art found on the hill next to Desert Gold. I wonder how many days or years these monoliths will stand as a sentinel over this onclave.
Classic desert view
Let continue on our journey backward in time. Just north and east of Flagstaff is a lesser known national monument containing a volcanic field and mountain. Indian folklore commemorates the last eruption around 1040-1100 A.D. I don't know how many times I had passed by the sign directing us off the highway a few miles. I was glad that we decided to take the exit and I would encourage you to do the same.
During our journey from Colorado to Arizona we also traveled though beautiful rock formations of northern Arizona.
Our travels through the south and west corner of Colorado was very enjoyable, all except the feelings we had knowing that we were saying goodbye for an undetermined period of time. Following my dad's "living in the present" experience, we enjoyed the beauty of the Colorado Mountains, specifically Wolf Creek Pass area.
Going in reverse as the story forwards, we are now back to Kenosha Pass less than two hours from Denver along Highway 285. Oh, how Louise, Floyd and I love Colorado; is it any wonder?
Did I mention grand-daughter, Emily?
My next entry will show the before and after pictures of our Ames Street project mentioned in my last blog entry, some pictures of St. John's Cathedral in downtown Denver where we attended an inspiring organ recital and various other pictures. Once this is accomplished I can change modes again and move forward into the summer fun of exploring Prescott and the surrounding region. Have a great day or evening! -Kevin, Louise and Floyd (and the gang)
