Happy New Year!

On this cold New Year's Eve afternoon, Dave and I went for a walk along the Columbia River Waterfront Trail.  The sun was shining, but the temperature was only in the mid-30s and the east wind was brisk.  We were bundled up for the weather and walked fast to keep warm. 

In our area of Washington state, it's usually either raining with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, or sunny with temperatures around freezing or below.  We generally don't get sunny and warm temperatures this time of the year.  The snow showers which were predicted mid-week fizzled out except for a few big flakes.  We are prone to getting ice storms, so we're happy when that doesn't happen. 

The waterfront path along the Columbia River

The river looked cold

McMenamin's Restaurant is a favorite spot along the river, but it was too cold to sit on the patio today!  

As we ring out the old and ring in the new year, may 2011 be a safe and happy new year for everyone!

Pickles cartoon

Welcome to my new blog follower, meowmama.  Check out her blog, especially if you like cats.

Dave sent me this cartoon.  I hope you can read the words because the cartoon summarizes the way Dave and I both feel!

Christmas, 2010

We celebrated with son Tim, daughter-in-law Kiersten, and son Jonathan on Christmas Eve. 

Carol and Dave

Tim

Kiersten

Jonathan

Christmas goodies

Playing the game Settlers of Catan

All photos were taken by Tim, except the photo of Tim.

Merry Christmas!

          YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED 

        TO A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

                    Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ

Date: Every day. Traditionally, December 25, but He's always around, so the date is flexible...

Time: Whenever you're ready.
(Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart.... He'll meet you there.   (You'll hear Him knock.)

Attire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay.  He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.

Tickets: Admission is free. He's
already paid for everyone...
(He says you wouldn't have been
able to afford it anyway...
it cost Him everything He had. But
you do need to accept the ticket!!

Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a  far-out drink He calls "Living Water,"
followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!

Gift Suggestions: Your life. He's one of those people who already has everything else.
(He's very generous in return though.  Just wait until you see what He has for you!)

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth,
Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness,
Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more!
(All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.)

R.S.V.P. Very Important!
He must know ahead so He can
reserve a spot for you at the table.
Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

Party being given by His Kids (that's us!!)!  Hope to see you there!

                MERRY CHRISTMAS

     FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS!

Digital Story of the Nativity

This short YouTube has been floating around Facebook.  If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth clicking on.  Thank you to both Ali  and John for posting this on Facebook.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA

Times have really changed, haven't they!

 

Our Nativity set, purchased at a dime store in 1979, for our first Christmas together.  We always intended to upgrade it, but now it's part of our family's Christmas tradition!

Hallelujah Chorus

Want to see something that made me cry?  Tears of joy, that is.  This YouTube is five minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

When I was in college, our school performed Handel's Messiah every December.  What was different about this was that the entire school participated, well, those that wanted to, anyway.  Some of the students were music majors, but the vast majority of us were not.  Yet, we all came together for these performances.

My first year I didn't know the music or what was going on, but I gamely participated.  Years 2, 3, and 4, I knew what was coming and greatly looked forward to the practices and performances.  What a special piece of music...anytime, anyplace!  Thank you, Mr. Handel.

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Other than a problem with our windshield wipers, which Dave was able to fix by hitting them with a hammer, we made it home to Vancouver, Washington with no problems.  Believe it or not, the hammer solution was given to Dave by an RV dealer.  It worked and the wipers performed flawlessly the rest of the way home.  Of course, the wipers never malfunction unless it's raining.  Rain was predicted, but we had several stretches of blue sky and no rain.  The rain held off at home until we were almost done unloading the motorhome.

When we get back in town, we usually stop at a Fred Meyer store so that Dave can disconnect the car and put gas in the motorhome.  The first thing I do is take the car to a car wash.  It badly needed a wash today.  Then I pick up our mail if the post office is open, which it wasn't today.  I returned our library books and picked up a few new holds, although the majority of our holds were suspended while we were gone.

Dave found an unpleasant surprise waiting for him at home when he got there.  Some big tree branches had fallen onto the spot where he parks the motorhome.  We think that it happened during a big wind storm yesterday.  If the motorhome had been parked in its usual spot, its roof may have been damaged. 

Now that I'm home, reality is setting in quickly.   I need to do all those Christmas preparations that I have avoided all month--Christmas cards, food preparation, baking, shopping, etc.  'Tis the season!

Beating the Weather

Dave and I left Corning, CA at 8:30 this morning.  We tried to time it so that we would be traveling through the Siskiyou Mountains around noon or after.  I'm happy to report that we had dry roads the entire trip north to Canyonville, OR.  

Near Weed, CA, we saw a patch of blue sky--always a good sight!

A little further along, still in California, we came upon an area where the fields were frosty, but the road was clear.

Mount Shasta from the motorhome side window

A hay stack advertising the State of Jefferson, where the folks want to secede from California

Welcome back to Oregon!   More blue sky And interesting clouds

Snow along the side of the road near Mt. Ashland

One of my favorite rest areas along I-5 in Oregon--Valley of the Rogue State Park

Home, sweet home for tonight--Seven Feathers RV Park in Canyonville, Oregon

The view of the mountains and trees is one of the things we like about this park.

And the facilities are first-class

Tomorrow, God willing, we will arrive home, a few days ahead of schedule.  Because of the good weather along I-5, we did not have to drive home along the coast, which saved a few days.

Saying Goodbye to Pismo Beach

Welcome to my new blog follower, Donna aka Froggi.  Visit her blog, 2 Taking a 5th, to read about Donna's full-time RVing adventures.  Cute name for a blog, don't you think, since they tow a fifth wheel? 

Sunset at Pismo Coast Village

This morning we reluctantly said our goodbyes to Pismo Beach.  The area is expecting severe weather in the form of rain and wind, so we decided to begin our journey home to Vancouver, WA.  We had hoped to spend a day or two in Monterey, but that area was included in the severe weather warning, so we headed east to I-5 and then north to Corning.  It was another long day of driving, but by leaving Pismo at 7:30, we were able to arrive at Corning by 3:30 pm.  We're staying at Rolling Hills Casino again, and we just happened to be here on another senior half-price buffet night (Tuesdays and Thursdays). 

Pismo Coast Village   

The Pismo clam decorated for Christmas

Pismo Beach is truly a special place and we will no doubt be back in the future. 

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, Lompoc, CA

During our visit to Lompoc, Dave and I visited La Purisima Mission.  A small group of Spanish and Mexican soldiers, craftsmen, and Christianized Chumash Indians accompanied the Spanish priests who founded the mission in December, 1787.  The original site in town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1812 and the mission was rebuilt a few miles outside of Lompoc. 

La Purisima is one of three of the 21 California Missions that is owned and operated by the state park system.

The bells in the bell tower were cast in Lima, Peru. 

The main church was built to hold 1000 people.

Why is there a cover over the pulpit?  Did the roof leak?

The candle-making room One of the outdoor ovens

The chapel

After we walked all around the mission, we were hungry, so we headed east to Buellton.  Dave was looking forward to eating at Baker's Square, but when we got there, we found it was out of business.  So, instead, we ate at one of my favorites, Pea Soup Andersen's.  Neither of us ate pea soup, however.

Pea Soup Andersen's in Buellton, CA

This is the original Andersen's.  There's another one along I-5 at Santanella.  There used to be an Andersen's in Carlsbad, CA, also, but it's no longer in business.

A Day Trip to Lompoc and Solvang, CA

Dave and I are having a great time here in Pismo Beach, California.  Our stay at Pismo Coast Village has been very enjoyable and we can see why people are keen to become shareholders of this park.  The park is 35 years old, but it appears to be well taken care of.   The entrance to the park is being repaved this week and we are impressed with how quick and efficient the workers have been.  There has been no disruption except for having to go in and out a maintenance entrance instead of the main entrance.

While Dave played golf today, I went for another bike ride.  First I rode to the nearby downtown area of Pismo Beach.  That area is undergoing some paving and repairs, also.  They have to do work like that this time of the year since this is the off season.  Summers here are very busy!

Then I rode south along Highway 1 to Pismo State Golf Course where Dave was playing.  I didn't see him, but I left a "Kilroy Carol was here" note for him in the car.

Monday we went on a day trip to Lompoc and Solvang.  We left early in the morning in order to get to Lompoc to visit a Victorian house that was open only between 9 and 11 am on Mondays.  But, alas, the house was deserted when we got there, so we didn't get to go inside.

The house was there, but no one was giving a tour.

Another site we visited was the town's Carnegie library, now the Lompoc Museum.  Alas, this place was closed, too.

Lompoc's Christmas banner--I'm not sure of the significance of the polar bear

We drove about ten miles west of Lompoc (pronounced LOM-POKE) to get to the beach.  We were so surprised to see an Amtrak station (deserted) out there.  It was a stop of a commuter train (no trains in sight).  This was a somewhat eerie place.  I could just imagine someone taking the train here and being dropped off at a deserted beach ten miles from town. 

We visited La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, which I'll write about tomorrow.  Then we drove on to Solvang, a touristy Danish village.  Even on a Monday, the town was hopping with cars and shoppers.

Our outing tired me out, and I slept most of the hour-long ride back to Pismo Beach.  I woke up just in time to take this photo along Highway 101 north of Santa Maria.