Thanksgiving in Phoenix

We had a great time in Phoenix for Thanksgiving. Half of the family made it down. Drew was a great host to share his home and heat the pool. We had ten adults and 12 kids for the dinner.
It was a great meal and we had lots of fun and games with the fam.
Dinner prep by the girls.

Boys watching football

Sometimes dinner just takes too long. Brit couldn't quite make it.

We had a great time in Drew's pool. He heated it so that the cool days were fine to swim.

Playing thanksgiving bingo with grandpa.

Songs with the cousins and then opening the Christmas jammies.

Fun in the pool.

Foul Hooked Like A Fish

It was Wednesday and the tide was in and the fishing was slower. Dave Bowers and I were working hard to catch our limit of 5 fish. I just caught my 5th and he was throwing hard to get his fifth, when whack, I got the lure in the side of the head. It was a pretty lime green vibrax treble hook. One hook cut my ear, but didn't catch. The other hook caught the side of my face. In the picture below you can just see the tip of the hook where is was cut off with pliers. Unfortunately the barb on the hook wouldn't come loose.

We went back to the cabin, had lunch, and then Layne washed it with betadine, numbed it with xlyocaine, and used a scalpel to cut through the skin and release the barb, and free the hook. He did a great job.

Layne put on a waterproof bandage gave me some keflex and I was back in the fishing business with no infection.

The end of the week and the cut is healing well. No sequelae. Dave Bowers really felt bad, but it was just an accident. He was much more careful casting though the rest of the week.

Fish & Bears on the Karluk

We had lots of fun fishing in Alaska on the Island of Kodiak on the Karluk River. The silver salmon were large this year, mostly around 15 pounds each. The first of the week the weather was good and the water calm. This is Dave Bowers showing his little fish in his right hand and my big fish in his left.

This was our morning catch. We had some good fighters and we had our limit by 11am.

This is the mornings catch, we had 10 salmon and on the end 2 steelheads we had for lunch.The bears were everywhere. One morning Dave and I counted 6 bears we could see around us. These two bears walked on the shore 50ft from where Bowers and I were anchored. For the Karluk fisherman this is at the point by the tank. We thought we were fine since we were out in a boat and they were on the shore.

Then right in front of us the swam into the deep water and caught a salmon right in front of our boat. They then just swam out into the more shallow area and kept fishing. Enough salmon for everyone. Often we would come in from fishing and have to move the bears out of the way to get our boats in. These bears were there every day.

We liveed in that brown cabin just above the river.Last year one tried to get in that door you see. That was Bowers and my bedroom. There is just some plastic over the hole in the door where the bear tried to get in. Those two bears live in the bushes off to the right. We would see them walking by the cabin.This is Layne & Malyn taking pictures of the bears while we waited for them to move off. We had a great time. The weather became bad later in the week and we had 50 mph winds that shook the trailer and kept us off the water 2 days. In my next post I'll show you pictures of me getting caught with a lure.

Home from Atlanta

We had a safe and good trip from Spokane to Atlanta. It was a long hot drive. The first day we went to Rapid City, where there were tons of motorcycles from nearby Sturgis. We did go see Mt Rushmore, which was very nice. Next day went to Indepence Mo. and went to Liberty Jail. Here is Ben and Ella at the jail.

We went Monday to Stone Mountain. It is one big rock. We looked at the faces and then to the gondola to the top.

Knox and I at the top of Stone Mountain. You can see around you forever.

A quick kitchen update. Looking good. Finishing touches of backsplash tomorrow. I'll send an update next week with better pictures.

Happy Birthday Dorianne

Happy Birthday Dori. We had a pool party and dinner on the deck. Since we don't have a kitchen yet. It was a beautiful day. Dorianne received some great presents. We surely love her. Dori had her favorite ice cream cake.

Love the kindle.

Construction coming along. The cabinets look great. The white island really sets it off. Can't wait until next week when the granite countertops are in and the tile floor done. Getting closer.

Construction Update July 15th

The construction is coming along. You can see the veneer going on the cabinets now. All the appliances and sink are out. Fun cooking meals on the barbecue, or eating out more. The tile is in, but it won't be put in until we leave for Boise. The cabinets will all be done next week. Debbie has been working hard on the dust control. Ben put the sheet rock in around the new window and most of the trim. We bought the sconces to go on the wall tonight. Looking good. We'll keep you updated on the progress.

Cool in LA

It was cool for our visit to Danny and Danielle. In the 60's most of the time. The sun broke through late in the afternoon sometimes. It was good for us because Spokane was smoking hot.The beach at Santa Monica, you can see the pier in the background. Not too many swimmers.

Litte Sonny was the reason we were there. He is so cute and so good. We love him to pieces.

Rosabelle was supposed to get her stitches out, but they put if off 5 more days. She is a cutie and one smart barely 2 year old. Thank you Danny and Danielle for a fun stay at your house.

Construction Zone

The remodel on the house is going slow. Ben and DaNae took out the tile floor and we got the sub-floor down, but the tile was backoredered. Hopefully be in this week. Ben put a new window in the dining room where the wall of mirrors was. It looks very nice, but Mom wants some sconce lights on either side and the electrician hasn't come by yet, so Ben can't put the sheet rock back up. Hopefully this week we'll get the kitchen painted. Then the tile in and then the cabinets. It will be close to get it finished for when the kids are coming in and we're heading to Boise.

I'll try to be better updating my blog for my very few fans who are complaining.

Lots of work to do in the kitchen, at least the dust is gome.
New window on the deck, gone is the wall of mirrors. I miss it, but the window is nice.

Home from the Cruise

Made it home from the Mexican Riviera Cruise. We had a great time. Made new friends, and saw the sights and beaches. Ate lots of good food. A Fun and a safe trip. Mom and captain Jack on the pier in Cabo.

Los Arcos, lands end. This is the view from our balcony when we woke up

The two ships in harbor in Cabo. the only day we had to tender in.

The sapphire Princess, a beautiful ship.

This is a video from our balcony in Cabo.

Boys Golf Trip

David, Drew, Denton and I had a fun golf vacation in St George and Mesquite. We played some beautiful courses, although the weather was cool some days and rained on us one day.
The prettiest course was Wolf Creek in Mesquite. It was a tough day, but there were good shots and bad shots and fun all around.

This is the first hole. You can see green all around are the red rock.

This is the tee box on a par three. A good climb to get up there.

This was the hole. 185 yds to the green. No one was on. Drew made it short right.

This is the Sand Hollow course in St George. The greens were lightening fast.

This is the tee box on one of the prettiest holes. We all played the hole well.

Video of my tee shot. My famous pull slice. Although I was driving good that day.