CONTINUING

SAGA .. PART 2 .. APRIL 30 2013 ..

Monday morning we left Phoenix on our way to Palm Springs.  Would arrive early afternoon.  Game plan was to spend Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday, then head on to other things.  Ha Ha Ha!!!

Beautiful when we started out.  About two thirds into the trip wind pick up.  Really picked up.  Then the sand storm hit.  Sounded like hail hitting the truck.  Couldn't see anything but sand.  Needless to say we were later arriving in Palm Springs than anticipated.  Not only did we have to contend with the sand storm, the road we were routed on to enter Palm Springs as closed for repairs.  Had to detour.  Can't blame any of this on Rachel, so guess who got blamed.

Checked in to our hotel, and decided to extend our stay, just in case.  Across the street around the corner was my "new car". 

Spent the remainder of the day exploring.  Decided to get tickets for the follies.  This was Monday.  Our tickets were for Wednesday evening.  Good thing we extended our stay.

Tuesday bright and early were headed downtown to the tour agency.  We had booked a bus tour of Palm Springs, one of the highlights was seeing the homes of the movie stars, etc., who had made P.S. their get-away residence.  So much history.  So much fun. 

Liberacie's home

Mid-way through the tour we were to visit a small mom and pop store - they were going to have date shakes ready for us.   This is date country after all.

Well, guess I had better get busy on some outside work.  Have a good day and God Bless.

To be continued.........

WELL ---

FINALLY...APRIL 29 2013 ...

I guess it's about time.  Been busy.  All kinds of stuff.  But finally will begin to talk a little about my Phoenix week.

Arrived on Friday.  Kids came to supper Friday evening.  Saturday was Madison's 2nd birthday party.  You have already seen her picture eating the icing from her cake.  Busy busy day.

Sunday Dave, Linda, Rachel and I took a Canyon cruise and visited Tortilla Flats.  Perfect weather.  Had our cruise reservations, arrived early, so continued on to Tortilla Flats.

It is in the middle of no-where, and busier than a beehive.  We had ice cream.  Yummm!!!

Then returned to dock and boarded our ship the 'Dolly"  for our cruise.  Lasted a little over 2 hours.  So many photo ops.  I very rarely had time to sit, was too busy looking and snapping.

Hard to believe there is such a beautiful lake in the middle of nowhere.  But there is.  The scenery was great, but to me the highlights were seeing the Great Blue Heron and the Big Horn Sheep.  Not in a zoo, but in the wild. 

We had such a good day.  Granddaughter Rachel .. not a kid but a married adult .. tries to go with us as much as possible.  We have had some really wild days together.  They blame it on me, but it must be because Rachel is with us.

There was the time of the "Ghost Towns".  Rachel, her husband Mark, Linda and I were photo-opting.  Rachel was driving.  I had the ghost town map.  We ended up getting really lost on almost non-existent roads.  They blamed me.  I wasn't the one driving.   Just because I had the map.... We had snacks and water so figured we wouldn't starve.  Mark ate all the snacks.  So much for not starving.  It got so bad Mark ended up driving.  Needless to say I AM NOT ALLOWED to even mention Ghost Towns.

But I am rambling.  Rachel still likes tagging along.  I still like having her, and Mark when available, tagging along.  We have fun!!!!!

Anyhow, after the canyon cruise we returned to Phoenix, had stuff to do as the next day we were leaving for California.  A new adventure. No Ghost towns though.......to be continued.....

FRIENDS

NEAR AND FAR ... APRIL 27 2013

How blessed I am to have the family and friends, near and far, that I have.

The laughter, and tears.  The good times, and bad.

Being together and being apart. 

And the memories.  More than the stars in the sky.

This has been one of the days where there were so many meaningful posts on face book.  Some-
times it is overwhelming.  And it stops you in your tracks to realize how many folks out there are thinking of you, hoping for the best for you, enjoying the good times with you, and feeling the bad times with you.

How much fun it is to be a part of all these lives, sharing the laughter and tears, recipes, and stories.

Have just about finished editing the Arizona pictures and will begin sharing a few next week.  In the meantime--yard work is calling loud and clear.

YOU'RE ONLY TWO ONCE!!!!

Have a great day and God Bless.

I'MMMMMM

BAAAAACK...APRIL 22 2013 ....

Returned from Phoenix over the weekend.  Had a wonderful time, but I think the kids are re-considering inviting me back again.  Ean't imagine why.

Last year, while I was in Arizona we had rain, sleet, and even some snow.  This was Arizona.

This year while in Arizona, and visiting Palm Springs California, we drove thru a sand storm, had minor earth quakes most days while in Palm Springs, our one day tour of PS our bus broke down, and they had to have another bus come rescue it, and us.

Of course, all this stuff is my fault.

I guess the PS earthquakes are an every day occurrence.  You don't feel them, they are just reported every day in the newspaper weather section.  We bought a paper while there to prove this, and that particular day there were three (3) in the morning.  Are we having fun or what.

We had planned on seeing a couple different places, but Palm Springs was so much fun we just extended our hotel reservations and stayed there.  Still didn't get to do everything.  Guess we'll just have to go back.


I will go into more detail down the road. Just wanted to touch base.  Have lots to talk about.  Don't you feel lucky?  Am recuperating today as Tammie and I embark on a one day bus trip tomorrow.  Called BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.  I wonder what we will find behind these "closed" doors.  Bet you're wondering also.

Have lots of pics to edit, all that good stuff.  So had better get crackin'.  Everyone have a nice day and God Bless.

I HAVE EXCITING THINGS

TO TALK ABOUT TODAY....APRIL 10 2013 ...

FIRST THINGS FIRST:  Just received news today pertaining to Double  Edge Press.  I think you all know by now that DEP  is the publishing house my daughter Rebecca formed 8 years ago.  Just a small publisher, but a traditional publisher.

What is traditional?  If she thinks your manuscript has potential, she signs you to a contract, no publishing fee.  The book is edited, the cover designed, printed, and ready to go.  The lucky author receives a royalty check at certain times based on the number of books sold. 

Distribution - Amazon.com, and any sales that come into DEP, and sales by the author themselves at book signings, etc.

NOW FOR THE BIG NEWS.  As of Monday of this week - 2 days ago - a MAJOR distributor has signed with DEP to be their exclusive distributor.  How did that happen?

She now has 40 - yes 40 - books in print and being sold, 5 of which of mine.  This is a very prominent distributor.  They saw great potential for sales.  The papers are signed, the ink is dry, and distribution will begin.  And by distribution I mean every major, and some minor, store, company, outfit, that sells books will now handle the 40 that have been published and all future publications.

What does this mean to me?  As soon as the distribution process is in action, my 5 books will be carried locally.  Wal-Mart.  Books a Million.  Just to name two.  How exciting is that?  Way to go Rebecca!!!!  8 years of hard work, ups and downs, and the foresight to chose authors with really excellent stories to tell.  Check out Double Edge Press and see all their titles, both in print and new ones to be released this year.  I think you will be impressed. 

NOW FOR THE SECOND THING.  This is not as exciting as No. 1.  But it is majorly exciting in its own way.  I will be off-line for the next 10 days.  I will be in Arizona visiting the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.  Then will be traveling on to California for some photo-ops with Linda and Dave.   I have my new web-site completed and up and running.

The up and running are the things I do while sitting.  When I am actually up, I am now slower than molasses, which is pretty darned slow.  But just like the tortoise (me) and the hare (everyone else) I just keep plugging along and eventually reach the finish line. Sometimes I am even FIRST!

Always remember, weather your are fast or slow, standing, or sitting, you are blessed that you are doing.  Have a great couple of weeks, I will definitely have stories to tell when I return.  In the meantime be grateful for what you have, what you can do, and God Bless

TRYING TO GET

ALL MY DUCKS IN A ROW....APRIL 04 2013....

How many of you know what the above means?

The landscapers are back from winter break.  They have finished the retaining wall, moved a truckload of old dirt from the driveway, and spread a truckload of new topsoil.  Front and Back. 

Today they are spreading grass seed, will water it down and spread straw over it. 

The next thing to be done is to install lighting along the front walkway and do some landscaping for us.  I won't know how to act when I no longer will have to 'baby-sit' the house because of something going on.  Good thing they are getting done now.

Why is it a good thing?  Because I am leaving for Phoenix next week to bug the kids and grand-kids out there. 

Also have been working on my new web-site.  No wonder my head is spinning.  I am coming along with this new project. Check it out. 

marthadouheritage.weebly.com

Don't ask we what the weebly means.  I am sure this word is not in my dictionary.  Sounds like something I would make up.  I guess that is the reason this web-site has been relatively easy to do.  It is weird.  I am weird.  Made for each other.

If the weather ever warms up and doesn't rain I want to get my flower beds cleaned off and get new mulch ordered.   That definitely won't be happenin' until I return from Phoenix.

In May the show schedule kicks in. Also more traveling.  Looking forward to a busy, fun-filled year. 

Right now I don't have time for this getting old bit.  Maybe in a couple dozen years down the road. 

O.K. now.  Got to get back to rounding up my ducks.  Keep a happy out-look and God Bless.

BEEN WORKING WORKING

WORKING ... APRIL 02 2013 ...

Not physical - mental, whatever that is.  Still too cold to go outside, so am doing inside stuff.

Also in the process have learned something new.  That is really straining the brain.  As if it is not already stretched to it's limit. 

Have had a great web-site for several years now. It is pretty well filled.  No room for anything new.

What to do?

I have had a new web site recommended by some friends, and I quote:  "It is really simple, anyone can do it. It is also free".

The really simple part, I don't know about.  The free part sold me.  So I decided to do something new.  In my spare time. 

Right now I am brain-dead, cross-eyed, feeling like I have been through the wringer, but I have a new web-site.  Looks pretty good if I do say so myself.  Still a lot to do but am making progress.

Check it out and see what you think.  I think I am gaining.  Started with 2008 and working towards 2013.  Will probably take me until 2020. 

www.marthadouheritage.weebly.com


If spring ever arrives for real ... I want to start on cleaning off my flower beds getting them ready for summer. If.....

It wouldn't be nearly as bad if the wind would quit blowing.  

Enjoy the sun shine and God Bless.