Winter Wonderland

Tumwater campground snowshoe 

Buddy and Bob

 

Happy New Year!

Hard to believe it's already the last day of 2011. We hope everyone has had a good year. Now that Bob's health issues are under control, we're having easy times. We've been to several movies in the past month. We saw the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo about a week ago. This movie is great, long, and can be confusing if you haven't read the book. I would highly recommend the trilogy. They are a little hard to start, but once you do they are a great read. Last night we saw War Horse. We really enjoyed the movie - bring tissue!

We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner here at our house with Brian, Toddi, Hudson, Michelle, and our neighbors. We also had Christmas dinner at Brian and Toddi's home. We're still waiting on snow. It's sunny and 31 degrees and no snow at all on the ground. Maybe it will happen in January.

Just let me at those quail says Buddy

 

Our Christmas Tree

Not too bad of a tree considering it comes from the National Forest 

Table set for Christmas Eve

 

Hudson in front of the tree

 

Hudson helping Granpa open Hudson's present

 

Hudson on Christmas Eve

 

Christmas tree cuting 2011

 

Bobcat - photo by daughter-in-law, Toddi

while on our annual trek to get our Christmas tree, Brian spotted this cat eating alongside the highway 

Brian, Toddi, and Hudson with their tree

 

Christmas tree

Today we went up into the mountains to get our tree from the national forest. We went with Brian, Toddi, Hudson, Michelle, and another couple who are friends with Brian and Toddi. On the way up to where turn off of the main highway, Brian and Toddi spotted a bobcat with a fresh kill alongside the highway. We all thought that was pretty exciting. Toddi got a great picture and I'm hoping to get it from her and post it here on the blog.

We had a nice fire, enjoyed homemade (by Brian) scones and soup. There was some snow, but not too much. We found 3 trees - using our tree cutting permits. All in all a very great day.

Aunt Michelle and Hudson

 

Our Fire on our Tree Cutting trip

 

Hudson and Dad on our tree cutting trip

 

Home in Wenatchee

We drove through the Redwoods taking the Avenue of the Giants - a scenic 31 mile drive. The weather was perfect for our trip home. Lots of sunny skies. We drove up 101 through northern California and along the Oregon coast as far as Newport, then headed inland to I-5. Over on I-5 it was very foggy and by the time we made our way to the RV park we were staying it was dark and foggy. That's quite a combination when you're driving a truck pulling a 32 foot fifth wheel and never been where you're going!

Wednesday morning we were up bright an early for our last leg of the journey to Wenatchee. We were home by 2:30 and spent a couple of hours unloading the fifth wheel. Now most of the stuff is sitting on the kitchen table. Oh fun - getting it all put away. Plus so much laundry saved up from the trip to be done. We went out to dinner with Brian, Toddi, and Hudson last night. Hudson was so excited to see us. He didn't know we were back. He had been telling his mom and dad that he missed Grandma Connie and Grandpa Bob (oh so sweet).

Central California Coast

 

Central California Coast

 

Redwoods next to our fifth wheel

 

Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge

 

650BC Greek Pottery - Hearst Castle

 

Hearst Castle Library

 

Hearst Castle Tapestry - circa 1500

 

Outdoor Pool at the Hearst Castle

 

Two male elephant seals fighting on the California Coast

 

Male Elephant Seal along Central California Coast

 

Hotel del Coranado inside the couryard