Happy Birthday, Traci!

The WIRTZ family

Today is Traci's birthday and I was able to capture this family photo at her birthday fellowship last night. "Andy's girls" are (L to R) Marissa, Skyler, Kalli (standing behind) Regan (beside Traci). Such a sweet family! We enjoyed getting acquainted with them all!

Tortilla Flats, AZ

Yesterday we enjoyed lunch with Pastor Andy at Chili's (a RARE treat!), before taking a drive to see Tortilla Flats. We spotted these lovely cactus flowers at the motel before we headed out the winding road that Hwy 88 is!

Looking at the "foreign terrain", I was reminded of the old western "The Lone Ranger" and commented: "Hi Ho, Silver, and away!" Imagine my surprise to find the name of our destination was: the TONTO National Forest! At the roadside viewpoint, we caught a photo of a circling hawk overhead.



I was fascinated with the roadside "weeds" and took several shots of them with rock formations and cactus when there was space enough to stop the car on the road.



We "captured" a row of cacti as they formed a single line at the entrance to the old town, Tortilla Flats.

As we walked thru the old western town we passed some tourists sitting on the bench out front. One man commented on Al's South Kitsap Baseball T-shirt "South Kitsap!!! I'm from Port Townsend!" Small world!

We did not get any photos of the old west town, but surely enjoyed their fudge and ice cream before heading back down the winding road! It took 1 hr 15 min to drive the 15 miles down the winding mountain road, due to bicyclists blocking the way most of the trip. Awesome memories!

Today we head for Tombstone Territory for another western experience!

Mountain climbing...

Today, St Pat's Day, the two preachers climbed "Silly Mountain". As he left, we noticed he was wearing green... quite by accident. (Me, too, also by accident). This photo is halfway up and the other was taken at the top.

End of the trail, the TOP, with a view of Apache Junction behind him.
And at the top resting with Bro Andy Wirtz below.

Time to scrap! Domino featured!

I have wanted to feature this Domino photo for a very long time... she actually climbs INTO the chip bag to finish the crumbs. You can click to see the enlarged version. She is a very funny dog! It will be added to my online scrap gallery sometime tonight or tomorrow.

UPDATE: SCRAPGIRL POST

Just another warm night...

Last night before church we went to dinner with Pastor Wirtz family at the home of a family in their church. They have a lovely view of the Superstitious Mountain. This shot is from their back yard as the sun began to set. We were fascinated by the Saguaro cactus forest on the side of the mountain. You can almost see it in the middle of this photo. Before we left preacher and Andy's girls posed for me. Four lovely daughters... [HEY! Copy cats!]

The setting sun makes the mountain spectacular, doesn't it? This pic was taken from the church yard.
And then, this was the sun setting on a warm sunny day in AZ! (No wonder the mountains are so red!

THOT: I wondered why anyone would sleep IN and miss these beautiful sunrises... perhaps they don't want to miss the beautiful sunsets!

Love those CACTUS!

ONE GOOD HUG....

DESERVES ANOTHER!

Looks like the Hughes are already here! HUGHES FAMILY says the sign!

AZ SUNRISE... WOW! SO worth the wait!

Its coming up...

Not quite here...

Ah... NOW we are seeing daylight! AWESOME!!

Tree huggers of AZ... UNITE!

Having a wonderful time in the sun! Wish you could have been here! (WHY did we wait so long to come?)
Bro Andy says hello to the Hughes daughters.

Warm OUTSIDE?? Nice CHANGE of events!

After a LONG day at the airport yesterday we finally arrived at our motel in Apache Junction AZ and were in bed by midnight. We had no idea of the surprise awaiting us on our awakening! The sun was coming up over the Superstitious Mountains right outside our window! (I will get a photo tomorrow, but could not get dressed and outside early enough today.

But when we got to church we saw this beautiful mountain and cactus across the street from church!

After church, Bro Andy took this shot of us in front of the mountain, and we got a photo of him and his wife, Traci, in front of their little church. They are doing a great job here!

Buzz off!

We are scheduled to travel soon... packing and everything still needs to be done. Yet, I remembered last night about a recent blog that mentioned unique luggage tags to help you identify your own bags at the airport, and to deter others from picking up the WRONG bag (YOURS!).
So last night I designed this little tag to attach to our bags! The tag back will have room for a mailing label, too!

Borrowed Recipe... a WINNER!

Hamburger Chowder
(RECIPE IN THE TITLE LINK)

My online friend, Scrap Girl Ro, posted this recipe on her blog. [I am using her photo, because I was too busy cooking to take one!]

Roy was here while it simmered and had to leave before it was served, but he looked interested in "what's cooking" before he left. Al said it was tasty and excellent! Josh held off eating while working because he wanted to save room for the soup he had smelled as he left the house. The next morning he was raving on the soup he ate after 10 PM! EXCELLENT is the consensus!

My variation: I added a half cup of green peppers and a quarter cup of instant barley [added barley with the whole wheat noodles] .

The bay leaf and Worcestershire were wonderful flavorings! I am thinking of Italian and Mexican variations! Yummy and and INEXPENSIVE... you might have the ingredients on hand!

I hope YOUR FAMILY enjoys this quick, easy, inexpensive, yummy dish!

Barb-ology

Tag- You're it!!! Let others know a little more about yourself by re-posting and tagging your friends. Re post note as your name "ology"
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1) What is your favorite salad dressing?
raspberry Walnut fat-free

2) What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Puerto Vallarta

3) What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it?
chocolate anything!

4) What are your pizza toppings of choice?
the whole deal (except fish)

5) What do you like to put on your toast?
jelly

6) How many televisions are in your house?
2, but one is ours

7) What color is your cell phone?
red

8) Are you right-handed or left-handed?
right

9) Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
tonsils, appendix, teeth and some other useless stuff

10) What is the last heavy item you lifted?
too many half gallons of milk... ooh that hurts!

11) Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
yah...stars!!!

12) If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
yes, and the place so I could avoid both!

13) If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
dunno

14) Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000.
Never

15) How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
1 pair

16) What’s your goal for the year?
finish my filing and taxes

17) Last person you talked to?
my friend, Judith

18) Last person you hugged?
my husband

19) Favorite Season?
Spring

20) Favorite Holiday?
Christmas

21) Favorite day of the week?
Monday

22) Favorite Month?
April- SPRING!!

23) First place you went this morning?
office to get my SG newsletter

24) Do you always answer the phone?
not as quickly as I used to

28) If you could change your eye color what would it be?
same- blue

29) What flavor drink do you get at Sonic?
What is that?

30) Have you ever had a pet fish?
yes

31) Favorite Christmas song?
Merry Christmas, Mary

32) What's on your wish list for your birthday?
new queen sheet set - micro fiber

36) Do you have any saved texts?
yes

37) Ever loved a dog like its your child?
Yes, and I had the bad job of putting her down when her little heart was failing... poor Sparky the Toy Fox Terrier.

33) Can you do push ups?
Never could

34) Can you do a chin up?
Which one? LOL

35) Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
faith challenged

38) Do you have an accent?
depends on who hears it

39) What is the last song to make you cry?
don't recall

40) Plans tonight?
dinner and quiet evening with husband

41) Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
duh... welcome to the real world

42) Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
milk, veggies, sugarfree candy

43) Have you ever been given roses?
a few times

44) Current hate right now?
the empty pocket syndrome

45) Met someone who changed your life?
quite a few

46) How did you bring in the New Year?
sound asleep... it came in without my help!

47) What song represents you?
Jesus loves me this I know...

48) Name three people who might complete this?
Carol, Cynthia, Sally

49) What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Sleeping, of course

50) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
Getting therapy started for my aching tennis elbow


I TAG JOYCE... go for it!

My bucket list... incomplete as always!

Place an X by all the things you've done during your lifetime.
(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
(x) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(X ) Been to Florida
(x) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been lost
(X ) Gone to Washington , DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(X ) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X ) Climbed to the top of a mountain
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Lied about your weight (why bother?)
(x Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Got straight A's on a report card
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
(X ) Been deep sea fishing
(x) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(x) Laid outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(x) Enjoyed the beauty of Ole Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
(x) Ate dog food as a kid
(x) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
(X ) Been to the Grand Canyon
( ) Won cash or prizes worth more than $1,000
(X ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by hitch-hiking
(x) Been horseback riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco Trolley
(x) Read a Bible from Genesis to Revelation
(x) Been to Disneyland or Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(x) Been in a rain forest
(x) Seen whales in the ocean
(X) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden on an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins

1. Any nickname? Bird, Gramma
2. How much do you love your job? ah, plead the 5th?
3 Birthplace: Detroit, MI
4 In how many states have you lived? 4
5 Ever been to Africa ? no
6. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? That might have been me... not sure!
7. Ever been on TV? local tv
8. Ever steal any traffic signs? no
9. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door
10. Can you drive a standard shift car? yes... reluctantly
11. Favorite pie: any will do!
12. Favorite number: 7
13. Favorite Movie: none comes to mind
14. Favorite holiday? Christmas
15 . Favorite dessert: YES! Bring it on!
16. Favorite food? Mexican
17. Favorite day of the week? Monday
18. Favorite brand of body soap? Oil of Olay
19. Favorite toothpaste? any with tartar control
20. Favorite smell? fresh cotton
21. Favorite vacation spot? anyplace away will do for now
22. How do you relax? gametime on computer
23. How do you see yourself in 10 years? six feet under is my guess
24. What was the name of your first pet? Rusty, an old basset hound
25. What were you doing this time yesterday? taking Sally to ladies group

Since I was tagged by Sally, I'll tag Lindsey A. (sorry, Lindsey... have Dan watch Jacob a few!)

The Nelons in concert at BBC!

The last time Nelons were with us we laughed and cried and thoroughly enjoyed a night of singing unto the Lord. DON'T MISS this rare repeat performance at Bible Baptist! These Grammy Nominees and SIX TIME Dove Award winners are a quality act you won't want to miss... Southern Gospel at its very best!

Bring a friend or two! You will be glad you went!

No copyright

Recently a Digital Scrapping friend related how she was removing her copyright from her blog writings and just wanted to be a blessing to others.  Today in my email, my husband's "thot for the day" said almost the same thing about God!

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"Here is a great quote by S.M. Lockridge preaching about the Lord Jesus Christ:

"He precedes all others...He is Captain of the conquerors, Leader of the legislators, Hero of the heroes, King of princes and Lord of lords... He didn't have to put His signature at the corner of a sunrise because He's the owner… He didn't have to put His name on a laundry tag for the meadows...or carve His initials on the mountains or take out a copyright on the songs He gave the birds to sing."

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God is the ultimate "artist"... take time to Thank HIM for your uniqueness today! Be thankful YOU are an original piece of God's handiwork. Be careful not to take credit for His work in your life! 

This awesome photo from a recent local weather report clearly shows God's handiwork in cloud formations around our majestic Mt Rainier. 

Don't you just love to look at His artistic works?  He does all things well... Without a copyright!

Say Cheese... My littlest valentine!

Savannah Rose has finally grown out her chopped bangs "look" and Sally took these photos for me to scrap. Isn't she the cutest smiler? She really looks like she is saying... CHEESE! These pictures were screaming, "SCRAP ME!"
Scrap Girls post

Wow... Josh is looking good!

My nephew, Josh, purchased his first suit yesterday for a presentation today of his Senior Year project. He is staying with us a few months while he finishes his degree at DeVry University in Federal Way. 

Looking good in the neighborhood!

ROBINS!!! It's SPRING! (be still my heart!)

While eating lunch today, Al noticed a few robins in the yard eating THEIR lunch! On closer look he counted ten from where he sat! I went to the window and counted FOURTEEN in our backyard. This shot of four is just about where the snowman laid a few days ago. 

It's spring! (I hope!?)

Mamma Mia! What a workout!

Wow! I worked out today to the Mamma Mia soundtrack... awesome music, great cardio event! My heart maintained 120-128 most of the half hour. That is GOOD for me! I had to increase the speed to keep up with the music, LOL!

Loved it!  Now to do my organizing and house work to the beat! I'll be done in NO TIME AT ALL!

I am inspired! Check this out!

Organized Work space

For years we visited the Washington coast, stayed at our favorite cottage and ALWAYS visited the ANNA LENA QUILT SHOP... me, for the fabric "eye candy" fix, and Al for the homemade fudge fix.

This year the quilt shop closed. The owner retired to become an independent fabric designer and now works from her studio in her home. Since she has zero organizational skills, she searched for a way and lots of help to create a work room for herself. The link to her blog will give you details. For me, it was inspirational, because this year's primary goal is to find and utilize my home sewing and watercolor room into my studio again. I also lack organization skills, so her post is wonderful for me!

After all the January necessary demands with taxes, church events and all, my NEXT BIG TASK is to conquer "the room".  But first, today we must clear the garage for the three new doors that will be installed tomorrow. 

Be inspired! What do you need to organize this year?

Organized Work space

Dead Snowman!

We had another freak snowstorm yesterday! You can call it global warming, for we don't normally get SNOW in much quantity! 2009 is getting off to a bad start with MORE SNOW!

Yesterday after church we took Sally home with us so she could get to choir practice later that afternoon. While we played a game of cribbage (I won't say who won!) she noted it began to snow... BIG snowflakes, covering the ground with one inch within the first hour. We called her mom, who said they would still attempt the long trip. We called again at 5 p.m. and the big snow had reached their house too. They had decided NOT to attempt the trip (relief!).

That meant we were taking two young adults home with us... so about 8 p.m. we had a SNOWMAN develop in our backyard. The bottom snowball about 3-4 feet big, only took sally a few minutes to gather in about a 12x12 circle. The snow was packing wet and six inches deep! The second snowball was about 3 feet tall. Sally couldn't budge it! Roy went out to help and it crumbled to pieces. They managed to push it closer and still could not lift the heavy ball on top. SO, the snowman was made "laying down"! Perhaps he was making SNOWMAN ANGELS?

After they built the man, they climbed upon him and crushed it a bit before going in for a late dinner.

After church, Joy and her boys were not able to drive their car as far as their house, but walked the last half mile after sliding to a stop on the way home.

This morning the snow is MELTING quickly! The temps are in the 40's and will turn much of this mess to slush early in the day! YAY!

Snow, snow, go away! (why, oh why, could we not have this warm air YESTERDAY so the snow would have been rain?)