December 26-31, 2016 Chicago, Illinois to Shoshone, California

 

We had dinner with John’s cousin George, his wife Linda and cousin Kathy. Fun to see them. The Christmas lights at the arboretum were really spectacular.

After the lights we had a yummy dinner at a mexican resturant Mia with Dean and Bridget. The next night we had dinner at Bridget and Dean’s. The top part of the photo is the younger set, Jake, Sean, Claire and Bridget. The lower part is part of the slightly older set, Bridget photo bombed it, Lisa, Katie, Tim, John, Sadie, Bridget and Nora.

Claire graduated from college on Dec 22 so Nora brought her a graduation cake, Jake looks on. We opened the rest of the Christmas gifts after dinner.

John and Bridget have this good bye ‘hug’. We flew back to Las Vegas the next day. This toilet in the bathroom at O’hare airport has a plastic seat cover, when it flushes it also rotates the old cover out and puts a new one over the seat.

We got into Vegas late and stayed at Red Rock Casino the night. We arrived at our room at 1230 am very glad we were not driving the 2 hours back to the bus that night. This is the view in the morning from our room with Red Rock Canyon in the background.The casino was near Costco so the next day we resupplied at Costco, Trader Joes and the grocery store.  When we left Vegas we drove through Red Rock Canyon.  There is new snow on the range behind the park.

This is a hillside with convoluted folds. Notice the sign in the corner that says don’t feed the wild horses and burros that live in the area. Sunset on Mt. Springs Summit-5000 + feet outside of Las Vegas.

Sunset on the way back almost to Shoshone. We went to the Fire Dept appreciation luncheon. My sister Judy is an EMT with the dept and she got a meritorious  service award. It was a nice lunch and we got to see lots of people we knew. Then at the end of lunch there was a call and they all rushed out to the emergency.

Judy and went on a three mile hike on the bluff trail outside of Shoshone just as the light turned nice near sunset.

And sunset. We had dinner with our friends Mac and Rod  and some friends of theirs that are visiting. After dinner was the Christmas gifting of the jewels. Halley, Carter and Linda with their new necklaces. In the foreground is one of my baskets and some pieces that will become basket centers.

December 24-25, 2016 Chicago, Illinois

We had a whirl wind day of three get togethers. Lunch with John’ cousin Mike’s family, stopped by a get together at Cousin Claire’s house and then to Nora’s for the white elephant gift exchange. Followed by Christmas breakfast at Nora’s and dinner at Maggies.

Bridget and Maggie-during a rousing game, Sean with his llama sweater and his white elephant of a dammit doll, Nora not wanting her photo taken with the white elephant hat and sunglasses, and John with the hat wrapping another gift.

John with the argyle glasses, Katie with the glasses and Parker, Dennis, Bridget, Maggie and Sean using the dammit doll.

Snow on Christmas when I went for a walk. Very cold. Christmas breakfast at Nora’s. John, Katie, Sadie, Bridget, Ben, Nora and Sean.

Katie, Bridget and Sadie, Bridget and Ben doing to happy dance because Bridget gets to do the dishes.

We opened our presents Christmas evening at Maggie’s house. Dean, Ben, Sean and Bridget.

Katie, Sadie and Bridget. And John and I.

Winston was opening presents too. Parker and Ryan.

A lovely dinner. Katie and Suep with lighted water glasses.

The napkin ring eyes were some yearly family photo.  Happy Birthday Ryan with Bridget and Sean.

Katie, Maggie and Nora at the gifting of jewels.

December 20-23, 2016 Shoshone, California to Chicago, Illinois

 

We met Ila and George for breakfast at the Crow Bar. Food was yummy and it was nice to catch up with them. My jewels displayed at the Tecopa Trading Post, in case anyone wants to Christmas shop.  Also some of my small baskets are there. I of course spent some of my profits on gifts for me.

Sunset from the yard in Shoshone and over Grimshaw lake on the way to Tecopa. We both had massages and hot spring soaks today.

It was kind of cloudy and looking like rain. We hiked out in the desert around Tecopa with friends. Our first stop was the Nash- here is John trying to drive it.

Our next stop was The Arrow. No idea what it is and it has been out here along time, maybe the native americans built it.  Toni, Suep, Roger, John , John and Jeff at the Arrow.

We hiked a kind of circuitous ,cross country route following Roger -who lives close by and hopefully knows his way around. Fun hike with fun people.  Cactus, spotted rock, odd formation in the cliff and mud.

We drove the car to Las Vegas to fly to Chicago to visit John’s family for the holidays. We left the bus plugged in in Shoshone. John standing in front of the Chicago mural at Las Vegas Airport.

The Christmas decorations at Chicago’s O’hare airport.  A big fat squirrel sitting outside the window in the snow. Weather and culture shock in Chicago.

John is building the some assembly required kitchen for his great niece for xmas. We all had to get our hands on those magnums of wine. Sue, Dean and John.

Pat and Samantha Rose admiring the ornaments. Samantha and Bridget on the stairs.

We had a wonderful dinner prepared by Dean and Bridget. Ben, Katie, Nora, Sean, John, Dennis, Pat, Kristen and Maggie. The Moran sisters- Bridget, Katie, Nora and Maggie.

Sean had a long day at work, then a big dinner and found a soft couch.