3/12-3/18/2011 A Visit to Gila, New Mexico

     Our adventure this time takes us to Gila, New Mexico.......home of Riley, Marley and Jazzy. We arrived Saturday, March 12, spending 6 nights in "The Gatehouse", a great little cabin rental very near to Riley's home. The girls were on spring break from school, so Riley was off as well from her art teaching at their school.  She still had her college classes to attend on Tues. and Thursday of the week.  We had a super time relaxing, visiting with neighbors & their day old baby goats, playing games, reading stories and watching the girls play dress-up and act as princesses.  Goodness, those granddaughters of ours are so busy, creative and fun!  One day, we met Riley in town (Silver City) after her classes, for dinner and a movie.  
     Riley is loving and doing so well with her college classes.  She has become quite the writer! This semester she is taking a literature class that requires a journal entry weekly about her observations and experiences in nature and the great outdoors.  This is right up her alley.  Truly, these writings of hers are fabulous and could be published! (I'm really not biased.)
     One day we took a 45 min drive out to the town of Glenwood.  There we hiked a trail called the "Catwalk".  This trial follows the path of a pipeline that was built in the 1890's to deliver water to a mining town.  You'll notice in our photos that parts of the trail are on metal walkways taking us right though the canyon with Whitewater Creek below.  It was fascinating and quite the adventure!
  

A beautiful Gila Sunset

"The Gatehouse"

The photos below are of our afternoon at "The Catwalk".

  

Marley turned 11 yrs. old on Jan. 30th!

She is growing up!!!

Jasmine (Jazzy) is quite the princess!

She will be 7 in May.

Jazzy and 1 day old goat

(Their neighbors 2 goats had 2 babies each...soooo cute!)

Marley holding 1 day old baby goat

My pretty daughter!

In front of a LDS church building in Gila

It was built in the '30s, now used for primary classes.

2/15-2/24/2011 "An Adventure With Avery"

After eating lunch at Anthony's/San Diego

(She loves her "Papa Gene"!  Don't we all!)

Amy and our granddaughter, Avery, were able to come for a 9 day visit the middle of February. Amy had not been back to California for 2 yrs.  She was here last when she was just barely "showing" with Avery - early March of 2009.  Amy was able to meet up with quite a few of her California friends and I was able to have some super fun with my 18 month old granddaughter!  Avery has quite the personality and her determination reminds me a lot of her daddy at that age! (Actually, he is still like that!)  It was great having them both come for a visit.  Come back soon!  

9 YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS!

The Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel

Sunset from the top deck of our hotel

Crystal Cove

Some Crystal Cove cottages

The Beachcomber restaurant - Who's that beachcomber?

The Newport Beach LDS Temple - beautiful!!

The Newport Beach LDS Temple

"The Bike Riders"

Balboa Bar-------Yum!

Riding the ferry to Balboa Island

Looking toward Newport Pier

A little windy on Newport Pier

Yesterday, March 1, was our 9th Wedding Anniversary! This time our adventure took us just a little over 1 hour away to the Balboa Peninsula. We spent 2 nights at this really small hotel. The Bay Shores Peninsula Hotel is really a old renovated motel from the 50's/60's, surfer style motif. It was very comfortable, clean and a great location. We spent time walking & biking on the boardwalk which fronts the ocean side of the peninsula. One highlight for me was riding the ferry over to Balboa Island and enjoying a "Balboa Bar" and riding our bikes up and down the streets seeing the cute little cottages. My kids will remember spending 2 separate week vacations there in one of the rentals. Super fun! We also drove by the Newport Beach LDS Temple before heading to Crystal Cove. The setting for this temple is so peaceful and lovely! As recommended by Keri and Mark, we visited Crystal Cove State Park, just south of Corona del Mar. We had a delicious lunch at the Beachcomber restaurant right on the beach. This area includes a three-mile strip of sand, tide pools, and a collection of rustic cottages built in the 1920's to 1950's that are being restored. We never made it to the tide pools....maybe next time! All in all, we had a grand time celebrating our 9 years of married life! Stay tuned for another adventure.....