Family Time in Fresno

Spent a little over a week in Fresno. Karen came down from Richland for a week with Anne Marie and her family. We spent lots of time and meals together. Karen cooked awesome spaghetti. Tim and Anne Marie, of course, made gourmet meals. Karen flew out of Fresno on Saturday. That's where this picture was taken. Our next assignment is Sekiu, Washington. We'll be there at the end of the month.

Blue Angels at NAF El Centro

It's almost time for the annual Blue Angels Air Show at El Centro. They practice most days and we just smile and watch. The air show will be March 16, 2013 from 10AM to 4PM.

Quilt of Valor

Every year the women here at the Naval Air Facility El Centro RV Park create a "quilt of valor" to be donated to the organization of that name. These quilts go to wounded warriors. They mean so much to our service men and women who have been wounded. This is a picture of this year's quilt and some of the women who contributed to it.

Anza Borrego State Park

We took a day trip to the little mountain town of Julian (sorry, no pictures) through Anza Borrego State Park. It was the last few days before the New Year, and everyone was there. Ocotillo Wells was full of off road vehicles of all types. It was sunny. As we climbed the hills, the clouds moved in. When we got to Julian, 4000 ft., it was 35* and sleeting!

Julian was wall to wall people, dressed in heavy clothes. We found a small restaurant where we could eyeball tables until someone vacated. Just as our food arrived, a table became available. We were with Dan and Afsie Miller, our good friends from Irvine, on the other side of the mountains. Pulled pork sandwiches with french fries, onion rings or fried zucchini. Comfort food!

On the way back we went through Ocotillo. Lots of jumping or "teddy bear" cactus. Cute and cuddly to look at, but deadly if you get near them. The needles literally jump out on you and are verry painful. We will go back in the spring when the Ocotillo, the long spindly plants in the first picture, become green and have orange or red flowers. Just beautiful. So stay tuned. We'll be here at NAF El Centro through March.

Winter at El Centro Naval Air Facility

It's been so long since we have updated our blog that I really don't know where to start. We are spending the winter for the first time in the desert southwest. As the picture shows, we're at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, CA, the winter home of the Blue Angels. We are about twenty miles from the Mexican border and sixty miles west of the Colorado River and border of Arizona. We are not camp hosting, we are guests in the RV park on base.

There is a lot to do. The people here take trips to Yuma and San Diego. They have potluck meals and parades. They decorate and pretend that stuff around us is snow. Just kidding. The average high temperature here in winter is 70 degrees. So for my four seasons husband, this is quite an adjustment. This second picture is of Palm Oasis RV Park, where we are staying. The picture was taken at dawn. Beautiful time on the desert. Temperature that morning was 53 degrees.

Memorial Day at Park Sierra

New kid in the campsite

Our table at the Memorial Day Barbecue

The clubhouse set up for the barbecue

Air Bear and a friend introducing Memorial Day celebrations

Anne Marie celebrated her 50th Birthday on April 30. She makes 50 look wonderful

The Grandkids

Grayson Avellar (22), Katie Lipp (20), Garrett Avellar (18) in Yosemite National Park in April.

Christmas 2011

Christmas at the Avellars' was such fun. Grayson is now 21 and Garrett is 18. Karen, Eric and Katie were in Seattle with the Lipps. By the way, Garrett is on the left. Grayson is on the right. Timothy is behind Grayson, and of course Anne Marie is the one with the halo. LOL

Millerton Lake Christmas Party

The Millerton Lake annual Christmas party and gift exchange is always a hoot! But there are serious times. This year, we were awarded "The Gold Medallion Superior Achievement Award" for our having served ten seasons as camphosts at Millerton and at Wassama. It is a prestigious award signed by the top dog of State Parks. Mike Van Pelt, our supervisor, said some very nice things about our service. We owe it all to our Lord who gives us the gift of hospitality!


Then came the dinner and gift exchange, obviously a little lighter time. Ranger Steve Barber was Santa. Also pictured opening or showing off their gifts are, Mark DeLeon, supervisor, Sean Homer, lifeguard ranger, Alexis Pettigrew, ranger, and Jim Clarke, maintenance. What an amazing staff we have! They make anything we do look good.

Bear's 75th Birthday

The birthday celebration was held at a local restaurant. Bear had no idea these people were coming. He thought it was just "the Fam." The people arrived at different times, so he got to be surprised again and again. Pictured from the top: Anne and Anne Marie and Dad.


Next row are Bear and Marge Ecklund, who was celebrating her 87th birthday the next day. We've known Marge for almost 50 years. Then came Bear and me pictured with Roy and Shirley Killion from Oakhurst. We've known them since the mid 1990's when we lived in Oakhurst.


Next row are Bear and me with Don and Edie Dittman from Coarsegold. We've also known them from the mid 1990's. We all belonged to the Evangelical Free Church in Oakhurst. These two couples traveled about 50 miles one way to this birthday celebration. And then came a picture of me with Marge, the birthday girl.


And then came the serious picture, the one for our Christmas card. He's a good sport. Next pictured are Richard Samuelian whom we've known from First Presbyterian, Fresno for almost fifty years, Don Dittman, and the birthday boy. Last pictured is "the Fam." Left to right are Anne Marie, Tim, Grayson, Anne, Bear, and Garrett.

Veterans' Day 11/11/11

This is Veterans' Day Weekend. Millerton Lake Campground is full. Here you can see one camper parking and two more waiting. If people want Thanksgiving Weekend, we're advising them to make a reservation. All but a couple of those here this weekend have reservations. It makes our job easier if they do.

Getting Ready to Leave Wassama

These pictures were taken at the end of October. The Roundhouse has smoke for the only time this year. This was Gathering Days (the Miwok version of a Pow Wow). The Indians would not let us publish pictures of their dances. But we did get a picture of a 112 year old woman (with her permission). She's the one in the wheelchair.

Return cattle drive at Wassama

They drove the cattle to summer pasture last spring. Yesterday was the return cattle drive to winter pasture. Fun to watch. See the dogs that helped? One was a chihuahua. I guess you're as big as you feel.

Once a year, the third weekend in October, the Miwok people come to Wassama to host this event. Wonderful example of the Miwok culture which is now disappearing.

Sunset with Gathering Storm

Last night, with a gathering storm in the east, the scene overlooking the cemetery at Wassama was lovely. I loved the contrast. Fall is coming to California.

The Weekend of 9/11

We've been open for several weekends. Our automatic gate is in place. We've had more than 100 visitors to the Wassama Roundhouse SHP so far.

On this Saturday before the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the flag is at full staff. Tomorrow, we will fly it at half staff.

Memorial Day at Wassama

Since Wassama is a closed historic park, the only event we have had so far this season was the Memorial Day event. The VFW post came to honor our only Miwok veteran, World War I veteran, "Banjo" Graham, Pvt. 13th Company 20th Engineers. MSG Bernie Koch wore his uniform for the occasion.

Yosemite 2011

The falls this year are at 190% flow. We went after July 4 with Phil and Monica Nebe from Virginia. The falls from left to right and top to bottom are Nevada and Vernal with a view of Half Dome in the foreground, Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls from the Valley, and Bridalveil Falls from the parking lot.

Mowing at Wassama

Millerton purchased a new mower just for use at Wassama because the old one was always getting stuck. The crew took about 4 1/2 hours to do all the mowing and weedeating.