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.