Christmas 2023

This year is very different,  the first one without you.

Starting new traditions...still a lamb dinner, but different recipe. 

We all miss you so much. It never occurred to me that last year would be the last one.

I love you. 

November/December

Trying to stay busy.

Grandparents day at Livie's school

Neil got a new smoker just in time for Thanksgiving 

Livie had her surgery and is doing so well!

Mila graduated from Chattahoochee Tech as a Physical Therapist Assistant

Shenandoah

I needed to get away, and Kim and Richard rented a cabin in Shenandoah NP for a few days, so they invited me up. It's just what I needed! We've been hiking and playing silly games, it's been great. Tomorrow I head to Marion, VA to see Carolyn Case. 

The cabin was built in 1910. It's cold and drafty, but a cute place.

A little bit of excitement Tuesday night...a mouse joined us😳

Luckily we had duck tape, and Kim was able to tape up the hole behind the fridge!

I had a great visit with Carolyn in Marion, VA.

Happy Heavenly Birthday

Happy birthday Mike!

Six Months

I can't believe you left us six months ago, it feels like yesterday 💔 

I went to Gibbs Gardens to see the wildflowers and the Monarch butterflies.  It's an official Monarch migration  waystation.  It was very peaceful and a beautiful day for it.

I sure do miss you.

PS.  I met Katie, Mike,  Taylor and Livie in Helen for supper at the Cafe International,  your favorite place. It turned out to be an ok day celebrating you. 💕

The Ring

I had an idea this summer about what to do with Mike's wedding ring. I didn't want to wear it on a chain.

When I was at Kim's she gave me the opal ring that I wore in high school. (I had actually forgotten about it). Opal is Mike's birthstone. 

So, I took Mike's band, the opal, and the diamonds from the ring he gave me when we lived in Vegas, and had a ring made.  I picked it up today, and I love it.  It's perfect because Mike's 6 month anniversary is this Sunday.  Next week, I'll take it to get it inscribed "It's all about the ride".  

Prost Mike

I drove up to Helen today. I saw Betty, and canceled the cabin for Christmas.

Then I went to the Cafe International and had a Reuben and an Erdinger.

Mike's favorite place in Helen on the river. We went last year as soon as we got back.

Blue Angel

I took the Jeep in to Troncalli on Monday. The ticking sound that I had heard just before I left in June had gotten louder.

Everyone who listened to it (Tony, Gene, Lyle, Chuck) said it sounds like lifters,  keep checking the oil and don't worry. 

That, and all the lights and "Service Shifter" message. 

Diagnosis: 1. Replace gear shift wiring $675.  2. Lifters and rockers have fallen into cam shafts, to replace all 4 is $7200.  3. Rear brake pads and rotors need replaced  $775.

😳😖

I'm lucky I made it home without any issues!

So....after reviewing with Lyle and Sally, they agreed that to fix it would cost more than the car is worth.

Yesterday,  I bought a new 2022 Cherokee.  It's not a Trailhawk so it can't be towed behind a motorhome,  but it's brand new and has an extended warranty,  so I won't have to worry in my travels. It's only a 4 cylinder,  but has a turbo,  so it's still peppy.

So now, travel and stay in hotels, and I'll look at getting a small trailer to keep at Hart Ranch.

What next?

Salida to Starkville

 I said goodbye to Claudia and Chuck on the 6th and headed to Amarillo.  It was a beautiful drive on back roads over to I-25, and then through the Raton Pass.  Then I headed southeast on US87 - and the wind was blowing so hard it was very dusty.

Amarillo:

I'm in Amarillo for two nights.  My hotel is right next door to the Big Texan restaurant - home of the 72 ounce steak. (If you eat the whole dinner, it's free).  It makes me ill just to look at it and think about eating that much.  One woman (124 pounds) ate THREE of those dinners in under an hour!

Mike and I had stopped here to eat once when we drove I-40 from Las Vegas to Atlanta.  

I went to the Cadillac Ranch, and drove down Route 66.  All the times we drove through Amarillo, I can't believe we didn't stop to take pictures!  (well, yes I can, he never wanted to stop....)

They sell spray paint if you want to add any graffiti

Mineola, TX

I stopped to see Roy and Janet Friend. They have a beautiful home, and we spent time reminiscing about Mike and Hart Ranch. They treated me to dinner, and had me spend the night.  It was great spending time together!

Coffee on the deck:

Natchez,  MS 

Today I toured the Rosalie mansion,  built in 1823 and named after the fort. The tour guide was great. 

Starkville 

Today I drove to Starkville,  part of the way along the Natchez Trace Parkway. It brought back memories of when Mike and I made the trip in 2020. It's a beautiful drive.

Ella and I went out for supper.  It was so good to see her and hug her. I know she's been struggling being homesick,  so I'm glad I'm here. I love hearing about her life and plans. She's going to transfer to UGA next year,  to be with friends and closer to home.

Tomorrow I'm going to explore the campus, and we'll have dinner again. 

Today I walked all over campus.  It's really a nice campus. I stopped in the bookstore and found a great shirt:

I got to see Ella's dorm room:

I didn't take a picture of the room - three college girls living together!  Reminds me of Mary Jo!! (And me)

I also saw the Ulysses S Grant Presidential Library.  Amazingly, it is here on the MSU campus in the library.  I couldn't believe it when I saw that it was here.  Evidently, a man who had all of the documents, pictures, and history, had everything in Illinois.  When he passed away, his family wanted to give it to someone.  They found a man who was an expert on Sherman, and asked him if he would take all of the documents.  He did, and they sat in the basement of the library for years until he got funding from Congress to build the wing for the Grant library.  The woman at the desk said that they are building a new, separate building to house the library - with its own parking. (I had to get a parking permit, drove around for an hour trying to find a place to park - and then walk a mile to the library!!)  It will be much more general public friendly!

Tonight Ella and I (and maybe her roommates) are going to have dinner.  

Tomorrow I head home. I'm kind of dreading it - being back there alone.

I'm home! Pam and I are having wine on the porch. 

Salida

I left Hart Ranch and came back to Salida to see Claudia and Chuck for a couple of days before heading back to Georgia. 

Claudia and I had a great girls day in Aspen.  Beautiful drive and a good day together ❤️ 

Lunch!

View from the narrow,  winding road...no guardrails!

This morning we golfed 9 holes in Buena Vista (really fun!!), and then Claudia and I helped Chuck change the oil in the Ranger.

Then, we had margaritas and fried green tomatoes (thanks to Susan's garden in Rapid City).

Girls Day - Custer State Park

 What a beautiful day to drive in the hills!!   Sally and I decided to take the wildlife loop - and boy did we see critters!   LOTS of bison (sorry Kim and Richard!), pronghorns, prairie dogs, and burros.

 

 

We stopped at the new Bison Center by the corrals.  It's a really nice display and just opened last fall.

There was a mama burro and her baby in the parking lot. Awwww

Such a great time!!  We had a nice lunch in Custer, and then headed home. Great day!!

Hart Ranch 2023

It was weird coming through the gate on Saturday alone. It was weird not coming in an RV and checking into a cabin.

I'm thankful Bill and Jan are here. 

It's so wonderful to see so many good friends,  and to be able to see how much they loved Mike. I think it's hard for all of them.

Last night  we met Sally and Lyle for burgers and beer at Joe's,  a favorite place we all used to meet. 

Today we went hiking at Pactola...Sally (the lab) loved it. She fetched the ball for the longest time, and didn't want to quit when it was time to leave!!

We went to the rodeo, that was fun!

Bill and Jan left Thursday morning,  it was sad to see them go, I'm so thankful they were here for me. 

Marita,  Kevin, Jim Neilsen and I played in the golf scramble together.  We sprinkled a bit of Mike's ashes on each tee on the front 9, reminisced,  and cried a little.  Then Eddie and Tim joined us on 16 to toast Mike and sprinkle him on the green. It was a very emotional day, I think for all of us. 

Sally and I had a girls day with the top down in her new convertible.  On the road between Keystone and Hill City an eagle flew over us and screamed just as he was above us. I'm sure that was Mike.🤗

Tonight Teresa and Brad, and Anne and Tim and I went out for supper at Shipwrecks. 

Fun evening with Dotty and Roger.  They took me to the Fort Hays dinner show.  Dotty went to school with the owner. Great entertainment!!

Today Tim, Anne and I played on the pasture golf course.  I sprinkled the rest of Mike's ashes.  I put some by the tree they planted in his memory,  and some in the area where he used to hit balls from the back of the camper.

Last golf scramble with Marita, Kevin and Jim.😊