Saturday, April 18, 2009

Happy birthday lauren. So glad to have you in the mountains enjoying smoky mountain coffee with me.

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Monday, April 13, 2009

My Easter flowers that smell so wonderful

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Friday, April 10, 2009

Good morning new back yard... The view from my kitchen window

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Sunday, April 5, 2009

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon Day!

This day was the most anticipated of the trip. The drive was once again beautiful.

There are a lot of pictures on this post mostly because I could not narrow them down! Just let me tell you that the pictures do the beauty of this place no justice... you must go and see for yourself.


Early signs of approaching our destination...

Once you turn off of the 4 lane you are on this road and go strait for forever...
Then it becomes a long bumpy dirt road... With more signs of what is to come.


We made it to the Grand Canyon and as we drove up it was on my right. I Could catch just a glimpse of the canyon but could not see to the base. After a moment of looking out the window completely gawking at it I realized I had not blinked and my mouth was half open in amazement. Realizing this I quickly looked and Charlie and gave him a big smile. He thought I was crazy I'm sure.

Charlie refused to let me get close to the edge. He told me I'm accident prone and he didn't want me to fall in. He was taking care of me and I was of course fine with that.

Anyway, as we walked up to the edge for the first time I could not help but think of what a big beautiful and glorious God we serve! The emotions of that moment were incredible. I feel so honored to have a personal relationship with the creator of "The Grand Canyon".

We were on the Hualapai Reservation where they just built the Skywalk. No we did not go on it... Charlie would have been jumping up and down trying to "test the limits" and I would have passed out. But here is the side view of it.
This picture was taken by one of the Hualapai people. They claim the rock formation behind us to the right a little is an eagle. I think it is a stretch but they are all about it.
Charlie may not let me close to the edge but he sure gave me a heart attack multiple times by basically running up to the edge... ah!

One of my favorite self-portraits
They had a small hut that the Hualapai used to live in. This is the view from the window... or hole in the wall. Whatever you want to call it.
Charlie loved how they made the roof...
Wow was the sun bright... I think I was crying after this from eye pain!
Me at the Grand Canyon...
Us again. I didn't get the "take the sunglasses off" memo for this picture.
This would be the time I really wanted him to get down. He was standing on a rock that was on the edge. But WOW what a picture!
I really could have stayed ALL day just like this! (Please note I am sitting probably 2 feet from the edge)




Um.. so There is a helicopter in this picture somewhere... maybe if you click on the picture to make it bigger you can see it. I think it is right in the middle.



On the way out there was a car pulled over all excited and taking pictures... I took one too . Not a wild animal... just grazing their "pasture"
Beautiful! We will definitely go back!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Charlie's Birthday!

Since we were out of town for Charlie's birthday I wanted to be sure that he had a celebration of some kind. 

I began by decorating the hotel room... 
And then making hotel "dirt cake". I packed up what I would need for it... oreo's, gummy worms, chocolate pudding snack paks, transformer cups, and candles. I picked up coolwhip at the store in Las Vegas and made the "dirt cake" in the hotel room. 
I sent Charlie to the penny slots while I decorated and made the cake. I crushed the oreo's in the ice bag and had fun singing to my hubby for his birthday! 
So cute! I guess there never will be a birthday without dirt cake!
I feel so blessed to be married to Charlie. He is an incredible husband and provider. 

I love you Charlie thank you for continuing to guide our Journey through life.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Beautiful Drives

Charlie and I really loved the drives. They were beautiful views anywhere you turned
This was the side road Charlie took that said 4-wheel drive strongly recommended... After the drive I strongly recommend it as well.
I understand the need for this sign but found it funny....


Such beautiful country full of absolutely nothing!

New Bridge Construction at The Hoover Dam

So for post #3 from our trip I am highlighting the construction at the Hoover Dam. I did find it interesting but you should have seen Charlie with the binoculars looking at the people working on the growing arch support for the bridge. 

This bridge will be for the road that will take 





I am sure that the next time we make a trip to the Hoover Dam we will see it from the top of this bridge.


Hoover Dam

Our first day of our trip we went to the Hoover Dam.

Charlie and I both were so excited to see this massive project that was created as a part of a plan to bring jobs to those suffering from the effects of the great depression. How ironic for us to visit it during another period of economic turmoil for our country.

 
The closer we got to the Dam the more we began to see areas like this:


Charlie thought I was crazy but the heights tend to get the best of me. So this is the best I could do to take a picture down the Dam (When you scroll down you will see Charlie's picture... much more daring). Anyway they had cut outs of concrete overlooks so you could see down better. Every time we went on one I tip-toed to the edge. (keep in mind there was a concrete wall up to my chest.)
This is Charlie checking out the construction of the new bridge (I will post more details in the next post)

Charlie's picture down the Dam


Charlie drinking that Dam water! ;)
Notice the waterline. Isn't it incredible how low the water is?
I was standing in two places at one time to take this picture!
Charlie is being so helpful holding the worker up!

One of Charlie's favorite parts of vacation... Cigars whenever he wants!