The BIG 8 OHHHH

It all began on July 18 - Phoenix to Sacramento

July 19      Long time friends Julie & Bob had a large group of our
hiking friends over for a joint birthday/good-bye celebration
since Don and I had to leave CA rather quickly after selling
our home in Colfax... and Julie thought we needed a "proper" farewell.
Thanks Julie and Bob.

And this talented lady - gourmet cook, care giver
 special friend and great hiker 

designed & created the Birthday Cake of the Century.
 In the graham cracker tent you will see
a pillow & a sleeping bag.  The pine trees are "frosted" waffle
cones.  Everything is edible except
the 8 0 candles.  The rocks, campfire logs and even
the campfire flames were delicious.  Thanks Diane. 

Most of the eating and visiting took place on
the lovely patio surrounded by a beautiful flower garden.

Wandering around the house was interesting
as well since Julie has taken up Quilting. 

We first became acquainted thru hiking, then knitting
and weaving and kayaking.

We spent many years attending the weavers guild and
weaving conventions around the country.  I was pleased
to see some of her weaving still on display...
guest towels in the guest bath.

July 20 Eric, Susan, Don and I had breakfast out
in Old Folsom.  We purchased lots of veggies and fruit at the farmers
market and walked the streets.  My favorite picture...
the colorful Sock Co.  Yes, all they carried was socks with fun
sayings.  The best "socks are divorced more than most pairs"

The Cohn House is Historic Folsom's very own Nob Hill.
The Queen Anne style home was built in 1860 and placed
on the Register of Historical Places in 1962.

The festivities for the day continued.   

Thanks to the kids and kidlets as I call them.

Here they are in random order.

Kids:  Kristine 55 & Eric 56 (retired)...

Our amazing daughter-in-law Susan (soon to be 55).
She & Eric came all the way from Eagle River AK
to spend 6 days in CA for this celebration which they hosted
with Kristine & Richard.

And, last but not least son-in-law Richard who is the
baby of the kids - 54 in Oct.  I think I better move on quickly
before I get in trouble huh Richard!!!

Kidlets l-r...  Kristine's kids, Kenny 16 in Aug; Cassie 25 tomorrow;
and Everett 29 - yes, Kenny recently passed up Everett who is over 6'.
Eric's kidlets Max and wife Ryann (AK) and Megan & hubby Jaron (CO)
had to work.  Missed you Love GMA

Wes (left), Cassie's beau, gets  in line with Kenny, Richard,
Kristine, "birthday girl" and Cassie for yet another family photo.

Don's big brother Bill (notice I didn't say older, Bill), Don and Eric visit
while others in the background start to pig out!!!

Cassie, Kristine and I practice our famous "chicken laugh"

And then it's time to really pig out.  This time Cheesecake...

half & half...    "Carrot Cake Cheesecake" on
the left and "Chocolate Chiffon Cheesecake" on the right.
Cassie volunteered to provide the Cake.  Good job Cassie.
That's a lot of "C's" - now that I think about it.  Thank you Cassie, 
my favorite Carrot Cake Cheesecake

On July 21 (actual b'day day) we still found time for more fun.

There was pool time and then

Pool Time

And lake time as many headed to Folsom Lake
to do some swimming and wake boarding.  After all,
it was 94 degrees..

July 22 - while waiting for our flight at the Sacramento Airport
I ordered a 5 oz glass of wine.  It was $11.50.  Now
contrary to public opinion, this is how much was in the
glass when the waitress served it.   Franzia Chablis, my favorite wine,
comes in a 5 liter box which = 34 5 oz glasses at a cost of $9.95-$12.95 in CA. 

Just when I thought I had seen it all, I encountered
this.  In case you can't quite read it - let me help you.
"Service animal/pet relief area"   

The view out the window was far better...

as was the pre-monsoon cloud formation
when we arrived home.  Monsoon - hmm, could be
the next blog...

COOKING... but not What you Think...

Yesterday's forecast looked like this for the
Phoenix area... it's a few degrees "cooler" (isn't that
a joke) in Gold Canyon.  As a result, I've

been driven to the loom.

This time it''s enough warp to weave
4 Thanksgiving Bread Cloths.  Each one will
be slightly different as I use a different color
weft (the yarn you weave with) for each one.

Don's busy solving puzzle Caches on the computer
on Geocaching.com

Later, as they say!!!

Scenic Drive - Canyon Lake AZ

One of my favorite rides near Gold Canyon AZ

is the trip out to Canyon Lake and all our out-of-state

visitors get to see it up close and personal...

Hwy 88 takes us where we want to go

as we pass by the Superstition Mtns and in particular
the "Praying Hands" formation, to the far left.    We've hiked
the area often.  The trail leads right up between the "hands"
and the Mountain offering a great lunch spot and a beautiful view!

This green lichen is unique to AZ and

still amazingly green in July.

Time for a geocaching stop

& Don finds it while standing on a few boulders.
It's only 97 degrees today.

Watch out - one lane bridge ahead.

The lake is near it's high water mark and very
green around the edge as the rising water greets the brush line.

No hiking today due to the massive Woodbury fire that came too close 
and is still smoldering close by.   Fortunately we've hiked
it before, several times.    However someone I know,
who's a geocacher, ventured out a few feet.  

Every direction you look there are unique
and interesting rock formations. 

 And the return trip is just as interesting as the
drive out to the lake...

Especially this formation!!!
 Yippee - no cooking tonight...

Flashback Chimney Beach

Sitting around inside while it’s 107 outside here in AZ 

provides us with lots of time to build friendships as we reminisce. 

A common question, “What do you miss most?”

My answer:  I’ve hiked with a local group of  hikers, the Alta Hikers, 

between Auburn CA and the Lake Tahoe area for about 20 years.  We hiked 

every Tuesday without repeating a hike during the whole 

calendar year, weather permitting. 

A few statistics:  Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake 

in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, straddling the border of California and Nevada. 

It’s known for its beaches and ski resorts & it’s vast 

number of hiking trails, including the long-distance Tahoe Rim Trail.
And, of course its crystal clear water and high mountains that circle the
entire lake.  It is the largest Alpine Lake in N America and the second
deepest (Crater Lake in Oregon #1).  It has 72 miles of shoreline, is 22
miles long with a maximum width of 12 miles.  The surface elevation is 6225'
which has never frozen over!!! 

So let's take a hike...  This one's called Chimney Beach.
"Bouldering" begins after our first downhill
as we cross Marlette Creek.

Chimney Beach was named after this chimney, the
only remains of a lakeshore home that was built 100 years ago.

Bouldering continues as we continue south.

After all that the hikers take a break
to capture some snapshots of this beautiful lake, or...

maybe it's to get a closer look at the
sun bathers on the nude beach as we pass Secret Harbor!!!

After another mile we have fun giving

names to some of the rock formations...

what do you see?

We all thought this looked like a person

on their side crying because their half
of an avocado floated away!!!  

And swimming in Lake Tahoe is always an  exhilarating experience 

with an average surface temperature of 63 degrees F and it can drop

to 53 just 18" below the surface... but most hikers give it a try each year!!!

I've even used some of my photos of those "talking" or "smiling" 

rocks as inspiration for some small format  (less than 15" x 15") tapestry

commissions for a few of my Lake Tahoe clients. 

The map below shows the general lay of the land

in relationship to the NE corner of Lake Tahoe.