Sedona - Red Rock Country & Santa Fe

Our trip west began on a tuesday morning when we left the farm headed to Santa Fe. The weather was beautiful and sunny and we went to the altitude of 11,000 feet to clear the snowcapped mountains. The Sangria Valley was breathtaking. After we landed, I wanted to go see the rodeo grounds that we worked so many years ago.... Shawn was just a little guy!! but he was here!

The Santa Fe rodeo grounds... not a great picture of the grandstand - it was all fenced off.

View from 11,000..... coming into Santa Fe.

The Loretto Chapel and the one of a kind -

spiral Staircase! The legend is beautiful as is the church!

We also visited a veterans memorial across the street from The Lodge - where we stayed.

Landing on the USS Sedona - was a little bit intimidating - but was a good land :)

The huge meteor crater we flew over by Winslow, AZ

The view from our room in Sedona - Nice....

Headed to the ancient ruins after our pink jeep trip. Hiked just a short distance and then we saw

the Hopi ruins from many many years ago...

The two of us - taking it easy at the ruins....

There were a lot of pictographs on the walls, but I am only posting this one picture.

There were many rooms in this village used for cooking, sleeping, and other clan meetings.

I took this before we took off in the Wakko (sp) biplane - loved the headsets/headgear.

Hiking to the top of Lookout Ridge where one of the "Vortex" is located! We were not healed!!

Sure was a glorious view overlooking Sedona....

We drove out to Red Rock State Park - you drive around a ridge and this is your first glimpse!! I absolutely loved it there and the weather!! I'd go back in a heartbeat! We went to the headquarters - saw a film and then went to Eagles Nest trail and went hiking! Saw some incredible sights.

and then on to Jerome ~ a mining town! The town turned into a ghost town and then the hippies discovered it, and reinvented the town. Now it has a lot of artist galleries, but the big draw is the copper mine. It would profit over $1 million per month in the 20's - don't know how that translates in todays markets - but it is amazing. Enjoyed the history in this town - and another great view west of Sedona.

The Copper Mine!

She's Ready to Fly!!

Since 2007, this L2 project has been the source of many headaches, questions, pulling your hair out, and even some not so pleasant words. Eric and Bruce went to Clinton, Missouri to purchase this aircraft and even that was an adventure. They traveled through rain and flooding roadways - but after inspecting the old girl - Bruce decided she had to be totally rebuilt. After being stripped down and parts strategically located throughout the hangar, the rebuilding began. Now that Bruce put in the last screw, it is quite gratifying to see the outcome!! Eric and Russel came down and inspected her and found some things to be fixed - (that's what an A&P does) and now they are all corrected too! We went to Alva today and yesterday to taxi her around, but the winds and weather were not amicable. So that remains for another day!! Anyway, enjoy the pictures, you can't really see the seats and interior but it is awesome too. I'll post more pictures and a movieclip when the weather cooperates. There has been so many people who have helped that we are planning a cookout at the hangar for all who were involved!! Probably at the end of April or in May!! But for now, this is the L2's debut........

and here she is.......
Isn't she pretty??? Amazing!!!

Rearview shot...

I was headed to pick dad up from riding his bike and took this with my blackberry at the river by McCracken's. Saw a whole bunch of turkeys crossing the road - and they took their sweet time!

Well - I saw these chicks at Tractor Supply - Papa thinks we need to raise organic chickens for all! but I've been there - done that! Only if I have help from the other two Papon clans would this happen!!

We're ready to head west for a few days and we can't wait!! Hope to get some good pictures - and thanks to you all for the well wishes for our 38th anniversary!! It seems it was only yesterday when our boys were running around the farm, playing in the sand, playing ball, doing chores, etc........ but our family is our absolute joy!! We are so proud of all of you.....

70 to -5 in the same week! Weird...

To say the weather has taken quite a turn would be an understatement! I can only wonder what the animals are thinking!! During our 70 degree spell, Bruce got the garden plowed, and I watered trees and shrubs and cleaned up the flower beds!! Emmy and all the mutts enjoyed running around chasing rabbits and laying around in the sun! We really are anticipating a nice spring and want to get potatoes in the ground around St. Patrick's Day like we always do! That one warm day sure makes you get itchy gardening fingers!! No more planting of sweet potatoes though, so many spoiled in the cellar - what a waste - but I know its because they bruised so easily when being harvested!! Live and Learn.....

Papa's new 2 bottom plow.

Did I mention our neighbor is getting an oil well very soon - right next to our airstrip! Dirt work is in progress. Hopefully she hits oil and then they'll come drill on us!

That would sure put a smile on our faces.... Wish the kids were here to watch the rig go up!

and then we went to Papa Guy's and discovered they had over 12" of snow - giant snowdrifts! Penney went with us and seemed to enjoy the trip. We got G & B home, food bought, cleaning supplies purchased, a new caretaker for them to do cleaning and cooking, cleaned, and did some cooking. Needlesstosay, we were all pooped out when we got home!

There were surely some beautiful snow scenes on our trip.

Would be nice to get some more moisture at our place! Maybe on Tuesday....

Grandpa and Bernie home from the Assisted Living Home in Fredonia. Praying they will develop a positive attitude and be thankful for what they have! Sigh! Please join us in that same prayer! Enjoy the video of Papa plowing the garden :) Blessings to all!!!!

Christmas 2010

Bruce and I LOVE Christmas! It's a time when our family can all get together, spend time visiting, eating, playing, and wearing each other out! It's not about the gifts for us - but seeing the kids have fun and enjoying family. Keeping Christ first in Christmas is always my goal..... but oftentimes it seems we have to rush to get everything done.

Christmas involved all the kids opening presents in a wild frenzy - the amount of trash that came out of that extravaganza could fill the landfill! Just a few of the pics I got are below, but I did get movies too!

Mommy watching Buggy model her apron!

Abby before her cast! Did I mention these aren't in any order!! Oh well.... I try....

I really do enjoy making things for all... I hope they enjoy and use their gifts!! These got broke in when we baked some cookies for Blake and Shannon - our neighbors.

Papa taking the kids for a plane ride....

Our Baby Konnor - he had a great time on Christmas....

All the K-Kids but Kon - he was snoozing! :)

Wii partners!

The girls sporting their new aprons!!

We all had a great time - well I know I did - and judging from these grins - the K-Kids did too! Wishing you all a Happy New Year in 2011!! May all your dreams come true!

God's Blessings!

I couldn't resist taking some more pictures outside since we still have beautiful fall weather. I know our days are numbered before we realize the cold northerners and snow and ice. I haven't gotten a picture of our calf crop but I'll try to do that real soon before they all grow up!! With all the beautiful trees it isn't hard to see God's creating masterpieces everyday..... Who could possibly doubt it after looking outside and to the heavens!! We are blessed indeed.. Let us give Thanks everyday!!

We still have mums, but I think their days are numbered!!


This shot was taken on Locust Street in Alva at one of our jobsites. Aren't the tree gorgeous??

The same street, only a different direction taken with my Blackberry...

The triticale is growing - I don't know how - we sooooo need a rain.

The leaves are still falling - such a beautiful FALL!!

A shot from the deck!

And Emmy was begging to have her picture taken!! What a mug......

Only two weeks under Thanksgiving and then a short month until Christmas!! The year is speeding by - let us all enjoy each other, our families, friends, and our home sweet home! Blessings to you all!