DIXIE THREE

Sam had never been to Las Vegas and heard a lot about it from friends. He has been lobbying to go there ever since we've known him. While in St. George we were so close we figured it's now or never.

Trevi Fountain in Caesar's Palace

Sam said he was born in the wrong era, he really wanted to be this guy.

This section of the hotel is amazing! It really looks and feels like you are outdoors. AND it is the only area in the hotel where smoking is prohibited.

Sam really wanted to see the dancing fountains at the Bellagio, seen at the end of one of the Ocean's (11,12,13, etc) movies- I forget which one. So he got to cross that off of his bucket list.

We only stayed for 3 hours before our feet were aching and we were tired of walking around- and that included dinner!  If you don't gamble, drink, shop or go to shows there's not a lot to do but walk and stare.  Stare at the people, the buildings, the ridiculous prices and all the traffic!

DIXIE TWO

While my sister-in-law Linda Escoto was recuperating in the hospital from her total knee replacement Chuck, Sam and I took some time out to play.

We went to Zion National Park.  None of us had ever been there before.  The scenery is flat-out astonishing.  I am not a big fan of desert, but that place is gorgeous. We had a lot of fun hiking the different trails.  We had hoped to do the Narrows, but got there too late and all the dry suit rentals were taken. The Narrows is a slot canyon with the Virgin River running through it, and hiking the canyon means hiking through the river repeatedly, sometimes up to chest deep.  The water temperature this time of year is 39 degrees- hence the dry suit. Although there were people out there doing it without one, I wasn't anxious to have hypothermia.

 

You can tell from these pictures that I really indulged while I was in St. George. Went to Nielsen's frozen yogurt 3 times and had a molten chocolate lava cake at Chili's. But I enjoyed every. single. bite.

IN THE HEART OF DIXIE

Chuck, Sam and I are in St. George because Chuck's sister Linda is having a total knee replacement.  She lives alone and needed some support. 

Last night before today's surgery we went out to dinner and before we headed to Nielsen's for frozen custard for dessert, we stopped and climbed the red rocks by Dixie College to watch the sunset. It was breezy at the top and a little cool, so we didn't linger too long once the sun went down.

Frozen custard is my new all-time favorite! I hadn't had it before. It is creamy and smooth, but not foamy- it's very dense. I had heard about it from others, but now I am a convert!

Sam and I were wearing matching white sneakers (unintentionally) as we climbed that red rock. The red rock dust stains!!

This is the "before" picture. Sam really loves shoes. Sam takes really good care of his shoes- keeping them in pristine condition.  Even these white ones look brand new,  though he bought them a long time before his mission. He practically tip toed around on the rocks to keep his shoes clean!

CAUCUS

This wristband is my proof that I attended my neighborhood Republican caucus tonight. Living my first 30 years in California, which is a Primary state, I didn't know what to expect at a caucus.

Compared to a primary, caucuses seem grossly inefficient. A LOT of line standing to get checked in, then hunting for the correct room our particular precinct was gathering, waiting for everyone to arrive, voting, then discussing and voting on state, county delegates as well as a precinct captain.

On the other hand it was fun to see all of our neighbors and chit chat while waiting for the action to finally begin!

PEDAL TO THE METAL

First bike ride of the season! The day was sunny and looked a lot warmer than the 44 degrees it really was. There was also a really cold wind blowing down through the canyon keeping our hands frozen long after the rest of our bodies were warmed by the exertion. but it felt so good to be outside in the sunshine!.

At the end of this paved road is a dirt road that runs beside a small river for miles and miles through range land belonging to a cattle company. The rolling hills covered by the road are a favorite of snowmobilers in the winter. Those same rolling hills gave me quite the workout- my legs were like jelly when we were done.

Chuck was on this adventure with Sam and me, but he left us in the dust and was far ahead.  Sam was sweet enough to hang with me, thinking I was going to drop dead from a heart attack any second.  He must have been listening to all that gasping and moaning that was going on behind him.

I definitely don't have my bottom hardened to the bike saddle yet- my poor sitting bones were so sore I couldn't sit on anything hard for two days after. A true case of being "saddle sore"!.  I even have a special "moon" seat, because a regular saddle just kills me and makes all my "nether regions" go numb.

The specialized bike seat is shaped like a quarter moon, with the rounded part in front and the points facing backward. I find this seat SOOOO much more comfortable than a standard seat that has a dinky platform for your bottom which puts a lot of pressure on the tailbone and the elongated portion that comes between your legs and puts all that pressure on those sensitive tissues. Especially when you are leaning forward for low handle bars on a road bike. A moon seat has a much wider cushioned platform to support your bottom with no horn between your legs- much better!

As you can tell from this picture of my road bike and my mountain bike hanging on the garage wall that each seat is missing a "point", interestingly enough they are missing on opposite sides. I have had these seats for years and I don't recall when the rubber cushion on either side fell off, or what caused it to break in the first place.  But since it is just the tip, the seat is still usable and comfy.

Because I don't ride all year long on an indoor trainer like Chuck does, it takes me awhile in the spring to toughen up those "sitting bones" which is true of any seat, but at least my tail bone isn't aching and I'm not numb!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

I don't think this shamrock plant has any 4-leafers, but as far as I'm concerned it is good luck anyway!

Growing up in my household St. Patrick's Day was always a Big Deal. We always wore green, we always had corned beef and cabbage for dinner and green ice cream floats for dessert.  And I'm sure that my dad probably consumed his weight in green beer!.

Although my mother fostered the family traditions and always admitted that she had an "Irish temper", most of her ancestors were actually from Wales, though I 'm sure there was some Irish intermarrying here and there.

My dad's side of the family was a little closer to the blarney stone (in more ways than one!). His mother's name was Mary Jane McGuire, with his aunt being Bonnie Doone McGuire.

But then again, isn't everyone Irish on St. Patty's Day??

HAPPY PI DAY!

When Becca was in high school, she introduced our family to the concept of March 14th as Pi Day. Since then, spread across 3 states we continue to celebrate this tradition by making, or at least eating pie on this day.

With just Chuck and Sam at home, pi day has become a little complicated, because neither one likes pies. To be honest, its not my favorite dessert either.  Only cookies or brownies are a sure hit for the boys. could I let Pi Day pass without indulging in the presence of a pie? What to do, what to do??

I knew a pie would not get eaten and I would end up throwing it out.  I decided to make just a few little hand held pies, plus a mini apple cobbler for Chuck. 

They aren't pretty, but they were good- especially warm with vanilla ice cream. Best of all- no left overs!!

MADE MY DAY

Yesterday I spent an hour at the dealership waiting on an oil change for Chuck's company car. The waiting room had CNN on the TV and the only magazines to read were Bloombergs. It coulda been ugly if I hadn't thought to stop on the way to pick up this.....

Venti hot chocolate, 1% milk, no whip cream and no vanilla (sweetener)!

Made. my. day.

SPRING DECORE

Although here in the mountains, we have been warned that winter is not over (in fact another snow storm is predicted for Sunday evening) the temperatures have been in the high 50's and the trees are starting to bud.

I try to decorate for each holiday/season without getting too cutesy.  I am kind of morphing St. Patty's Day into Easter by decorating with a fresh spring green color that suits both.

My only real nod to St. Patty's is my entry table, where I've hung a sign and covered a tree in stuffed felt shamrocks.

Erin go braugh!

ST. GEORGE BOUND

Every 6 weeks or so, Chuck heads to St. George to work for 2 or 3 days. As I have the freedom to travel with him on occasion, I tag along to go play with Chuck's sister Linda who lives in St. George.

Because we are headed south, we go down Provo Canyon from Park City.  It is such a gorgeous drive this time of year with the snow capped mountains.

It is a long drive to St. George even though we make a few stops along the way while Chuck calls on doctors in Provo, Orem, Payson and Cedar City.

 I entertain myself  while I am waiting in the car by reading or coloring.  I am obsessed with the adult coloring books they have at Costco! I also color at night while I am watching TV.

This one is a work in progress I was doing on the way home.  It's not finished because I can't color while the car is moving or I will get carsick.  This one is done in colored pencils.  I also use thin markers, which I like because the colors are more intense.

My sister-in-law, Linda is counting down the days to her total knee replacement on March 24.  Even though walking is painful for her, she is still game to go out thrifting with me. This trip we even drove up to Cedar City to check out the stores up there (not that exciting).  She did take me to a cool consignment furniture store in St. George that had some really cute things. I ended up buying a sign that I thought was appropriate considering the amount of company we host on a regular basis....

Think our guests will gets the hint?