Philadelphia

We had a lot of fun in Philadelphia. It was probably the most relaxing part of the trip and the funniest. This is the place in the trip where Clifford decided that "something or someone" was going to get us. Every time we started to do something he would tell us something was going to do something to someone. It was so funny. Traci and I about cracked up. First we walked through Chinatown and it was "Some young guy" who was after us and it went down hill from there. He is so damn funny. This top picture is Cliff and I in front of Independence hall where the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were signed. Like I said this part of the trip we chilled and so I had to take this picture of the cool Hookah bar for my big kids!!

This picture if the best representation of Philly yet. This girl was so funny. This is the little hole in the wall that was recommended to us for our first real Philly Cheese steak. It was called Sonny's and we were fumbling around trying to order our sandwich's when she said . Are you from out of town? And we said yes, and she said "In Philly you say give me a "SteakWhiz" She was so Philly and had such an accent. When I asked her if I could take her picture, she got all embarrassed and said "You want a picture of me?" She was so cool!
This was my Philly Cheese steak and I had it with Provolone cheese instead of Cheese Whiz so now I know it's a "white steak with" the with is cause it has mushrooms onions and peppers.
Our hotel which was really old (early 1800's) and very cool. Our room was just beautiful. They were slow so they upgraded us to a suite that looked out over this street. The only bad part was no parking anywhere so we had to drag our bags from parking garage a block away.
This is the cab that was Traci's first cab ride. Now she is a cosmopolitan girl!!
Some of the beautiful architecture in the city. There were so many beautiful old buildings and all were so ornate. Really reminded me of New York City in a small way, at least the buildings downtown.
This is an old grave yard from the 1600's. 5 of the signers of Declaration of Independence are buried here including Benjamin Franklin. There were many beautiful old grave markers from forever ago. Very humbling to walk through here and realize the sacrifice of these people. Just a beautiful city with great energy.
This flag hangs on the wall of the Betsy Ross house. She was a boarder at this house when she sewed the first flag. Since it was a treasonous act, she hid in a small back bedroom and worked on it at night. I can imagine it was very hard to see in the candle or lamp light. These people were incredibly brave to do the things they did.
This is the courtyard of the Betsy Ross house

This is the grave marker on Benjamin Francklin's grave. His wife is buried with him as she died the same year he did.
This is the chair that George Washington signed the Constitution in. They say it is valued at about 3.5 million dollars.

This is the room that they debated and signed both the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in . It is located in Independence Hall across the hall from the first federal Courtroom. They still have the cage that the accused had to stand in to be tried, That is where the phrase "To Stand Trial" comes from.
This is Constitution Hall and it is where the first Continental Congress met. The Senate on one floor and the House of Representative on the other. This is where the phrase "Upper and Lower House" comes from
Our graduation girl in front of the Liberty Bell.

Gettysburg

The second day of our vacation we spent in Gettysburg, PA. This was the focus of our trip as this is the location that Traci really wanted to see. We stayed at the Farnsworth Inn. It was a old inn located at the edge of the hill where they had the battle known as Pickett's Charge, one of the bloodiest of the siege. The hotel was used as a field hospital so it saw it's share of the action. There is still over 100 musket ball holes in the facade of the building from shoots fired. The Inn is suppose to be haunted, so that's why we chose it. We DESPERATELY tried to come up with something ghostly, but to no avail. It was very cool and we enjoyed our stay.

One of the hundreds of statues and markers that fan out over the battlefields. These battlefields go on for miles in every direction. There is a driving tour that takes you around the battlefield locations with markers and monuments that tell which divisions for which army fought there. At first, it gets sort of monotonous, then after awhile the gravity and sheer numbers start to sink in and then you progress to amazement, then finally to reverence at the sacrifice of these people. The battles where fought on July 1-2-3 of 1863. If you are familiar with this area at all you know how hot and humid it was. These men had on long sleeve wool uniforms and carried packs and rifles that weighed over 40 lbs. I tried to lift one of their field packs and couldn't even get it off the floor. Imagine marching from as far North as Maine and as far South as Florida with all that on just to arrive on the battlefront and fight for three days in the heat, with the noise of cannons and screams, and shooting, and yelling. It is humbling beyond imagination to stand there and see it all laid out in front of you. I kept trying to imagine the dedication of these men to their beliefs that they were willing to day after day after day suffer like they did, yet remain loyal to whatever it was they believed. You can really feel the heaviness of the war there; it really still lingers.
This statue was my favorite and was donated by the state of Louisiana. This angel hovering over a slain soldier is so beautiful. It was so heartbreaking because you can barely see it ,but the solder's toes are sticking out the front of his worn out boots. All those miles of marching in worn out boots, feet throbbing, itching from the heat and bugs, hungry, thirsty, lonely. Heartbreaking
Now to lighten up the mood, this is my favorite picture of Old Abe Lincoln Cole. He is so serious!!!!!
This is our room in Gettysburg. It was a theme room that centered around General Custer. I didn't even know Custer was in the civil war, I just thought he fought the Indians and got his ass kicked. But, he did fight at Gettysburg, and in fact was the soldier that preserved the while flag that Lee used to surrender at the end of the war.
Traci on our first day in Gettysburg. This sign is located on Cemetery Hill across from the Pickett's Charge Hill
Another marker with an incredibly handsome man and his lovely daughter
Of course, I had to have a photo in front of the Alabama state marker. I am Rebel to the core. Not that I don't think the North was right, I do and they were/are. But, I still am southern to the core. When Cliff and I first got together, I told him he may have been born in Colorado, but he was a southern rebel in his soul. Over and over, I kept telling him that. We finally traced a bit of his genealogy and sure enough, his family came from Kentucky to Arkansas, to Texas, then to Oklahoma, and finally to Colorado. That's my hot Dixie Chicken!!
Clifford riding into battle. As you can see the officer he has hitched a ride with is none to pleased with his attempt at hitchhiking and is turning around to tell him to get his butt off his horse. There is another picture of Clifford retaliating by hitting the officer in the $%^@&*( but I won't post that!!!!HA
This was taken outside the Willis House where Lincoln spent the night before he gave the Gettysburg address. I didn't know that he gave the Gettysburg address at the dedication of the National Cemetery. I guess after the battle of Gettysburg they buried the dead in hastily made graves that weren't very deep. As soon as it rained the first time it flooded and uncovered many of the dead soldiers. It was such a mess that the Sec of War said something had to be done so they expanded a cemetery that existed at the top of the hill and reburied the soldiers there. It is a beautiful setting. Most of the graves re marked UNKNOWN as we had no dog tags or identifying markers for the slain men then. Unless they had a letter on them or someone knew them, they were just unknown. SO sad. There was over 52,000. casualties at Gettysburg and 650,000 for the whole war. That was over 10% of the nations population at the time. They say it wiped out and entire generation of men.

Memorial Day

Just wanted to take a minute to reflect on Memorial Day. It is really fresh in my mind right now as we have just spent a week touring cemeteries and battlegrounds for America's solders . For the first time in a long time I was proud of this country. This trip made me separate the country from the government and that made a tremendous difference in how I processed a lot of my feelings. Once more I can say this is a wonderful place with so many who given so much for it to remain what it is today.

We are flying both the American and Confederate flags today because yes, we are Rebels (HA) but also in honor of the sacrifice of men, woman, and their fa miles, many of whom died not for money or power but for what they believed in.

So here is to the people of America who persevere and triumph in spite of our government, who are still willing to make great sacrifices and suffer for what they truly believe in . I love this country!!!!!!!!!!!
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1st Day Winchester, Va

I decided to take our trip day by day as we were gone for a week and did so much in that time that there is no way that I can cover it all in one blog entry so everyday I will do a city and maybe I can cover everything. Needless to say we had a marvelous time and saw so much. I can say I have never been so tired in all my life and was so glad to get home, but now that I have rested for 3 days I can say it was really worth it.

The photo above is taken just over the state line from Winchester, Va in West Virginia. I was standing on the stage where Patsy Cline started her career at a little road house named Rainbow Road. If you have seen the movie Sweet Dreams, the scenes relating to this were actually filmed here.It was very surreal to be there. When I was young I thought I was the reincarnation of Patsy Cline. Then I grew up and realized that was impossible as we were alive at the same time but boy have I had a connection with her my whole life. I was singing Patsy Cline songs at a festival in Boise Idaho once and noticed a old man in a wheel chair right at the base of the stage. He cried the whole time I sang. After I finished I went down to talk to him thinking that the songs must have reminded him of his wife who had passed away or something. When I started talking to him, it turned out that he was an old studio musician from Nashville that had played steel guitar on some of Patsy's 4 Star recordings back before she went to Decca Records and really got famous. He said , "It was just like she was here and I was listening to her sing again." I was so flattered. I had his card for a long time but somehow lost it along the way and I can't even remember his name. Shame I never got to work with him, We planned on it but it just never happened.
This is the house Patsy grew up in at 608 S. Kent Street in Winchester, VA
Cliff and I on the porch of Patsy's childhood home. He was so sweet to drive over so I could see all the Patsy stuff. It was about 80 miles out of our way, but he never batted an eye just took me there and let me spend all the time I wanted. We also drove by the studeo where she made her first early recordings and the Drug Store she worked at as a kid
Me and my baby at Rainbow Road, just imagine, Patsy Cline and Charlie Dick probably walked on this very spot talk about hallowed ground, baby this is it, Ground Zero of the Cline.
Patsy's grave, As you can see people visit and leave her little momentos. Mostly change or there was a small red heart. I thought about it for awhile cause I wanted to leave her something and finally knew it had to be my favorite pink lipstick. I really looks good with a summer tan and she was dark complected so I know she will love it. Plus it doesnt rub off much on your microphone cause it sticks to your lips when it dries. You go girl, sing that song in heaven!
Me and my girl
Marker outside Patsy's childhood home
Me on the porch of Patsy's house

I really loved visiting Winchester and the surrounding area. It was really a special thing to me. I was in Nashville once and got to stand in the circle on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium. This was right up there with that.

We got back last night from Traci's graduation. It was really nice and we had a wonderful time visiting Cliff's family for 4 days but we were very glad to be home. As much as we love everyone, Grand Junction is not our cup of tea.

We had a wonderful Mother's Day. We all met at Cliff's brothers house and had a barbecue. Thanks so much Julie and Les for all your hard work and love. We got to see everyone and visit with cousins we had not seen for awhile. Then it was just run and run and try to get everything we had planned done.

Now we are packed and leaving in about 20 minutes to go to Las Vegas and pick Traci up and then tomorrow morning we leave for Washington, DC. We are excited to go but Cliff and I are both wore out already. Hopefully we can get some rest on this trip but not likely. Oh well we can sleep when we are dead.

So, we will be back and posting in a week or so, hopefully we can get through security at the airport with all our paraphernalia. We cannot go anywhere without 2 camera's, a GPS, lap top, ipod, phones, and all the accompanying cords and crap. Cliff is sure they are going to think we have a bomb. I told him what will probably happen is they will think I have the swine flu cause I have a cold HA

Happy Mother's Day

Cliff and I are leaving this afternoon to go to Grand Junction for Traci's high school graduation. My how time flies. There will be a party for her on Saturday, and then Baccalaureate is on Monday night and Graduation on Tuesday night. Then Cliff and I will race back late Tuesday night and work Wednesday and Thursday and then Traci flies in Thursday night and we leave for DC on Friday.

It has been a busy week but I think I am ready. I was worried about all my plants and flowers but my sweet Charlee said she will look after them ,so I am OK. I would hate for them to die, I have worked so hard and they look so good. It just got hot here , so now the work to make them live begins. This desert is brutal on living things.

Well I must say Happy Mothers Day to all my friends, relatives, and especially my son and daughters. The girls have given me three beautiful, brilliant, funny, creative, amazing grand children and Toby has given me a grandcat. So thanks to you all for making my life so full and wonderful. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you all

Kentucky Derby

So I haven't talked about the Kentucky Derby. I didn't know anything about the horses this year as I have about given up my love of horse racing because I cannot stand to see the horses break down. It kills me to see them get hurt to the point I have stopped watching horse racing and stopped going to the track completely ( not like there is one close anyway) .

But this year I felt like taking another shot at it so Saturday morning of the race I turned on the pre-race and started watching it half way. I told Cliff I like that horse Desert Party and I think with odds 15-1 I will place a bet to win on him. We went to the sports book and I bet my horse and Cliff bought an exacta box with Dunkirk and Friesan Fire. Then Cha and Leo came and we went back to the sports book and Leo bet on Westside Bernie and Cha bought an exacta box on I think Papa Clem and I can't remember who. So anyway we were all covered and we were going to win our fortunes cause we had great odds and good bets and we all felt horsy that day and yada yada yada blah blah blah.

Then we started watching them parade the horses and listening to the owners stories etc and we were immediately drawn to Mine that Bird as he was owned and trained by some old cowboys from New Mexico. Now, you would have thought we would have taken our happy hinny's back to the sports book and placed a bet on said horse but noooooooooooooooooooooo so needless to say Mine that Bird runs first and pays 101.00 to win. Damit. That children is why gambling is bad umkay!!

Boy that horse was beautiful out front by 6 3/4 lengths!! You go and kick ass at the Preakness Mine that Bird!!! By the way my horse, Desert Party, well he stumbled just out of the gate and chipped a left front ankle. He's out of the running indefinitely ; which also describes my betting skills .

SO GAY....................................................

Charlee Ann thought my last posting with the photo of the horses was sooooooooo gay. So, if she thought that was gay, wait till she sees this. This picture reminds me of Cliff also. He is the "cock of the walk" and there we are, the rest of the flock just flapping our wings and marching along after him

Horsing Around

I found this picture and I love it because it reminds me of Clifford and me always horsing around!

Soul Food

These lamps have quite a story. My Daddy got them from the ranch house at Gold Butte after Bill Garrett died. When I was just a little kid I helped my Dad run cattle on the Gold Butte range. I always joke that I am my Dad's oldest son. It still amazes me that I was lucky enough to literally and actually be a witness to the last dying breaths of the "Old West". It is in my blood and in my soul. I can taste it all around me and have such a passion for all things cowboy. These old west characters made such an impression on me when I was young, men like Bill Garrett and especially Uncle Cordy Lamb. I can still remember sitting on my haunches and sipping camp coffee (made on a tripod over a camp fire) with Cordy wearing my Levis and a Levi jacket. I couldn't have been over 4 or 5 at the time. I mean I was really really young.
Bill Garrett


"Bill Garrett was a nephew of Pat Garrett, who shot Billy The Kid. Bill never married and came to Gold Butte in 1916 after being acquitted in a second trial for killing a man in Utah. Bill died and is buried here beside his long time partner Arthur Coleman, Garrett died in 1961 at the age of 81. These two old timers are buried at Gold Butte. Bill & Arthur were known far and wide by many. Garrett was a cattleman as well as a Texas cowboy , he was a skilled roper and six-shooter having toured with early Wild West shows. Coleman was a educated man from Chicago who loved to read and was a good miner as well. Their partnership lasted from 1916 till they both died at Gold Butte. Bill was a lanky 6' 1" in contrast to Arthur's 5'1" frame. Nearly everyone referred to them as " the long and short of it". More than 100 people made the trek to The Butte to pay their respects at Bill Garrett's funeral. The funeral was classic in that it was conducted not in a church but at the house where both men had lived and died, and not conducted by ministers, but by men whose prime credentials were those of friendship. Voris Perkins of Moapa conducted and gave a short talk. J. L. Bowler of Mesquite also spoke. But the surprise was that "Red" Adams, an unusual cowboy recluse from Logandale, who had never been to church as far back as anyone remembered, preached an eloquent sermon!"

My Dad was stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas in the early 1950's. He was a cowboy and so when he was not on duty, he looked for a place he could "cowboy" on the weekends. He came out to Moapa and the Virgin Valley and worked on the local ranches. That is where he met my Mom. After they were married he took a job as a ranch Foreman working for Frank Taylor. The Gold Butte range was one of their ranges for running cattle and so the story was lived out. I remember gathering cattle at Gold Butte one year, I was maybe 7 or8 at the time. The horse I was riding stepped down off a small embankment and almost stepped right on a nest of rattle snakes. When the horse heard the snakes, it started to buck. Dad hollered " hold on to that saddle horn and stay on that horse or I'll whip your butt." I was way more afraid of Dad than those snakes and I managed to stay on the horse. Dad knew that we were so far out in the desert and far from a doctor that if I had gotten bucked off and had gotten snake bit, we may not have made it to town in time. A great example of why kids should learn to mind without all the arguing and nonsense.

The fact that my Dad gave me these lamps is so special to me. Mom and Dad brought them to me a week or so ago when they visited from Idaho. I promise you Dad that I will treasure them just like you did along with all the wonderful childhood memories you gave me right here is the beautiful desert west!!