Canyon Country

LOL --in the snow and wind, dancing on the corner. We'll have to add a chapter to the song...

A couple of days out from a very comfortable stay with Sam & JoAnn, Carlene and I are finally in canyon country!

Just West of Winslow is Meteor Crater:

Yep, that's one big ass hole in the ground, needs some spicing up...

There, much better...

Then a short drive to the Grand Canyon, in the snow, cold and did I mention the wind chill?

The Sun was just beginning to peek through the clouds as the Winter storm we were following North dissapated. The conditions made for some spectacular lighting.

Carlene caught some of the light, and me in this picture:

Even in the Winter, the Canyon gets a lot of visitors. We met people from Brazil (screeching teenage girls included of course), China, and, of all places --Vancouver. Yep, someone from our own back yard. Go figure.

One couple offered to take our picture and did a spectacular job:

And as a reminder that the place is still alive, a rock slide happened while I was standing at the rail:

Yesterday morning we headed out early, like really early, like, before the sunrise early. Just North of the AZ/UT border, the Sun caught up with us:

Which, of course, also made for some nice lighting opportunities...

That fog you see in the background is flowing down the cliffs into the canyon below. Very cool.

Did I mention it was freezing ass cold? There was a coating of ice on everything!

I mean everything:

There were so many good opportunities, I had to download all of the pictures from the camera so I could take some more!

Nice rock formations against a clear blue sky:

A lone Raven guarding the entrance to the trail:

And what self-respecting photographer can resist the patterns water makes as it finds its way to the sea...

Bryce Canyon should be on everyone's bucket list. Here's why:

Roscoe was having a great time too:

The snow was fresh and it made for some interesting snow drifts:

We're hanging out at a public library just North of Salt Lake City, UT taking care of the usual stuff, email, banking and blogging. We'll make it to Idaho tonight, if it doesn't snow!

Hello Every One, No we have not vanished,just have not had much access to Internet. We are in Holbrook, Arizona. Staying here tonight as there is a storm coming in and no one on the weather can predict how intense it will be, by the looks of the BLACK sky and wind and rain/snow our guess is fun is on it's way! We are fine tired and achy but nothing that a hot shower won't take care of. We are in the Painted Desert, tomorrow will do a bit of sight seeing on The Hopi Reservation, the oldest Reservation in North America. Also hoping to stop at Meteor Crater,then up to Grand Canyon. That is as long as weather is cooperating. We have been making excellent time and not hurrying. We are anxious to be home, and should be there by Monday as I have blood work and doctor's to deal with. Just the normal annual head to toe and medicine check.
Lance turned 54 Monday, splurged and went to outback for dinner, got to have our steak. We had a wonderful time in Virginia with Thairyan and Alicia and the twin girls little over 2 now. I just love to play with those two, they are little people not babies anymore, and I get to be as goofy and free as I like,you should have seen us with my tambourine! Thairyan and Alicia are just great young people a bit overwhelmed at times but who wouldn't be.
Our visit with Sammie and Jo Ann filled with fun, food and laughter and crafts for me and Jo Ann and Sammie and Lance doing what they do best create. Love watching and listening to the both of them. Great friends and will be looking forward to them coming out to Washington for a visit. Yes I know no photo's yet, believe me plenty have been taken but most likely will not be posted till we come home. At some point I will be doing a post on Billboard Signs especially the ones in the South, they certainly made me gasp, if you can imagine that? LOL! Rest Area's are another post! Our beautiful Country overall is poor with abandoned homes business's, places just left and people gone,very sad and we wonder if our government ever see these parts of our country? If they do why do they not care? So many question's with no answer's, we say our prayer's as we stop at these places giving thanks that we are OK and even with our health and money Challenges we are indeed fortunate. We thank all who have open there home's and love to us and we will forever cherish each and every one of you. Thank you for restoring our faith in family ,friends compassion and unconditional love and respect. Well time for that hot shower and tuna fish sandwich and oatmeal for supper. Hugs and Peace Within. Carlene Lance and Roscoe The Wonder Dog :)

Here we are on a very rainy windy day in Chesapeake, Virginia. We are planning on leaving it looks maybe possibly on Tuesday the 19Th. The van is coming along good but as you know nothing comes easy.

We have been enjoying our time with the little girls Bella and Alexis. It is amazing how twins can be twins yet have such different personalities. It just amazes me! They love to dance and they shake my tambourine and dance around, fun to be with them. I have been teaching them quiet time, so we sit on the floor and breath in through our nose out through our mouth and Say "Ohm". They laugh but after a few minutes they are really into it love them. It has been fun to get to know Thairyan who is just like his Dad, and Alicia who is a great Mom. We are really proud of them both.

Yesterday Lance and I went out looking for a couple of Parts for the van and ended up at Virginia Beach. We stopped at The Edgar Cayce gift shop. Wow could spend many hours there, so much to read and smell. Very interesting person. Hated leaving but it was a long ride back and we still hadn't found the blasted parts we need.

Hope there is not any flooding back there at home. We saw there were 'flood Watches" for most rivers. What a trip this has been, looking forward to coming home and rest for a bit,glad it will be turning Spring as we find a small home high in the mountains.
Well think that is it for now, I know picture's,Lance has certainly taken many but has been pretty focused on getting the van set.

Hi Gramps,sure hope your new pace maker is making you feel better and stronger. Will see you soon. Norm hope your pneumonia is gone and you are getting better.
Jim my brother and wife Claudia I believe have a anniversary coming up. What # is it? 40 years? OMG. Congratulations. :)

So will see you all very soon. Much love and Peace Within,The Gypsies

Hello Every One,
Hope all is well and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous 2010. We are heading home getting away from the Northeast snow storms and cold. We need to get back to see doctor's and get my medicine's updated. We are tired and anxious to get back, we have had a wonderful time for the most part, as a friend said to me " remember just pot holes in the road", the rest is good. Roscoe is hanging in there, wants to be settled in the hills somewhere. We will be out of New England by Friday. No more lobster's for a while, they are so good! Well that is it for now, take care everyone. Gramps is in our prayers today as he is having a new pace maker put in, remember your goal Gramps.
Much love to all, The Gypsies

Hello Every One,
Hope you all had a warm wonderful holiday with family and friends. We are waiting on a big snow storm to come through then we are heading home with just 4 stops along the way. We are tired but with great family member's in the wilds of Maine. Boy is it ever cold! -75 degrees on top of Mt. Washington last night, now that is cold.
Roscoe loves his new quilt he got for Christmas, keeps him "warm and cozy."
Happy Healthy New Year To every one. We miss you and we are looking forward to finding a home, settling in and seeing our friends. May the Powers That Be Keep you all safe and happy. To our very special friends Norm and Diane, so glad you are getting better Norm take it slow. Much love Peace and Hugs, The Gypsies

Good Morning, Another cold morning 8.8 degrees don't think there is much wind. Hard to believe it is almost Christmas.Where does the time go? Sometimes I feel like we just let our daily lives past us by without ever thinking about what we are doing? We have had a great week so far, Sunday we went visiting to Lance's Aunt and Uncle Kip and Gene. Gene being Lance's Mom Sister. We had the most wonderful time, lunch was wonderful, Salmon. Dessert Strawberry Shortcake. Snow falling and blowing strong but when we got away from the coast a bit, no snow just icy here and there. We wanted to stop and see my Sister and husband,but it was a blizzard and they have been having furnace problems, so we tossed kisses and waved as we went by. Everyone was in bed when we got home and we were not to far behind them. Monday Lance didn't feel well so we kept things low key gave him some of our homemade ginger ale and he felt better soon after. Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment that I couldn't get out of fast enough,another one on New Year's Eve day, just before we start heading home. Christmas Eve Lance and I are spending alone WAHOO! Have a special dinner planned, while the rest of the family goes out for dinner and midnight Mass. Christmas Dinner is here with all the families. Should be a fun interesting day.

The van is getting closer to being done for our journey home,anxious to settle down and in a bit.Things are expensive especially gas and food. Roscoe is doing much better, his Lyme Disease was a big scare for us, but after a month of broad spectrum antibiotics he seems back to himself. His hind quarters are getting weaker but does not seem to be in pain, which we are grateful for. Think that is it. Bye for now. Peace On Earth, Lance Carlene and Roscoe

Another cool 20 degrees and windy this Sunday morning before Christmas. I am sure the stores will be just full of folks looking for that last minute sale. The shops certainly won't make a living from us, we have found that we need very little to be happy and comfortable. Children of course are a whole different story, the excitement they have over Santa and toys and elves is amazing,where do they get there energy? Wish I had half of their energy not the kid though LOL!

As my sister Jenn pointed out to me "when you live or visit Maine in the winter your life exists around the weather," and she is so right. Even though you can travel 3 or more New England States in a day, folks here treat it as a major ride. As in the West, everything is much farther apart and folks think nothing of picking up and driving several hundred miles to go somewhere. We are suppose to go to Camden today to visit family, but not sure if that like several things this week will be put on hold due to the pending storm. Everything takes longer to do in this bone chilling cold, which I had forgotten. So we go with the flow, we certainly have plenty of things to keep us busy right here. I love our cozy bedroom here at Ronn's and today we will put up our Readers Digest Christmas tree all painted green and then painted with silver sparkles, we have mini lights to put on it, can't wait. I think the one thing I miss that we did not have room for is our Peace sign that Lance and I painted and put lights in last year, but when we get home it will hang year round and lite.

The main reason I was writing this am as I got up at 5 bundled up, Roscoe and I headed up the road as even in this very cloudy sky, we could see The International Space Station flashing away in the Northern Sky. Wow! How incredible and peaceful! The wind sneaking in around my hood on my wool jacket brushing my face with a new day and the awesomeness of just how small I am standing there in the dark looking at something so many many miles away. Great way of starting a day. Roscoe was happy to get out and play so early and do his thing, the driveway is ice and he has such a hard time because of his hind leg not being strong, but a trooper he is.

Even I in the want and need to be back home realized (once again) that nothing really matters except for the present, being in the moment and mindful of what really makes me feel at peace and happy. Flashing light in the morning sky that holds people who live floating around in their home doing their job and living day to day,being very mindful of their tasks chores and hopefully laughter and fun. Well think I rambled on long enough, enjoy your friends and families this holiday , laugh eat and be grateful as I know Lance and I are.

Much Love Many Hugs and Peace Within to all, Lance Carlene and Roscoe (TWD)