General Crook Trail 2-5-07

General George Crook, who was a really big deal out here, was marching across the West fighting the Indians. Earlier on the blog, General Crook's house was visited, I think it was in Iowa. He built a road- "Trail" to Camp Verde from the other side of the mountains. Critics credit his success with the Indian wars, because he built this supply trail first. The Indians didn't love the General, but they respected him as fair. He figured out early on, that the Indians were never going to win, and tried to negotiate them onto reservations. At any rate, General Crook has made his mark throughout the West, but most importantly, he was my cousins great- great uncle(CH's uncle). Did I get that right cuz Dick???

Arboretum, near Superior, AZ 2-4-07

Miles and miles of cactus, and other gorgeous plants, but not a blade of grass!!

Arboretum, near Superior, AZ 2-4-07

Boojum Tree- this very strange looking tree grows about 4-6 inches a year, and is found only in Baja, California (Mexico) and the Sonoran Desert.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum, near Superior, AZ 2-4-07

We headed up the road toward Superior to visit the Boyce thompson Arboretum, a fabulous place, full of cactus and more cactus. the weather was beautiful, and that is a hummingbird , "humming" by the feeder. Remember, to double click the pixs to get it bigger

Indianapolis to AZ Jan 18, 2007

This is what the snow covered Rockies look like out the window of SouthWest Airlines. This is the first time we've flown when there was snow on the ground, visible from the window. Miles and Miles of white, instead of irrigated green circles.

Indianapolis, Indiana, Jan 16, 2007

Back again to visit our friend Ron in Indianapolis, except it is snowing and freezing. Strangely, while we are feeling sorry for ourselves for not being in sunny AZ, we find out that it was 18 in Casa Grande the week we were in Indianapolis!! A record cold for them. Sadly, Lee Seabolt was forced to watch on TV the Colts- Ravens game, in Indianapolis. We had to turn off the local news, it was just too hard to take after the Ravens lost.

The Last Supper Jan 10, 2007

Madi did another dance recital for us all the night before we left to head for Indianapolis, then Arizona. I can tell you we really miss these cultural experiences.

Happy Birthday Brad 12-27-06

Tommy is pretty excited about the birthday card he made for Brad! As is Brad!

Happy Birthday, Brad, 12-27-06

Brad is blowing out his birthday candles on the cakes that Madi made for him in her Easy Bake oven. It's been 3 straight days of family, and we are all still holding up.

Merry Christmas, Again. 12-26-06

We are celebrating Christmas again, 12-26-06 at the extended family Christmas party at Aunt Judy's. Here is the happy couple. Andy and Penny have set the wedding date- July 7th in Aunt Judy's yard. Then its off to Nassau, with Tommy and Madi, to celebrate.

Merry Christmas 12-25-06

One highlight of our Christmas was the dance recital by Madi. Evan is capturing on film- all 3 got Fisher Price digital cameras for Christmas. The kids like to shoot what is at their eye level, which turns out to be lots of rear ends! Evan and Tom were coaxed into the dancing- they didn't like the dancing, but loved walking on the coffee table. 

Happy Birthday Aunt Jean 12-25-06

Aunt Jean turned 88 on Christmas Day, poor thing has had to put up with a Christmas birthday for 88 years. Our great nephew, Evan is assisting with candle blowing out. 

Merry Christmas 12-25-06

Charlie or Cha Cha sends his holiday greetings. He is Andy, Penny and Tom and Madi's Yorkie. Pretty cute, especially since 2 Doberman's tried to have him for lunch this Fall, and we almost lost him. 

Santa's Helper's Anonymous 12-24-06

Here are "sleigh" 1 and 2, the donated big box trucks we use to carry the gifts and food from the warehouse where the gifts are wrapped and the food boxes packed, to the back of Shoppers Warehouse where we get the cold food. Elves standing in line to pick up their stuff for delivery. the warmish weather was a blessing. 

Santa's Helper's Anonymous 12-24-06

Andy, Judy, Bobbi's sister and Lauren, our niece, waiting for the trucks to get positioned, and the food to get unloaded. Thanks to Shopper's Warehouse, Padonia Road, for their support and space, and to the poor tractor trailer driver who had a delivery and who had to wait the 3 hours it took us to get it distributed to the hundreds of volunteers that came to deliver to our families. 

Santa's Helper's Anonymous 12-24-06

Elves Bobbi, Bob and Carol Brewer, and Lee await the second round of box trucks to bring in the 2nd shift of food boxes and gift bags for delivery. 

Santa's Helper's Anonymous, 12-24-06

Head Elves Linda and Topper Crook discussing the finer points of food box and gift distribution to volunteers picking up for delivery. This year we were lucky because the weather was warmer, some years it has been freezing. But, this year we moved to 2 shifts for pick ups. 

Santa's Helper's Dec. 17, 2006

The last of the Santa's Helpers presents are getting wrapped up. Wrapping basketballs and soccer balls is a tough one!! 

Santa's Helpers 2006 Dec.17, 2006

My cousin Topper (green Elf shirt) and his daughter Katie, assisted by their dog, are taking the last minute survey of 2006's Elf work at the donated warehouse. His wife Linda is in the room in back with the 500 food boxes. Santa's Helpers started a few years ago- my sister and I made 23 pumpkin pies the first year. This year we did 500 families in Baltimore county and city and Harford county. Each family gets a cooked turkey, pie, milk, and a big box of food, and each child gets a wrapped gift. There are 500 bags on the floor and thousands of wrapped gifts, which had just been wrapped by hundreds of volunteers. Gifts and food are delivered early on 12/24 every year. If you would like to participate with wrapping, turkey cooking, delivering, or donating money to this 501 (c) 3 foundation, send me an email at bobbiseabolt@yahoo.com, I'll forward to Topper and Linda. You have to see it to believe it. 

St. Paul's Lutheran PreschoolChristmas Pageant

December 13, 2006
The best of the holiday season is the opportunity to see and hear 200-300 2-5 year olds sing Christmas songs. It is our favorite event of the season. Afterwards, we headed for the Nautilus Diner for an evening of fine dining. Tommy was busy and didn't make this picture of Andy, Madi and Penny.