SAD NEWS

On the local news tonight they announced that a young woman, an experienced hiker, fell to her death yesterday on the trail on Camelback Mountain. She was hiking alone and was not discovered until her family reported her missing. This is just another sad reminder that you should never hike alone and should always stay on the trail. She did follow one important rule- her family knew where she was going.

SUNSET IN YUMA

My camera just doesn't do justice to the beauty God created.

ON TO YUMA

After only two weeks in Casa Grande we decided to go to Yuma, AZ for a few days with our friends Leonard and Peggy. We drove through Yuma a few years ago on our way to San Diego and from the highway the entire town looked like one hugh trailer park. So I was a bit surprised to discover that I actually liked it. It does have a nice shopping area but it is not as developed as Phoenix or Casa Grande. It was more like the Arizona I knew 20 years ago when we first started coming here.

We stayed on our friends, the Crainshaw's, lot in an area just outside of Yuma called the Foothills. The weather was perfect, the view of the mountains was incredible and the beautiful sunsets are an everyday occurance. We saw the dam, the sand dunes, the border fence and acres of farm land. We stopped at the Imperial Date Company for a date shake, delicious! Did you know that there are male and female date trees? But the big shock, throughout the desert there are hundreds of motorhomes just parked along the way, dry camping. The people stay there for weeks or months, without electricity, water or sewer. They have trucks that come by and pump out the sewer and refill the water tanks and many have large solar panels to generate some power. NO thank you!

ON THE ROAD

I thought you might like to see how we live while on the road. I know some poeple must think it a crazy way to travel but it has certainly been an great way for us to travel the country and to escape the winter weather.
We have all the amenities of home including a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, a side by side fridge and two flat screen tv's. The bedroom has a king size bed and lots of closet space. The bath area has two sinks- a must for continued happiness in this marriage. The only thing that is missing is a sewing room!

The coach is 45 feet long and we tow an SUV so when we are going down the road we are as long a semi truck. And yes I can drive! I don't drive alot (the law doesn't allow Jim to get that much valium at one time)but I do know how just in case an emergency arises.

DEFEATED BY THE MOUNTAIN

Yesterday we went hiking and I met an old advesary, The Summit Trail on Camelback Mountain. In '97 The Summit Trail was my very first hike and after all the trails I have hiked since I still considered it to be the most difficult. But I didn't know if it really was that tough or if it was just the memory. Our friend, Leonard was in the mood for a strenuous hike and I decided it was time to take another try at the summit.

The trail is 1264 ft, just a bit over a mile to the summit and has heavy traffic. It is rated difficult, a fact that makes me feel somewhat vindicated when I recall my first climb. Actually, climb is a more accurate description than hike. There are places that you must use your hands and pull yourself up the rock ledges. It is very steep with lots of loose gravel making it easy to loose your footing and slip. For me the difficulty is increased by the joggers. Yes, the joggers! They are the 20 -30 year olds that train or workout by running up and down several times a week. I think that they have all got some kind of spring action in their knees. They leap and bounce from one boulder to the next. Showoffs! I am going to suggest to the Parks Dept that they have a Senior Day.

Despite my horrible experience 12 years ago I was ready to tackle my foe. Afterall, I am now an experience hiker with the proper hiking boots(not tennis shoes as before) and brand name hiking clothes! Halfway up Jim got really tired and wanted to turn around but we went on and once he got a second wind he was fine. I had to stop more than once to rest. My heart was pounding, would slow down when I rested but not recover as it should. Jim was concerned, I was shocked. Just past the 7/8 mile marker I made a couple of missteps because I was feeling so weak and I knew I didn't need to try and make the summit. Leonard and Peggy went on to the summit and Jim and I turned back.

It was definitly a disappointment but also an awakening. When I get home I am getting a stress test and if everything checks out okay I am going to focus on cardio this year. I must admit that cardio has taken a backseat to flexibility and strength training the last couple of years. This is why you must retire when you get older-- there is just not enough time to work while keeping up with all the doctor's appointments, latest healthy food info, workouts for the various body parts and scheduled maintenance visits (pedicures, massages & facials).

In '97 there were several times along the trail that I stood bewildered trying to choose which rock to step on next and much to my embarrassment had people ask me if I needed help. Although I made it to the summit and down that year without serious injury, other than my pride, I didn't feel good about myself. I was mad and I was challenged. I decided to have knee surgery that I had been putting off and when I recovered I started hiking, something I have enjoyed ever since. I am not mad about yesterday like I was 12 years ago and I guess that alone is a good thing, a sign of
maturity and being a peace with myself. However, I am challenged and curious, challenged to improve my health and curious to see what other good things or new adventures might open up from my Summit Trail experience.

MY FRENCH JACKET!!!

Well, here it is and it only took 3 months. (I didn't actually work on it for 3 months straight, it just feels that way.) After 120 hours of sewing I quit counting hours and started counting procedures- 10 buttons, 4 pockets, 6 sleeves. Yes, 6 sleeves- although the classic french jacket armhole is a tight, high fit I wasn't happy with the comfort and ease until I put the sleeves in for a third time. That meant taking the sleeves and the lining out twice and since they are both put in by hand it was a time consuming task. After sewing on 10 buttons I decided I liked it better without the buttons. I also liked three pockets better than four. Besides actual sewing time there were many uncounted hours spent searching for the perfect buttons and trims, a process made more difficult because there are so few resources besides the web. After a trial and error process of various trim combinations I decided on a bugle bead trim inserted at the edge of the jacket and three stands of a pink cashmere yarn overlaid with a black figure 8 trim.

Overall, I am happy with the finished product and although I would lkie to make another one someday it won't be anytime soon! With the completion of this jacket three of the five fabrics I bought in Paris are now hanging in my closet instead of laying in my sewing room. That feels good!

One of my next projects will be to make a blouse out of the remaining lining fabric which Susan tells me is Roberto Cavalli and a very nice compliment to Chanel.