Terrie and Her New iPhone

So we're sitting here at Patty's Egg Nest awaiting breakfast and I had to post this. Previously I was the one doing this and she was the one being ignored.




Oh how the tables have turned now that she has her iPhone!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Don and Gails 2011 Travel - Update #6

Hello Everyone!

This is the last update and I thought you might be interested in some of our travel experiences. As we left Okla., we traveled straight north on I 35 Kansas and I 70. Weather was nice except for the wind 15 to 30 mph.

Stopped in Kansas at a very nice state park for a couple of days where we were one of two campers in the whole park.

  Sunrise in Kansas

Little house on Kansas prairie

We left the park in Kansas and headed west on I 70 again with a 20 mph head wind & burned lots of fuel ($$$ Ouch!). As we crossed the Colorado, Kansas border it started to snow, but we made it to Denver, CO. with no problems. And the road we traveled was closed shortly after for two days!

We left Denver and headed north to Fort Collins taking US 287. Someone  had told us it was a short cut and a very scenic drive but forgot to tell us it got up to 8000 ft. Beautiful and quite historic, too.

  

On to I 80 west and head winds again. (This stretch of Wyoming felt like being on top of the world) Then we had a stop in Utah for a couple of days to rest.

This was a gorgeous campground with only a handful of campers.  So lovely one day and quite rainy the next.

On down to I 80 again and through SLC and out past the Great Salt Lake, then further out past the Salt Flats and Bonneville.  It was gorgeous and eerie because of all the rainwater and the reflections-really something  to see.

I could have walked out there on it but it was too difficult to tell even up close how deep it was and what would happen and I was too chicken!

We entered Oregon on US 140 which is always a treat.  Traveling through Sheldon Natl. Wildlife Refuge (Nev) and seeing only one wild horse, then on down the steep 3 mile grade into Oregon.  What fun that is! The road is an 8% grade, a sheer drop off on one side and quite curvy.  The scenery stretched for miles and miles.  This is one of our favorite roads!

 

After several days of rain and wind and many long miles (over 800 miles) we decided to crash at a lovely Thousand Trails Park in Sunriver, Or.  We’ll leave here in a few days and spend awhile with (Gail’s) brother and wife before heading on to home.  Thanks for traveling with us! We love you all.

Mom & Dad aka Don & Gail

Don and Gails 2011 Travel - Update #5

Since our last update we have been several places through Texas. We spent five days in the Mc Gregor, Crawford area then down to Burnet, Lampasas for a week, and then to Lockhart.

 

The Texas Blue Bonnets

We have looked at several places to relocate to and this was the closest to town.  We decided we weren’t ready for a remodeling job.

The Grove, TX. is about 15 miles south of Crawford, TX. and the Georg W. Bush ranch. But I don’t think we will be going over for BBQ real soon. This was a fun place to see and we even visited with a descendant of this town whose sister has recently purchased it.  The little shack (with the Sheriff sign but probably without the sign) was in the movie Lonesome Dove and a number of the other buildings, either inside ore out, have been in scenes of other movies from time to time. The Dube Store is a bank, post office and one other service as well. It is completely original complete with an outside staircase up the side of the building where the town Doc held his practice – just like in Gunsmoke!

This is probably the last update you will receive. We are now in Kansas and on our way home.

Don and Gails 2011 Travel - Update #4

Well we didn’t  get abducted by aliens. and are now in San Angelo, TX.  Here we have enjoyed the warm days and cool nights while taking in some of the historic things. 

  

Below is Conrad Hilton’s most luxurious hotel at the time and built in 1929.

The Lobby

Leaving San Angelo, TX. we traveled to Brownwood, TX. where we were in a no phone zone (that is Verizon and AT&T do not communicate with each other. We have Verizon and Brownwood is all AT&T.) We stayed out at Lake Brownwood and while there I decided to see who our nightly visitors were.

A Cat

Raccoon

Fox 

We left Brownwood Thursday and are now in Mother Neff State Park just west of Waco, TX. The weather has been in the high 80’s and low 90’s, often breezy or windy, and sometimes, just plain hot!  The bird action in all the places has been terrific: meadowlarks, mockingbirds, cardinals,wrens, titmice, tanagers, warblers, woodpeckers, vultures of several kind, hawks, sparrows and finches, two kinds of doves, owls, and who knows what we’ve not yet seen.  Their music has been just delightful.

Don and Gails 2011 Travel - Update #3

After leaving southern Calif. we stopped in Yuma, AZ. for a couple of days for rest & relaxation then on to Benson, AZ. Deming, NM, and now we are in Roswell, NM. and, hopefully, we don’t get abducted by aliens.

We found where they landed and got them to pose for a family picture.

We also visited Lincoln, NM.  This is where Billy The Kid was tried and convicted for murder and escaped from jail killing two of Pat Garrett’s deputies.

Lincoln hasn’t changed a lot in the last 100 years

General Store

Court House

There is a web sight that I found very interesting that gives facts vs. myth about Billy the Kid. www.aboutbillythekid.com

March Birthdays

This year Britt learned he turned the big 50!

Note: For easier viewing of pictures (especially for readers 50 and over), click on them to view larger versions.

For all of the photos, go to my Flickr account and check them out!

The Three Amigos made an appearance as well.

NOTE: Using the full screen option for this video will make it easier to view for all "older" readers!

Their leader was "The Marine"...

Afterwards, Britt attempted to "disown" 50...

NOTE: Using the full screen option for this video will make it easier to view for all "older" readers!

Before we left, we got the "Band" back together as well!

All-in-all, it was very fun and good to see everyone again!

Don and Gails 2011 Travel - Update #2

Here are a few more pictures of the desert neighborhood when we were in AZ.

Desert Wren nest.

Gail and high school friend, Sylvia, examining some ruins at the old mining town of Shea, Az.

  

A few of the permanent neighborhood in a long ago ranch along the Santa Maria river northeast of Parker, Az.

 

A couple of desert rats.

 

 

After Two weeks and 3 birthdays we are out of Calif. and on our way east.

But here are a few or the highlights of all the birthdays.

Emmit turned 12 who is now about 4” taller then his mom.

Britt turned 50 and Dean 41 both on the same day!

Their were several other guest.

Britt, Mom & Dad

Son Dean & Terry (wife) above with Grandson Evan (left)

Grandson Ethan

And The Three Amigos singing Happy Birthday Mexican style.

Mom & Dad/Don & Gail

Don and Gails 2011 Travel - Update #1

We are traveling again. We left home 2/3/2011 and headed south and hopefully to warmer weather. After stopping several times traveling down I-5 and Hwy 58 we arrived at Lake Havasu City. There we connected with high school friends from Montana. We will travel with them for the next few days and then leave for California.

Here are couple of pictures taken north of Parker, AZ.

 

Sunrise in the desert

 

A refreshing swim in a desert river is always nice (Bill Williams River)

 

We will be at Lisa & Britt’s the end of February for Emmet’s 12th, Britt’s 50th, & Dean’s 41st birthdays. (Lots of celebrating ahead!) Then we are heading toward Texas. 

Mom & Dad/Don & Gail

 

 

 

A How-To on Using Windows Live Writer

In instructing my family (who all have Windows computers) on how to post a blog article, I’ve decided to write a “How-To” on creating a Blog Posting using Windows Live Writer.

 

Instructions:

1. Open Windows Live Writer.  If the shortcut isn’t on your desktop, browse to the shortcut in your start menu.
   
   
   
2. If you have multiple blogger accounts (i.e. you post articles to multiple sites), then ensure the blog you are going to be posted to is selected.
   
   To select the correct blog, see the upper right-hand corner of Microsoft Live Writer (noted in RED in the example below).  It should show your blog you wish to post to.  If not, click on it and select the correct blog.
   
   
   
   NOTE:  It also shows in the lower right-hand corner what blog you have selected.
   
3. Enter a title for the Blog Posting.  Just type one in…Really!
    
   
   
4. Enter the Posting Categories.  To do so, go to the bottom of the Window and click on the “SET CATEGORIES” drop down.  A window will appear showing various categories already in use which you can add your blog posting to, or you can type a new one in manually.
   
   NOTE:  Please make sure to spell the word correctly and capitalize the first letter.
   
   
   
5. Now move to the Post Body and start typing!
   
   
   
6. To insert something into the blog such as a picture, click the item you wish to insert in the right-hand pane and select the item.
   • To insert a picture, click “PICTURE…” in the right-hand pane and browse to the picture file on your computer (NOTE: You can also select the picture from the Web if you know the URL address to it by selecting the “FROM WEB” tab).
     
      
     
     • If you wish to add image effects, click the picture once inserted into the article and select the effects you wish to use in the right-hand pane.
       BEWARE, there are many options!  :-)
       
       
       
   • To insert a photo from a photo album in your MSN/Live account (if you have one) by clicking the “PHOTO ALBUM…” option in the right-hand pane.  I’m not going to show that here as most of my family doesn’t use MSN Live.
     
   • If you wish to add a hyper-link (e.g. Link to another article, posting, or web site on the Internet), this can be done by highlighting the text you wish to make the link, then clicking the LINK button in the toolbar and pasting/typing in your link.
     
     
     
     Here’s a short video on how to add a link in Windows Live Writer.
     NOTE:  Click on the FULL SCREEN button in the LOWER RIGHT corner of the video to view it full size.  You can also DOWNLOAD it for offline viewing as well.
     
     
     
   • Among other things, you can also add a map to your posting.
     • Just click “MAP…” under the INSERT section and browse to the location you wish to show on the map.  Don’t forget to set the Map type (Roads or Arial) and the correct ZOOM and PAN settings.  You can also just type in where you want to show and adjust manually from there.
       
       
       
7. Once you’ve finished your article and are ready to post it, I always suggest previewing it and reading it over again to ensure it flows correctly.
   • If you wish to see how it will look on the blog, click the PREVIEW tab at the bottom left-hand side of the main window.
     
     
     
8. Now you’re ready to save it.  Go ahead and save it locally first, as this is always a good thing to do in case Windows or Windows Live Writer decides to crash (this is usually when things do decide to crash – after finishing up and about to publish).
   • Click on the SAVE DRAFT button to do this.
   • You can also click on the FILE menu and select SAVE LOCAL DRAFT.
   • Additionally, you can hold the CTRL key down and press the “S” key at the same time (commonly denoted as “CTRL-S”).
     

Uploading a Blog Post

You’re now ready to post online.

1. Once you have an Internet connection, reopen Windows Live Writer and select this posting.  You’ll see it in the DRAFTS section in the right-hand side of the Windows Live Writer screen.
   
   
   

2. Once the posting is open (assuming you had closed it earlier), we need to ensure a few things are set.

• Set the Posting Category if not already set (see above Step 4).  One thing to note here, you can have multiple categories assigned to an article (i.e. “Travel”, “Italy”, etc.).
  

• If – AND ONLY IF - you wish to upload the blog posting but have it go live at a certain date and time in the future (i.e. NOT IMMEDIATELY), then click the SET PUBLISH DATE drop down in the lower right-hand corner and select the DATE and TIME you wish for the posting to go live.
  
  
  

• Otherwise, if you are ready to post it, the click the PUBLISH button in the upper left-hand corner.
  
  

 

Adding Plug-Ins to Windows Live Writer:

If you wish to do additional things to your blog posting, you can add many numerous plug-ins to your installation of Windows Live Writer by clicking the “ADD A PLUG-IN” in the right-hand pane.  

Doing this will take you to the Windows Live Writer Plug-in site on the Microsoft Live web site.

To add a plugin…

• Browse the site to find the plug-ins of your choice.
• When you find a plug-in you wish to install, click on it to select it, then follow the wizard to install the plug-in.
• Accept all of the default settings (it’s usually the easiest).
• Once the plug-in is installed, you’ll need to close and re-open Windows Live Writer for the plug-in to appear in the left-hand pane under the INSERT section.