Cambodia-Phnom Penh and Mekong River

Continuing on with the trip we flew to Phnom Penh to catch the river boat we would be taking down the Mekong River. The tour had 29 people on board plus the crew. We were spoiled with special care due to the small family like atmosphere.

Our boat

Crew

Phem our Avalon tour director

Cabin

Ox cart ride

We docked at Kampong Tralach and took a ox cart ride to the silversmith village of Konpong Louang. Here we saw the talented silver craftsmen use an age old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art.

This Friday the Gordon/Rushville football season ended. Taylen who is a senior played his last game but Jarret will continue on for two more years. Congratulations boys for your dedication and teamwork. 

Love you boys!

Cambodia and Vietnam Pictorial Starts: Incheon and Siem Reap

Home alI safe and sound. I am finally sitting down to start my blog pictorial starting with pictures around Siem Reap, Cambodia. Cambodia is more rural and less industrialize than Vietnam. It has a monarchy and is ruled by a king. 

Nancy and I changed our airline tickets so we could fly a day early due to the possible land fall of Hurricane Lester in Hawaii. We ended up staying at Incheon, South Korea overnight so we could catch our flight to Siem Reap the next evening. 

Horel we stayed at in Incheon with Nancy and Bob another travel companion.

Eating Korean Food at the local noodle place!

Our hotel accommodations in Siem Reap were excellent. Staying at the Park Hyatt was definitely no hardship... my kind of camping! We toured around Siem Reap and many of the Angkor Wat temples. Unfortunately it was ungodly hot and humid. It looked like I took a dip in a pool with all the sweating I did. Pants wet, hair  tripping, I got over being embarrassed pretty quickly since everyone was in the same boat. 

Hotel pictures

GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF!

I am feeling a little pressured now. Its getting closer for the trip I have been anticipating for the last six or more months. Monday I leave for Denver viva the Denver Coach out of Scottsbluff. Then Tuesday I fly to Honolulu where my sister and I will pool our resources and repack for out trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. Our trip consists of a river cruise down the Mekong River. I won't be back home until September 27th. I have been having that queasy feeling in my stomach I usually get right before a big trip. Part excitement and anxiety, lol! I gotta feel blessed that my friend Dan is coming again to house and doggy sit. It sure alleviates my mind and hopefully gives Dan a different perspective on life. 

I am sending out healing energy to Taylen who had a motorcycle wreck and is recuperating  from a bad case of road rash on arms, hand, legs. I thank God that he wasn't killed. Jessamyn, momma bear, isn't too happy with Taylen to say the least! It has curtailed his senior football debut. I am heading to Gordon Friday to watch the first football game of the season since I will be gone most of September because Jarret will be playing too. 


Since I have not blogged for awhile I will give you a kaleidoscope picture review of what has happened since the last time I blogged. So enjoy and I will be getting back with pictures from Asia when  I get home.

Friends Bruce and Mary stopped on their  Mini Tour through Alliance.

Celebrating Jarret's 16th birthday!

Yummy mini blueberry pies!

Zeyda and Zane, we celebrated Zeyda's 8th birthday early.

Zeyda's first day of second grade.

Wounded Taylen is a senior and Jarret is a sophomore!

I AM BACK!

It has been quite a month... I am done teaching my class and I am looking forward to a little more freedom. However I am still consulting in Scottsbluff at least 2-3 times a week. Having attended my grandsons' baseball games, watching Paqui's kids, family outings, and just trying to keep up with the yard and garden has kept me so wrapped up that I took a sabbatical on blogging. 

Its been a wild trip and I can not believe it is already the middle of July. I am finally getting excited about my trip to Cambodia and Vietnam in September. I will be leaving on August 29th for Honolulu to meet up with my sis. Will be spending a few days prior  there before we head to Cambodia together. Got my passport back with the visas to both countries, plus my car that was in the shop for body repairs this week so feeling pretty good about that. Had new tires put on while getting fixed so I am all set for winter. 

There is still more vaccinations I have to have next week for my trip, another hepatitis B, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis. Two community health nurses given them, one on each side of me in each arm. One arm obviously gets two. Now I know how those poor babies feel when they get 5 at a time, lol!

The three musketeers!

This is what happens when the lift gate does not close.

Can you all guess what's wrong with this picture??? 

Here in this month of May the hot and cold persists to wreck havoc for us gardeners. Just when I thought it was safe to plant my deck pots the temperatures have dipped into 30's and to 25 degrees this
morning.

Jarret, Anna, Morgan and Taylen

My grandson's have attended their Gordon/Rushville High School prom and the pictures were great. They both have grown to be such handsome young men.

Mother and Son

What a handsome family!

Paqui, Marc, Zeyda and Breqkon are on vacation in 
Arizona while Jessamyn's family are gearing up with all the spring brandings.

My sister has informed me I might have to have some vaccinations before our trip to Cambodia and Vietnam this September. I am not looking forward to being a pin cushion...

Hot and Cold!

Its still hot one day then cold... today its colder with a wind warning in affect. I was glad that yesterday when Paqui came in the afternoon to help rotter till my garden it was much nicer.  I tried one pass around  the garden and I started to lean heavily to the left. That's when Paqui rescued me and finished the job! We spread 5 bags of composted manure and 5 old bales of straw over the garden before we started. It made the job much harder initially. THANK YOU PAQUI! I also mowed the lawn for the first time. Those dandelion heads were gone for one evening, but are back already today!

What concentration!

Last week I did a couple of days consulting in Scottsbluff.  Also spent time going through closets, drawers, cupboards and pantry organizing and deciding what to take to the United Methodist rummage sale this next weekend. My psyche feels a little lighter for awhile at least. Baboo thought he would do a little box climbing out in the garage where I stored the rummage sale items. 

Leaning tower of rummage!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Yes, it is raining and maybe there will be a little snow too. The only flowers blooming around here are the yellow fuzzy topped dandelions. Yikes, there are so many. I hate to spray due to my organic nature.

Last night was the end of my night class. Five weeks flew by so fast. I really enjoyed the students who were engaged and making the class entertaining to say the least. My next class will be a day class starting in June. 

Prayers go out to my son-in-law Jay, who has spent the last three nights in the hospital in Rapid City for gastric pain. Many tests along with probing has not been conclusive as of yet. Couple of tests were sent to the Mayo Clinic. Waiting is always hard...

SPRING IS CERTAINLY HERE!

Spring is here! One day it is 76 degrees then the next day there is a raging blizzard...

I hope you all had a great Easter. Family and friends filled my weekend with laughing joy. 

Awww!

Everyone except Taylen.

Our hosts!

I AM BACK!!!

Where oh where have I been? There is no excuse other than the usual tired lament of being too busy, or having a lack of motivation, or maybe just a plan of being on a blogging sabbatical.

I have been on the go consulting in Scottsbluff 2-3 days with my business partner from the time I got home from Hawaii. Monday I started to teach another nursing assistant night class at the college 4 nights a week for 6 weeks, plus consulting if necessary. There is never a dull moment. 

Taylen and girlfriend Morgan

Last weekend I celebrated with my grandson Taylen who turned 17 on March 13th. We all went to the Box L to enjoy the ranch. Taylen shot prairie dogs while I covered my eyes and Boo's ears. It was too windy to fish at Isham Lake so Andrea drove us around on a ranch tour while checking the cattle. Afterwards we all went out for a steak dinner and ice cream cake. It was fun to be with family and relax. Jay is celebrating his milestone 30th birthday on March 18th. Their family is planning a ski trip to the Rockies. I was invited but with school on, I treasure my off time. Like a good Grandma I offered to watch Sunny the dog.

Jay he is a great son-in-law. Happy Birthday!

On a more sober note, my sister Nancy lost her love and best friend Monday. Jim has fought cancer for over 10 years and put up a valiant fight. He passed away in his home with his loved ones surrounding him. He would have enjoyed knowing he left this world on Pi day since he was a math whiz and mathematician. 

Jim and Nancy

Let us not forget that St. Patricks Day is tomorrow. It will always be a special day for our family. The day Brian left to catch his rainbow and pot of gold!

Aloha!

Aloha! 

I am here enjoying the sultry, sea spray of the north shore of Oahu. This is my second week on the island and this is Nancy's and my trip to Hale Koolau house for some rest and relaxation on the beach. It is beautiful with plenty of wave action and crashing to behold!

View from our window

On the way to our oasis we stopped and visited Nancy's friend Mary Farris who is 94 and still trucking. She has a beautiful property that boarders a canal that drains into the ocean.

I am glad that I missed the last snow storm and hate to say that to you all that are stuck in the deep freeze still. 

Aloha to all!

What happened?

Jeez, what happened to me? I have not been very faithful with blogging this 2016. This year has jumped started with an increase work load consulting and traveling to Scottsbluff  2-4 times per week. Not only have I been on the road for work, but also for family obligations and sports activities. 

It is getting closer to the time I am taking my annual trek to Hawaii and giving my sister the pleasure of enjoying my company, lol! Its time to make decisions on what to wear, take and leave. It will not be soon enough for me! This cold weather has creeped into my old joints. The wood pile has been disappearing at an alarming rate. I have had to buy 2 loads of wood so far. Fortunately my friend Dan the man is going to house sit and watch Baboo while I am gone. He calls it his vacation, so I guess it gives us both change of scenery. 

January is the month of  birthdays in our family. Jessamyn's birthday was on the 9th, Breqkon is turning 3 on the 25th, and Paqui's birthday is on the 29th. 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ALL!!!