June Party, July Escape

At Bear River Casino, Loleta, Californi

On the last Saturday in June we had a family party, gathering, celebration...whatever you want to call it.  Essentially it was to celebrate Mom's birthday, Mom and Dad's anniversary, and Father's Day, all which had dad in the hospital or rehab when the actual days fell.  Happy to say, Dad is WAY BETTER, and it was party time.

Some folks, mainly Dad and Arny's mother Euleda, did not feel like being out in the 80 degree weather, so they stayed inside...but they both still got to eat, enjoy the party, and people came in and out to talk and wish them their best.

I was very happy that my son Michael and daughter-in-law Ana were able to come.  Michael was under crunch time at the State Capital as the Banking and Finance Committee in the Assembly, which is the committee he works for, has a huge Pay-Day Loan bill coming before the State Assembly and Senate to limit the amount of interest the pay-day loan sharks, I mean companies, (my son never ever called them sharks, those are my words and I will stick to them) who currently charge some of their victims 150% or more in interest.  YES, 150%!!!!  The bill, if passed, will limit it to the other type of loans in California which max out at 36%.  (Still too high coming from this former Arkansas where the highest interest is somewhere in the neighborhood of 22%).  To add icing to the cake, I even was able to have lunch with Michael on the 5th of July as he took an hour out of his day for dad.  Also, the girl bent over eating is my niece Kathryn who flew out for 9 days to see us all (lives in KC area).  It was so nice to see her, and she even had time to catch up with many of her school friends (she grew up in Sacramento) AND catch a SF Giants game to boot!

 

Of course, on Party Day we have to have food...ribs, tri-tip on slider buns, salad, fruit, and three different desserts.  Needless to say, no one went home hungry, and for many of us that was the only true meal of the day!  Arny does the BEST BBQs! 

Between the time that dad got home from rehab, and we left today, I have had some time to take a few fun pictures.  We always tease Arny that if he stops too quick, Bubba would be 'right up your butt'.  Well, this picture shows that scenario for sure.

One day in early June it rained and rained...the pictures above were taken on that day, the top one shows the huge water lake that formed on the patio.  Within 3 hours, the water was all gone, and it made for a nice sunset over mom and dad's old home.

And I took many bird pictures, these three are a few of my favorites.  In the last picture one bird is at the bird bath as another one just arrives.

Today, Sunday the 7th, we escaped Sacramento's heat (especially the upcoming heatwave where Friday is going to be close to 100), and we are sitting at the Bear River Casino in Loleta, California where we have stayed a number of times before.  We pulled out of Arny and Sandy's backyard and hit the road by 9:30.  Filled up our propane tank, emptied our waste tanks, and then headed over to mom and dad's to say goodbye to them and have a very quick visit with cousin Cassie and husband Rick who passing through on their way back home in Missouri.  (We had seen both of them while we were in the KC area for Ryan's graduation).  This past week was very busy for me getting shopping done, laundry (I do laundry on the road, Marcia does it at home but does sort and spot-clean as needed), groomed the dogs, packed up the car, took the driver front tire off the motorhome over to America's Tire (same as Discount Tires) because the stem would not hold air when I put the tire sensor on, changed the oil and checked and added fluids as needed to the motorhome, etc. etc.  For me it escaping the heat and the work...it was a very busy week before we left.

Not ONE picture of today's travels...we have done this so many times.  But as we passed by Clear Lake and saw how high the water level was, we wished we would have at least had the camera within reach.  Being the end of a long weekend, traffic was a concern, but most of it was headed the other way, and it was a long but uneventful trip.  Skruffy even cooperated by staying up on her bed for 75% of the trip!  Bubba, well, he is having 'missing Arny feelings', but little does he know that in 9 weeks we will be back for an even LONGER Stay.