Celebrations Wednesday

First Celebration: Mom and Dad are celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary today. Woo-hoo! Love them lots.

Second Celebration: John and Teresa are celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary today. Woo-hoo! Love them, too.

Now some history: The Lodge Resort and Spa in Cloudcroft, New Mexico was originally constructed in 1899 by the Alamogordo and Sacramento Mountain Railway as they searched the area for timber. The log-constructed lodge was completed in 1899.

In 1908, the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad System became the new owner and advertised that the hotel, restaurant, dancing pavilion, tennis court, golf links, bowling alley, billiard parlor, burro trips and children's playground were available for weekend rates of $3.00 round trip. Room rates started at $12.50 per week.

On June 13, 1909, a terrible fire destroyed The Lodge but by 1911, it had been rebuilt. This photo was taken today. And by the way, today's room rates start at $89.00 per night -- and the bowling alley and burro trips are a thing of the past.

So, here is celebration #3 (and the previously hinted at birthday party): Today marks 100 years since the current Lodge opened it's doors! Woo-hoo! Birthday cake for everyone!

There have been some pretty interesting people come through the doors besides just us. Most notably Clark Gable and Judy Garland.

Additionally the Southwest Ghost Hunters Paranormal Research Organization has been here. Why? Because of Rebecca!

Legend says that Rebecca was a beautiful young chambermaid with striking blue eyes and shocking red hair, who disappeared from her quarters after her lover found her in the arms of another. She remains at The Lodge -- mischievously flickering lights, opening and closing doors, and moving furniture. No worries though; she's a friendly ghost.

I think she came to visit Noah and I last year. We were in the tower and were witness to her trademark flickering lights. Didn't bother us any.

We ain't afraid of no ghost.

Tiring Tuesday

Well, it's not me that's tired. Or Mitch. It's those roofers that are removing the old metal roof so that they can install our new metal roof.

We were surprised when they knocked at the front door this morning - bright and early I might add. We thought it would be a couple more weeks until they got to our job. But no. Let the hammering begin!

We also have a couple of guys working on our security system this morning. Gotta keep the bears out, you know. I think these guys are tired of our stairs. It doesn't take long before going up and down two flights a couple of times wears you out. It does me, anyway!

And another thing that is not tiring us: company is coming! Billy and Modena should be arriving this afternoon. Billy and Mitch are going to do some carpentry work in the loft tomorrow. Baseboards. Next will be painting and carpet, but not this trip.

Up tomorrow: a special birthday party!

Memorial Day Monday

Today's Memorial Day celebration is pretty quiet. Fly the flag and fire up the grill. Later we will enjoy a bowl of homemade ice cream. Bailey's Irish Cream Ice Cream. It will be de.lish.us!

I was remembering the Memorial Day celebration the year we were married. We had just returned from our honeymoon (in NM!) and moved into our new apartment in Lubbock. We dined on hot dogs and watermelon with our new neighbors.

It's now thirty two years later, and I can say that those were the best neighbors we've ever had. And we'd love to have them as neighbors again. And I mean close neighbors. Neighboring states just doesn't cut it!

Today I honor the great warriors who risked their lives to protect us and our country. In my family, this includes:

• my dad, Charlie Low
• my uncle, Everett Low
• my uncle, James Jacoby
• my uncle, Reginald Jacoby (dec'd)
• my uncle, Jackie Jacoby (dec'd)
• my uncle, Chuck Bledsoe
• my cousin, Steven Jacoby
• my cousin, Gary Booth
• my cousin, Joseph Miller (dec'd)
• my cousin, Brannon Jacoby
• my cousin, Pat Cunningham
• Mitch's grandad, Reese Davis (dec'd)
• Mitch's grandmother, Pearl Davis (dec'd)

Thank you.

Sunday is Fun Day!

We haven't liked the gauze curtains in the family room ever since we bought the cabin. Sunday was the day we ripped them down and hung some vertical blinds.

This was a huge project. There are three sliding glass doors in a row and these blinds have to line up just so. The project needed some high tech machinery to make it a success. Check this out:

This is a level mounted on a tripod on top of a dining room table. Sort of a Bob the Builder/Jeremy/Egyptian* combination apparatus. We used the red line to make sure all of the blinds hung from the same horizontal point all around the room.

It worked like a charm, too.

You can decide if you think the blinds are an improvement over the ugly, wrinkled and sparse gauze panel.

Yeah. Me, too.

*Egyptians are believed to have invented the kitchen table.

Saturday in the Sacramentos

It hasn't rained here in over 40 days, and the wind has been blowing like there's no tomorrow. These conditions have resulted in the Lincoln National Forest being closed.

No hiking. No camping. No picnics. You can't even look out from an overlook! This is a serious situation.

Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires.

Since we didn't do much Friday except a happy dance, we decided to do a couple of little chores. One: wash off the paint from the pranksters that paint-balled the front of our cabin. Two: get out our paint and paint the bookcase in the stairwell. Whew -- that's enough for one day!

We also took a Julie/Jeremy suggestion and watched the movie The Other Guys. Good, silly movie. Perfect for a Saturday evening.

Vacation Began on Friday!

Mitch and I were up early Friday to start driving to New Mexico. Amazing how easy it was to get up for something we're excited about!

First stop: McDonald's in Granbury for Egg McMuffins!

Second stop: Subway in Big Spring for oatmeal raisin cookies!

Third stop: Wellhead Restaurant in Artesia for burger and fries!

Fourth stop: We arrived!

My Heart

Will beat 110,444 times, pump 1,620 gallons of blood, and push that blood nearly 8,676 miles throughout my body!

Created by MyFitnessPal.com

My heart is full, and I'm so grateful for the blessings I'm given. Mitch and I will celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary this week! We are both healthy and happy. We have our parents, our children, our grandchildren, our brothers and sisters, and a very large extended family as a close part of our lives.

And -- I received these heart-healthy (and nutrient rich!) strawberries in the mail yesterday.

Strawberries contain good amounts of minerals like potassium, copper and iron. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is needed for red blood cell formation. So, strawberries are good, and good for you.

I heart strawberries. And hearts!