2021 Western Oddysey: Ruthie's First Haircut 11/30

Brannon had an appointment for Clementine and Ruth to have their hair trimmed and styled today. When we arrived at the salon in San Marcos Susannah had gone to sleep, so Sheila and Brannon went into the salon with the 2- and 3-year-olds and I was left in the parking lot with Baby Sue. 

I spent a great deal of the time trying to comfort a fussy baby and missed the hair-cutting adventure. But oh how those little girls loved their renovated noggins. And thanks to the photography of Granny and Mama, I got to get these evidences that a good time was had.

It was Ruthies very first professional hair-styling and she was rewarded with a certificate with an attached lock of her blonde baby hair.

Clem's braiding was done in the sahpe of a heart.  She wears her "Merida" dress which she insists in a "Mulan" dress.

2021 Western Oddysey: Clemmie Goes to School 11/29

 Today was a school day for Clemmie. She attends Miss Susannah's class at a public three-year-olds' pre-school three mornings a week. Her best buddy Jane is in the same class, as well as the much-admired Francesco.

I took the morning to return to one of my favorite walks along Vista's community nature....

...trail right through the center of town.

Even though I have taken this walk many times over the years, I had somehow overlooked this little side trail and bridge connecting to Vale Terrace Drive.

Clemmie couldn't resist picking one of Dad's flowers.

After school, Jane and her mom dropped by Clemmie's house for a visit. 

Those girl's had a ball driving the princess carriage that Papa (the "other" grandfather) found for $20 at a yard sale. Kindred spirits, those Carlins. 

2021 Western Oddysey: Vista Two Brothers From Italy 11/28

I started this Sunday with a walk to Faith Lutheran Church. I should have allowed more time. When I walked into the vestibule I could see through the windows into the sanctuary our familyon a row near the back and they could see me, so there was a chorus of "Grandshaw!" from Clem and Ruth. We tried a family portrait in the courtyard afterward but there was little cooperation from the 2- and 3-year-old set. I still enjoy the flowers of southern California on my walks.

For dinner Danny ordered extravagantly from "Two Brothers From Italy" -- delicious pizza and calzones enough for twice the crowd.

 

2021 Western Oddysey: Unusual Birth Certificate 11/27

Susannah’s birth certificate came in the mail today; a little out of the ordinary.

 

2021 Western Oddysey: Thankful: Susannah! Ruthie! Clemmie! 11/25

Finally we meet Susannah!

 

Gleaning Facebook: Three Birthday Buddies

Joan and me about 1949

Amanda with her Mom

Caitlin with Benjamin

Well, I'm traveling so there's just not time before we checkout of the ol' Comfort Inn to do justice to the Happy Birthdays today! BUT...

How my next elder sister Joan Shaw Turrentine has enriched my life for 74+ of her years. I love you Joan!

And little "Demanda" Amanda Hearn Sims has been a blessing as well for FORTY years --- this is one of those milestone b'days, huh? That means your buddy, Brannon Shaw cant be far behind!!!!! Much love to you, Amanda.

And we've added Caitlin to the mix for several years now. AND she has given us Monica and Charles and Genevieve, so we have to love her too.

So Happy Birthday to all these family folks and SEVERAL other Facebook friends. Here's to fun festivities today, a whole year of love and joy and adventure, and lots and lots of happy returns to each of you!

Now on to the Pacific time zone and a chance after 2500 miles to finally hug a brand new baby, her two sisters, and their parents!

Comments:

Amanda Hearn Sims

Thank you Uncle Turkey! Love you lots! We may be seeing you in California if you are still out there around Christmas

Joan Shaw Turrentine

Thank you, Terry! I am very grateful for you and all my siblings. And you did extra good adding Sheila, Brannon, and Lillian to the family.

2021 Western Oddysey: To Vista Too Slowly... 11/24

We made it! We put ten days and 3000 miles on the Camry. The last leg was the most frustrating with terrible traffic. The drive "Siri" had said would be six hours turned into more like ten with a variety of stops. 

Since the drive to Vista would be relatively short (Ha!) we took our time this morning. Sheila had washed our clothes from nine days on the road just last night. We ate a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. We organized our belongings a bit in preparation to end the journey out. We actually missed the sign-out deadline by five or ten minutes, though no one was keeping a clock on us. 

And since a service car light had been glowing on the dash, we decided our unhurried schedule would allow for an oil change there in St. George. And a fill-up. And then we were off, expecting to get to Vista in time to have supper with the grandkids and meet out new little Susannah.

Then reality struck in the form of unbelievable traffic congestion from construction and just volume of vehicles on I-15 all the way from Las Vegas to I-215.

So we got to Vista after the babies were asleep and even their parents had decided they could see the old folks the next morning. So we got to visit a bit with our gracious and generous hosts, Danny and Renata Carlin for a while, then off to sleep. 

2021 Western Oddysey: Zion National Park 11/23

---Under Construction ---

We spent last night at another Comfort Inn, this time in the little town of Kenab, Utah, southeast of Zion National Park. Sheila wanted to take the opportunity of the remote location to see the Milky Way in all its glory, so we set the clock to 4 a.m., actually rousted ourselves at that insane hour, bundled up, left the hotel and drove back toward Zion, and found the deserted Kenab Canyon Road, parked on the shoulder, cut of the motor and lights, got out and looked up... into a sky almost completely obscured by clouds. Oh, well, maybe next time.

After breakfast we headed for the eastern entrance to Zion. There was very little traffic and we decided we'd been wise to come on a Tuesday to the third most visited National Park in the nation.

One of the first interesting sights along the road to the park was a bison herd.

This fellow was the closest and we watched him break the ice in the pond to take a drink.

The old-fashioned windmill there at the bison ranch was quite a change from the huge modern windmills by the hundreds we'd seen crossing the plains.

We stopped inside the park to take a walk round this huge slope of open stone...

...you can get an idea of scale by noticing the tiny people in the background. 

By the time we got to this picturesque bridge we'd realized our impression of the day's crown from our eastern approach had been greatly mistaken. Many of the sites along the road had every possible parking spot taken.

None of these photographs do justice to the immensity of the stone cliffs