The Bride, the Groom & The "Boys"

This is Brian, Jacquie, Cade and Dane at the wedding rehearsal.

My Friend Lynnie!

Lynn and I so enjoyed the margaritas at Macayos!

The food, fun and people were wonderfully delicious!

The Will Men - Rehearsal Dinner

These are the boys in the Will Family. Lynn is one of my dear friends and these are the boys in her life. L to R front row: Grandsons Cade and Dane. L to R back row: Brian (Groom), Steve, Adam and Dan. I just loved the shirts they chose to wear for the rehearsal and dinner following at Macayo's in downtown Tempe.

Arizona Plants - OUCH!!!

There are so many varities of cactii in Arizona.

They are so beautiful, but don't get too close!

The Buttes Marriott, Tempe Az

The weather in Tempe was hot but not as hot as it can get. It was around 98 degrees and if you were in the pool it was quite pleasant. Ray especially loved just hanging out in the shade. I loved the sun and especially the view from this hotel of the surrounding areas.

Trip to Tempe Arizona - September 18, 2009

Ray and I left before the sun was up to head to Tempe Az to attend the wedding of my friend's son Brian to Jacquie. The drive was uneventful considering I slept for a couple hours of it. The windmills never cease to amaze me. There seems to be more each time we drive through the Palm Springs area. We had breakfast in Blythe at the local Denny's. Blythe is where we spent the first night of our honeymoon camping on the Colorado River over 32 years ago.

Letty's Birthday at Pop the Cork

Letty Gomez's family threw her an awesome Birthday Bash at Pop the Cork, Garden Walk, Anaheim, CA. There was drinking, eating, dancing and lots of fun!

We Shall Never Forget 9-11-01

This was one of my daughter's dear friends. Teresa misses her dearly as do many others. Please take a moment to remember those that were taken from us that day . . . Lisa Frost
Lisa Frost, 22, of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, graduated from Boston University this year, with degrees in communications and business hospitality. Graduated Trabuco Hills High School, Mission Viejo, CA She is survived by her father, mother and brother. Frost was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 175.

Memorial in honor of Lisa Frost

in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Beautiful Big Bear Sunsets

Latin Festival - Big Bear Swim Area

We got to the swim area early and set up our chairs. There were lots of people busy setting up their instruments and getting food and drink ready. When everyone was settled in the music started. The band played a variety of latin music from South America, Cuba and Mexico. There was a booth selling Pozole Soup which we all enjoyed. I had never had it before but I am now adding it to my list of recipes to make! It was fairly cool in the evening which was so welcoming after the hot evenings we had been experiencing in Orange County. The music made you want to move your feet and we were up and dancing after the sun went down!

Big Bear - Day 2

We had brunch at Stillwell's in the morning and then we drove downtown to "The Village" to watch the Angel game at Chad's place. Letty and Carol decided to go shopping and spent the afternoon in the local shops. Later that evening we were going to be heading to the swim beach for an outdoor concert.

Big Bear - Day 1 - S & S

While the guys were golfing we headed off to The Village for shopping and an afternoon at the spa. We ended the day with ice cream! When we got back to the cabin the guys knew we were relaxed, actually very, very relaxed and we told the guys we didn't want to go out for dinner so they barbecued chicken, cooked corn on the cob, salad. After dinner we watched Wolverine. Now I am sure most of you know by now it is very difficult for me to sit and watch TV heaven forbid a movie but watching Hugh Jackman was really easy!

Big Bear - September 2009

Labor Day Weekend in Big Bear. It was about 84 in the daytime and dropped down to the 40's in the evening. We understand that it was very warm down the mountain. I was extremely grateful to be where it was much cooler.

Becca's New Home

On our drive home from Big Bear we stopped by to see Becca.

Here are a few photos of her new home.

Fountain Friends

Last year we had fish in our fountain but sadly they perished! This summer we decided to try again. I went to the pet store and rescued some "feeder" fish from an untimely death! Ray went and purchased water hyacinths and some other floating plants to add to their new home. Low and behold a few weeks later the hyacinths began to bloom! Aren't they beautiful? Of course we are enjoying them and once in a while we get a visitor late at night who wears a mask and tries to catch the fish to eat! I can't blame the little racoon, as I too enjoy a good fish dinner!

ROUTE 66 - Rocks, Rocks and More Rocks

Seeing as I can no longer collect plants for my garden I decided that I would bring rocks back from each trip we take. Ray is a very, very, very patient man don't you think? I think the one in the middle could be classifed as a boulder!

Road trip to Laughlin, NV stopping at Ludlow, California

We decided to get off the I-40 and take the historical Route 66 and visit some of the old towns on the highway while collecting rocks!

This badly faded, road town has moved two times.

^{The first site was along the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. When Route (US Highway) 66 came through, the town moved a short distance north to the highway. When Interstate 40 was built in the early 1970s, the town again marched north to lock into the Interstate trade. Ludlow is on I-40, about 50 miles east of Barstow.}

If you look closely at the picture in the upper left corner you will see two old ravens sitting in what remains of the widows. They flew away when we walked up to the old buildings.

My new 9 to 5 home!

I know many of you have asked me about my new workplace. Well here are some pictures to give you an idea of my new office area. I am the one who sits behind the counter in the reception area of this high school. It is quite a large area which is nice. The one thing that is sort of sad is that my computer is probably about 6 years old. This is hard for me as we had Macs at my old school and I have to say that we were pretty fortunate when it came to the office staff we always had new computers and monitors. Well you know the door is always open and I will leave the light on if you feel the urge to come and visit me!

Terry and Esther Bromfield are dear friends of ours and we would like to share this with you:

This is a story written about Travis and his plight with cancer. Please read and then forward to everyone you know, also log onto this site and read stories about other soldiers.

Terry & Esther Bromfield

--- On Thu, 8/27/09, SisterSoldierFSB@aol.com wrote:

From: SisterSoldierFSB@aol.com
Subject: R. B. Stuart: "New" Huffington Post feature:"The Harley to Heaven"
To: SisterSoldierFSB@aol.com
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009, 5:50 PM

Good Afternoon:

For those of you who have been supporting my work of soldiers returning from Iraq with cancer. My latest feature for The Huffington Post:

"The Harley to Heaven:" Soldier Dies From Cancer Before Tour Ends

Please visit and share the following links. Click on the link or copy & paste it into your browser:

The permanent link to the published post can be found at the following address

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/r-b-stuart/the-harley-to-heaven-sold_b_267293.html

After reading the story, if you scroll further down you can read the readers comments....or write one of your own, and help generate exposure for these soldiers story's.

It will also be permanently listed with the other posts in my author archive at the following address:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/r-b-stuart/

Thank you for your support. Yours ---R. B.

---R. B. STUART
author ~ freelance writer ~ columnist ~ poet
telephone 212.724.2800
SisterSoldierFSB@aol.com
http://sistersoldier.blogspot.com
http://operationpurpleheart.blogspot.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/r-b-stuart

Fun times with family & friends

We had so much fun together! Thanks so much for staying at the Hernandez Hideaway Hotel!

Sweet Emily

Emily has the best expressions

and she is so happy to share

them with you!

The Many Faces of Jack

The kids were down for a short vacation and we just had the best time! Jack is getting so big. He is 9 months old this month! What a wonder little boys are!

A Father's Work is Never Done!

Becca is in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the ESA Conference doing her talk on Biological Soil Crusts this week and left her car at our house. Ray saw that her window was broken so he fixed it. Kind of permanently fixed it - it won't roll down but at least she won't be driving around with her window half down!

Margaritas at Las Casuelas Nuevas

Ray had their infamous 1800 Tequila Margarita and I had their Cadillac Margarita they were deliciouso!

Agua Caliente Hotel & Casino - Palm Springs

Ray decided I needed some bling on the Beemer so he shopped until he found exactly what I needed! Then we decided we needed to try them out on the road so after getting back from Reno we decided we needed a mini trip to Palm Springs! If this is what retirement is like well bring it on!! Ray has had the month of July off and we are having the best time! Can't wait to go to Laughlin soon!

4th of July Fair - T's CTMH Booth

On the 4th of July, the City of Garden Valley has a parade and fair. Teresa had a CTMH booth and we got to help her set up and spend the day at the park. It was fun, the kids were fabulous and the people in the area are so kind and genuinely welcoming.