Minnesota Road Runners

Entrance Pictures at Lockhart SP

2010-12-25T19:57:00.000-06:00

Host Campsite across the road.

Camp Hosting Duties at Lockhart State Park

2010-12-25T19:54:00.000-06:00

Our work and golfing cart.

Landscape Project completed

I wanted to show you the type of landscape project we worked on at the Texas State Park. We really like it here. Very nice topography and areas of interest. More pictures to follow.

Pictures from Lockhart State Park, Lockhart Texas

2010-11-28T14:06:00.000-06:00

This is a 100 year old Tree of Jerusalem in the park.

The bridge on hole #1. Snakes stick their heads between these slats on this bridge.

The course is a 9 hole, par 36 course with no sand and a little bit of water. No ball looking here - snakes in the tall grass.

We are at Lockhart Texas, about 15 miles east of San Marcos Texas. San Marcos is about 30 miles north of San Antonio on I-35. It is a town of about 11,000 people with a "ranch" feel to the town. Our friends from Fr Hennepin State Park in MN are camp hosting here and they needed some more help for December so they offerred us a position and here we are. We were coming here anyway as Denis saw on the travel channel that Lockhart is the Barbeque capital of Texas. We've tried some of it and I think they are right. Pictures of that to follow.

They ask us to work about 20 hours a week between Denis and I and for that we get our site with elec, water and sewer and all the golf I want. The only bad part is no Verizon cell coverage and very poor AT & T. So I can talk on my phone but rarely get internet. We are sitting in the parking lot of HEB - the grocery store and I am updating this blog.

Thanksgiving in Lockhart Texas, Lockhart State Park

2010-11-28T13:54:00.000-06:00

Here's my Holiday table decoration. Jess and Kristen gave us these candles after their mom's birthday party so I wanted to use them for the holidays. You can't see it but they cut a nice piece of wood for a base. I wove some mini lights in this that are battery operated and it looks very nice - if I say so myself. Here it's on the dash of the motor home as our table was full for Thanksgiving dinner. There were 8 of us.

Here's my Christmas tree. Denis and I wove LED Lights into this brass wall tree and I am hanging ornaments on it as well. It looks very nice and I thought all of you would like to see that we really do have a tree this year. It even has birds.

And here we are waiting for our guests to arrive on Thanksgiving for dinner. It was pot luck and wonderful food. No pecan pie tho. I missed it. 6 sat at the table and Denis and I sat on the couch with trays. And we even played pegs and jokers that nite. Fun!! We missed our family and friends at home but this was a nice second choice.

Fun in Downtown Grapevine, Tx

2010-11-28T13:45:00.000-06:00

Here's the fall color in Texas - they trees they call live oaks.This is in our park.

We spent some time downtown taking in the sites for the Holidays. They were preparing for a big "Black Friday" celebration.

Campsite Fun at The Vineyards, Grapevine, Tx.

2010-11-28T13:36:00.000-06:00

Here we are in Texas and some shots while I was laid up with my tooth. We did have 1 campfire the nite before we left. At $10.00 a bundle for wood (they delivered it) fires were scarce indeed. And I haven't taken any photo's of Luna lately so I thought you'd all like to see how grey she has gotten.

Grandpa's Hockey Players

2010-11-23T18:23:00.000-06:00

Before we left for Texas we were able to watch a hockey game at Arena East. They played Michigan and Louie got alot of work in goal that day. It helps when Dean is playing defense and assists in clearing the puck. Aren't they getting so grown up! Little men almost. Both in Middle School this year.

TRIP TO BOILING RIVER IN YELLOWSTONE PARK, MT.

2010-11-15T10:28:00.000-06:00

Here we are in the lobby of Chico Hot Springs, Pray Mt. This is where the birthday party for Joyce was. Lovely place with a hot springs. Great place to relax and take in nature -

See pictures below of our trip to the Boiling River. Quite an excursion. We had a pact not to print the pictures of us in the Boiling River and since Lexi and I are the only ones in the picture below I included it.
It's a challenge to get in and out but a wonderful experience with the wonders of nature. Hot and cold at the same time.

I can't quite get the order of these photo's correct. I think I need an HTML course. Sorry !!!

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT. CRASH SITE

2010-11-15T10:10:00.000-06:00

We attended a memorial service for our nephew Patrick in West Yellowstone. We tied ribbons, cleaned up the crash site some more and took pictures in Patrick's honor. These are pictures of the Dennis and Joyce Kramer family.

Jessica, Kristen and Lexi

Joyce and Dennis

Yellowstone National Park in October 2010

2010-11-15T10:01:00.000-06:00

Here is my sisters Kathy, Deb and Mary at the gate of Yellowstone in Gartner.

The Imholte Family and spouses attended our sister Joyce's 60th birthday party in Montana. We also attended a memorial for our nephew Patrick in West Yellowstone on the anniversary of his death. It was a wonderful trip to gather and celebrate as a family.

This bad boy was on the side of the road in Yellowstone National Park.

And this bad bad boy was herding his harem - he must be veryyyyyyyyyy busy !!

And here's the harem - they were very obedient !! Lucky guy.

These elk pictures were taken by our niece Jessica - she's a very good photographer. And she was kind enough to share them with us.

Carefree Country Club, Big Lake, MN

2010-11-14T21:05:00.000-06:00

Our new shed in June of 2010

Our chalet (Minnesota Room) added in 2009

The view of our lot at Carefree from the road. Motor Home is on the right with the shed behind it
and our 2 golf carts. This is our home base in Minnesota.

RETIREMENT LUNCHEON IN ST CLOUD, MN

2010-11-14T20:55:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to the new Retirees !!

Judith and Mary

Judith, Sharon, Pam and Mary

We celebrated the retirement of Judith and Mary with a luncheon at the Renaissance in St. Cloud.

Pam and I presented each of them with an orchid. Wonder if they are still alive?

The Honey Bears at Clam Lake, Siren WI

2010-11-14T20:49:00.000-06:00

These are the Honey Bears! Barb, Mary, Mary Jane, me and Judith.

Alias, Eddie

Rudy

Leo

Bemidji

Hootie

Mr. Patron

JUNE CAMP HOSTING AT FR HENNEPIN PARK, LAKE MILLE LACS,MN

2010-11-12T18:59:00.000-06:00

Our friends, George and Pam Plautz

Jonathan Fuchs, my wood helper

Isn't this State Park just beautiful? We host here in June of each year. It is our contribution as volunteers in the State Park system.

Summer Fun 2010 - Birthdays!!!

2010-11-12T18:31:00.000-06:00

This is our daughter-in-law, Jill McKenzie. Our son Tim, had a birthday party for her at the golf club.

Our son, Tim, Mary T. McKenzie and Denis

Jill McKenzie and grandson, Dean

Scott Marlin and our grandson, Lukas

And we celebrated Denis's birthday with his mom and our families.

Home at Carefree Country Club Resort

2010-05-05T10:55:00.000-05:00

We're home. It's great to be back in Minnesota with our family and friends. I will continue to post throughout the summer but probably sporadically.

We're busy doing a couple projects at our lot. More cement and a new shed for Denis. I also have some new touches to the landscaping that I need to complete.

I'll see you soon !!!!

Lunch with Jess and Dave Hansen

2010-04-15T19:57:00.003-05:00

We traveled from Albuquerque, up the freeway I-25 thru Colorado. We stayed in Colorado Springs, across from Old Colorado City and then traveled up to Denver on our way to Nebraska. My niece, Jess Kramer and her husband Dave Hansen live in Fort Collins and they drove down to meet us for lunch in a little town outside Denver called New Brighton. Denis took our photo and we took off to continue our journey home.
We had a wonderful visit and talked about all of our future travel plans. We promised that next time we would stay near Fort Collins and spend a little more time.

Beautiful Spring Flowers in New Mexico

2010-04-15T19:53:00.002-05:00

Trip to Sante Fe, New Mexico

2010-04-14T19:29:00.002-05:00

UncleWally, Denis and I took the Albuquerque Rail Runner to the beautiful town of Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Albuqerque has a wonderful rail system that travels to Sante Fe. That is the capital of New Mexico and many workers commute on a daily basis using this train.
We had another great day and Uncle Wally is very much fun to shop with and has very good taste. He paints using water colors and oils and is very talented.

They have some of the most beautiful buildings I ever saw.

Have you heard about the Loretto chapel that had a wooden staircase that was built with no supports?

It is freestanding and perceived to be a miracle. It is no longer used however they have many photo's of it being used.

Old Town Albuquerque, NM

2010-04-13T19:12:00.002-05:00

Uncle Wally, Denis and I spent an afternoon in Old Town Albuqerque. It is a delightful area with lots of things to look at and purchase. We also toured a beautiful old adobe church and many art galleries. The Native American and CAtholic influence is represented in alot of their art. We visited a beautiful old church, San Felipe - much of it reminded me of St John Cantius - the polich church in St. Cloud, MN.

We had a very nice day with my Uncle Walter. He will be 75 this August and has a beautiful home in NM.

Moving on to New Mexico

2010-04-12T19:09:00.001-05:00

We spent Easter, April 4 and 5 in Camp Verde due to the high winds and travel warnings. So we went to church and out for lunch and back to the resort.

On Tuesday, April 6th we traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The wind was high again but it was bearable. We called my uncle Wally and he came out and had happy hour with us that evening. It was quite cool so we were inside. It was a city campground and quite characteristic of the environment. Here's some great pictures.

There were casita's at each campsite with a picnic table. Each casita was painted with Native American symbols. And they contained a nice big picnic table. Too bad it wasn't warm enough to eat outside. Of course grass doesn't exist out here. This road runner especially caught our eye. We saw a large, live one in the shrubs next to our RV. The view was fabulous. The Sangria Mountains formed the backdrop.

More of Arizona

2010-04-12T18:10:00.000-05:00

We visited this old copper mining town called Jerome, Arizona. It is mostly tourist shops now but the season hadn't really begun yet and it snowed the day we were up there. It is about 8000 elevation and quite a few switchbacks on the way.

This shop was a brothel and sells some very "interesting" clothing and items. Perhaps they were used in their business years ago :):):):)

The town is built on an incline therefore you are either walking up or down as you go down the street. This bar is called the Flat Iron - for those of you from St Cloud, MN - you may reconize this name.

The Grand Grand Canyon

2010-04-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Grand Canyon is majestic to say the least. Here's some photo's that simply do not do it justice.

Everyone should see this wonder of our country. Every cloud, sun and hour changes the view.

Luna and I really don't like heights. So we braved 1 picture towards the edge and that was it !!!

The views are awe inspiring.

Random Thoughts on Arizona

2010-04-01T11:38:00.000-05:00

It snows generally at 5000' elevation
They have blue bells growing wild not blue bonnets
The Arizona highway patrol enforces speed control with enforceable photo enforcement cars (no humans in car) along highways
All grocery stores carry wine and liquor
Some churches have cloth covered chairs with individual kneelers rather than pews
There are Wells Fargo banks on every corner along with Chase (no US Banks)
The saguaro (pronounced saw - aro) cactuses that are pictured on our blog that are 30' tall actually are 360 years old - amazing !!! They grow 1" a year.
There is a US Naval Observatory at 7335' in Flagstaff ( whatever for?)
Grass in AZ is a luxury due to water shortages and cost
Hot temps are not unbearable due to no humidity. Louie Anderson is right.
We are only 250 miles east of Las Vegas - 350 miles east of Los Angeles

My flowering cactuses in the HHR

2010-03-29T23:25:00.000-05:00

I don't know how long these will bloom in the car so I thought I would show you what they looked like.
Aren't they beautiful? There are some on the floor as well - they are not blooming.......yet.