First off let me tell you, Paul has an amazing talent. When I got back from my trip, I had a huge dent in the side of the Oldmobile. I had no idea when it happened. It looked like someone had just slammed a large door into it. Paul just tapped it in a few choice places and wah lah, dent barely visible. Most of the metal just popped back into place. AWWWH some!!!
Friday after work, I forgot the camera, but Michael, John, Emilee, Benjamin, Julia and I all headed for Williams, Arizona. It was their annual ham fest. (no not ham the food, ham radio, although we did take some pork loins for dinner). We spent the night in the cool pines and John made dinner in the dutch oven. The children said thank you, it was almost as good as their dad's. The next morning we packed up and went into Williams. The ham fest was not huge but everyone participating looked like they were having a good time. Then we did a little geo caching around town. We found all but one. That's pretty good for us, especially when they are micro caches. Off to the lava tubes next, where I discovered that if my flash light wasn't bright my dept perception was not very good. Needless to say I did not go too far in as my light became dimmer and dimmer. Emilee, Benjamin and Julia went on quite aways and had a great time. Michael was worried that they were too far from us, but where would they go? Kidnappers only had one way out. The air inside was a cool 32 degrees and it was sprinkling outside. After that we went to the railroad cafe in Flagstaff for a late lunch at 2:00 and then home. It was a great day out. I do wish I had remembered the camera. Nice to have the family to ourselves.

This morning after leaving the KOA in Grants, New Mexico. We hiked up the side of a volcano, 8,000 + feet up, part of the continental divide. The path had stops that told about the formations, plants and wildlife. Some of the Ponderosa pines looked like they might topple down the mountain anytime the way they were hanging on.We took some pictures for another family and they took some of us.

This is the ice cave near Grants, New Mexico. It is part of a large volcanic area. Down HWY 117 we enjoyed sandstone bluffs on the left and lava flows on the right. Most of the area is ranching and quite barren. The rock formations are interesting though.

Grandpa Church's house in Overgard, Arizona. He just happened to be sitting on the porch when we pulled up. He gave us a tour and we enjoyed a brief rain shower.
Finally we arrived home at 4:48 pm, on Tuesday (one day early),
2,905.8 miles later,
according to the GPS 64 hours and 58 minutes of driving time
(every once in awhile it was turned off when we were driving),
visiting 7 family members,
5 cemeteries,
3 libraries,
and
2 caves and their state parks,
all in 11 days.
It was great fun.
I think Julia and Ben might have had a little fun too.
So glad to be home.

Tonight Michael and I had a discussion on the poor shape of my map book. I've had it over 20 years and it has gotten me most places quite well. I am now aware that GPS does not know everything. He says that I just need to get rid of my security blanket. I don't think that I can. I just need a new one. Some things for me just never are outdated. Maps are one of those things. Besides a map will tell you where that little road you just drove by goes, or should you have four wheel drive to attempt to navigate it. When I'm the passenger I always want to know these things. Who knows I might want to detour. Remember the little ghost town in Utah. We had a great time in it. Girdy did try to get me to turn down one dirt road in New Mexico. It just happened to be next to the national parks information center. I stopped and asked, the woman behind the desk asked if I was in four wheel drive, I said no. She then showed me pictures of the road that they had taken to warn drivers. I took the paved road around just a little farther and let Girdy recalculate. It never hurts to ask questions.

Julia and Ben would like to thank Aunt Christy for the flavor packets for the water. Me too, the lemon flavor was really good and we have gone through a case and a half of water since leaving Jefferson. Julia says they're delectable.

After visiting City Hall and the Mortician we finally left Burkburnett, Texas. I need to make a few phone calls at the end of the week. I spoke to several people who had no idea about the Thomas Mortuary in the 1930's. They said they would check in to where their records would have ended up, since the library in Burkburnett doesn't have anything on them. Wichita Falls did mention them in the county farm burials. They were issuing them permitts to pick up bodies and transport them to cemeteries.

We've seen all kinds of farms here, cattle ranches, hay fields, oil fields, corn fields, wind farms, and lots and lots of trees and deer.

Julia played a little Myst, watched a movie and snacked on grapes. She did share some of the grapes with me. Not much to see outside just low rolling hills of grass.

Hours and hours of prairie with very little trees, has this effect on Ben.

Complements of Julia. We kept passing cars on trailers. This one was at the gas station. There must have been a car show somewhere close by.

Ben nonchalant face, he couldn't possibly be having any fun.

This is Ben's traveling face, better than that serious face he wears at home.

Julia took this beautiful picture of the clouds.

Flying down I-40 we nearly missed this church hidden in the hillside. Very cool, almost like an old castle. Julia was the one who saw it, Ben took the picture.

Sunset in Grants, New Mexico. We're settling in for the night at the local KOA. It's nice to have electricity even though we're in a tent. Computers and sleeping bags, who knew?

We didn't do much today, just hang out and swim. Dad made us some dinner. These are just a few of the treats from his garden. There's no internet here so it may be a few days before I can post this.
This afternoon we drove around Lake of thePines to the south shore to Sandy Beach, where Julia, Ben, and Shay could swim and throw mud at each other. After showering out the mud, we went back to dad's community pool and they swam some more before dinner.
We spent the night a Cis's again and finally I let the kids use their fireworks. It was only five dollars worth but they seemed to enjoy it. Michael spent some time with me on the phone helping me program my ham radio to the local repeaters.
We went to Kilgore to see my cousin Jacky and his wife. They have a nice place but I did have to call him twice and then have him meet me on the road before I could find him. He is well hidden.
We stopped by Jefferson, to buy Mikie a treat (no it's not fudge this time). Then when we got too hot we got in the car and drove around a bit and checked out the mansions. This one has always been my favorite. It's called the plantation. It was just restored to back to original, but is privately owned.
This is Julia's favorite house in Jefferson, the house of the four seasons. The top room has windows on each side, each a different color for a different season. The slaves would haul water up two fights of stairs to the bath up there so the ladies could bathe.
This is where my dad lives down in the hollow by the lake. Most of the yard is his garden.
We went to the Sabine riding club. When I was pregant with Dawn this is where the horse slipped and fell with me in the mud. We were also rounding the third barrell. It was only two rides ago. I don't get on horses too much any more. Shay is quite fast. This horse is good but the one with spots, named Fluffy is faster. At some of the other shows they give money for prizes and most times she comes home with a check. Cis said once in awhile the check will have her name on it.
Cis and Shay came by this morning to see us off. Dad made us hambergers and we had lunch together. It was hard to leave. To bad most of Texas and all of New Mexico are between us.

Kathy, here is the picture you requested of grandpa. He's like you to come and see him. He said he'd catch you a redneck and lock him in a cage till you get here. Would you like one with or without a nose ring. His words, not mine.

Ben and Julia got a big kick out of some of the long bridges that we crossed that were just lakes. I'm sure in other parts of the world the bridges are bigger, but not in Mesa.
My dad suggested that on the way home I stop by the Alvord, Texas cemetery. I did and boy was it hot, 101 degrees and I don't know how humid. 3:30 in the afternoon was when we arrived and it's a good size cemetery. We started driving when I started to see older headstones. This was one of my favorites. The father is listed on the front with all his information and then on one side all the children and their birth year are listed and on the other side some of their death dates. His wife is next to him with a similar headstone. So much information in one place too bad their wasn't enough room to tell a story or two about them.
This was the best little treasure in this cemetery. My grandfather's grand-parents headstone. The sun was really bright, so I wrote down the information in case we couldn't read the photo. This morning Ben and Julia are still asleep. Today, I'll try to make the run all the way home, we'll see. It's still quite a distance away. The bad thing about Texas is the bugs. I've got bites and sores all over. They seem to think I'm some kind of desert. At least at home all the bugs are baked by now, or maybe I just taste bad to them.

Sorry didn't get this one turned around and I couldn't get it to change. It really doesn't do dad's garden justice anyway. He's got all kinds of veggies growing. He finally had to let the grass grow to help shade and keep the moisture in, things were just burning up. He's been harvesting sqash and okra and tomatoes, every day we've been here. These are the leafy veggies here. Some of us do eat our greens.

We went to Cis's work and found her and Shay. Then we took Shay back to their place and she let us ride horses. It was a lot of fun. Julia was a little nervous and her horse went under the swing set and tryed to swipe her off. She did just great and bent back wards and stayed on. She needs to use the reins to show the horse where she wants to go. I did ride some, but it was always Cis who was the horse woman. It's good to see one of Nonnie and Grandad's grand children keeping up their legacy of horsemanship and ranching. The horses were beautiful and well cared for. Shay has been winning quite a few competitions, one of them the 4H, where she won a saddle.

We left Cis's place and went to Uncle Jacky's house were we found him, but his wife Ellen was out of town. We visited and Ben and Julia napped on the couch. Shay doesn't seem to bothered with this heat, but it sure takes it out of us.

Followed my Uncle Jacky over to Waskom to see my cousin Mike. Had a good visit, the kids had french fries and soda. Then we took Shay back to Elysain Fields and went back to dad's. There Ben and Julia went swimming with a new friend named Cheyenne. They were all wore out by the end of the day.

The Burkburnett Library, some wonderful girlscout did a project where she went to every cemetery in Burkburnett and cataloged, each grave, and then did a catalog of the mortishians log. Awsome information. Ben and Julia getting a little restless. One more library and then on the road to Jefferson. We should make it by nightfall.
Benjamin is so enthused about another library. This is the Wichita Falls Library, here I found mortuary records and discovered a mortishan that no one remembers. Maybe he buried my elusive great, great, grand mother.
Alvord, Texas where grandad was born. This is not the house it's too new, but I just couldn't resist, for years Nonnie and Grandad had a front porch with chairs and places to visit out front and it was where they spent most of their time with company. Good times.

Julia checking out the headstone. I've been here a few times and can find it more quickly each time. No big spiders but lots of zakadas, it made it eery in the dapple light through the trees. It took a little bush wacking to get to it.

Benjamin doing his best to help stop this tree from pushing the headstone over.
Saddly this is the Elms Creek Cemetery in Caddo Mills, Texas. Every time I come this way I stop in. DD Mullins and Etna Ellen Tackett are buried here. He was the sheriff in Caddo Mills, and rumor has it that he was really mean. He had a falling out with the family and it took me many years to even discover where he and his wife were buried. Last time I brought my mother and my sister here there had been a flood and so much damage had been done. This time it was very over grown, many trees have nocked over the head stones. They have a tree growing right in front of there headstone. The saw was too small to do a good job, but Benjamin did his best to make it a little better. They should be moved to the other cemetery in town, but I'm sure that would cost quite a bit. There are a few other family members here. I have records, if you're ever interested.
There are some things that I just love about Texas. Yes this is a two lane Hwy, and yes the speed limit is 70, which everyone is doing and it has curves and hills, such fun driving. Between Alvord and Jefferson we were coming down a long hill. The Hwy was divided and 3 lanes wide on each side. Six or seven car lengths in front of us a trailer disconnected from a truck and started across two lanes of traffic by itself, every one in front of us started slowing down, the truck right behind him started over behind the trailer, everyone watched as it jumped the median and went into on coming traffic, where everyone else had started to slow down. No tires locked up or people swerving or cussing, just everyone slowing down and making just the right moves. By the time the trailer came to a stop, the owner of the trailer had crossed over and at least three trucks had stopped to help him get his trailer back where it belonged. The speed limit was 65 and no one got hurt, mostly I think because most of these people are so laided back that it's no big deal and you just stop to help, because it just could have been you.
We arrived in Jefferson about 7pm, in time to go to the carwash and wash off all the bug guts. Then on to Marshall, Girdy doesn't know about the Walmart on Hwy 59, we had to make a pitstop there. Then I called Cis and she was at the Marshall arena with Shay. Shay was working out the horses with the 4H drill team. They have a state competion in a few weeks. It looked very well done. These are two of her horses, the one named fluffy does quite well on the barrells.

After waking up this morning we went to town and I turned the wrong way on Hwy 59 and missed Uncle Jacky's place so on the Hwy 80 and we stopped in at Cissy's work. We stayed up untill 3:30am or so visiting. She got up and was out to work by 8am we slept till 9:30 before we left. This is Cis's house. She has 10 horses, a donkey, rabbits, a chaweeny dog (named Ginger), two cats and two more dogs, one who's not too sure that we are welcome. She was very hospitable. No internet.

Spent the night at Dad's. Had a good visit, took the kids swimming and then onto the hamberger place in Jefferson. The Howell's daughter no longer owns it and it's just not the same. The lot where Nonnie and Grandad's house was is just grass now. No traces of the fun we had there, just memories. Woke up at 4:44 am this morning Texas time. I must finally be on the right time schedual. We're sitting on the side of the road where we finally found an open internet connection. Tried all day yesterday to find one in a fast food place, no luck.

After driving all day we had dinner in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Here fireworks are legal and we stopped and bought some. Even though it was raining pretty hard from the gas station parking lot we had a view of 4 shows at once. I couldn't get us closer the police had most of the roads blocked off for traffic control. You must live here, I guess, if you want to get a closer look. This picture does not do it justice. We went to check in at the state park and it was full. Probably better for us. The windshield was covered in bug guts. So we did the last resort and went to Walmart, checked with the service desk and at midnight parked out with the old people. At first I was leary but after the security guard made his third check on the parking lot I finally settled in to sleep. The Olds is pretty comfortable we all slept quite soundly even with all the light and the security.

I didn't realize we had our bat eyes on. The caverns were viewed much better at a slow desent rather that the run that we did the last time we were here. We should have taken the flash light with us. They had several things back lit but I would have like to have seen in the corners. The path was greatly improved and I enjoy looking at caves but only if I can stay in an upright possition with lots of elbow space. We went in and we could see for miles, came out to leave and it was foggy and pouring rain. The windy, twisty road was great. I love to drive.
The rain stopped just long enough for us to get this picture after leaving the caverns.
We just couldn't resist. This is Benjamin, Texas where the school building is large enough to hold every building in town. Does everyone and his cousin come to town to go to this school. It was made of stone and about 3 stories high. Should have taken a picture but we were on our way to DQ to have dinner. It just seemed a fitting place to eat.
We were a little early for the Mangum Oklahoma library to open. So Julia and I took a stroll around town. This is where Nonnie was born, but sadly we didn't find her grandparents graves, but Julia and Benjamin were great. They watched a movie (with head phones on) and let me puruse the Mangum Star newspaper for Obits, and I did find several surprises.

Yes, there are water falls in Wichita Falls. We stopped at the Texas Travel Information Place and they gave us directions. It was a short hike in but in the middle of the city in a city park here we are.
After searching through the birth records, marriage records, divorce records, marriage records again, then whitepages.com here I am with my cousin Nada who I haven't seen for over 15 years. We had a great visit. She has some health issues and happened to be home when I called this afternoon.
Like those of you belonging to the G Force, Nada is an orphan too, only she hasn't been able to do anything with the house for four years. She's still struggling with the loss.
Benjamin setting up our tent for the night, with Julia helping. She's not too fond of the bugs here, and they are EVERYWHERE!
After two days of driving over 1000 miles, several cemeteries, librarys, caves ect. I checked us into an RV park that was an KOA at one time. We're in Burkburnett, Texas. Benjamin and Julia made some new friends at the pool and swam for 3 hours. Then we had dinner, sandwiches, and watched Nim's Island before updating the blog and turning in for the night. We must still be on Arizona time because it's been midnight before we even start to feel tired. Hope everyone is doing well. Love you.