ANOTHER FIRE & A TRIP TO MARCH AIR FORCE MUSEUM

Sunday, June 9

On the northern portion of the Morongo Indian Reservation, is a fire burning in steep, rugged terrain.  All is located in the San Gorgonio Wilderness, not far for I 10 here in southern California.

John and I spotted this fire as we were on our way from our campsite here in the Desert Sky RV park in Hemit, CA.    

The fire had just started and was just a pillar of white smoke in the mountains.  We, being totally inexperienced with California wildfires were not sure that it was just that.   At least until we arrived at Jojo's home in Menefee, where she confirmed our guess.

The area of smoke grew as the afternoon began to drift to the evening hours.  The blue balloon indicates our position, and you can see where the fire is located.  

Last evening, as we returned from Jojo's, about thirty minutes away, the orange glow from the top of the mountain range grew larger by each mile we came closer to Hemet.  

Thank goodness the wind is blowing the smoke away from us, therefore not threatening John's breathing.  

Another thing to be so thankful for is that this is not a habituated area.  No buildings, livestock or homeowners are in the path of this fire, thus far.  

On another note,  the pergola and the area around the waterfall are beginning to take shape.  A few rocks were placed around the waterfall/filter box and it was exciting to see what this area could become.  

When I owned my water garden design, building and supply business, I had the final word on what rock went where and how the pond would look in the end.  Now, I make suggestions.  If they are accepted, good.  If they are rebuffed...that is beginning to be okay too.  It is soooo hard to not be in control.  

Jojo has her own ideas. That is good!  They are great ideas!  I just can't squeeze inside her head to see what she envisions. Maybe a mom is not supposed to do that?  

All of this interaction is a positive experience for me though.  I am learning much about being a mom of adult children.  I need all the practice I can get...It is not easy for a control freak!

Tuesday, June 11

The fire has grown and now the smoke is blowing toward Jojo's home making it harmful for both Jojo and John to be breathing smoky air.  We have postponed our work day.  

We seem to be smoke free here.  Hopefully John will retrieve our Coleman Road Trip Classic Grill so that I can fix our veggie burgers, grilled mushrooms, onions, pepper and potatoes.  OH yum, now I am getting hungry. 


 


Last Saturday, we all took a day off pergola work and traveled to Riverside to visit the March Field  museum where they have over seventy historic aircraft 

including the SR-71 "Blackbird", the world's fastest jet and the B-17 "Flying Fortress".  Artifacts date back to 1918 to the present.  

SR-71 "Blackbird", the world's fastest jet

I have really hate war and these airplanes are a symbol of war to me.  

My cousin lost her husband in Vietnam and every time I go to one of these places, I think of  how many lives are lost and families are
put into turmoil over the loss of loved brothers, sisters, wives, fathers, mothers, etc that are forever ripped from  them forever.  


I know, wars are inevitable.  We as a nation must protect our land.  And because humanity is selfish, this will not end until the end of time.

To say that John and I are thankful for the men and women to have and will serve and protect the United States seems to be, in a way, trite-too small.

When we were living in Indiana in our sticks and bricks, we lived close to Edinburgh, Indiana where Camp Atterbury is located.  Many of the troops would come close by to shop.  We would always greet them with a "thank you for your service."    


 Phil Dahl...this one is for you!  The minute I saw this Coast Guard Plane, I thought of you and your service.  And how crummy getting medical treatment is such as difficult time for you.  Veterans should never have to jump through hoops like you have since I have been reading your blog.  

I am on a soap box here, ya think?  Before I step down (or am pushed off), I am going to address one more terrible situation that we all should be up in arms about.

Imagine sitting here with enemy approaching.

That is the mental health system for our service men who return from horrific battles, injuries, stress, etc.

The suicide rate in unconscionable.  What is our government thinking? Each and every return soldier and their families should have the freedom to receive mental health care without the stigma of being "weak" and unable to continue their service, if they choose.

My uncle was a retired Major General in the USAF.  When we visited him in the summer, this is what I was greeted when he came home for "the office."  He looked larger than life to me!  

THE END

   

  

ANOTHER FUN TRIP TODAY

Today is our anniversary and we decided to spend it on another day trip.  Again, we hit the back roads, driving through the countryside full of corn, soybean and hay fields.  No traffic to deal with on these roads.

The lack of rain has hurt the corn crops, and the hay.  The farmers have had only one cutting thus far and they should be in the midst of their third.  The soybeans appear, from the car, to be doing ok.  

Our first stop was the little town of Edinburgh, Indiana located south east of us.  This is such a cute little town with great architecture in the houses and city street.  They are trying so hard to revitalize the town to draw visitors.  What a struggle it is for them.  They have painted the buildings in the colors of the eighteen and early nineteen hundreds.  

Their main "drag" is lovely with brick sidewalks, old buildings and huge baskets of flowers hanging on the period street lights.  

Edinburgh is a town of wood veneer companies, and is agricultural.  It is also the closest town to Camp Atterbury from where all Army troops are deployed.  

Warrant officer candidates walk the last leg of a 6.2 mile road march during Phase Three of the Warrant Officer Candidate School at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., July 28. The candidates finished the march in less than two hours. (Photo by Jill Swank, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs)
We appreciate all the troops and what they do to make us safe.  Whether or not we agree with the wars we are in, we do support our troops.  They deserve our prayers and encouragement.

Almost every restaurant was closed between two and four o'clock.  Of course we drove in just after two!  But one place was open.  Guess what kind of restaurant it was?  ha... I'll give you one guess.  If you have been reading this blog very long, you will know that we have a love of Mexican food.  As luck would have it, El Jefe was open and to top it off, their food was very good.  


Now, we had really planned to tour south east Indiana, but due to 1. coyotes howling very close to our bedroom window last night and a migraine I have been fighting for the last four days, we got a very late start.  

This trip will be continued tomorrow morning - early.  We will head down toward Louisville, then turn east in the direction of Cinnccinati, stopping in all the little towns to visit antique shops.  

When we hit Madison, Indiana, on the Ohio River, we will take time to visit some of the historical sites.  Actually, Madison is a town and area that one could spend an entire day visiting.  We will see.  We are on no time schedule, we travel as we please.  


Oliver will be traveling with us tomorrow.  We are taking a picnic lunch and will not need to leave him in the car.  Last year, he did not enjoy the Miata with the top down.  This year, he loves it.  He sits on the console in the center and watches the road as we meander down the road.  


Our plan is to visit many towns ending in Batesville, Indiana.  Then we will head west toward home.  Tomorrow's report will let you know actally how far we make it.  


For now, be safe out there and God Bless!