Desert trip for Kelly R.

We introduced Kelly R to the desert, by going to Ocotillo Wells. 35 miles of riding later, we took some pictures. we were wore out.:

Motocross

Finally made my way out to a track, and had some fun with Kelly M.
We were a bit rusty, and overweight, but we didn't get yelled at.
You know your old when you are at a track, and some rider says: "you all right.... Sir?"
Anyway, we had some fun, and started clearing some of the small obstacles ( doubles).

Here I am doing the finish line double:















And the infield table:






















and here is Kelly:

Sad Day

I never thought it would bother me. I try to keep my self a bit detached from the family pet. But i am more saddened then I ever thought. We lost one of our dogs today. She was 13 years old, and and done a great job as a family protector.
She was actually our best friends dog that lived across the street.
She has survived being hit by a car, and being bit by a rattle snake. She was a loving dog that was disciplined, and smart. She watched over the kids, and Rob and Jen at her house, and stayed at and watched over our family at our house.
Matti was our sarogat dog. Her master was often deployed, and we looked out for her. She was my dogs best friend. They played at the beach,















in the yard, and argued over the dog bed.
Sasha will miss you.














She often got out of her house, and she would come over to our house. We would find her waiting at our door.
We will miss you Matti, the world was a better place with you in it, and Dog heaven will be a better place with you in it.

New years desert trip

'S' was given a chance to drive the Razor. She was a passenger, but was given a chance to drive it. She also rode on a 20 mile hell ride through some of the roughest whooped out, rock smothered, twisted trails. That was half, and then it eased up, into some rolling sand hills that was a lot more fun.




























Heading for the big hill. They watched some guys on bikes getting some big air. They must have thought it was me.















Off they go
















Here I am praying before my thrill ride with the owner, Eric, he is a great driver.



























bikes at camp taking a rest.
















view off the big hill, which we climbed with the dirt bikes. We also hit it with the Razor















Some nice rigs that were parked next to us.















Sasha loves to go to the Desert, and she sniffs out little creatures. She found a friend this time, and she is jumping for joy:

day after x-mas golfing on some ice

We again started to get cabin fever, and went out to do some golf. This was an exercise in futility. Aiming for the middle of the green on your approach shot was the wrong idea because the greens were frozen, and almost as hard as concrete. The ball just hit and bounced farther away then expected. We actually had ice on the green that you had to putt around.



Here in the foreground you can see a water(ice )hazard. and some unfortunate golfer has hit his ball onto it.

















You can see the ice on the pond in the background.

























Boots for the weather. Even long Johns, gloves and knit hats.

Christmas day in Ohio

Lisa and Dianne with a view to the carnage.

Kim directing the gift opening traffic.

My niece Courtney was in town. Hadn't seen the girls in a while

Brandon is seen here not attached to his girlfriend at the hip.... just kidding. They are both very independent, We got to spend more time with Kaitlin this year.

After the gift opening we took a bucket of corn down the hill to the creek, and put it out for the deer.















'S' got a chance to shoot the crossbow, and did a very good job. My little marksman.

Ohio State fans can be seen everywhere. This fan painted the roof of his house, and his barn and shed in Ohio State colors

tractors, and

When it was down to 5 degrees, we got a little bored and Grandpa siezed the opportunity to brake out the tractors for some good old fashion racing. it didn't take long for the girls to figure out the controls and to get very cold.

next day

Even in the cold of winter in the deep woods of Ohio, we managed to find a motocross track.
















My little hunter was open minded enough to join me on a hunt or two. It was so cold that we had to use her cousins winter gear, and it was a bit large, but proved very warm.

We did see some deer, but never had a good shooting situation. Here two does mock me.

In the town of Charm we saw lots of Amish houses, churches (with graveyard), and bussinesses.

A picture of the town of Charm. notice on the hill side the Amish house. As a family grows, they often build the houses right next to each other on the same property as they share, and grow together.

The houses, and land, and kids.

a picture of Grandpas pole barn for woodworking heaven.













a panoramic view of the shop:

a view from the top of the hill behind The Smith house looking from the tree stand to the back yard.

Talk about signs off deer, more specifically bucks... check out the rubs on these trees. The outer skin of the tree is rubbed off from the deers antlers, as they grind off the velvet as the season progresses. They also do this in a mock fighting scenario.

Some of the big game I saw while waiting for the deer to come in.

The addition to the back of the breed house was finished just days before we arrived.
I appreciate the effort that went into preparing this part of the house for our arrival. It turned out very nice, and still has some details to finish.