FAMILY SKI TRIP, MOUNT ROSE,INCLINE VILLAGE

Incline Village, Nevada sits on the north side of Lake Tahoe. Living in the Sierra Nevadas we have a choice of what route to take over the passes. Laurie drove Ken, Doug and I up over Highway 88, which she considers the most scenic. Normally at this time of year, snow covered 88 would require chains and could have closures. Lakes were covered with thin ice, and dabs of snow looked painted on the mountain fissures.


Kris came up from Las Vegas. Virginia and Cedric took Highway 80 which is a fast four lane thoroughfare and serves the bigger populations from the Bay Area.
Highway 4 and 108 are my other two favs, but 88 is prettiest.


The first night, we played and noshed.


A little wine, games, and plenty of snacks.

Kris made the observation that Ken has lived at one time or another with all of his siblings. He is currently sharing an apartment with his youngest sister. Both are away from their respective homes for their jobs. Ken is extremely neat and Virginia likes to leave dishes in the sink and clothes hanging over the backs of chairs-til later.  Hmmm!


Virginia taught us this loud, raucous game she learned from her Italian brother-in-law. Fast moving, arms waving, card auctioning, gambling card game, a matter of luck, so the kids of any age have an equal chance of winning one of four pots. Everyone could put in a dollar, two dollars, a per-determined equal amount.  Kris, Theo, Myself, and Austin each won a pot. But the laughter was wonderful.


Laurie brought a pot of chili from home so we had and easy dinner and lots of time to catch up with each other. This was our family Christmas since we couldn't all get together this past December.


On Saturday morning, everyone geared up for skiing, except Doug, Kristanne, Laurie and I. Kristanne is "Lodge Fluff." I'm the photographer and Doug and Laurie stayed behind and played cards and rested. Ken hadn't skiied in 13 years and all but Virginia and Ced had lesson packages that give a price break for skiing.


Laurie and I were thinking we might  do cross country, or maybe snowshoe since neither of us like downhill. There really wasn't enough snow.


Owen gets fitted for his boots.


Virginia, Cedric, Theo and Owen all go at their own pace on different runs. Owen is boarding. Theo is skiing. Skis are shorter and rounder than any I'd ever seen.


Austin, who had never skiied wanted to snowboard because he likes his skate boarding.


The kids lessons were at station one. That bit about falling?


The instructor just came up to him and knocked him over numerous times. Taught him HOW to fall so he wouldn't put his hands out and break a wrist. He had a two-hour morning lesson and a one hour afternoon private lesson. The instructor said Austin was the best student he ever worked with at that age. Kudos!


The "bunny hill" of station one has a tramway up the hill where everyone, kids and adults can practice their newly learned skills.


Ken decided he didn't want to go back to work with a broken anything and Virginia went with him on the bunny slope.

She coached him for a few runs on cutting and stopping and turning before they headed for the lifts.


We all met around lunch time and then everyone went all out on the slopes. Kris and I kept track of spare gear as everyone shed jackets or pants, or whatever. Virginia referred to us as the "mules."  The weather was amazingly warm.


Back at our rental condo, which sleeps 16 people, Cedric made the pies.


Laurie made a beautiful salad. She said she was always salad queen as a child at home.


Ken made kabobs. (He wanted to steal the barbeque pit but it wouldn't fit in the car.



I roasted a turkey breast and we toasted our good fortune and grand gathering.


Kris surprised Doug with a basket of goodies, as in Ben Gay, Anti Diarrheal meds, vitamin container, gas relief, all that over-the-hill stuff because his next birthday will be his 50th.



And we all decided Cedric should give up his science PHD and become a pie chef. I didn't get a picture of his apple pie. Life is not only good but delicious.

THANKSGIVING DAY.

My daughter-in-law, like her mother before her, is an excellent cook. The bird was succulent, the dressing and gravy likewise. She is gluten sensitive and both were made with that in mind. Virginia brought the desserts and made a special pumpkin pie for Laurie, gluten free.

The day was so balmy, we spent part of the day outside. We had two games of bocce ball going, with two teams on different parts of the lawn. Laurie cooked the bird, and Ken roasted precooked sweet potatoes with rosemary and a tri-tip on the barbeque. Doug made an 8 pound lasagna with turkey meat.

We began munching at noon and continued right on up until dinner was served. Everyone ate too much, which I suppose, in a way, is the usual ritual.

Ken and Laurie recently moved to Valley Springs. It was an opportunity to showcase the "new" house.

While his parents couldn't make it, Austin got to spend time over the Thanksgiving Holiday school break with his cousins.

Through the wonders of technology, we skyped and talked to daughter Kristanne who has a new job and couldn't get enough time off to attend.  Austin skyped his dad in Southern California, so we all got to communicate our good will and love to those missing from the celebration.

Doug taught Stewart and Mason how to part out a turkey and put the bones in a bag for soup. He is ever the educator, completely at home in the kitchen and likes to interact with his nephews. Mason seems a bit less interested in the process judging from his body language. Mason is doing really well in his first year of college and is especially good at French and math. Stewart is now firmly aimed at a major in his sophomore year, teaching English as a second language. He is recently published in a small literary magazine with a piece of his fiction. Both boys are gifted students and enjoy playing their musical instruments.

As night came on, nearly everyone got into the card game, elevator, a bidding game.

The little guys watched this time, but they usually get in the games, too.

Clark and Theresa had multiple commitments and came late. Another excellent cook, everyone looks forward to what she will add to the table. Oh, my! And Clark is another whiz on the barbeque.

The sign on the kitchen wall says it all.  Life Is Good.

A GOOD IDEA FROM AMERICA.

Thanksgiving is a unique American holiday. A time to take stock, reflect on the good things in life and…a time to take goofy pictures.

A pomegranate almost the size of Owen’s head. It has dried, cracked and shrunk some since it was picked from their backyard tree.

It is November and crisp enough outside for sweaters. These guys never want to wear long pants or shoes unless they are visiting the snow. They are all legs.

My daughter is mentoring a Brazilian PHD student. Stuffed Turkey isn’t new to him, but Thanksgiving is. Each person at the table shares what we have to be thankful for on  this day.   I may rant about politics, but this is the greatest country on earth and I’m thankful for that.

Everyone gives a hand with the dinner.

After dinner the desserts: apple crisp, pear tart, pumpkin pie, and walnut pie. Son-in-law is the artistic pie baker. Equally fit for pilgrims and kings.

Then a walk in the park. And, if you walk with three biologists, you have to inspect what an owl ate for Thanksgiving. Little bones, feathers and a small skull are evidence in the owl pellet.

Marciel came here almost four months ago with no English. In Brazil, he had only played cards a couple of times. He did not know how to shuffle. No trump games or bidding. He learned three new card games, trump, bidding, betting. A new dice game. He then bested Doug seven games in a row too much howling on Doug’s part. We relished Doug’s loss and shouts of anguish at being bested.

The two grandma’s look like they’ve been sucking too long on a wine bottle. Goofy pictures are part of the deal, doncha know. We think we are a normal family, whatever normal is.

LOGGING MUSEUM AND WHITE PINES LAKE

Angelo is a five-year old and can’t quite grasp the card games the older kids like. His mom helped him with concentration, while the girls and I played Dirty Eight. It is swift moving and everyone likes it.

Later in the day, we visited the Logging Museum at White Pines, which is about 14 miles above Murphys. The logging museum turned out to be a great place for all ages. Toys piled in a corner kept the youngest one engaged with a new-found friend while the rest of us enjoyed the exhibits. Everyone liked the giant pencil and out-door equipment exhibits, but I forgot to bring my camera. For travelers with kids, the Logging Museum is a definite yes and be sure and bring their swim gear.  Afterward, we had a dip in the lake and the kids enjoyed the playground equipment and an ice cream down town Arnold.  I’m looking at my own community with much appreciation. There is much more to engage adults, but kids find much to enjoy as well.
We’ve gotten into a routine, now. I know what foods they like the most, and what they don’t like. And I’m enjoying the card games as much as the kids. Wearing them out on the trampoline seems to tire them out enough to sleep like logs. All in all, it makes for a busy day for me. I cooked rice in the solar cooker and sliced up giant zucchini slices to dry in the sun. They are learning gobs about how other folks do things.
Tomorrow, they travel to Burson and spend a week with their Uncle Clark, my youngest brother.

WAYLAID PLANS

It was hot! Daughter and two sweet boys arrived. Above, 9 year old Owen, with the bedroom hair, was sick. He slept on a towel on the grass while we dunked in the lake. He slept under a tree in the shade while we played 8 holes of mini-golf. We finally had mercy on him, took him home, (close by Lake Minden). More comfortable at home, we spent the rest of the day playing cards while he dozed between video games and felt better.
This game, with 7 year old Theo, above, is a riot. Its called Ruckus. Fast moving, card stealing kind of game. It plays wonderfully with three people, kids, mixture of adults and children. No one has to know how to read so a six year old can play if they have an adult dealer. The box says its for 2-4 players ages 7 through adult. You don't have to score. Its just fun. Players can move in and out of the game and come back. A real delight. Grandma, the beginner, won the first game since we decided to score.
We then switched to Slamwich, also fast moving; a card flipping game and physically fun. For six year olds and up, it won the Best Toy Award from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.
Guess who won the Slamwich game?
I see a lot of grandparents on the road RVing with their kids and grandkids. These are great, easy to pack, and fun.