The Pinal County Fair at 11 mile corner...

About 11 miles from Casa Grande, just east of the "11 mile gin" (cotton gin that is) on highway 287, is the Pinal County Fairgrounds. When I spotted the flyer in the clubhouse, I just knew we had to go - who can pass up a fair!

The display of quilts was not real sophisticated, but the work was beautiful.

The crafts included many items that were woven, like baskets and cup holders (hey, they got a blue ribbon).

The dog show looked good - loved the little fellow in the window...

The bird lady had some very interesting specimens like this one from Australia.
Interesting how the worlds of youth collide at a county fair...

Of course, there was a 4-H building and they happened to be having a silent auction so we stuck around to see if we were successful - we weren't.

Expect to see these chairs at the fairs near you this summer - for just 25cents you get a foot massage...

It was a typical fair with tons of food booths so we ate hot dogs and corn dogs and peach malts and apple blossoms and ... went home for the antacid. It was fun!

HE IS RISEN! Alleluia!

HE is risen indeed! Alleluia!

What better time to talk about churches we have attended than during Easter Week. We usually try to find a church that is ELCA, but sometimes there aren't any in the area and we attend another synod or a Catholic church. And believe me when I tell you that each church has its own personality...

Gloria De Cristo Lutheran Church is in Yuma, AZ and it is where we attended Holy Week services this year. The minister greeted us with a firm handshake at the entranch each time and each time, he was dressed in shorts - later he did put on his vestments for service - I guess you need to consider that it has been 85 - 90 degrees around here lately.

The style of the church reflected the area and the music would make any church proud. The congregation was friendly - we were greeted by all we encountered and when we went for Easter Breakfast, we were made to feel welcome at a table (The fellow had been a fulltime RVer for 13 years with "the first wife".)

Last year at Easter, we were in Ramona,California (a much smaller area) for Holy Week and it was a very different experience. The pastor asked Mike, who was suffering from allergies, "are you sure you want to be here?" and was almost too friendly - went out of his way each time we were in church to "stop and chat" for several minutes. The church was so small (and gossipy) that on Easter Sunday, Mike was asked by one of the lady greeters if his allergies were better... obviously we had been the topic of conversation.

When we were in Cottonwood, AZ, we attended an ELCA mission church. They were holding services in the Seven Day Adventist Church until they had the money to build. There were probably only 50 members and they welcomed us in a very friendly and sincere manner - hoping for new members I think. The pastor believed in a multimedia approach and the announcements were projected on a screen behind the altar before the service. During her sermon, appropriate photographs were shown to help illustrate her point. I liked it, but for the fact that the minister had a very annoying habit of speaking to the ceiling - she did not make eye contact at all while delivering the message... very personable after service...

One church we were in this winter (can't remember where) had "done away with" hand shaking during the cold and flu months and you were asked to just "verbally greet your neighbor". But, yet another, was a "Huggy Place" - everyone wanted to hug you when you came in - didn't matter if they knew you or not! There is a church we go to in Federal Dam, MN that is a hugging congregation as well - they actually have a method to it and during the "sign of peace", they go in lines from the pews and everyone hugs everyone - gotta remember the total attendance is around 25 - we were there once when the previous week had been 31 - yes, they post it!

We attended a Catholic service in a casino once and the dealers and cocktail waittresses came in for communion - remember this Jim and Monica? In Branson a few years back we decided to go to a service in "The Mel Tillis Theater". Now, that was an experience. When we left two and a half hours later, we had sung songs I had never heard, seen what could only be described as "laying on of hands" and been offered a chance to be "born again". All this with no Lord's Prayer and no formal communion - if you wanted it you came up to the front and took it after the service... very interesting!

Also in Branson, we experienced the most unfriendly church we have ever been in - it was a regular lutheran church out a ways in the country and we attended Good Friday services there one year. It was a very meaningful service but we literally got "the look" from fellow worshipers and no one spoke to us!

Last year in Benson, AZ, we attended a Catholic church where many people were being welcomed as new members. The priest was a retired (very very retired) fellow who was just filling in and when an older couple came up to be welcomed as new members to the church he says, "At your age you want to join the church?"

When we were on the east coast a couple of years back, we saw the world's smallest church. There was a broom outside and a sign saying that if you felt like you wanted to, you could clean a little - I did. At Christmas this year, we were in one of the largest churches - Crystal Cathedral in Annaheim. What we find in all churches, no matter the size, is God's peace and the hope that comes with knowing Jesus died for our sins and that He is Risen!

I hope all our family and friends know this feeling of peace and hope!

PS - Speaking of hope, we encountered this sign a few months ago and it is too good not to share.

She is Strong, Beautiful and Very Smart!

Of course that is our new great grand baby that we are talking about. Amariah Jaylyn was born on February 6th and we had an opportunity to spend some time getting to know her when we were in MN this past week. So, see for yourself that I am not stretching the truth one little bit!

At the baby shower, she was either sleeping or being held by different adoring fans and she never fussed one little bit! This is Mike's Aunt Delores holding Amariah - I guess that makes Delores her great great great aunt...
And this is the beautiful gift Kaci and Amariah recieved from that super great aunt!
If you ask me, Janet looks way too young to be a grandma - but she is a proud one!
I love this picture of the proud grandpa and great grandpa...

This is one of my favorites because it looks like she is giggling at us... probably not, huh...

This is the moment of introduction when Great Great Grandma Marion (Mike's mom) met the newest member of the family.

Mom, Kaci, didn't get much chance to hold her when great grandpa was around!

In sephia or color, the 5 generations are very impressive.
Looks like they both needed a nap...

Welcome to the family, Amariah. We love you!

The Track and The Valley

Here's your update, Richard! Thanks for the email reminding me it has been awhile... this doggone work interferes with the important stuff! Speaking of work, how about this for a job... all those suite windows have to be cleaned somehow ...

Ah, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway - let me put it this way - it was a different year! Last year things went well and it was fun. This year, we had a team leader with no people skills and a very sick and perverted sense of humor. I could give many examples but I will limit it to one: Mike and I report to work on the second day and ask "So, where do you want us to go today?" (the day before we had been assigned to two different areas) and his reply, said in a gruff nonsmiling way, "You can go straight to hell for all I care!" Great way to start the work day... By Friday, we were looking for the human resources department to file a sexual harassment complaint - can you believe the speedway doesn't have an HR dept. - seems each department is responsible for their own hiring and policing. I could go on and on but really would rather spend my key strokes on something more upbeat!

This is a pic of Bonnie and Barry - one day they work on the track (literally) in turn three inspecting RV's and checking them into the infield and the next, they are doing security at the owner/driver gate - not bad for your first year, eh?

As with all places we go, we met some great folks. Cathy and Bob are young fulltimers who have been on the road for 4 years. They do all kinds of workamping and were great fun to work with. Bob has a way with light wands that had the guests laughing and wondering just which way they should really go... Paul and Blanche were back from last year and so were Dennis and Louise. We were on different shifts but did get to spend some time with them. We will see them again at Phoenix (oh yea, we were hired there to drive/host on the trams) and again at INDY.
I ended up getting a bug and not even watching the race on Sunday but I understand it was a good one. Overall, work at LVMS this year was ... different!

When we left the track on Monday morning we headed up to Pahrump NV for a few days of R & R. Our Tucson friends are with us and yesterday we headed into Death Valley. Last year, we visited this remarkable area a few weeks earlier and all was dormant. This year, there has been some rain (only get 2 inches a year in Death Valley) and it was in bloom.

There is snow on the mountains in the background, a mirage, not really a lake, at the base of the mountains, and springs blooms in the foreground - what a place.

Here is Bonnie and Barry checking things out.

And those two fly specks on the top of the mountain are Mike and Barry; they definitely got their exercise!

Death Valley presents a unique photo op at every turn. Here is an Artist's Palette.

I could really see what it must have looked like back in 20 mule team days...

That's all for now. Our next entry will feature the great grand daughter - we are making a quick trip to MN to see family.

A side note: The Richard that asked for an update is our Louisiana friend and he is facing some very tough health issues right now. Those of you who regularly read the blog may remember seeing pictures of him (finally)catching a northern in MN last year. Anyway, please remember him and Debbie in your prayers.