Volume V No. 4 July
Transcription
Volume V No. 4 July
P A LA V E R Volume V, Number IV PAGE 1 The Original Ranch PALAVER Volume V, Number IV The Original Ranch, Lakewood, NM ROUND-UP GETTING CLOSER Special points of interest: I can't believe how the time is flying. Right now we don't have a lot of news. Things are progressing well. That's an assumption on our parts, I guess, only because we've not heard of any major problems from those who are heading up various parts of the party. We operate under the theory that no news is good news. New washing machines On the injured list Report on Larry Foster Ken White passes away Fun Days report For Sale Most of you probably know that Dave and Pat Armstrong will not be here for Round-up so one of the evening meals will either be done by someone else or we will have a quiet games and visiting evening. Jerry and Barb Pruett have volunteered to step into the Armstrong's shoes but at this point we're not positive about that. Also, would anyone like to take over the Pecos Diamond tour that Dave was planning to lead? Articles for the September/October, 2002 Palaver are due September 1. Send to Lynell Arnott, [email protected] or 216 Rainbow Drive #11697, Livingston, TX 77399-2016, (303) 9298272 fair again this year. There will be a good selection of tests available on Friday morning and a good informational speaker with handouts in the afternoon. Another choice for Friday will be a golf tournament hosted by Gil and Diane Freeman. If we have not received your post card, please send it so we have an idea how many of you will be here. We need to see ya'all coming this way to join in the fun. Keep on keeping on out there, wherever you are! Leah Coley, co-chairman I hear that the decorations and signs at the Ranch are looking REALLY GOOD thanks to Don and Chris Parris. Inside this issue: Cass & Co. have put together a good health Board Elections Coming 2 Leaseholders Change 3 Ranch Hands report in 3 Cub Reporter 8 Chili Chapter Rally 8 Trockel’s Tips 9 In the Kitchen with Mary July/August 2002 10 From The President’s Corner Hello one and all. Things are doing well at the Ranch while we’re mostly out on the road for the summer. All of the problems have been small and Chuck and Nettie Haase are doing a marvelous job taking care of them. They report that there are 20 leaseholders in the park now and occasional visitors still come in. Our new washing machines have been installed and the report from people is (Continued on page 2) P A LA V E R Volume V, Number IV PAGE 2 (Continued from page 1) that they are doing a beautiful job. The machines are programmed for four rinses, so there is absolutely no soap residue. I hope you are all having safe and happy trails. See you in the fall. Marilyn Railey, President Nominating Committee Report We now have six people running for the four Board positions to be vacated in November. They are: Gene Wessman, Roxy Colomb, Cliff Dulcich, Doris Stinson, Wanda Johnston, and Diane Freeman. We offer a great big SKP hug to our new leaseholders. Let’s make sure we all meet: Robert & Donna Brown, Lot # 14 Wally & JoAnn Mauck, Lot # 40 Joseph & Barbara Worth, Lot # 73 Patrick & Patricia Burke, Lot # 39 I really think there should be at least one other person running for a position on the Board. Seven people run- At the same time, there are others we have to say ning for four positions would be great. Let's hear from Happy Trails to: you! Send your resume (doesn't have to be a job application resume) to the office by e-mail or snail mail. Just tell us briefly about your background and why you would like the rest of us leaseholders to consider voting for you. Remember the deadline is August 1st so Nettie has time to get all the copying done to send out the fall meeting packet. Thanks to those already in the running and thanks in advance to those to come. Leah Coley, Nominating Committee Chair Win Some, Lose Some Ray and Jean Strain Don and Mary Hovis Pat Zanotelli FOR SALE: PocketMail Composers $99 plus $149 yearly activation. If you already have a PocketMail, I have yearly activation cards available and leather cases for your PocketMail device Leonard Ratzlaff (Lot 16) [email protected] On the Injured List By Lynell Arnott This has got to stop! This list has gotten too long! Actually, even though this list is long, most all of these folks are on the mend. Cass Davis continues to slowly improve and, last I heard, was still hoping to get some traveling in this summer. Tony Simmons-Amari is recovering from recent surgery and will also be on the road again soon. There are updates in the letter section of this Palaver on Larry Foster, Russ and Donna David, Dave and Beth Norton, Bettie Marquardt, and Susan Breem. John Senko is hanging in and is able to take walks around the Ranch. Rumor has it that John Barnes is back at the Ranch and continues to do well. Mickey Burch had ankle surgery, but no one seems to have heard from her. Mickey, where are you? Hope all is well. (Continued on page 3) Volume V, Number IV P A LA V E R PAGE 3 (Continued from page 2) Nettie Haase has been busy seeing that cards are sent to everyone she hears is ill. If you know of someone not mentioned here, make sure you let her know in the office. Let’s hope that our “team” will be healthy and ready for action by the time we see them in the fall. Happy and safe travels until then. Hello friends--another good report. (ed. Note: In early June, Larry developed pneumonia and was put into an induced coma to allow his lung to heal. The pneumonia cleared, but then his body was paralyzed due to the drugs he was given to put him in the coma. Since then are these two notes from Adele.) Big Hugs, Russell and Donna David Arizona Holding Davids Captive! Russ and Donna are still in Arizona, moved from the Elks Club to an RV Park with a swimming pool. We are both still in physical therapy and going to the doctor once a month. DonJune 22 - Hi all--your prayers are work- na was sent to another doctor for a seing. They removed the ventilator yescond opinion and a possible epidural terday and did a tracheotomy to help shot in the back. He determined that for a few more weeks. Doctors consider evidently the physical therapy was helphim a miracle since none believed he ing and the shot was not given at that could make it on June 3rd. His paralysis time. It is a possibility later depending is no longer total and he is able to move on the severity of the pain. Right now it his head and squeeze my hand. It will has subsided quite a bit so only time will be 4 to 8 weeks before he is completely tell. back to normal but they expect a full recovery with physical therapy. God Russell went to an Orthopedic Surgeon Bless you all. Love and Hugs, Adele and has to have both knees replaced. He decided to have them both July 5 - Larry is now in a regular room taken care of at the same time and will and becoming more alert every have the procedure on Sepbember day. They say for every day in ICU he 10th. will need a week to recover so we don't expect him to run the mile for a It is VERY HOT here and the air condiwhile. Speaking is difficult with the tra- tioner in the front of the motor home cheotomy but will improve in has quit. Fortunately the a/c in the bedtime. They also had him sitting on the room is still working. side of the bed for 15 minutes-somewhat weak but physical therapy We are right now staying at the Karmelwill be increased as time goes on. Best la RV Park, Space 10, 730 So Country of all, his sense of humor is returnClub Drive, Mesa, AZ 85210, phone ing. Thank you all for your prayers and #602-826-7337. If anyone is in the area e-mail. Once he is able to talk, I'll send we would love to hear from you. you his phone number and ask that you call him. He gets a little tired of the We are enjoying our two sons and their dictator and nurses. Love and Hugs, families here in the area. Adele In Memory We have received word that Ken White, Lot # 82, has passed away. We offer our condolences to Maxine and family. Volume V, Number IV P A LA V E R Elks Lodge in Jackson (full hookups), we were able to see Don and Mary Hovis. We left The Ranch in early April, on our They had been traveling through the upway to Detroit Lakes, MN, to work for per part of Michigan and I contacted them the summer. En route we stopped for the to tell them we were here. Turned out night in Onawa, Iowa, at Interchange RV I am having trouble with my hip. At first I they would be passing through Jackson Park. We really liked the little park and thought it was due to the dampness and on their way to Ohio so we were able to discovered it was for sale. We went on to the rain but now I’m not so sure. visit for a couple of hours. Detroit Lakes but began negotiating to buy this park. On July 1 we closed on the Love and Hugs, Judy Loy We plan to stay in the Indiana area sale and took over operation of the park. through July and then hope to head east. So we are back in the campground busi- Hello Everybody: ness after a couple years full-timing. AcWe wish everyone a safe and happy sumtually we are still living in our fifth wheel Bev and I are presently in Michigan near mer. Ann Arbor visiting my brother, but we full time and will continue to travel six will leave tomorrow for our son's place in Bill and Bev Heeter months out of the year when the park is Indiana. We left The Ranch the end of closed. April and drove to So. Calif. where Bev Novy’s Visit Alaska had an appointment with her neurologist If you are traveling in this direction, please plan to spend the night at our park. in early May. We stayed a week and a We're in Alaska!!! Fairbanks to be exact, half in the area visiting Bev's brother and Land of the "Midnight Sun". Sunrise is 3 We have already signed up for the SKP Discount Parks program and give a 15% old friends. We started back for The am and sunset is 12:30 am (so the weathRanch and arrived there around the 20th. erman says, we have not personally veridiscount off our daily rate to SKP's. We have changed the name of the park to ON Don and Mary Hovis gave up their lot fied it). It took over a month to get this far and we moved over to it. That took us -UR-WA RV Park. It is located at exit because we don't want to miss anything 112 on Interstate 29 in Onawa, Iowa. Our about a week to complete. I was initiated along the way. Canada and Alaska are into the Carlsbad Elks Lodge during our not crossed very quickly. Big places. open season is April 15 to October 15. stay there and that was nice. We left on The phone is 712-423-1387. e-mail is the 27th for our son's place in Indiana and Observations: The "Alaska Highway" [email protected]. arrived there on June 1st. Had a nice trip, should be renamed the "RV Expressway". Hope to see everyone sometime this fall stayed at two Elks Lodges in Oklahoma. All larger towns seem to have a Salmon Also stayed at a nice Coast to Coast just Bake, a Follies about gold rush days, a at The Ranch. south of Springfield, Ill for two days be- goldmine tour with gold panning, a gold fore our last days drive to our son's house. dredge tour, and a riverboat ride of some Hugs to all, sort. The previous century the gold was Spent two weeks visiting with the grand- extracted out of the ground; now, it is all Ken and Becky Tanner children, parked in our son's Lot 1 extracted out of the tourists. driveway, so got to see a lot of the them. Then drove over to Elkhart for a 5 day So far we’ve seen 1 black bear, 3 moose An Update from Judy (dated May, stay. We like Elkhart, spent about 6 cows and 1 calf, and lots of other little weeks there 4 years ago when Bev devel- critters. That’s not counting the mosqui2002) oped a major medical problem, which toes. These guys are BIG! When you I am sure some of the people in the park forced us to stay for a while. Spent a day slap one it's liable to slap you back. knew my mom had surgery. She is 81 and at Shipshewana, one of the largest Flea had a kidney removed. She came through markets I have ever seen. We also From here we head to Denali National the surgery well but has a long way to go stopped in South Bend and visited the Park and then south to Anchorage and the as far as her walking without a walker. Studebaker museum there, very interest- coastal area. She does need some assistance but can ing and worth a stop. We stopped at the walk to the bathroom by herself but with RV Museum in Elkhart, also worth a stop. Hope to see more wildlife (Bullwinkle, the walker. She will be going for physical They have many old RVs, mostly trailers Eagles, Salmon and especially some griztherapy around next week so she will be but a couple of motorhomes. Very inter- zly bears). We also want to get a close up more independent. esting. One car and trailer dated from the view of some glaciers. 1920s. Enjoyed some good Amish food I also just became a great aunt again. The while there. Then back to our son's for a Till next report, hugs, baby was not due till the 10th of June but few days before driving up to my brothLou and Barb they had to take her early because my er's place. niece was bleeding a lot. My niece is doing fine and the baby is fine. She weighed While here in Michigan, we stayed at the Hi Ranch Hands, 5 pounds and 8 ounces and they named her Reegyn Jo. My brother (who is the proud grandfather) said she is such a pretty baby. He also said she took his finger. PAGE 4 Volume V, Number IV P A LA V E R ed it was a good test to do the 230 miles to see if Susan could really do that and it Well, we have had a very busy spring and worked out OK. summer so far. We started off by going to Sacramento, CA to work at a horse We are planning on leaving here July 9th show for our friends from Bainbridge headed for NH to the oldest daughter's Island, WA and then went up to Grass and two granddaughters, and are planning Valley, CA to visit some other friends on arriving there around 7/15 or so. We and ended up finding some really cheap are hoping to see Bill and Bev Heeter in fares to Kauai, HI to visit our youngest NE sometime later in the summer. Hope daughter and two grandchildren. So we all is well with you and all the other left the coach at our friends place, rented Ranch Hands. Art, Susan and Casey a car, drove to LA to catch the 'cheap Breen, the faithful doggy companion. flight' and had a great 2 weeks with our Kauai family, flew back to LA, rented a car for the return drive and made it just Greetings from Iowa, fine. It's pretty darn warm here and has been Then we struck off for our next destinafor a while now but we're having a good tion of Beaver Creek Campground in time anyway. We see Rick and Subie Rimrock, AZ to visit with Ginny and Redd for a few minutes at a time most Cowboy Smith for several days. Found every day. Jim and Bess Halydier are them well and happy and had a great visit also here but only run into them occasionand enjoyed the lovely red rock forally. mations. Then headed off for The Ranch. We were at the Ranch for about a week Charlie is mostly working on onion rings and then we headed off for Thomasville, four days a week and then one day a GA to visit with my sister and husband week he joins me at the corn dog stand and a planned family gathering there for a (he cooks and I serve.) Four days a week 60th birthday party for both me (6/4) and I work at the corn dogs either cooking, my brother-in-law (5/27). After arriving serving or running the register and then in plenty of time for the party Susan was join him at the Chicken Shack one day not feeling well and went to the Dr. who where I serve or whatever. decided she was sicker than she thought and after an outpatient procedure, admit- Wednesday evening seems to be movie ted her to the hospital to try and find what time with my son and granddaughter. I was the problem. After two weeks incar- still have not made it to the skating rink ceration, an exploratory operation and but hope to get that done at least a few fixing some internal problems she was Thursday nights. finally released to the world again. Of course, during her hospital stay all the Don & Mary Hovis stopped by several family arrived for the party, had the party, weeks ago and happened to hit our day and everyone left again. Susan was dis- off so we could spend some time togethappointed to have missed all the fun and er. Had a nice afternoon and evening frivolity but very glad to be on the road to and, of course, there was food involved! complete recovery. Needless to say both Casey, the faithful doggy companion and That's all for now - important jaunt to I were very glad to have Susan back Wal-Mart on the day off agenda. home again. We have been given a full release from the Dr. with the promise we Hugs to all, Charlie and Leah, Lot #26 will be back in the fall for a quick office visit to make sure Susan is doing OK. We did have a quick visit Hi to All from Cheyenne 'AWOL' (unbeknownst to the Dr.) to Umatilla, Florida to see Susan's mother The HOT, DRY summer is flying by with who is going to be 90 the end of July and campouts with the Singles, with FMCA still living in her own apartment prior to rallies, with places to meet and with lots getting the Dr.'s, OK to travel. We decid- of eating of course! Next, the Good Sam Word from the Breems PAGE 5 Singles chapter will attend the WY state samboree in Worland, WY. From there, an extended trip before returning. I will drop off in Wheatland, WY until end of July when the Frontier Days are over in Cheyenne. From there, to Douglas for a rally, later Curt Gowdy state park, then Brighton, CO, for the FMCA Rocky Mountain Ramble etc., etc., etc. All you Ranchhands take care and safe travels. Hugs, Helen Hello to all, This summer finds us back in Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. Dave has done quite a bit of fishing and a couple weeks ago he landed a 92# halibut! Our freezer is full now! We are waiting for the red salmon run to start on the Kenai River and hope to add a few cases of smoked salmon to the larder before we leave. While Dave has fished, I've made a few quilts with 2 different quilting groups here. We arrived back in AK in early May...after waiting out a snowstorm in Whitehorse, YT for 3 days. It is always nice to see friends and familiar places when we come back. We plan to leave earlier than normal this year. We will be going to the Queen Charlotte Islands off the northern coast of British Columbia for 10 days in August. We hope to do some more fishing there with friends and a cousin. After Labor Day we will be heading to Seattle and Portland for a few days each and then back east to see family and friends in MN, MI and upstate NY. By then the weather will be pushing us south! But we aren't sure where. We hope to be back to The Ranch for Roundup and Thanksgiving. We've seen a few SKPs this summer. One we were surprised to meet is a very distant cousin of Dave's that we first met at Escapade in San Berdardino and then again up here in AK! What a small world!! We've looked for the McKinzie's this summer but haven't seen them yet. Where are you? Sorry we missed seeing Milo and Bettie while they were here, next year? Take care, all. Dave and Sally Stribling....lot 86 Volume V, Number IV P A LA V E R the ferry that were really nice and I joined them at a lot of the islands. Took a boat Bob and I are in Northern Virginia at Ft tour in Juneau with them up to see the A P Hill. We also spent some time in the glacier and that was really interesting. lower Chesapeake area - Williamsburg, The glacier was calving and it makes a Jamestown, Yorktown and visited all the loud noise when it does. We were in front Colonial and Revolutionary sights. What of the glacier for about an hour. The last a wonderful history lesson this trip is. time it calved I saw it and it was a big We are not far from Washington, but piece that fell off. It made the water go up have not ventured into that traffic and like hills and valleys. I thought that was madhouse. My Bob hates traffic. We did pretty neat. There were a lot of seals up go to Mt Vernon and Annapolis/Naval there on the iceberg with their new baAcademy and historical Fredericksburg. bies. On the way back we did see a lot of whales. ALL is just wonderful, but its so dang hot that I fold rather fast without exploring all When I got to Skagway, I saw a show at there is to see. Should have stayed in the Eagles Palace. It was really really Florida - weather map says it’s actually good. They had mock gambling before cooler there. Tomorrow we leave here to the start of the show and I was the high spend the 4th with Bob's girls and grand- winner. So during the show they anchildren at a camp and lake near Morgan- nounced me as the winner and I had to go town, West VA. Hope its cooler - at least up on the stage to get my prize. I was told we can jump in the lake. From there we that my check of $22,000 would be in the head for Minnesota and Saskatchewan. mail shortly. Then they gave me a tape of Hi and love to all. We will be at the the music they played. They also took Ranch in August to pickup more stuff. bids for things and I told them I would bid $10 and they could take it out of my $22,000 check. Got a laugh out of that and they said they couldn't do that. Anyway the play was great. Hello Ranch Hands, Hi from the Stephenson’s I left Denver on May 13th and took my time getting up to the Washington border. I left from Sumas, Washington. When I crossed over into Canada I figured that was the true start of my Alaska trip. It was in mid-afternoon when I crossed over into Canada so I only went as far as Chilliwack. You will have to excuse my spelling. Any way, I spent the first night there in a Walmart lot. It was about 9:45 P.M. when there was a loud knock on the door. I was reading at the time. I opened the door slowly and there was a policeman there. He asked me if "I was alone and if I was o.k." I said yes I was and I was o.k. "The sign in your window said "Need Help Call Police." I laughed and said that I would be more careful in putting up the shade again. He was really nice. I got up to Prince Rupert and started the ferry trip there. I stopped in 6 ports, spending time in each one. Got up to Skagway on the 13th of June. I enjoyed the islands but it was raining most of the time. Of coarse it was the rain forest and that time of year also. I met 3 couples on Then I headed up to Fairbanks to my friends place. I was there for about 5 days. I really enjoyed Fairbanks. Then I drove down to Anchorage, stopping along the way in Denali Park. Took a bus tour half way up to Mt McKinley. Saw a lot of caribou, moose, grizzly's and their babies and a lot of dall sheep. Got a glimpse of the mountain but as usual the clouds were around it. I did get to see the mountain the next day though as I took a plane ride over the mountain. I sure hope I got some good pictures but I'm a little pessimistic about that. PAGE 6 Hello from Fun Days We are enjoying the Fun Days here so far. And thank goodness, the Row where we are parked as representatives of the Ranch is under big old cottonwood trees. Therefore, we are staying cool. It also hasn’t been that hot here yet. We have sure enjoyed our swing through California, Oregon, Western Washington and through Washington, Idaho, and Montana. We’re headed south on the 6th of July for New Mexico. Will not rush it, but will move right on down the road. Dick has an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon on July 29th and wants to schedule the hip replacement as soon as possible. Have been spoiled by the cooler weather up here, at least no humidity here!!! and not really looking forward to the 100 degrees down there. Oh well, do know there will be NO humidity there. Love from the Wandering Billings Nathrop News Our summer season has been different, Bad & Good. Started off with a VERY "MEMORABLE", Memorial Day Weekend. To make a L O N G story short, Bettie developed a headache (not her style), ended up in the hospital in Colo. Springs, had surgery, 2 burr holes. Now NO headache and No hair. Thank heavens for a friend like Beverly Ratzlaff, as she made Bettie some fashionable turbans. After follow-up Cat Scans, Dr's, gave us an OK to continue our travel plans. Well now I am in Anchorage where my nephew lives. I will be going to their place tonight for halibut dinner. Am look- June 11th, we flew to Alaska, and spent a ing forward to that. It has been a long marvelous time at our daughter's and sontime since I have seen Dan. in-law's. They even provided us with a mama moose and calf, lunching in their Hugs, Pearl yard! Went to Denali four days, and our daughter arranged for us to stay in some delightful B & B's. Spent one weekend with kids in cabin at (Continued on page 7) Volume V, Number IV P A LA V E R over Memorial Day weekend, I developed a torn retina. Found a very good lazer eye surgeon, who was able to stablize the Will be back in Nathrop, Co. the end of problem. Hopefully, it will reattach but it June, and be ready for any guests. We are takes at least six months before you know free (so far!) of any fires in our area, and for sure. if you can stay, we can reserve you an RV We won't be traveling for a while but site. have found there are a lot of neat things to do around here in the summer. Anyway, Safe travels to you all. our e-mail address here is: dbnorton@the Hugs, Milo & Bettie -i.net and we are in a lovely park (Seabreeze RV Park in Portland, TX) with a swimming pool, ten minutes from Corpus and a wonderful view of the Gulf. Greetings to fellow Ranchhands from Ely, NV. Take care & HUGS from us, Beth & Yes, we are exploring the "other" Nevada Dave Norton - the 80% of the real estate where the Hello to All, 20% of the population live, otherwise known as The Great Basin desert. Ely has been our base for a month (Cave Lake SP, We are deep in the Rocky Mountains, Ward Recreation area NF, and private RV hosting at Ruedi Reservoir between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. It has been a park). We’ve been exploring Ghost scary summer with all the fires burning Towns, Great Basin NP, and riding the around us. From the Friday before MeNNRR (steam-engine 93 used at Winter morial Day until July 3rd, we saw no rain Olympics- and diesel rides), hiking, and major R & R. Then we’re on to Wells for at all. The reservoir was down 30 feet at 10 days. Hoping to make PNW this sum- the beginning of the season when it should have been at or near capacity. We mer! imagine it will be a mud puddle by late August. Fortunately, we are coming into Hugs and safe travels to all. monsoon season and hopefully our afterEde & Bob Trockels noon showers will at least keep the fires at bay. We visited the site of the GlenHi All, wood Springs fire and it was so sad to see the homes destroyed. The city was lucky We are in Haines, Alaska. We plan on spending the next couple of months tour- in one way in that the wind changed direction and moved away from town, saving Alaska. See you this fall. ing many homes and businesses. Hugs, Darrell and Pat Mauck If all goes OK, we will be here until after Labor Day when we plan to head for MarHi There, yland and Virginia to spend Fall with Fred's family. We should be back in We are doing well down here in sunny, New Mexico by November. south Texas. Dave had total replacement of his right hip and is doing very well. We hope you all had a wonderful 4th of He is already home, being visited by a July and are enjoying your summer. physical therapist three times a week and a nurse twice a week. We built a stairs Hugs, and deck in front of the trailer door that he is managing to get up and down very well. So he does get out a bit while heal- Fred and Joyce Cook ing. If the in-growth of bone goes well, E2 Having Fun and Fun Days! he likely will have the left hip replaced before Christmas. I figure we'll be staying It is so good to be here @ Fun put for a while but we are comfortable and have been making some neat friends. Days...Caravanned from the Ranch with I had to have my own bit of problems, so the Ogdens...stopped for a couple of 2 day (Continued from page 6) Seward. PAGE 7 music therapy sessions...Karen felt left out so has started practicing harmonica! I'm enjoying seeing people I've not seen in years & finding kinship with a number of new best friends...will stay awhile to have some RV stuff done & a bit of "solitudinous" R&R before I begin to mosey in an easterly way, meandering to meet my musician daughter somewhere just west of the MS river. Want to have some private time with her for music & processing things we have needed to deal with for more than 30 years...We hope to have 2 weeks...to get her home to her family in Salem, WV...I will spend September visiting my Mom, 2 other daughters, & son & families in WV, MD, & VA...from there probably to Van Wert, OH for Escapade-East...Want to be @ Santa Fe/ABQ around Balloon Fiesta...Then HOME to #44 @ THE RANCH! Had no plan when I left with Ogdens 6-22...beyond Fun Days!! Being cool is a primary concern...Great Falls has been lovely...so far...! Till next time...Hugs & Happy Trails!..E2 The news from our direction is: Vern is responding favorably to the medication for fungus in his lung. We have spent a fun filled couple of weeks in Lubbock with our children and grandchildren awaiting and celebrating the birth of the latest member of the family who arrived July 3. When the mother and baby are home and settled we will get back on the road to somewhere. Vern has appointments in ElPaso early August so can't go far unless he flies back. We'll just spin the bottle and see which way it points!!! Sheila News from Fun Days We are having a great time at Fun Days in Great Falls, MT. We have just come back from viewing the most spectacular fireworks ever. We sat in the bleachers here at Expo Park and you could see fireworks from the whole city. We have enjoyed visiting with some of the ranchhands that are here. Dick and Lucy Billings are representing The Ranch and Lyle and Virginia Plumber are representing the Chili Chapter. Lyle was in the (Continued on page 8) Volume V, Number IV P A LA V E R PAGE 8 (Continued from page 7) Follies tonight and did a reading of My New Mexico Babe by CT Hancox. Everybody loved it. Frank and Karen Ogden, Elizabeth Evelyn and Robert Handel are here too. I watched Robert square dance one night. John and Judy McCain came in for a day visit from Washington to attend the NuWa BOF. We have caught up on what is going on at The Ranch and it has made us homesick. We will go to Glacier National Park from here and then into Canada for a while. We hope everyone is having a great summer. Hi, We're in Montrose, CO right now at a great Passport America park. We've been traveling with friends from Memphis on to Mesa Verde Nat'l Park. Our daughter and son-in-law flew into Montrose and we all hiked the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park before they had to fly back to Phoenix. Our friends, Nick & Yvonne just left us and will slowly head back east and we'll continue west...Dinosaur Nat'l Monument, Flaming Gorge, Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Glacier and across WA to the Seattle area where we plan on spending a month at the SKP park in Chimacum before heading back to Phoenix and, eventually The Ranch in Sept or Oct. Happy Trails, Matt & Barbara Lucas, Lot #4 Gene and Patti Hunter Chilli Chapter Fall Rally Dear Friends, We had a change in plans. We were happily working at the Marina in San Angelo, TX and Dave happened to see a job on the workkamper hotline that “spoke” to him. So we called, drove over 1,000 miles for an interview and got the job. So we are now Managers of an RV Park at Elephant Butte Lake. We just ended our first week and survived… We have changed the Fall Chili Rally from San Angelo to Elephant Butte and T or C. There is a lot to see around here too. We can tour the Dam, soak in Hot Springs over-looking the Rio Grande River, check out the Geronimo Museum, have a boat tour of the lake, shop, fish, relax and have a great time. We are working on having our final dinner and business meeting at the Oasis Golf Course, 1/2 mile away. We have reserved 15 sites for the 7th—11th of October at Lakeside RV Park. (Arrive on Mon. and Hitch-Up Breakfast on Fri. morning.) Our address is: Pat and Dave Armstrong Lakeside RV Park P O Box 981 Elephant Butte, NM 87935 Write and let us know if you can joining us. (Send a $5 per person rally fee.) More information will follow in the summer edition of the Chili Chatter. We sure look forward to seeing your friendly faces soon. We stopped at the Ranch on the way over—if you haven’t been there for awhile, you will be engulfed by color and new landscaping. The new cactus garden is a delight! Thanks to all those who have worked so hard on it! We love it! Hugs, Pat and Dave Armstrong Traveling By Cub Reporter We got up on Wednesday at the Ranch and it was a beautiful day, no wind and lots of Sunshine. Took the dog out for a walk and returned to the trailer. Began to putter around and load some things out of the shed into the trailer. This is a never-ending job of loading and unloading. It’s either into or out of the trailer or shed. Maybe we need to reduce our items to only fit into one or the other but not both. Boy! It seems that I now have too many subjects to write about. It sure does become confusing. Will it be Traveling, or is it Loading and Unloading. I, as a new Cub reporter must learn how to stick to one subject and finish the job of writing an article, (definition of article: 1. Usually a factual piece of writing, on a single topic.) That sounds interesting. Maybe I should try my hand at rhymes, I wonder if the editor would allow that. He said to the maiden walking Hand in hand If you listen, you can hear the band. Volume V, Number IV P A LA V E R PAGE 9 TROCKELS’ TIPS By Ede Trockels √ As we are boondocking more this summer, I have turned to my Pressure Cooker for faster, easier and less heat generating cooking. Have made meals like roast chicken and pot roast! √ When cooking mashed potatoes or stuffing, freeze the leftovers in a muffin tin. When it’s frozen, pop out and store in freezer bags. √ For rice, couscous etc. put serving size portion in zipper snack bags and freeze. √ An egg slicer works great for mushrooms and Kiwi (peeled) too! √ Life Savers make great edible, colorful candleholders on a birthday cake. √ When a recipe says "dot with butter", use a potato peeler to shave thin curls from a very solid stick of butter. √ Mashed potatoes - rather than using milk, save some of the potato water and add dry milk powder. This keeps the flavor and nutrients of the potato. You could also use bouillon. √ For perfect potato salad, bake the potatoes (rather than boil). Once cooled, they slice well and are never mushy or crumbly. √ Cut lemon or lime into wedges, place on a cookie sheet and freeze, then store in a freezer bag. Adding a frozen wedge to iced tea, lemonade, or water is handy and helps keeps the beverage cool. (Continued from page 10) 2/3 cup pecans and mix in just before serving. 12 servings NARRAGANSET SUCCOTASH Submitted by Joyce Cook 5 slices bacon, browned and crumbled 3 med. Celery stalks, cut into ¼ in slices 1 medium onion, diced 2 16-oz cans whole-kernal corn, drained 2 10-oz pkgs frozen lima beans ½ cup chicken broth ¾ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. black pepper 2 tbsp. chopped parsley Saute celery and onions in either a small amount of bacon grease (or canola oil to be healthier!) until tender. Add corn, lima beans, chicken broth, salt and pepper; heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 to 10 minutes until mixture is heated through. Stir in chopped parsley and sprinkle with crumbled bacon to serve. 10 servings. Volume Number Th e O V, r ig i na lIV R a nc h P AL A V E R P A LA V E R PAGE 10 First Class Mail P.O. Box 109 Lakewood, NM 88254-0109 SKP Ranch Board of Directors President........….Marilyn Railey Vice President....Art Breen Secretary............Debra Simmonds-Amari Treasurer............Greg Vederoff Dave Armstrong Steve Lightle Lou Novy Al (Cowboy) Smith Charlene Tarvin In The Kitchen with Mary by Mary Irons, Food Editor CHICKEN PASTA SALAD Submitted by Joyce Cook Mix together: 4 cups cubed cooked chicken 1 pkg. (8 oz) spiral pasta, cooked 1-1/2 cups cubed Gouda or Monterey Jack cheese 1 cup sliced celery 1 cup seedless grapes Dressing: Mix together: 1 cup low-fat mayonnaise ¼ cup low-fat sour cream 3 tbsp. Lemon juice 3 tbsp. Honey 1 tsp. dried thyme ½ tsp. dry mustard ¼ tsp. white pepper Stir together chicken mixture and dressing. Toast (Continued on page 9)