Blog Update - Merry Christmas Omelete 2015

Christmas morning arrived in the desert with windy and cold weather...but Santa found me a few days ago, so all is well.

I have been waiting patiently for my new photo book and it arrived and looked great - made a few minor corrections and uploaded the new version and another copy is ordered and on the way. It will be available for sale very soon. I also made a smaller soft cover version which is much less expensive for anyone interested, I will announce when they are both available for sale along with the one with pictures from Yes Bay Lodge. You can see a preview HERE!



My other Christmas morning chore is making Hash Brown Casserole for dinner in the Clubhouse at 2:00 pm - we have nearly 50 people registered, should be a great time.

Crock Pot - Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole! Cheese gets added about an hour before finish!



Cooking in a small RV can be a challenge - for room the bed gets changed into storage for things normally on the stove.



Now time for a zip lock bag omelet for Christmas Breakfast!



Now two eggs into the ziplock after smashing add your favorite ingredients.



I added green onions, ham and bacon and cheese!





Pot of boiling water...



About 15 minutes...



Out of the ziplock and on the plate...PERFECT!



No clean-up no mess...

Stay tuned busy week between Christmas Dinner and New Years here at the resort!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Another Year and time to Reflect...

As 2015 comes to a close and the Holiday Season is in full swing, I find it time to reflect on Christmas's past, the family and friends who have passed though my life and the ones who have left all too soon. Christmas has always been a special time in my life and sometimes I miss the family and friends camaraderie, with the life on the road I have chosen and enjoy. I am happy to be with my new friends, but damn sure miss the old ones.

My life is very visual and I tend to reflect my memories with pictures, they bring a warm feeling to my heart.

Christmas's Past! I had the BEST Family!







My artist side!



A reflecting moment on my boat in Alaska! A Special Time for me!



A time to remember our classmates and friends from the past...



We are also reminded of the friends who still have battles to fight and to gather your thoughts to wish them all the prayers needed for them to continue their struggle.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Glenn and Renee Hicks as my old friend Renee continues her struggles with Alzheimers.

My thoughts and prayers go out to John Banacki as he fights his battle with cancer and hope he rides on for a long time!

My thoughts and prayers go out to Nancy Swain that her hip and femur continue to heal and she is back to 100% soon.

My thoughts and prayers go out to my old Scout-mate Cecil Strickler as he has surgery on his leg, and hope he heals fast.

My thoughts and prayers go out to my good friend Libby Roland Fisher as her hip gets back to 100% so she can continue to gather us all together through Lady Magics and Men...we were an afterthought (The Men).

My prayers and thoughts go out to my good friends Michal Sigal and Ralph Foore as they continue their struggle with mental illness.

My prayers and thoughts go out the Sherry Hathaway Lewis as she continues to put up with all my tormenting - old Hop-A-Long takes it well.

Special thanks and prayers to all my Facebook friends who have allowed me to stay in their lives and allow me to share my travels and stay in touch...

It makes my days brighter!

Merry Christmas to all my friends - May all your remaining days be Merry and Bright, from my little house to yours!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - 29 Palms Resort Christmas Party

Always a fun time in the park around the Holidays and our annual Hot Buttered Rum Gift Exchange is one of the best!


The evening starts out with a "Happy Hour" at 4:00pm - then a Chili Dinner at 5:00pm and the gift exchange at 6:00 which goes well into the evening...Lots of kodak moments!

Ben  and Jim served as our resident "Mixologists"

Nice to have our Activity Directors back - welcome Pat and John!

The girls had their way with Santa Ben!

Jim also had the girls attention - the ones with the rum wins!

Mix another one Jim...

Plenty of fun at the tables of friends!

Time for Chili!

Plenty of gifts on the table!

Our gift exchange is unique - everyone brings a gift with a $10.00 max and labels unisex, male or female and their name goes in a hat. First name is drawn and they get to pick a gift and choose the next name. The next person has the option of choosing one of the gifts that has already been opened or a new gift. So the good gifts get moved around the room much to the dismay of the original opener. LOTS OF FUN!

Who says Christmas is for Kids?? We had a large crowd...

First Steal...

Great fun opening gifts...

Always special when someone gets one of Bert's homemade golf club "Road Runners" - sure to be traded!

There was a huge assortment of gifts - from tools to kitchen knives to wine and various liquors!

Stay tuned for more Holiday Fun - busy week coming up!

Check the Activity Schedule for all our events!



Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"



Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - Winter Fun!

Not much going on in the park right now - had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have been taking it easy. Time t play with some old photos and update my for sale gallery and work on my photo book.

I have worked very hard to create a large 10 X 13 Table Top Photo Book of some of my best work. Click HERE for a preview...as soon as I receive my preview copy and I approve it, the book will be for sale - first at a discounted price through the publisher then on Amazon.



I have also had some time to work on some old photos from last fall in Ohio.









Of course it was time for my annual tradition of hanging the Christmas Tree and decorating in Photoshop.



It has been very cold here the past week or so and has made me think twice about going out at night in Joshua Tree to shoot the stars and milky way - I am determined to get a good star shot in the park this year.

Stay tuned for more adventures!

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!