Dad's Grandma Jennie.

I don't remember Much about Great Grandma Jennie, I was 8 when she died. I do have one or two memories of going to her and Great Grandpa house.. I remember it felt like really old people.

Here are some Photos that were in a book that was lovingly put together..

Put together before the time of PC's and Xero copied homemade books were a work of art.

Poor Great Grandma.. I remember after her passing, going to Great Grandpa Johnson Wedding to the young hussy of 68...  I don't know of that many people who can say that they went to their Great Grandpas Wedding.

No it wasn't that bad!

Family Tree

Mom was searching for some papers.
As we all know, when you start going through that hidden box of papers, distraction smacks you around.

Why did I save that?

What was it I was looking for?

She came across some really old family Tree Photos.. they even smell like they have been in a box since 1989.. that dusty paper smell that a blog can't capture.

Click on the Picture to biggify.

This is Grandpa Rhone's Mom and Dad and all his siblings and spouses.

It was fun taking the names and googling them.. finding their final resting places... as fun as death can be, that is.

Moms Grandma

Skipper Looks a lot like his Grandpa.

We all miss this cantankerous, yet sweet old guy.  

He would have been 100 this year.

There are more papers with a bit more Rhone Family history.. but they don't have pictures, so what fun is that?

We also found a book Nana's family history...

Stay tuned

Spring is in the air..... Finally

Today the weather was perfect for a hike... if you are the hiking type.

Normally I leave that kind of activity to the nature lovers.

Chell and I decided that this nice, mild day would be perfect for a ride up to Red Rock Canyon..

After all the internet promised all sorts of exotic animals and scenery..

Find me if you can!

We didn't see any of the Burros, wild horses or Max The Turtle as promised...

What we did see is a line of cars to pay $7.00 to get a day of nature.

We joined the crowd and started into the canyon...

Everywhere we tried to stop and gaze, the lack of parking spaces made for some creative parking..

The sides of the roads were crowded long rows poorly parallel parked cars...

Earthy crunchy folks dont really know how to do it right.

So we fought for our spots and got all ready for some fresh 70 degree air!

Not a cloud in the sky... Just a little pollen and dust and stuff..

Yup the Rock is Red!

It was so nice out that the Moon decided to stay the day.... 

I took this picture cause it reminded me of how Dad loved nature as a frame.. 

l

We didn't see many critters, but I thought this looked like a vulture..   use your imagination.

We decided to get adventurous and actually hike a little.. into the rock, cactus and ouchie bushes... 

Why the hell not? 

The posted map said the trail was only a little over a mile and easy... 

I can do easy and more importantly you can do a hike that short without needing a bathroom...   Plumbing is my friend.

We saw the crazy people as we fought the trail... 

Um.. where is the handrail?  Who tagged this a trail easy?  I did it though and am alive to  blog the tale.

 I survived my day of crowded sight seeing ..  It was fun to finally check out the infamous Red Rock Canyon..

Will I go back?

Probably not.. 

If you are in the Vegas area and you want to see some spectacular mountains and Red Rocks.. Go to Valley of Fire on the other side of the city..

Not crowded at all.. the sights are actually better. 

Red Rock Canyon gets a grade C

My company for the adventure gets a A+ 

I had a great weekend!

Hidden in plain sight.

For Christmas Mom got us all a Metal Detector.
And after watching shows like Diggers on National Geographic Channel.

Wow! A old nugget of nothing!

We thought we would take it out on this gorgeous day and find our own treasures!

What? It could happen!

We headed out to scour some empty lots in the area...  maybe we could pick up the spare change of bus riders and the homeless..

We found nothing of value..

Mostly shit like this.

We did however discover another world right in our own little piece of Vegas.

Right here in this empty lot a block or two from the house..

We have driven by this piece of land hundreds of times thinking nothing of it... but there are folk who have claimed this dusty dirty space as their own..  

I only had my phone camera, but this is what a closer look gets you here in Sin City.

Hey What is that over there?

OMG! It's a deluxe cardboard house... Note the rug, broom and mop... 

 These folks piled rocks on top to camouflage the place... Clever. It works.
A few steps later... 

These people have a outdoor kitchen.. 

I like to think that all homeless are creepy old men... but the very clean women's shoes blow that theory.

If you look over the mound of dirt you can see the roof of their pallet and cardboard kingdom.

I walked around to get a look and take a picture, but the 'door' was open and somebody was home.

What caught me as a little sad is, they had a sign hanging on the pallet/door.

I think they have been there for some time..

We quietly continued on.... to the obviously poor part of the neighborhood.

Just a thin pad and a sleeping bag... some folks have no pride.

We followed the trail of lost clothing....

 To what we figured was the foreclosed on dwelling..  it was a little creepy...

There was a whole wardrobe out by this place.

Strangely there was a guy on a horse riding around the lot, and off to the distance a much larger make shift home.. but we decided that it would be rude to approach since there was some guy sitting out sunning in his lawn chair.

We didn't end our adventure with pockets full of found change..

But we did feel rich with the knowledge that we have a nice place to rest our heads and call home..

With electricity and more importantly indoor plumbing and running water!