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Emerald Desert Spring 2001 Roundup |
The Spring Roundup 2001 this year will be in Palm Desert, California. This low desert Palm Springs area is famous for recreational opportunities, great winter weather, wonderful food and life styles of the rich and famous. The shopping is first class including a beautiful mall with an ice rink. Snow capped mountains offer beautiful views and the rich agriculture of Imperial Valley to the south gives it a garden of paradise feeling. Possible side trips include the Palm Springs tram ride, the outlet mall in Cabazon, the Salton Sea, the Morongo Indian Casino, the Palm to Pines drive to Idylwild and Yucca Valley.
The weather should be just right for us to have lots of fun. Emerald Desert RV Resort has it all: pools, spas, 9 hole golf course, putting green, gym room, dog runs, activity rooms and a beautiful large meeting hall. As usual we will be doing our best to offer high quality and reliable technical information as well as lot of fun activities. You will be wined and dinned and entertained. We are having a Karaoke Contest, music and dancing as well as some surprise entertainment. Bring your swimsuits, golf clubs and sense of humor.
Come join us for all the fun in the sun March 18 - 23 2001. Registration, map and preliminary schedule are included in this newsletter. Sending your registration (green sheet) early is always appreciated.
Dave & Donna de Graffenreid, Roundupmasters
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Roundup Report |
By Lillian Trubert
October
2000 found us Western Staters in our favor-ite setting - tall
green trees, crystal blue lakes, clear skies with good smelling
fresh air, great food, pleasant and sometimes funny companions,
and lots of GMC talk and interesting activities. The Great Outdoors
was at its best, the camp facilities were new and attractive,
and the big tent was a great place to eat all that superb food.
As usual we had the required quaint town - in this case Newport - nearby for necessities and shopping, but trips to Sandpoint, Idaho and the local gaming casino were really enjoyable. We toured the Coldwater Fashions facility, shopped the shops built on a bridge in Sandpoint, and even went on an impromptu hike near the wild life sanctuary. The survivors who made it to the top were properly feted and admired at dinner that night!
Marilyn and Bill Harvey expertly co-roundupmastered this western experience. The great job they did was a lesson for all of us to follow when we get up the gumption to host a roundup on our own. Marilyn and Bill are taking some time off from RVing until next fall when they have promised to rendezvous with us at Mariposa in California's gold country. They have been such an active force in our club that we all owe them a debt of thanks for their guidance in the past years.
And here is some input on the roundup from other Western Staters who were so kind as to send us their take on this latest roundup:
From Dallas
Jensen:
For the first time I was the first GMC to show up at a Rally.
I found both the deer in the woods and the staff in the buildings
to be very friendly. Bill & Marilyn Harvey and Claude &
Donna Brousson soon joined me and I was no longer the only GMC.
The temperature for the first few days was a little below my comfort
zone of 80 degrees but it warmed up and turned out to be a really
great rally.
I enjoyed visiting with old friends and making new ones, there were a lot of first timers. Again I learned some valuable information at the seminars and ate too much at the delicious potluck and the catered breakfasts and dinners.
We had a good walk to get to the lodge and tent for the breakfasts and dinners. I find that this is what I need, a good brisk walk before breakfast and dinner, this is good for me. On one of my walks from the tent back to the coach I met up with a gal, and we started talking about not seeing any birds. It was only after getting back in the coach that I realized that we were close to the Canadian border and winter will soon be upon us. The birds were probably half way to Mexico, and I hope to soon join them.
From Nancy Pettit:
Well, by now you ladies have finished the beaded hatband (or choker,
dog collar). I will have to admit: it was a little hard on a few
of us - our bifocals might have been a little out of joint!
Our usual thanks go to Freddi Condos for the "fitness walk"
that I affectionately call the Death March! (It was not so bad
after surviving that one in BC!) Our instructional game session
was appreciated, also. Now we are all truly addicted to Jokers
and Marbles.
Our tour of Sandpoint was just great. I had no idea how large the Coldwater Creek fashion house is. And, for a change, I went away with $20.00 from the casino! Miracles never cease.
The ladies were full of helpful hints and showed off their various projects at our gabfest; I don't know where they find the time to do all those projects. Our thanks to all who participated.
We never seem to have enough time
at our roundups. Thanks to the Harveys, our dinners were just
great, the company terrific, and game time incredible.
I would appreciate any suggestions anyone might have for our rally
in March. Let me know if there is something special you would
like to do at the next rally or if you would care to do a craft
session.
FINAL NOTE ON UKIAH: If you were fortunate enough to have gone to the Indian weaving demonstration at he Sun House, you will remember the beautiful Pomo Indian baskets. I saw four of them on one of the appraisal shows on TV - 2-inch baskets and they were appraised at $3,000! Did anyone buy one?
See you in March in Palm Desert.
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At
the Northwest Rendezvous Roundup Marilyn Harvey shared with the
women a wonderful letter she received from a friend. So many of
us wanted a copy of the letter to share with others, we decided
the Newsletter would be a good place to publish it. Here it is
as Marilyn received it. It seems to be meant to pass along at
Christmas Time.
A friend of mine lost her husband on December 20 last year. She has been dreading this Christmas season all year until…and I quote:
"Dec. 1st at ten pm the door bell rang. After putting all the outside lights on, I looked out, but there was no one there. Curious? Then I saw a little green tree in bright shiny wrapping on the step by the door. There was a red paper elf-shaped note attached to the ribbon. The note read,
'On the 1st day of Christmas the elves hope they won't be seen
when they bring to you a bit of Christmas green.'
I was sure it was from one of my neighbors, and I'd find out the next day.
The next night about 8 or so, the bell rang again. Again no one there, but on the step a small brown bag, shiny ribbon and an "elf note."
'On the 2nd day of Christmas the elves come singing,
and bring to you two bells a ringing.'
In the bag was two bright shiny gold Christmas bell ornaments, but WHO?
Dec. 3 we had snow. If I was to get the car out in the morning, I'd better try and use the snow blower. The gas can had to be retrieved from outside the garage, and as I turned back to the garage, two heads popped over the stonewall, and I heard, "Oh, gee!" and feet running away, but it was too dark to see who they were. After I cleared the drive, I found 3 bags tied with bright shiny ribbon at the front door. The "elf note" read,
'On the 3rd day if Christmas, it might be corny, but we have
brought
you 3 bags of popcorn.'
It snowed hard through the next day and on into the night.
The 4th night came without a ring. I felt like a child without a toy. The next morning I noticed the mailbox flag was up. The "elf note" read,
'On the 4th day of Christmas it is really no scandal,
but this gift we bring is too hot to handle.'
There were 4 red votive candles.
'On the 5th day of Christmas we bring Happy Holidays,
Season's Greetings, Felicitations and tree decorations.'
There were 5 beautiful tree decorations. By now I kept the outside lights off. My elves did not want to be seen.
'On the 6th day of Christmas, Santa is what the elves leave
you today.
With a smile and a wink, we'll be on our way.'
There were 6 chocolate Santas.
'On the 7th day of Christmas, as we go down merry lanes,
we'll drop off to you seven candy canes.'
'On the 8th day of Christmas, by the light of the stars,
we'll deliver to you 8 candy bars.'
"On the 9th day of Christmas instead of toys,
we bring to you these gingerbread boys.'
Homemade gingerbread cookies … delicious. My elves had gone to a lot of work. I ate two.
'On the 10th day of Christmas every elf knows
what you'd really like are 10 Christmas bows.'
'On the 11th day of Christmas this fudge is "where it's
at!
At this time of year, who cares if it makes you fat!
I did indulge a little … wonderful. These elves had outdone everything, and for me. Who are they? I didn't want to know just yet …
The last night was not here yet … maybe they wouldn't reveal themselves, and I did want them to know how they had brightened this sad time for me.
The 12th night I left a package on the step with a note. Then the doorbell rang and rang and rang. There were my elves, smiling and laughing…and I stood there crying and laughing. They handed me a plate with an "elf note"…
'On the 12th day of Christmas, the last the elves bring to
you,
12 Christmas cookies made by ……………….
you know who?'
Laughing, crying, hugging … what a joy my young friend Mike and his lovely girlfriend Karen brought to me. Mike and Karen are in high school and in a church group together. They are both athletes, so full of the joy of life, kindness and caring. Mike first came into my life when he set out flyers advertising his lawn mowing. At that time, two years ago, he didn't have a car and pushed his lawn mower almost a mile, uphill, to do our lawn.
Sharing this with you all has also given me joy. There may be a time in your life when you can use the idea to brighten someone's life.
Merry Christmas and God Bless Everyone."
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