Just Do It

Dear Family and Friends,

Oh my goodness! Where does time go? I must have forgotten to wind the clock.

Since I returned from the trip with Kylie, I have just been nesting in. It is so nice to be back home. Restocking the groceries...going to the market.....catching up with our Cuenca friends.

Besides nesting in, I have made a couple of commitments to myself.

I am putting myself out on a ledge here, a little vulnerability, but I will share my commitments with you. Walking regularly. To most of you this may seem like an easy, simple commitment, but I tend to start big and then lose steam over time.

When I returned from the U.S., I felt that this was a good time to turn over a new health leaf. I mentioned to Chuck that I was going to start walking four days a week. He said GREAT, and I will walk with you. (I love this man!)

Chuck and I are now walking to town every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. So far, so good.

Also, I have signed up for Spanish lessons. I will be going to class, along with a friend, twice a week. I really do want to learn to speak and understand Spanish and Ecuadorian customs, and quite frankly, I am not able to do it by osmosis.

There are so many English speaking people arriving here to live, I am afraid that if I do not learn Spanish now, it will be too easy for me to limit my contacts to only English speakers.

So that's about it......physical and mental exercising.

Oh, one other thing. For my southern family and friends,....when I was at the market the other day I found turnip greens. They are in season here now...you know we are starting winter down here. I bought a mess of turnips. (yes, mess is a measurement down south).

I cooked them and made cornbread. We shared them with friends and it was so heavenly.


Life is good.

Love,
Nancy (and Chuck)

Back Home in Cuenca

Dear Family and Friends,

After enjoying the Grand Canyon, Kylie and I drove to Las Vegas. As soon as we arrived, I put the camera away and went straight to work.

First, I withdrew $200 for gambling money. Next, Kylie and I hit the slot machines. I was there for one evening and one full day before I had to fly out. I prayed that the $200 would last because one of the worst feelings in the world is to be in Las Vegas completely broke.

We stayed downtown at the Golden Nugget. We did all our gambling on Freemont street. I lost and won, lost and won. By the time Kylie took me to the airport on Thursday morning, I had lost a total of $40. I was content, because I was going home with most of the $200 left in my pocket.

Kylie and I had a great trip. It was a very special "mother/daughter" time and I am so happy that she invited me to take the trip with her.

She is heading on toward San Francisco, where she will be stationed in the Coast Guard for the next couple of years.

I flew from Las Vegas, through Houston, to Quito. On Friday I flew into Cuenca.

Chuck met me at the airport and we had a joyful reunion.

Now I am back home and once again getting adjusted to the altitude and a 6:30 pm sunset. Tomorrow, I will be here to take our Sunday walk.

Life is good.

Love,
Nancy

PS: I changed the blog style as you most likely noticed. It is still the same old blog but I hope that the change will make it easier for you to read.

Grand Canyon Sunset

Dear Family and Friends,

After getting up at 4:30 am to view the sunrise over the canyon, Kylie and I came back to our motel and took a long nap. After lunch we were rejuvenated and ready to do more canyon viewing.

If you have never been to the Grand Canyon I will tell you from first hand experience, you need to see the sunrise and sunset. It makes all the difference in the world in how the canyon is seen.

As you can see in the pictures below, as the sun went from mid day to the last light on the canyon wall, the colors and shadows became more fantastic.






Tomorrow morning we are heading out to Las Vegas. Kylie tells me that I will not have wi-fi in our room there. On the Thursday morning, I fly to Quito. Friday morning I will arrive in Cuenca.

I have had a wonderful time with Kylie but it is time to get back home where my heart is and where I belong.

See you soon Chuck.

Love,
Nancy

Grand Canyon Sunrise

Dear Family and Friends,

Kylie and I woke up early this morning so that we could see the sun rise over the Grand Canyon.

This first picture is as the sun is just peaking over the side of the canyon. Notice the two figures in the bottom right corner. They were seated on a ledge for a perfect view.



As the sun comes up the lighting on the canyon is so beautiful.


We saw some deer eating their breakfast. They were not one bit afraid of humans.


I swear this one stuck his tongue out at me.


More canyon pictures later.

Nancy

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

Dear Family and Friends,

Today Kylie and I drove from Gallup, New Mexico to Flagstaff, Arizona. We were on Interstate 40 (which pretty much mirrors the famous "Route 66."

After leaving Gallup we did the national parks - Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest.

The first pictures were taken in the Painted Desert.




These pictures were taken in the Petrified Forest.




The last two pictures were taken when we got off the Interstate and drove a bit on Route 66. We found this motel in Holbrook, Arizona. It had wigwams for the rooms. They had old cars parked in front of each wigwam for extra ambiance. This motel is still in business.



We are now in Flagstaff and doing laundry. Tomorrow we head north.

That is about it for our day. Having fun.

Thank you Chuck and Glenda....

Love,
Nancy