Author Archives: normdave

I know that you are thinking, “They only have ONE grandchild!” but Leo is devilish hard to keep track of. After numerous ideas and many hours of deliberation, this seemed like the ideal solution. I love this shot and wish I had taken it. The other kids are easier to keep track of. Leo breaksContinue reading “Maybe we are getting old???”

A practice free climb on the newly remodeled windmill. Leo enjoys a cool dip, hard to believe this is the desert.

I love a windmill! This one is on one of our favorite trails and the last time we saw it, it was in bad condition. Not any more. After spending three and a half days sitting in his car seat, we thought he would be throwing rocks at it.

Leo enjoying the woods south of Flagstaff. When we parked on our lot, these flowers greeted Norm.

We were blessed to have such a view from our parking spot. Grammie and Leo make biscuits for Pappy to enjoy Sunday morning.

Leo checks out some Texas sized steers. Our rest area in the middle of nowhere. Leo played on this road for quite a while and no traffic came by.

The RV lifestyle can be exhausting. Thanks to Leo’s Papa, he has a new set of wheels.

Someone once said, “Those who do not find time to exercise will have to find time for illness.” Before starting any exercise program, one should study the movements, so Leo put on Pappy’s reading glasses and boned up on KB moves. The second thing one must do is get in the mood by dressing correctly.Continue reading “Kettle bells…”

Our park lacks a play ground for kids. That did not bother Leo. Leo is such a stickler for safety now that he has his own motorcycle, he insisted on using a helmet before playing on this metal box with the “CAUTION: HIGH VOLTAGE” warning sign.

Sometimes RV parks can be hazardous to little guys as Gammie removes a splinter from the picnic table. Leo carefully examined the painful piece of wood. The work never stops and Leo is eager to pitch in. Finally, he finds time to work on his motorcycle. As a former owner of many two wheeled machines,Continue reading “Life in the RV park…”

A lot of RV parks have swimming pools, not this one. As our grandson played in the large mud puddles behind our fifth wheel, Sam, one of the parks owners, informed us that he would have to charge extra for Leo to play in the parks wading pools. Just kidding, Sam is really a niceContinue reading “Life in an RV park…”

We were driving west on highway 166, passing through Niotaze Kansas when Norm said she needed to stop. Pulling into what looked to be an open parking area we parked in front of this business. It was a good thing we had our own potty. I guess this speaks for it’s self

This is a photo of new and improved electrics. Our brand new bedroom air conditioner. We tried it out last night and it worked great. In the Chanute city park, the second AC unit shines in the sunlight. The 50 amp cord is like wrestling a boa constrictor. Well worth the physical effort. The bestContinue reading “Things that make Norm smile…”

This was our spot for all three nights we spent in Chanute. Our trailer took two days of work to complete our upgrades and one repair item. We found this site by default, just about the only one left, it turned out to be almost level, so we kept coming back to it even whenContinue reading “Chanute Kansas…”

Before leaving the Oasis campground we had to take a few shots of this classic fifth wheel. I have no idea what model or year, but it looked old. Norm especially liked the innovative window work. I would have used duct tape. I am resting up and taking a big breath (a couple of them)Continue reading “This can happen…”

A Passport America park, the Oasis RV park was a very nice park. The type that Norm and I like to stay in. No frills, quiet and just what we look for when we park for the day. They had this unusual swing, a two seater. We have never come across one that was builtContinue reading “Oklahoma to Kansas…”

Leo with his most favorite gift. A carrot bat and ball. All any three year old would need or want. Leo’s favorite boy cousins. From left, Brent, Ryan and Zach. All really great guys. Zach calls Leo, “Bueller.” An Oklahoma sunset as seen from our living room in the Council Road RV park.

“Oh me! We just finished Easter morning service and it was so emotional. About 30 people came and we had an amazing service. People from different religions were worshipping the risen Lord. We sang a couple of songs; I read from the book of Mark, and Wanda Mitchell from Chicago sang special music. Donna HoltContinue reading “From Southern Baptist Disaster Relief in Haiti…”

Leo likes the guy “Guy” from the food channel. This is how you order. Drinks are given first, than you stand and move to a seat when directed, as they become availible. Paul and I eventually get to the bar and watch the burgers being grilled. They start out the size of softballs! Leo givesContinue reading “Nic’s part two…”

Yes, we ate the whole burger, but not the fries. They were really good though. The place is very small and only open from seven in the morning till two in the afternoon. Norm and I had smiles for every bite we took. It is as small as it looks from the outside. When weContinue reading “Nic’s in Oklahoma City…”

March 30, 1863 “It is the duty of nations…to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins…with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy… The awful calamity of civil war…may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins.” “We have been the recipients of theContinue reading “National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer”

A friend of ours wanted to know what was the good reason we had for driving or leaving warm Arizona for what has to be one of the worst areas for weather in the U.S. Oklahoma. Here he is, the best reason!!! Grandson! If you are a grandparent, then you know why we had toContinue reading “The Good Reason…”

If you have ever seen the movie, ‘Food Inc’, you know what this is. If you have not, this is a feed lot. Someone gave them a fancy sounding name, but I can’t remember what it is. This a good sized one, but I have seen bigger, in Colorado and Nebraska. For the reader, fortunately,Continue reading “Finally, a nice day…”

After going five miles in two hours, getting stuck on a half of a degree hill (that is being generous in the angle) and being towed by a vintage 1980 Ford pickup truck, I arrived in this Smiths Foods parking lot where I spent the night shivering in a sleeping bag. I was never soContinue reading “The Results!!!”

Sometimes, it is good to take a moment and reflect where one has been. This is eastern Arizona or western New Mexico, this is also the end of good weather for me. No one that is towing their home and all their possessions should keep going into this! If Norm would have been with me.Continue reading “Thirty miles to far…”

For sure, it snows in many parts of Arizona. Very pretty day, outside it was 37 degrees. All of the photos in this blog were taken in and around the Flagstaff area. All these cars were passing me, I was busy taking photos.

The pride and joy of the chainsaw crew. It is a lot of stuff, but we use all of it at one time or another. Here are some new shelves that Ernie made and I helped install. They tell me this oven weighs 700 pounds. Wow! No wonder those trailers are so heavy to pull.

Here are three good reasons to join the Arizona Southern Baptist Disaster relief team! At the very top, and hard to see is Daniel, a journeyman tree guy that works with John. In the middle is our fearless leader, Chris. Bottom left is a great young guy named Seth. Here I am, just hanging out.Continue reading “Chainsaw Training, part two…”

We place gear and size up the job of trimming these three sick pine trees. Everyone helps out carrying things. Lots and lots of equipment is involved. The area has to be cleaned and tarps are put down to protect our climbing ropes. This is John giving instructions on what the duties of a”ballast guy”Continue reading “Chainsaw Training…”

When this passing world is done,When has sunk yon glaring sun,When we stand with Christ in glory,Looking o’er life’s finished story,Then, Lord, shall I fully know,Not till then, how much I owe. When I hear the wicked callOn the rocks and hills to fall,When I see them start to shrinkOn the fiery deluge brink,Then, Lord,Continue reading “February 21, 2010”

Norm worked and worked trying to remove the head of this poor cow. No way was this going to happen without the use of my very nice and nearly new SOG multi-tool. She sawed and sawed and managed to get cow ‘stuff’ in all parts of my nearly new multi-tool. As I write this, itContinue reading “Boy, does this thing stink…”

We had our own gang of off-road riders on a great desert day. We split up so Norm and I could get home first. It all changed when Norm saw something off the side of the trail. My trusty steed. We picked this machine up on 9/11/01. Except for some warranty work, this quad hasContinue reading “We go riding…”

Still will we trust, though earth seem dark and dreary, And the heart faints beneath his chast’ning rod; Though rough and steep our pathway, worn and weary, Still will we trust in God. Our eyes see dimly ’til by faith anointed, And our blind choosing brings us grief and pain; Through him alone, who hathContinue reading “Thanks Todd…”

If you look real close at the background, you can see a lady pointing at the pooh from this colorful bull. We only looked at about a thousand of these booths. I know they were all different, but after a while they all looked the same.

We have no idea how we get into some of the situations that we do. We are both a work in progress and the Lord is still forming us the way He wants us to be. Saturday evening we were getting ready to close up the emergency service center and secure it for the night.Continue reading “We help in a rescue…”

In July this creek/river is a dry wash. Not today! It was quite an adventure.

This is the fella that took us over the river. His name is Dan and he is an authentic Arizona cowboy. Two weeks ago this was solid flat ground. That is the residence satellite dish that was in solid ground with concrete. This is the water line from the flood.

This is our headquarters and part time residence. We are doing assessments for the work that our disaster teams can do.

“I can only spread the sail; Thou! Thou! must breath the auspicious gale.” Charles Spurgeon

Highway 60, east of Interstate 25, in New Mexico, west bound driving into winter weather. Two views of the same road. The photos do not do the landscape justice. The vehicle shows up in only one image. Meers Oklahoma, home of an outstanding hamburger.

Our favorite and much experienced teacher, Bertha.Just some of the displaced people enjoying our flapjacks.

We finally get to work in disaster relief, not in chainsaw work, but in the new kitchen that our Arizona chapter just acquired. Although we were not trained in this discipline, we learn fast cooking around 180 pancakes and upwards of 120 burgers. It was a great learning experience and we had fabulous instructors helpingContinue reading “Disaster Relief…”

From high school to marriage, kids, grand kids, from Pennsylvania to West Virginia, to Florida and surviving Hurricane Andrew together, the four of us have lots to talk about. We meet when we can at our favorite pizza joint. We call it our place. None of us can remember why we go there, we justContinue reading “Friends Forever…”