Catching Up

On the way back from the valley, Mike and I stopped in Payson and picked-up Aunt Ruth to bring her up for a visit with Ann in Vernon, Arizona. The two cousins had a good time reflecting on days gone by and rekindling their friendship. Aunt Ruth is having an MRI done Tuesday on her knee in preparation for knee replacement surgery. She wanted to make it up the mountain for a visit before getting the work done on her knee and Mike and I offered to pick her up then return her back to Payson the same day.

As it worked out, Mike brought me (and the dogs) home while the two cousins visited and he went back to pick-up Aunt Ruth himself. He decided to go to Cottonwood and secure things a bit better in anticipation of flood waters on the Verde River. We've been getting a huge amount of rain (thankfully) across the state which doesn't fare well for the river level. So far, things are holding steady over there along the Verde so it may all work out for the good.

Monitoring Floodwaters

Mike has been monitoring water levels along the Verde River and other waterays affecting the Verde Valley so he can provide updates for Scotty. Of course, Scotty can see actual changes in the Verde by stepping outdoors and taking a few steps around his yard. Mike monitors watershed into those waterways though, changes that may affect Scotty in the near hours or days.

Mike called to talk with Scotty about the water and learned that John and Kelly had driven up for a visit yesterday. Scotty was able to visit with his new great-granddaughter, Baylee. Great Grandpa says she is a real cutey!

We already knew that ... so glad Scotty was able to meet her and concur with prevailing opinion!

Visiting Grandpa

When they were little, the kids used to love visiting in Cottonwood and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma has been gone for a long time and Grandpa has been alone most of this time. The valley is so green and pretty most of the year. The house looks out over a gorgeous pasture where cows graze lazily on long summer days. Boarded horses stride through the pasture and small orchard at the side and back of the house. The tall cottonwood trees shelter a path to the river bordering along the edge of the property. It is a quiet place - until people visit, then it comes to life. Grandpa enjoys having visitors. He isn't feeling well enough to travel much these days. It's been so long since any of the kids have gone to visit. John and Kelly and Jacob and Maria were there to celebrate Grandpa's 80th birthday with other family members. That was more than a year ago, in August. I don't believe any of them have visited since then.

I don't think Quentin has gone up to Cottonwood since returning from his mission in February. It's been a long, long time since Jodie has visited. Jodie's little TJei has visited a couple times - we have taken her and Great-Grandpa has had wonderful visits with her. She especially likes riding Great-Grandpa's quad with her Grandpa. Great-Grandpa enjoys watching her play on the hammock suspended between the trees in his front yard. He says that hammock has been a pretty good investment. All the little kids have enjoyed playing on that thing. He's enjoyed her visits and has gotten a proud little twinkle in his eyes when she cries, "I want to stay with Great-Grandpa!" when it's time to leave.

He hasn't met little Baylee born in August nor little Mia born just this past October. I'm sure he'd enjoy visits with them. It would sure be nice if the kids could go up and visit, spend some time with him. I know he would enjoy the visit and learning about the events of their lives these days.