Batchelder Family Vacation 2006 Days 3-4

Our girls were very fascinated by their cousin Zoe. As I joyfully watched this first meeting between these cousins I couldn't help but wonder how Molly and Neleha were understanding the differences they saw between them and Zoe. How ever those things worked out in their mind the result was pure love, they treated little Zoe as one of their own, her acceptance was instant and unquestioned. These three girls were instant pals with Molly wanting to "Mother Hen" just as quickly.

What a blessing these girls are to us all.

Along with meeting Zoe and their Uncle Tony and Aunt Carmen as well as introducing Neleha to Uncle Chad, they were also able to meet their Aunt Amy. They really enjoyed Amy's house because she had a chihuahua named Chico. Unfortunately these would be the last photos of Chico taken because that very night he entered doggie heaven. However, Chico made two girls very happy before he made his final departure.


Neleha must not have gotten enough of Chico because latter on at Tony's house she crawled right into his dog's bed which resulted in being overwhelmed with doggy drool.


Molly and I took a walk down my old road to a very familiar house. This was where the Mortensen boys lived. Hans, Jarred, and Jack all befriended me when I first moved to this area. Because of my friendship with those guys I learned some of life's important lessons, like how to fix a car, or the true heartfelt music of Chris Ledoux, or how to alter a pair of Wrangler Jeans to accentuate your butt, or ...... well maybe it would be better if the lessons just stayed with me. All the same however I value that friendship we had back then as an integral part of why I became who I am. Even their parents Larry and Adele played very important roles in my life. I am so grateful that I had them during that most troublesome time in my life.

To my surprise I wondered up that road and found the old "bucking barrel" Hans built with the assistance of us friends. I didn't jump on to know for sure, but I bet that thing would work still to this day, over ten years later. When we built it we all had big dreams of becoming rodeo champs. Now if I am considered scrawny now, think of me 40 lbs lighter without a lick of muscle. Back then it only took one good fall off that crazy contraption to alter my future plans. And to be honest I even think back then Hans and the guys would hold back a little when I was on that thing, of which I certainly appreciate now. With all my regrets from those days none came from hanging out with those Mortensen boys.

I got to show Molly a car graveyard as we called it. I remember when these cars were originally placed here about 12 years ago on the bank of the wash. The wash only flows with water about twice a year but does so due to flash floods. When that water comes, it comes fast and heavy. These cars have protected the road to the Mortensens house very well.

During our time in Safford Chad decided to get a little crazy and dye his hair bright blonde. It turned out well but reminded me of the times my sister Eve and our Mom would do the same thing. I guess he is just carrying on the tradition.

While at Tony's I had to resort to a dial-up connection, it made me very appreciative of DSL.

Batchelder Family Vacation 2006 Days 1-2

What better way to start our annual family vacation than with the police pulling us over before we can even get out of our own city. That is exactly what happened at 3:30am as we departed from Fairborn. I guess I was a little excited about heading out for the west that I wasn't watching my speed. He clocked me doing 15 over but was very nice and only issued a warning.

After about 7 hours of driving we stopped at our first attraction, the historic Mule Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri. This was once on the famous Route 66 but now interstate 44 zips right past this all but forgotten reminder of bygone days. As a child on a trip to Maine I can actually remember stopping in this place with my family. I got a t-shirt that had the Mule Trading Post logo on it. Over the years I have had very fond memories of the Missouri Ozarks simply because of that memory of my first visit to this trading post. It was very inspirational to now bring my family here to form new memories. While we where there the girls got stuffed animals, Molly got an opossum and Neleha got a squirrel. Kristy signed the guest log before we left.

Our next stop was in Ozark, Missouri. This is a small town just outside of Springfield. We were doing some apartment hunting and even looked in one apartment. However we concluded that life may be a bit easier if we just lived in the Forest Institute student housing. We made some calls and in 10 minutes secured our new apartment.


With the girls approval we sealed the deal with a quick stop at the playground and it was back on the road for us.


We arrived in Lubbock, Texas early in the morning after about 18 hours of driving.

The girls got to meet Jarred and Johna for the first time and we had a very relaxing couple of days.

We even got to visit Jarred at work. He is the Assistant Manager of the local Denver Mattress.

The girls loved the idea that this store encourages everyone to jump on the mattresses. It did not take them long to fit right in.

We fell in love with the many mattress options available and the girls especially loved the thought that some of the beds came with remote controls.

Kristy was soled on the spot when she experienced the adjustable massaging bed options.

We all had a great time just visiting with Jarred and Johna. One night we were able to stay up and just catch up with life and things, a very good start to our vacation.


We soon headed on back down the road and arrived in Safford, Arizona 18 hours later just as the moon was setting behind Mt. Graham.

U-Pick Strawberries at Fulton Farms

What would the strawberry season be in Troy, Ohio without picking some fresh strawberries. We ventured out to Fulton Farms to gather a bucket of berries and as usual, we probably ate more then we picked.

One of the first activities Kristy and I ever participated in together when we were first dating was strawberry picking. Of course that was in North Carolina and the berries were much larger. We hit the fields that day after working a young single adult service project at our good friend Norman Wells house. He was restoring a one room school house and we scrapped and painted some on the siding. Those were some fun times to be sure.

Now every year we have come here to Fulton Farms to carry on the tradition. I wonder if Missouri has strawberry patches?

This year Neleha had a new idea, she simply sat right down near a patch that was loaded with berries and just ate away. She sure loves strawberries.

I think Kristy did most of the picking seeing as how the rest of us did most of the eating.


Sticky fingers, good berries, and a wonderful time together, we are going to miss Fulton Farms and the Strawberry Festival indeed.

Troy Strawberry Festival 2006

The Troy Strawberry Festival is the first and one of the best festivals of the entire season. We have always enjoyed the fun and (especially) the food that it brings. One aspect of the festival that is really only known by the locals is that although it is advertised as only a Saturday/Sunday event, there is actually activities on Friday night. This first night of festivities is geared more toward the locals.

This night is filled with a cruise-in car show, bed races, kid games, and of course much food not found during the Sat/Sun portion of the festival.

The food that this night is most known for is the Boy Scout Strawberry Pie, the best I have ever eaten. Then is of course the strawberry pizza cookies and on a different note the walking taco. The walking taco was first introduced to me at this very event a few years back, a very cool and yummy idea.

Walking Taco
-small bag of fritos
-half cup of taco seasoned cooked groundbeef
-1/8 cup of shredded cheese
-1/4 cup of shredded lettuce
-1/8 cup of diced tomatoes
-add sour cream to taste
Dump ingredients in order into bag of fritos and enjoy!


Molly has always been a big fan of the smash the can game, she has gotten pretty good at it over the years.


The bed races are a very fun competition to watch. Each year local businesses and organizations slap some wheels and a steering device on a bed and compete for the grand title of bed racing champion. The race draws great crowds every year.


The morning of the Saturday events brought the usual massive crowd and the official beginning to the festival.

We saw the local church missionaries out and about sharing the good word to those who would lend an ear and an open heart.

We started the festival right with corn on the cob.

Then it was on to our favorite dish of the festival, "Strawberries from Heaven". The name is a very accurate description, trust me. Kristy and I have such a hard time not buying more than we should of these things.

The girls love getting their faces painted, Molly got a rainbow and Neleha a strawberry.


Zacha the band from the Andes once again provided the wonderful background music for the festival. I always take some time to just stop and listen, their music is so relaxing.

Then it was on to the Brukner Nature Center display where the girls got to see the opossum that visited the girls at Molly's Birthday party.

One addition to this year's festival was a NASA exhibit. Ohio having contributed some of the top names in NASA, I think it was a very appropriate addition to the festival.

We even were able to meet a real astronaut that had been to outerspace, the girls were really fascinated by the fact that the astronaut was a women.

The festival came to a good close for us with a final stop at the Willy Wonka exhibit where the girls got to grab golden tickets in a air filled room.


They were able to exchange their golden tickets for candy.


They also got to try all of Wonka's favorite varieties of his candy.

A good year at the Strawberry Festival.