The happiest of birthdays!

As my birthday numbers keep rising, so does my awareness of my many blessings in life. This year, at 77, my birthday was exceptionally blessed and happy. I am at our family's summer cottage on an island in Upper Peninsula Michigan. I am with almost all my family and we all spent a wonderful day together- and topped it off with a group midnight plunge off the dock!  Dave is with us in spirit because he left us his Boston Whaler which is our main transportation, and as he wished, the grandkids and cousins are all learning to drive it. I am healthy, happy, and looking foreword to many more birthdays!

Liz Meyer 

Carnine Ranch

For 55 years my family goes a little out of our way on our summer sojourn to our island in Upper Peninsula Michigan to visit this 5000 acre cattle ranch in the sand hills of Nebraska. Forest was born and raised on this ranch, which was bought by his father in the early 1900's. Forest recently died at age 93, and his son Dan and grandson Leo now run the ranch. A small ranch by local standards, they grow alfalfa and raise over 350 head of cattle. Over the years we have watched as the generations and farming methods have changed. Barns change, cattle are herded by ATVs instead of horseback, windmills in the fields to water the cattle are now solar powered. 100 years of watering systems and farm equipment are present to show their evolution. But some things never change. Every meal begins with a blessing, and needed weather is prayed for, neighbors still come to help with the Branding, and family emergencies. Truly, America is blessed with ranches and families like this.

Devils Tower

Day two of this journey began with a spectacular sight of the big Cottonwood Canyon and crossing over the pass. The day ended with the spectacular sunset on Devils Tower in Wyoming. Poking out of the plains of Wyoming for 867 feet from its base stand this amazing rock. We made camp, and toasted a good day of driving. We visited the Devils Tower National Monument Visitor Center the next morning, however it was closed due to Covid. Still, getting that close to that monstrous structure was awe inspiring.  A long day of driving brought us to Loren's beautiful home near Minneapolis MN. I drove on alone the next day, missing the good company and the drive sharing! 

Liz Meyer 

From the Desert to the Mountains

All of a sudden circumstances fell into place for me to take a van trip! A friend was staying  in the guest house, and she could watch the dogs and house. Another friend needed a ride to his home in Minnesota, and with Covid concerns, a van trip was the safest route.  Angela and her family were planning to gather at Hatch Haven, and I quickly decided to join them.  Leaving early from 29 palms, as the temperature would be rising to 111 that day, Loren and I shared the driving and got to Salt Lake City that night, covering 700 miles that day.  Loren suggested we reward ourselves after that long day with a detour up through Big Cottonwood Canyon the next morning.  The early morning sun backlit the Mountains, pines and cottonwood trees as we travelled up this river canyon.  We drove through some of the most elite ski resorts this country offers, and climbed up to a 10,000 foot height to traverse the mountain pass.  What a glorious way to start our second day of travel!




Liz Meyer

The New Reality

Session met in Mom’s house last night,  the last time for an undetermined time.  They all left in tears, carrying the burden of how their decisions will be affecting our church family, and the families and employees of Little School of the Desert.  The Governor’s mandate to stay at home effects us all, in this entire State.  Those of us among the elderly have already self isolated, and now hundreds of thousands more will be doing the same.

September 11, 2001 changed society as we knew it here in the United States, and ramped up security around the world. The Corona Virus will change our lives forever, around the world. Even if we don’t catch the virus (and the Governor predicted that half the population would, if critical measures are not taken) we are all affected by the uncertainty of these times. How bad will it get? How long will it last? What will happen to our personal finances?....And the world economy?

This is a good time to reflect on the world as our community and where we have been taking it.  Let’s make this an opportunity to change the direction and become a kinder world.  Isolation has not changed our ability to reach out to each other by phone and the internet to share our love and encouragement.  My hope and prayer is that we emerge from this event as better people, one person at a time.

Liz Meyer

Fwd: Homeless count

 Homeless count

This morning I went out before sunrise to help count the homeless living in 29 Palms.  What an eye-opening four hours!  I was on a team with four men (I love going out with men!) The driver was Jim Thornburg, one of our former sheriff Deputies and now our city's Code enforcement Officer.  We rode in his BFT (The first thing I learned is that a BFT is a Big F..ing Truck).  Jim  knew where all the homeless camp out, knew them by name, knew their stories and has a great rapport with them. Along with Jim were four of us representing 29 Palms Rotary - Gary Daigneault, owner and operator of the Morongo Basin's Main radio station, who has lived here over 30  years; Aaron Kyle, a third generation local who has lived here over 40 years; Danny Mintz one of our City Council members and a second generation '29-er  with over 50 years of local living; and me, a second generation local, with over 70 years of living here.  Among all of us in the truck, we shared stories all morning of people and places of the past in this town. We carried with us hot and freshly made egg muffins from Jack-in-the-Box; backpacks filled with Sox, underwear, hats etc; bags with personal toiletries; and sleeping bags.  One abandoned house had 7 People living in it!  Our team counted  and surveyed 15 people.  The surveys were recorded on an App on our cell phone.  This information will be used to receive County, State, and Federal funding and services.  I sure know more about this town than I did when I woke up this morning!

Sent from my iPhone

Fwd: JOIRIDE

This has been an over-the-top day, and I need to write about it to share my excitement. This is a scheduled meeting day for the Board of Trustees of Copper Mountain College, and, as President, I needed to be on board for the meeting by 2 o'clock. At 12 o'clock noon, my friend and partner in a business enterprise, Ivan, called me and said, "Do you want to go for a helicopter ride?"  He and Chris are partners in a helicopter airline business, planning to build a heliport on my land near Joshua Tree National Park for tourism purposes.  The company's name is JOIRIDE, and they are contracted to fly for news reports for NBC.  In return, NBC agreed to give them a publicity photo shoot, which included JTNP and my land.  

OF COURSE I was up for the ride, but told Ivan I needed to be at the college by 2 o'clock. Ivan said, " no problem,  we'll drop you off at the college at two."  So I met them on my land, the JOIRIDE helicopter landed, and a second helicopter landed also. JOIRIDE had one NBC photographer and the second helicopter had two other NBC photographers.  We spent the next two hours doing photo shoots of exciting flights, hovers, and scenes with desert backgrounds.  Very fun!  At 1:30 I texted Jeff Cummings, the College President, and told him I was flying in for the meeting, and on my way. We landed on the athletic fields near the gym, and Jeff was there to pick me up!  Observers commented it was like a Presidential arrival, and I reminded them I WAS the President of the Board, and we all had a good laugh! To top it off, we had a very good Board meeting.

Sent from my iPhone

Ride of a Lifetime

For 74 years I have watched the sunrises and the reflected light of the sunsets on the Sheephole Mountains.  Yesterday I was given the opportunity to fly in this beautiful helicopter over that mountain at close range, seeing it like I have never seen it before!  It was a thrill beyond words for me, and an adventure I will never forget.

Fwd: Ride of a lifetime

Liz Meyer 

Begin forwarded message:

From: Elizabeth Meyer <lizmeyer920@icloud.com>
Date: August 31, 2018 at 6:17:49 AM PDT
To: "lizmeyer920@hotmail.com" <lizmeyer920@hotmail.com>
Subject: Ride of a lifetime

Sent from my iPhone

Small Town Government

The Last Lap

Liz Meyer This morning I was awakened at about 3:00 AM (not sure which time zone) in our campsite in Golden, CO. with shattering thunder, lightening and a downpour of rain. Concurrently, Miki was burrowing Into my sleeping bag, and Cinda moved to curl up around my head! The remainder of the night was noisy, but cozy and dry for the three of us. Today brought crossing the Rockies, with passes higher than 12,000 feet that requires drivers to stay alert with varying high and low speeds, curves, and construction. The views, when you took a peek, were spectacular! I am camped tonight in Richfield, Utah. A cooling swim and the dry evaporation factor makes things comfortable. An early start tomorrow will bring me home, grateful for over 6,000 miles of driving, wonderful camping sites (and some not so wonderful) and great family time.

Goodbye to the Green

Liz Meyer The flannel PJs and the sweatshirts are packed away, leaving just the shorts and flip flops for the needed attire to travel back to the Desert. I leave first thing in the morning for the four camping nights and five days of driving to get home. Just the two dogs and me are making the return trip. I'll miss the company of David and Hannah, and following along with Jeff and Lauren and Katelyn in their 5th wheel, but I look forward to the adventure. Another wonderful summer at Hatch Haven.

Path to the Cook House (Picture)

Liz Meyer

The Path to the Cook House

Liz Meyer I don't know which came first....the homestead house slid over to the island when the lake was frozen, or the Sears and Roebuck kit house, but both were here by 1909. The Main house sleeps about 14, and was modern enough to have inside plumbing for a toilet, wash basin and a claw-foot tub. The cook house has the wood burning cook stove and had an outdoor pump for water. Modernization has occurred...we have electricity which provides cooking improvements, and running water into the kitchen.
When I was a girl, I thought the cook house was a quarter of a mile "down the path" from the Main house. One of the rights of passage to growing up was to walk to the cook house without being accompanied.
It's really not that far, I learned. Walking the path in the dark takes even more courage. We try keeping flashlights in both houses for that event, but invariably they all end up in the wrong house when we need them. 🙁

The Gathering Place

Liz Meyer Boats, beaches, forests, fairy houses, it's all here at the Island, yet a favorite gathering place is my van. This picture was taken by Hannah from her "loft", a part of the bunk bed system where she and her brother slept on our cross country trip. She shares it with the cousins when they come to Grammy's van. The adults sit in the front seats when they visit. I am not always "home" when they come, but they stay to talk or play, anyway. Aunt Ada comes to discuss the planning of meals and events, work in progress on the boathouse, and how to get the lighthouse updated to LED lighting. Angela and Jeff drop in to cover some of the same items and talk about the boat. The kids come to love the dogs and tell me secrets I PROMISE not to tell. The dogs come because....well they come just because they follow me everywhere. Whenever I am home, the music is playing and my door is always open. Did I ever mention how I love this van?? 😏

Fairy houses

Liz Meyer When the beach is quiet, we know we can find the kids in the deep forest with fairy houses under construction. Construction plans must consider the elements of safety ( rats are the enemy) and protection (fairies can't fly with wet wings, thus must be protected from the rain). There is no limit to the imagination we find when we are invited into fairyland.....but one must be invited. There is no age limit to building ferry houses. My granddaughter Katelyn was my guide into fairyland and got to pose in front of her fairy's home.

My Home Away from Home

Liz Meyer Did I ever mention how I love this van?? With my front seats swiveled for inclusive camping, tonight's picture show my view as I write. For my "Girls" and I to escape to my favorite music and this view from every window puts the crowning touch on wonderful days with family and peaceful evenings. Tonight's event included boating with neighbors over to Government Island for S'mores . I opted to a "night in". Tomorrow night we will be hosting the annual Hatch Haven pot luck/ hamburger feast for all the neighbors living close to us on the island. We pick the night when the most of us can be present. All 19 of our family will be here, and most of our nearest and dearest neighbors. We all look forward to the gathering.

Happy 4th of July!

Liz Meyer What a great country we live in!! If you google Cedarville MI, you will see the 3 square blocks of the town, which puts on a wonderful 4th of July parade every year. Early in the parade kids will be handing out little flags to everyone, so that we can wave them all through the parade. Later in the afternoon other families will be joining our families here on our beach and cookhouse for a barbecue, games and fireworks, then when it gets dark (not until about 9:00 at this high latitude) we will all take our boats into Cedarville Bay for the fireworks show. I'd you google Cedarville, follow out to Island #8, and Hatch Haven is all the wooded land at the south-east end of the island. I'll be waving! 😊

Journey’s End

Liz Meyer Two kids, two dogs and this Senior Citizen have just completed 3,218 miles and 14 days of travel across this great country, to arrive at our last campsite, only four miles from Hatch Haven, our journey's destination. A long drive yesterday and a late night arrival led us to stay in a local campground, and save the always exciting arrival on the island to savor today. Everyone is excited, to this journal entry must be brief. We are grateful for a fun and safe trip!

My NEXT travel vehicle

Liz Meyer Now that I have upwards of ten years and 75,000 miles on my van, I am looking for an upgrade! Actually, this beauty belongs to North Iowa Community College, where I was treated to a VIP tour of the entire campus by its President, Dr. Steve Schultz. My friends Jim and Carmen Loveland hosted us for two days in Mason City, IA, and they live contiguous to this beautiful, 100 year old Community College. Jim and Steve are hunting and/or fishing buddies, so Jim arranged for me to meet Steve and tour the College. What a treat! Being in ranching and farming country, there is a viable industry in Mason City for Diesel engine repair. A local dealer gives the College a new truck and trailer every year, and they trade in the one-year-old truck. Stand back CMC- I'm coming home with some innovative ideas! 🙂.
We are in Wisconsin Dells tonight. Jeff has taken all the kids on water adventures today while I am "grounded" trying to solve a problem with my van and it's hydraulic roof- raising system. Tonight at 8:00 we will all attend a water show. Tomorrow is the long haul to the Island- 500+ miles!