Bass Pro Shop picture

Here's the picture that Bass Pro Shop took of Race last Sunday. I think it's pretty cool.

Weekend in the foothills

We made our way up to Pioneer Friday where we met friends Dave and Debbie Miller for a pizza dinner. We then followed them to their cabin where we had a nice walk in the woods and a good nights sleep. The next morning the five of us headed down the mountain to Columbia for a Mustang club trip. We met up with the rest of the Mustang club in Angels Camp and then on to Columbia for Diggin' Days. Diggin' Days is a celebration of the gold mining days around 1852. There is an authentic gold town tent camp set up on the edge of town and dozens of reenactors dressed in period costumes doing period tasks. We visited a gunsmith where we received the hard sell on a new Allen pocket pistol. Less money and more reliable than a Colt we were told. We visited a dry goods store in a tent, a Chinese herb shop, a Mexican restaurant under a canopy, the local US Infranty post, the doctor's office (shudder), the local water company office, visited with the miners hard at work at their sluice and rocker boxes, made rope with a rope vendor, visited the blacksmith shop and the local restaurant where they were serving homemade lemonade and fresh baked bread (baked inthe tent next door in an earthen oven)with hand churned butter and homemade jelly. They also served fresh turkey sausage rolled in pie crusts. Two teenage girls were selling them from a basket to the miners and guests jus tlike they would have in 1952. The miners stopped work only long enough to choke down their lunch and then back to work. They were universal in complaining about the water company. It seems that they needed water, Columbia is a dry town, so a local businessman formed a water company and hired all the miners to dig a ditch 5 miles to the river. He didn't have any money so they took their pay in stock shares. Water ws 2 dollars a day per miner and the miners weren't making enough off of their shares, so the businessman, in an act of charity bought the shares back for 10 dollars each. The next day water prices were raised to 6 dollars a day and the water company profits went through the roof. The iners were watching cclosely for the water company agent and his armed guards. they made it a habit to hhide when they came around to avoid paying for a couple of days. Race got to run the rocker box, make a length of rope for a belt, keep the tin cup from his lemonade, we tried all the food and the highlight of the day, Race got to work as the blacksmith's apprentice and make his own mini horse shoe. The day ended with the lowering of the flag by the local infrantry troop and we went back to town for a night in the Ciyt Hotel.

Sock Hop

Dean had to work, but Race stood in for him and took Elizabeth and Aurora to a Sock Hop at the St. Bonaventure Church with our friends Christa and Joe Fairfield. They had a great time and a great Pasta dinner. Race didn't dance much, but he did eat a lot.

Backyard Fire Pit

We've been using our new fire pit in the backyard in the evenings. So far we've cooked hotdogs and marshmallows. The Cub Scouts made S'Mores at a meeting. All in all, it's proving to be a neat addition to the backyard.

Pinewood Derby

Race came in 8th overall at the Pinewood Derby. The Blackwood 500 is the districts premier derby and packs from all over the district were in attendance. Here's Race's car ready to go in the near lane.

The Tiger Cub's hike Mt Diablo

This weeks meeting was an outdoor adventure led by Den Leader Elizabeth and Cubmaster John Jatoft. The boys hiked from the Mitchell Canyon trailhead to Mitchell Rock, 1430 feet above sea level and a 2.2 mile loop. The boys and adults were pretty tired at the end of the dya.

Special Kids Day

Race and Elizabeth helped out at the Concord Lions Club booth at Special Kids Day. Click the link for more information on Special Kids Day. Well, actually, Elizabeth worked the booth painting faces and putting temporary tattoos by the hundreds on kids of all ages. Race bravely struck out on his own and did all the cool things. He came home covered with temporary tattoos, sat in a helicopter, played on a fire truck, shot water rockets with the Boy Scouts, went pretend fishing, checked out the race cars, got a snow cone, had 2 hot dogs, potato chips, drank water, got face painting on his arm, helped set up the booth and applied some tattoos on other kids and a great time.

Mother's Day Show at Kings Valley Christian School

Race and his classmates put on a Mother's Day Show. They sang a number of songs like "Ain't no mountain high enough" and the "The Love Song." Each kid told the crowd why they loved their Mom. Race said, "because she helps me do my homework and she taught me how to ride my bike on two wheels."

Music at the Park

The Tiger Cubs had their meeting at Todos Santos Park for the opening night of Music and Market. Race and the boys got to sit in an ex-Dale Earnhardt NASCAR racer. The boys had a scavenger hunt, ice cream and had a wonderful time. A reporter for the local paper, The Concordian was in attendance and took a picture of the boys that made the paper cover. Check out the link for the paper. The Concordian Jun 6, 2009

May Show and Shine

Race was the only family member to take home a prize at our club car show this year. He took the Young Stang award for the best Mustang belonging to someone under 18 years old. Here's Race receiving his award for his 1967 Mustang Jr.