HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

September the eleventh is not the happiest day in our memories. Our prayers go to the families that relive this experience on this day, year after year.  

Good events also took place on that date. One for instance is that today is John's  birthday.  For this I am extremely thankful.  He would not be alive today if it were not for extremely talented physicians and caretakers.  And for our decision to put him on life support rather than follow our previous decision of artificial means to stay alive.  

The physicians assured John and I that this was a "temporary measure and he probably would be off the ventilator on Monday."  Monday turned into a long six weeks, but John is here and doing better than anyone expected. 

Happy birthday to my love and best friend. May God bless you in is infinite wisdom with many more.

Today is his day.  We are doing whatever he chooses. This means target practice with his gun, fly fishing and trying on the socks I have been knitting for him for almost a year, off and on.  

They are still not done because I do not know how to make the toe on a process called the "Magic Loop."  

He also wants a campfire tonight since the ban on campfires was lifted just yesterday.

We went to where a ranger suggested we shoot.  John gave me my first shooting lesson.  First came all the safety instruction, then how to load the gun and how to shoot.

Some of my shots went about three feet above the target. Some were below the circle in the white area, but I got two bulls eyes my second turn.



We are in Bellevue, Idaho in BLM territory.  This is the first Bureau of Land Management camping we have done since in Clark's Dry Lake and Blair Valley at Anza Borrego State Park in San Diego County, California.  I had forgotten just how enjoyable this kind of camping is.  We want to do more of this!

No neighbors close by.  Unless you want to call a quarter of a mile close by.  That is with the exception of a possible visit of Sandy and Jim Dixon, Scooter and Skittles.  

We had a visit from a strange to us bird.  I sure Judy can identify it.  I have looked on websites and thus far cannot find it's name.   

Until next time...God bless you....

ALL IS NOT GLITTER IN THEM THERE HILLS OR ON THE DESERT FLOOR

In my last post's title, I wrote "A TRIP TO THE VET."  And by the time I was half way through, I was mightily frustrated.  I totally forgot to write about our trip to the vet and have had inquiries about the welfare of our fur family.

As you can see in the photo, both Olivia (left) and Oliver (right) were just fine.

 Here, Oliver is looking at me asking why I want him sedated and nails trimmed.                                        Olivia is looking at John telling him that she holds still for me during her pedicures.                                               Oliver is a hand-full when trying to work with his feet. The last time I tried to trim his toe nails I ended up with scratches and a totally petrified pooch.  I vowed never again would I put him or me through that ordeal.  

I asked our friend Sherry Sheridan of Aloha Llamas what vet she uses for her animals and she recommended Redmond Veterinary Clinic.   

We were able to see Dr. Cassee and she did a wonderful job with our fur kids.  If you ever need a vet while in central Oregon, Redmond Veterinary Clinic is the place to go.  

Wednesday, we were went to Fischer Canyon in search of more Jasper, Agate and Petrified Wood.  We did not find much, but the climb was great exercise and we enjoyed another great day in the Prineville, Oregon area. 

The view from the top was beautiful.  There is nothing better than sitting upon a rock at the finish of a good climb and looking at the vastness of the desert and mountains off in the horizon.  

After I tossed in the rockhounding tools, I walked the desert floor, still keeping my eyes open for an Agate or a piece of Jasper, but I found other items of interest or not so much interest.  Can you identify this?  

Different species?  

Is it a wild animal?  Is it dangerous?    Lions, Tigers and Bears, oh my!                                                       When walking in "the wild," it is good to know who is around the next curve.  Is it a bear?  A Mule Deer?  A rabbit?  Mountain Lion? Cougar?  

On the brighter side, some Canyon areas were blanketed by this bush giving the impression of yellow carpeting.

The canyon floor was home to the living and the dead.  Often times the beauty is in the "skeleton" rather than the greenery it once displayed. 

And then there is the oddities.  I do think I can think of better targets though.  

                                                                    We finally headed for home. The traffic was a bit congested.                                    They did not even honk their horns even though they were quite bullish.

We left the traffic behind and crossed over the Prineville Dam at the reservoir. The rock formations were fascinating. The mountains do not have the spectacular color, yet the layers of rock and stone are breathtaking.

 

Organ Pipes?

Broccoli florets?

The other side of the road was color and a tranquil stream formed by the spillway at the dam behind us.

 A very nice way to end our day and our time in Prineville.

Until next time.....God Bless

THE END............S  

 

PRINEVILLE, ROCKHOUND CAPITOL OF OREGON / NOAH AND OLIVER VISIT THE VET

Prineville, Oregon is a town of nine thousand one hundred ninety two people, but seems larger.  Or am I adjusting to small towns.  Either way, we really like Prineville.  Why? Agates, Jasper, Thunder Eggs, just to name a few of the rocks/gems that can be found in and around Prineville.
  

Saturday, John and I climbed a mountain to look for Agates 

and Jasper and found a few. 

Monday, Labor Day, we were in search of Thunder Eggs and found them.  John broke them open.  Lesson learned, have them cut open so the beauty really shines!  

There is more to share, but it will have to wait.  I have been fighting with my phone and computer to be able to posts photos of our adventures, but not happening.  

Actually, we are now in Idaho, and will post more when I can remember how I downloaded the last photos.  Lesson learned.....write down the steps that I take since I never remember how I stumble upon a solution.

Later, my friends and family...

God Bless...

EUGENE, SISTERS, BEND AND PRINEVILLE OREGON

Somewhat reluctantly, we left the Oregon coast with the amazing beaches, fantastic lighthouses and the azure Pacific Ocean.  

Our destination  was Junction City, a suburb of Eugene Oregon to visit the "little boy" that grew up next door to John and I.  That "little boy has turned out to be an extremely successful organic farmer and business man.  

Gabe and Sophie Cox began their venture, Groundworks, with just five acres and now they farm one hundred thirty acres with greenhouses to extend their growing season for over sixty varieties of fruits and vegetables.                                                                              Groundworks is now a family business with the addition of their two sweet girls, Hanna and Nola. 

Almost fifty percent of their sales is at farmers markets in Portland, Bend, Eugene.  Check out their website while traveling through Oregon.  You just may be fortunate enough to shop at their huge booth.  

After being treated to two huge trays of fruits and vegetables, we said good-by to the Cox family and headed toward Sisters, Oregon.  




The road to sisters provided two sights: a road construction site on Oregon 126 that will eliminate many curves in the road.

The closer we drew to Sisters, we saw lava flows from ancient volcanoes, snow capped mountains and wildfire ravaged mountains.


Finally, we arrived in Sisters. 







The three sisters are volcanic peaks in the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the Cascade Mountains. Early settlers named the peaks Faith, Hope and Charity.  

 At the feet of these three peaks is where we were, in the town of Sisters, Oregon.  

Note the llava flow on the lower left half of the photo.

Finding a  parking spot for fifty six feet of motorhome and trailer was not an easy project, but at the end of town, we found the Sisters Elementary School that had a huge, mostly level, parking lot and a very congenial administrator who allowed us to park there overnight.  She and her husband are planning to hit the road in two years in their fifth-wheel.

We were also greeted by this creature!

Defensive mode

Does not know I am there

   

The town is for tourists with many quaint shops.  I am not much of a tourist town person and a little goes a very long for me. 

John is the shopper / looker.  I find that a bit unusual.  I always thought women were supposed to be the shoppers. Just calls us the "Odd Couple."

                                
                                                Our linner (lunch and dinner)

Mine was a spinach and veggie enchalata with verde' sauce black beans and rice.   

John chose the Halibut, rice, black beans and Mexican veggies.                                                                                                

With our appetites satisfied, we headed back to the motorhome for a peaceful night's sleep.  We came upon this beautiful piece of art. "The Wild Stallion."

Thursday, we were off to Bend to visit with our friends Doug and Sherry Sheridan of Aloha Llamas.  
It had been ten years since we had been together when I flew to Oregon to choose a breeding llama to "introduce" to my lady llamas.  Ohhh, what beautiful crias (babies) we had!  Thanks again Sherry and Doug.

I was so excited to see them that I totally forgot to take any photos, so I have grabbed their photos from their website.

Time passed too quickly and we left for Prineville, Oregon and the Crook County RV Park.  More on that later.  

Till next time....God bless you all mightily!

HUMBUG! AND PORT ORFORD

We spent a week at Humbug Mountain State Park.  The site was comfortable with privacy on each side.  We had electricity and water for twenty dollars a night. 

We especially liked the access to the beach.  It was a bit of a hike, but so worth it, both pleasure and exercise wise.  

Olivia led the way to the beach, usually not allowing any tension on the lead. 

We began the hike on a paved portion that quickly turned to rock and sand.  

Oliver and I ventured off the path, under the 101 bridge to walked down by the stream that so gently flowed into the pacific.

There, before us was our first venture onto Oregon beaches.  What an experience this was.

We are accustomed to the Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico beaches and this was a huge change!  

This grainy photo was shot with my phone's telephoto lens.  It is not good, but gives family back home an example of how mountains drop into the Pacific.  

Oliver and Olivia took their first wades into the ocean.  

Olivia enjoyed the surf while Oliver quickly learned to scamper up the beach and out of reach of those cold wet waves.  His idea of fun was to investigate the driftwood that was strewn about the beach.  

It was so nice to be able to let them off lead and run until their energy was spent.

Each time we would leave the beach we would take a last look at the Pacific then turn to head home and turn to see the return path.





The dogs trek home was much slower going home than it was heading to the beach.  As a matter of fact, so was ours!  



We took a break from the  Humbug beach and visited Battle Rock City Park.   Some of our history disturbs me.  One culture walking into the lives of another and taking their land, their livelihood.  

    

The tree in fog was sitting on a rock in the water.  At low tide, people could walk to it, then at high tide it was a tree on an island.  

We had a great view from our position on the hill. 

 

Cape Blanco was on our adgenda the next day.  Of course, a new site meant a new hike for John and I.  

Are you seeing a pattern here?

If you are new to the blog, seventeen months ago, John was fighting for his life and on a respirator.  Now he is hiking, climbing mountains and dunes.  The hikes are long and hard.  This one started by an easy jaunt through  the grass. 

 Around the curve, this is what we saw.  A walk into Jurassic Park!  Ferns that were almost as tall as I.  




And the trail goes on.....and on.  We walk through ripe raspberries on both sides of the path, lovely wildflowers and maybe wild blueberries.  

The reward of another long walk!

Our next stop............. Port Orford, Oregon.  We were pleased to not just see fishing boats and equipment, but a boat being brought ashore to have the fish unloaded and the boat prepared for the next days trip into the blue Pacific.  

They rolled the "trailer" back to center under the vessel.

And what was the catch of the day?  

T U N A! 

IS THAT CHARLIE THE TUNA IN THE CENTER?

!!!PEUWY!!!!

THE END

Thanks for stopping by.  

We do love your comments...God Bless!