Catching Up

Ok, I haven't been keeping up with my blog but I am going to try and do better. This past weekend Zeke and his friend Kara were visiting us and we had a great time. Saturday we went to Sister's Harvest Street Festival and enjoyed looking at the wares of over 200 different merchants. Sunday, we jumped in the car and drove up to Mount Hood to tour the "fruit loop".

Of course we bought pears, apples, apple butter, and wine. I took my camera hoping for some great landscape shots but it turned out to be an overcast day. On our drive home we went through Warm Springs Indian Reservation and stopped to watch them platform fishing for salmon. If you enlarge the picture you should be able to see the very LARGE salmon in his net! Monday we celebrated my birthday and Kara made a wonderful non-dairy, gluten free dessert made of dates, chopped nuts, creamed cashews and fresh raspberries. It was a lovely evening. Tuesday morning they left at dawn heading back to Chicago. They are driving across country and hoping to make Jackson by Tuesday night.

Catching up,

Sorry, I have been remiss in updating the blog. Actually I've been very busy taking workshops at the "Stitch'in Post". I've been working on a long term project - a kaleidoscope quilt (I posted a pic on my Facebook page if you want to see what it looks like. I've also taken three other workshops that included making a purse (called the Mina Bag) and a table runner.

The bag is lined in a green and brown complementary print. When I get the runner finished, I will put up a picture so you can see it as well.

It is beautiful here at this time of year - the aspens are golden and our red maple is a blaze of reds and burnt sienna. Last week Frank and I stopped at the Woodburn Outlets and enjoyed the fantastic display of huge pumpkins - they came in all colors and spectacular shapes. Check out the photo below!

Luke just sent me a photo of Elizabeth and Leilani. They were participants in Leilani's cousin's wedding this month. Aren't they both beautiful!

Frank and I are doing very well. He has been working at organizing his man cave, and I've officially opened my Xmas workshop - I am hoping to make most of my gifts this year! Next week I start training for volunteer work at the "Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store". I am looking forward to the new experience. We've made lots of wonderful new friends and count ourselves as extremely blessed!

Sunday - back home

Before leaving Diamond lake we took one last bike ride along the lake. I loved this picture of some fishermen out on the placid waters.

The trip home was relatively short - only about 2 and a half hours. There was a tremendous amount of smoke in the air as we approached Bend due to the fires at Warm Springs.

When we arrived home a brief thunderstorm helped to clear the air.

Tonight we are sitting in Poppie's garden (a restaurant) listening to members of the Eugene opera. Sipping wine and munching on a platter of antipasta. Who said retirement was boring!

Diamond Lake

Frank and I are enjoying our camping stay at Diamond Lake. Today we joined our friends, the Thodes, for an eleven mile ride around the lake. Brad took this picture of Frank and me standing lakeside when we stopped to admire Mt Thielsen in the background. Lovely day!

Visiting the Southern California Beavers

We had a ball visiting the kids and spending some quality time with Lizzie. She is walking everywhere and loves to climb everything! Lei has her hands full just keeping tabs on Lizzie whereabouts. First thing up from her nap - and she will bring you her shoes - she likes to be on the go.

Lizzie and Grandpa got on famously - can you tell he is smitten? You should see Lizzie dance to music - she loves to shake her head and turn circles.

Dad and Luke worked on some shelves for the front room. Now at last they are able to get all the pottery up off the floor and safely out of Lizzie's reach. They also managed to get in a round of golf in celebration of Luke's b-day. This is picture of Lizzie at lunch - what you can't see is all the food she is throwing on the ground. Bogie, however, loved to sit beneath her chair as he scored some really nice chicken morsels.

Elizabeth's Baptism

Family and friends gathered at St. Kilian Church for Elizabeth's Baptism. Lizzie was one of about six other children being baptized (oddly enough - all but one were girls!). The priest did a very nice job and stressed the importance of celebrating this most important day in the spiritual life of our children. Just a few photos are included below. This one is my favorite!

Lizzie - under the pew!

San Juan Capistrano

We arrived at Santiago Catholic Event and Retreat Center in the late afternoon on Friday. This center is hidden away in the Silverado Canyon area just east of Mission Viejo. We are comfortably perched on the canyon hillside above the campgrounds below. They are holding vacation bible camp for kids during the week on the lower canyon site. In the middle canyon they are hosting a catholic Vietnamese young adult group and they seem to be having a great time. I am enjoying the sound of their exuberant cheers and singing. The RV area is located on the top level amidst eucalyptus trees and dry shrub. Hard to believe Luke and Lei are only 12 miles away.

Yesterday morning we went to a fabulous breakfast brunch in San Juan Capistrano, then off to tour the mission. Hard to believe that Father Junipero Sera established the mission in 1776! The grounds were beautiful! Here are some shots to enjoy.