College Bound

Amanda left early this morning as Lori & Bob headed for Monterrey Bay, California for Amanda's first semester and leaving the security of home for the first time. Tyler, left Texas last week as Roly & Candy did the same move to University of Colorado in Boulder. Tyler is now experienced at leaving home and begins his 2nd year in Colorado. Both sets of parents pulled a U-Haul trailer helping their kids with furniture. This year, Tyler qualifies for apartment living off campus that cuts the cost of on campus housing considerably. Amanda, as a freshman, will have to live on campus and has a softball scholarship to help with expenses. When I look back on college years and then working with our kids to get a college education, I wonder how so many kids today can afford the high cost of education. Grand kids, give a BIG thanks to your folks!!!!

Brady the Boarder

Guess what, Esther and I have had a whirlwind time with Jana & Pauls 3 kids, Derrick, Brady and Payton. After a tiring long week-end with dune climbing, beach walking, and shopping, we were ready for a long rest. . .except. . .Brady came home with us this week. I have had the privilege of taking Brady to the Ashland Skateboard Park every morning about 9 before all the regulars get up, giving us the entire park to ourselves for about 1 hour! Brady loves the place and has improved greatly since Tuesday! I'm sure I would have been there had boards been invented when I was a kid! It was just a few years ago that Tyler, another grandson spent several summers with us and he too lived on the Ashland Skateboard arena and decided that our Ashland park was the best he had tried. Now it's Brady's turn!

Big Trip East 2

From Phoenix, we headed for Texas and the big wedding in Austin. The week end in Austin just happened to be the National Harley Davidson Convention!!! Had we not made reservations long before, we would have had to stay in San Antonio! The wedding and reception was a grand event with most of our kids and their kids in attendance. We were glad to represent our side of the family as Ashley and Zack became the "Steele's." They are now moved into their own home after a weeks honeymoon in Cancun. Congratulations to Ashley and Zack! Now 2 months today!

Tim & Reba Tuckey joined with Dan and Sheila awaiting the wedding. . .while Esther & Candy waited in the Narthax. Jana and Paul just arrived in time! to be continued. . . .

Big Trip East

We decided to drive our way to our first grand daughter, Ashley Freed's wedding in Austin, Texas. . .then head north to Indiana and Michigan to see relatives and friends. (a trip covering about 7000 miles) We left early on Saturday, June 6 and made it to Pasadena, California the first night. We managed to see a jazz concert with our friend, Bob Wilson, and left Monday morning for Phoenix. Brother, Phil and wife, Jeanette welcomed us in their new home in Mariposa, Arizona. The next day we lunched with Bethel college friends, the Washings and Lusks and dined that evening with nieces, Debbie and Kathy, Keith and Dave and kids. It was a packed yet wonderful day! to be continued. . . .

Texas Wedding

Ashley Freed, Roly & Candy's first and our first grand daughter, was married June 13, in Austin, Texas. We started our 7000 mile journey thru Los Angles, then Phoenix and I-10 thru Texas to Austin. The photos will give you a quick view of this grand event which took place on the same week end as the national Harley-Davidson convention!!!!! Lot's of happy faces during and after the wedding along with Blake, Holly's son who was the ring bearer and will have his 2nd birthday in August. Ashley & Zack Steele were presented to the audience as Mr. & Mrs. Steele! Tyler & Holly join Roly, Candy & Ashley after the wedding. Roly seems to be especially glad to have Ashley married off!! The Wedding lasted about 15 minutes. . .right to the point! with a reception at the University of Texas Alumni Center that lasted from 7 to midnight!!! A wonderful event with lots of wonderful memories!

The next postings will become our summer travelogue with photos.

Downpour at Outdoor Graduation

For the first time, Ashland held their High School Graduation ceremony outdoors at our beautiful Lithia parks band shell, with seating on the grassy hillside. Lori and Bob's Amanda was one of the graduates. Bob & Lori had staked out a place by anchoring down a large tarp. We all arrived at 5:30pm carrying in lawn chairs & coolers full of picnic supplies. The day was overcast with clouds that looked suspicious. But we all enjoyed a picnic 1 hour before festivities began. About 6:45, the graduates gathered and began their procession to the front. . .all 300 of them!

Then the rain began! Gentle at first but within 5 minutes, the heavens let loose! Umbrellas popped up everywhere. . .jackets, hoods, tarps, anything people could find were flying everywhere. . .but nothing stopped the seniors with white and red mortar board hats marching to the open band shell where seating awaited them. Within minutes, they were all soaked to the bone and we, with jackets, hoods and umbrellas desperately tried to avoid the downpour. The program went on. . .and on. . .and on. Only one cello number was cancelled. Even the speaker was a droned on about herself and we all managed to stick it out until all 300 graduates had received their diplomas! What a graduation to remember!!! And Amanda achieved her goal with lots of smiles. When life gives you rain, you learn how to sing!!!! Congratulations Amanda!

In a few years it will be Adam's turn . . .pictured with Amanda.

Rhododendron Time in Oregon

May is the big Rhododendron season in Oregon. From Portland to Ashland, Rhodo's and Azaleas bloom their hearts out! Florence, Oregon has a Rhododendron Festival but all the coastal towns have their share. The various varieties start blooming the last of April and you see a few start blooming in February but most wait until May. The older parts of each town had the advantage of planting many years ago and the tree pictured in Reedsport must be at least 100 years old!

You have to wait for the last of May to realize that wild Rhodo's are scattered up and down the coast on highway 101. Their pink and white blooms are often on wild bush like trees that are often 10 to 20 feet tall. Without their blooms, you hardly notice their presence. We enjoy several nice plants at our cottage in Lakeside & thought you might like to enjoy them too.

We always think of Treva & Pete Woods at this time of year. They spent their honeymoon with us travelling north and south from our Lakeside cottage. It was prime Rhododendron time. Everywhere we were surrounded by Rhodo's and Treva photographed most of them! It was one of the most magnificent displays we have seen since living in Oregon. It must be the ocean breezes they like so well.