Alice of Wonderland

Baby Alice is growing up as Blake looks on with amazement! And Alice doesn't know she's a longhorn! Ashley and Zack her proud parents also have to be amazed at the growth process.  We would all like to follow her around,  read her a story and just be close to the whole process.  Roly and Candy are certainly enjoying the company.  They now have 4 grandchildren and we understand, another on the way?

New Texas Cowboy

Deep in the heart of Texas, on August 27,  Holly and Joe welcomed Evan Ray to planet earth!  At 8 pounds 10 ounces and over 20 inches long,  Evan has a healthy start!   We are delighted to have Evan as a member of the Freed Clan!  Congratulations to Holly, Joe and Grandma Candy and Grandpa Roly.  It's hard to believe that we're still around to be proud Great Grandparents! . . .a privilege we cherish!
Click on photos to enlarge.

Grandma & Grandpa's Place

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
With a new home in Eugene, Oregon,  Jana and Paul's kids decided they would rather move in with us in Ashland!  Payton came first and we swapped her for Derrick a week later. However we couldn't work in Brady, so he's next on the list!  Payton had a full schedule:  She helped her Aunt Lori prepare 24 dozen ears of fresh corn for the freezer - picked peaches and helped grandma make freezer jam - talked me into learning how to drive a strait stick pick-up - and helped our church get ready for the annual rummage sale! The most tense was letting her drive our truck around a huge empty parking lot! which wasn't any too big!  We made it with lots of stalls and starts and a little panic at times,  remember those dazes?

We traded for Derrick in Roseburg and headed back to Ashland for another exciting week!  He was content to place Goof Troop on our old Super Nintendo then migrate to my computer for more video games.  He had strict instructions not to explore or change any settings!  He did great and followed instructions!  Then two afternoons he joined his friends,  Jaz and Aiden for lots of laughter and frolicking fun.  They even had difficulty getting thru a Crickity Croakity story as I tried to show them on their back just what was happening.  We hate to admit it,  but our Creator God knew that at our age we had no business starting a family!  God sure makes a lot of sense when you consider how we are fearfully and wonderfully made,  the great beauty that surrounds us and that this God even allows us to participate in the creation process!  And we're thankful that our kids have provided loving homes for our grand kids! (Click on photos to enlarge)

New Home in Eugene

This installment of Jana and Paul's new home on Parish St. in Eugene, gives you a view of the latest.  The garage is no longer a garage.  Paul has used steel 2 X 4's to frame in a new bedroom for Payton.  She will soon be sleeping in the garage!  The backyard has been replaced with a 5 foot deep swimming pool, which also means that Paul has much less lawn to mow!   Presently,  Brady is carefully climbing the ladder although he has just put away his crutches from the hip surgery he had during the move.  Jana is now reasonably organized and still deciding what to keep and what to give to the Salvation Army.  Derrick was happy to join us for some Kentucky Fried Chicken although it came from Fred Myer's and still pleased everyone.  This was our first meal with them in their new home!  You might guess that everyone living there is very happy to be there!  We all wish them well!

Crossing London Bridge

Big Move in Eugene

Jana and Paul finally sold their house after waiting over 2 years of listings.  The BIG move came on Friday June 7th.and on that morning Brady, who had been struggling for several weeks with a hip injury,  was taken to the doctor. X-rays revealed dislocated hip plates in both joints!  The doc immediately admitted him for surgery that very evening.  Esther and I had left Ashland early that Friday and learned on our way to Eugene what was happening to Brady that evening at 7pm!  Jana had now escaped moving - instead she spent all day and night with Brady in the hospital!  About 6pm that evening,  Brady called me, half dopey from surgery preparation, and asked me about the pin I had in my shoulder and also wondered about stitches!  I tried to relieve his fears and it wasn't long until I couldn't understand his words.  We had been busy all day cleaning the old place and the new place in preparation for rug cleaning.  Brady survived with a pin in each hip plate and only 1 stitch on each hip.  He is getting used to 6 weeks on crutches but is glad to be in their new home.

Meanwhile,  Paul was engineering this big move.  One load of dressers and bedding was unloaded by him and Payton before his heavy lifters arrived.  You can see Derrick and Paul loading up the backyard but they managed to avoid the front yard. Payton and her grandpa Hazelton unpacked the kitchen stuff and late Saturday afternoon,  Jana finally arrived on the scene desperately trying to find bathroom and kitchen boxes. They managed to sleep in their new home that Saturday, June 8 for a much needed rest!

They love their new home at  3451 Parish St.   Eugene, OR  97401.

Oregon Morels

It's been over 20 years since Dans, Rolys and Lori have traveled to Oregon to enjoy the Morel Mushroom season together.  And at this prime time for mushrooms,  Jana and Paul in Eugene, Oregon managed to sell their house after 2 years on the market.  Their buying and closing came during this same week! We missed them but felt their presence among us.

After a shaky Memorial Day week-end with rain and snow, it managed to clear up the next day after Roly and Candy arrived from Texas.  Tuesday early,  with rain gear, boots, bags and packed lunches,  we headed into the mountains for morels.  Our first stop we found just a couple mushrooms and begin to wonder if we would find any which usually is late in the season.  We moved on to higher elevation to another favorite spot.
And it wasn't long before Lori got us going with what we call a "patch".  You will notice the orange bag in the photos.  When anyone finds a mushroom,  we drop a bag and circle the bag usually finding more morels in that area.  One patch led to another and everyone was delighted to find fresh morels!  We broke for a tailgate lunch and went back into the woods for more morels.  By 5pm  we were all tired and delighted with all the mushrooms in the back of the van!  A weary group rambled down the mountain and eagerly weighed our treasure. . .slightly over 15 pounds!!!  What a day!   Then, back again the next day for more.