SHORE to SHORE

From Shore Acres on the coast of Oregon to the shores of Missouri and Oklahoma the clan was enjoying the environment. . .that is, most everyone!  While the waves were beckoning,  Lori and friends were loading and unloading. . .starting the tedious task of moving!  To ease the pain,  Jana & Brady drove down and were a BIG help for the week end!  We all know what moving entails!  and this is the final week, at least in moving and packing.  Thankfully, Lori has a large garage which is already half full!

Meanwhile,  Roly and Tyler took the new boat for a joy ride across Oklahoma to a great fishing lake they wanted to check out.  We know they caught at least one! and the scenery would be enough for a wonderful trip!  After all,  it usually takes at least two to increase your enjoyment along with helping it last longer.

While everyone was working and playing,  Esther and I escaped to the coast.  Yes,  the rhododendrons were in nearly full bloom with several weeks to go for even more beauty!  It's easy to forget work when surrounded by the hands of God! And it's even enjoyable to mow foot high grass and weeds!  Whether it's Oregon, Oklahoma or Texas,  our Creator's world thrives best with tender loving care and peace among all.

Running the Oregon Dunes

In all kinds of weather,  the 40 miles of sand dunes along the coast of Oregon between Coos Bay and Florence beckon to all ages,  climb, run, jump, roll and walk!  Jana, Payton, Brady and Derrick with dog in hand, cavorted over the dunes on Spring Break!  They even had time for crabbing!  And there is always some wind for kites between the rain and sunshine.  You might even decide to get wet in the lake or ocean!  Natural beauty surrounds us!  Just look and enjoy!  (click on photos to enlarge)

Spring in Ashland

Everywhere you look trees are smiling at you!  Red Bud, Flowering Crab, flowering bushes, bright yellow forsythia,  all saying yes from the Creator to all of us!  Every Spring it's always new again and remarkable to realize the hundreds of beautiful blooms have all be planted by us humans!  And in most cases,  cared for by all of us!  It's always a reminder that beauty thrives when cared for  and as we grow in magnitude so does our influence and legacy.  Take great care of your plantings. . .their offspring will grow beyond your imagination!  Blessings to you all from Ashland in Spring!
(click on photo to enlarge)

Texas Fishing in January

Roly decided that fishing might be better in the Gulf of Mexico, so Tyler and Roly headed for Huston with boat in tow!  They chartered a crew and pulled in some nice salt water fish!  Then decided the old faithful pontoon style boat had served it's time with serious wear and tare,  so made a deal in Houston and brought home a new boat. The above beauty promises to fly over the waves, between the submerged trees, stumps and sand bars!  Looks like a great addition to all the family water lovers especially the fisher folks!
(click on photo to enlarge)

Christmas & New Years Day

We went to Taco Bell for lunch today, New Years Day, and behold, 4 kids on horses were in the drive thru placing orders!  Thought we were back in the wild west! Meanwhile back at the ranch,  our Christmas Tree stands beautifully lighting the corner of our living room!  We'll enjoy it as long as possible before the Boy Scouts come  to pick up all the leftover trees for composting.

While Blake & Evan try to get some sleep in grandma and grandma's bed deep in the heart of Texas.  We understand that the kids were hit with the Christmas flu and by Christmas morn,  all except Holley cams down with the dreaded stomach flu!  They did manage to open some presents and were feeling better by the week end.  Family togetherness does have it's pitfalls and we always hope it's not us!  Glad to know that everyone is feeling better for the New Year!  (click on photo to enlarge)

A favorite saying of mine:

The New Year is like fresh fallen snow . . .
Be careful where you step
for all your tracks will show.

Climate Change in Ashland

It's scary when our president tells us climate change is the most important thing in the world.  Beware cause it's more to fear than Muslims who want to kill us like they did in San Bernadino.  And behold,  SNOW in Ashland and more than we have seen at once in a long time!  (He's prophetic! Maybe we should listen to him after all)  It looks now,  like nearly 1 foot has fallen;  so much that most churches cancelled their services this morning and I doubt if any businesses were open at day break!  Most of the snow came from midnight with flurries till about 8am.  This is a boon for Mt. Ashland as they were hoping to open today!!!  However,  right now,  it may be difficult to get up there.  I've heard a few plows moving on Interstate 5 but nothing on our street and we're sure not going out,  not even for a walk!  Thought you would like the update.  We have enough food for a couple weeks.  We'll call if we run out!  We may go out later and make a small snow man or woman. (click on photo to enlarge)  Nature is beautiful when looking on and a snow like this reminds me of a favorite saying:                            

"The New Year reminds us of new fallen snow;  each step we take will always show."

Raindrops Keep Fallin on Texas

After 5 years of drought,  the rain came! and it came, and it came - then waited a week and it came again with high winds creating powerful high waves that lifted over twenty 2 X 10 pier planks that floated to shore downwind!  Roly and family walked and rescued most of the wayward slats!  As you can see,  the pier and boathouse was completely under water.  Blake and friends are standing in the front yard and carefully so or they'd suddenly be chest deep if stepping past the sea wall!  Since these photos,  they have continually lowered the lake again revealing the pier and making it possible to begin the repair process.  Maybe by summer,  the lake will again be where it should be and the downpour of 2015 will be forgotten!
(Click on photos to enlarge)