Oregon Coast Breezes

When it's 100 degrees in Ashland, it's usually about 70 degrees at the coast!  Our friends, Chris and Carlon escaped the California heat and joined us at Ten Mile Lake, in Oregon. The weather was great and the seafood yummy!  In Florence,  we had gluten-free fish and chips,  some of the best we've had. The batter and ling cod was excellent and without using wheat flour!  We  came back home by way of Bandon where the ocean coast scenery is always spectacular!  and breezy!  Our special treat here is a beech front walk in cafe with basic seating if your lucky and $10 crab cocktails!  They felt sorry for us old folks and we got seats inside which was like being outside! A wonderful experience that reminds you of the Wharf in San Francisco.

We then toured the coast and managed several short walks but the scenery is just too spectacular to miss.  And if you insist on exercise,  try the  500 step stairs down to walk in the surf!  And as you observe, there were many walking along with a group on horseback.

We made it back to Ashland to celebrate Carlon's birthday with a special cake,  can you guess?
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GRADS AGAIN

                                                                   


                                                                   

                                                                           
The grand kids keep graduating! , , ,and in a few years the great grand kids will be wearing the gown!
Esther and I made the trip to Jana and Paul's place to celebrate Payton's High School Graduation!  It was a packed theater downtown and we were separated from Jana's and on different floors.  When it was all over we decided to just wait - the crowd flooded the aisles and lobby - there was no place to go!  Eventually,  Brady and Derrick found us.  Lots of photos and excitement.

Early the next morning, Jana drove us to Portland where we connected with Lori, Amanda, Adam and Dan's
(Jaime and Sheila)  We had lunch together and headed for the Rose Garden Arena where Adam along with 2500 other students would graduate at 2 pm!  We decided to park the van in a downtown garage and ride the tram to the Garden.  We didn't have to worry about traffic and parking!  It worked out well and we experienced the longest graduation in history!!!  It started 45 minutes late and by the time we had heard all 2500 names read,  we had sat on hard chairs for 6 long hours!  What we do for our kids and grand kids and
on and on it goes!  But the rewards are great!  Family togetherness adds strength to each individual!  We see the results of those who go thru life alone!  We join our hands to all of you with gratitude and appreciation!
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Gain & Loss Together

                                                             

               


Pluses and minuses often come together.  Lori has been looking for a home she could afford especially in southern Oregon where prices remain high and few for sale in the affordable range.  The house side of us had been trashed by marijuana growers making it affordable for Lori to purchase. Painting in and out, new kitchen floor, removal of trash along with unpacking at least 100 boxes seems to never end.

In the midst of all this,  one of her aging Collies became ill and was diagnosed with cancer.  Very quickly Maverick passed away in the middle of all the moving muddle.  Mom, Dan and I joined her along with a friend,  drove up the mountain, dug a grave and buried him with tears and sadness.

We are all moving on trying to focus on the wonderful memories along with creating a whole bunch of new memories!  We never thought one of our kids would be living right side of us!  Now is graduation time again and tomorrow,  we will travel north to see Payton and Adam graduate.  And as you remember,  we looked forward to leaving home and becoming independent in the adult world.  As we grow old,  it seems we become more dependent and probably would like to return home again!  We all know that going back to our beginnings is never the same. . .so we move on from place to place building friendships that give us a sense of security in our old age! Especially the friends we have cultivated over the years!
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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!
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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!
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