vacation - day 3

Went to California Adventure today.  Rode Tower of Terror twice, California Screamin' 3 times, rode the Swings and Ferris Wheel and Soaring over California.   Also, rode on the Toy Story ride and I beat Terry on that game the first time and he beat me on the 3rd time (the 2nd time we rode it the machine wouldn't work so none of our "guns" had any target to shoot at so they gave a re-ride).  The weather was windy and breezy and about 55 degrees.  We also went on the Ariel Mermaid ride and watched "A bug's life is tough" show.  I had my fitbit on which keeps track of how many steps I take and I walked 20, 409 steps which was the equivalent of 8 1/4 miles.  We have a 3 day hopper so have a couple of more days to go.  Having fun with the kids but also keeping on our toes trying to keep track of everyone!

2013 Vacation - Day 1 & 2

We had quite a trip travelling down to Disneyland.  We had to go to Portland first to do an errand.  We left Prineville Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.  Before we got to Madras we had a  flat tire.   Terry finally got the tire changed (I held the flashlight ).  We made it to Madras before the Les Schwab closed and they fixed it for free.  I must have run over a nail because it went down pretty fast.  Went over Mt. Hood in the dark on mostly icy spots.  Got to Ryan & Julie's about 9 p.m. 

On Friday we left their house at 8 a.m.  Hit packed snow at Salem. Around Albany there were several cars that had slid off the road both on the right and left.  We called 511 (for road reports) and found that I-5 south of Eugene was closed with two different wrecks.  So we got off I-5 and went over Hwy 58 through Oakridge because 511 said the roads in Central Oregon were better.  We weaved around a wreck before Oakridge and headed across the mountain.  They closed that road behind us.  It was snowing hard and blowing and very poor visibility.  Took both of us watching for shadows ahead to make out cars or trucks in front of us as their taillights were covered in snow.  The windshield wipers kept freezing up especially on my side.  Terry's side was better which was good since he was driving.  But that made it very stressful for me because I wanted to be able to see better.  We got to Chemult on Hwy 97 and they said it was closed north and south.  But 511 said there was a wreck south that would be cleared within an hour.  We couldn't turn around so kept on going forward.  The road was open by the time we got to the wreck (a semi completely turned on its side).  We had poor visibility and packed snow clear until Red Bluff.  15 miles south of there we got a room at Corning.  Whew!  13 hours of driving, 12 of it in super lousy conditions.

Saturday, we headed out at 9 a.m. and had 2 hours of fog, then it lifted and was very nice but they closed the Grapevine.  So we started planning an alternate route to LA but 2 of the 3 ways were also closed.  However, by the time we got to Lost Hills where we would have to take the alternate route over to 101 on the coast, they had opened the Grapevine.  Another whew!!

Got to the motel by Disneyland at 5:30 p.m.  It is nice.  Had dinner with Holly and the crew.  Today they are going to Magic Mountain and we are going to visit Terry's cousin Patty who he has seen twice since we were married and I have never met.  Tomorrow, Tuesday, Wednesday is Disneyland.

Heard it was -14 at Prineville today.  So glad we drained our pipes before we left.  We are praising the Lord for his abundant protection and mercy to us.  Here are some pictures of the trip so far:

Hwy 58 in Oregon

Hwy 58

Hwy 97 in California

My side of the windshield (by Mt Shasta)

Central California

Snow on the Grapevine (I-5)

Snow on the Grapevine I-5

an Orange grove taken going at 75 mph

Our premo parking spot 10 feet from our motel room

A long month

It has been a long month since Bogey died.  Birdie showed so many signs of grieving for Bogey - walking slowly with her nose down to the ground, not raising her head to look at you, being lethargic and wanting to sleep all the time and cowering and hiding.  At about the 3rd week she even acted like she was in pain when we tried to pick her up.  I decided to take her to the vet and see if more was wrong than just depression.  It turns out she had a piece of cheat grass in her ear and also was having bad muscle spasms in her back.  The vet gave her a shot that is a slow-release, long-lasting steroid. All this week she has been staying still in her pet carrier.  When she walks she looks like she is hunching her back.  It is so sad.  Today there were some signs of recovery as she walked around the kitchen a little bit.  She does eat well now, where before she was not very enthusiastic about it.  She looks like she is sleeping a little more peacefully and comfortably tonight.  So, with a few more weeks of limited activity, I am expecting her to be back to normal.  We will have to be extra diligent to keep her from jumping up or down though as she could tweak her back again.

After taking care of Bogey for 2 weeks and now Birdie, it has been a long, worrisome month.  Very frustrating when you can't figure out why your pet is acting the way they do and then finding out that what you thought was wrong (depression) was not what was really wrong.  I know Jesus said "Do not be anxious about anything" but that is very, very hard to actually do.

Bogey

It has been a very sad long week.  Bogey had an accident and his back legs were paralyzed.  The vet gave him predisone, which should have gotten the inflammation down within 24-48 hours and then with several weeks of complete "bed rest" in the crate, we hoped he would get better (like Birdie did a year ago).  But he developed complications and got worse instead of better and then died on 9/19/13.

His sister, Birdie, is grieving and moping around.  Today she was a little better but since she was the "follower" and Bogey the "leader" she is a bit lost and walks slow and put her head down when she walks and her ears droop.  She sleeps a lot (more than she used to - which was a lot).  They  have been constant companions for their entire lives - 7 years.  Terry and I are grieving too but we can't explain to Birdie. Dogs are so in tune with our emotions, I think she knew several days ago that Bogey was not doing well and when I came home from the vet without him, I think she just knew.  Each day she is a little more herself and I am a little less melancholy too, so I think we will make it.  We are praising God for the good, loving, fun, energetic Bogey that he let us have in our life.  And we thank God for Birdie too.

Here are some pictures of Bogey (in blue) and Birdie (in red)

We miss him so much.

Pray for Pastor Dan

Our Pastor, Dan Dillard, was in a terrible motorcycle accident and is in critical condition.  He has already had 2 surgeries and they are expecting to do several more.  The church family has set up a website that people view to get updates on his condition and ALL the things to pray about.
Here is the link
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dandillard

On the website you can also post encouraging comments that Sharon can read to help uplift her in this difficult time.  There have been many miracles already (He is ALIVE - Praise God) and we are expecting many more.  Even with miracles, he will have a long road of recovery.

Pray, Pray, Pray in Jesus' name

Kid pics

It has already been 18 days since Eric & Michelle and their family were here for a visit.  Time sure goes fast.   These are some of the pictures that help make memories.

Fashion Show

Our grandkids are visiting (kids too) and in preparation for their visit I knitted and sewed some doll clothes for their American Girl dolls.  Here is the fashion show:

Christy with her doll Josephina

Becca with her doll Rebecca

Hike and Horses

Over three weeks ago some new friends invited our Pastor's family and me to go on a hike followed by a BBQ.  Then the week before it started raining every day but we did not call off the excursions.  We met at Fara and Colin's house and they loaded up their horses and then we headed up to the edge of the Ochoco Mountains to  Lookout Mountain, which is about 15 miles east of Prineville.  The weather was warm even though it was drizzling rain.  We had a great  time even though we got wet and the fellowship and BBQ afterwards were great.  We hope to do it again soon (but maybe it won't rain next time).

Ochoco Blevens Test seed orchard

Paster Dan  on Fara's horse

Joe (Dan and Sharon's child)

Joe is one of our "adopted" grandchildren

Sharon on the hourse and Fara

Me trying to get on the horse - I had to have help - it was so tall

Was on the horse about 5 minutes - it was fun but how do you get off?

Aunt Marcie

Marcie 

December 24, 1933 to June 4, 2013

She was the very best Aunt anyone could ever have.  She was more like a second Mom to us rather than an Aunt.  She live close by during my childhood, so we saw her often. For the last 24 hours I have had so many memories pop into my head.  This picture captures her joyful spirit.  She loved people and "adopted" many and treated them like family.  She had a servant's heart and would do most anything for you.  When my son Ryan was 8 and had to stay overnight in the hospital after an operation, she stayed the entire night with me as we both watched over my son.  She said I was the one you named her "Marcie", because when I started talking Marilyn was too hard to say.  She liked it so much, she became Marcie to everyone.    She faithfully sent birthday and anniversary cards and cards for all the holidays and always signed them "Love you ever, your old ancient auntie Marcie"

We praise the Lord for the gift of having her part of our life.

Central Oregon Sites

This weekend was spent being a tourist in Central Oregon, hiking and seeing the sites with Ryan and Julie and grandkids, Lance, Liam and Shella May.  We went to Newberry National Monument and saw the Obsidian Flow, Paulina lake and Paulina Falls.  Then hiked through the Lava Cast forest and into the Lava River Cave.  The cave is over a mile long and we walked as far as the Forest Service would let us.  At one point we were 81 feet directly below Highway 97.  It was about 42 degrees in the cave.  After that we took another hike on some trails through the Lava Flow below Lava Butte.  The weather was great - overcast with clouds that kept it from getting too hot, but also it never rained on us until we were getting close to home.  It was a fun weekend.

Cascade mountains seen from lava flow below Lava Butte

Lava flow at Lava Cast Forest - it goes for 7 miles.

Side of Obsidian flow and lake created by snow and rain runoff

Twisted tree at Lava Cast Forest

Tree growing on the Obsidian flow

Obsidian rocks

Interesting design in the rock at the Obsidian flow

More Obsidian rocks

Paulina Falls

Paulina  Lake as seen from the top of the Obsidian flow with Mt. Bachelor in the distance