On the Road Soon!

Thanks to you all for the nice comments about my grandgirls and their show.  I am fully aware that I write a lot about my grands but they are a huge part of my life and being a grandma is just part of who I am.  They will love looking back in the blog book and seeing the write-up and their pictures.  I sure wish I had started blogging a long time ago because many times I will refer back to the blog to see where we went or what we did at a certain time.  It sure helps the old memory banks to have something in black and white to refer to.


Sunday marked the true end of our summer “family” season as the last of the company departed.  It was a nice summer with lots of visitors but now it is time for us to rest and do some things with just us and our girl.





So we are hurrying to get things cleaned up around here and making plans for our fall trip.  I hired a cat sitter today and she seems to be wonderful.  That’s a big worry off my mind.  We emptied most of the flower pots so that’s something we don’t have to worry about while we’re gone.

Monday we took some time off to go for a walk at the Delta Ponds.  There is a new part of the trail that we had not visited yet so we took the path less traveled. 


The water level is down at this time of year but the water plants provide a wonderful habitat for ducks and other waterfowl.


We saw a heron and an egret but they were too far away to get a good picture.  I just love this time of year.  The mornings and evenings are cool and the daytime temperatures are not too hot.  Most of the wild blossoms are gone but there are still a few left to enjoy.


Probably won’t get another chance to do many walks this week as we finish up what needs to be done at home. 

This may be just a common mallard, but she was such a gentle sight and we enjoyed watching her.  Hopefully, we will get back here again after we get back from our journey.







Don’t you wish we could all be as peaceful and content as this duck?

Summer’s Last Hurrah!

It’s been an eventful summer for us here at the Hyacinth Hilton.  (Hyacinth is the name of our street here in Eugene, OR).  To say it has been an eventful summer would be an understatement.  It has certainly been a season that has brought unexpected events our way, and sorrow that I hope will not be repeated anytime soon.

But it has also been a season of joy.  How can you be around young people and not find hope for the future and happiness for today?  The life and energy that these young people bring into our lives more than make up for the work and expense of entertaining them.  We have indeed been the “Hyacinth Hilton” this summer.  That’s a good thing!!

And so, for our last event of this event-filled summer, we had our backyard family picnic and a performance by none other than those Krecklow grandgirls, who have dubbed themselves, The Rolling Pebbles.  Theirs was a 60’s theme and they didn’t feel they quite measured up to the Rolling Stones – yet!!!  It was all in fun and what fun we had.

L to R: Cailin (12), Anna (15), Bekah (12), Emmie (10)

With less than three weeks during the summer that they were able to practice together, these mostly self-taught, girls put together a show that was fun, funky, and fabulous.  They even came up with some changes to the originals on some of their songs that I thought were great.  Okay, I’m a bit prejudiced, so sue me LOL!  The girls did this totally on their own, all I did was provide them a venue, feed them, and buy stuff!!

No I’m not going to post the whole show here (I heard that big sigh of relief!!).  But I did make a short, few second clip from each song and I’m so proud of them I just have to show off a bit.  The sound is not the best but I think they all had fun and we sure had fun with them.  Ignore the neighbor’s chainsaw in the background!!

Next week we are going to be doing some resting and planning for a much shorter trip than we had first thought about.  After doing some number crunching and looking at some other things we have to take care of, it will most likely end up being a condensed version of our anticipated itinerary.  More on that later.

And so please allow me to introduce for the very first time…..(drum roll, please) The Rolling Pebbles (I know family will want to view these clips, the rest of you are not required to watch hahaha!!) 

Surfin' USA 


Rock 'n' Roll Music 


 House of the Rising Sun


 Where Have all the Flowers Gone


 Twist and Shout


 Misery


Okay, that’s all (WHEW!).  If you watched a clip or two I hope you enjoyed it.  I know it’s not cool to post so many clips on a blog but this has been the best thing to happen to me all summer and I had fun with it.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it! 

Hope you are all enjoying fewer crowds now that school has started or is about to start in most places.  Now is the time I like to travel and we’ll just have to see what lies around the next bend for us here at Travels in Therapy.

Still Looking for the Right Motorhome???

Sorry, just thought it was funny and wanted to share.  That’s my post for tonight!!

The Girls are BACK–and Then We’re Gone!!

The last  hurrah of the summer season is here already in Eugene, OR.  It seems the kids are all anxious to get back to school yet reluctant to leave behind those carefree days of summer.  I still remember that feeling.  Sad to leave summer behind but getting together with friends is always something to look forward to.  Some things don’t change much!!


We started the day with breakfast out, on our way to meet up with the girls in Salem.  This is how they do the hash browns at our local Diner…crisp on top….

 


…AND on the bottom.  Now that’s a nice pile of hash browns.  Russ gives me half of his potatoes and I give him half of my flapjack.  The diner insists it is NOT a pancake, it is a thin cousin of a pancake and it is a FLAPJACK.  Okay, whatever you say, as long as it’s good.

The girls are in the pool as we speak.  It’s been getting cold here at night and in the early morning but right now it is hot and the pool is warm.  Someday we need to do some major ($$$) work on that pool.  Don’t know what we’ll do but I know the kids sure enjoy it and it gives them some good exercise.  We will have to address the issue soon as the plaster is getting really bad. (SIGH)


Anna discovered an unexpected visitor to the pool.  Don’t know what this is, never seen one before but it was ugly and BIG!!
We have a guy that comes weekly to clean the pool and there is plenty of chlorine in it but the bug didn’t seem to mind!  Anna tossed him out of the water and I don’t know what became of him.  That really bugs me!!

We wind up summer next Saturday with a backyard picnic and music performance by the grands.  Then we will be diving headfirst (no NOT into the pool!) into travel plans for ourselves and Poppy.  Right now it looks like we will be leaving early September for a trip to Glacier NP and then parts unknown.  We may end up on the California coast somewhere near Santa Cruz but no final plans have been made as yet.  We just need a time to relax and unwind from the events of this past summer.

Many of you “know” my crazy sister, Laila, and her equally insane husband, Brian, through my blog.  We have lots of fun with them and love to go places together.  They are huge Duck fans and are into every sport.  The sports have already started for the year and today Brian and Laila were at a soccer game.  The tailgaters had spread from the lawn area onto the sidewalk and as Brian went to walk around them, he did not see the unpainted curb and took a header.  The x-rays show a break but they could not tell if it was a new break or one from a couple of years ago.  He will need to see a specialist next week.  In the meantime he is splinted and in a lot of pain. 

This is one of those times when I really miss Sharon.  We sisters were always there for each other in such times and it somehow feels wrong to be planning a trip and leaving Brian and Laila without a “sister” to help them out.  I know their kids and grandkids are nearby and are willing to help but it is just one of those struggles that we face when dealing with life changes…and it sure can change in a hurry.  This certainly puts a crimp in Brian and Laila’s fall travel and game plans.  DANG IT!!

Life goes on, all you can do is roll with it and do the best you can to keep up.

Picnic in the Park–and- Looking for a Lepidopterist

Oh we do have us a mini heat wave here in Eugene, OR.  I really need to have a talk with old Mr. Sol.  He lets us freeze in June and July and then in August he tries to make up for it by slow roasting us!  Please Mr. Sol, a little moderation would be nice.  The mercury has climbed to over 90F for the last several days and it is supposed to get worse before it gets better.  Add to that the smoke from several Oregon wildfires, and that equals health alerts for old folks and those with breathing problems.  Might get a thunder storm Friday night which would wash away some of the smoke.

But we braved the heat for a little river time yesterday.  Our favorite picnic lunch is a Subway sandwich – so easy, I just tell them what to put on it and I don’t have to slice, dice, or clean anything up.  Now that’s a picnic.

We took our sandwiches to Skinner Butte Park on the banks of the Willamette River.  This is just across the river from Valley River Center, a great boondocking area that many of you have enjoyed.

Poppy appears to be sniffing a pocket of sunshine (I’m sure there must have been more to it!).


Something caught their eye…


We managed to snag a table in the shade and enjoyed our Subs.


This is a busy park and right on the Willamette River bike path.  The path is heavily used by bikers and walkers alike and today was no exception.  The paved bike path goes on both sides of the river before it converges and continues on to Springfield.  Good to see people out enjoying the sunshine.



Between these picnic tables and the river, there is a more primitive pathway that allows river access.  This path is for pedestrians only.



One thing I do NOT like to see is idiots who ignore the law and launch their watercraft without the required Personal Flotation Devices.  I watched these two young ladies blow up their Sevylor canoe and launch into the river without any PFDs on board.  The craft looked more suitable for a small lake or a swimming pool!  There have already been people killed on the river this year and more who were rescued.  The river is relatively calm here but there are unexpected hazards and hidden detritus that can play havoc with inflatables.  I think they should be billed for the rescue efforts if they have launched without PFDs on board!!


With our lunch finished and trash put in the trash can where it belongs (another pet peeve of mine!) we vacated our table.  Didn’t take long for it to find a new tenant.


Here’s a picture I took when the kids were here and we visited Shotgun Creek.  Hope someone can tell me what it is.  The kids were calling it a butterfly but it looks more like a moth to me – but that is why I am looking for a lepidopterist!








And then, just because I like the looks of it, a fence I pictured when we went to the Finley Wildlife Refuge .


As Porky Pig would say, “That’s all, folks.”

Oh Yeah…

I got this in an email from my brother today.  It went along with the theme of my post last night that I just had to re-post.  Thank you David.


 
I was visiting my son last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper.

“This is the 21st century,” he said. “I don't waste money on newspapers. Here, you can borrow my iPad.”

I can tell you, that damn fly never knew what hit it....

Lest any of you think I am serious –THIS IS ONLY A JOKE!  I love technology and have my own share of gadgets…but I don’t have an iPad yet, nor a different appliance for every food I want to cook.  It’s all relative!!

I Think I’m Out of Touch!

Enjoying a cup of coffee this morning, I sat and perused the Sunday paper – the only one we buy.  I like to look at the ads and coupons, but the most important part is the funnies.  Just gotta read "’Pickles'.’  Sometimes I think the author has our house wired for video as some of those comic strips sure hit home.

Anyway, in the ads I saw this:  Yes, you can purchase your very own Rachel Ray GARBAGE BOWL for the 'on sale' price of only $18.88, regular price $29.99.  Now the idea of having a bowl to throw stuff in while you are cooking makes sense.  And I have nothing against Rachel Ray, and I’m sure it’s a very nice bowl.  But, people, paying almost $20 for a GARBAGE bowl???  Are you nuts?  If you really want something to toss your potato peels and egg shells in, go to a garage sale and get one for a quarter.  Do people actually spend this kind of money just so they can emulate a celebrity?  I’m out of touch.

And then there was this ad in another flyer.  Young men’s jeans are on sale for only $29.99…and they come complete with HOLES!!  I looked them up online and the ad says, “Destructed details and whiskering add well-worn touches.”  HELLO – these are supposed to be brand new jeans!  When my jeans started looking like that, I cut them off and made shorts out of them and put patches on what I couldn’t cut off.  When my grandgirls were visiting, they needed some long pants for the unexpected cool weather.  I took them to the local second hand store and got jeans that looked a whole lot better than these for under $5!  I don’t understand…I’m out of touch.

And don’t get me started on unneeded appliances.  I wrote back in January about an doohickey I saw at Michaels for “only” $39.99.  It was a small machine that holds one cupcake.  You put the cupcake in, add sprinkles in the cups on top, push the plunger, and the thing swirls jimmies onto the cupcake.   Oh-Kay!!  I’m out of touch!

I was looking on Amazon at all the small appliances you can buy.  You can buy a separate appliance to make quesadillas, sandwiches, muffin tops, pizza, mini cupcakes, waffles (of course!), and a whole host of blenders, choppers, and mixers.  Geez, the list could go on forever.  You can even buy an electric iced tea maker!  I’m out of touch!

However, here’s my dilemma.  In looking at all the amazing electrical appliances for sale I came across this little gem.  Now isn’t that just the slickest thing ever?  You can put something in it at the start of your travel day, plug it into a 12V outlet, and let it cook while you travel.  When you reach your destination, your meal is ready.  How cool is that?  I’m thinking about ordering one.  Maybe I’m not so far out of touch after all!!

Whatcha Dune??

This has got to be some kind of record for me.  I have managed to milk write four journal entries for this one day trip!!  But this one is the last.
 
At last…something you all may be interested in – or not.  But it’s what we saw.  At Winchester Bay is a neat little campground that is set back against a hill, with the sites across the street from the Salmon Harbor.  Windy Cove is operated by Douglas County.  It has both FHU and primitive sites.  Most are first come, first served and it looked like a lot of folks were enjoying the park right now.



Most of the spaces seemed pretty close together so better like the people you’re camping with!  Many are fishermen or ATVers.  The park is fairly well kept with the Caretaker's residence surrounded by flowers and well- kept grass.


A FHU site will run you $23, which includes cable TV and Wi-Fi, with a primitive site going for $15.  That’s a pretty good deal but it can sure be busy during the summer and during prime fishing season.

If you want something a little more upscale, right across the road and on the harbor you will find the Winchester Bay RV Resort.  Definitely the place where the big rigs go.  Very nice place, green grass, very clean, and direct water views.  The bay road bisects the park but it’s a little used road and doesn’t seem to create any problems.  This park is NOT $23 per night!

Past Windy Cove park is a road leading to several ATV areas.  Again, although we have been to Winchester Bay many times, we had never taken this road.  Something new to us! 

We have visited the portion of the Oregon dunes near Florence so we were prepared to be unimpressed by the scenery.  WRONG!!  These are not sand hills, these are sand mountains.  I could not believe the size of some of the dunes.  There is no way to capture the their majesty in 2D but I did take a few shots.



It looked more like a ski area than somewhere you could go roaring across miles of sand in an ATV.  The contrast between the dun colored sand and green of the pine trees and sea grasses was something to behold.



It’s hard to visualize just how tall these dunes are but believe me, you wouldn’t want to try walking to the top.


There are rules and precautions in place to protect some of the areas and there are seasonal closures to provide sanctuary for breeding shore birds.  These dunes go on for over 40 miles and any marks left in the sand by the ATVs are blown away with the next day’s wind.  I am not a big fan of these sand rails, but I saw a lot of people having a grand time with their families and if they enjoy it and follow the rules, more power to them. 

To give you a sense of perspective, the red arrow is pointing to a full sized ATV.  Click on photo to enlarge.


At the end of the road is the Umpqua Beach Staging area.  This a a day use only area and usage fees apply.  It’s a great place for ATVers as it is at the end of the road, has a huge paved parking area, restroom facilities and a WHOLE lotta sand!!





If you want to see the immensity of these dunes, go to Google Earth.  Some folks may think the dunes should be left alone and no one should be riding loud obnoxious gasoline machines through them.  Although a little of the noise goes a long way with me, I feel the dunes are there to enjoy and …why not?  It’s not like you can grow crops on them!  Oregon is very aware and careful with her natural resources and I believe the dunes are managed in a thoughtful and sustainable manner.  This area provides a lot of high energy fun for families and a lot of picturesque viewing for the rest of us.  It’s a win/win.  Definitely worth going to see even if you hate ATVs!!

Fun is Easy for Old Folks

Okay…leaving the hash browns behind we journey on to the small Oregon coastal town of Reedsport.  This is where the Umpqua river empties into the Pacific Ocean.  This coastal area used to be a thriving wood and paper mill area but since the paper mill in Gardener (a few miles north) closed several years ago, the economy has not been as robust.  But fishing and tourism certainly do contribute a great deal to the local economy.

First stop was the local Umpqua Discovery Center.  Located on the banks of the river, the discovery center is a tourist store and a museum of sorts.  There is a large walk-through display of the history and culture of the indigenous people of the area.  Also included is a history and display of the animals and plants of the Umpqua basin.  Unfortunately, they value this information at $8 per person – a little rich for my blood!!  Maybe next time.


Laila and I did make it all the way up the steps to the top level.  It was quite a view from up there. 





Since we were too cheap to pay the price of admission, we took ourselves off to Winchester Bay, just a few miles down the road.  Salmon Harbor on the bay can be a very busy area but there was not a lot of activity today.  There is a BIG tree and a little park at the edge of the parking lot.  Just perfect for a Poppy walk and then a sit in the shade for the old dog.



A few steps away from this little park, Brian spied his Dream-Boat.  Laila was not so sure.

Aww, come on Laila, a little bubble-gum, a little paint and she’ll be just fine.  And a close-up of the wheel house shows that it comes already decorated for Christmas with a live fir tree growing right out the window.


Okay, then, maybe not!!  So let’s decide what we want for lunch.

“I KNOW there’s some lunch in there somewhere.”

“Whadaya lookin’ at?  I eat here all the time and it’s fine!”

Brian and Laila just couldn’t decide what to order.


We finally all settled on the fish and chips at Griff’s.  The fish was fresh right off the boats but I cannot give this place a high recommend.  It wasn't bad, but I like my fish (like my hash-browns) CRISP.  This was more of a sauté with a little bit of bread crumbs.  Tasted okay – just not quite what I had in mind for fish and chips!!  Sorry Griff’s.

As always, Laila and I found a handsome man that we both wanted to claim.


I won so Laila had to find a NEW buoy friend, while Brian found some lovely wildflowers and Russ just caught with a net.


It really was a lovely day on at Salmon Harbor.  Not a wind or a ripple, made for some nice reflections on the water.











Guess I’ll be buzzing along for now…