Meeting the Weavers

Did you ever wonder if you have blinders on when it comes to something you really like or think is wonderful?  Perhaps your “eye” is just a little prejudiced or you are seeing through rose colored glasses.  Sometimes I wonder if that describes me and the way I feel about Oregon.  That is why I love reading blogs about my home state.  I love to see my Oregon through new eyes and read what others think of this beautiful state.  Several bloggers have visited Oregon in the last few months and I enjoy reading what they have to say and seeing all the wonderful pictures.  I hope we see more of you come through Oregon this summer and if you get a chance to look us up, please do that.

One of the blogs I read on a regular basis is “Where’s Weaver.”  Paul and Marsha Weaver have been making their way up the west coast and have been in Oregon now for several days.  They are currently in Florence, OR and today they took a side trip inland to Eugene.  We were privileged to meet up with these great folks at what has become sort of our unofficial blogger meeting place, Roaring Rapids Pizza.  Previously we have met Rick and Paulette here and also Sue and Mo.   This is one of the few places in town where you can actually eat outside by the river and enjoy the ambiance of al fresco dining while watching the activity on the Willamette River.   Today there were four fishing boats in the water and the ospreys were active, looking for the catch of the day.


We had a great time and like many have said before, it was like meeting old friends.  It’s always fun to hear about the places others are traveling to and exchange stories about places you have both visited.  The only thing they didn’t tell us ahead of time is today is Marsha's birthday!  Happy Birthday friend, hope it was a good one.

This is part of the outdoor seating area at the pizza place.


A view of the river.

Potted African Daisy on the patio.  I’ve never seen one like this before.


Paul and Marsha had not yet visited the University of Oregon’s football field, Autzen Stadium.  I told them to follow me and I’d show them where it was.  What I didn’t know is there is another round of construction going on there and the entrance I wanted them to use was closed.  So I ended up taking them on a wild goose (or should I say DUCK) chase!  If you are coming to Eugene and want to see the home of the Oregon Ducks, take the Leo Harris Parkway off MLK Blvd!  Now I know!!  Sorry Paul and Marsha.

Although we gave up our season tickets a couple of years ago, we still have many fond memories of our days sitting in Autzen Stadium watching the Ducks play football.  Being tied down to those games sure cuts into the travel time though – we can always watch them on TV!  Hope you got to see at least some of the stadium Paul and Marsha and if not, here’s a picture.



Just one more thing…we were driving around the other day when Russ spied this duck family just walking up someone’s front walkway.  From the size of this crew, I think Mama Duck must have adopted some babies.  There were 9 or 10 ducklings all following along behind her.  Sorry, photo is blurry but I still wanted to share.



Have a great rest of the weekend.


Thought for the day:  The optimist can be wrong as often as the pessimist but the optimist is happier!

Good Food, Good Fun, Good Family

Yesterday was our brother-in-law, Brian’s, birthday so tonight we took him and my sister, Laila, out to dinner at Red Lobster.  Boy was it yummy.





Since Brian is celebrating his 102nd birthday, I thought I would make this post as  tribute to him.  Actually he’s only 72 but when you get that old, what’s a few years anyway?  Brian met my sister through the internet about 13 years ago.  He was living in Puerto Rico and she was living in Oregon.   He flew to Oregon to meet us – yes we had to approve – and the rest ,as they say, is history. 

We weren’t certain we would recognize Brian at the airport but he did tell us to look for the fella with big ears.  Boy he was NOT kidding.



We didn’t know a lot about Brian at the time.  We knew he was a retired army major and that he had a college degree.  But he wanted to go back to school and living in a college town such as Eugene, Oregon presented him with that opportunity.  He was well into his 60’s when he graduated the University of Oregon with a degree in Archeology.  We understand his love of digging in the dirt went WAAY back so I suppose it was a natural field of study for him.



He looked a little befuddled went the University sent him on his first official dig.




Of course, being an alum of such a storied institution as the University of Oregon, Brian jumped wholeheartedly into being the best Duck fan ever.



We traveled to San Diego a few years back to see the Ducks play in the Holiday Bowl and while we were there we ran into one of Brian’s relatives.



Do you see the resemblance?  We met another of his relatives while on a trip up the McKenzie River a couple of years ago.



In 2007, we traveled to Arizona and ended up in Tombstone one day.  I’m not sure who was more aghast at this chance meeting. 



Brian tried to pick up one of the local ladies in Tombstone, but Laila told him he would wind up back at Boot Hill if he didn’t knock it off.






Brian is the one who thought up some of the planking stunts while we were in Reno together last July.  You can read about that little adventure here.

I could go on and on about the fun times we have had with Brian and Laila.  He was definitely a positive addition to my sister’s life and we have more memories and fun photos than I have room in this blog, so with that I’ll just say “Thank You, Brian, for the fun times and for being a part of the family.  Happy Birthday.”

Hang in there Brian – 73 is only 365 days away.

Who Cut the Cheese???

Well, actually, I guess I did.  Now just hold your horses and don’t you go thinking the worst.  And no I wasn’t one of those old folks on Judy’s tour yesterday!!  Here’s what happened.

Back in December our Oregon Ducks won the Pac12 Championship and thus a Rose Bowl berth.  At the same time the Wisconsin Badgers won their league title and so would be matched against the Ducks in the Rose Bowl.  Merikay and Craig hail from Wisconsin and are big fans of their team.  Since they were going to be in Pasadena for the Rose Parade, we thought a little side bet might be in order.  Since both Oregon and Wisconsin have great cheese, the loser had to buy the winner some cheese from the loser’s home state.



My cheese arrived today and I wasted no time cutting into it and boy was it good.  Thank you so much Merikay and Craig.  The Badgers may have lost the Rose Bowl game but Wisconsin cheese is definitely a winner. 




Now where did I put those crackers….

Back In Oregon – just in time!!

Short post tonight because tonight we are back in Oregon.  We are at the Pear Tree RV Park in Medford, Or and we have cable TV.  In case you are not a football fan, tonight at 5:00 p.m. is the FIRST EVER Pac 12 Conference Championship game.  This is sports history in the making.  There will never be another FIRST Pac 12 championship game.  The game is being played at our home stadium, Autzen Stadium in the beautiful city of Eugene, OR.  The mighty Oregon Ducks take on the UCLA Bruins to decide the conference championship.  A trip to the Rose Bowl is on the line.  So since we can’t be at the game we are pretending by snuggling up in our stadium blankets, with our Duck pillow and accessories and we are settling in for a great game.  It’s 5:00 so I gotta go watch the game.  GO DUCKS!  (yeah, I’m a bit of a college football nut)  More on our trip tomorrow…it was a great travel day today.



An Old Memory:

Must Be My Week…Another Present!!

Russ came home from the post office with a big box today.  I had no idea what was in it.  SURPRISE!!  It was a box from Blogging buddy Carol, from Carol K’s Journey.  Carol became a grandma for the first time this year and just recently purchased a sewing machine.  She wants to learn to quilt and said it has been a long time since she has done much sewing.  However, from the looks of what she sent me, she hasn’t lost her touch.

Russ pulled things out of the box and tried to explain to me what they were.  He said there was a scarf, two ear muffs, and a pillow.  And since he was all dressed in his best Duck Gear, he said the entire present must be for him. (basketball not included, batteries sold separately!)




No, Russ, WRONG, guess again.



No, it is NOT an arm warmer.

As any WOMAN can tell you, this very nice handmade present is a table runner, two pot holders and a throw pillow.  If the pillow wasn’t so nice, I would throw it at Russ!!




Carol and Dave know we are Duck fans so she could not have made anything any nicer or more appreciated.  She says she was just practicing but it sure doesn’t look like “practice” to me!!  Thank you so much Carol.  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

In other news…we are almost packed up and ready to roll on Sunday afternoon.  Will probably only go as far as Seven Feathers the first night but it’s a start.  We are in no hurry and are just meandering down the road at our own pace.  We plan on about a 4 week jaunt.  Who knows how far we can get in four weeks???

Time for a little rolling Therapy!
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BTW, I’m not big on conspiracy theories, but…certain nefarious types have let it be known that they are going to annihilate FB tomorrow on Guy Fawkes Day (Google it!)  Who knows if they will be able to do what they threaten but that may not be all they hack.  I backed up my blog today just in case!!

Quick Post–Cute Picture

Had a fun day today but will write about it tomorrow.  Great college football on tonight so I’m all engrossed in watching the Oregon Ducks fighting off the Cal Bears.  We had season tickets for several years but finally decided we would rather spend all that money on travel.  Besides, it’s raining here – and we are watching the game dry and cozy in our own living room.

But I had to show this photo I got from my daughter today.  My 14 year old granddaughter, Anna, is in  her first year of high school this year.  She has joined the Junior ROTC at Oregon City High School and we are so proud of her.  Doesn’t she look grown-up in her uniform?  Seems like only yesterday she was just a little girl in pigtails and ruffles.  Anna, I love you.



Remembering…