Avid's Adventures

 

Such a blast.  A week of vacation and it was shared!  First with hubby - Sir Avid and then with Lorilee...sister extraordinary from SF. What a kick and what a hoot.

First, the coast.  Bed and Breakfast at Lincoln City.  Arrived Sunday night, stayed Monday and left Tuesday evening.  Shirley is worth the visit in herself. So warm and friendly - just like the house. The breakfast was so fine...and a dessert!  We felt spoiled and pampered.

We We walked and talked, had a b-day cheesecake for breakfast, and visited with the noisy, but impressive sea lions in sea lion cave. It was a fabulous visit, and soooo refreshing.

Oh yes, cannot forget "Mean Bird".  He would fight all the other seagulls to get all the scraps from breakfast and has stayed at the house for four years:

 The sea lions were very loud and very stinky!  Smelled like a circus tent full of wet dogs! 

But they were in their natural habitat, enjoying themselves, and it was good to see them prosper in reality instead of in a zoo! We then got caught in a traffic jam on SR 4 in Washington heading to Longview - but this was our view:

We just live in a beautiful place and no matter where we end up, there is something to enjoy

There are so many more pictures! I so love the coast!

We came home then, to get ready for the visit from LL.

She is her own character. Absolutely fun and patient!  She is well loved up here, and if she could ever stand the cold, she is encouraged to move here and join the crowd.

We went to Mt St Helen's with LL.  A majestic journey into the processes of the planet. She, too, is a fan of geology, faults, rocks, and volcanoes! We cooed at all the exhibits, the ranger's talk, and stood breathless before the awe inspiring vistas produced by this mountain.  My pictures won't do this adventure justice.

This is LL in the mock up of the helicopter with the billowing clouds of the explosion ahead of her.

We stood transfixed at the enormous mud flows still very evident 28 years later.

As you can clearly see, the top of the volcano is covered in clouds. Other than that, it was a perfect day to sight see.  Sunny, without being hot, no rain, beautiful blue skies.

It is important for you to note the clouds...they are one of the main actors in our adventure...

We left about 1:00 and so were working hard to make it to Johnston Ridge Observatory before they closed at 6:00.

We did make it.  But the entire time, we were a little worried that the clouds would hide our mountain.  As we were strolling up to the observatory I told LL that I would ask the angels to move the clouds for her. 

Gentle giggles from both Sir Avid and LL.  However, a few minutes later...

We went from what you see here to:

Ta Dah!          

I thanked the angels profusely.  LL deserved the best.

More of these pictures will be in the big set above the blog. It was an alpine spring with beautiful flowers everywhere.  We ate a the 19 mile house - may I recommend the homemade, home picked triple berry cobbler.  Hmmmmm.

The birthday party for Sir Avid, Darold, and LL was a hit the following Day. Pictures above also.

She is gone, but her warm memory lingers.  LL is a precious member of this family and she was definitely

WELL     COME!

It was July the 4th, in the small town of White Salmon, Washington. At the City Park the Gorge Wind Orchestra tunes up.  The four Howitzer guns, 105 millimeter, stand ready to join in the 1812 Overture.  Families spread their blankets and chairs.  The temperature is mild, with a slight breeze.

My two sons, who will be deployed in March to Iraq, are standing tall, ready to blow the park trees to bits.  Sgt Son is in charge, PFC son is shooting the gun closest to us.  Grandson Gordon and his pretty mamma Jen are also in attendance. Sissstttteeer has come to celebrate with us.  This is the first time I have seen the Howitzers in action.  I find myself very moved.

The Orchestra is very good! 50 pieces. The songs and fun begin.  The pictures are posted. 

It was wonderful.  A patriotic adventure of the grandest kind.  Real Americana. The mayor was impressed.  My sons were fabulous.  The day was perfect.

My boys will soon go to war and serve their country in the deepest fashion possible. Today they celebrated our Freedom.  In March they will defend it.

I am a proud mom of two Army National Guard soldiers!

God Bless America,

avid

So close to my home, so refreshing. Lower Falls - and adventure.  I had to reign myself in. Spent two hours walking there this morning and the pictures are posted.  It's a close piece of heaven for me.  I need to smell the trees, the forest, hear the creek, relish the birds. 

I spend my days sitting in front of a computer monitor, doing important and useful work, but it's sitting.  In a cubicle.  Managing a department.  Serving our veterans.  It is a good job and I enjoy it.  BUT - I sit all day in a box.  Drive home in box.  Cook dinner in a box.  I start screaming for the outdoors about the second day of the week.  I can take short walks on my breaks at work, but I am mostly just stuck.  As I age, the precious days left to me seem more and more precious!  Each minute should be savored and enjoyed.  Family should be hugged, friends supported, enemies forgiven.  There is not enough time to mope, stew, fret, be anxious, be afraid.  Too many people close to me (near to me in knowledge or friendship) seem to be dying of brain cancer. I am so grateful for my health and the health of my family!

Sir Avid was surrounded by family for Father's Day and we had a bar-b-que - where he cooked!  It was fun, we had Sgt Son and his wife and Gordon, Darling Daughter and Fiance, PFC Son, and Sisssttteeerr. It was good.  The only sorrow was missing Balding Avenger (oldest son) and his sweet wife and children.  Sigh.  BUT, I rejoiced to have have 3 out of 4 children together.

He got a back massager to put in his chair. He loves it.  He works very hard as a foreman at a rigging company and some days comes home aching!

I LOVE having family around.  I love celebrating the goodness of being together. 

Today is summer at 4:59!  I want more sun.  Enough of the rain and hail, and snow.  I am ready for the outdoors.

Okay everyone - get out and take a walk.

Love to all,

avid

Lacamas Lake is about 10 minutes from our house, if you take it slow.  It's a long lake in the middle of Clark County, Washington. Sissstteeer, Sir Avid and I went there and had a wonderful, relaxing lunch and did some fishing!  Considering that Jerry and I have NO CLUE - Sissttteer took us under her wing - or should I say fin, and brought us up to speed.  Today was fish without a license day, so it was all very free.  There is a boat launch and  park and then miles and miles of lake.  You can almost see the airplane is this picture.  Its a great place.

We caught absolutely nothing but fun and relaxation.  The lake is known for it's brown trout.

Maybe next time! The important thing is we went and had FUN!  We all needed it.

Peace, love, and happy June.

Avid

I cannot sign in to my website. Something is weird. So here are some more pictures!