Sneak Peek!!

Yes, the New Life Community Church 3rd Annual Film Festival is tomorrow night with great anticiaption for a fun filled evening! A new Ma and Pa film, Tall Tales with Ma & Pa, will be part of 7 short films. If you can't make the Film Festival, the church youth will have DVDs available. Please give me a call or email me if you are interested!

Miss Muffit!

I do love this little Miss Muffit (that is what I use to call her when she was small...okay, like just a few minutes ago). New hair!!

AGAIN...

Well, I'm beginning to feel a little like a pro at this towing thing...

...and who would have guessed...Ricardo returns to help! He is such a nice young man!! (I told you I take photos of everything...and everybody!)

We got a call this afternoon from the auto repair shop...low and behold, it was the starter (and who was right about that? I can't hear you!!)! Ol' Betsy will be back home tomorrow! (Who started that thing...giving your vehicle a name? Ol' Roy with his Nelly Bell, I bet!)

I Otter...

This cup is so me! Just look at it...It's my favorite!

Why just the color alone makes me happy! It could bring anyone out of a slump!

But look closer...those are otters...they are the ultimate animal of play, and that so represents who I am. Why, I love making play of just about anything, even work! I'd love to be awarded an otter pin for my excellence in having fun on the job (along with all those other animal character building pins. I will surely work hard at being the hedgehog, turtle and frog as well...take a look at the link)!

http://shop.baudville.com/details.asp?PNO=75904&wtmcid=S_2203_BV&glcid=&utm_medium=&utm_source=&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=

Life is Good!

First of all, I know what you are thinking, "that girl takes photos of everything!" You bet I do. Second, although I have let out a big, big sigh of annoyance, I am truly thankful now. Remember, as you continue to read, I truly am thankful!!

Let me start with yesterday...when getting into my car to go home for lunch, I found that our front left tire was going flat...oh the inconvenience of it all...having to take the car in to remove not only one, but two nails. Oh those little annoyances in life that disrupt it's flow...like, I was getting really, really comfortable about just having a smooth sailing life...no cares in the world life...just minding my own business kind of life and then, WHAM! I'm annoyed!! Like gas prices alone don't make you just want to yell at the top of your lungs "ENOUGH ALREADY!" So, when those little annoyances come along with the stresses of life, they feel larger than they really are... oh yeah, and I must admit that I didn't even have to take the car in to get the tire repaired...it was my hero, my knight in shining armour...okay, lets me honest, it was my cowboy in cow poop covered clothes, that saved the day and took the car in for me. I love that man!! Anyway, those little annoyances are just opportunities to smooth those character flaws in my life...like getting annoyed easily! So yes, it started with the flat tire yesterday...

But, today brought a new "opportunity" to shape my character...and here is what happened. I drove the car to work, and back home during my lunch break, where Lacee then took it to meet friends for lunch, and after lunch went to the store. She climbed back into the car, turned the key, and "click!" She turned it several times..."click, click, click"...then she was on her cell phone, in which is on it's last leg (another little annoyance) calling...no, not her father, but me. Like I know what's wrong with the car?! It sounded like it was the battery and lordy, lordy was I hoping that was what it would be...I guess my character needs a lot of building right now, because after several attempts to wish it into that very thing "it just needs a new battery," totally failed. Because, wishing really doesn't work. Has anyone else figured that out yet? Anyway, it wasn't the battery and our attempt to learn and understand the real problem, failed; it was time to call a tow truck (our car had sat there from 1:30 until 10:30...that's a lot of wishing).

Here is what I am thankful for...we have towing insurance!! Not only that, remember we have just returned from our 2200 mile road trip and traveled through several deserts. My mind kept going to, "oh I am so thankful this happened only a mile from home and not on the side of the road out in the middle of no-man's land!" God changed my annoyances to seeing the bigger picture (like He protected us by allowing the car to malfunction much closer to home), although admittedly I'm not usually very good at seeing the bigger picture. But, my thankfulness oozed all over our tow truck service man, Ricardo, that was only doing his job. I'm thankful that I'm safe, and not in those gang infested neighborhoods, Ricardo talked about when going on service calls at 2:00 a.m.! I'm thankful that even though we have no idea what the problem is (although I'd love to guess that it's the starter going out...I surely will let you know if I'm right), and it may cost through the wazoo, I'm thankful the vehicle is paid for so we can pay for the repair!! I'm just thankful, because whatever it will bring, I know that God will get us through it. He ALWAYS does! It might be another annoyance (oh yes, character building opportunity), but I know it will be okay. Life is good!

Margo Adella 1 Month Old Today!

Margo turned 1 month today...Ashlee made the adorable headband...ribbon flower with vintage pin center (Lacee and I both agree that Ashlee should made these and sell them as one of her Raggamuffin line items).

Why do I love this so much?

Rios Family!

A Change

It has been a nice change today with cooler weather...a reprieve from the heat!! The cloud cover dropped our temps down to 84 today!! We very rarely see clouds in the summer time here. In fact at lunch time we got a few drops of rain in which Lacee tells the tale (totally made up) that an angel was telling a story to God, with such enthusiasm, that it spits while it speaks, and those are the drops of rain we were getting (she is such a nut). It was a short lived, very sparse shower, indeed!

With the welcomed cooler weather, I decided to take my coffee out and just sit by the pond watching our goldfish, listening to the breeze rustle the redwood limbs and needles, a mocking bird perched high at the top of our largest redwood (mocking as they do), and a dove cooing in the background. Next to vacation, this short morning break was simply...fabulous!

After my short sit, I walked over to one of our trees...Below is a photo of our white nectarine tree (about 5-6 foot tall), in which it is very prolific this year. Actually it's the first year it has produced fruit, and I can hardly wait to try some. They are not quite ripe yet. Isn't life grand!

Bug-A-Boo & Bunny

Princess Peanut (3 wks old)

WRAPPING IT UP!

After leaving Cedarville, we continued to travel south on 395, then zigged and zagged through Truckee and onto Tahoe. The unfortunate thing is, we still have many fires burning in California leaving our skies and mountain tops smokey. I was driving or I would have gotten a photo of Lake Tahoe itself. The smoke was so thick that we couldn't see across nor half way across the lake. The photo below was taken at 7:21 pm...the smoke muted the brightness of the sun and it appeared a pink rather than an orange color from the smoke...a little strange looking.

The next morning we arose to clearer skies and we were on our way home (Carson River below)...

...by way of Grover Hot Spring State Park! Absolutely beautiful and we enjoyed the soaking and swimming pools at 9:30 a.m. This was another find Cliff came upon on the internet. We are so glad we found it. We were one of the first to use the pools and leave before many campers came across the meadow to use the facilities. If you are ever in the area, try it! It was wonderful and who could beat the serenity or the price? Only $5 each for the whole day if you liked. For more information:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=508

The soaking pool below...


All good things must come to an end, I'm told. We arrived home, and we will cherish our memories of family gatherings, visiting friends and new places explored. Cliff and I are very thankful for a safe, healthy, beautiful and fun vacation! We give God the glory!

Surprise Valley Hot Springs

Our stop for the night was in Cedarville, CA...Cliff had read about this place on the internet...and sometimes they aren't what they seem, so we weren't sure what we'd find. It was about 25 miles out of our way. Cedarville is a little berg of 850 people and it's totally ranching country. When traveling over the mountain, it was a surprise, just like it's name, Surprise Valley. The photo below is looking back toward Cedarville...Our destination was Surprise Valley Hot Springs, 6 miles east of town.

Here's the road we traveled on to the hot springs...

Here's the turn off to the hot springs...


We squinted to see if this truly was a place we'd stay at for the night as we traveled down the gravel drive. If not, it was back on the road.


It was still hard to see...

We were pleasantly surprised, it was rather nice...a little oasis out from town on the salt flats of a dry lake. We stayed in the "deluxe" African Room shown to the left with the double doors. It had a full kitchen, livingroom, bedroom and bathroom...it was fabulous...and not only that, we had our own private hot tub! The price was right too (weekday prices lower than weekend)!! After staying the night we asked to see the standard rooms and they had a kitchenette and private hot tub also. Cliff and I hope to return someday and stay longer. For more info:

http://www.surprisevalleyhotsprings.com/main.html



We ate dinner and breakfast at the Country Hearth Restaurant and Bakery in Cedarville...YUM...with Rancher portions!


More Cedarville...


Cliff and I thought the roof line on left was rather interesting!

Our stay was toooooooooooo short!!

Gene & Marie

After leaving Mom and Dad's we met up with our friends (moved from California to Idaho) for breakfast. It was a way, way, way too short of an hour or so, trying to catch up on each other's lives. They were so kind to meet us half way so we wouldn't have to back track...what fabulous friends! Thanks, Gene & Marie (and you two look marvelous!!).

SEEING THE FOLKS

After touring the Columbia Gorge, we were whooped, so we spent the night in Pendleton. We took our time, but finally reached Mom and Dad's. This is the side of town they live...so beautiful!! Rich with ranchers, foothills and mountains (Elkhorn Mts.).

Mom was preparing shrimp for our lunch (it was the last of what Larry and Lorna had given to Mom and dad...L&L caught in Canada)!

Mom! I love this photo of her!


Dad was the energizer bunny...he had already weed-eated, and after watering, he mowed the lawn!


Mom and Dad looked great and seemed to feel well and that was a blessing!! Our visit was too short and it's always hard from me to leave...Cliff was kind to take a photo of us before leaving to California.

HEADING EAST

It was time to leave Vernonia and head east to visit Mom and Dad. We did enjoy our short stay and we thank each and everyone of you for your hospitality, love, and lets not forget all the laughs! You guys are amazingly awesome! However, even on vacation, we did have to have some kind of schedule...While traveling east down the Columbia Gorge, our first stop was at Multnomah Falls. I don't think we could ever get tired of experiencing their beauty! (Cliff is standing at the base of the first fall in red)

For our picnic lunch, we stopped at Cascade Locks and it just so happened at the Marina where the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler docks. To learn more click on this link:

http://www.cascadelocks.net/sternwheeler.htm

the "Bridge of the Gods" is the bridge we took to get to the Washington side of the Columbia River


After visiting the Marshal's Winery on the Washington side, we drove down hill back to the highway with the pleasure of seeing Mt. Hood (on the Oregon side)



Maryhill Winery was another destination...for more information:

http://www.maryhillwinery.com/



Maryhill Museum was another short stop...we didn't tour the museum, but enjoyed the peacocks


Our first white peacock!!


Our last stop on the Washington side before going back to Oregon, was America's Stonehenge (full size replica). For more information:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WA-Stonehenge.html

APPRECIATION

One of the things I didn't appreciate as a kid growing up in Vernonia, but do now, are the wild flowers that are so plentiful...the Daisies and Foxglove were beautiful. The stump reminds me of the culture I grew up in...a logging community.

VHS (Vernonia High School)...another I appreciate...the awesome teachers I had and the experiences I shared with classmates...truly irreplaceable!!! However, the VHS building is replaceable and will be torn down soon (flood victim that won't survive this time). I was sadden almost to tears when visiting my last time.

I past this name plate hundreds if not thousands of times attending school or sports events and I don't remember seeing it. VHS was erected in 1952.