WHO'S THAT KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR??

 It was our friend, Karen, from Port Orford!!  After a number of delays we had a lovely visit..........and it was a thoroughly delightful couple of days.   After Karen arrived and after showing her our new home, we traveled north a few miles to Oakland.  Had a good lunch at Tolly's.  If anyone get  over that way, they should try to stop by....even for just a look at this great refurbished business.  It was once a pharmacy although it looked like it was more.  Done in old Victorian decor now with a gorgeous winding staircase to the dining room upstairs.  They have some very good art hanging on the walls, cupboards of beautiful old china and dishes, lots of vintage old photos of past business, homemade pies and cakes, bread, quiches, and all kinds of other yummy foods.  I think the chatter with Karen never stopped as we caught up on all the old, new and future news.

My photo album on Facebook held all my photos of our remaining afternoon as we toured by foot, Oakland.  All the spring blooms were out along with the sun.......the fragrances, the charms of old well kept Victorian homes and cottages........surrounded by cottage gardens was a joy to the senses.  Dogs, birds, kitties, alleys that reminded me of the French Quarter in New Orleans and lots more.  It was a great afternoon and my camera went crazy with the clicking.  If you want to see anymore of Oakland, take a look            https://www.facebook.com/donnas1/media_set?set=a.10152541640583243.1073741847.741743242&type=3  

Our next day we went to a park that I've been wanting to check out for quite while.  Lots of all kinds of water birds.  So.........even though my forte is not photographing birds, there were enough and they were tame enough that even I couldn't miss!  And I saw my first nutria...........not the most beautiful of animals, are they?  But that Mama loved her baby that was hidden (sort of) in the reeds........Mama kept a close eye on us for quite a while.  and we kept our lens on her....All in all, it was a long overdue and wonderful visit with Karen.  I had traveled with her on a cruise to Alaska a couple of years back and we dream of a trip to Ireland some day.

I can hardly believe I'm half way through my VA Hospice training already!  It continues to be fascinating.  Last week was particularly a good one......on Spirituality.  My opinion is that spirituality encompasses the entire Hospice concept.  There are so many various aspects, feelings, and emotions that are drawn from that one topic and everyone in our group had something to add to the training.  It was said that when any of us, as volunteers, come across a possible spiritual need of our patient, that our own experiences (or lack of) pertaining to that need, will tell whether we can actually relate in a positive and meaningful way or not.  That might be anger, guilt, fear, etc.   And that really applies to any of us, I'd say.  And there is the difference between truly wanting to help the patient and coming from the heart or talking so as to boost our own egos, just wanting to fix things that aren't ours to fix.  Lots to ponder......letting our own experiences and discoveries from those experiences do the teachings.  Things that can't be taught from a book.  I love this training!!

Well, Easter is just around the corner and I wish you all a Happy One!!

A DAY OF SUNSHINE......

 We had a pair of our long time friends from Port Orford stop by for lunch last week.  So good to see them again!  We caught up on all the coast news.......unhappy though a lot of it was.....I sure don't miss that negative atmosphere, but all our friends.......ahhhhh.  Like a breath of fresh air.  The lovely couple above is Jim and Karen Auborn.........Karen has a lovely art gallery and is a marvelous artist.  I have a number of her paintings, which I treasure.  Karen has also done wonders in working for the Main Street Project in Port Orford.  Jim is mayor and I believe will be next year's Rotary president.  His plate is full!   Both are dedicated to working for the good of the city and it's citizens.  And I hope we see more of them on their way between Port Orford and Portland.........

 These last photos are sort of an experiment of setting flowers in ice and trying to get some interesting effects.  I don't know.......I think it needs a bit more work!   I got the idea from another photographer whose work I follow on Facebook.  His name is Mo Devlin, in case you want to look up his photographs.  I think you'll be impressed.....

The planting in the back yard is proceeding quickly......we had nice day the other day where I found out I still have some arthritis in my back..........But I got a number of seed packages planted......and 4 plants that I ordered from Michigan Bulb.  Those plants did not arrive in great looking shape.  If they don't make it, I'll be sending them back.  This has happened before so I should have known better than to order from them again.  But, who knows, they might make a beautiful comeback and be the best in the garden.

I've had my second week of VA Hospice training.......third coming up on Monday.  It's really a lot more different than civilian hospice that I've been in before.  But just as fascinating.  And the other day I had to have the VA Police try their hand at getting my fingerprints.  In case any of you might remember, I went through 6 different Curry County deputies, each trying to get acceptable fingerprints about a year ago...no luck!  So, I expect the same will happen here.  They still need to send them in to where ever they go, to give me a number, then I'm sure I'll be hearing from them again asking me to come in for ink prints........which will again be an effort in futility.  But who, I ask, would have the same scars along with what's left of my fingerprints??  It just seems very silly to me and a waste of time........at least all these multiple attempts.  The saga will continue.......

Part of my Hospice reading was this tome for HIPPA.  It's dealing with the Federal laws protecting privacy and security of patients.  After reading it 'forever', I'd deem it an excellent replacement for Ambien.  Boring, boring stuff..............Thankfully, that's over and the rest will be great.  The other volunteers in training all seem to be really nice people.  Some are already involved the health field and others have had family in need in the past.  They now want to extend their knowledge and experience in a meaningful and very much needed way.  Like I said.......Really nice people~!

Well......the weekend's coming up and I hope you all have a good one.  With enough in between possible rain showers to give you a breath of spring!

A PROMISING SPRING

Happy spring, Everyone.........we're almost there and in a few days it will be official.  In announcing the happy weather, here is a photo of some beautiful tulips that my niece Lauren brought me when she and her girls came for the weekend.  They're looking too nice in my living room right now for me to plant them outside yet.  That will come soon enough.  The daffodils below are our own......one of the first garden blooms from some bulbs that I just barely got in before it was too late in the season.  Other plants are poking through the soil or bursting out into leaf, depending.  It shows great promise.  We're already making some of our own changes in the back yard without going too crazy.  But my visions for the future garden are inspiring me to forget the aching back and get out into the midst of it........I'll probably "Cry Tomorrow".....

 This below photo was my proud find while I was doing some weeding.  The prized black morel mushrooms!!  I've never had them but the mushroom books all say they're highly valued among mushrooms. We have a ton of them coming up under a dead oak tree whose has some branches that drape over our fence.  The others are too little just yet to pick but you can depend on me checking them daily!  And into the frying pan they go!

Had a wonderful time over the weekend visiting Ashland for my first time.  I definitely need to go back to check out all the area we didn't get to.  There were street musicians on every corner as well as a lot of colorful characters walking the streets and in the shops.  There was a lovely little park that we walked through on our way into town complete with bubbling creek and duck pond.  The park was so well used with a lot of families and little kids running all over.....enjoying the warm sun and the bagpipes, or fiddles that were playing by more street musicians.  I enjoyed the bagpipes..although normally I can only take it for so long.......the bagpipers were dressed in their kilts, of course.  Always makes me wonder...........hmmm??

Norm has had a bad couple of weeks but is feeling much better now.......although he still has laryngitis.  Doctor said that he aspirated stomach acid into his bronchial tubes and lungs during a medical procedure.  This is a new area for us and of all the things I'm alert to and making as sure as I can do to prevent, this, I didn't expect.  Anyway, it never did get into anything like pneumonia, thankfully so I see the way all-clear ahead now.

Well, while the sun is still out and the day is balmy, I'm going back out to rustle around a little more in the garden..........Hope you're all enjoying...........

A SPECIAL TREAT

 Well, what a sight for sore eyes!  My dear friend and ex-neighbor, Nanci came by for a visit today.  And the  beautiful orchid below is from her.....We talked and talked non-stop, catching up on all the old news, new news and everything in between.  It was an extra special treat since this past week has been pretty rough for Norm.  He had a medical procedure that left him in worse condition than before.  Apparently, he had saliva entering his lungs and developed a type of aspiration.  A lot of pain, coughing, coughing and more coughing plus laryngitis.  And anyone who knows Norm, knows that he doesn't sit around all day in front of the TV, but that's pretty much all he did the past week.  To say I've been worried is an understatement, but I do think he's moving forward now.  And Nanci's visit was just the perfect boost.

We're both looking forward to Nanci and Ray coming back over and stay longer so we can go
exploring.......

It looks like our drought is over here on the west coast.........we've had lots of rain with more promised.  I read that another El Nino might be developing.  I remember when we moved to Port Orford there was an El Nino to end all El Nino's!  1998, I think.  A woman who lived in a cute little beach cottage with a nice slope down to the water's edge ended up with an abrupt cliff with logs outside her window being tossed up in the air like matchsticks.  She was getting ready to have the house movers....like move the house not the furnishings, take her home out of harm's way.  Then I guess the storms subsided.  Just one of the reasons I never wanted to live right on the water.  I liked a nice healthy buffer zone.

Norm and I continue to plan our garden.  I haven't received in the mail yet the climbing roses, jasmine or clematis I've ordered and I'm getting impatient.  Especially since I have some gardening magazines that are inspiring me.  We planted some new lawn where the heavy equipment tore things up when we had our back yard and fence boosted up.  In order to not encourage the birds in eating the lawn seed, we stopped putting out birdseed.  Now we set up the hospitality wagon again and the juncos and finches are returning.  I never see any squirrels or chipmunks, though.  We have oaks around so I'd think that the little critters would be seen........course we do have a few kitties around.......That might explain  things, huh?    The Little Darlin's........

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  More rain coming tonight and tomorrow but here in the valley we're looking at sun later on in the week.  So........everyone enjoy the hints of spring coming.

A VALENTINE FOR BUNNY LOVERS

Yesterday I heard the best story and wanted to share it with all of you.........A friend of mine, who is VERY pregnant had a flood in the basement of her home.  (who says we're having a drought?)  My friend, Lynn, kept her bunny, along with her dogs, in the basement when they were away from home.  Lynne's husband is in the military and away from home most days of the week but close enough to come home at odd days.  They have two young daughters, one from each other's past marriages and the girls immediately bonded when they came together........a nice family unit.  And like I said, a new little one coming along soon to join in the fun.  OK........back the the flooded basement.  After Lynn found the flood and that the bunny was in need of a little 'clean up', all seemed well.  The next morning Lynn's mother (Mom and Dad also are part of this close knit family life), told Lynn that she'd better check on the bunny "Whiskers" because he wasn't moving.  Lynn was devastated to find Whiskers had died.  The home was an older place and the basement was a mess (her words not mine) and who knows what had been down in the basement to float around in the flooded water.  Very likely something like rat poison.  That had Lynn worrying about the dogs, too, and whether they might have drunk some of the water.  Lynn called the vet and learned what signs to look for if the dogs were in any kind of trouble.......and thankfully that never became an issue.  But the bunny's passing was going to be hard news to break to the girls, also.  So they weren't told until later.  
While Lynn was crying her heart out about Whiskers, she called her husband and told him what had happened.  Lynn's husband, Roger, was really upset that Lynn was taking this so hard.  ( I expect the pregnancy hormones were alive and well).  So, Roger consoled her as best he could via long distance phone calls.  
The next day, Roger was home and when Lynn got home from work, he told her to check in their closet for his Valentines Day gift to her.......(Feb. 14th).......AND to NOT bring the girls with her.  Lynn naturally thought that it might be a slightly "naughty Valentines gift" so she went in alone.  She went to the closet looked around, and seeing a pet cage on the floor of the closet, leaned down to find a new bunny in the cage.......a cute little lop-eared female.  Seeing this new addition, Lynn promptly broke into a fresh wave to tears.  Roger is frantically asking if these are tears of good or bad???  "It's too soon!!!"  cried Lynn.........And of course, Roger, felt terrible.... telling her that he can bring back the new bunny until the passing of Whiskers had reached become a more manageable emotion.  Roger had looked all over the south coast area looking for a bunny to bring home to replace the missing hole in her heart......as well as the girls when they got the word about Whiskers.  Lynn realized what an exceptionally sweet thing that Roger had done and the effort he had put into this loving act.  She told him that she did intend to keep the new bunny and realized what this all meant in the larger picture.........
When the girls came home from school they told them to go in their closet and take a look at Daddy's Valentine's Day gift to them all.......From the other room, Lynn and Roger could hear the shrieks "ITS a BUNNY!!!".    They still hadn't been told about Whiskers and that was to be shared with them when the girls came back from playing a bit with their new discovery.  There were some wet eyes at once, and one of the girls asked if they could name the new bunny Whiskers, also.  Roger said he wanted to name the new bunny Valentine, since it was his gift to all of them on Valentines Day.  So, Valentine is now a happy addition to this beautiful loving and growing family.  
I think what really touched me was Roger's desire to fill in the feelings of loss that all "his girls" were or would be feeling.  The pain of loss rarely is as long lasting as say, a family member, but still a loss of a beloved pet still hurts acutely in it's initial stages.  This story just moved my heart.   

Today, I drove over to the Roseburg VA and scouted out the building where I'll be meeting the administrator of the VA Hospice program.  I've been thinking along these lines for a while and when our local newspaper listed that they were in need of more volunteers.......well the timing was perfect for me.  It's been many years since I've been to the VA campus and the new housing they have built for some of the veterans is so nice!  Nice, neat, cheerful.....like comfy little condos......no barracks here, thankfully.  I'm sure I'll have more news about some of my experiences in my future ramblings....

The above photos are of a few spring flowers that Norm and I recently purchased.  We're definitely starting to look forward to spring and warmer weather.  I have a number of vines, shrubs and plants coming.  We have a much smaller garden area now, but there's enough room to make it "our own".  Put our own stamp on it.  All we have to do is wait out the continuing rains........at least they've started again and this is Oregon, after all!

Enjoy your winter days and dreams of spring........

"THE GREAT FENCE"

 Before I get into the saga of The Great Fence, I want to show off the gorgeous colors of the autumn trees around here last week.  I went with a friend for lunch and we drove over to the Umpqua area.  My kind of photo shoot!  Old historical homes, pasture animals, old barns and beautiful fall colors......plus the ever wonderful Umpqua River.  "My cup runneth over!"   We had lunch at a delicious bakery.......The Lighthouse Bakery.  It's also a cafe and has vegetarian food.  Being an animal eater, I usually avoid vegetarian restaurants, but that menu has changed so much from what it was years ago.  Just delicious is the new version.  The Lighthouse does a great business and this is what supports, at least in part, a spiritual retreat center that I've yet to visit but sounds pretty amazing........That will be the subject for another day.
In the travels of last week, we stopped by one home that had such an assortment of  an autumn themed garden.  Not only the gorgeous trees, like this first photo of a liquid amber, but a cute outhouse, hay wagon, scarecrows, beautiful fall flowers, and just too many odds and ends to list them all here.  I put a couple of photos of it on Facebook, if you follow me on there.  The family all came out when they saw us out in front......first the son, visiting from Chicago, then his mother, then his son, then the father, then the daughter.....and then the family dog.  One by one and we all had a great gab-fest.  Such nice people!  And they do it up for Christmas also, so I'll be hoping to see that come December.....
The second photo is of a group of fishermen taking off on one part of the Umpqua River.  And the third photo is of one I took of the river from an overpass........I usually don't put my own photos on my computer's desktop but this one I had to........It's so beautiful!  And it was a beautiful day.

 So now it's the sage of "The Great Fence".   When we moved into our new home we noticed that a part of the fence in the back was leaning but didn't think it was that big a deal.  Then we had a storm come through that dropped quite a bit of water.  Compared to what we used to get in Port Orford, we didn't think it was much of a gully-washer, but it did do some damage out back.  It washed out a gully between the sod of the lawn and the weed-guard that held decorative plants against the fence......It looked like it washed under the garden beds and under the fence.  I couldn't see beyond the fence to see what the backside looked like but the fence was REALLY leaning after that.  Obviously, something was going on that needed looking into.  So......we had a maintenance man and contractor, Scotty, come out and take a look.  It appears that when the backyard was re-landscaped, the drainpipe that went under the lawn, either broke or just stopped without continuing out beyond the garden area......meaning under the fence.  No one actually knows this for sure at this point since it's underground but that's what suspected.  Another contractor came out and those were his thoughts also.  Doesn't really matter, except it has to be fixed.  Next week, the project will start........digging up part of the garden and lawn......dropping steel I-beams, a cement wall, 2 layers of treated plywood and some kind of cloth, layers of rock....a French drain and the the fence pulled forward attached to something or other. They say that the garden will look back to what it looks like now (minus the leaning fence) but I really, really have my doubts about that!  So today, there have been all kinds of utility men coming and going to make sure that there are no lines, wires, etc. that will be impacted by the work....Plywood has been delivered, and different men painting words on the lawn that means something to them.  Good Grief!!!  And "Yes, this will cost a pretty penny".  The good parts are that (1) it will be fixed so no further damage can occur and (2) they will start next week and will work at it straight through to completion..........5 or 6 days.  Oh.....a third plus is that we're meeting a lot of very nice people....and that counts for a lot, right??

The weekend is coming up and I wish you all a happy and fun time to be had by all!

TRICK OR TREAT??

 It's been so long since we've been living in a place where we get the Halloween trick or treaters and this year was just great!  Our very first trick or treater was our new friend pictured above.  Myrna did NOT have her parents with her but braved it on her own..........actually she was in costume for handing out the treats which her daughters and grandchildren went out to treat everyone with their 'family of bones'.........All dressed in skeleton costumes.  Myrna was so decked out I couldn't pass up taking a photo of her.  Not long after that the kids started arriving......in hoards!  Some of the very little ones were so funny.  A number started to just walk in the house like it was it was where they belonged.....one little guy who was only about 1 1/2 years old didn't consider my putting the candy in the bag his Mom was carrying to be legitimate and when he thought I wasn't going put any candy in his own little hand, his face started to scrunch into what would become 'the big square mouth wail'.  Of course, I quickly put another piece in his little hand before the dam broke and he, satisfied, went on his way.
 The various parents were pretty funny, too.  They almost always had to tell the younger ones to say "Trick or Treat".....which translated into "Twick or Tweet".........then there was the duty "Thank You".

 A tall young girl dressed up like Little Boo Peep, gave a very deep voiced thanks that had me commenting on The Voice.........When he told me a bit defensively "I'm a boy!".
  After I gave one little one his treats with his father standing there with him when I saw a flash from out on the street.  I said "Oh, picture taking?"  And the young father said in a bit of a tired reply "Of course"........guess Mom makes happy and frequent use of her camera!  Another pre-teen boy suggested I give him ALL the candy.......then gave a thank you and a "God Bless".  I wondered whether he knew it was a heathen holiday.......8-))

Now we are left with about a couple of dozen little candy bars and/or packages of M&M's.  Hmmm.....I wonder what we're going to do with them?  It is a dilemma.........

 These flowers are perfect for the autumn of the year, aren't they.  They above chrysanthemum grows in our garden.  It seems to be a prolific producer........And the beautiful variegated cyclamen was given to us by a friend, Sarah..........I've never seen one like this before with the variegated leaves and the very deep dark red blooms.  I think we've found the perfect place for it and enjoy watching it thrive.......Fingers crossed that I don't do anything to change that.

Hope you all had a fun-filled Halloween, too.  There were probably Halloween parties at the schools and churches.  Some merchants in shopping malls hold a Halloween costume parade for the kids to march in and collect treats from the various shops and stores.  Unfortunately, we have to worry more now-a-days on keeping the kids safe from the real-live bad guys.  Thankfully, last night showed Norm and I that the kids are having just as much fun as they did when we were kids.

KIDS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

 It was a dark and stormy Friday night........all the goblins and ghouls were out and about.....at Winchester Elementary Festival last Friday night.  What fun it was!  It reminded me of the Kids Saturday Art group in Port Orford......  The Festival was set in the school's gymnasium and all around the perimeter of the room were various activities that they could participate in.......ring toss, dime toss, food, toss for (poor) gold fish, candy suckers, etc.  There were about 100 children and sometimes with their parents, wanting to be photographed.  But the large room was packed to capacity and over-flowing into the cafeteria.  Parents, kids, grandparents, great grandparents........they were all there!  I went through over 300 photos over the weekend to edit and narrow the choices down to a reasonable number.   I wish someone would have photographed me photographing them...........there would have been a few comical sights in there.  The children were all loaded down with prizes and goodies from the other stands and I didn't want them carrying the bags into the scene I would shoot.  So, there I was a couple of times taking the photographs and clicking with one hand and my other was holding a candy sucker or two in the air for the child.  Or, in one case, a bag of water and the poor traumatized goldfish.  Then there were a couple of times when the parents were standing behind me animated and posing themselves in how they wanted their children to pose.  And these poses were supposed to be expressing their favorite super-hero.....so you can just picture some of the scenes, can't you??

The later the evening went, the more animated (due to hyper-super-highs) the kids became.  By the time it was breaking up, there was close to chaotic bedlam, I tell you!  And the gym was not anything like noise proof.  It's built I think to emphasis the cheers and yowls of the sports audiences.  But it was just a lot of good fun!  I think everyone had a great time.  There were some children who loved the camera!  And then there are the shy ones.......and all in between!  My favorite part is the editing, I think.  It always has been.  I can really read into what the kids are about...at least at that time of shooting.  The little girls generally have no problem posing.....some are actually good if not outrageous.  The boys look like they really enjoy acting out their costumes theme and if they weren't wearing one.....well, they get in the role anyway; the rowdier the better.  There are a couple of pre-teens who were 'cool' and their poses were oh-so serious.  The Dudes!   Some of the pre-teen girls were showing their poise already in their fashion-model poses.  Others were all about their bbf and would pose together, arms around each other, or posing in unison.  Parents occasionally wanted to pose with their child and the children all seemed to love that and it was very sweet.  I shot one boy whose father was right by his side but standing sideways and the father's hand gently touching the side of the boy's face.  Loved that moment!
So, I just finished editing and downloading the photos for printing and then they'll be delivered to the school.......and they're free to the kids and family.  A great program.

I'm enjoying my photography again......in fact about a month ago Norm convinced me to submit one of my photos in to the local newspaper and they published it.  That was encouraging.

The nights are getting cooler and some of the trees are now bare.  Mother Nature is getting ready for her yearly nap.

For those of you in Port Orford who might be interested, Finch's Liquor Store and again carrying some of my photo cards.  Take a look and see if there's anything you can't live without!

Everyone have a great week.....I, personally, am enjoying the quiet of mine.

VISITING FROM DISTANT SHORES

 A very fun weekend for Norm and I.  We had good friends from Port Orford (now a 'distant shore') and Emily's long time friend, Ulrike, otherwise know as Ullie, who has been visiting from Germany, (an even more distant shore).  I met Ullie last year and she is a lovely and sensitive lady.  I enjoyed her company very much and was afraid I wasn't going to see her for this year's visit.  Ullie's flight back home was Sunday but Rick and Emily brought her over a day early so we could re-connect again........at least a little.  Enough time for some heart-felt and lengthy hugs.  It was so worth it!   We all went out to dinner at Dino's and I think everyone was pretty pleased with their meal.  I was......wild salmon baked in some kind of maple honey sauce.  Just sweet enough.........
And thanks to the tutoring of Rick, I now have Skype capacity.  More fine-tuning on my smart phone and etc. with all the new electronics that are now around here.  I hear bells and whistles constantly.  And no........it's not just in my head!  There is my washer and dryer that play little tunes when the cycle's are done........my microwave, oven timer, oven temp. gauge, my smart phone (sub-sounds are gmail messages, texts, phone calls), Skype now sends a few little notes and........oh yeah!  The door bell!   I hear a sound and have to figure out where it's coming from and what it means.....

 I've been taking photos with the smart phone this week.  I think they're not bad, huh?  Not a high resolution but that's fine.  I love the first photo at the top of Norm with the background of the colorful trees on one of our morning walks........and the back lighting of the 2nd was neat.....all misty.  Love that kind of effect.  Must be the hangover from my Irish heritage......the rain and foggy mists, and all.

 And here is the beautiful Ullie.  and me........

This last photo was one of a number I took on the walk from the car to Dino's restaurant.  This large and beautiful tree is in front of Roseburg's Justice Building.  Courthouse, Sheriff's Dept., etc.  I wonder how old that tree is?  It's been there a day or two, that's for sure.

I hope you're all off to a good run on the new week.  Mine will be a little busy with this n' that.  This Friday I will be taking photos of the kids that come to the Harvest Festival here in Winchester.  It's been a while since I've done any shooting of children.....and these will be posed rather than them running around like they did in the Kid's Art Program in Port Orford.  There, I could always blame the constant movement of the kids for any blurred shots...........(Not MY fault!!).  Not so this time.  Although I don't like using tripods, this might be a good time to break mine out.

So, you all have a good week.  And Ullie...........I'm happy to hear you made it back safely to Germany.  Now you can hug that darling little grandson to your heart's content!!

REMEMBERING MAXWELL

 He was a one-of-a-kind and a great neighbor..........Maxwell, Max really, was our friend and neighbor's wonderful pooch that lived next door to us in Port Orford.   He was diagnosed with bone cancer about 6 months or so ago, and has lived beyond what the expectations were......thanks mainly, I know, to the love and careful care of his owners.  "Owners" doesn't sound like the right title, though.......Max was more the 'kid' of the family.........a big, loveable lug.  I'm not quite sure what a 'lug' is, but if it's an always happy, friendly, and lumbering goof, then that was Max.   Anytime, Norm or I walked down the road past his house, you could count on the greeting from Max......a loud "Woof".  Or if he was out and about and saw us, he'd race down to the road for his expected pat and maybe a rub, and then he'd turn around and race back home.   If we had company come to our place, count on Max to include himself in their welcome.......When he was around during a (people) conversation, Max included himself and always felt like he had important contributions to make to the overall subject.

I remember a time when I was picked blackberries down the road.  My kitty at the time, Willie, always came with me and waited around for me to finish.  One day, Max was being taken down the road for a walk when Willie and Max spotted each other.  OH-oh.........Max lurched forward and he was not only a big dog but strong.  I left the berries and helped hold Max from going after Willie.  Willie must have sized up the situation in her favor and she attacked Max!  At least she did that particular "crab-shuffle" that cats do when they're trying to intimidate.......Max was duly intimidated and was pretty shocked.  Willie then decided to go home, having done her duty in 'protecting' me.   Max never stood for that again.......at least not from Willie.  The tables were turned from then on, but it is a funny memory.

 These photos of Max were in my older files........this one above is him shaking the newspaper, I think.  It was his job after they picked it up for Max to carry it back home......unless something else caught his attention, anyway.  But he was so proud.....and would more or less parade with said paper in his mouth.



He has fought a hard and long battle but finally, much to the heart-felt pain of all who knew him, Max needed to move on.  All of you who have had and loved pets and viewed them as family members, know the ache and pain of having to say good-bye.   It always hurts.   All life forms suddenly seem so very precious and endearing.  I've always felt that our pets give us that unconditional love that echos or reflects our own love back to us.  When we lose that pet we feel like we've lost one of the best and pure, true parts of ourselves.

Max will be remembered with much love and our heart-felt empathy goes out to Nanci and Ray.........

SMART-STUFF

 Another first for Norm and I......our first Smart phone.....thanks to the encouragement of Rick and Emily, who came for a visit this week.  It was so great to see them again and instead of showing them the local sights, they were showing me all kinds of 'stuff' on our new toy.  I can't say that I'm anywhere near learning all there is to it, but already it's such a joy to be rid of that last (non-working) phone system we had.  ("HEART that, Pam!)  And so many apps to it!  No wonder so many people are walking around with the heads down or the phones to their ears with a non-focusing look in their eyes.  I was going to post a photo or two that I took with the phone but that needs a bit of work, too!  Instead, their are photos of Rick and Emily and one with Norm.

 Obviously, the above one is of pumpkins at Kruse's Farm......

We're so aware at different times how life is so different for us in the smallest ways.  Last night Norm saw a mouse in the garage.  I really thought we'd left all that nonsense behind us but when I thought about it, we are surrounded by wooded hills.  Anyway, Norm set out a mouse trap and this morning found that he'd caught it.  Now........what do we do with it???   The garbage man had already come....so no putting it in the garbage......... The recycling would not appreciate finding a mouse to recycle......no burying it since Norm left his shovels in Port Orford.....What we really missed was being able to just throw it over the deck into the woods........Nope....the neighbor would not find that amusing.  What he finally did was to wrap it in a sandwich bag.......then foil......pressing out as much air as he could...........then newspaper......then a gallon size zip-lock bag......and finally a plastic grocery bag.  There it lies in the bottom of the garbage bag waiting until next Saturday's pick-up.   Hopefully, the weather isn't very warm and we won't have to contend with 'la fragrance'..........

Today we ran into the previous owner of our house who is a manager at Costco.  I showed him my new cell phone, grinning broadly....he said it was one of the best in Roseburg and warned me to get a good buffer case for it.  He has dropped other cell phones in the past and instead of the low sale price for the phone that went with joining up with Verizon, he had to pay another $400 to replace the broken phone he'd dropped.  That made me very nervous!  So tomorrow we'll be scouting out a Verizon store and buying a buffer case.  His was made of a very strong rubber and had rounded and raised rims.......so if it drops it will hit the surrounding case rather than the phone itself.  That sounds like a safety must have for me.

So, that was the week that was.......Good friends, good visit and good new toy....ah, I mean a good new tool..........

AN AUTUMN DAY

 What a good day it turned out to be.......I had a visit with my new neighbor and her Mom......Angie and Myrna.  It was eye-opening to find out so many more interesting things about the new community I find myself in.  Lots in common with these ladies.  I found out there is at least one Course In Miracles group......one over in Sutherlin that sounds very promising.  That group has diminished in size over the years and so they might welcome some new-blood.  (maybe not so new anymore, huh?).   There is a Unity Church in downtown Roseburg that might have one also....or be interested in starting another.  We'll see.
Both Myrna and Angie are very active in various types of volunteer works.  I'm getting internal 'nudges' to begin becoming involved outside of our new home.  This entire area is a non-stop highway to so many more kinds of involvements than you could possibly imagine.  I just have to be careful of not trying to wear too many different hats.
This month there is going to be a children's carnival at the local elementary school.  I'll be there wearing my very own 'photographer's name tag'.   Fun......When I photographed the Kid's Saturday Art Day in Port Orford on Saturdays........I really enjoyed it.  The kids are all so natural (and funny).....the various moods or instant happenings are right there on their faces or in the scene.  These photos will be a little more posed but I'm thinking that they'll be just as much fun.  I'll edit them and them send them over to WalMart for printing.  Each child's family will get a photo of their kid in his/her favorite super-hero/heroine's costume.  The photos are free to each child which is a lovely thought.

Another area where I might offer my photography is a local medical or hospital program for those parents who have had a still-life birth.  So many people, meaning well, will shy away from the subject or any talk with the parents in reference to the dead baby.  The parents will WANT to remember...NEED to grieve......this was their child no matter how long he/she lived and deserves to be remembered as any deceased should be.  The baby was a vitally important person in many lives, in spite of never having taken a breath.....or lived very long.  There are a few people who will offer to take photos of the baby with or without their parents, as requested by the parents.  I would very much consider it a gift for me to do this if there is a need.  Then there is the Mercy Foundation.......which I assume is part of Mercy Hospital.......they have so many areas where one can help out......from disadvantaged children to the dying and everything in between, that it makes my head spin as to where I think I might fit.  I thought that I just might go and talk to someone in the Foundation and tell my background areas and let them decide.
I think my original plans of just holding up in my studio and doing art, art and more art, are getting shuffled aside.  But I'm looking forward to seeing just which doors open for me.

Both Norm and I have had dental appointments the last couple of weeks.  I have two crowns coming....just in time for the present bruises on my face to disappear before I get more.....And Norm had some dental problems of his own which had him eating 'gingerly' for a day or two.  All is well now.  And I'm finally getting rid of a nasty cold.......and hoping to do the same with this miserable phone system we now have.  It HAS to go!  No one can hear well at either end.  One sister referred to it sounding like we each had a tin can with a string in between.  Another thought it sounded like I was calling from Russia.  Found out this week that this phone system will never work right since our internet and TV is satellite.  I'm just waiting for the phone representative to come and dismantle the thing and I'll go and find a regular landline phone.  Problem is that all the companies are pushing their bundles.  I'm really so tired of working with this phone issue.  I can't count the hours that have been spent over it.  Hopefully, soon I'll have something that will work.
I'm hoping to go photo shooting tomorrow.........and in another week or so, Myrna has all kinds of places she's going to show me where there are photo ops galore!!  Yahoo!
On the not so neat side of things is the rain.  Remember how Norm and I were snickering at how the newspapers over here thought how the rains were so heavy?  And the winds so fierce?  Compared to Port Orford, it was funny to us.  Well, they'll all have the last laugh since that 3/4" rain had washed out part of our back lawn.......a regular little gully that washed somewhere on down the hill behind us.  The fence is now tilting and I'd be surprised if it lasted the winter.  Norm got 3 sacks of soil at Lowe's and packed it into the gully.  Of course, he thought he wouldn't need his post hold digger...or his shovels......Guess what Santa will be bringing this Christmas??
Well, that's enough about me.........Hope all of you are enjoying the beautiful autumn.  My favorite time of year!!!
Have a great rest of the week!!!

AMACHER PARK

 This state park is only 4 minutes away from our place and a beautiful place it is.  I haven't edited all the photos yet but will within a few days to show the park itself.  The photos here are mostly of the Umpqua River, which offers fishing, kayaking, rafting and beautiful views.  It's an RV park also but that's a little away from the park itself.  A little creek runs through it, much like the creek that runs through Humbug State Park.  (For you coasties).  And of course the Umpqua River, that you see here.   I think it's going to be a good place to go back as more of the trees turn color.

 I had a great birthday the other day.  I had birthday greetings from near and far friends and family.  My beautiful niece sent a gift certificate to one of the most wonderful restaurants!  It was such delicious food..........each cooked and served to perfection.  The name was Dino's and it was in the old downtown part of Roseburg.  Norm had veal scallopini, Ceasar salad, (reserve order, there), and some espresso, ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate concoction that was so rich but wonderful!  I had rice and wild mushroom soup, ensalata caprese, port cutlets with fig and balsamic and cream sauce and the same dessert, which I couldn't finish.  I can hardly wait to go back!  

Are you all getting ready for the Pacific Northwest 'big-blow'??  I guess it's going to be a wild weekend.  Hope all my friends on the coast stay safe.  They expect wind here but 35-40 MPH doesn't sound like much to me after Port Orford.  But there could be a lot of trees that might come down if they aren't used to strong winds here.

Had our local flock of turkey passing down the street again today.  Norm and I stood there watching and making little noises at them.  One tom was very curious and kept answering us.  I just hope none of the neighbors heard us.  I think they all just take the turkey's as a common occurrence.  Saw one of the woodpeckers up close yesterday........acorn woodpecker.  Norm put out some suet and a special blend made with dried insects.  So, there were scrub and stellar jays and the woodpecker.  Over in the sunflower seed holder we have one chickadee that sits in there forever, on top of the seeds.  It's one of those round top feeders that is supposed to foil the squirrels.  This chickadee rests after eating all it wants, then continues to just sit in there........little hog!

Speaking of birds, has anyone noticed the turkey vultures this past week?  We were driving in a rural area over to Sutherlin and I noticed in the sky a large number of vultures all circling around in circles.  They were fairly high and disorganized......meaning not like geese or duck's 'V' shaped flock.  I saw about 5 different groups of them......sometimes numbering 20 or so.  I've seen them before in past years but not quite so many different groups of them as last weeks.  Guess it was the time for them to all gather and fly south to California and beyond.

So......this next week will be fairly busy for us with various appointments.  I hope everyone in the PNW stays safe and dry........and have a good autumny weekend anyway.

A HAPPY SURPRISE!

We had a happy surprise email yesterday from our good friends from Port Orford, Steve and Elaine Roemen.  Much too short a visit but very welcome, nonetheless....... They happen to be over in eastern Oregon and stopped by on their way back home.  We caught up a bit with some of the news, showed off our new home and hoped they make another and longer visit soon.  It was good to see friendly and familiar faces again.  

Our new house is the color sage......so Norm and I have thought that Norm might build a house sign saying "Sage House"...........It might let people think that 'sagely, wise' people live here.  ;-)   And Elaine brought us a twig of sage from eastern Oregon.  It smells so good!  and it's the real thing!  It went up on the mantle where I'm collecting other autumn-ie type things......maple leaves and twigs and odds and end.  

We took care of a bit more business this morning.........changing our address for our driver's licenses and I made an appointment to have my 'concealed' transferred over here to Douglas County.  I told the woman I talked to at the Sheriff's office of the problems I had (or I should say the Curry Co. Sheriff's Dept. had) in getting my finger prints.  No one was able to get that done......the electronic print reader just would not accept any of my prints.  Hours spent.  So, I told this woman today that they'd better give me a nice long time slot.  She said what I needed to do (or not do) is:  No washing dishes for the next week (without gloves), no cleaning (without gloves) and no gardening (without gloves).  So.......there you have it!! I have direct orders from the Sheriff's office to hire a maid and a gardener.  She also suggested that when I come over to turn in my paperwork to bring my husband so he can take me out to lunch.  She said they have some excellent restaurants downtown, and she thought they would be better than Curry County.  I don't know about that, but generally, you can understand why I like their way of thinking over here!  I love this woman~~  I am soo lucky!  

 Here's a nice photo, I think, of Steve and Elaine......and the one below is of Elaine and myself.  Notice the smooth look?   I love photoshop!!

We're going to try a new restaurant this Thursday.  It's 'mon' birthday and I've heard from friends in Port Orford that Bric's is excellent.  I'll let you know......

Hope everyone's week is starting off well......lots of rain over here.  I do believe summer is definitely over.  Snowfall at 5000 ft. already.  The Old Farmer's Almanac says it's going to be a cold winter and that seems to be starting off that way.  Reach for the 'woolies'!  

Have a great Tuesday~

I'M BAAAACK (FOR NOW)

What a time I've had trying to get onto my blog this past week!!   I was about ready to just give it up.  My email account was all messed up too.  Maybe I had a virus, I don't know but I changed a password today and all of a sudden my email account came back en force with hundreds of emails, some I'd seen, others not.  My contact list is back along with all my folders and files.  

Well, for now everything is back even if my usernames and passwords are all over the map.  

I thought this photo below looked like the first day of autumn since I didn't make it out to Kruse's today.........they have tons of pumpkins that I want some photos of.  These are the tomatoes and cukes that Angie gave to us a week ago.  So Good.

 Now this photo is of one of the few remaining round barns.......it's over in the Winston area, I think.  This looks like the changing season, too, I think.   The rains have arrived this week.  It was pretty heavy yesterday but we didn't have the wind like Port Orford.  Here we have turkeys still parading around the neighborhood.  Yesterday I counted 9 in the local flock, stolling through the neighborhood and then back up into the hills.   They're funny.....we still have the vision of that cat being chased.  8-)

This last shot is just of some of the pretty clouds we see over here.  I was somewhat inspired to do come art work up in my studio........I really love the feel of that room, surrounded by many of my favorite things, photos, books, paintings of all types and music.  (MY music).  So, I did spend a couple of hours just getting myself back into the practice of going up there and trying to let my muse encourage me......

Last week we got set up with our new doctor and dentist.  I like both....even if I do need a couple of crowns.  Since it's been years that I've had to do any dental work I guess it's time to pay the piper.  When he came in he had just been out in the waiting room talking to Norm.  The dentist had a big grin on his face and said how he gave my husband a joke book!   I told him how now I'll know who to blame!  And then he started telling one joke after another off the top of his head...........The two of them are going to be great buddies~~And for those of you who know Norm he'll have a whole new set to throw at you next time you see him.  Be prepared!!

In the meantime, I'll try to get my blog with a little more frequency but the new passwords aren't being accepted and there is a mystery leprechaun inside my computer!  I'm sure of it.