First Snow Shoe Trip

Seven years or so ago, I strapped on my first pair of snow shoes and I was bitten by the bug! It was a long time between then and this February 12th when I finally was able to go on my first snow shoe trip with the Silver Striders, a group that consists of people who are over 50. It was Christmas of 2009 when Kevin presented me with a lovely light, aluminum pair accompanied with Eddie Bauer poles that have all kinds of bells and whistles.

I joined the Silver Striders for an 'easy' hike that would take us on a 3 mile round trip with very little climb. Ha ha. By the time one is hauling ones' tired and exhausted butt uphill at the end, ANY incline is rough. Still, it was exhilirating just to be outside in nature enjoying the fresh air, birds flitting and following us along the trail. Every now and then our guide would stop and announce, "Drink water!" and the six of us would fumble in our fanny packs for our "water system" for a quick gulp. As we stood for a short break, she would give us little tidbits of history about the area or a tale of Indian lore about the trees and snow. The thought crossed my mind whether or not I had enough warm clothes or did I have too much? Fifteen minutes into my gait I was peeling off my outer ski jacket and taking off my gloves, then stuffing the coat into my small backpack. A couple of years ago Sara gave me an undershirt that is specially made to wick sweat away. I can attest to the fact that it certainly did. I never got chilled when we sat down for our lunch because I wasn't drenched close to the skin.

We were on a one way stretch that was one and a half miles into Dutchman Flats in the Mt. Bachelor area. At the end of that 1 and 1/2 miles we would all stop in a little area of small trees for lunch. Pam would then fill us in more on how to sit down without falling through a possible crust of 3 to 4 feet, how to get back up, etc, by rolling over on your hip and or using your knees. We learned trail etiquette as well and I had no idea that as a snowshoer, I was in the low caste system of adventurers; apparently you are the elite when you are a cross country skier and all rules seem to apply in their favor. Snow snobs. Who would have thought.

I thought for sure that I would be ravenous when we broke for lunch but as it was, I could only finish half of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich yet all of my applesauce cup. It was just enough energy for the return path. We all enjoyed our repast while we listened to a few more stories from Pam; years ago she had done mountain climbing and ice climbing in Alaska.

The weather was just perfect, a little overcast so not too much sun which would mean a lot of glare for the eyes and maybe some sunburn. I did wear a muff to keep my ears warm because it was a bit breezy out there at different intervals. When my ears get cold, my whole head hurts and I wasn't going to ruin this time for anything.

Did I prepare for this adventure by walking during the week? No, I did not. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised when after a day or so I wasn't feeling all the hurt and pain I thought I would. In fact, I felt MORE pain when I went alpine skiing for the first time at 16! I was completely laid out for three days afterward, every muscle in my youthful body screaming at every movement. I will say that for the next two days I did go to work and felt a little tenderness in the upper front thighs and then when I had a day off on the third day, I DID spend it in bed. All day. Still, not too bad for an old gal.

Will I go again? Oh yes...but I will get out a little more before attempting anything longer than the first outing. Today I strapped on my shoes and traipsed around the backyard, to the front and on down our very snow covered road. I think I did close to a mile, round trip. This way I don't wear out the much older body. And remember those bells and whistles I mentioned earlier on my ski poles? Well! One handle has inside it's plastic head the original GPS system: a compass! Um, won't do me much good until I learn how to read it, tho'. But lucky for me the other pole has a plastic head with 5 very bright LED lights that with a flick of a switch will either blink rapidly or just stay lit. Good for me who still needs to learn how to read the other one...

Duck Tales: Oregon Ducks

Picture the old cartoon married couple Blondie and Dagwood in a few frames and then "here's yer funny":

Yesterday Kevin warned me that it was going to be "FOOTBALL!" for today beginning at 11:00 a.m. You know, you've probably heard that The Ducks vs. Auburn would be playing and there was something about 103 years or maybe it was 130, I can't remember, since Oregon has been up to the top. Okay, so I'd been making myself scarce today by reading in the spare room, napping, getting my clothes ready for work tomorrow, did some laundry, dishes, etc. and finally at 4:05 I came out of the cave to see how things were going. Herewith is the following conversation as it went down:

Me: So who's winning?

Him: No one

Me: Huh?

Him: Well, no one because they haven't even started playing the game yet

Me: What?? What the heck have they been DOING all this time???

Him: Talking

Me: TALKING???

Him: Yeah, they've been talking about the players, game strategy, stuff like that

Me: Oh-- you've GOT TO BE KIDDING! ALL THIS TIME THEY'VE JUST BEEN TALKING???

Him: Uh...no..there's been pictures an' stuff...

Happy New Year 2011

Well helloooo 2011! You came in with lots of snow, yay! Maybe this year I will finally be able to toboggan down the driveway. At least this winter has begun with a real snow bang! We've had the driveway plowed three times and during the last one, the plow driver got stuck! He had to call a tow truck to get him out of a small divet he'd created. I took pictures of this event from inside the house as I didn't want the boys to feel embarrassed. And so how many men does it take to move one stuck truck?

Adding to this year, Kevin built our first snow man about two weeks ago and he did a great job. Then it warmed up a bit and our handy little helper was left in a sad little heap.

Today, January 6th, we went in to town to get my first pair of eyeglasses: for the last 7 years I have been buying reading glasses to get by with.

I finally decided I was tired of peaking over the rims to look at something that was far away and I am tired of spending $20.00 every few months to get new ones that don't look like the 1950's Superman pair. And I think I am finally old enough and that it's been imprinted long enough on this ol' brain to take care of an expensive new set of eyes. All the reasons for holding out are truly no longer valid: I would sit on them, step on them, lose them or even manage to have my seatbelt grab them on the way back to it's lair and fling them out the window into the parking lot. Yes, that did happen once. I had discovered that I could hang my glasses on my necklace while I'm driving; a safe and secure spot, always knowing right where they are.

Until that day.

I had pulled into my favorite parking spot at work and turned off the car, got my purse and 'stuff' ready and proceeded to undo the seat belt. "PHHFFFZZIT!"...tinkle...CRUNCH!

What the heck was that? Hmm, okay, well let's see; purse, lunch, glasses..GLASSES? where the heck did they go??? It took a minute or two for it to dawn on me that they had just been hijacked by my seat on it's automated return and they were literally yanked off my neck and thrown out the window. And then promptly run over by a car.

Did I learn a lesson?

Yep. Hang the glasses on my necklace and then TUCK them down inside my shirt. Still works.

And so now the trepidation to invest in something a little more expensive and much better for my eyes is gone. They're do in ten days.

I'll keep ya posted...

I Want To Be Big

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Incredible Indelible 2010

This year has been wondrous, busy, fulfillling, tear-jerking and oh-so-fast, oh and did I say wonderful? Isn't it surprising that it's already Christmas time again? I remember last March anticipating spring so I could plant flowers. It took forever to get here. And when it came, I didn't think I'd have enough time to enjoy summer, what with work getting in the way and all the stuff to be done around the property. Kevin and I have been here three years now (and then some), we have accomplished quite a bit; there was no garage when we bought our little place and now we have one. Half of the circular driveway was graveled, we planted quaking aspen trees in the front lining one side of the drive and painted the house two summers ago. Kevin built an apsen mound in the back yard, then we put in a small and beautifully refreshing lawn out there, and last year the coup de gras; a combination swing set/climbing wall/slide for our 4 and 3 year old grandsons, Evan and Eric.
When the boys saw the set for the first time, Evan in all his innocent wonder, exclaimed, "Beema, A PARK!" Kevin aptly named it Fort EvEr and planted a gigantic, waving black pirate flag to top it off. We also have a huge dirt mound that the little guys just can't stay away from. And that's great cuz that's what our house is for. I'm not sure who has more fun; the boys or us. It seems there is something new for them to experience every time they visit.

But because this seemed like such a science fiction year, I wanted it to be packed with activity, adventures and stories to tell.

We spent a lot more time out in the kayaks this season and managed to get a few family members involved in our fun. Early summer brought together my brother and sister-in-law Pat and Cathie and my daughter Sara and the boys at the same time. We missed having Sara's husband, Bret and wish he could have come but work kept him from our reunion. He'll be rewarded for this efforts in the future.

The weather was warm and hot, we put up the kiddie pool for the tykes while we grown ups sat on the lawn chairs sniffing barbecue and sipping some beer or wine. Ahhh, this is the American dream, isn't it? One of the days we all went out to Elk Lake and this time I managed to get Sara, Evan and Eric in the kayaks, the boys loved it! The next one in was Pat and he did fantastic; didn't tip the kayak or get wet, good job Big Brother! Then Cathie said she wasn't going to be outdone by the toddlers so on went the life jacket and into the bright red kayak she went. A fantastic culmination for the whole family, we missed Kevin on that outing, too, since he had to work also.

All the family left and it seemed awfully quiet and still after that. Kevin and I filled that time with more outdoor day trips and travels.

When September arrived, I took that month out with a bang by taking Sara, Evan and Eric on a road trip to Butte, Montana where my son Michael is currently living--that's a 13 hour drive one way; the boys were wonderful little travelers! Those in-vehicle tv's are great. Along the way, we were invited to stay a night at a long time girlfriends' house so she could meet her "adopted nephews". My daughter, my son and I have not been together at the same time in 13 years and Michael had never met Eric so this is where the tears came in. Our stay at the Best Western was perfect since school in that area was already in session and we practically had the whole place to ourselves. Sara put the boys in that gigantic swimming pool, they looked so small! By the second day and wearing arm floaties, those rascals were like fish. The three of us would take turns playing with them and visiting the hot tub. We visited some sights wthere in Butte; the mining area--derricks all over the place in that town--the pizza place with it's own merry go round, a gigantic park with swings and slides for the kids. And then Mike took us to the cemetery to see Evel Knievels' gravesite. I had forgotten he was resting there. What a wonderful closing event to the year of Two Thousand and Ten. I packed a lot into a short amount of time and I am so glad I did!

This Christmas Kevin and I will head over the mountain to Portland to share it with mom Dorothy and dad Bill and Bret and Sara's family. Maybe next year Michael will be over this way and our family will be complete.

Thank you Father in heaven for all of Your blessings this year. I have had so many. Even the trials are good lessons and make me appreciate the good times.

May God bless you and keep you safe and strong in the coming year.

Teddy Bear Lost; Teddy Bear Coming Home!

We all remember that special and very loved companion we had when we were little. Mine was my blanket, Sara had "Pinky"-- a little pink and white teddy bear she received as a gift in second grade.

Mike's favorite was a blue and white quilted blanket that an old friend of mine had made. And we all remember when the moment came that we put them away as keepsakes, at least the ones that survived our loving.

Some of these best friends have led rather interesting lives while others have lived out their retirement on a dusty shelf or a cobwebbed corner of our memories. Pinky went through all the trips to the hospital with Sara when she was diagnosed with cancer and even had her own id bracelet. And Pinky even made it to Navy boot camp.

This story is about Pinky's son, Teddy. And Teddy belongs to Evan, Sara's little boy.

Now Teddy was a gift to Evan from Saras' father when Evan was only nine days old. They have been together every day ever since, lifelong buddies and confidants. Well, let me amend that every day part and tell the beginning tales of Teddys' Adventures.

The first one began at the Portland Zoo when Bret, Sara, Evan and Eric had a family day there.

They strolled past the elephants, they cruised past the polar bears, Conrad and Tasul. There was a wonderful interaction between the boys and the orangutan when all three were face to face, eyeball to eyeball at the window. It was shortly after that when Teddys' disappearance was noticed. "Where's Teddy?' one parent asked. "I don't know, I thought YOU were watching Teddy"...and the search began. I don't know how the rest of the visit went with Evan and Eric and all the animals, I wasn't there, I just heard the story afterwards.

Mommy was heartsick for Evan, his little heart was so sad and the tears flowed and ran. How do you explain to a 3 year old what "gone" and "lost" mean?

Mommy called the Portland Zoo and reported a lost Teddy bear with this description:

Bobbly head, brown 'fur' well-worn and loved, black eyes and answers to "Teddy". Little boy is heartbroken without his buddy.

It wasn't long before a return call from the zoo announced that Teddy had been found! He would be on his way home via U.S. Mail very soon.

Three weeks ago, Teddy went MIA again. This time, Evan had gone to spend the weekend with PeaPaw (Brets' dad) for a little one-on-one time. Everywhere that Evan goes, Teddy goes, too.

Time comes and Evan has returned home, only there is no Teddy. Evan is beside himself and once again the tears flow and come and Evan's little heart is sad, he was convinced that "the Indians took him and burned him" (this from the OLD Peter Pan movie!). No no, mommy said to him, he's trying to come home, Evan. There was concern for Teddy that his "little feet will be dirty and sore from walking home, Mommy, he doesn't have shoes!" Oh my heartstrings are just breaking here.

I am happy to announce that Teddy's adventures have been halted once more and again, he is coming home via U.S. Mail. It seems that PeaPaw finally found Teddy and he's sending him home, although at this moment, Evan seems to think the Tooth Fairy had him and is now mailing him home.

I can't tell you the feelings I've had for the last three weeks for Evan, for Teddy and for Mommy.

This Teddy meant as much to Sara as he did to Evan; he was her fathers' first gift and her heart hurt for her little boy as well. My heart hurt for all of them. Grandma's don't die, they just get sappier.

So today when I got the call that Teddy was coming home, I cried tears of joy for that reunion!

I was able to speak with Evan on the phone today and tell him how happy I was for him and that I bet his little heart was happy now. "My heart is very happy, Beema!!" Maybe there will be a little welcome home party for Teddy the Adventurer!

Squeezing In The Outdoors

Indian summer and I'm lovin' it. Two weeks ago it was gray and rainy. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy all kinds of weather for different reasons. After a long and very fruitful summer of events, I was getting a little bit pooped. Gray skies and rain made the desire for hot tea, pj days and a bright orange comfy blanket deepen, along with a great tv day.

But last week dawned with spectacular sunshiny days and the ache to get away from work to enjoy the outdoors at least once more before the white stuff starts to fall.

Kevin and I were originally headed for a small lake named Little Cultus Lake, which we did stop at. But the kayak call was minimal. Pretty, out there, no big boats and lovely. Then we thought we'd check out some other lakes, Irish Lake and Taylor Lake that were supposed to be just a few more miles ahead. On a straight away, a few miles flies by in minutes, on a 4x4 Jeep road, it takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r!! Head-banging, kidney-jolting and neck-wrenching is more like it. For thirty minutes. And was it worth it? Ohhhh yessss! There were no kayaks on this day but the call within me was bursting, I so wanted to get on top of that water and scout the edges for whatever; foliage, critters, birds, a fantastic photo, maybe even a fish skirting underneath me. As it was, we simply enjoyed the peace and quiet. If it weren't for forest service burning, it would have been absolutely perfect. But hey, we all have to get along. There were campgrounds way up there and since it is after Labor Day, kids are back in school, we only came across a few cars. Hunters were setting up camp for the opening day of deer season. We stopped and chatted with a few who were just out walking, rifles slung over their shoulders. You see, we do have mountain lion (open season all year) and black bears in the area. It's just smart unless you want to do a Timothy Treadwell. And even then, he ended up calling for help.

We finally found a great spot to have a tail gate lunch of egg salad sandwiches, our munching being the loudest things we could hear. Every now and then a Douglas squirrel would scold an intruder, a dipping merganzer would call out a hello to a companion or a helicopter-sized blue dragon fly would flit by our noses. Even though there was a prescribed burn going on, it wasn't enough to hide the scent of the forest or fog the beauty of our surroundings. It was refreshing.

And yes, we will stuff the kayaks in the back of the truck and christen those lakes next year.