More Glances at Summer 2017

After leaving the Seattle area we had a wonderful visit with friends Mary and Stan at their gorgeous home/retreat on the Wentachee River.  Their volunteer activities are impressive, and indeed we have a treasured friendship that is over 50 years old!

Of course we love to FISH!  Check out this beautiful calm morning in July on the Thief Valley Reservoir.  As is so typical in this location, within a few short hours the waves were giving us "rock and roll" that was amazing.  We did catch some beautiful trout but getting to shore was a welcome sight!  

A highlight was a visit from good friends, the Ruckers, as they traveled through the Grande Ronde Valley on their way to northern Idaho.  During the winter, we live just a few blocks from each other in Arizona but it is always fun "to see" where friends also spend their summer months.

The Parsons "RV Park" with visitors Mike and Bev

The summer brought some other situations that we are now thankful are "memories"!  We had several Portland visits  with one focus being Joanne's medical needs.   Three other times in life she had been admitted to St. Vincent's hospital AND always brought home a new beautiful baby.  Of course this 4th admission to that hospital was different...she brought home a sweet little Teddy...HAHAHA!  All is well now.

Do you recognize  these goofies on August 21st?  We enjoyed the excitement of the eclipse from our farm in Eastern Oregon.  Though not in the path of total darkness, we could easily see the moon's movements.  We were most aware of the dramatic change in temperature during this once in a lifetime event...really dropped significantly.  It also was a superb reminder of who really controls our universe!

As summer concluded it was a delightful pleasure to see our great nieces and nephew perform in the Wizard of Oz, a production at the Elgin Opera House .  They were each fabulous in their songs and dances!  This is an amazing opportunity in Eastern Oregon.

Now these next two photos we did NOT take...they came off the Internet.  However, this fire in the Columbia Gorge of Oregon is a heart breaker.  All my life we've driven through this area extensively and it is just such a disastrous event to see these photos.

On a local level in La Grande, we may be 200 miles east but indeed we have seen/smelled the results of this fire as well as others in the NW.  For almost a week we could not see the gigantic mountains that surround our valley and  are only within a few miles of our home.  The smell of smoke was humongous and eyes watered.  

An end of summer event was a La Grande High School class reunion  Here's a "selfie" with some friends...we seldom see each other!

Now we we have left Eastern Oregon on our 16th consecutive year heading out in our RV.  Our first night we are in the Clyde Holladay Oregon State Park just west of John Day, Oregon.  We wonder what this year will bring!!!