"Well its about time!"...I know, I know.

Wow, I guess it is time for an update. The last post was in April, and so much has happened since then. My apologies to all who have looked for an update of our goings and comings and found nothing. I will try and do better.
Where shall I begin. I think I will begin sharing our latest happenings with our family and then with each new post share some of the other things that have happened in the recent past.
Wow, summer is upon us with warm (hot) weather and long days. When you have such a long and wet winter, and so sunless, it is really enjoyable when the warm weather comes. We are enjoying summer greatly, with trips to the mountains and lakes and rivers and beach planned, with tending our small but fruitful garden, and of course with summer steelhead fishing...smile.
Well, news of our household -
Sara is in New Mexico with her Dad for her summer time. She will be gone until mid-August. Long time and we miss her greatly. Sara, if you are reading this, big hug from Dad and Mom!

Pam and I went camping this past weekend for the first time in almost a year. My medical situation really curtailed our going and doing for quite a while. But it was wonderful to get out again, the first of many trips this summer we hope. We had plans and a reservation at Trillium Lake by Mt. Hood. We have been there before and it is such a beautiful spot, but at the last minute our reservation was cancelled. Seems there is still too much snow in the mountains and the campground is still closed. We had an extra heavy snow pack this winter which is great, except for these kinds of consequences. But not to be put off, we went to Lost Lake in the coast range mountains instead. Lost Lake is a small (15 acre), natural, beautiful lake in the mountains just south of Elsie (for those who know this neck of the woods). It's about 65 miles from home. There is a camp ground on the Nehalem River which is just 3 miles from the lake, so we camped there and then visited the lake with our pontoon boat several times. We had a great time fishing (rainbow trout!), and hiking and just generally relaxing (thank you Sarah for that wonderful hammock!) and taking in all the beauty of the country. It is a beautiful spot with the river and incredibly tall tress. We really enjoyed ourselves, as did Buster and Sasha.
This next weekend we are traveling to the very northwest corner of our country, to Port Townsend. My aunt, my mother's sister Haroldine, is celebrating her 80th (!) birthday and we are going to join the rest of the gathering family to help her celebrate. Should be a great time. We are staying in a restored turn-of-the-century hotel for one night and then camping in a state campground for a second night. We hope to journey home via the Olympic Forest which we understand is quite spectacular. Should be a great time. We are looking forward to it.
Well, enough of the present happenings for one post. I will share a couple of pictures from other recent happenings in our family and close.
Sara got glasses this year. She expressed to us that she felt she needed them, that things were blurry at a distance. A trip to the eye doctor confirmed that she was telling the truth. So she got some glasses for the first time. She thinks (and we all agree) that they make her look real cute...and I think initially that is most important to her, smile.

We also had a wonderful visit this spring from my mother, Marie, and Mac her husband, and my older sister, Ginny. What a wonderful treat to welcome them to the Northwest and to be able to spend a number of quality days with them. It was a very special time. Hard to see them leave, but so thankful for the time we shared.
Enough for this post. More to come shortly, I promise (and Pam insists...smile)