Weather Changing...51º

Forecast for the next five days calls for thundershowers, with possible heavy rain and flash flooding...Temperatures in the 70's...It will be a good respite from the intense heat of the past, two plus weeks, just hope rain and flooding doesn't cause too much destruction.

Yesterday Herb and I took turns changing water in the flowerbeds and veggie garden, never seen it so hot and dry as it has been this June and July...An annual event the Wallowa "Fiddle Camp" is drawing to a close and the instructors from the camp provided the Thursday night entertainment,  at the Gazebo in Enterprise...It was a lively, fun evening as we visited with friends and listened to music...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

A swallowtail butterfly as he lands on a dames rocket flower, gets his fill of nector, then zooms away.

Random Photos, 7/7/15...50º

Bobi and I trade our photos on Dropbox rather than sending through email...It has taken me awhile to catch on how to use it but am getting better...LOL...The following are some of the fun shots taken when we are all together...Cooler here today and for the next week with thundershowers...Herb and I both took a nap yesterday and still slept 8 hours last night...Now back to our usual routine...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Cienna decided to go red!

I've always wanted a redheaded grandchild.

Wonder what the chlorine will do to this?

Picnicking at Wallowa Lake, Russ started reading

"A Man Called Ove" and couldn't put

it down.

The first bite was good!

Happy Roasting

Bobi and Stan having a good time.

Behind again...59º

Monday afternoon at Wallowa Lake State Park found us relaxing in the shade of cottonwood trees, cotton floating everywhere...Herb started the campfire, Bobi and Ci headed to the lake, where Cienna took a refreshing dip (much different than the warm waters of Thailand) and the rest of us just chilled...It was cooler than our deck at home and fun to people watch as tourists arrived to go swimming, boating and/or picnicking...We ate our fill of chips, waiting for the coals to get just right before loading a bun with relish, mustard, catsup, diced onions, and added a partially charred wiener, "hotdog extraordinaire"...Marshmallows toasted to perfection, melted chocolate and graham crackers made the perfect dessert...We packed up, retraced our steps to the cars and the "guys" headed for home, while us girls went the opposite way to the miniature golf course...Back on our deck we played cards on our last evening together.

The days had flown by, it was fun to get reaquainted with Cienna, she is more grown up but also still the same sweet, silly, scattered girl, that we love so much...She is anxious to get back to water polo practice, reconnecting with friends and start a new chapter in her life...The Wall Family arrived safely back home last night to continue life in the city.

Rusty stayed for another day in Joseph, working on the todo list, he cleaned the chimney, trimmed trees and repaired our picnic table and benches...Also rhubarb was pulled, chopped and loaded into the steamer where after doing 4 batches we have 9 quarts of lovely pink rhubarb juice for jelly...We had baked chicken and Walla Walla sweets for dinner along with fresh beet greens, potatoes and asparagus from our garden.

I must wrap this up, Rusty is on his way home and we will settle back into our routine here on Barton Heights...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...Thanks to Bobi and Stan we now have faster loading internet that reaches to the deck where I can now use my iphone to search the internet and play scrabble without having to sit just outside the sliding door to connect!!! Yes I really do need to get a life :)...Thank you very much!

Chips and more.

Chips

All about chips

Chips overload

Contemplation

A new "do"

Hole in One

Posing with a moose

The last Hurrah

Food, Fireworks, Family, Friends...51º

Many hours are spent in the kitchen as we all share in the prepping, cleanup and eating of Thai food and BBQ...Again the brisket was tender as well as a tri-tip accompanied by salads, garlic bread, cheesecake and mango rice for dessert...Yesterday we sat down to Pad Thai and veggies wrapped in rice paper as we continue our "taste of Thai & American dishes." Ice cream sundaes also on the menu.

Bobi and Ci were the only ones to stay awake and expend the energy to go to "Shake The lake," our local fireworks display...Now wondering if it was worth it as the show lasted a total of 15 minutes, well maybe 20 if you count the last two, that must have been found in the bottom of the boat and set off like an after-thought...Many hours have been spent on our deck listening to Cienna's tales of Thailand, and some hours doing my list of "honey do's," while we have help...Ci and Stan spent quality time together yesterday, when Ci wanted to renew her driving skills, as they explored the less traveled roads of Wallowa County...Herb and I keep up with our everyday chores, in and around, all the other activities.

Today will be the final day for our "Family Reunion" when we go to the lake for what has become an annual event...We play miniature golf and have a simple dinner of hotdogs, chips and s'mores...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Story time

Pad Thai, shrimp and asparagus

Ci's new cherry kool-aid hairdo

Ginger

Sunset on another special day.

Hot days, Cool nights...51º

The weather is about perfect for relaxing, unwinding, talking...Herb and Rusty installed a "mister" on the deck to keep us cool for the next few days as the temperature hovers between 85 and 95º...We had Thai food yesterday, with Cienna and Bobi doing the cooking and Rusty helping with the prep...Today Rusty and Herb will be at the BBQ smoking and cooking brisket and tri-tip...I suppose I will be doing salads and maybe pasta of some sort.

Last night we sat with Cienna and looked through photos of the last year as she explained, who everyone was and what they were doing...She does this with enthusiasm... Hugs To All...OWAV:)

An Epic Journey...61º

The journey that began 329 days ago has come to an end...The Journey that took Cienna half way around the world to Thailand and back home to Portland...She arrived just a bit late yesterday at PDX, family and friends waiting to welcome her...You (my readers) have followed this journey with her and now we are all waiting for the story that she has to tell...The story behind the scenes, what she was really smiling about in all those photo's...Will she tell?

Waiting--Photo of Ci is Cienna's head (photo on a stick)

A bit weary as she arrives

Home and unpacking.

                                                                   

I say the journey ended but in reality it is just another beginning, another journey, as she moves on with life...Her hosts in Thailand included her in their families and have shown her a wonderful time, a wonderful year and now she will adjust to a different life back in the USA...Papa and I opted out of the airport greeting, when Bobi said they would all be coming to Joseph for rest, relaxation, recuperation and "readjustment"..Barton Heights should be the perfect place to get to know this "new girl" that has landed in our midst...We are looking forward to it.

Now I must get moving, grocery shopping to do, house to spiff up, maybe do some cooking (it is too hot to cook much...) Rusty arrived yesterday, Ci and family will arrive late evening today...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Flying High...58º outside--68º inside

Cienna boarded her flight before 8pm last night, our time, (10am the next day, Thai time...) Friends, Family members, Rotary People were all there to see her off...How exciting it was for us to see photos, via FaceBook, as this scene unfolded...I hope she was able to sleep on the plane while we were snoring away in our beds...After flying all night, she has a 4 hour layover in Seattle today before deplaning in Portland at 4pm this afternoon...Here she will be greeted by Smiling Faces, Jubilant Family and Friends, then whisk home to the barks and meows of her family pets, who have been wondering for almost a year, why she disappeared...On Thursday Ci and family will travel to Joseph where Oma, Papa and Uncle Rusty will be waiting to greet her with Fireworks, Banners, Balloons and Champagne, Smiles, Hugs, Food, Peace and Quiet...A little respite from luggage, crowds, noise, lights and decisions...A few days to relax and regroup on Oma and Papa's deck, maybe a swim in Wallowa Lake, a gondola ride, some miniature golf, wiener roast or just doing nothing but talking, listening, laughing and resting...Pinching ourselves, wondering if this past 11 months was real or some crazy dream...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Smiles all Around

Waiting for the Plane