PACIFIC CITY THOUSAND TRAILS PRESERVE 7/29-8/3/2012

July 25-29 we stayed at Cliff and Linda's to relax, work and play Canasta.  Then on July 29 we hitched up and drove on to Pacific City Thousand Trails Preserve up near Tillamook, OR.  This preserve has been one of our favorite haunts through the years due to its closeness to the Pacific Ocean and it's beautiful hills and forests.
Once we got there we found we had left our camera at Cliff and Linda's.  Cliff had a school project to tend to in Monmouth at Western Oregon University which was about 60 miles from us.  So, he brought the camera and Wayne drove over to retrieve it.  Cliff was staying in the dorms there, so we had dinner there in the cafeteria, visited and then Wayne went back to Pacific City.

Other than that, we have spent these days here, relaxing, reading, walking, going for drives, looking at real estate, playing canasta and catching up on journals and these blog entries.  We love our life out on the road and are using our time to study, write and plan out our future.  Life is good.  Remember to be thankful for your blessings, don't listen to naysayers, look on the bright side of things, realize that under all green luscious beautiful grass you will find manure and worms so stay focused on the green grass, never get caught up with those that try to convince you that good is bad.  Every cloud has a silver lining, look to the sun behind it rather than the rain soaked cloud.  Play the "Glad Game"!!!. 

SANTA CLARA MISSION 7/23/2012

The morning of Bill's Memorial Service John, Ann and Wayne went for a drive to see the area around San Jose and buy fuel.  We found Santa Clara Mission and decided to tour the mission and university campus.

This beautiful Trumpet Vine is over 100 years old.  It was beautiful.

The rose gardens there were well maintained.

This 100+ year walkway was grand to see.  It was a wonderful relaxing time we spent before going to the Memorial Service.

MEMORIAL FOR BILL 7/22-24/2012

Bill Snyder, Ann's father's cousin, passed away recently and the family held a memorial service for him in San Jose, CA on July 23.  Ann and her brother, John, wanted to attend, so on July 22, we four drove down together in our truck.  We left our trailer at Cliff and Linda's house in Oregon.  Though it was sad at Bill's passing, we four had a good time being together and then being able to spend time with their cousins, some of which we have seen recently and some it has been many years since getting together.  When we got to San Jose, some of us met together for a meal at a local restaurant in Los Gatos, CA.
Clockwise, starting at 9:00 are, Karen and then John Huff, Steve Snyder (Bill's nephew) and then his son, Tony, Jason (Bill's grandson), Moke (Sue's husband), Sue (Bill's daughter), Ann and Wayne.

Ann, Wayne, Karen (John's wife) and John (Ann's brother).

The next day, the Memorial Service was presided over by Sue (Bill's only surviving child)  Here she tearfully eulogizes her dad.  Bill served during WWII as a bomber pilot of a B-17, flying 25 successful missions over Europe, was awarded the Purple Heart and several medals for combat valor.  He, after WWII, worked for the CIA on several top secret missions and tasks of which several are now finally being declassified so that it is becoming clear the service he rendered to his nation.  Besides all that, he was just a plain ol' fun guy that loved candy and loved his family.  Ann and John fondly remember growing up spending many summer vacations with Bill and his family.  They look on Sue as a close cousin.  It was good to be able to spend time with her and Bill's family.

It was a small gathering of family.  Bill's has outlasted most of his colleagues and compatriots, they having passed on before him.

Never the less, the Air Force remembered, honored him and on his passing and saluted him at his memorial service with a special flag ceremony....

...a rifle salute....

...and then presented Bill's daughter, on behalf of the president, the flag of his nation he served most of his life.

Then Bill's two grand children placed Bill's ashes in their vault.

 

Afterwards, the family gathered for a photo and then went to dinner together.  It was a nice time together, honoring a great man and then spending time enjoying a meal together.

It was a good time.  We are blessed to have family that enjoys each others company and stands together during times of sorrow.  Good family!!

AN AFTERNOON AT THE ROGUE RIVER GORGE 7/21/2012

Saturday afternoon, Linda came out of the house and told Cliff and Wayne to stop working in the yard, get showered and get ready to take a drive up Hwy. 62 to Union Creek in her convertible Buick so we could have a nice drive and some ice cream.  No convincing was needed and a few minutes later, we were on our way.  Beautiful Mt. McLaughlin supervised some of our trip.

With Wayne in the driver's seat and Cliff in the front passenger seat, he looks back to Linda, questioning her letting Wayne drive.  Wayne was in seventh heaven, not having driven a convertible.....

 ..... since he sold Lester, his Austin Healey Sprite back in 1976.  Oh how the feel of the wind blowing through Wayne's hair brought back memories of road racing through the Siskiyous with the top down!!!

Fortunately, the four of them made it safely to Becky's Cafe in Union Creek, Wayne still basking in the glow of top down driving and Ann wishing he would calm down.

We had dinner and then pie and ice cream.  Contented and happy with good family company and good food at one of Ann's and Wayne's favorite restaurants we let the waitress take our picture.  Note Linda's rooster comb hairdoo from the ride up.  The other three of us wore hats on the drive.

Cute couple, eh?  Wayne's Lil' Bro'er and his wife!  Love your hair Linda!  I love being able to put this photo up for your embarrassment Linda!  Thank you so much for letting me drive your convertible!!!

Then with too much food in his belly an exhausted from the excitement of driving Linda's convertable through the beautiful drive up Hwy 62, Wayne crashed.  Oh what Ann has to put up with these last 38 years!!!

After Beckie's cafe, we decided to go for a walk and work off some of the food before the drive back.  No better and no more beautiful place than the Rogue Gorge just a hop up from Becky's!

Lindaless, we pose for her photographic skills.  Lil' Bro'er, Big Bro'er and Ann.

During the walk, Linda decided she wanted to try out her new camera and practice taking river shots and stills of people.  We were her guinea pigs.  It was fun.

Two brothers, solving the problems of the world.

And another Linda shot.

More walking.  Notice Cliff beginning to leave our presence?

And another Linda shot.

Wayne and Ann trying to figure out what Cliff was looking at.

Is that Big Foot?

Where did Cliff go?

There he is!!  It wasn't Big Foot after all!!

Then on the ride back, Wayne rode some of the way in the passenger seat, confident in his Lil' Bro'er's driving skills.

Thanks Linda for the great idea!  Wonderful fun!  A great way to finish off the day after laboring on the farm!  It is nice when family are good friends that have fun together!

GOSSON'S BBQ AND REUNION 7/20/2012

A long time ago, there were two little boys.Their parents were good friends and got together to at church, BBQ's, Loeb camp outs and so forth.  These two little boys grew up together.  Then one day they were men and married their sweethearts, Joy and Megan.  Then these two little boys had two little boys of their own and then two little girls of their own.  These daddies now get together once in awhile to compare their kids and share fun times together again.  Here are these two little boys and their kids.  Skyler and Kevin still get into trouble when they get together, but we parents, Mark, Dawn, Wayne and Ann still love them......most of the time.  When ever we come to town, there is always a gathering to look forward to at Mark and Dawn's house!

Grandma Cowley stole Skyler and Joy's newest little girl and Wayne stole a picture of contentment and bonding.

Mark, as always, mans the BBQ with the mastery of a master chef, while Kevin mans the duty of watchful parent, uncle and life guard.

The Chef under the watchful eye of Ann, the grill inspector!!

Hamburgers schmamburgers!!!  Pineapple devours watermelon at the drop of a hat!!!

Wanna trade??? No way!!!

Mark and Dawn slow the host and hostess pace down for a couple minutes.  The Cowleys and Gossons have been good friends for over 20 years.  Lots of memories with these two and us!!!!

Kevin finds he has put on Batman's shirt on accident!  What a dufus!!

Batman finds that Mark's glasses do not work very well in correcting his vision!!!

We are blessed with close friends, the Gossons.  Thank you, Mark and Dawn, for always being there for us.  Our families have always had such good fun together through the years!

AUNT CLIFF'S AND UNCLE LINDA'S FARM (7/17-21/2012

After the Loeb camp out Kevin & crew and we headed back to Central Point, OR to Wayne's brother's place where we parked our rig for a few days.  While here Wayne and Batman mowed a couple fields and lawns.  Here Grandpa and Batman show their thumbs up on a job finished!

Another activity was a couple family gathering dinners.  This one was at a local Chinese restaurant.  Clockwise from 6:00 are Buddy (Kristen and Grant's son), Kristen (Cliff and Linda's youngest daughter), Linda (Cliff's wife), Ann, Wayne, Cliff at noon (Wayne's brother), unseen Pineapple (Kevin and Megan's daughter), Megan (Kevin's wife), Batman (Kevin and Megan's son), Kevin (Wayne and Ann's youngest son), Grant (Kristen's husband).

Wayne and Cliff worked hard on farm stuff, Ann worked hard on bills, Linda worked hard on her employment and Bentley worked hard on being loved by Batman.  Relaxing outside on Cliff and Linda's front lawn under the shade of the massive broad leaf in the center was a favorite occupation of time.  It is beautiful there.

Bentley receiving one of about 1,000 hugs from Batman.  Good doggie!!

Pineapple getting cuddles from stinky ol' Grandpa in Cliff and Linda's living room.

We also celebrated Pineapple's first birthday out in Grandma and Grandpa's trailer.

Oh boy!!  A tea set from Grandma and Grandpa!!

This is Pineapple's view from her highchair.  No wonder one year old's cry at their birthday parties!!!  Frightening!!!