The sky is the limit

Dead Wood

More Coastal pics

The Oregon Coast can overwhelm your camera memory.  This is the Cape Meares Lighthouse.  It is open for tours during the summer.  Stop by some time.

Views like this will be your reward.

Greyhounds Puppies

The day we adopted Hunter we went out to a farm out Redlands Road to the East of Oregon City to see him and another dog to see how they would accept Quammie.  Either dog was fine with Q but we picked H because we liked him and he was ready to be adopted and the other dog still needed to be spayed so would not be ready for another month.  While we were there we had the opportunity to see a couple of 3 month old Greyhound pups.  They were interested in smelling Quammie.   The pups had tons and tons of energy !!

   Greyhound Pet Adoptions NW gets the dogs from two locations.  One is right off the track in Tucson and the other is from a breeder in Kansas.  Obviously, each site is many miles away and requires a marathon drive to get them.  A three person team drive non-stop back and forth pulling a special trailer that is similar to a livestock trailer but smaller and better insulated.  The team takes turns driving, navigating and sleeping to get the job done and when the trip is completed 20+ Greyhounds have a new outlook on life.

Lincoln City

Last week-end we went with a group of friends to the Oregon Coast.  The weather cooperated and provided us with a wonderful storm.  The waves were gigantic.  The wind blew, pelting the house ans shaking the windows.  We only stayed for two nights so it was short and sweet.  You can't get into your place until afternoon and have to be out by 11 so it does not give you much time in a week-end to relax, but we did our very best.
   I am not a big fan of Lincoln City.  To me it is over commercialized.  Too many people, Too many restaurants, gas stations, curio shops,  I am more a fan of the coast of southern Oregon, especially Bandon, and Coos Bay.  However finding a house to accommodate 9 people is a bit of a challenge.  This house met our needs very well.  It sat up on high ground several levels above other houses so the view of the ocean was great.  The walk to the beach was a bit of a discovery trip but worth the effort, of course.  Walking on the beach was limited by the tide and the storm surge which pushed the waves up to the beach wall.

Hunter

I am late in showing our new family member.  His name is Hunter.  He is our second Greyhound; our first one was our sweet girl Winnie.  This guy is also shy, even more so than Winnie.  Skiddish is more accurate of a description.  Being a racing greyhound, he has not been exposed to the sights and sounds of a "normal" dog.  So many things are new to him. Put that with his personality and it is going to be a challenge to help him adapt to everyday life.  But he is coming around.  I can step over him lying in the hallway with out him bolting out of the way.  That is big.  He still is reluctant to approach other people, especially men.  If they are sitting down, it is easier.  If they approach sort of sideways, with their hand out side ways, it will be better.  He also seems more relaxed if the leash is on him, of one of us is holding his collar.  It is a soothing thing.

    He is a sweet dog and is already a Good Thing !

Oregon Food Bank

A couple of Thursdays ago. R and I helped out at the Oregon Food Bank.  It provides food for folks that need some food assistance.  Our financial planner through Ameriprise, offers an annual time for his employees and customer to help out at this facility.  We register with him, shoe up on our assigned date, don our Ameriprise t-shirts and plastic gloves and aprons and hair nets and go into the food processing room.  Last year we bagged up frozen beans.  This year it was frozen corn.  You can see them in the large pallet-sized containers in the back of the warehouse.  The smaller tubs at the end of the stainless tables are filled and then plastic bags are filled, sealed and boxed.  The boxes are stacked on pallets and rolled back into the walk-in freezers.








The group worked rapidly for about 2 hours and the chart shows how much food we processed.  It made you feel good to see the numbers.  I would recommend it work to everyone.  It is important to give back when you can.  If you click on the photo you can read the numbers 11,720 lbs of food processed. 9700 meals, 132 meals per volunteer.   Definitely a Good Thing.

Red Tail Hawk

This guy was having lunch in this nearby tree.  I am not sure what he was eating but feathers were flying.

My favorite sky photo from our time at Malheur.

Photos from the Sodhouse Ranch

 The Barn is 130 years old.  The wood has many stories to tell, but they are only if you get up close, put your hand on it, and listen.

I did some adjustment on Google Chrome and it seems that I can now add photos again.  Yipee !

Fort Vancouver part2

   Went back to Fort Vancouver today.  Had training on the operation of the soon-to-open newly remodeled visitor center.  The official date is November 14.  It looks pretty good but quite a bit to be done to get ready.  The remodel was extensive but certainly budgetary restrictions were evident.  New electrical, new roof, new heating, a new front canopy, plus some fancy electronics.  But the original footprint was retained and the windows were not replaced.  Overall though, a great remodel.
We, along with other volunteers were shown the working of the new equipment.  Operating them when it is our turn will be the challenge, especially when it may be a year until we volunteer there again.
   Wednesday R and I are driving to Biggs Junction to meet another volunteer and pick up a Doxie that needs transport to Portland from eastern Oregon.  I am trying to help ODR (Oregon Dachshund Rescue ) When ever I can.  I believe that rescue is the right way to treat and adopt animals whether they are dogs, cats, ferrets, dinosaurs, extinct or not.
    Stopped at Petco in Beaverton on Saturday.  Greyhounds NW had a "Meet a Retired Greyhound" event so we stopped by to pet a few.  We are thinking of another.  They are magnificent creatures.

Plumber - Tuesday Nov 11,2015

The plumber is here.   I dug around the valve that turns off the water between the street and the house.  There was a large root that has grown around it.  Once I close to the root and moved it, I heard water running.  Not a good sound.  Soon water filled up the hole and started running down the yard toward the street.  I looked up plumbers but because it was close to 4 pm none were available.  Even the 24/7 rooter company told me that it would be two days.  So I turned the water off at the street and called Canby Plumbing and left a message and called our friends and asked if we could be overnight guests.
    Canby Plumbing called at 7:45 this morning and were here at 8.  They are digging away right now.  According to the plumber.

    In the words of the plumber, "Roots are the Root of All Evil".