One of Life's Challenges

 Friday Randa and I spent the day visiting funeral homes. How about that for fun?   All of this was prompted because I lost my brother in law in Minnesota on Wednesday.  This caused the idea to start in the back of my head.  It actually has been brewing in Randa's head as well.  So last week I started the ball rolling by contacting a company that does this kind of thing.  I salesperson visited our home to tell us about their service.  

   We visited the funeral homes to get a "feel of the land".  It was interesting.  They were similar, but all different.   The possibilities for funeral arrangements are only limited by the size of the check to be written.  Some of the options:  Lunch catered through the funeral home.  $1000 + or -.  We are planning on cremation so that eliminates casket, vault and burial fees ( I can't imagine how expensive that would be.)  If you want  a service at the facility, figure on another $1000.  How about an urn for your ashes, because they come back from the crematorium in a cardboard box.  The cheapest wooden box or china or resin urn was $275 and they went up from there.  When we got home I looked online and you can get a hand carved rosewood box from...yup, you guessed it, Amazon, for about $40.  Also Walmart. com and many others.

  Now we sit back and think about it.  The salesperson that visited us quoted $5000 each for the whole package;  Handling the body, cremation, urn, hosting a service in their facility, catering a lunch ( No that was $995 extra).  delivering the Urn to  Williamette National Cemetery for a short military ceremony and then placement in special area.   

   That was one option.  There are several more to consider.   Hmmmmm.

Molalla River July 19, 2021

 Spent the afternoon with Eric.  Decided to take a drive up the Molalla River.  After an enjoyable lunch at Jakes Burgers we drove out of Molalla and tooled south along the east side of river on South Dickey Prairie Road.  We could catch glimpses of the water through the trees, but the views got better when we crossed the river and continued south on S. Molalla Forest  Road.  We drove as far as we could .  A gate stopped our progress after a few miles.   

We turned around and meandered our way back, stopping often to enjoy the sights and sounds of the river.  Small river rapids, small fish, swimming pools, lots of blue sky and greenery.

Home

 We arrived home on Saturday evening.  1403 miles.  Three long days.  The first night is Beatty, Nevada.  The second night in Standish, Ca (near Susanville) and the third night in our own bed.  It was great to be back in Oregon.  The trip was uneventful, except that the A/C did conked out during the hottest part of the day on Day 1.  It was quite uncomfortable from Parker to Searchlight.  We stopped for fuel in Searchlight and it was cooler with a nice breeze.  With the cooler temps, the A/C kicked in again.  Then, driving through the middle of afternoon traffic of LV, it failed again and did not resume until about a half-hour north of the city.  From then on the weather was cooler and the A/C worked well 

  The route was the same one we used coming down.  Weather was not a factor.  We were stopped for a half-hour for road construction otherwise the roada were good.  Fuel was higher, by about $.50 / gal.  It is interesting comparing fuel prices in different areas and states.  In Arizona Unleaded and Diesel are nearly the same with diesel sometimes a few cants less.  In Nevada  diesel was higher.  California is ridiculous!  Gas and diesel is at least a dollar higher than anywhere else.  Going back and forth , I buy fuel in southern Oregon and northern Nevada to avoid paying California prices.   However, I have found that fuel prices vary here too.  We drove up to Eric's yesterday and I watched prices as we passed from Canby to Oregon City, to Milwaukee.  Every station had a different price.  Diesel varied from 2.99 to 3.59 with ups and downs along the way.  I don't understand it. 

   

Hit the road, Jack.

 Tomorrow,  we hit the road.  both of us are ready.  Once the season ends, just sitting around doesn't agree with us.  Although the arboretum is at it's peak, bloom-wise.  But because the calendar shows that it is May.  the winter visitors have gone home.  The Arizona residents that are members are still visiting but the numbers are why down.  Programs have ended.  But mostly the temperatures are up.  As I write this at 5pm my weather machine shows 93.  So we are sitting inside, waiting for the sun to go down and the air to cool to complete the packing. The tasks I have left at this time is the satellite dish and the sewer connections along with treating the rubber on the kitchen slide.  It is right in the sun so I am waiting for sundown to treat the rubber seals. Oh, I need to take down the weather machine that is fastened to the trailer ladder.  

   And then tomorrow,   zoom.

What's Blooming This Morning

 May is the optimum time to be in the Sonoran Desert.  Everything is blooming.  Wildflowers. Trees, Cacti.  Every day is a new adventure.  Here are some of the new bloomers.

See the bloom on the short arm?

Here it is.

The Senita bloom

The Senita

The Desert Lily bloom

The Deseert Lily

One of the Wallace Garden Roses

What a beauty.

 

Bunny Ears Prickly Pear Cactus (Cristate)

This is a Bunny Ears Prickly Pear.  Notice that some of the pads are curvy instead of normal "pad" shape.  The cristate anomaly causes the curves of the pads.  In addition to changing the pads, the notice the flower.  It too has been changed.  Instead of round , it is elongated, nearly rectangular.  

This is a close-up of the flower.  Notice the round one in the background.