Sunday Hike

Sunday drives may be our new norm! I managed to throw my back out (3 trailer loads of manure, gardening, and shoveling rock might have something to do with that) and couldn't move normally, so I sat this one out at home. Bryan took the kids and my folks followed to the overlook near Vantage.

Mitch taking in the view from the roadside.

Shan at the viewpoint!

A couple of spoonamores checking out wildlife...

Perfect weather!

Of course it was windy, too.

Then they hiked up the hill toward the Wild Horses Monument.

Grandfather Cut Loose the Ponies has been a set of statues I've admired for years, but we never stop. Making it a destination solved that problem!

Lovely view from the top!

There was a lot of graffiti, unfortunately, but no snake spottings!

After the hike, they drove through Sunland, a riverside community made up of 206ers and their big summer homes. It was full of people coming to our side to escape the virus. Interesting, and a great Sunday outing!

Quarantine Continues

The quarantine continues...

We are grateful for kitten therapy. After having mama cat fixed, the cat family moved into our basement guest room. Mama can come and go through the open window and the babies have taken over. Sometimes schoolwork happens there. Mostly it's snuggles!

The kids enjoyed doing a painting tutorial with Benji on Facebook. They each created pretty seascapes, which we've hung in their rooms.

Teachers are great about calling and our kids love the visit. This is Shan and Mrs. Byam chatting. The kids are also having lots of class meetings online, which they seem to enjoy. They are doing a great job of completing chores and schoolwork while Bryan and I are on meetings or working. We are certainly not being very hands-on with our own kiddos. This is heavy on my heart.

As the kittens get older, they get supervised outdoor playtime. Mama is proving to be quite the hunter. She captured this baby rabbit, and Mitch rescued it. It was a hard lesson.

Meanwhile, Bryan and Dave are making the park field a real Field. They have it lined, and Bryan mows it lower than the surrounding grass every other day. It's hilarious - and lovely!

5 kittens, 1 boy, 1 book and 1 hammock...pure joy.

Shan helped us prep the space for our new veggie box!

The dads continue to chop apple trees into firewood. We have SO much wood and they have a task they seem to enjoy. Everyone wins! At least that's how I feel...

We have stayed outdoors, but have slowly begun to see our folks more often, sharing meals in our yards. Bert chose Dad's shoulder for a break.

 Bryan has been loving his side-by-side and finds lots of reasons to use it. He and the kids went up Mount Baird to watch the sunset.

 They went to the back and looked at the mountains, as well.

Such confidence and happiness...may it ever be so!

Sunday Drive

Sundays we listen to church online, usually in the front room huddled around a talking screen. Not this Sunday!

After a pose by the Prom tree, we hit the road!

We drove passed Sun Lakes and out around Steamboat Rock, appreciating the beauty of our region with fresh eyes. We listened to the sermon and were delighted by the change of scenery out the window!

Through the dam cities we went and made a stop at the Grand Coulee Dam. We were duly impressed!

This thing used enough concrete to build a highway from Seattle to Miami...crazy!

We began listening to Brian Regan (a current favorite of the children) and drove on to Bridgeport for a surprise stop at the Allstots. It was a lovely and much needed outing!

Easter 2020

Holy Week in near isolation was a different experience. However, we enjoyed the traditional services of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday online in preparation. 

On Saturday, the kids dyed eggs.

It always seems like we should have another purpose for the dye as the eggs are finished so quickly!

 In New Zealand, the Prime Minister assured kids that both the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny were essential workers. Good thing our Bunny was, too!

 They happily hunted, and obligingly posed.

Mama cat helped them count their bounty...and they had to search for a few stray eggs.

For brunch, our parents came over for an outdoor distanced meal.

We all had our own tables.

Mitch loved his HP book from the Bunny.

Not our usual Easter visit, but Gram and I still got to chat via FaceTime. My nonagenarian granny is rocking technology!

We ended the day with the kids flying kites in a sunny field. Even in the midst of our strange norm, Easter's message of hope and new life holds. 

He is RISEN!

Quarantine, Weeks 2 and 3

We are now under a state mandated "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order, which has expanded until May 4. It's the right thing to do, but it's hard!

In the beginning, there was still time to play with friends. Mitch played many games of Battleship with neighbor boys - an easy game to keep your distance!

In the mornings the kids do school work

  and then chores.

 There has been a lot of baking, too! (Enter the joke that we'll gain our COVID-19(lbs)!)

 Lots of time for reading - for all members of the family. Chuck isn't sure what to do with so much attention. He just naps ALL day long!

 We are often thankful for the weather and ability to be outside safely. Shan's crushing it!

 Bryan has SO MANY on-line meetings and he gets tired of sitting. He built a standing desk in the guest room (using a table and puzzle boxes), but sometimes he just needs to move!

 Grampa A found an apple orchard with an owner eager to have the wood cut. He, Dave, and Bryan are making inroads on the downed trees and our wood supply (as well as Phyllis and Sam's, Moores, Springs, etc) will be well-stocked!

 The kids are playing so well together (most of the time!). They are also doing lots of crafting, including origami and drawing with the help of on-line tutorials.

They have also prepped some "canvasses" so they can paint along with Mr. Turley and his facebook live tutorials. That should be interesting!

Always a Dawg fan!

Spring break is over and we are back to school tomorrow. That will be on-line for many in the district and we will see how to adjust from extension work to continuing education. What a learning curve! Onward...

Millions of Cats

Charlie continues to reign supreme as our indoor cat.

He is smug in his superiority.

However, his world is beginning to be set topsy-turvy by the arrival of Midnight. She gave birth to kittens on March 4 (in Springs' garage) and is a regular at our house. She even sneaks inside sometimes!

Meanwhile her 5 kittens are doing well! The kids have each chosen one they want to come live with us (Socks and Ranger). We are enjoying playdates with the kittens. 

These playdates are always supervised by Mama. For such an adolescent cat herself, she is doing a good job of caring for the littles. We need to find her a happy home when all of this is over!

Such a delightful distraction!

  Kitten therapy may be a real thing.

 And just in case 7 cats wasn't enough, enter Oscar. He now shows up regularly for meals. Mitchell has helped him get less spooky and can now hold him. Or her. I really don't know.

So, we're feline fine around here...and giving some attention to Brody, too!