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Another hot, triple-digit day, but still time for fun. Besides swimming in the river to cool off, we did a few crafts to pass the time away.
The boys enjoyed staining a cigar box for which to keep treasures. They didn't want to paint them, just apply a stain. And what a nice job they did.
KL, on the other hand, is more like me and is eager to learn everything there is to know about the art of tole painting. She chose an oval box and a cute turtle design to paint for a birthday gift for a friend. She is a very attentive listener and follows instruction well.
I just taught her a few basic ways to load the paint onto her brush, and she basically did the rest herself, using the pattern book as a reference.
Jen stretched out on the lounge for a rare minute of peace and solitude before thinking about packing up and heading south. This picture was taken upon her arrival and when the weather was nice and cool when she exclaimed "This is how I want to spend my vacation!" Today she wouldn't be seen in jeans, most likely shorts and a cooler shirt!
And a trip to Oregon wouldn't be right without finding and befriending a banana slug! JD was fascinated on how they shrink up when captured on a stick.
His mom was the same way when she was his age. While camping, whenever we needed a banana slug removed from the side of our tent, we'd just holler "Jeni!"
Packing up is quite a chore. But with help from the kids, Jen was able to get the car and pod packed to the gills.
It's always great for us to enjoy our family visits. And this time, knowing we'll see them again in October, it wasn't as sad to say farewell. We all had a fun time together, and created all kinds of memories to last a lifetime. Thanks for coming!Life is good!
Ken and I were in charge of preparing dinner during the reunion. While planning meals, Ken came up with a great idea. "Let's prepare a three-generation dinner using recipes from my Mom, my Gramma, and my Great Gramma." Then we thought, well why not add our generation, our kids generation and their kids generation. So here it is. We started out with appetizers served by the sixth generation (the youngest), then Jen and Stephanie put together a fabulous dessert using the Dutch Oven, a Peach and Orange Dump Cake. Ken and Ron were in charge of the salad (and oh-so-creative they were . . . they even added blueberries and cheddar to all the other stuff they discovered in the fridge); then I made the "Hamburger Gravy on Toasted Buns" (a.k.a. Sloppy Joes) from my mother-in-law's recipe — "Asian Salad" (a.k.a. Macaroni and Shrimp Salad) from Gramma Reynold's recipe — and "Baked Beans" (which seemed more like just a pot of beans because she added no tomato products nor brown sugar, nor molasses like I do when I bake beans) from Great Gramma Couch's recipe. We found these last three recipes in the book that Ken's mom had given me for a wedding shower gift forty-six years ago!
Steph and Jen had little "helpers" wondering what they were doing with Orange Soda in a cake recipe!
We all had a great time trying out the six-generation recipes, and there were hardly any leftovers . . . only a few beans!
The Dutch Oven dinner was a hit, as it usually is. Folks are fascinated by this method of cooking, and it's lots of fun and delicious. . . Sourdough Bread, Turkey Lasagna, and Mixed Berry Cobbler.
One morning Ken decided to cook breakfast for everybody. . . Bacon and Buckwheat Pancakes. Steph also provided a delicious baked breakfast casserole for everyone to enjoy one morning. And of course there was always a fresh pot of coffee greeting the folks every morning.
Samantha was the delight of all of us. She loved to be read to, she loved to color, and she loved to blow bubbles . . . she loved to have lots of attention, and we were thrilled to give it to her because she made us smile!
One night we had a nice campfire and roasted marshmallows for S'mores. Samantha had never had one before and was pretty excited to roast her own marshmallow.
Perfectly roasted!
Yummo!
No better way to end a fun day than with a campfire. KL did a great job in keeping the fire going long enough to make some nice coals for roasting our marshmallows.Life is good!
The last five days have been the first annual Family Reunion at Camp Cascadia. And what fun we've had! Our mid-west daughter and family couldn't make it this year, perhaps next year.
First and foremost will be pictures of "Family" . . . because without them, there would be no such thing as a "Family Reunion!"
Here is Ken enjoying a glass of wine with his brother, Ron. 
Ron and Sandy drove down from their home in Seattle and camped out in their cute little Dolphin, which they've been using for over twenty years.
Their daughter, Stephanie and husband David, along with with their cutie-pie daughter Samantha a.k.a. "Sammy" also made the trek from Seattle
David, practicing daily, making beautiful music heard throughout the woods.
Sammy
Mother and daughter enjoying some vacation time together.
Our daughter, Jennifer, who came up from central California with her three children (while hubby stayed home to care for the animals).
Youngest, CD, loves hunting for banana slugs.
JD loves to think of what he can add to whatever we're cooking, and browse through the DVD library hoping to be given permission to watch a movie (which deep inside he knows Mom will say "no").
And KL loves to relax and read under the shade of the trees.
Life is good . . .
Especially spending quality time with family!
When I came into the pole barn this morning to fix a nice cozy cup of cappucino, Ken said "You're gonna want to grab your camera and get a picture of the Skeeter Vac!" I was a little leery of the tone in his voice, but being the dutiful wife that I am, I did just that. As I came around the deck, and was approaching the area of the yard where the Skeeter Vac is located, I noticed something that definitely was not a "skeeter!" I immediately backed away, proceeded back into the studio, said "no way" to Ken, and made my nice cozy cup of cappucino, sat in my new comfy easy chair and enjoyed my peaceful morning.
Then, after the jolt of caffeine settled, I got up my courage to venture out once again. This time I was really brave, and got up close to get some disgustingly good shots. I am sharing them especially for my four grandsons, whom I know will think I am the really cool and brave CaliforniaGrammy!
This little guy was trying to be a free-loader . . . and look what it got him! You see, the black and white cylinder is sticky like fly paper that traps bugs, and the machine itself attracts all kinds of bugs and sucks them into a tray, which we have to empty periodically.
I really felt kinda sad, he's a bit cute in a weird sort of way. And bats truly are our friends, they get thousands of mosquitoes for us every night. This fella just didn't want to work for them.
Life is good!
Mike and Lori Sanders came for a quick over-night stay yesterday afternoon. We sat outside under the trees, enjoying perfect weather, and chatted the afternoon away. Then, about an hour before dinner was served, we all got in gear for a nice feast. Ken barbecued chicken thighs, I stir-fried up some zucchini, onions, peppers, and mushrooms . . . and Lori brought out two large dutch ovens and proceeded to bake a loaf of sourdough bread and a dutch apple pie for dessert (served ala mode). Needless to say, no one came away from the table hungry!
Mike and Lori
King of the barbecue.
Cooked to perfection.
The queen, herself.
Bread inside?
Dutch apple pie
Sourdough bread . . . to die for!
Doesn't this Dutch Apple Pie look yummy?
Buddy, their adorable Cockapoo!
Life is good!
This morning Ken called to me (I was vacuuming the trailer, of all things . . . there is still housework in this lifestyle, but it doesn't take long). When I came outside he motioned high in the tree a pair of the biggest woodpeckers we've ever seen. Now we have oodles of woodpeckers in Coarsegold, but we've never seen a woodpecker here at all, so this appearance was strange, especially because they were so large. I quickly grabbed my camera and put the big lens on it to see how close I could get. Then I coughed and they instantly flew away. But I was able to get a few shots. I've got to look up in our Audobon bird book to see if I can figure out the name.
I've since learned from a reliable source, and confirmed the name with the Audobon Society, that these birds are "Pileated Woodpeckers." Thanks, Rick!
This is the only shot of the two of them. I think my presence scared away one of them.
This one wasn't afraid of me.
She immediately began to peck away at the bark, I suppose looking for food. Soon they were gone, and never more to be seen.
During Happy Hour, the hummers came to inform us that their feeder was empty. Their iridescent colors are unbelievable, especially when the light catches it right.
I had my camera handy because I wanted to get shots of us feeding the blue jays peanuts . . . that never happened, but I did get a few shots of the hummers. You've got to be fast at snapping pictures because the little guys move so darn fast!
I love it when they display their colors. There were a couple of them wrestling over who was going to get to the feeder first.
Life is good!
Now that our Pegs and Jokers project is nearing an end, we went into Albany to buy the lumber needed for Ken's next project . . . his first hand-built boat . . . a PDR. Hmmmmm . . . PDR? . . . you say. That stands for "Puddle Duck Racer!" Got your curiosity aroused, huh! I'll keep you posted as progress is made, and in a mere couple of weeks he plans to have it finished. Stay tuned!
The three 2x4s and a 3/4" sheet of plywood will not even be used for the boat . . . everything else will.
Life is good!
The boys enjoyed staining a cigar box for which to keep treasures. They didn't want to paint them, just apply a stain. And what a nice job they did.
KL, on the other hand, is more like me and is eager to learn everything there is to know about the art of tole painting. She chose an oval box and a cute turtle design to paint for a birthday gift for a friend. She is a very attentive listener and follows instruction well.
I just taught her a few basic ways to load the paint onto her brush, and she basically did the rest herself, using the pattern book as a reference. 
Jen stretched out on the lounge for a rare minute of peace and solitude before thinking about packing up and heading south. This picture was taken upon her arrival and when the weather was nice and cool when she exclaimed "This is how I want to spend my vacation!" Today she wouldn't be seen in jeans, most likely shorts and a cooler shirt!
His mom was the same way when she was his age. While camping, whenever we needed a banana slug removed from the side of our tent, we'd just holler "Jeni!"
Packing up is quite a chore. But with help from the kids, Jen was able to get the car and pod packed to the gills.
It's always great for us to enjoy our family visits. And this time, knowing we'll see them again in October, it wasn't as sad to say farewell. We all had a fun time together, and created all kinds of memories to last a lifetime. Thanks for coming!
