Happy New Year....Happy New LIFE for Mary!

Their combined daughters' efforts gave Mary and Elwin a very fine engagement party at the Rogue River Community Center. After a wonderful meal, live music fueled some very experienced feet. So very pleasant to see your good friend cherished, celebrated, and wished all the happiness she so richly deserves. Elwin comes on board knowing full well that Mary is part of this Tribe. That certainly speaks well of his utter committment to Mary!

At The Very Edge....

Just passin' through, we're all just passin' through.
This rocky little spit was the perfect place to gather the perfect sized rock collection.
The patterns that the surf leaves on the sand are fascinating.
At the very edge
of a continent, at the end of a year, life is good. The constant, heavy rains of late had kept Warf, the Lt. himself, from his beloved beach walks for way too long. The sun had not been on the sand for very long when the crew showed up at Pelican Beach.

Click here to see the VIDEO
Use Back Arrow to return here... after the Video

Flow, flow, flow, the current of life is ever onward......Kobodaishi

This is what pure delight looks like!



Being a grandmother has got to be one of life's great joys. Many of the Tribe got to hold the future in their arms over the holidays.

Water Sustains All.....

The Illinois was running as 10,800cfs today. The predicted 45mph winds have not yet materialized. There has actually been a bit of sun AND the days ARE getting longer....hurray! The West Fork,south of Obrien,and Rough and Ready Creek were not at all muddy like the rest of the rivers here. The Kalmiopsis has very little soil on the rocks, and the logging has been historical. Water clarity is markedly different. From $8 Rd. the Illinois looks like the inland sea as it spreads out over its' banks and onto Kerby Flat. I love the sound of the river from the Green Bridge.

Rain, Rain, Rain....

Launching your boat here and now, would certainly give you a wild ride. There was lots of debris coming past this Robertson Bridge ramp. That clump of trees in the middle of the river is normally NOT under water!

The past couple of days seem like a return to Oregon winters of years past when it rained ALL WINTER. We need snow pack and it has really been quite pleasant as it is warm. Coming home the back way from town today I had to drive through water over the road with caution signs out in a couple of spots. There were numbers of gorgeous egrets out in the fields behind the dairies off of Upper River Road. The Rouge was about triple it's normal flow for this time of the year. Even though the light was fading I could not resist getting a couple of shots of the drama.

The Christmas Legend of 2006.......

"O giver of each perfect gift!
This day our daily bread supply:
While from the Spirit's tranquil depths
We drink unfailing draughts of joy."

This will be the year of the story of a Christmas Miracle for Madelyn. She did reveal to the Tribe present at the Christmas breakfast table ..... that there would be no feast later that day for her and her family. She had no feast food!
All her efforts at 6 PM on Christmas Eve to shop .... failed. Carole did volunteer that she had an extra breast....(such an Earth Mother!) and she would either give that to Madelyn, or Sylvia could load the shotgun and head for the back 40. We decided that one dead turkey would be better than two...... The universe provides.........Life is good when you have a Tribe.
Little did we know that when Carole opened the "Grateful Heart" book at random, how the verse above was about to play out. Ah, sweet mystery of life.....
We adjourned to the conservatory for some chamber music, and then shared our Christmas pageant with Sam and Toots via Sam's gift of web cam and computer expertise. Mary had just called and Els called while we were on camera.
So fine to be sitting warm and dry by the fire, savoring being absolutely held in the loving arms of family and friends this day. The rain is so warm we have the windows open. Very few of the real gifts in life come in boxes.

Home life and sightseeing in P-town, poor Karen had to go to work!!!

U.S. Bank tower, Has Portland City grill in one of the top floors (great view)!!
Portland sights!!
Cool bustling activities in the Pearl District!!

Just a thought?

Traffic is not that bad!!!

I've driven here before!! Don't be scared--- Haha

Master gate builder!!

Off to Work!!

Special dinner round two

North to P-town

Bridges are the gateway to P-Town

Traffic is not even too bad, definately travel between rush hours!!!

A gift on the solstice ---- SUN!!!! instead of predicted rain.

Christmas arrives.......

Echoes still linger from an evening of good friends and good music. The "conservatory" was offically initiated by the homecoming of Carole with special guest appearances of Karen and Bob Clark. Our Poet in Residence, Madelyn, favored us with a seasonal literaray offering. Bob apprised us of a site to explore......Pandora.com. It offers a free personal DJ for all of your favorite tunes and artists.

Fellow Desert Dog sends news....

The Basalt Babe Laura sends a picture and a story......."I've enclosed two photos that I took on my last hike out from the Field Station. I was approaching the top of this butte, when I was amazed to see the outline of a critter against the sky, watching me. I quick took a couple of shots, then grabbed my binoculars, and saw the young bobcat. What I didn't know until I had the film developed was that Mama cat was watching me too! She doesn't look too happy, either(take a look at her face with your handlens.) I didn't try to approach the young'un, and it's probably a good thing for me that I didn't! Anyway, it was a nice was to say goodbye."

History is made.........

Today, in a house with no diswasher, garbage disposal, ipod, no collection of DVD movies, and only one credit card, (in case of emergency)--the formerly ilcomputerate---went LIVE into cyberspace. It does not hurt to have been given a brilliant, computer guru, generous of time and talent, brother. Thank you Sam. I have made a note on the calendar of the remarkable thing that happened on this day! December 15, 2006. If this is not incontrovertible proof of evolution...I don't know what is.

Air Hockey Olympics

Such power and strategy needs to be acknowledged. Karen recommends positioning a certain body part to achieve the best advantage. You do not have to have a nursing degree to know this .....but it does help.

Rituals....We may be adding a new one. The cold, damp of December is certainly dispelled by a small glass of sherry. The glass itself comes from a far away land and a long time ago. As we review a full day well spent, it is more than the liquid that warms us. Tales of triumph, bravery, spirit, intelligence, and raucous revelry are told. The depth and breadth of possibility inherent in the human spirit never fails to stun the sensiblilities. Yes! to Life!