new old couch

My new old couch! I have been searching for a new couch for months. I tripped out - I had never really just went out and bought a new couch and I was going to treat myself. I looked at all the possibilities, did we want a couch and love seat, that would not fit in our room, OK how about a sectional, no most were too big. Did we want fabric, gets dirty, did we want leather, good leather is expensive. Then how about a love seat and 2 chairs....how about just 2 love seats, how about....I obviously did not know what I wanted. And I was going to buy a new one for a change.

Finally we decided to go up to Eugene, the "big" city and see what we could find. We saw a sign for a used furniture store that had good quality, River Road Second Hand. I figured if it was meant to be my couch would be there and it was!! This gorgeous blue leather couch was $300!

I had my opportunity to buy new and love this one as well. Who would have thought! The best part was that they also had an old white real wicker set, couch, 2 chairs and a table for $90. Five people tried to buy that from me while I was there. It is in great shape and I love it on the porch.
And Willie, my hero, got it all on our little truck and we drove back to our little town of Myrtle Creek.

can you belive this?

This was how a cake actually came for a retirement party! And wouldn't that actually be "under neath".....

swimming in China

Actually as they have no room to swim, maybe it should be
called standing in water in China.....
amazing.

Makes me wonder what the Olympics might be like.

River Appreciation Day!

Yesterday was a state-wide River Appreciation Day, fondly known as RAD! Umpqua Watersheds (the organization I work for) rented a park on the North Umpqua River and invited the public to celebrate with us.

We put up a stage, and had music all day long. Most of the musicians donated to the cause.


Great setting in the woods. This is Whistler's Bend Campground day use area. The bend is cool, you can start at one end and float past the day use area and way around the other side to the boat ramp, get out there and it is a easy walk back across the neck of the bend! William got us two awesome truck inner tubes and we had a great time floating, there were some rapids and it got exciting! It's a big, fast river.
The board of directors decided to have a bar-b-que to raise money for the organization. It was widely successful.

William brought his grill and he is in the left of the photo cooking natural raised beef burgers. Ed in the blue shirt is on the board and he donated the beef, he raises them himself. Willie also grilled salmon burgers - of course!

Kathy, in beautiful blue, cooked hand made lentil burgers. That was my choice and they were yummy! Mary, on the left, raises the cows with Ed and made perfect burgers and some called "Jamacian me sneeze".

Seth too is missing in the photos but a big presence, with out him we would not have had awesome cool young band members coming up to him after saying they would love to come next year!!

There is no good photo of Betsy, the president and dynamo behind the board. I guess she was moving so fast, I couldn't catch her - I can't keep up with her, that's for sure! And Karen is also missing in the photo but was there and with Anne made the whole kid area happen!

And there is no photos of Cindy and Andy, waiting patiently on the steet downtown in front of the office to help us unload the truck. It was very dark by then.

I am so grateful for all my new friends here and

I love this river.

The Wisdoms and Geoff, leading the float!

I want to thank each and everyone of you who worked together to make this such a sweet success! I can't wait till next year!

Emily's visit to Grandma and Grandpa's

Miss Em was here for 2 weeks after school got out. I may be biased but is she adorable or what?

She had a great time picking peas.

Looking for frogs.

Went to an Art Show with her Grandpa and made a nice sculpture.

Held a snake!

She took great photos of all the flowers in Grandma's yard.

She worked on her self portraits.

The day to drive her to Portland to meet Beth came way too fast.

See was so happy to see her mom!

Yes, I cut my hair. Change is good. It will be so much better for Mexico!!

Thanks to Grandpa for the great photos.

Hope all of you are having a great summer!

Umpqua Watersheds Board/Staff Retreat

"It's for the Trees"

The board and staff of Umpqua Watersheds, the small non-profit that I work for, had a great time at the Applegate Ranch for our retreat. It was facilitated by an old friend, Marc Smiley.

When I worked for Wild Olympic Salmon in Port Townsend, we worked with him several times and it was so fun to work with him again. We figured it had been at least 15 years! He was as awesome as ever. He was quick to answer and follow what we wanted and he had lots of great stories to back up what he said.

It was such an honor to stand in front of the original Applegate Ranch with Shannon (in the middle with the notebook) a fifth generation Applegate!

Thanks to Francis, the Conservation Coordinator, we have these great photos!

It's for the Trees

birthday of the greats

Today is the birthday of the Dali Lama (1935) and Frida Kahlo (1907-1954). Wow!

I have been inspired by both of them.

So interesting they were born on the same day.

Happy Day!

happy independence day

Click on this link, it's fun.....



http://www.fireworkspop.com/



That's great we are independent from England, I hope we can become independent from George Bush soon......