Mid July

Vacation: This was the best vacation ever! I know I said that when we got home from Texas and Key West and the North east, but really this was the best ever. We have been in Bend Oregon. Why have I not ever been to Bend Oregon before? It is only 6 hours away and we broke up the drive by having lunch with a dear friend that has moved to Amboy, Washington. (That’s near Vancouver, WA and not far from Portland, Oregon.) Oh my gosh, a week of sunshine, no rain. One night it was pretty hot in the house and a fan did the trick. All my joints felt better and I thought I could see my thumb bend a couple of times, maybe. Maybe that’s why they call this place Bend, the longer you’re here the better you bend – or it could be the bend in the river that runs through town.


We arrived Friday July 1, and met up with the two other couples in the “Friday night desert group” and my niece and her boyfriend. They had been climbing at ‘Smith’s Rock’ nearby and came over to visit. B&C made a fabulous spaghetti dinner and we toasted the first night of vacation and BM’s birthday.

Saturday was our day to cook and so we took stock of the kitchen and went to town for supplies. Trader Joes was the main grocery store and several thrift shops for things like knives and spoons and lamps that the house was short. It was like a geocaching adventure and a great way to explore a new town. There was also a Saturday market in the park and we toured all the vendor options there. Bill and I did salmon BBQ for dinner and Bill made a chocolate pudding cake for dessert. My niece and nephew were with us again and we really enjoy their company.

Sunday we went to the High Desert Museum: http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/ it was really a well done museum and very interesting. The 'one otter' was asleep when we were there and the live minx at the entrance to the museum didn’t look to happy in their confined spaces, but they were rescue animals and I’m sure it’s better than their alternative.

Monday, the 4th of July started with a parade through town that was right in front of the house we rented. Every dog and child in the county was decorated and toured the town cheering “freedom,” and “USA.” Then the bicycle parade started and we heard there were over 2000 people on bicycles and they also chanted and some had appropriate music for the holiday as well. It was really something to see. The park, which was very close to the house, was filled with vendors, arts and crafts and food and similar attractions that attracted all of humanity after the parade. I took my time and looked at every single opportunity to spend money, and then I went back to the house for a good lunch and took up at my favorite spot to knit and watch the ‘floaters’. We had a fabulous dinner with hamburgers, corn on the cob and watermelon, we decided all that was missing was “mom,” so we called up my mom and put her on speaker phone and we all enjoyed chatting with her.

Tuesday we did part of the Cascade Lakes byway. When we got to Elks Lake we rented kayaks and spent 2 hours kayaking the circumference of the lake. Then we drove back to Mt Bachelor and took the ski lift to the top and walked around in the snow for a while. Wednesday we went to Smith Rock. That is where my niece was climbing on the weekend. I was amazed at the change in ecosystems in such a short it was serious desert in that area with lots of juniper, the culprit of our watery eyes problem, I think. Thursday we went to Sun River for lunch and to check out that area a bit and then we toured a candy factory in town, who doesn’t love candy and free samples. When Friday came around I was sorry. I knew I would have enjoyed more time. Maybe 10 days next year.

Some observations from vacation; 1) when you are not working full time and you go on vacation you don’t really need three days of sleep before you can start having fun. That was a shocker. Also I didn’t sleep till 10 or 11 every day, I was awake at 7:30 and ready to go, well mostly ready to go. I loved feeling really rested. 2) I really had fun at the thrift shops. I love dishes and I’m thinking that I am going to start picking out dishes I like, use them until I get tired of them and then get a different set of dishes. The thrift shops in Bend were a lot of fun. 3) I had a great time kayaking and my shoulder injury/surgery/recovery went well because I was able to kayak and feel strong and enjoy it. 4) I love my husband being retired. I just do.

What's on my needles:   One of my 'new years goals' was to knit a pair of socks for myself.  That meant adult size, simple and two socks.    I am 3/4 of the way through the first sock and it is going well.   I started with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's basic sock pattern and here's what I have so far......

Thanks for stopping by,  Smiles,  I look forward to hearing from you:  celindakot@yahoo.com