Aloha

Life since my last post has been crazy busy: harvesting and squirreling away produce from my very productive garden; re-roofing; running a regatta; swimming with the dogs in our record setting, thirty-six, 90 degree + days; just keeping everything well watered...
With the dogs at home joined by Tule Loowit and her family, we then went on a well deserved business vacation to Maui.

Our hotel after the storm clouds had finished dumping their tropical load.

The view from our room deck the evening we arrived.

 Sunset while we enjoyed dinner.

Life-Is-Really-Good view while I enjoyed my room deck breakfast of Kona coffee and cookies (poor Dave was in a meeting). I spent the rest of the morning snorkeling along this reef right outside the door (while poor Dave was still in a meeting).

 Lunch in paradise.

Trees in the resort open-air lobby on my way to go shopping (while poor Dave is still in meetings).

What is a trip to Hawaii without a Lu'au...

 and a beautiful sunset?

The next day we went for a all day boat ride with stops for snorkeling along the way.

Dave so wanting to be a the helm.

 

 The seas were amazingly calm. A large pod of spotted porpoises escorted us to Molokini, the first island...

and another pod of spinner porpoises took us to the Lanai cliffs.

The water was incredible. After a private underwater tour by a naturalist, this vibrant aquarium became even more awe-inspiring (and I was thoroughly bummed I had not brought my waterproof camera).

Sunday was free time. Except for the rain storm at our arrival, the temperatures had been record setting high throughout our stay. Like the rain shower, the humidity was close to 100%. The trade winds had all but disappeared making the water exceptionally calm. Wanting to cool off and put my new aquatic-life knowledge to use, I grabbed by snorkel gear and headed for the water. I had heard there were a lot of large turtles in front of the resort, but the last thing I ever expected was one to blindside me with a flipper touch on the shoulder. My sinuses are still full of saltwater for my surprised scream. I followed it to it's cave on the bottom and got a good visualization of what to look for. Dave watching from shore said he could tell I was doing a grid search of the reef as I searched for more resting turtles. Then a paddle-boarder yelled "turtle!".  I swam over and watched the turtle descend to the sandy bottom. Soon a huge male turtle with at least a 4' diameter shell, joined her. I hovered above throughout the entire, 1/2 hour long, courtship, foreplay and mating (and again was kicking myself for not having my camera). When it was over, she swam away and he surfaced right in front of me. I quickly backed away. His head, with it's sharp beak, looked as big as mine. He had claws at the elbows of his long fins. And, he was looking right at me. I could have touched him had I reached out. I then followed him for another hour, as he lazily fed along the reef. He actually meandered all the way into the beach (to the amazement of the sunbathers) providing me with a rational excuse to get my chilled body and sunburnt back out of the water.
That evening was the farewell party...

 and another amazing sunset.

Fruitaholics

Trask, he who always has something in his mouth, has discovered the joys of fruit. In years past our 120 year old, fruit trees behind have been trimmed by the deer. This year, Trask has pruned for them.

 The entire BrownStone pack benefits from Trask's efforts.

He is up for the challenge of the ever increasing height of the branches.

McKenzzie seems to be letting him know he has forgotten some.

 No problem.

Along with the fruit tress in the back, the dogs also raid the espalier orchard in the garden. I so thoughtfully pruned those trees for perfect canine picking. The dogs are so into eating the fruit, I really wonder if any pears or apples will actually stay on the branches to ripen. Blueberries and strawberries are also favorite treats to be plucked.

Yesterday I canned 28 quarts of peaches then left them on the counter to cool. This morning, only because I also leave the camera on the counter, was I able to photograph Trask in the act of figuring out that he could pull on the towel to gain access to the jars of fruit.  

"LEAVE IT!!!"

Camera down - jars moved off towel and out of reach.

Waldo 100K Ultra-marathon

This Saturday was the "Where's Waldo 100K Ultra-marathon". In one day, 120 insane runners, from all over the world, start at 5,000' altitude and run up and down 5 peaks over a 100K wilderness trail course. The Willamette Pass Ski Patrol puts on the race. My station for the event is at a trail junction, 2.5 miles in. The runners pass me after running 22 miles and again after 48 miles. This year Cedar and Trask carried in water and emergency supplies. They then were the official trail junction greeters giving much appreciated kisses to foot sore runners and multiple Pacific Crest Trail Thru-hikers.  (Tule was at the finish line with happy wags and kisses for all).

Friday, after spending the day helping to prepare a dinner for the volunteers, runners and their families/support teams, we "camped" in the motorhome at the trailhead. We had to be on the trail at 0600 Saturday morning.

Each dog carried 3 quarts of water, a food bowl and their breakfast. The weight did not slow them a bit - only the occasional "Squirrel!"

The skijor-belt tethered duo pulled me up the mountain trail at a very brisk pace. I was carrying a pack, chair and trail signs (and without having my breakfast or coffee). We made the 2.5 miles in less than 45 minutes, including setting out trail direction signs along the way.  After arriving, the dogs ate breakfast while I set up our trail junction station and settled in (without coffee) for a long day.

Trask and Cedar dressed in their Ski Patrol scarves.

The dogs quickly caught on that runners, day hikers, backpackers and Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers on their way from Mexico to Canada were prime for "Nookies".

Being located at a three-way junction meant people could come from multiple directions. The dogs did not want to miss anyone.

This little tree did not stand a chance when Trask got excited. Note: he is also lying in mountain huckleberry bushes.

We were released to head out after the race "sweepers" came by at 6:15 pm. I gave the remaining food and water to a thru-hiker; pack-up; hooked up the dogs; and we headed down the trail. Even with lighter packs, our trip back to the trailhead was much slower than the way in. "Fruitaholic" Trask was now aware of the tasty trailside bounty. (All of the non-tree green in these pictures are huckleberry bushes full of ripe berries.)

Back to the trailhead after a wonderful day in the Cascade mountains.

And Then There Were 5

McKenzie's daughter Lupin joined the BrownStone pack for 11, very hot, days. During this time the dogs and I spent most of the time just trying to stay cool. (Lots of swimming. Good books read while in the hammock...)
Sunday evening while getting a posed picture of all five a thunder cloud came over obscuring the best lighting.

Then "Ka-Boom!" Thunder ended the photo session. The dogs are OK with thunder and lightening but posing as a group was a futile endevour with the noisy distraction.

Later that evening when I went out to watch the lightening in the east, I turned west just in time to catch a spectacular Southern Oregon, forest fire smoke enhanced, thunder-cloud sunset. ( This storm produced 1500 lightening strikes in our area.)

Chinooks are such easy keepers. Adding one more to the household has little impact aside from less floor space due to the extra dog beds in the bedroom and living room. We had guests from southern California who drove up specifically to meet Chinooks. They immediately fell in love with the breed.
These are random pictures of the dogs during Lupin's stay. The temperatures were in the 90's each day - not good for grass or sled dogs. 

Chinook Tag was pretty much limited to the early mornings.

Chinooks are such wonderful dogs. Not many breeds of dogs can communally share steak dinner scraps.

Wonderful Bridal Shower for a Wonderful Niece

All cultures seem to have a way for women to celebrate the bride before her wedding. My niece's bridal shower included: grandmothers, mothers, (one aunt), sisters, female friends and children. Women's culture, celebration and tradition - may this universal right-of-passage never perish.

Stocking the future kitchen was the theme of Vanessa's shower.

Everyone brought a favorite dish along with the recipe. These and two other tables filled with a delicious variety of food. 

 And eat we did.

 Of course, there were the gifts. 

Every bride - every kitchen - needs a crock-pot.

The little girls almost stole the bride's stage with their delight of the wrapping paper.

Only one ribbon broken.

My sister - what was she thinking? I can almost see in her eyes: Vanessa as a new born; a quiet little girl; a college graduate; devoting her life to work with handicapped children and now soon to be a bride. (Vanessa is the third of her five daughters to get married).

Only two of the Vanessa's sisters were able to make it to the shower. Natalie is, a MSW working with women recovering from substance abuse.

Emily, who just returned from a year teaching high school science in a rural school in Zambia. She has some amazing tales, including being handed the keys to the school because all of the other teachers and the principle had to go to a conference in another town. She had only been there a couple of days. On the spot she had to figure out how manage a school full of children in multiple classrooms and who only spoke a different language. Then there were the wedding proposals, lions, sharks, chickens killed for dinner....

 

Natalie, Emily and Vanessa.

Vanessa with her flower-girl-to-be.

Groom-to-be, Evan, is one lucky guy.