Blue Trip, Two Trip to Harrison, Idaho

This was the first of the sunsets we watched at Lakeview Lodge in Harrison.

To capture the halos around the sun and the reflections I merely stepped out on our balcony while others were down at the dock on a fishing expedition. The 'Rails to Trails' bike paths run for miles and miles.

On Thursday 'the girls' went to Pedal Pushers Bike shop to rent these perfect bikes.

They had a glorious time for two hours!

Steven and Evan COULD NOT stop fishing! These fish are tiny ones,

but the did catch keepers...Bass, Crappie, Catfish and Perch...YUM!

We did very little shopping.

Lovella posed for me because I thought she looked so darling in this hat.

Rachel bought each of the kids a soft, stuffed moose as a souvenier which they named Harry (for Harrison) and Mary (for St. Maries, a town close by).

Rachel is a massage therapists, mostly facials, but she chooses to work on her dad every day when she visits. Not much movement was gained, but he slept well.

We had a full kitchen and made all our meals.

I headed up the Thai Salad Roll expedition the first night,

and Lovella headed up the Sushi one the next.

Do I look like I'm having fun?????

Wildlife such as Herons, Osprey and Moose were everywhere. We didn't site any moose, but were told by other bikers that they had seen them.

Steven brought these lilies back from the 2nd day of biking when all the kids went.

Jay and I drove around the countryside for awhile after napping.

The last stop, on the way home, was Emerald Creek Garnet area.

We parked our cars, walked about a half a mile into the scene below.

This is a picture of the 'sifters'.

You can see in the background just right of the middle a person standing.

That's where we filled 2 buckets with shovels (all provided) with dirt and rocks.

You then take your buckets to the sifting area to sift out all the dirt, saving the rocks for sluicing across the road. My camera ran out of battery life so there are no pictures of that or the garnets we found.

Here is Evan at the digging area. We all had a blast with the mining and finding of treasures. The garnets are rough, round, dark and heavy balls of rock.
They have to be cut to see if there is a star in them, and then polished.
I highly recommend this whole trip. Harrison is a fine little town with wonderful swimming for kids and adults, a dock with diving board in the middle of a protected area, great fishing right off the dock and jetty, biking, THE BEST ice cream (nearly) in the world at a place called The Creamery. They also sell fudge, but didn't have any while we were there.
The week days were thin of tourists, but Fridy night and Saturday morning it was heating up with such. We left just then and went on the mining operation.
Oh, folks, it was so pleasant, relaxing and satisfying, a delightful place with sweet people.
I'm getting ready for school and more company today.

ANOTHER! Spring Break

This is the picture of our first break.

I love traveling with my son's family because they like me to sit up front with him and they like to stop often. Kelly was REALLY on a break with some fine headgear. And Marcus LOVES his Grammy!

This was at Multnomah Falls on the Columbia River as we headed for the ocean on a Sunday. Kelly's boss appreciates his work ethic and has rewarded him with 3 weeks of paid vacation when he hasn't even work for a complete year yet.

He chose to take his wife on the first vacation to the ocean to scope out what we would do on his third week of vacation. I think he stayed home with the kids during their spring break for the second one. Anyway, before we left the boss called and offered him a $3 per hour raise.

Kelly heads for the Afghan war in May with the National Guard, and my heart is torn over the implications of that. But here you will see the pleasures we shared for 5 days together.

The view from the balcony of the condo we rented thanks to Melissa's boss. You see the splashing of high tide above and part of the family enjoying a meal our first night on one of the two balconies below.

When we were all tired that first night Brianna took Marcus under her wing to read a story as we set up the bedrooms and other organizing.

Trenton and Brianna ordered 1/2 a crab for their first seafood experience, Marcus and Alana chose chicken strips, Kelly, Melissa and I ordered scallops and jumbo shrimp with several orders of killer slaw. It was warm and sunny...perfect for a picnic.

One of the amenities at the condo was an offering of classes each day. Kelly and Trenton took an oil painting class, and you see, above, the results.

I was stunned at their talent.

Kelly's last art class was in 6th grade (he is 40, remember!), and Trenton has shown talent in that regard. This class was incredibly rewarding for both of them!

A closer view of Kelly's oil painting.

Here we all are at the Oregon Coast Aquarium ready for the treats inside.

I love this picture not only for the octopus, but also the reflection of Trenton.
There will be more to follow this post. I wanted to get started with these pics for my mom who doesn't get to see her grandkids or great-grandkids often.

More Pics of our Spring Break

She's ready for a trip to jump the waves in her little pink outfit!
They turn to wave at Mom/Grammy/taking this pic from the balcony of our room as they head out to jump the waves. One lady was taken by surprise when a wave came from behind her (as she watched Kimber and Isabella) and snatching her purse! Her Hubby stood in waist-deep waves trying to recover it for her, but he failed. It was a sad event for all of us.

My Jackie-O imitators as we all head out to shop for a bit on the main street of Seaside.

And the mild-mannered Mr. Dante continues to look, coo, and smile for everyone.