Yee Hah!

Hi

We're here at the Roy Rodeo.






They hold two a year

Memorial Day
and Labor Day




The Lariat's get us started
With lots of flags, princesses
from other rodeos
and the National Anthem

We're introduced to the
pick up guys.
Wonder if their wives like
them being called that?





My favorite was the
Buckskin of course.

Ain't 'e pretty?







The bareback riders are like
the quintessential rodeo
contest.

I feel like I'm in Wyoming.



Some steer wrestling.
Anybody else think it looks
like they are steering the steers?






Calf roping










Calf not roping.








Whoa, doggy.







Reeling 'em in.









Saddle bronc,
much like bareback
sends me to
Wyoming





If you squint
it can be 1920

A lesson on

teamsters

and a greatgrandfather
who drove the

stage at Nighthawk

The clown and his little

sidekick were so
cute!

The bull riding.

It's what Bet
came for.

Except for one,
the bulls won the
day.







See ya later!

Look What I Found!

Working at organizing my life a little this morning before heading out to plant corn and sunflowers down at the pumpkin patch and I came across some stuff in my One Note (gotta sing the praises of that program here soon). And since this whole post thing has just become a mishmash of craziness I intend to toss in this item I found.


Weed in the morning what a beautiful place. Had a good nights rest up an at 'em fairly early and headed out. What a drive! What scenery! What magnificence! What large trucks.

I really think that trucks, big trucks, haul-a-city-in-them trucks, should be on a separate highway. I'd be happy and they would be happy. Nothing better for an adrenaline workout than a concrete wall on one side, a large truck on the other and a hairpin turn on a grade no less. Would have been a great weight loss program save for the whole stress equals weight gain issue.

With each baby newly strapped into their very own personal torture chamber, we opted to go farther than two miles to the Hi-lo Café in Weed. So we land in Redding for breakfast at the Black Bear Diner. Yes, I know, it is a chain but it is a chain that doesn't exist in Washington and therefore intriguing. Besides, a glance at the web site promised over the top kitsch and I don't care who you are that's always entertaining.

Then on toward Sacramento and a quick stop in Old Town for a quick peek and leg stretch. Old buildings are always a treat for me, ultimately it was a respite and we covered just enough sites for me to wonder what we left unexplored. So, no harm no foul and on the road again.

This whole internet on the road with little time for breaks from the highway proves to be difficult. So it was dicey trying to decide where to break as we changed plans at the suggestion of a Sacramento police officer and took I-5 instead of 99. So all my sketchy notes for California just became worse than sketchy and just plain worthless. Thankfully there are always rest areas and truck stops.

I feel as if we were traveling through eastern Washington, fuzzy brown rolling hills on one side and large quilt farms on the other. Only, there are palm trees.

We make it into Bakersfield just in time to unpack and walk over to get a lovely late dinner at McDonald's in the Motel 6 parking lot. A uneventful good nights sleep. Ahhhh. In the morning we dine in-room on scones, apples, bananas, cookies and coffee.

Which gives us some go power to get on the road and drive all the way to North Hollywood and breakfast/lunch at Denny's. Don't, just don't start in on me. We had no idea where we were or what was available, all planning had gone out the window not to mention we didn't mean to exit onto the Hollywood Hwy.

Back in the cars and onto Oceanside. Lots of things to look at if the baby wasn't crying so hard. Shaking the rattle to Strauss, petting her head, jiggling her car seat only to hear her say, "If you think for one minute I am falling for the head petting bit your crazy. Quit petting my head and get me out of here. Now!"

We have arrived at our destination only an hour and a few brain cells behind schedule.

Sittin' Around?

No time to sit around. Which is probably a good thing considering the state of the weeds around and under this bench.

I love irises.

Just Once

Just once I would like these posts with pictures to look like I want them to.

Memories Of The Trip Home

It was hard to say good bye to Carol and our little friends.

For Sheila and Carol it was gazillion times harder but like Sheila said she has to go home sometime. So off we go. Driving through LA was interesting as traffic was slow but steady, lots of time to talk and look at the atlas to see where we were passing through. The cameras didn't come out until we were passing though the windmill area just east of the Bay area.

Spent the night in a little town called Pleasanton. What an incredibly clean neat pleasant town. Had dinner at a Chinese Restaurant down the street from the Motel 6. Chinese Szechuan Restaurant, 3059 Hopyard Rd Ste G Pleasanton, CA 94588-5258 (925) 846-5251 .



The next day we head north onto 101 with an elevensies stop in Santa Rosa at the Luther Burbank Gardens. I always get very excited to see where famous people did their stuff.



Just down the street from the Luther Burbank Gardens is a church made from one, that's right one, log of California Redwood. Its not small.

It was plan to see that they were doing renovations so I hope that when the girls and I return it will be open for tours.
On the way back to the car we take sometime to take pictures of two homes that struck our fancy.

Up the coast we head through the red woods but we will come back because - well just ask Bet, "we have to go back because I didn't take enough pictures. " From here on to home no pictures were taken. We just soaked it in. Stopped in Grants Pass but we should have been into town hours sooner. Sunday night and not much open. The desk clerk at the Motel 6 even called a favorite eatery to see when they closed. We had all of four minutes to make it to the restaurant. So 24 hour Denny's it is.

Next morning we had coffee in Sutherlin at a Dutch Bros coffee shop. Nice cup of coffee, nice young man at the window.

Just south of Portland we stop at Heirloom Roses and have a lovely shopping afternoon. See the link list. Burgers just north of Vancouver and then all the way home.


As we stepped out of the van the smell of my own lilacs sweep over us. Ahh home.

Some Memories Of Our Trip

First let me just say that a long hard trip is made better by the company.

I told a little about the trip already when I had access to the Internet via Motel 6 and $2.99. But please, allow me some redundancies.

The first day included a trip to Hulda Klager's lilac gardens in Woodland, WA. The gift shop was closed which was a good thing, the house was closed which was a disappointment but really with a toddler and only a few minutes for a timely sashay through the garden it was a blessing in disguise. I always have a hard time making the wise choice and so when it is made for me it is always good. You really should go and see them next year in early to mid May. Check out the pictures on the post titled "Smell That"

Brownsville, we did not see much of the town, but their lovely park was right along a nice river, the Calapooia River.

Our next stop was dinner in Medford, Rosario's, what a great place! The proprietor, who greeted us, knowingly took us out to the patio, for our sake and his I am sure!

This was the lovely little yard area attached to the covered patio which made the fantastic dinner even more enjoyable. See the link for their menu.

Then on to Weed CA and our first night at Motel 6 which was a very nice pit stop. Gotta remember Motel 6 more often, great for a place to shower and sleep. Bet says we have to go back there soon because she forgot to take pictures.

The next day we traveled through the San Joaquin Valley which was much like traveling through my beloved eastern Washington, with palm trees.

By the third day on the road we, the over 2 year old gang, were semi burned out on traveling, the goal being so close all we could think was, "keep driving."

So the cameras didn't come out except to take a picture of the toddler who had finally resigned himself to the fate of the car seat and was now enjoying the trip.

No pictures of Suessian purple trees, that I came to learn from my tree friend back at home are Jacaranda, no pictures of so many interesting things and plants and "what-the-heck-are-they-growing-theres" that we went by.

And then wa-la there we were, at Carol's home on base at Camp Pendleton. What pretty country and right outside her front door.










Of course we went down to the beach when we finished cleaning six months of settled dust off all the surfaces in her home. Now I really, personally, know why sheets are put over furniture when people shut up their homes for months.

It's The Dirt I

I know that the common saying about a great man says that "behind every great man there is a good woman." I am sure that the saying, to a certain degree, is true. The Bible clearly tells us over and over in so many different ways that we have influence over those around us, good, bad or indifferent. However, I don't necessarily live there as much as I live in the spot where the husband sets the tone of the family. Because my husband is who he is, under his gentle yet firm, always loving and tender direction and leadership I am a far far better person than the one he married nearly 28 years ago. I am only his good helpmate because he is a good and kind man who has taught and molded me into that role without a hint of arrogant lording. Christ truly has transformed me but there is no doubt in my mind that he has done it through the gift of my husband.

Early in my journey of raising my girls many in my circle focused on Proverbs 31 as our training manual for our little girls. It was a good thing to raise our girls with their future in mind. More women than not are destined to be wives and mothers and even if they are not, the training is not wasted, as even single women have households to run or assist in their running.

But I don't believe that the only way to look at Proverbs 31 is for women to shoot for the mark or men to go out and look for a girl that mirrors this woman. I believe that you can look at this passage in another way, complimentary not contrary to the ways we have looked at it and the use to which we have already put it.

Remember Proverbs 31 are the words of King Lemuel as he recalled the teachings of his mother.

The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:
What, my son?And what, son of my womb?And what, son of my vows?

The words in the first passage in my mind show that these things she told him were for him to remember for all times not just for the beginning of his career.

Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more. Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Then he launches into those verses that seem to indicate that men should go look for a particular woman to marry.

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax...

But look carefully. He says "who can find?" And then proceeds to describe a mature woman. So unless a young man is being taught to go find a widow, this woman being describe is no future bride. She is the type of wife a woman becomes. And yes, I think that when you start to sew a dress it is always a good idea to start with the type of fabric that lends itself to a beautiful dress an not a sturdy rug. But I don't think that the only thing this verse is teaching is how to pick a preperfected woman. Perhaps King Lemuel's mother was teaching him how to be the husband that has a wife of such virtue, much like the passage prior taught him how to be and remain a good king.? Fast forward shall we to two important verses in the New Testament:

1 Timothy 3:1-7 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

And:

Ephesians 5:25-32 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also love the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are member of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. "for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Christ forms his church. Can a man not form his own wife? I do not mean to let the wives off the hook, or mothers of young girls to be careless with their job. We women can be obnoxious and make a man's job far more difficult that it ought to be. We are response-able. And we can be ridiculously stubborn and hold to our own destruction in the face of true beauty and transformation.

For sure there can be no transformation without first a turning to Christ. But the word is for a man to be the leader. To lead others to the place God wants us all. I am sorry that the job is huge that lays before men. To be sure, I am so very glad I am not a man and especially one who has been given a hard job. I wish that all men could take on as difficult a job as my husband has and do it with as much patience, kindness, forgiveness, love and understanding as he has. I am thankful that he has allowed God to mold him so that he can mold me. I am also very sorry that I have been such a hard case at times and not turned out as well a wife as he deserves. I think that I will cover him with kisses tonight when he comes home. Or better yet, what he'd really like; no talking, have a beer and ......