Sept - October pictures

Our 20 anniversary trip to diamond/crater lake last weekend.

We kyaked, hiked, and biked, as well as reading and relaxing.
11 mile bike ride around Diamond Lake - beautiful colors
Relaxing and reading at Diamond Lake
View from Watchman's tower hike - Wizard Island

Reflection on Crater Lake (Mt Thielson in background)
Cleetwood trail down to water edge of Crater
Kayaking on Diamond Lake
Diamond Lake w/ Mt Thielson in background
Our new deck - we hired a friend to frame it
Jason in 3rd place at Redmond race

Trevor opening presents at grandparents'
Trevor at the Andrus'
Jason vs the bear
Saturday, Sept 11th we went to the zoo for Trevor's bday

Award winning children

Jessica won a $500 scholarship from the Frank Foundation. The requirements were she had to graduate in high standing from a highschool in Central Oregon and major in nursing.

Trevor won an essay contest for his nature essay "Seeing Through a Blindfold" - the same one he presented at Terry Tempest talk in June (see mom's blog). He won $100 and his essay will be printed in the Nature of Words publication.

Jason begins working on his eagle project today in earnest as he is meeting with the director of REALMS. He plans to build a bike shed and recycling depot for the middle school he and Trevor attended (and Curtis will attend this year)

Curtis finishes summer school this week. He is in the summer swim league, perfecting his strokes and getting good exercises (he doesn't like the competitions, however).

Mt McLoughlin Climb

Neil and Pam joined us on Thursday of Girls Camp last week and each led a group of 10 YW and leaders to the summit of Mt McLoughlin.
This is me "bouldering"
Jessica and I went in Neil's group with some older girls

Neil kept tabs on the fastest girls and took an hour long nap

on the top of the mountain waiting for the rest of our group
This is the hardest part. I had to stop and catch my breath frequently.
Jessica on top with the reflection of the summit
Jessica took pictures of me and the rest of our group making the final steep steps
We made it to the top after five hours and 5.5 miles of climbing 4000 feet.
Lunch break at the top (nap time for Neil)
Thanks, brother, for keeping us from getting lost and carrying my pack.

Thanks, Pam, for leading the slowest group. I'm sorry you missed Erik's crossing over.

We couldn't have made it without your leadership.

Trevor's 2 week field trip

I recently got back from the traditional Travel Study feildtrip. Each year at REALMS (Rimrock Expaditionary Alternative Learning Middle School) the 8th graders embark on a two week, outdoor adventure. The main purposes of Travel study are to learn academically and get to know the fellow 8th graders better.

This year, my trip was to Humboldt County in Northern California; that's right, to the Redwood forest. We spent five days strait in the back country, eating nothing but dehydrated, pathetic imitations of real food. The black bears in that area don't hibernate so their out year-round. That meant we had to be extra carefull with "leave no trace" or else we'd get some uninvited visitors. There were some big trees there. Most of them 8-12 feet wide. When we got back to Oregon the trees looked like toothpicks to us.

We spent the rest of the trip in Arcata and Eureka. We travelled between the two towns several times, vititing wild life refudges, oyster farms, universaties, Duane Flatmo, local farms, Moonstone Beach detc. studying and researching the area. Each student was assigned a research prodject. Most students had to come up with a few "research questions" that related to our topics that we would ask to a person with some background on that topic who we would visit sometime on the trip. "Renewable Recources" was my research topic. I studied different types of "renewable" energy sources ex: wind farms, solar plants, hydroelectric plants etc. Here are my research questions:

1. What kinds of "renewable" recources does Humboltd use?

2. What do you think is the most effective source of "renewable" energy?

3. Why do you think it is importat that we use "renewable" recources?

4. What will the future look like if we do not use "renewable" energy instead of fossil fuels in terms of envirenmental health?

5. What will the future look like if we do not use "renewable" energy instead of fossil fuels in terms of our nations economy?

6. How do you think our nation is doing on reducing fossil fuel consumtion? Do you think we could be doing better?

Unfortunately, my interviewee (a colledge student named Jessie) only had time for two of my questions.

Oh, and did I mention, we went serfing on Moonstone Beach. It was so fun that the four ours we spent there seemed only like half an our. My teachers kept saying that it was going to be harder than we think and we might be lucky if we can stand up for five seconds on the board by the end of the day. But guess what, I stood up for five seconds on my first try! (by the way, I'm the same kid that mastered the unicycle in 24 hours of practice.) Serfing is the best sport ever. It's a lot like snow-boarding actually, just 10 times more fun! (In my opinion.)

Travel Study was full of exitement, good and bad. It was one of the most challenging trips I've ever bean on. (ONE of the most.) Part of me didn't want to go but ,overall, I'm glad I went.

P.s. I consumed 11 doughnuts in less that 48 hours.

More Spring Break Photos

Jason trying to fly a kite
Trevor running from the waves
Curtis exploring the stream that flows into the ocean
Sheryl and Meryl
Majestic Redwoods
7 mile hike from highway, through woods (got lost), down to tidepools
Jonathan, Trevor, Jessica

Trevor and Jessica - this part of trail was the original 101 highway
wondering Jason

spring break photos

At the beginning of Spring Break, Mike and Brenda's family came to visit. We spent Saturday at the "dirt patch" riding motorcycles, hiking, and cooking over the camp fire. On Monday, Mike took the teenagers to Mt. Bachelor to ski and snow board. They had a great time.

On Thursday we drove to a beach front cabin at White Rock Resort, just south of Oregon border in Northern California. We spent three days and nights enjoying the beach, the hottub, and hiking through some redwood forests. We had great weather and lots of time to relax.

We hiked down to some tide pools at low tide and saw crabs and starfish

Jessica is a tree hugger

We started our 7 mile hike in the rain and ending up in sunshine! The trees are amazing.

A month of illness

We've had the sick bug (no flu, just colds) at our house this last month. Trevor was the last to get it and finally went back to school today. I have not been getting any better and even worse this last week, so I finally went to the doctor to confirm that it is a virus (lingering bugger called MONO) and has to just run its course--no antibiotics will help. I learned a lot this week about treating colds. I have always shied away from over the counter cold medicine, thinking it's just a waste of money and won't help you get better faster. I guess I was wrong on that account. Not only do they help you feel better (although I can't tell much difference in my state), but if you reduce the drainage, it will prevent other problems like sore throats, sinus infection, etc. The NP was encouraging me to try a Neti Pot. Polly wrote about that. You irrigate your nasal passages with saline that clears everything out. I haven't tried it. I'm wondering if Polly liked it and think it helps prevent/treat congestion.

So, mono is like a cold that never ends. I guess it will end eventually, but saps all your energy in the meantime. On the up-side jonathan banned me from housework this week and so I have more time on the computer and I've been watching old Monk episodes.

Question: has your family been healthy this fall. If not, how do you treat your illnesses?