Very Last First Time - Book Review - SAB*

Someone asked for book recommendations for stories describing a different culture.  This book - Very Last First Time - immediately came to mind.  This definently makes the Snider Approved Book list.

A simple story, wonderfully unique pictures, and a setting no child from my family would even think exists.  Eva Padlyat, a young Inuit girl, has helped her mother collect mussels.  But this time is different it is the very last first time she is allowed to go alone under the ice.  She climbs under the ice and walks along the seabed with only a candle as light.  Of course the candle goes outand she is alone in the darkness.  

The story is fascinating and not scary.  All my kids enjoyed this book but my daughter were particulary fascinted by the young girls adventure.

*Snider Approved Book - Read This for how a book earns the coveted SAB

Two Things - Beauty and Long Suffering

Two practical things Gina does to strengthen our marriage and make our home a better place.

Brings beautiful things to our home

These daisies are an example of something I never think about.  I tend towards the pragmatic and practical, forgetting about the small and simple things that make life better by bringing beauty into it.

Daisies for Scott

Gina knows the Daisy is my favorite flower so she planted them were I see them everyday they are in bloom. I can't explain it but daises make me smile and stop to enjoy creation.  I would always be to busy to plant flowers but my life is better because they are in view.

Long suffering with delayed projects

16 Years and Counting to get this done

Our master bathroom is in bad shape.  Nobody would ever guess the state of our bathroom.  We never let people back here.  I started working on this over 16 years ago.  Some other project or priority or lack of money keeps me from finishing this one.  I'm telling myself with only 3 kids at home this fall it will get done before 2014.  It takes a patient wife to put up with this one.  Every time I walk into that bathroom I am reminded of that fact.

Two Things That Always Cheer Me Up - And Help Me Be A Better Husband

Today Gina and I exhanged these texts:

Scott - Decided I needed to get some excercise and walk around during lunch so I went to Home Depot.

Gina -  It is air conditioned ;)

Scott - Exactly, so glad you understand me.

Two things (and there are far more than two things) that always cheer me up.


First:

A room full of books. It can be in a home, library, or book store. It doesn't matter. A room with books makes me relax and enjoy life. The possibilities....

Second:

A hardware store is amazing for relaxation. Wandering the aisle seeing what is new and interesting. Some of you may scoff but wait --- Gina has benefited from my hardware store strolls.

I now understand the difference between shopping and hunting. I am sympathetic to her enjoyment of what seemd like endless hours of looking at shoes. I used to think every visit to a store was a failure or waste of time if we didn't purchase something. Otherwise why even bother going.  Gina would always shake her head at my inability to grasp the simple joy of shopping.  Slowly, ever so slowly I matured and now grasp this fundamental (and necessary) knowledge for a happy marriage.

Hiking the McKenzie Trail - Tamolitch Pool

This weekend we hiked part of the McKenzie Trail. We set off in high spirits, expecting a fun time.

The ladies setting off

The weather was perfect - sunny and warm but not hot. Peter and I were outnumbered by the ladies - Gina, Autumn, Hanni and Emily.  We didn't leave until after 10 am so the group was well rested.  When we arrived at the trail head and there were about 20 cars already parked.  We stuffed the food and water into the backback and started the trek to Tamolitch Pool.  A 4 mile hike through forest and alongside the McKenzie.

Autumn trying to stay out of camera range

Before leaving last minutes phone calls and texts were attempted.  I can tell you there is no coverage up here so there is no point in even trying. 

It took us about 1.5 hours to drive from Eugene. Of course we had to stop for one bathroom break.  When I was younger Dad/Husband I hated stopping but now that I've matured, I'll stop about every hour.  I call this wisdom gained through experience.

Hanni standing by her tree

The first place we stopped was next to this tree. Last year we hiked the trail and took a picture of Hanni next to the same tree.  Back then Hanni could stand inside the tree.  No more. She has grown so much in just 12 months.




We leisurely walked the trail. I"m always the slowest and everyone has to stop at least once to wait for me to catch up.

Stopping to enjoy the wonder

This trail is so beautiful everyone stops to take pictures and enjoy the view and smell. Did I mention it smells wonderful in the forest.  I can feel the stress leaving my body with every step.  My whole attitude improves with each minute in the beauty of God's creation.  Here are few pictures along the walk.

The destination of this short hike is Tamolitch Pool.  Here is a glimpse as we approach it.

Tamolitch Pool in the Background. Notice the Blue Color

When we arrived we stopped took a few photographs:

Here are the lovely ladies standing at the rim.  It is hard to tell due to the clarity of the water but it is good 80 foot drop to the pool.

Doesn't everyone looks happy to be there.  And this was before eating lunch. Trust me - we were hungry.

A couple picture of the Blue Pool without people blocking the view.

Looking Down on the Pool.  See how small the people look in the background!

The Water is Clear and COLD!

Before eating lunch, we tried to find a way down to pool surface.  We saw the group down by the water edge and wanted to get down there if possible. Not so easy. After hiking another 30 minutes we arrived back at the rim to eat lunch.  After dining on food, I picked up at Trader Joe's earlier, I set off alone to get down to the surface.

I made it there, exhausted.  I'm not young anymore. My reward was getting to take a couple more pictures.

If you look closely you can see a person standing on the rim - it is in the top center of the photo.  That is about the spot the earlier picture of the ladies was snapped.

I took this one right at the edge of the pool.  The water is very, very clear.  It is really deep here.  A couple crazy people jumped in and told me it was freezing.  I think the temperature is mid 30's. 

I put my hands in and washed off my face. It was refreshing and it removed any temptation to dive in.

After lingering a long while we started the hike out.  By this time we were thirsty, having already finished our water.  So we were ready to get back to the car and water waiting for us.

Here is one last picture - Beauty and Beauty And Beauty.

Gina and Emily - McKenzie Trail

Ashland, Oregon - Vacation - Part 2

Southern Oregon is home to some fantastic wineries.  In general I think Oregon wines are inferior to their European counterparts.  The older Continent just has better value.  How is they can ship a wine across the ocean and sell it at half the cost of a comparable Oregon wine?  This is one of the mysteries of my age.

We had time to visit two wineries during our short vacation.  Our first stop was at RoxyAnn Winery.  

RoxyAnn is home to my favorite Oregon wine -  

 and during our visit we found another favorite.

The wine tasting room is in a converted barn and is at the foot of the vineyard.  I mentioned enjoying Tempranillo wines and the gentleman pouring our wines suggested we visit another winery - Red Lily.  So Sunday after church and visiting old friends we drove over to Red Lily.  Isn't that what everyone does after going to church --- visit a winery for a tasting.  Live dangerously I say...

You arrive at Red Lily by crossing a single lane bridge over a beautiful stream.

The place was busy but that didn't stop us from approaching the bar and tasting a flight of wines.  One of the wines was really good (2011 Lily Girl Rose) and we bought a couple bottles as a reminder of our great vacation.

Two enjoyable wineries in beautiful settings.  We will definitely will go back to RoxyAnn to buy wine.  We would also go back to Red Lilly for a picnic along the river and to taste future vintages.

Ashland, Oregon - Vacation - Shakespeare - Part One

We had a wonderful short vacation to Ashland, Oregon. The weather was a welcome hot - 104 degrees. No more cool Willamette Valley weather for us.  Gina loved every second of it. I just soaked it in hoping to store up the warmth for next winter.

Our visit was organized around the Shakespeare Festival.  We saw Midsummer Night's Dream

on the Elizabethan Stage.

We sat in the balcony, first row, center.  Great seats.  The theater was the star of the evening.  The play was adequate and not one we would normally pick but it was the one playing in the recreated Globe stage the evening we could get down to Ashland.  We will certainly be going back to the festival and  will be pickier about the play selection.

We stayed in this beautiful bed and breakfast - Lithia Springs Resort.

The room was comfortable, the gardens beautiful and less than 10 minutes from downtown.

We saved some money by eating a couple meals at the Ashland Food Coop.  Gina loved all the Vegan options and is inspired to try out a few new dishes based on what we ate from their amazing deli.

So many years of never going anywhere alone for the weekend helps us appreciate these special weekends all the more. I'm thankful for the many years we were busy raising our family and how it makes these weekends fantastic.