100 Questions Amid Indescribable Beauty

Reflections in Metolius waters

Amie and I walked the west Metolius Trail Head in the mid to late afternoon, and she took some fabulous photos. The light was amazing, and the tumult in the water plus the glints of sunlight racing through the needles and leaves of pine and manzanita changed colours like a kaleidoscope. Some old snags made good photo ops as well.
A couple of salmon flies followed us for a bit, and as we left, Amie saw a jumping something  - jumping for our salmon fly friends?




While we were on our walk, George and Tashie pondered the 100 essential questions, as in...What have you always wanted to know about Tashie but were afraid to ask?
Where did you have your first kiss?
What is your favourite eating utensil and why?
What is the favourite one-hour of your life?
What is the favourite thing to hold in your hand?
what is your favourite childhood toy?
Priscilla, a doll with a china face.
What is your favourite hand-me-down given to you?
A silk Japanese kimono given to me by my mother.
what if you could substitute your life for another's? who would you choose?
I wouldn't even consider it - I am happy with the one I've led!
If you could ask your parents just 3 things, what would they be?
Why are you so protective of me? I wanted to go to the OO Ranch run by a cattleman named Bill Hanley, but they wouldn't let me. I asked him, Can someone teach me how to ride? He said, The horse will teach you how to ride.
I'd ask my mother, Why didn't you have another baby?
I'd like to know more about why my grandfather left my grandmother - my mother would know.
In the afternoon, Kathy and Frank came over for iced tea and visit with their 2 Portland grandkids, Simon and Sadie. Darling kids, and enthusiastic and curious. Wonderful to touch base - it has been a long time away for all of us.

Telling Stories

Karen, Bear and their friend Sister Marguerite dropped by this afternoon. Tashie and Sister Marguerite, also a former school principal, compared notes, and George as well - he amused us with some stories of renegades - some that Tashie herself had never heard. In one reminiscence, he described teaching his fifth graders about clouds, and then seeing some amazing formations in the sky, decided to take his class down to the beach to see them more clearly. He piled nine kids into his VW Beetle: 2 in the front with him; 1 on the floor in front; 4 on the back seat; and 2 on the floor in back. Before leaving, he rehearsed the roles they would play should they be stopped by the law. Tashie looked up and said, "Well, I never knew about that!"

Settling In

The smoke has cleared (somewhat), and the mountain shows itself again. Hello Mountain!
Tom & Joan Dine dropped by for tea and treats, and with Tashie remembered the days of the Corbett ranch, and the many changes. Then of course we talked politics, and bridged our mildly divergent points of view, as in, this is Bernie Sanders land, and there is also that other land, the Land of Clinton. Tom has contributed to writing an article in support of the Iran agreement, which will be interesting to read - I think its publication is imminent.
Yummy dinner and good conversation and laughs with Philip, who is here only for a brief sighting. After dinner, we watched The Big Lebowski, as Amie had never seen it, and it happens to be the favourite movie of her beloved.

Weekend Frolics

Tashie was with Bruce and Bethany for the weekend, while I was in Victoria. I am not sure the exact date of these photos, but a safe bet to say Friday or Saturday. Karen stopped by for a visit, boosting Tashie's spirits as always.
Karen had a dose of Livingstons, as just days before this shot, she and her sister Cindi were sitting in the Villa garden drinking iced tea! It was a treat to have them, even for a short visit.

 So then there were the Multnomah Street Stretches:

Somehow Bruce is able to cajole her into taking on challenges that she initially claims she's is not going to do, and then minutes later is totally involved.
And all this - the forced marches, the pretzel twists and stretches, the leg lifts - is making a difference. Her strength and stamina are improving, and I can only describe her as "plucky" in the best way - forging ahead without complaint....until she decides that Bruce and I are pushing her too far, and perhaps she'll have to claim elder abuse!
However, a foray to a sushi bar heals all...or perhaps a trip to Cool Moon ice cream parlour across the street.











And the Multnomah Street Crossword Challenge:

The Lion King & The Tiger Prince

Cameron the Cat Whisperer is giving these guys endless love and attention, and they seem to be returning the sentiments. Kitty Boy, the Lion King, is totally relaxed in his harness, and takes great delight in rolling in the dust and grasses, and letting Cameron pet and fondle him. Our little Tiger Prince, however, got spooked by something right after gaining his freedom, and hissed and yowled until safely escorted back into the house.

The Pesky Loop

Amidst the feline frolics, Tashie had a visit from Joe Bachtold, her guru/doctor/friend. and his wife Gwen. Fortunately, they just happened to arrive at a time of potential crisis. Tashie had taken out her contact lens, and at the same time an additional object emerged: it looked like fishing line, and came out in a loop - the stent that has been keeping her tear duct patent.

All done!

She wanted to just pull it out, but we convinced her to leave it there until Joe arrived. Meantime, we put in a call to her surgeon at St. Vincent's, who returned the call just as Joe leaned over to assess the situation. So the surgeon in Portland guided Joe through threading it back in with the help of a simple pair of tweezers!

Bethany taking time out from cooking delicious meals and playing a wicked game of badminton and painting breathtaking renderings of wildlife to spend time with Cameron and the felines.

Chillin'

Cat Whisperer Cameron

I got Tashie all geared up to go outside for her latte, and she barely stepped onto the porch before deciding it was too cold and turned around. It was not negotiable! Clarke got a fire going, and it continues to be an inside day, with a morning visit from Susie Prince, followed by family visits and adventures.

Sippin' Whiskey

William & Theresa Prince came for a visit this morning, and they sat out on the porch.
They sang the Bolinas Happy Birthday song,,,
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Tashie!
We're in love with you, in love with you
May happiness be near
Throughout the coming year
And all the best to you.
And all the best to you.
So keep on smiling all the day
may your troubles fade away
And may you never never never be blue
Happy Birthday Tashie!
For the centennial celebration, Terry gave Tashie 2 silver Mint Julep cups with the engraving "The Unbroken Circle." (...Widening Through the Years) So to Christen those beautiful cups, Terry made Mint Julips, and we sat on the porch, sippin' contentedly. So good to be here!

Bruce, KD, Allen, and Cameron arrived, and joined us on the porch.....with more Mint Julips. Great to have them here, and to meet Allen. Tashie is thriving being back, nestling into her beloved community.

Home at Last

We have arrived at the banks of Spring Creek, thrilled to be back. It's been a long summer of... perhaps a kind of deprivation, not being able to be here until now. It is on the warm side, sunny, beautiful...the ponderosas smell delicious, the creek babbles and bubbles along, and the amazing mountain anchors us. How lucky can we be? The flower fairy had on the table a bouquet of blue iris and something white. The kitties are glad to be back, sniffing at the screens and trotting from room to room to scope out the place, checking for intruders during their absence. Tashie is resting on the sofa, glad to be here at last. Terry is making a delicious green curry, Clarke is dozing, and I am about to go out to the porch for some corn husking.

PS: Message from Her Ladyship: I am home and receiving!
PPS: Message from EWL: Tashie is very eager to embrace her wonderful community, but... 1) her stamina is limited, and 2) KD and fam will be arriving tomorrow. So give us a ring first just to check that she's feeling frisky, and not otherwise occupied.

Back to Spring Creek!

Now that we are free to travel, we have come up with a plan. Tashie and I will go to Camp Sherman tomorrow, taking "The Boys" (feline creatures). Clarke will join us on Thursday, as will Bruce, Bethany, KD, Alan, and Cameron. There may be more - I am not sure. The California crew (KD, Alan and Cameron) are on a tight schedule, and will be leaving Sunday around noon, and rest of us will probably not be far behind. Will fill you in as the days unfold - this is a big moment, returning to her mountain and her river and her community.

Bernie & Neti Pot all in one Day!

Packing in the thousands to hear Bernie

Tashie spent the day with Bethany and Bruce, and a visit with the Labbys, who were en route to see/hear Bernie Sanders. I went to that rally as well (along with 27,999 others), and was beyond exhilarated - "Feelin' the Bern!" I walked home across the Broadway Bridge, (the lights on the water were amazing) just in time to meet Bruce bringing Tashie home. As she was settling, I asked his if she used the Neti Pot again. "Oh yes," she says breezily, "no problem." Good for her!

Neti Pot Prevails!

Tashie spent most of the day resting and recovering, still smarting from her ordeal of yesterday. In the late afternoon, I made a nectarine and blueberry clafoutis to take to Bruce and Bethany's for dinner. I also took the Neti pot (ersatz), determined that the four of us would somehow convince her to step over the hurdle and take the plunge...nasal plunge so to speak. We had a yummy al fresco dinner, and afterwards turned to Tashie to argue our case. Bethany had gotten a lovely bowl and other needed equipment in place, and Tashie was eventually convinced to follow our instructions. "That was easy!" we heard, and "My nose feels really clear."

She will definitely feel better with this simple procedure added to her routine. She had been using nasal saline spray as a compromise, and it turned out to be an inferior one. 

Liberation!

Tashie had a late morning 3-week follow-up appointment with Dr. Sautter. She has been prohibited from blowing her nose for 6 weeks post surgery, so these appointments with Dr. Sautter include a clean-out procedure which is extremely uncomfortable for her. It would be less so if she used the Neti pot, but so far we have been unable to convince her. So she had a tough time, and when we got home, she just wanted to go to curl up and not move.

The kitties cuddled with her, and she dozed off and on. They seem to know when she needs a little extra snuggle. Bruce came over for a visit, and we renewed our campaign to get Tashie to use the Neti pot. Like all of us, she can be pretty stubborn!
Despite the discomfort and frustration of the morning, there is good news as well: Dr. Sautter gave her his blessing to go back to Camp Sherman - the magic 3-weeks post-op being today.