Pic-of-the-Week for September 29, 2014

Hello Amigos.... and goodbye to most of you!

We have decided to head south (and gradually east) starting tomorrow, September 30th.  Our plans are to make it all the way to Lakeview, because we haven't spent much time there this summer, and we haven't eaten at Mario's In Lakeview yet!  Can't miss that opportunity!!  Then we'll go on to Reno from there the next day. 

We were able to spend some more time with Rebecca and Tim and their family.  It's always hard to say goodbye, when you know you probably won't see each other in person for another year.  Those kids are growing up so fast!  We got lots of pictures, but pictures aren't as cuddly as these kids.  

They will be going back to Chicago on October 2, and then to Tim's new teaching assignment in the Middle East in late October.  Being a teacher, he gets time off in the summers, so we hope to see them then.

The news from Baja is that our community finally has electricity 2 full weeks after Hurricane Odile took it out.  The CFE crews have been working long and hard to get it restored, and all the locals are very grateful.  Many (probably 100's) of the tall metal high-tension towers were down, and they used helicopter to help set them back up.  The telephones (cell and land line) worked pretty well throughout.  We are sure we'll run into some "questionable" road conditions.  And we will be cautious, since we are hauling the 1928 Woody back to Baja on a car trailer.  (No off-road adventures this time!)   We expect the journey to be 6 1/2 days.  We thought some friends would ride with us after all the airlines cancelled their flights into San Jose del Cabo airport, but they've decided they need to spend a bit more time here in Oregon before they go south. The airport will be open by October 8 for limited flights, which is pretty amazing, considering how ugly it looked after the hurricane.  Instead, we plan on car pooling with another Baja friend who will be driving by herself (and her puppy).  We'll meet up with her near San Diego.  

I'll leave you with some pretty scenes we've enjoyed in the last several weeks here in central Oregon.  It's a nice place to spend the summer!

 Cloud capped South Sister.  The Mountains have got a bit of fresh snow with all the storms passing by.

 Some interesting sun rays in front of the Middle and North Sister.

 Mt. Hood, Oregon's highest mountain, was bright a clear today as we headed back to Bend from putting our trailer away near Tygh Valley.

 And Mount Jefferson was looking very good, too. 

And a little closer to the ground, and a bit under it, our dogs had a blast digging for a mole at our friend's house today.  (They both got baths when we got back to Bend!!  I hope I can keep them out of the vole holes here at Ken & Bea's place until we leave tomorrow.  They have been mice / vole catching machines this summer!)  

Next week from Baja, but maybe not on Tuesday!  

Your Snow Bird friends who are anxious to head south...
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey

PS.  I have added some more photos to the 2014 September album, and I will add a few more.  I'm learning how to access the photos off of my new phone (several of these photos are from that phone) so you never know what you might see next!  



 

Pic-of-the-Week for September 18, 2014

Hi Friends,

Time for another update, due to some interesting things going on down in Baja!  We are still in Oregon, by the way.  Hurricane Odile came through our area of Baja on Sunday, September 14, and it was a nasty one.  Cabo San Lucas and San Jose were hit extremely hard, and the airport terminals sustained major damage.  The airport is closed for a couple more weeks.  Ryan, our son, has been house-sittting for three summers now, just for this reason: to put the shutters on before the storm gets there.  He, and our house, are fine.  Some water came in through the closed windows and doors, but he was there to mop it up.  He was able to call us on Monday to report on the results, then on Tuesday, there was no phone service in Baja.  Phones were back up on Wednesday, but they probably won't have electricity for a good long while yet.  Poles are down everywhere!  And another storm, Polo, is on the way.  Forecasts says it won't be near as severe as Odile, thank you God!

Our current plans are to start our return trip about October 1, but we might delay a bit if the situation is still poor down there.  It doesn't help to go down and use more water and resources that others need.  

Here are a few pictures that Ryan sent us today.  

 This is the bridge over the Buenos Aires arroyo.  It didn't exist when we first moved there in 2000, so hurricanes used to keep Los Barriles pretty isolated!  

 This was our indicator that there would be a major hurricane this year.  They finally fixed the road in the two arroyos north of Los Barriles after a major hurricane about 6 years ago destroyed the road.  This one didn't do too bad!  The white things on the left are probably the water pipes running out to the north of town. 

This is Highway 1 just north of Los Barriles.  I'm always a bit nervous when we drive by here with those big rocks teetering up there on that cut, but I guess they only come down in severe wind and rain storms!  Yikes!

Here in the Pacific Northwest, Ben and I have been enjoying our summer.  He never did finish our vacation tale, but we got as far north as Whitefish, Montana, where we visited good friends, and convinced my sister and brother-in-law to come over from Libby to visit for the day!  We also enjoyed visiting with friends in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Walla Walla (our "official" home), Washington. 

Ben and I hiked up a hill to a quarry with our friend Jim near his cabin on the Clark Fork River.

Me and my sister Shelley in Whitefish.

We hurried back to western Oregon and met up with our daughter and her family  They stayed again with my cousins on the farm, and we parked our trailer in their driveway.  Now, this isn't just a Grandma boasting; it's the truth, I tell you!  My granddaughter is about the happiest baby I've ever encountered.  There is not much that ruffles her feathers, and she smiles and smiles and smiles!  And she will give a big hug, and pat you on your back!  What a sweetie!  

 

This is a photo I took with my new phone...once she figured out I was taking photos, she just started smiling bigger!   She and her Grandpa Purkey got along pretty well, too!  

Cousin Tom harvesting tons of corn.

 Of course we enjoyed visiting with the boys, too.  They liked being on the farm and playing in the big yard with the toys in the dirt.  And they really liked getting to ride on the big old corn picker with "uncle" Tom (actually my cousin).  And they LOVED eating the corn on the cob!  

 It is really good to spend time with them, and we'll see them again next week when they come over to Bend to spend several days with us.  In the meantime, they're visiting with other family (lots of Purkeys and Malpasses to see!) and friends in the area). 

Last week, we joined my brother Rich at the Pendleton Roundup.  "Let 'er buck!!"  We had a great time as usual, and enjoyed visiting with my niece Anne and her husband Mike.  Mike does a wicked good job at barbecue, and we had some pretty fantastic ribs for dinner one night.  Almost worth the whole trip!!   They are gracious enough to allow us to park our trailer beside their house in Athena (20 miles from Pendleton).   

 Oops.  Missed him!  That's gotta hurt! 

 Now, we are back in the Bend area where we started this summer.  We are trying to be helpful to Ben's brother's family, since our sister-in-law had knee replacement surgery on the 4th.  She just had her stitches out.  (Staples, actually!  Ouch!!)  We'll be cleaning out our trailer and doing our final shopping, and then the magic comes....fitting everything we've collected over the summer into our truck!!  

So, we'll try to keep you posted on our departure schedule.  Oh, yeah.  The reason Ben didn't write this one is because he got a brand new computer, and hasn't finished setting it up yet.  That's his excuse this time, and he's sticking with it! 

I must confess that our 2014 September Picasa album is way behind.  Too many kids to hug and rodeos to watch...and barbecue and corn on the cob to eat.  Maybe I'll work on it tomorrow.  Maybe not! Have patience with me. 

Your friends still hanging out in Oregon,
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey

Pic-of-the-Week for August 30, 2014

When a person is retired they just get so busy that they don’t have time to get everything done, which is why I haven’t written any Pic-of-the-Weeks for quite some time!  (“Too Busy!”  That is my story, and I am sticking with it!)

On August 8^th and 9^th we took the Model A to the Bend Flashback Cruz.  My brother, Kenneth, encouraged me to do that as they have all kinds of vehicles at that show.  The weather cooperated and we had a good time.  It is held in Drake Park which is a very beautiful park in down town Bend right next to the Deschutes River.  The organizers were anticipating a smaller turnout this year but they were shocked when about 500 cars entered, about 100 more than they had planned.

My car won a “Sponsor’s Ribbon and Trophy”.  Those trophies are awarded by each sponsor to a car that they like.   

After the car show there was a parade of cars through the down town streets of Bend.  The parade was fun and I picked up my niece and her son who were watching the parade, and later we picked up our nephew.

Finally, we were able to put the Model A away and go camping.  Camping is what we always look forward to each summer.  Our first destination was Hart Mountain where there is the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge and our favorite hot springs.  We were joined by our friends Sandy and Debi.  It was their first time ever being there.  The weather was cool which was great for using the hot springs, but not so good for antelope viewing.  We probably only saw about 50 antelope which is ½ as many as usual.

This is a picture of the Warner Valley from Hart Mountain.  Sandy and Debi in the foreground looking at the “lakes”.  We have never seen it so dry there.  

After Hart Mountain we, along with Sandy and Debi, traveled on to the Steens Mountains.  This was another place that our friends had never been to, but had heard much about the area.  Again the weather was cool and the skies were hazy from forest fires many miles away, but we still had a good time.

Lots of birds this year ……..

Then Sandy and Debi returned to Eugene, and we continued on to the town of Sumpter.  Sumpter is located in an old gold mining area.  The Powder River basin had been dredged many years ago and there is still some gold mining continuing in the area.  When we heard the train go by near our camp grounds, we decided to take the train ride the next day.  It is a short ride, but still fun.  I got to ride in the steam engine on our return trip which brought back many memories of when my father worked for the railroad and would take us kids on short rides around the round house on steam engines.

 

Then we traveled to Joseph, and Wallowa Lake, and ………….. but that is another story.

Harriet has posted a bunch of pictures in our August 2014 Picasa album; sorry it is so huge.  We should have done 2 albums for August this year!  Too many cool things to see! 

Your friends enjoying the Pacific Northwest!
Ben, Harriet, Sam & Zoey

PS.  We are now in the Eugene area, where we'll be until September 11 enjoying the company of our daughter's family, then we go to the Pendleton Roundup.  Let 'er buck!! 

Pic-of-the-Week for August 5, 2014

Hi Friends,

I bet you thought nothing has been happening since we last wrote in July.  Well, you'd be wrong!  Ben said I have to write this time, since the most "excitement" has been happening to me!  

I had all my annual doctor visits two weeks ago; my GP, a mammogram, my dermatologist, and my oncologist.  It all went very well... the GP changed a few meds, the dermatologist took off one mole, and the oncologist said I have been in remission for 5 years, and can quit taking my cancer medication the end of October!  Hooray.  

We visited a bunch of friends in Salem, including those in our Thursday Night group who met at our friend Judy J's house this time.  It is always good to catch up with these folks, many of whom Ben worked with.  It was nice weather, so we enjoyed the outdoors while we visited.

 

  




We decided to leave Salem on Friday, because there were races to go to in Lebanon (Ben does love his dirt track races), and because the wi-fi was miserable at the RV park where we were staying.  (They knocked Ben off one day, and he couldn't get back on!  Very frustrating, although mine seem to work fine).  

We camped out next to the race track where we at least had water and sewer hook up, and we were joined by Baja friends from Eugene.  I opted out of the races and dog sat while the poor quivering things tried to figure out what all the noise was about! 

 

On Saturday, we took a drive on Highway 20 east of Lebanon through Sweet Home, and then up to Green Peter Dam.  Ben said he's never been there, and I vaguely remember going there with Mom & Dad years and years ago.  (My Dad did love to inspect dams!)  Beautiful place, and lots of boats and campers and fisherpeople.  The picture below is on the Dam; the water behind us is Green Peter Lake. 

When we got to Eugene on Sunday, a pre-dinner drink at Sarver Vinyard sounded like a good idea, so we went there with John H., our Eugene host, and enjoyed the view, the wine, the cheese and bread and all the goodies that went with it.  Yum!

 On Monday, we got to meet Georgina, our newest niece.  She just turned 3 months old!  What a sweetheart!  

Greg looks like a natural here at being a father.  At least he's got a good start! 

Then the excitement started!  I woke up Tuesday morning with an extremely fast heart beat.  What in the world???  I read up on a few things on the internet, tried to count it (18 beats in 6 seconds x 10 = 180.  That can't be right!!)  I decided about 10:30AM that I should go to an urgent care clinic, and by the time we'd been to the old Sacred Heart on 13th and been mis-directed by the gal at the information desk to an urgent care clinic out West 11th that didn't do heart care, we made it into the new hospital's Emergency Room at about 11:30.  They got right to me, asked me a bunch of questions (I felt ok, just a bit light-headed and tired), took my blood pressure and heart rate (175 plus or minus a few).  They tried a few non-invasive techniques with me to get the heart rate down (blowing out the plunger on a syringe with one breath), but nothing worked to slow it down, so they took me back to a room and installed an IV.  After the ER doctor checked me over, I was given an EKG to help determine the problem, and had constant blood pressure and heart rate monitoring.   The doc decided to administer a drug that stops the heart, and then immediately re-starts it.  Well!!  That sounded exciting.  They had me hooked up to the machine that would shock my heart if it didn't start again, so they were prepared!  At this point, I was taking a deep breath and saying "go for it".  They administered the meds via the IV, I felt a heavy feeling in my chest, and then normal, and my heart rate went right down, and continued to go down to about 80 in the next little while.  Phew!  They continued to monitor me for another hour (I couldn't go anywhere with all that stuff hooked up to me anyway), talked with me about the problem, and determined that I was fine and could leave.  That was about 2:15.  My diagnosis was Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT).  And thank goodness my Medicare started in May of this year!  

The rest of the week in Eugene was fairly quiet.  We visited a fellow who had at least one Model A that Ben lusted after, and a few Model Ts.  This one pictured below is a Speedster, and Ben thinks that would be a fun car to have!  

This is his garage!!  He had all kinds of things on display, besides his cars, including old gas pumps, neon signs, antique toys, a juke box, etc.  Fun!

 We had been inviting people over for dinner on Thursday night before my medical episode, and I was feeling pretty good, so we went ahead with the party.  Ben was able to steal fresh corn (not really, he was given permission) from my Malpass family relatives' farm.  Delicious!  Ben barbecued some fresh salmon, everyone brought a contribution, and we all enjoyed visiting and eating!  One guest even arrived in his private plane on John's landing strip.  That was fun to watch.  Of course, my dogs were dumb enough to try to  chase him, on landing AND take-off!  Good grief.  
  

We are back in Salem for a couple days, catching up with a few folks we missed the first time, and visiting my doctor's office again!  At my appointment today, my doctor and the nurse practitioner decided it was probably the change in my blood pressure medications the doctor made 2 weeks ago that caused the SVT.  Hopefully, it is all straightened out and my heart will behave itself now!  

Yesterday we drove up to Canby and then Vancouver to visit Ben's sister and my sister.  Sharon and I don't look too bad for a 70 y-o and a 65 y-o!   

OK.  Enough for now.  Bet you can't wait for Ben to write then next SHORT POTW!  We have pictures in the July 2014 Picasa album and the August 2014 Picasa album.  Enjoy!  (Watch the video of Bill's landing in the August album...pretty slick!)

Next week, we're heading for the wilderness!  Hart Mountain and the Steens, here we come!  

Your friends, hoping and trying to stay healthy!
Harriet, Ben, Sam & Zoey
 

Pic-of-the-Week for July 22, 2014 Part 2

Pic-of-the-Week for July 22, 2014 Part 2

MAFCA meet continued ………………

The “Grand Tour” was held on Thursday and was a 50 mile tour, which took a circular route of 40 miles to get there, and only 10 miles to get back.  This tour took us to “The LeMay Family Collection at Marymount” which is in Tacoma as well.   

Here is a picture of a very few of the cars lining up to leave on the tour.  

This place is unbelievable!  See their web site at: http://www.lemaymarymount.org/   Marymount was originally about 100 acres and started by the Sisters of St. Dominic in Tacoma, WA in 1919.  It soon became known as Marymount Military Academy and was run as a school until 1975.  Harold LeMay bought the buildings and grounds in the late 1980’s when the Catholic nuns could no longer maintain it.  Harold LeMay died in 2000 but his wife and family carry on maintaining, and enlarging, the museum.

By 1998, the LeMay family collection was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Largest Antique & Vintage Vehicle Collection” with more than 1,900 vehicles.  It has continued to grow since then! 

We arrived there and started with the closest building.  This photo gives you an idea of the size of this place.  This is only 1 of 3 huge buildings! 

We walked our legs off and only saw the cars in 2 of the 3 buildings!  We then ate a box lunch.  While we were eating Mrs. Le May was strolling around the eating area and visiting with many people, including us.  She is a very nice person that takes the time to just visit with everyone she can.  She had also spoken opening evening at our MAFCA "ice cream social" where she told us about the 3 museums and invited us all to come see them.

A sampling of vehicles in the first building.  Some very old ........

And, some not so old ....................

Some on the ground floor .........................

And, some stacked on upper levels where you could not get to ...........

Then there was the 2nd building .........  Did you ever want a snarling dragster?

 

Maybe you need something a little newer.  I am sure you will find it in the second "garage!"  Just look at the size of this building (only a part of it can be seen).  These cars and parked bumper to bumper, and very little room side to side.  I would guess close to 800 cars in this one building.

A few pictures in a blog can not do this place justice!  This building is overwhelming!

Here is a picture of the Model A's that attended this tour.  A fellow cam with a bucket truck and would take cameras up and take pictures for you with your camera.  He was kept busy for a long time that day.

After 2 "garages" we were ready for a break for lunch!

After lunch we caught a bus for a 10 minute ride to the location of the LeMay family home.  This location is generally not open to the public.  It is said that Harold bought this home because it had room for 300 more cars in "garages."

We were told that after Harold died, the family would start receiving property tax bills that they knew nothing about.  They would go inspect the property, and would find a large building/barn, etc. on the property.  When they inspected the building they would find more cars!  He was buying the properties just to store his cars.

We walked our legs off at the family home location where he had collections of other items as well as cars.  Those collections included meat grinders, salt and pepper shakers, dolls (I think those must have been collected by his wife), typewriters, hand crank calculators, and etc.

Then there was also the "garages" which included the Ford garage, the T-Bird garage, the Buick garage, the Cadillac garage, etc.

Here is the soda fountain.

Did I mention meat grinders?

Maybe a Mustang Cobra is what you really want..............

And, a special one for me............  A 1936 Oldsmobile that was very similar to one my father had for many years.  I believe he had it when we moved to Bend, OR in 1949.  I do not ever remember him driving it as it did not run by the time that I can remember.

After being tired out at the family home, we caught a bus back to the Marymount Museum where we viewed the cars in the final building.  In this building were many more cars that were restored to perfection!  I will include one more picture for my friends Jimmy Carmickle and Tony Kronemeyer.

Then it was a 10 mile drive back to the hotel where we started out that morning.  We decided that being tourists is HARD WORK!!!

Friday morning it was get up and catch a bus to the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, in South Seattle.  That took most of the day.  I will not bore you with the airplane photos, but they are available in our Picasa album as well.

Arriving back at our hotel that evening we had to hurry and get ready for the awards banquet.  There were probably about 600 people at the banquet, and the surprising part is that the food was good!  Our table was very successful, prize wise.  One lady won a prize for her late 20's/ early 30's fashions, one couple won a prize for "car games" (playing various games with the Model A), one couple won a bronze prize for their car in "Restorer's Class", and....

Oh, I was given a certificate and medal from the judges for winning a silver medal on my Model A Ford woody restoration in Restorer's class, scoring between 400 - 429 points out of 500 (they didn't say how many points exactly). There were about 5 cars in this prize range, about the same number in the bronze range, and one in the gold range.

All in all, it was a very fun and rewarding week!  You can see our photos at our 2014-07 MAFCA Meet album.  Harriet is still working on the captions, have patience!  (Or you can guess what things are!)  Enjoy!!

Your friends,
Ben, Harriet, Sam & Zoey