Whooooosh!

Thanksgiving has come and gone. Christmas is almost here. Only two more work days before my two week Winter Break. The living room and dining room are piled with presents, projects, and shipping boxes from my on-line shopping spree. I think I need a little help from Santa's elves to get it all together in time. Still to go: one baptism dress, two photo projects, and some decoupaged functional art. I have a busy week ahead!

I did manage to set up my mini Christmas tree this year. :-)

Fall Colors

I have been enjoying the fall colors so much this year. Here are few photos from my neighborhood.


Downtown Grants Pass - 5th & G Streets



Looking up A Street




My House!

Art Along the Rogue

Every year Grants Pass host a chalk artist event. Art Along the Rogue was moved from downtown Grants Pass to Riverside Park this year, which created opportunity for other types of artisans to share their art. I love the chalk art and despite the rainy weather, the artists created some beautiful images.

Harvest

I've been reflecting on the merits of having a garden. It sure has been a lot of work for a little bit of produce. Besides the fact that I planted some of my veggies a little late, I am thinking that I just don't have enough sun in my back yard. At least not in the areas where I built my raised beds. I did get some pretty plants and a whole lot of cherry tomatoes from my Topsy Turvey hanging planters. I will try again next year!






Charley the Garden Cat

A Grey Day at the Beach

It's the last week of summer vacation and I wanted one last getaway before returning to work. I decided on a day trip to the coast. Just like my last two trips to the beach this summer, it turned out to be a foggy, grey day. At least this time it wasn't raining. My plan was to go to Brookings. It was a quick trip so I just kept on driving up to Gold Beach.

It's been a long time since I took photographs of anything besides grandchildren. I love my slim little Canon Elph digital camera and it is great for chasing after small children, but "my catch of the day" was a bit disappointing. I find myself longing for a Canon Eos and multiple lenses...

Mouth of the Rogue River at Gold Beach


It was sunny up on the bluffs with a blanket of fog hugging the coastline.



View from Cape Sebastian


Lone Ranch Beach - destined to become one of my favorites!







Brookings-Harbor Marina

Moving to Chico

For awhile now, Ben has been commuting from Redding to go to Chico State. Emily has been commuting from Redding to work in Red Bluff for several years. So they decided to move to Chico this summer. They found a nice apartment with two bedrooms on the north end of Chico - it even has a swimming pool! Emily's commute to work is a little farther now... but she is hoping to find a new job in Chico soon.

7 - Shasta Sunset Excursion Train

Finally... the big finale - "the train ride!" We boarded the Shasta Sunset Excursion Train at 4 pm for the one hour excursion through the southern slopes of Mt. Shasta.


Nearly first in line, we got the best seat on the train - up front on the top deck of the open air car. What we weren't expecting was a bit of smoke in the face as we chugged up the mountain side.




We also weren't expecting the engine to be pulling just one car...
You might be able to pick out the conductor at the back of the car punching the tickets. (Black hat, white shirt, and vest)


The train chugged along, blowing it's whistle when approaching crossroads and meandered it's way through the woods, surprising us now and then with glimpses of Mt. Shasta. When we got to the end of the line, the train engine halted, reversed directions and pushed our double decker car back down the mountain...



Time to head home... Dad is planning a BBQ to celebrate Ryan's return home.