The Nut in the Nutcracker

While dad and mom took a much needed, albeit brief, respite in Hawaii, Tom and I tried our best to entertain the little ones. We thought they might be old enough for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's annual uber event, The Nutcracker Suite. While the oversized replicas of the various main characters entertained, both of the children fell asleep almost the moment the lights went out missing all the really small-child fun stuff in the first act. At intermission both woke and then it was a grueling second act I assure you with Andy saying "I want to go home" every 10 minutes as he quickly tired of the more serious dancing that comes in the second part. One bright moment, when the rats came on stage and I delicately said, "see the mice", she processed it and said - REALLY LOUDLY -- "those are rats, those are rats" pointing to the stage. Even though I think it could have been funny -- no one was laughing or even smiling at this. Suffice it to say it will be a couple more years before we try this again. I really enjoyed the stellar performances and the wonderful tradition. I'm sure Sylvia and Andy will some day too.

Croatia

Tom and I spent three glorious weeks in Croatia, all on the Dalmatian coast. We had signed on for the Vermont Bicycle Tours (VBT) 10-day excursion. We took advantage of a 7-hour layover in Zagreb to visit that city and were lucky enough to view traditional musicians and dancers in an event honoring their annual international footrace around the city. Then Dubrovnik, "pearl" of the Adriatic and really one of the prettiest places I've ever been, then on to Split where we met our wonderful guides - Marko and Mattej -- for a trip to the islands of Brac and Hvar for some of the most spectacular rides and views anywhere. Back to Split for one night more with our group (incredible people, very compatible, total fun) before they departed for home and we for an additional eight days, starting on the island of Vis, then Korcula (on both islands we rented motor scooters for an easier way to hit those hills) and points inland. More photos and information on my travel/food blog, www.themeanderingfork.blogspot.com.

Surprise! The grandkids are growing up.

We've been on vacation and in that small amount of time Sylvia and Andy have grown. Sylvia is talking up a storm, in clear sentences and with something to say! Andy is maturing into a bright and thoughtful boy. Both seem to be thriving in their new home and environment. Missing them very much and remembering our promise to take them to Remlinger Farms we picked them up bright and early on a sunny Saturday morning so that we could get to Remlinger and rides before the crowds. The big surprise is that Sylvia, who for one and one-half years would not ride on the merry-go-round horses suddenly got on a real horse and rode it without so much as a flinch. And Andy didn't need us by his side at all, skillfully riding the biggest horse in the stable by himself. Andy and grandpa went on the roller coaster ride (in front) twice. While Sylvia and I rode the spinning pumpkins twice. Instead of being afraid (as I feared) she insisted on riding it again. Oh, and Andy climbed the big rock wall and Sylvia tried to do the same on the small climbing wall in the hay barn. Both fell asleep instantly when the car started for the journey home. Oh joy!
At the very bottom of the pictures here is Sylvia doing her best interpretation of the long gone hippie era.

Neu Woodworks Meets The Whitewater Dory

Kelly and her father are building a dory, a traditional wooden boat for white water river rafting. Kelly is a skilled guide (she brought us down the Salmon River last year with nary a scratch). Tom and Kelly have been preparing for their big build which will happen when we return from Croatia, in October, in Idaho. They then will transport the hull to a location - YTD, but in the Puget Sound area to be completed and rigged. Check out her blog (see blog list) to see the project and documented progress.

California bound

We had a great week plus road tripping to Tom's nephew's wedding in Mammoth Lakes. We took our time and had a relaxing journey.

With no definite plans we decided to head over to the Eastern side of Oregon along the Umpqua River route and that landed us at Diamond Lake for the night, an unexpected jewel. We walked the bike trail that goes all around the lake (almost 12 miles, though we only went about a quarter of a mile) and met some great people who we ended up talking the night away with around their campfire and then headed back to our room in the dark.



This was my first time at Crater Lake and found not only the lake to be incredible but the surrounding terrain, including the Pumice Desert. We hiked up to the fire lookout and was lucky to have the fire patrol ranger let us into the lookout hut and provide an overview of his fire detection techniques.He demonstrated the purpose of the rubber souled stool in case of lightening saying that he kneels on the stool and "assumes the position" (praying for his life).








Finally, the purpose for the road trip -- Chad and Oona's wedding at Mammoth. We headed to our cabin at Convict Lake where the wedding, reception and festivities took place. It was beautiful and the weather was picture perfect. See those blokes on the bikes at the 11,000+ foot summit of Mammoth -- they're friends and we thought crazy fools to ride down the mountain on dirt bikes until we decided to do the same our last day at Mammoth. It was harrowing, albeit exhilarating and I'm glad no body parts were broken in this pursuit of adventure. (Note: We did not start from the summit)











A week of dinners, barbeques, hiking, biking and gondola's to the top of the mountain concluded with the wedding of Chad and Oona in the most beautiful setting on Convict Lake. Our cabin faced the party cabin (among the pictures below).






We headed West from Mammoth through Tioga Pass and Yosemite National Park with all of its fantastic rock formations (lots of rock climbers), Alpine lakes, John Muir/Pacific Trail, and overlook into the Valley floor to the famous Half Dome.