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| Lucy Loves Lasagna, and Rylie too! |
|
| Summer |
|
| Abby in her favorite spot, the momma dogs fern bed. |
| Stanley & Willie |
|
| Willie comforts Stan and reminds him - You'll be Fine. I Hear They Have Treats in E. Oregon too! |
The start of summer isn't complete without a Stanley and Abby update. Abby just turned 88 in human years. She is
quite use to this family doing lots of things. Stan on the other hand is a bit uneasy with all the changes. There have been
furniture changes, things packed up, remodeling, and the case of the missing dog bed.
We are headed to the Wallowas this weekend with our friend and vaastiu home-builder, Ron. We will be camping up the
Lostine River and selecting and marking our house site, among other things. Watch for our post around the 4th of July!
Happy Independence Day 2009
We have just
returned from a trip to our land in the High Lostine. Peter is in Idaho with his family. The doggies and Diane are resting
up in Silverton.
The Lostine River is designated a Wild & Scenic River. It runs down
from the Eagle Cap Wilderness through the Wallowa Whitman National Forest, in the corner of NE Oregon. This is the land of
Chief Joseph's, Wallowa band of Nez Perce. The High Lostine is a river canyon area where a few blessed people live. The
nearest town is Lostine which is 300 miles from Silverton.
Our mission of
this trip was to work with our builder Ron find a suitable home site. Ron is trained in a specific type of building known
as Vaastu. He studied in India and has built in the US, India, and Panama. Vaastu principals are based on scientific energy
principals. Bottom line, you don't just bulldoze land mass and throw up a building anywhere. The more in-tune you are with
proper alignment of natural geological forms and your building, the more in harmony your building will be. More commonly
this form of building is known as sacred geometry.
Mission Accomplished.
Thanks to Ron, Gay, Larry, and Terry for your help and support!
Thank you Gene for suggesting RON!
We now have located a home site, a driveway, and are making plans that will be implemented next
spring, 2010.
| Abby & Willie |
|
| "It's about time the humans got it, Abby. You have led them here for years!" |
Abby & Stanley have been leading us to this spot for years. It is
the spot that we spend a lot of time reflecting and meditating in. If we had paid attention to the canines, it might have
taken less resources but maybe it might not have been as much fun!
| The Tribal Counsel |
|
| Gay, Hatch, Stan, Peter, Ron |
| The NE Corner of the House Site |
|
| We had a small ceremony, placed the stake, and gave thanks. |
| The Drive |
|
| This is the entry of our drive off of Tamarack Road. |
We had much celebrating to do. We celebrated our finding our house site, finding our old friend Ron, Peter's 46th
year on the planet this lifetime, and our 10 year wedding anniversary.
| New Old Friends, Wallowa Lake |
|
| Sometimes you just know you have known this person a long time. |
| Peter, Diane, Willie, & Stanley |
|
| Wow. Look at the Wallowas! |
| The Gay Behnke, Birthday Revenge |
|
| You never know when your middle school pranks might come back to haunt you! |
| Birthday Boy |
|
| Happy Day in the NE Corner |
| 10 Years |
|
| Happy Anniversary |
Peter had a great trip to Idaho and visit with his family.
One of the many highlights was getting to meet Ward Howers' son, Peter. The family had lots of great visiting, biking, swimming,
eating, more great visiting, and more great eating, and a fantastic raft trip on the South Payette.
| July 2, 2009 |
|
| Cascade, Idaho |
Peter also had a great overnight trip to Breitenbush
Lake which is on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Our friend Richard went with him, and they day hiked part of the PCT.
|
| Breintbush Lake |
Diane has done a great job avoiding mosquitos :) She
has stayed busy working on a job application and portfolio for an assistant professor of art/media arts at Eastern Oregon
University, and training for a backpack at Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park in British Columbia at the end of the month.
| Summer Sky Chair Reading |
|
August 14, 2009 Update
On the
house and job-front, we have applications in and are continuing to put more in this coming weekend as 2 positions we are interested
in have opened up in Enterprise.
We now have a great nephew, Lewis Arthur Walter. Congratulations Matt & Gina & Lona.
Jessica blew through on her way south to a new base
camp in the Sierra Nevada Mts., then on to southern CA for 2 canoe trips on the Colorado River.
Lara had continued to housesit for friends while looking for work, a challenge since Oregon is ranked near the top of the
country for unemplyment. Her spirits continue to be up as she pushes forward. She is living in Portland.
Stanley has had a rough time this summer. He has had every part of his inner workings inspected multiple times. He has developed
some type of autoimmune reaction impacting his digestive tract. Good news is that despite loosing 20 lbs, he is now doing
a great deal better and beginning to put weight back on. Our dog walk conversations are less focused on fecal color, consistency,
and other similar topics. Today, he did very well at his first acupuncture treatment.
We just returned a few days ago from a fantastic trip
to Canada with our friends, Gene, Michelle, and Stephen, all from Colorado. While in Canada, we did a 6 day backpack trip
into an area that you cannot reach by a road. The trip was challenging as we were hiking in prime Grizzly bear and mosquito
habitat and our trail was more of a route than trail. Sometimes the things that we perceive to be problems are the things
that help us to move forward. Gee, do we sound like counselors? We hope you enjoy the photos.
| Before |
|
| Sahalli Falls, Mt. Hood Nat. Forest |
| Columbia River Petroglyphs |
|
| We spent our first day exploring the Columbia River Gorge as we traveled to its headwaters in Canada |
| Kootenay National Park, British Columbia |
|
| The Real Beginning |
|
| What do you call a trailhead when the trail is really a route, routehead? |
We arrived at the start where we left
2 cars in separate locations so we could do a loop trip. Upon arrival, we wondered why cars and trucks were enclosed in chicken
wire? Is it a really good idea to leave your car for a week if you have to wrap it in chicken wire? Yes, it keeps the porcupines
from eating your rubber hoses. However, it does not keep Wolf Spiders from taking up residence in your car. Next time, Diane
will suggest saran wrap and chicken wire. :0
| Assiniboine Provincial Park Map |
|
Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park
Assiniboine Back Country Lodge
| HeWhoWatches |
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| There is a guardian in the picture. Can you see him? |
| The Women Lead |
|
| Michelle lets Gene, Stephen, & Peter in on valuable information. |
| "Hey Bear. I Don't Want to Scare No Bear" |
|
| They don't want you to forget about the Grizzlies who injure hikers on the trail. |
Diane said, " Never" to sleeping and hiking in grizzly habitat. Never, say never!
We felt so much more safe knowing that the bears were being kept
aware that humans were in the area. What great signs. We were sure they observed the signage, and if they did not speak
English, it was also in French.
We sang,
clapped, whistled, talked in very loud voices, and sang some more. We never saw a bear until we were out of the back country
when a mama and 2 cub black bears crossed the highway. We did a great job keeping the bears away by our noises. We also
scared all the moose, elk, deer, cougars, & wolves too. It did not work on the mosquitoes and the deer flies.
|
| Looking back at where we began. |
| Stephen |
|
| Stephen & Peter sacrificed themselves to the bears by always walking behind grateful, Diane. |
| Marvel Lake, Kootenay National Park, BC |
|
| Below Marvel Pass, we arrived after going up, up, up and way, way down. |
Route - a loosely defined trail where rocks, trees, and tree roots are
able to maintain their status and humans sometimes travel when they like an adventure, mostly US citizens.
Klick - a Canadian term for measurement.
"It's a fair ways, a bout 3 klicks up and 1 klick flat."
Marvel Lake - what you name a lake after you marvel at how you got there
and might get out.
Wonder Pass - a pass that you wonder what the hell you got yourself into
and why you signed up for this trip?
| Marvel Lake |
|
| Are we there yet? Near Wonder Pass |
| YES! |
|
| Peter at the top of Wonder Pass. |
| Day #3 |
|
| Arriving at Mt. Assiniboine |
| The Family Photo |
|
| This is what we came here for! |
We arrived at Mt. Assiniboine and wondered and marveled at its' beauty. Tired and sore, mosquito
bitten bodies are soon forgotten when you reach your destination and reflect on why you choose to take part in a vacation
like this. The minor differences we brought to the party melted away several days before when we committed ourselves to making
this a memorable journey for all.
| Mt. Assiniboine |
|
| dkhower 09 |
| Wedgwood Lake Reflection |
|
| After our Assiniboine day, we had weather of all sorts, except sun. |
Bush - 1. a shrub in the front yard - U.S. 2. the Canadian wilderness
or most of Canada
Bush Wacking - 1. a way of extending your trip when you loose your trail
or are on a route designed for horses. 2. a way of testing males on their skills of finding trails or routes 3. a
male bonding experience only understood and appreciated by the male species of humans.
| Civilization, Not! |
|
| Mitchell River Backcountry Cabin for mice and other rodents, not men. |
| Looking Back from Where We Came |
|
| Mitchell River, Kootenay National Park, BC |
| 1 of the 9 river crossings |
|
| Diane on the Mitchell River. |
| Mitchell River Tengo |
|
| Gene & Michelle |
| Peter |
|
| The last few klicks. |
| The Sad Ending |
|
| Canadian Forest Management |
Our beautiful trip ended in a clear cut where the sun beat down on us without mercy. We had every type of weather
imaginable, voracious Canadian bugs, no bears, beautiful scenery and wildflowers, great lodging and food. For us, this was
one of the most incredible trips we have taken, one you could not categorize. Most of all, we had great company with a sense
of humor, humility, respect, compassion, and support that is difficult to find. We would go anywhere with any one of these
individuals.
Our
next couple of nights were spent in a condo outside of Banff and playing tourist. We then left Gene and Michelle to head
up to Jasper National Park to the Columbia Icefield, the true beginning of the Columbia River. After our final day as tourists,
we left Stephen in the Wilcox Creek campground and headed out of the high country. At the base of Kootenay Park, we were
escorted out by a pair of young Bighorn Sheep who walked in front of the car, a truly amazing end.
| Lake Louise |
|
| Gene & Michelle |
| Lac Louise |
|
| Stephen |
| Reflection |
|
| Peter |
| Athabasca Glacier, Columbia Ice Field |
|
| Stephen & Diane |
| The Columbia Ice Field |
|
| This ice field feeds the Pacific, Artic, and Atlantic Oceans. |
| The New Beginning |
|
| Chinese take-out at Sahalli Falls on our return trip. |
UPDATE AUGUST 28TH
We are mourning our end to summer vacation.
This summer has turned out very different then we had thought. We had hoped to be in Eastern Oregon at this point.
However, the timing has not come together yet. Wallowa Willie is needing some cheering up. We continue to put our job applications in
and show the house. We are getting more proficient with both of these tasks. The down time has been used to nurture
poor Stanley who has quite a summer loosing 20 pounds total. The good news is that we have excellent care for him, and
he is beginning to gain a few pounds and his upset intestinal tract is seemingly soothed. Maybe the timing is working
out just perfectly :)
We recently
spent a night camping with our friend, Richard at Clear Lake. Clear Lake is a lava flow formed lake that is 45 degrees,
year around. The temperature and location make it incredible shades of blue. We did some hiking amongst the old
growth and second growth Douglas firs and the local waterfalls, including another one named Sahalie Falls. This area
is the headwaters of the McKenzie River.
| Clear Lake Paddle |
|
| The Source |
|
| Clear Lake Spring, a lava tub vent providing the source of the lake and the McKenzie River. |
| Sahalie Falls, The McKenzie River |
|
| More Boring Oregon Water Falls |
|
| Another View |
|
This trip was for the senses: sight, sound, smell, and touch. Check
back after Labor Day for an update as we are headed to the Wallowas and our land for 4 days :)
THE LAST SUMMER OUTING Our last outing was to the Wallowas
to sleep on our land. The plan was to camp one night and stay at the Behnke Bunkhouse but unfortunately, Doris was very
ill. The wonderful thing about the High Lostine is people are a community that welcomes and supports, each other. We
were invited to stay at the Ojas, the neighbors up the way from Gay's cabin and our property. Everyone had a wonderful
time. It was hard to come back to the Willamette Valley. However, we are confident that we will be over there
permanently, soon enough...well maybe not soon enough, but soon.
| The Lostine River Canyon |
|
| These retired rodeo horses have it rough, living up the Lostine Canyon. We can't wait to join them. |
| The Eagle Cap, Eagle Cap Wilderness |
|
| This peak is at the headwaters of the Lostine River up the canyon. |
| The Log Home Built with Love |
|
| This home is the Oja's, built by them with logs from Finland. |
| Deck View |
|
| It was tough figuring out where to sit on the deck, options, options. |
| Sweet Abbydo |
|
| Abby made herself at home, no problem. |
| Don't Drop That Ball, Stanley |
|
| Dropping the ball off the 2nd story deck is like a baby throwing stuff off a highchair. |
| Bowman Trail |
|
| We hiked up Bowman trail. This view is looking down Lostine Canyon. |
| Rock Gym |
|
| This is a higher view of the rock gym above our property, climber Pete's dream come true. |
| Flat Bed |
|
| There is no level ground on the 2.5 acres we call home so we are working on that. |
| Home Sweet Home |
|
| Great night of sleep in the High Lostine |
What a different
but great summer that we can share with you. Next time, you can follow our move to Wallowa Mountains and the building
of our sacred home in a place that speaks to the heart & soul. :)
Thanks for letting us share.
Diane & Peter Abby
& Stanley Wallowa Mountain Wille
|
| Happy Willie in the High Lostine |
Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.
Mr. Magorium Mr. Magoriums' Wonder Emporium
|
