Mirror Lake - Archer, Tyler, Magnus - Week 26

 - June 28 - to July 4, 2021

This was Archer and Magnus's last week with us.  It was great fun having them for five weeks.   Magnus likes to cook.  To prepare food for our camping trip, Magnus made hard boiled eggs.  He has an interesting cooking style - sits on a stool in front of the stove and waits for the food to cook.

Archer was a good sport by giving a talk during his last sacrament meeting here.  The topic was Forgiveness...too bad that woman's head was in my line of view.

The birthday backpacking trip for Archer, Tyler, and Magnus!  We went to Sisters Mirror lake which is - gasp - 3 1/2 hours away.  But we did it anyway because it is in The Three Sisters Wilderness and I was hoping to get some of the same scenery as we did last year when we circumnavigated the Three Sisters.

Unfortunately we were at the tail end of the "heat dome" that was causing such high temperatures.  On the way to the lake, the temperatures was in the 100's.  The trail is 3.4 miles long with an elevation gain of 600 feet which is neither long or steep. But the high temperature made the hike a bit uncomfortable.

Ummmm - a lava flow- ominous

Mixed forest with lots of pine.  Kind of dry...and then the lake! Panorama view...  You can see just the tip of the South Sister in the first photo.

Remember, the name is Mirror Lake.  This photo has the reflection, but not  a good reflection.

Before we left Oregon City I had shown the boys how to pitch my 4-person tent.  I told them that when we got to the campsite that they had to do it themselves....and they did just fine.

Along the trail we noticed many signs of impending doom - - yes, snow banks across and to the side of the trail, and each one was melting quickly.  Honestly, it was too early to come - should have come in mid July.  I took this photo of new growth on the firs which was just beginning.

 

Thus, there was a tremendous breeding ground for mosquitos.  Along the trail while we were walking, they caused no problems, but as soon as we stopped at the lake, we were inundated by huge swarms of mosquitos.  It was awful!!  I wasn't bothered much but the boys were bitten to death.  They took refuge in the lake - and enjoyed skinny dipping.

A positive, side effect of the mosquitos was the frogs....they were all over, and all night long they croaked and sang lullabies to us.

I got up earlier than the boys and went and sat on this rock mound and read a book until the boys woke.  After breakfast, we collectively decided that we didn't want to stay (even with mosquito nets) and fight the pesky insects.

The hike back was much easier - in the 90's and always slightly downhill.  There was a massive traffic jam in Redmond because of a fire near the airport.  Took us about four hours or more to get back.  Went to Warren's where he had made burritos!  Don't know if I would go back to Sisters Mirror Lake.  It is just too far away...... I think Top Lake is better, and next year the roads to Top Lake should be .open - we'll go to Top Lake

I have pretty much finished spraying in the woods - having done most places twice.  I know I'll never get rid of all the ivy or blackberries or holly.  I used my rope method to keep track of where I had sprayed.  It worked famously.  

On First Slope where I had thoroughly sprayed, I discovered a clump of white daisies.  It was so exciting to see pretty flowers blooming in what had just a few months previously been a blackberry thicket.  Hopefully there will be a field of them next year.

One thing the boys liked to do was collected old lead from the shooting berm.  I don't understand their fascination, but it kept them occupied for quite a while.  Here they are at the kitchen table looking over their pieces of lead - kind of like when, as a kid,  I compared marbles and decided which ones were the best.

Ivan and Renee arrived Saturday night to pick up the boys.  I wish they could have stayed.  There is some talk that they may come back in three weeks to attend our Family Camp at Sutton Lake - but I doubt they will do that.  To celebrate their presence we went to an ice cream place called Cheese and Crack.  They had specialty ice cream sundays made with tasty soft serve ice-cream.  It was fun - on the street, near Burnside, lots of people, warm temps, sitting in a window sill of a manicure place.  Ryan sat in the car the whole time saving our place in a "pick up" zone only....and answering emails.

Sadly, this week, on Thursday July 1, 2021, my friend Vannessah died.  It was not unexpected.  I had made plans to go visit her Saturday morning at 7am but received a text from her daughter, Elbereth, at 6:30, saying she had just died.  I was numb for the rest of the day. 

I went through all of her Facebook posts that I could find and this is what she wrote last December

December 28, 2020
This day is a blessing. Today I am so grateful for the gift of eight years with my family and friends! Despite chemo and the never-ending joy that comes with it 🙂, I've been able to work, raise my children and watch my first grandchild turn six years old. (Ethan was 8 when I was diagnosed and he'll be a high school senior this fall.) That gift of time has been the most precious gift ever. Thank you to everyone. Here's to another eight as today begins day one of year nine!

Here is another post from  back in 2016

Vannessah Walker Morss is with Kim Gray.

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Several weeks ago I had a brain scan and earlier this week I had a skull scan to determine if any cancer had creeped in my head. I'm happy to report that all scans show absolutely nothing in my brain or my skull. (I'm sure all three ex-husbands could have offered that evaluation for free, ha ha!) Anyway, chemo #7 went well yesterday. Kim Gray drove me up and back and sat with me during chemo. We chatted about kids and grandkids and religion and future plans. Kim is an excellent companion! I felt bad that after 12 hours of taking such good care of me, she got on her bicycle and rode home in the cold after we got to my house. I swear I offered to put her bike in my car and drive her home, but she wouldn't have it. Thank you so much, Kim, for an excellent day!

And this is the only picture I have of her or us - taken after the trip to Seattle just described.