Week 25 - Oregon City - June 17 - June 23, 2024

On the steep slope of Sector 2, I found a whole bunch of ground hornets which drove me away.  But Dad concocted a delicious slurry of soapy water and a lethal pesticide called Sevin and treated the colony two about 2 gallons of this delicious hornet koolaid.  On Thursday, I dressed as though I would be attacked and revisited the area.  The koolaid had been effective, and there we no more of the stinging pests remaining.  I started digging up all of the remaining blackberry and pulled up long strings of bedstraw.  It was hard but very rewarding.

 

Right along the edge of the woods is this band of tiny yellow flowers

Even a closeup doesn't show them very well.  The common name is...wait for it - - -                             the name is Nipple Wart!

On two days I went to First Slope and cut up the fallen snags; loaded them into the trailer; took them up to the splitter; and we finished the job.

We put together the new queen headboard and set it up in the north bedroom upstairs'.  

Zelensky may like the bed/headboard better in the Mt St Helen room

Actually, the cats just like to sleep......anywhere.

Jack too...

 Week 24 - Oregon City - June 10 - June 16, 2024

Thursday was the last day of school at Holcomb.  Got these photos of the Grands.  Here are Jude, Ruby, and Jane.

Holland is a kitten

Copeland is ready for the last class of this year.

The main event of the week is that four families went to Government Camp and spent three days and two nights.  Bev's friend, Melissa Albison, has a four bedroom vacation retreat set up to be a vacation rental.  Each bedroom has it's own private bath.  The unit is brand new and still is not completely set up for paying guests....but she let us go up for the weekend.  The home is within easy walking distance of the community of Government Camp. 

On Friday we did a lazy stroll up and down the main street.

These discarded/surplus chairs from a chair lift made fun swings/seats for the little ones.

We hiked for a bit on the trail to Mirror Lake but stopped half way and came back.

Bev was very innocently preparing lunch stuff and sliced her little finger with a simple steak knife.  Fortunately we were able to get a hold of Jessica before they left to come up and meet us - - Ryan is brought his "stitching kit".

Saturday was a bummer day because the temperature plummeted and there was heavy rain and snow all day.  The weather caused the Snow Bowl Adventure Park to close, and with that closure, our day returned to puzzles, tv, iPhone, reading, and guitar practicing.  

In the evening the weather cleared enough to drive up to Trillium Lake and get out and play a bit.  Great view of Mt Hood!!!!!

Kids playing - mostly with a couple of dead fish they found floating belly up in the water.

Ryan wasn't bothered by the mosquitos...not a bit.

Sunday - Father's Day.  A couple weeks ago when Dad had gone to Father Kid Campout, I went to A-1 Bird Bath on the corner of Powell and 85th.  I got a birdbath, snuck it home, and with Whitney's help, hid it amongst Malcolm's stuff out y the shed.  Then Father's Day morning, with Malcolm's help, we "installed" it in the flower bed close to the porch.  I put  the FD card, which Abby had made, on the bird bath and took off to church.  When dad came home, I walked up to the porch with him and enjoyed seeing his surprise when he found it.

After dinner Logan played a song on his guitar and sang along.  He did a good job...and his singing voice is good tool.  

Next week...maybe I can play I Am A Child of God.

Zelensky is comfortable almost anywhere.

 Week 23 - Oregon City - June 3 to June 9, 2024

We heled Val Glenn with his Family History.

On a dry day I went to all of the deciduous trees.  There are six oak trees, four Mountain Ash, and four vine Maple.  I've also planted Cedars, Hemlock, Doug fir, Grand Fir, but the deer don't eat them.

West Slope covered with plants with tiny yellow flowers, and clump of white daisies - all in an area which was densly covered in blackberries four years ago.

A dead curly dock.

A group of three deer walked quietly in front of me.

Can't for get the cats.

Sunday - grandchildren enjoying the lovely weather.

Sunday - James Brendan Gray was blessed at church.

 Week 22 - Oregon City - May 26- June 2, 2024

Monday was Memorial Day, and we had a great evening bar-b-que at The Manor.  Tables were set up in the front yard for the first time.  It was really hot, and we ate earlier than usual....so the sun was still filling the east lawn.  Eating under the magnolia tree was great.

Lot of work in the woods....as in previous weeks...digging up unwanted weeds.

Here is a big plant of Common Tansy - it's one of two that I've found.

Since identifying it as being a noxious weed, I've dug up tons of Dock.

There's a lot of this Broadleaf Plantain. but I'm not digging it up - I may regret that decision.

And this is how we get filbert trees - - thank you squirrels.

In a slight breeze you could see the grass hay blowing back and forth.  We almost started singing, "Ob beautiful, for spacious fields of green waving hay."

Friday night was the Father Kid Campout at Oxbow Park.  Dad went with Warren and Holland and Copeland.

Jack was helping me practice

He helped me look for blackberries and ivy.

And, I guess, Zelensky was really tired.

Sunday night we had birthday cake and sang to Dolores, Jude, Ruby, and Jane.

Another week has flown by.