'Tis the Season...

Its been a year + since our move to LaPine and our second Christmas. Last year I was still driving back and forth from the valley and so I was able to get our traditional Noble Fir and transport it over the mountains. Not feasible this year at the price of Noble Firs in Central OR. So...$5.00 for a permit to cut your own tree and 3 hours of bitter cold temps in the Deschutes National Forest and you see the resulting Lodge Pole Pine(with lights and decorations). Marc and Kerry, you get to help next year.

Our first big snow fall produced the next two pictures. It began snowing as I left for work in the morning and was still snowing when this picture was taken. Jane and I get so excited when it snows big that we went for a walk at 10:30 p.m. and snapped a shot of our house.

This is a picture out our bedroom window the next morning with the trees heavy with snow.

We had a great turn out for our first annual New Years Eve day "Chill and Grill". Bob and Molly came down from Olympia for the event as they had for something similar last year. My sister, Kathy, donated the outdoor fireplace in the form of a Christmas present from her which I set up in the driveway, we provided the teriyaki chicken kabobs and everyone else brought their own beverage and a side dish. Neighbors, both full and part time residents, came and went through the evening totaling about 30. When it started to get cold we moved inside and visited throughout the evening. It was great fun!

This morning I took these two shots of 1) "Tilley the snow plow" (she loves to stick her nose in the snow when she runs) and 2) looking southeast from our driveway when we went out skiing. The temp. was a balmy 25 degrees with 3-4 inches of perfect new snow. The snow was so good that Jane and I went out after dark with our head lamps for a ski around the perimeter trails, about a mile.

Most of our visitors have been family or friends who come during the summer. We'd love to host more friends in the winter as the season really is special here.
Love to all,

Marty and Jane.

Catching Up, Part 6- Paulina Lake Hike, Lava River Cave

Marc and Kerry took the opportunity to hike the trail around Paulina Lake and took some great pics.










As a large group we also hiked Lava River Cave and got two great pics of Bob and Molly's grandsons and my granddaughters.

Catching Up, Part 5- "Down Under"

No, I don't mean Australia. What summer in Central Oregon would be complete without a trip to a cave. Off China Hat Road, right where the pavement ends is the entrance to Boyd Cave.
Of course, Tilley is pretty much where she always is, by my side.

Marc and "Tilley the radioactive dog" at the end of the cave.

Not to be out done, Matt also makes it to the end.

Catching Up, Part 4, "A fishing trip to remember"

Fishing at Paulina Lake became second nature by July and many of the trips' memories blend together. But this trip was special. Kerry came fishing with Marc and I and became our "photo journalist". While I won't post all the pictures from the trip, I need to point out that the subject of most of the pictures was "Tilley the fishing dog". Not fishing, not her husband, but Tilley who can be seen here in both her relaxed and alert positions.

Marcus with Paulina Peak in the background. Seems to be enjoying himself.

Fisherman hard at work. Marcus showing great form keeping his "tip up" while I net.

You can tell we're having a "horrible" time!

And finally, if great weather, catching fish and special time with family weren't enough, the Master Himself puts his personal stamp on the day as we're coming home.

Good,

better,

amazing!

Catching Up Part 3 "Stuck in a rut!"

On the way back from Summer Lake we took a little detour...several miles of gravel road, seemingly on the way to nowhere! However, we found what we were looking for, unmarked except for a little parking lot, "Crack in the Ground". After a short 1/4 mile hike we were in.

At some points more narrow...

at some points more out in the open...

sometimes having to climb...

sometimes having to "think small" or narrowly escaping disaster...

and sometimes simply incredible.

We walked back along the top of the "crack" and encountered these Prairie Falcons perched on the top of this Juniper tree. Check back for "Catching Up, Part 4 "A fishing trip to remember."

Catching Up Part 2 "Anniversary in the Outback"

Marc and Kerry were with us for several weeks this summer and were gracious enough to invite us to share their anniversary with a trip to Summer Lake in Oregon's Outback. On the way stopped, explored, hiked, climbed and had lunch at Fort Rock State Park.

Wild flowers were in bloom.

This next picture of Kerry gives you an idea of how large a formation Fort Rock is. You can see trails on the far side and farm land reclaimed from the desert on the prairie below.

"Tilley the mountain dog" and I much prefered the shade on this hot day.

"Marc the mountain man" with me below.

Marc and Kerry, and ("oops, must have slipped") Marc driving his mother crazy.

On to Summer Lake...Various views of the Summer Lake Inn, cabins we stayed in and lounging on the deck.

Looking...Summer Lake at Winter Ridge...Winter Ridge at Summer Lake from Fremont Point...

...and of course the "cute couple" still married after a year.

The evening before we left for home we were gifted with this gorgeous sunset over the lake.