Travels without "Maddie"

It's now December and I should be writing a "Christmas Letter."

However, I just discovered this post from September that I never sent out, so decided to just go ahead and post it...

I'll add another more up-to-date post soon.

( FYI: To see the full Blog and previous posts, click the "blue" title above)

This year, having sold our motorhome, "Maddie," we enjoyed some day trips and some 2-3 day trips, mostly in Central Oregon, with one trip to the coast.
Here are some pictures to give you a flavor...

Smith Rock State Park

Monkey Face

In early Spring, the river is still frozen in places, but the sun is warm and hike an easy one along the river.
There are steep trails up and into the high cliffs,  but not for me with a meniscus tear!

Smith Rock is an international rock climbing destination, and climbers are on these rock faces all year long.
That is not something I have ever wanted to do!!

I love these old trees and attempt to paint them.

Ancient Juniper tree in the Badlands Wilderness Area
east of Bend.

The following are scenes of the the Oregon Outback.

Unexpected snow covered hills.

The car had never been dirtier.
The picture doesn't do it justice...

This is the town of Post, OR...all of it.

Remnants of old homesteads abound.
Most failed due to the severe conditions.

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is always fascinating, and always different with millions or few birds, depending upon when you go.

Not real, metal...out in the middle of nowhere.

It's actually quite common to run into a cattle drive,
coming down the road, complete with cowboys
anywhere in central Oregon.

Clouds are riveting and spectacular not matter what time of the year.

The John Day National Monument...This area is called the Painted Hills.
The whole area is a geological phenomena, attracting geologists from all over the world.

I continue playing cello with the Quartet and enjoy it more and more. We all agreed to not do weddings, events, etc., and now are focusing on very challenging chamber music that we are enjoying working on over a longer period of time, watching our progress, and bringing it to a level that we feel we can perform it. Then we do a recital! It has allowed us all to rise to new levels, and culminating in a very successful recital in June! It felt wonderful to have an audience appreciate all our hard work! I also play for Taize services twice a month, as well as with a pianist friend. She and I work on a variety of works written for cello and piano.
This year I am more and more conscious of what I am "doing" and why, with the result being that I feel less busy, with more breathing room. It feels better and more balanced. Buddhism and the Enneagram both are very helpful in awakening one to the patterns and habits developed over a lifetime that can be running the show (the personality,) instead of the True Nature or Essence that is who we really are. This, of course, leads on to endless discussion.....

These pictures are here to show you my longer hair!

I have not been painting much, but still enjoy playing with watercolor and now acrylics. If it gets too frustrating I just stop. It's not worth getting caught up in the old patterns of having to do it well. I want it to be fun, and now I find just doing some quick painting in my journal is all I need to do.

These photos were on an early summer hike at Todd Lake, which is only about 30 minutes away from our home.

Nearby Sparks Lake with South Sister on the left.

I hiked up Tumalo Mt. alone and got to this point where I  was above the treeline and could look at Mt. Bachelor. If I'd gone on to the top I would have seen even bigger ones, Broken Top and South Sister, but had to turn back due to an aching hip and common sense...Yea!
Amazing that this is only 1/2 hour away.

 The Deschutes River runs through Bend, and just outside of Bend you can access a trail that runs along it for miles.







The most exciting news of the summer is that my daughter, Lauren, has moved back to the westcoast from Manhattan. She has been in New York for the last 8 years, and now has transferred with her same company to San Francisco.The company has an office in SF. She now is able to work some days from her home office, and other days goes to SF by ferry. It is working out very well, and she loves being in her new home in Fairfax, which is only a couple of miles from where she grew up. I spent 2 weeks with her there in July helping in the search for a place to live, a car to drive (she hasn't had a car in 8 years! and all the other details of moving. She didn't move in til Aug. 1, so this week I will return to actually see her settled in the new place.