THE WEEK AWAY

Janice and I along with our youngest son and his two kids got a week away from the homestead. This would not have been possible without our oldest son and two of his daughters. Natasha and Cassandra spent a couple of weeks here prior to our leaving learning how to care for the animals and getting to know them. As you can see below they got to be comfortable with the horses, very comfortable.

 Cassie and Tasha Rode the horses quite a bit while here.

 Bare back was more comfortable!

 Cassie

Tasha

DJ our oldest son and his youngest daughter came and stayed while we were gone. While here he did all kinds of things, keeping busy, that are much appreciated.

We first went down to Lodi California to visit Janice's parents. Janice's mom had a stroke a little over a year ago and we wanted to see them. Lodi is a pretty town although way too many people for me.

 This is the newer Lodi Arch.

 This is the older Lodi Arch, that's been around since before I can remember.

 The old Lodi Train Station is still in use.

This is new to the old station.

We left Lodi and drove to Christmas Valley Oregon in northern Lake county. We had purchased ten acres there a couple of years ago and wanted to get started with a development plan. While there we visited the "Crack in the Ground", which was not only interesting but a welcome relief from the heat which was in the ninety's but a dry heat so not terribly uncomfortable .

 This is where the trail starts into the Crack.

 Janice and Madison at the beginning of the Crack.

 Bobby and Madison down a little way.

 Madison getting deeper, and the temperature is cooling down.

 There were areas that closed in a little.

 Other areas were wide open and at points go seventy feet deep.

 This Crack was through an old Lava flow, so the rock formation was interesting in shape and design.

Our youngest son Jon, felt exceedingly strong that day.

We returned to the motel and went through some pretty country and capped the day with a beautiful sunset.

 The Juniper trees here are not tall but can be quite gnarled, this is a good representation of our property there. 

The trip was a very good one, oh but how nice to be home again!

OK, so I used a couple of old pictures.

SHUTTER BUGS IN THE MAKING

The visit with our grand daughters has been going well, lots of animal interaction, computer games and face book, gardening and oh yes both of the girls have discovered photography. They really like using my SLR and thus far have amassed over three hundred photo's in just three days.
Tasha spends a little more time on trying composition, Cassie will learn. This is not to say Cassie does badly, on the contrary, Cassie has a lot of natural talent as demonstrated below.

Tasha takes the experience much more seriously and really does look at composition with imagination and ingenuity.

I am really impressed, and of course I am not biased just because I'm their grand father.

TWO WEEKS WITH TWO OF THE GRAND DAUGHTERS

This week and next we have two of our Grand daughter's, Tasha and Cassie, here with us. They are learning to do the chores, so that the following week while their dad is here, they can do chores for us while we are gone. The second day they were here grandma and Tasha went on a ride to Frog Lake and on the way down flash stumbled and ran down the hill and then got spooked and started bucking and rearing up an Tasha fell off. Then flash took off up the hill and they both got scratches and bumps. But the good thing was neither were hurt and Tasha got right back on which was good for both her and the horse. The girls like spending time with the animals, mostly the horses.
Dancer was acting very good for Cassie.

 

 

 Natasha was lounging around on Flash.

 Everybody LOUNGING!

 The horses were ok with the girls riding bare back with only the halters on for several days.

 Flash is still a little sore from his mis-adventure a couple of days ago.

The girls also needed some pictures to post to face book.

Thus far the girls have practiced some Piano, and Violin, played a lot of computer games, as well as played with the animals and did the chores. Cassie has been getting a lot of driving practice, with myself and Janice, when we go to and from town. Janice and I love having the girls around.