Beach Days

 We did something completely out of character for us!  This past Monday it rained a significant amount (over a half inch!).  Since we would not be able to farm for a few days we joined Roni Jo, David and Ryan James on the Oregon coast where they were vacationing!  It was a spur of the moment decision and it was a good one.  So much fun watching Ryan experience the beach and a few other special attractions.  

Beach Baby

Talking about the ocean....

and finding a dead crab.

We took a ride on the historic Oregon Scenic train pulled by a steam engine.  

Funk family photo

Ryan loved the train ride!

Roni Jo and Ryan dug a hole in the sand bank, big enough for Ryan to squeeze in to!

When our kids were little, they visited the Oregon coast several times and stayed with our Portland family, Dave and Therese and Margaret and Rob, at their cabin at Rockaway Beach.  A trip to Flamingo Jim's was a must stop event!  Naturally the tradition continued!!

We took a short hike to see the oldest tree in the Tillamook forest and on the way saw this cool tree covered in mushrooms.  

And Ryan spied a huge slug that was really fun to watch, move ever so slowly to a leaf.  

This is the old and very tall tree.  

Drama in the Sky

 At sunset last night a thunder storm rolled through.  We were right on the edge and only a few drops of rain fell, but the thunder and lightening and the clouds provided the most amazing sky show.  It was hard to choose which photos to include so I did quite a few!!!

Backing Up A Couple Weeks!

 I've been working in the yard these past few weeks, between wind storms and cold weather.  I've never been this late and most of it is due to very cold temperatures.  I still have five roses to prune and have not planted a single garden seed.  Every new year is an adventure!!

Clouds, a windmill, a barn and a chicken house.  Alicia rototilled the garden for me, and it looks great.  Awaiting planting......

This rugosa rose called Flamingo was in need of repair.  I spent one hour working on her.  I hope she appreciates the time spent!

Under construction!

My view as I prune and clean up the east foundation flower bed.  

Grape hyacinth in the bee garden.  The red currant is in full bloom but frost may prevent the plant from producing.  

Camping Part 2

 Sunday was a warm and sunny day, with spectacular clouds building throughout the day, showing off an amazing sky.

Warm enough for David to wear shorts, but the rest of us kept our long sleeves!  We walked the loop and were treated to our favorite views.  There's a wide variety of wild flowers on display, and as previously mentioned, the sky!!!

The Funk Family

And another cute photo of a cute family!

Four generations!

Playing in the picnic grounds spring.

Picnic Grounds

 Goodness, time has gotten away from me!  It's been a long time since I entered a post.

This past weekend we launched the SS Rolinco for a family camping trip at the Mielke picnic grounds.  This trip was originally planned for a late April weekend, but farming and cold weather got in the way.  Anyway we thought, it will be warmer towards the end of May.  Not so much!   We had a grand time nevertheless.  Alicia picked up a nasty head cold earlier in the week (not covid!).  She and Matthew joined us for the afternoon and through dinner on Saturday, but camping in the cold didn't seem like such a good idea. 

A few highlights from our time together.

Roasting marshmallows for 'smores.

So yummy!

Let's go fly a kite.

Never a lack of wind in our region.

Found a nest of ants.  They are so interesting.

Always explaining something.

Climbing a tree!

Made it up to dad, with a little help from mama.  

Chilly Saturday morning.

Driving the SS Rolinco.

We kept a fire going most of the time, for cooking and for warming up.  

  

Hurry up and wait

 This is a hurry up and wait spring!   Last week Alicia and I finished spraying an aid to tillage rate of Round-Up on the stubble ground.  It was a full week before the weather cooperated for one day so that Matthew and Reynald could apply herbicide to the remaining winter wheat crop.   There's still 320 acres to do but they ran out of daylight.  Back to wind and a spit of rain here and there's no spraying for a few more days at least.

As a wonderful consolation to not being able to do the field work that we want/need to do, the sky is giving up some spectacular views!