15 Great Years!

We were able to get away for a couple days for our 15th anniversary this October to Sisters Oregon. We had amazing fall weather. We stayed at the five pines resort with a cabin that backed up to the forest. At some great meals at a couple of places we have not been before that were excellent: The cottonwood cafe and the open door where we were able sit outside on a beauty fall day. Both places highly recommended!

That's not fog!

With all the fires burning in the southern part of the state, air quality is now hazardous. This is the view out our back window putting visibility at under half a mile. The second two picks show the smoke levels across the state. Looks like we will be inside watching movies and playing games on this Labor Day weekend before school starts.

Eclipse 2017!

Bend Oregon was very close to the 'Path of Totality' for the Aug 21, 2017 total eclipse of the sun that was crossing the entire United States.  By staying home we would have seen 99+% coverage, but hey, we were less than 20 miles from being in the direct path.   I thought it was worth it to brave whatever traffic issues there might be to see a complete 100% total eclipse.  Everything I had read also indicated there was a BIG difference between partial and full.  Kelly wasn't so sure, and when I was rousing everyone at 6 am to get ready to drive, she definitely wasn't sure.  

So off we went!  Left the house at 7 am, and took some back roads over to Prineville.  There were lots of people out and set up to watch but no traffic issues...  I had staked out a local park with a grassy field that might be a good place to go.  No camping so day use only, and we got there and it was all clear!  Great spot - big grassy area for the kids to play on until it was time.  We road-tripped over with the Lovejoy's.  Sue (Kelly's mom) was also visiting as was a friend of Abbie's - Aislyn.  

While we were waiting for the event to start we cooked breakfast on the camp stove.  Coffee, eggs, bacon and strawberries.  

After breakfast we started getting geared up for the eclipse.  You can see my elaborate contraption to take a photo with my Iphone utilizing a pair of the eclipse glasses as a solar filter.

Here are a few shots from my Iphone as the Sun moved through partial phase.  As we got closer to totality the temperature dropped - probably 10 degrees.  

Here is a video that shows how it went from light to dark.


We were in the path of Totality for about 1:07 seconds based on our location.  It was so worth it to see the full coverage.  Watching the moon fully blot out the sun through the eclipse glasses, and then being able to take the glasses off was probably one of the most amazing natural events I have ever witness.  Everyone agreed it was amazing.  All the wildlife was off kilter.  No bird sounds and then they started flying around after it started getting light again.  

Here are some shots that do a pretty good job of showing what we saw during totality and just as it started coming out.  This has not filter or adjustments on it.  Hunter actually used the camera and got the cool shots as the sun started coming around again!


BBQ with friends

Sunday night we had the Curry family along with the Delamarters and the Hoerleins over for a good old fashioned bbq. Tina's parents, Ken and Joan brought their ATV's over and gave the kids rides on them around the neighborhood. This may have been the highlight of the evening. We had a fun relaxed evening with great friends.