Tam’s Think Tank

Pups, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The pups love camping. Weston is on his lead here, but he got to be off of it. They both did. They were worn out by the time we got home. Two hikes in one day just about did the little souls in. They made it though, and actually wanted to go to bed that night. Pretty funny.

The Four of Us, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Here we all are. Sandy, Vicki, Karen (via the glasses), and me. You can’t see us very well really, but you can. Sandy would be the one hamming it up. You can barely make us all out, except Karen of course, who’s glasses and head came out quite nicely.

Dinner, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

No need to elaborate on this much. So tasty. Nothing like eating food cooked over a fire.

Potato Oven, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Mostly we ate at Vicki and Sandy’s cabin. Sort of cheesy as camping goes, but easy. One night, however, we decided we needed to cook at our campsite. The menu… baked potatoes, in the fire, steak cooked on the fire, and corn on the cob, also cooked on the fire. The gnats were gnasty… LOL… but it was a great tasting meal. Add a beer and it was down right splendid.

Ponderosa, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

It’s amazing in the Camp Sherman area of the Metolius. I love it there. My family went there nearly every year for awhile when I was young. I learned to fly fish on this river and loved every moment we spent there. Being there as an adult brings back all those great memories and the feelings associated with them. Fishing the river with mom and Kev,  Bill teaching me how to fish there, floating down it on inner tubes, catching fish and flopping them up onto shore right at my grandparents feet because I was small and didn’t have a net, freezing after spending too long in the cold water, sniffing the vanilla smelling goodness of the trees, exploring the area in the car with the family singing those crazy Bill songs, eating ice cream sandwiches purchased at the store… the list goes on. For me this is one of two apexes of happiness of my childhood. This place, and the farm my grandparents lived at when I was a kid, are tops.  What great warm memories. What joy. What happiness. I love the Camp Sherman area. I spend time there and not only enjoy the moments I have now, as an adult, but I remember all the good things about what it was to be a kid there. It’s a wonderful feeling every time I go.

Riverside Site, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I’ve been remiss. No blogging out of me for quite some time. I could go on and on with excuses, but I won’t. I will just dive right back in and do a monster blog summing up the last couple of weeks in our lives.

We went camping at the Metolius with our friends Sandy and Vicki. We went over on the 20th, grabbed a site at the Riverside campground, and our pals checked into the Lake River Resort or Lake View Resort or well, you get the idea.

This was our campsite.

Hunting Chipmunks, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

The mighty chipmunk hunters in action. Sticking their heads in the very hole those pesky chipmunks were sticking their heads out of a second ago.

It’s Here Somewhere… I Know It!, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Weston loves to chase chipmunks when we go camping. He always corners them under someone’s car. It’s cute. His tale, all curled forward like that, and him down on his front paws is called play stance. He was in it a lot at Davis.

Wow.  Busy.  That’s all I can say.  We just got back from camping at Davis Lake with family.  We were there four days.  A good time was had by all, including the pups.  On Saturday, before we left for the camp ground, we attended the wedding of one of my closest friends.  I acted as official wedding photographer and was honored to do so.  These two have been through quite a bit and after being together twelve years they decided to tie the knot.  It was a lovely ceremony.  Very emotional.  I cried like a baby.

Once we got back from camping on Tuesday we watched as our bathroom addition project got off the ground on Wednesday.  Excavation started and foundation work in underway.  Very exciting.  Tonight… a concert at the zoo.  Tomorrow… inner tubing the Sandy River with friends.  It’s been a long time since I went tubing.  Can’t wait actually, should be fun.  It’s supposed to be hot.  Hot and tubing go hand in hand.

That’s life right now… loads going on.  I’ll be posting some pics of the addition progress soon.  As well as photos taken during the wedding and the camping trip.  Patience people… there’s only one of me and only so much time in a day.  I have to sort of fit work in there somewhere.  After all, they’re still paying me.

A Room With a View, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

From this hour I ordain myself loosed of limits and imaginary lines.       -Walt Whitman

Our View, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We had such a great time camping with the HSWH. We loved hanging out, spending time, and getting to know Don’s kids and their families better. They’re such great people and we’re thankful they invited us along and let us in on the annual camping trip. Thanks so much to Mom and Don as well. You two are amazing people and we love you both very much. Also… the Kevster, and getting to ride down the river on the rubber raft with you… very fun, sort of. Bet you’re still wondering why you agreed to come along on that little sojourn. And, lastly… Weston… he was such a great little guy on this trip. He got to be off his lead quite a bit and he handled himself like a little gentleman. He never really ran off, and he was so good around the kids and in camp. He also got to make friends with Luke, which I think, after much sniffing, he liked very much. We’re lucky… he’s a really great little guy, a guy who had a spectacular time. In fact, he had such a great time it took him two days of sleeping, a lot, to recover.

Now, we’re home again, back at work, doing our work thing… but it was so good to get away, relax, enjoy the peace, enjoy the company of great people, and just be for awhile. Camping is good. I mean, what could be better than nature, quiet, a slower pace, long days, and simplicity.

Chai, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Karen made chai, of course, and used this HUGE cup that Kev brought along. This thing was big, and Karen was one happy girl.

Biscuits and Gravy, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Camping with Mom and Don is amazing. Someone says, oh, I’d like biscuits and gravy and whallah… biscuits and gravy. Not to mention the sausage, bacon, and good camp coffee that went with it.

Morning, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Sunday, the last day, I woke up earlier than I had been and was able to catch the sunrise and the mist out over the lake. It was quiet, and absolutely stunning.

Sunset at Davis Lake, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Our last evening brought us a fantastic dinner of ribs cooked over a fire, cowboy beans heated up on the camp stove, and a beautiful sunset.

Kevin and Karen, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Later on Saturday Karen and Kevin took the kayak back down the river to the lake to explore and paddle around a bit. I think Kev liked it.

Perched, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

I took some random shots while we were at Davis Lake. This is one of them. I loved how this log was just sort of perched there, bleached out by the sun.

Mom and Me, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

On Saturday Mom and I took the kayak for a spin. We went out toward the main body of the lake, then turned around and headed up stream with the intent of taking the kayak back to the camp site. We almost made it, but couldn’t quite get passed the last turn and the last stretch of stream before the camp site. We paddled with all our might, but kept getting pushed backwards and toward the bank by the current. Karen said she could hear us laughing before she saw us. I ended up getting out of the kayak and pulling it the rest of the way to shore, with mom inside paddling to help me along. We had a really great time.

Orange Fire, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Friday had us hiking around enjoying some of the beautiful wild flowers, trees, and scenery in the area.

Bald Eagles, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Sunset our second night at Davis Lake was beautiful and made even more so by the two Bald Eagles sitting watching over the area.

Our First Dinner, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

All I can say is… Yum! There’s nothing like steaks cooked over a fire. Add garlic, and presto… fantastic main course.  Made especially tasty by the fact that we were exhausted and sore from kayaking.

Down Stream, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Thursday, our first full day camping, Karen and I decided to take the little mister along on a kayaking trip down this river, out into Davis Lake, and all the way across… then back. It ended up being a three hour trip and by the time we got back to camp we were a couple of sore muscled babes.

Native Resident, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

These little guys were everywhere. They tortured Weston. He would see one and take off after it, cornering it under our car or up a tree. He had great fun, though he never did catch one. Thank goodness.

First Meeting, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Weston and Luke saw each other for the first time under controlled circumstances. They’d actually met before this, but that was a while ago, Thanksgiving I think.

Summer Flowers, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

We left our place last Wednesday, July 16, after work at about 6:00 PM and pulled into the Davis Lake campground at about 10:00 PM. Nothing like good music and good company to take a person down the road. We got to Davis Lake, set up our tent, blew up our air mattress, threw in our sleeping bags, and then chatted briefly before heading to bed.

The next morning Don took me out to see this little batch of flowers growing in this old stump in the water. Very pretty.