Busy Weekend

We went to Seattle to speak with the Bishop from Burundi. He happened to be in town and we thought it might be a chance to impress upon him our sense of urgency. We ended up spending a few hours discussing the adoption and things to expect in country.

Some of the things we learned were that the Bishop is working tirelessly to bring our kids home. (I say ours because we are not the only family with a child in Burundi anymore) However, his wish to help is not always enough. Others are helping, too. There are several ministers and government workers who are working to bring this adoption about. They may not have the same urgency that we do, but things are moving along. The next step is to be able to convince the state department that everything is on the up-and-up.

Other than that, we learned that culture and language differences have been and will continue to be a major barrier. When trying to get the answer to what we thought was a simple question, we ended up having to rephrase and re-word the question several times before we finally found the correct sequence of words to get the answer we wanted. For instance, we wanted to know who was BB's primary care giver. Because the Bishop is in charge of paying for BB's care, his answer was, "I am." It took several times, but finally we arrived at, "Who puts the food in his (BB's) mouth?" We finally got the answer. A young lady who attends a local college. So, one step closer...right?

We ended up staying for dinner and then driving home, where we arrived late.

Yesterday, we had a long slow morning. We ended up going to a local fruit stand. Dagdagan Fruit Stand. They have a delightful stand with a small hay bale maze filled with pumpkins. We bought some gourds and pumpkins and then brought them home to decorate our doorstep...and we my eventually dine on a few of them.

As we drove back toward Yakima to get a few items, we saw the Oscar Meyer Weiner-mobile...I just had time to clock one shot as it rocketed past.

And here is Cora as we walk in toward one of the stores we visited yesterday. I ended up buying a new jacket on Saturday. Cora got new shoes and we basically had a good weekend. I hope the rest of the week continues that trend for us and everyone!

She'll Be Coming Around The Bend...

So, Cora and I thought it would be fun to go to the outlet stores at North Bend and do a little necessary shopping. We went around the house getting ready. This seems to be something the dogs recognize as a change from normal, because Gypsy walked out the front door and jumped in the car.

She does not normally do this willingly. In fact, she often plays dumb when I want her to get in a vehicle. She walks around the vehicle asking me with her eyes, "What are you trying to say to me? I hear words, but they are unclear. Do you want me to stand UNDER the tail gate and wag my tail? Perhaps you would like me to walk all the way around the vehicle? No? Hmmm, let me lay here and consider what you have said with your words and your waving hands. Seriously, you should stop waving your hands at the truck. Why are you pulling your hair out? Are you cursing at me?"

So, when she willingly got into the car, we both chuckled and thought it was funny. Cora went to coax her out of the passenger seat, so she moved to the driver's seat. Here you can see her, plainly ignoring us and ready to begin the drive.

We finally got her out of the car and got on the road. It was sunny, as you can see from the photo above. When we got on the pass, however, the clouds moved in and the rain came. It was with seriously impaired vision that we rocketed down the other side of the pass. And yet, the camera seemed to see more clearly than we could!

We got to North Bend and the outlet stores. We did our shopping (a few Christmas gifts for a certain niece and some nephews, who shall remain nameless) and in general had a great time. I even got a couple pairs of jeans.

I think Cora mentioned it once, but most people don't know that I asked Cora to marry me at Snoqualmie Falls about 11 1/2 years ago. It was actully in front of this tree that I asked her. It was smaller then. And moments later, a hummingbird hovered inches from this branch. There was nothing there for a hummingbird...at least not to our knowledge. It hovered there for what may have been minutes, but was probably only 10 or 20 seconds. We took that as a good omen.

I don't usually hold omens in high reguard, but I have been wrong before. Our marriage has been going strong for almost 10 years. I have put on a few pounds and discovered how to grow facial hair, but, as far as I can tell, Cora has remained the same beautiful, intelligent, caring individual that I asked to marry me eleven years ago. Hummingbirds, though perhaps not capable of remembering the words, do hve good judgement.

Here is a picture of the waterfall.

Here is Cora getting into the car with a smile after I asked her to say "queso." (She likes cheese)

We drove through the torrential rains and made it home high and dry. Below, you can see the sun coming out from behind the clouds as we dropped down into Selah. We came home and it was all DRY!

So, there you have it, proof for those of you who think ALL of Washington is wet...it ain't...just that tiny, insignificant part of the state we all the "West Side." OK, maybe it isn't insignificant...most of the population seems of live there. Still, everyone seems to forget about us folk who live in the deserts of Washington.

Day Trippers

I have been aching to leave the area. I have a hard time staying around the valley for more than a few weeks at a time. Cora kindly acquiesed to go with me on a drive this weekend. We packed a few sandwiches an the dogs and drove up White Pass. We stopped to take some pictures and then continued to Ohanapecash. Which is where we had lunch.

Above is Toby thinking he would rather have lunch than a hug. Below we see the kids watchg out for those horrible chipmunks! Dogs are keepers of the little known knowledge that Chipmunks hope to someday take over the world, and therefore they (dogs) must be on the watch for Chipmunk trickery. Our dogs are super vigilent when in the forest. We feel so safe from those evil chipmunks when the dogs are with us.

We stopped to look at a cool bridge and the stream underneath...the dogs stayed in the truck.

I love the road! I love driving. The scenery was great and the company was pretty awesome, too.

looking down a long valley...

Indian Paintbrush on the side of the road at the top of the pass.

We stopped to see Boulder Cave andtook the dogs. Cora and Gypsy take a break next to a handy downed tree, which made a perfect bench.

Here we are coming out of the cave. I am guided by the dogs...which Greek God was it that travel through Hades? He should have had a couple Hell Hounds like me.

That trail to the cave seems steeper and longer than it used to...I think the Park Service is in cahoots with the chipmunks if you ask me.

All in all it was a wonderful day! Thanks for coming Cora!

Innocuos Adventures Gone Awry!

We all know that I had a close call a few months ago (Read February, apparently I am bad with time, too) when my curiouosity got the better of me. Just before a dinner with a couple I knew in high school I decided to drive up on the hill and see if indeed they were shooting guns at the Firing Center(Duhhh, that's what they do there). I nearly got stuck. I did alot of slipping and sliding around before luck and perseverance got me out of my...problem.

Today was a day off for me. I had the bright idea that I would be able to find a local airplane wreck from WWII. Two wrecks, really. I took my Dad.

One of my sister-in-laws sent me a map of the area in question with a route highlighted for me. I took that route. We got to a point where a bicyclist could have gone, but not my truck. We tried a couple more routes, with identical results.

Finally we drove up to a local Windfarm that lies in the same area. We hoped to drive through their roads to the crash site. No luck. They are adding seven new generators and doing some blasting...which we saw...and so tourists were not being allowed back there.

that's my truck on the right.

So, we found a road toward one of the crash sites that was...shall we say INHOSPITABLE?

SHIT! Someone died here? This grave was four feet from the road! Maybe it was a memorial, but it did not give the driver (or the pasenger) the warm fuzzies.

Prickly situation? Yes, this was just off the most imposing hill I climbed with that truck...using, among other things, my chains!

Above you see the imposing hill I had to climb with my truck...it doesn't look like much, but a two wheel drive does not like 35 degree roads with LOOSE rocks! The roads we travelled today were better meant for Elk!

We saw this herd. Our passage eventually scared up 13 or 14 head of elk, plus a calf.

Here is my dad begging for passage through the windfarm after our extensive trek. Neither he, nor I, was feeling up to a ten mile drive back out the way we had come. Plus, there is no guarantee we would have made it out. Especially since I discovered my rear tires were shredded from an ascent we felt was a necessity. The steel belt was showing!

This is the view from our ingress...

Here is my truck on Windfarm land...

Here is my dad...with his GPS, may it rest in peace...he lost it...we don'tknow where.

Bavarian Blast!

We got up and relaxed. Then we got dressed and headed out on the highway and drove to Leavenworth, Washington. It is about 2 hours away, probably considerably less if some of the idiots we have in this state would stay off the road...that is my roadrage face...I think Cora was attempting to interject some levity. I don't usually have that much of a potty mouth...unless I am behind the wheel. Why in the hell would you drive 35mph on a highway? Next time I go over that stretch of highway, I want to bring anti-idiot missiles!

We got there, and it was beautiful. The weather was in full cooperation and made for a great day! If you are not familiar with it, Leavenworth, Washington has a Bavarian/Alpish theme. It is a tourist town, but great to visit.

Since it is a German theme, we had to have a beer in the beer garden...See how Cora hides her beer? (behind a gorgeous smile)

Mostly we just walked around the shops and bought things.

My favorite was the Hat Shop. What do you think? British Bobby?

Or drunken pirate?

Cora even got into the fun...I think she is a Mongolian Empress.

Or there is this look...I thought it particularly cute!

And after a beer or two, Cora will put anything on...OK, I put her up to it...Hats were fine,

But put her in a candy shop and look at her eyes!

It is a pretty little town. It had a pretty little girl...

Look how she glows!

But even glowing princesses need a pick-me-up...here she is waiting for me to get her coffee from...

During the day we ran into the director of our Adoption Agency. They suggested we try some huge apples sold at a nearby fruit stand...here is Cora walking back to the car.

closer...

Holy Crap! That's Close!

We stopped on our way back and tried to get some pictures of the Fall foliage in the fading light.

We made it home with nary a scratch! Tired. We got some momentos, but mostly just enjoyed each other's company and a fun day away from the house that refuses to clean itself while we are gone. Stupid house.

It was a beautiful day and a beautiful way to celebrate 18 months of being logged in in China.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Carrie!!!!!