Rainbow on the Alsea

One of the many beautiful scenes that I have been lucky enough to witness on the Alsea River. I was glad that Jered was with me, because I forgot my camera!
We had just returned to the car from a rather short hike up forest service road 58, when the down pour began.

This quiet one way bridge gave us the most perfect view!

The Canadians Are Coming!

Last week I had the pleasure of getting to go to the big city of Salem for a meeting! The trips are usually fun (I love getting to go out for dinner). This time I had to go to the meeting by myself, so the drive was a little lonely, but everything turned out great. I got to decide where I wanted to stay, so I chose the Holiday Inn express, which is right next to Costco (the whole reason I wanted to stay there).

So before I went shopping at Costco, and got a huge slice of pizza for dinner (at Costco) I though I should go for a quick jog to burn off some built up meeting energy. I appear to get lost everywhere I go, so I took it easy and headed off on a "main" road. I was going to go straight down and back, I didn't see then there would be any way I could get lost.

So off I go......I get across a little bridge and a block down and I run into this crazy scene!!

Yes, that is two nutria, hanging out with Canadian Geese! I stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn't believe my eyes!! Is this what happens in the big city?? Then it gets crazier!!.......

Some baby Canadian Geese appear!!! OMG they were so cute!! I must have stood there for five minutes before I decided to continue on my run. I only made it a few more blocks down the road before I made myself turn around and go back to my hotel for my camera (don't take the camera jogging) and made it back before they were all gone.

Something in that grass has to be good! The geese thought I was strange, along with the fifty or so cars that went by in the few minutes I was out there snapping shots.

More curious geese attempted to make it over to this "magic grass" and almost lost their lives in the middle of the highway. All four of them made is successfully though!

I got a little nervous here.....It turns out that I am afraid of geese, so when they started walking toward me, my heart started pounding and I started walking backwards. I wasn't sure how aggressive these birds were, but I wasn't about to find out on my own.

Seriously though, how cute are those babies! They were huge too! Almost as big as Seagull.

They didn't come after me in the end, just headed toward the water for a bath or something.

The nutria was not as scary, so I got a close up of him (or her). They are so cute, even though they look like rats!

So this ended up being one of my most exciting trips to Salem ever! And the pizza from Costco was wonderful! I did get a grease stain on my shirt from attempting to take a bigger bite than I could chew, but that is a whole different story.....

Birds of Eckman Lake

Another evening of kayaking on Eckman Lake! It is one my favorite new things to do. Although we have paddled clear around the lake a few times now, it is still exciting to see all of the wildlife that the lake has to offer.

I am totally flabbergasted that these two nests are so close to one another! The one on the right, I think is an osprey nest. We saw it fly in with some more sticks, but I am not a birdologist, but I thought it was an osprey. Even if not, it is some sort of hawk thing. Then in the nest to the left, lives some little black bird (looks smaller than a crow). Little blackie just hangs around the nest and doesn't appear to be intimidated at all that there is a huge predatory bird just inches away! Nature is amazing.

Santos on the run!

Man, this kid just won't stop growing! He thinks he can fit into big people shoes now too. There used to be a baby gate right in front of where he is standing, but it retired just the day before when he figured out how to open it. So exciting! (Not really for the parents:)

At least he will still say "cheese" when I want a picture of him!

Being Eleven Isn't So Bad

It just so happened to be sunny the very next day, so we went out to experience what the world had to offer an eleven year old puppy!

That is sea foam, not slobber!

She was running around like she was five! Walking by, I wouldn't have guessed she was a day over six!

Daisy and Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

Happy Birthday Daisy

Then it was Daisy's turn to have a birthday. She is now a ripe old eleven years old! That is 77 or 88 (can't remember) in dog years. Way older than my mom, who just turned 60!

It was really rainy on her birthday, so we spent most of the day inside. I don't think she minded. By that age, I think she is happy to just walk to the mail box and back. We saved the energy for a sunny day.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

We went to Canyon Way for Mom's birthday, (also her favorite place). We had a blast, and I think she did too!
Steven got her the coolest glasses! So appropriate for the day!

Ashley seemed to think it was annoying.....:)

Steven was surprised and angry.......

Just kidding, we were all super happy to be together. We all got home made cards from my mom for her birthday! That is the best thing ever, getting presents when it is not your birthday. SOMEONE may have gotten a new fancy apple computer that came with a card making program!!!!??