EKjourney Backup

Mustard Field revisited.  We went to my parent's for a birthday celebration and I just HAD to photograph the mustard field again in the evening lighting with the amazing clouds.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time! Aren't these colors spectacular!

My favorite kind of day....big puffy clouds, blue blue sky, and dark ominous clouds on the horizon hinting at a brief rain shower, the possibility of rainbows, and storm lighting!

We have been so busy this month of April and I am looking forward to a less busy/more time at home May.  The children finished homeschooling co-op for the year, the last swim lesson (of a 10 week program) ends on Monday.  Awanas only has the awards banquet left.  That leaves piano lessons and finishing up the homeschool year and then summer time! Here is a little catch up, post Bend trip!  We spent the following week diving back into school and then little by little catching up from being gone and camping.  I really must keep in mind that a weekend camping adventure is several days of preparation followed by several days of unpacking and catch up!  Now that we have our new camping trailer, we are going to put together our camping kits so I don't have to pack the kitchen and bedding!  This should make it a little easier.  Garage sales here we come!  Can't wait to treasure hunt for our camping kitchen.  Can't wait to find lovely soft plush...

Several months ago, we booked two cabins at LaPine State Park for an early Spring vacation adventure with my brother, Tina, and cousins.  True to form, we had 3 children with coughs and snot and my nephew was too sick to come so it was only Tina and Zell that were able to join us.  We were determined to make the best of it and I packed and prepped all week for an early Friday morning departure (that ended up being a late departure).  We first, stopped by Clear Lake for a 5 mile hike around the lake.  I will say the brilliant colors that we normally see were just average under the gray skies and the very early Spring buds.  I was a bit disappointed because I have seen Clear Lake in its Summer sun beauty and Fall brilliance. The Oregon Grape was just beginning to bloom. Oh yes I do stop to take a photograph of emergency potty stops along the trail. The trillium were also just starting to bloom. We could see the bridge (below) even from a couple miles away.  I...

Tina and Zell arrived late Friday night and we met up first thing Saturday morning for breakfast and then packed up lunches for a day of anticipated adventures....turns out everything was "closed for the season".  The roads to Paulina lake and the Newbury Volcanic Monument were all closed despite no snow pack and clear dry roads.  Despite our best efforts of taking old logging roads way up in the wilderness (in which I informed Phil that my idea of adventure included a lot more cafes), we were unable to make our way to the viewpoints and obsidian hikes that surround the lake.  We did stumble upon a wonderful little campground that we are eager to stay at this summer!   Pancakes, fruit compote, and whip cream!   McKay Crossing: Baseball in the icy cold.  It was gray and kept spitting snow but the children ran around and played pine cone baseball.  I kept dreaming of a warm summer day and a chilly night around the campfire in our new tent trailer (more t...