Is it Really the End of Summer?

I can't believe that summer is over and fall has begun (although you couldn't tell by the nice weather we have been having). This last week was a busy one at work for both of us but we survived and entered another beautiful weekend. On Friday after work Grover took a friend, Andy Malchert, for an airplane ride from Kelso to Toledo and back. Andy has never been up in a small airplane before and he took 57 pictures of the flight. He will be posting some of these pictures on his blog "Andy & Renee & Boys".

The flag of the City of Chicago flew on our flag pole over the weekend. Grover has had this flag for over 15 years and it has never been flown outside his office. It was probably the only Chicago flag that was flying west of the Mississippi on Saturday and Sunday.

Several weeks ago Grover sold our old canoe because it wasn't a safe river canoe. Saturday morning Grover went with Steve Klump to the end of the summer sale at Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe at Jantzen Beach. They had one of their rental canoes for sale and it is just what we need to hit the river canoeing safely. So Grover bought it and Steve took it to the house on the top of his van (Steve must have figured there would be a canoe purchase because he brought along his canoe rack). Grover will be trying it out on October 11th when there will be a canoeing trip either on the Cowlitz or some river in SW Washington.

On Saturday afternoon Grover and Goni went up to Napavine to Jim and Wendy Pea's 25th anniversary party. Jim was Grover's campaign manager in his run for sheriff in 1994. He works for the sheriff's office in the jail. Ran into some old sheriff's office friends and had a good time. Afterwards Goni wanted to go out to dinner so we went to the Red Lobster in Kelso. Melody & Bruce, Shelly & Tim and George & Jane joined us for the impromtu dinner date.

Wendy and Jim at the Party.

Mike Pea, Jim Pea and Grover. All now retired except for Jim.

For those who don't know it Grover finally got a hanger for his airplane at the Kelso Airport. On Saturday night Goni went with him down to Troutdale to clean it out the old hanger. We will be moving the plane into the new hanger in the next couple of days. It will be nice to have it closer and only 20 minutes from Woodland.

We are getting ready for a garage sale this next Saturday. We are trying to get everything together over the next few days so it is a success. Report to follow in next week's blog.

Old Glory in Our Yard

Last Saturday we were invited by Heidi & Jill to go to the Puyallup Fair. You will have to see Heidi's blog for all the details but a good time was had by all. That included the kids riding some of the kiddie rides and everyone partaking in "fair food". Grover had his annual scone fix so life was good.

While we were walking through the commercial building Grover saw a booth selling flag poles. Grover has been looking at flag poles for several years but just never quite got around to purchasing one. Goni said that it was time to quit looking and start buying so we purchased a flag pole and two flags.

The flag pole is collapsible 20 footer and holds the US and Washington State flag very nicely. Grover strapped the pole to the top of the car for the trip home. On Sunday after church a hole was dug in the front yard and the base was installed. Goni helped get the concrete in the hole and with making sure the pole was plumb.

Grover left for an emergency managers conference at Ocean Shores on Monday. He didn't return until Thursday so we couldn't try putting the flag up until Friday morning (we didn't want to chance cracking the concrete). Friday morning the two of us together put up the flags and everything looks great!

We came home today (9-21-08) from the church retreat and the wind was blowing so here is a better action picture.

August Fun

Labor Day has come and gone and so has our August fun. During August we went camping twice, whitewater rafting, and did a canoe trip down the Cowlitz River. But now it is time for Goni to go back to school and for all of us to get back to the regular life.

Our first camping trip was to Lower Falls. We have been going up there with Pam & Bruce Brown (friends from Concordia University) for 2-3 years now and always have a good time. The falls are beautiful and it is very quiet at night. Laurel & Patrick and Peanut joined us along with Goni's friend Deb. It was a nice weekend of relaxation and talks around the campfire.

Laurel & Patrick above the falls.

Lower Falls is a lot more impressive than pictures show.

Playing cards is part of the fun!

The next weekend we stayed at Cressap Bay on the upper Merwin Lake with most of Goni's brothers, sisters, and other relations. It is a busy boating campground and there is boating noise most of the day while people ski and tube on the lake. It was very hot so we spent lots of time in the water but did enjoy the campfire in the evenings.

Our campsite was the gathering spot for the campfire and the food.

Swimming in the lake was required to stay cool.

Cole and Alex by the campfire with their electronic devices.

A great skyline just after sunset.

On August 23rd Grover went whitewater rafting on the White Salmon River with Noah, Shayne and Drew along with Goni's brother George. The trip was organized by Steve Klump who is the pastor at our old church up in Toledo.

Shayne going over Husum Falls with his crew.

Drew, George, Jane and her kids "getting down" over the falls.

On the Labor Day weekend we went with Steve Klump for a canoe trip down the Cowlitz River. The whole trip started when Grover and Heidi's husband Kurt got to talking about his new kayak. He had never been down a river in it so we organized the trip which included Charity's husband Chris and grandson Noah along with Goni and 15 or so people from the Toledo Presbyterian Church. Afterwards we had a BBQ and plenty of fellowship at Dean and Karen Scott's house in Toledo.

Everyone getting ready at the put in at the Barrier Dam

Kurt's first trip on the Cowlitz in his Kayak.

Goni and Rosalie paddlin down the river.

Noah and Elise playing in the water at the take out at Blue Creek