Have you ever wondered?

How does a town become a town (Deerlodge Mt) with a ranch in the middle of the town? The Grant-Kohrs Ranch (a National Historic Site) is still a working ranch giving tours of the house. Original owners walked away leaving everything behind - the inside of the house is filled with tapestries, fine furniture and a lot of history. The town/railroad built around this ranch.

Who maintains the weathered fence posts keeping in herds of cattle? This was an amazing site at the top of the hill overlooking Deerlodge valley - Most of the land you see was once owned by Grant-Kohrs ranchers (over a million acres) with 1000 now deeded to the national Parks for all to see.

How does a 5th wheel get into the forest over a dirt road filled with holes/water damage and deep ruts. this campground (Orofino only 10 miles above Deerlodge) had 3 tents, 1 5th wheel several pit toilets. Getting into the site (2.5 miles was an adventure and the Jeep pretty much fell into the 'rut' above - hidden from site as we topped the ridge. That was exciting. And then.....on a curve/dirt road/in the forest two cement trucks came down the mt (another question....where did they come from, how did they even get in there, and why were they there?) we never found out.

How does electricity comes into your house when you simply turn on a switch? We drove into the mts of Deerlodge Mt today, on a logging road deep into the forest and stood under these towers of electric power going to 'your' home. We pondered how those electric cables were strung from peak to peak over deep caverns/valleys so you can enjoy your air conditiioning, lights, etc.

Deerlodge prison - our next stop tonight and then on to Butte Mt for their National Folk Festival tomorrow (Sat).
Something exciting around every bend of the road.

The amazing world of Yellowstone

what a special time we had staying at W Yellowstone (the town) and venturing into the park every day. Highlights....two young elk playing in the morning mist. The grand canyon of the yellowstone.

a momma grizz with 2 cubs running behind her trying to catch up as she ventured from the open grazeland below into the safety of the forest. they are hidden in the tall grass below but look at the flowers and view!
A walk through the Artist's paintpots - steam clouds surrounded us in the early morning.

numerous spider webs in the trees - with the morning dew and sunlight capturing every detail.

We also enjoyed watching Old Faithfull errupt twice and walked to the surrounding geysers _ Grand and Beehive just in time to see them errupt as well. What a special day!

and on we go....headed sort-a-kind-a toward home. G&G

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

We're sitting in Coeur d' alene ID headed toward WY for Carol's 50th class reunion, the Cozzens reunion and to see my aunt Betty in the cody parade (she will be grand marshall - was a WASP in WWII - yeah Aunt Betty. other than weather we've had an uneventful trip (left Mon). Had an amazing dinner lakeside at a floating restaurant by our RV site.

Left Portland after a whirlwind week.

New baby - Amy/Matt had Demi Lynn on 6/18 - soooo sweet (6#13oz) (Demi is #4 great granchild for us:)

New baby - Karissa/Alex Berndt (my niece) Max Alexander on 6/19 (8# 2 oz?)

Ryan O came home from Dominic Republic 6/19 - will head for Africa 7/26

Attended 2 special events at Good Sheppherd Church hearing about Freedom Congress (ck it out at http://www.freedomcongress.org/)

Joined all of Tanya/Bob's family for lunch on Father's Day (including Ryan/Kealy with twins). Attended service at a SE Portland church where grand son-in-law was a guest preacher - he gave a great sermon.

Celebrated 52 years with hubby dorn (6/20)

We are so blessed - and so - we're on the road again.

Amazing children!

Jadyn - a day at the bookstore with Gr Gma and Nana Terri. Gpa and her making faces for the camera

Playing hide-seek under the rhodendendron bushes - "I see you'

Great grandkids everywhere!

What a wonderful thing it is to be able to watch them grow, learn new things every day. Annabelle & Levi now eating 'food':) Bella just got her first tooth Sunday. Uncle Casey helping feed Levi. We enjoyed a nice sermon by Ryan T where he was guest preacher last Sunday. Twins were welcomed by all and smiled at everyone.

A day with Jadyn (now 2) helping Gr Gma weed in the yard - well she sort of helped (doesn't like to get her hands dirty). I think she was in charge. Gpa and Nana spent am putting a new crib up for her (so soon-to-deliver-sister-Demi will have a place to sleep too). Jadyn/Gma had great fun going for a walk, blowing bubbles, pulling weeds and watching crickets and ants. J now talking in sentences and can pretty much carry on a good conversation - actaully she talks mostly non-stop now.

HAPPY HAPPY Gr Gma

View from our bedroom window - rhododendrons - what an amazing flowering tree. We drove to coast (pacific city) Saturday (followed Terri/and thousands of bikers as they biked there way to the beach). Along the way - we marveled at the wild rhode's in the forest. Oregon is an amazing state at this time of the year with everything covered in bright green spring foliage and trees/bushes blooming everywhere. And then, we appreciate the rain (a bit) that makes all this possible. In the meantime....our days are filled getting RV ready to hit the road when the mood is right AND we're researching/changing insurance companies - now that's a challenge!

later

Life back home

Life is settling a bit now that we're 'home' - The weeds continue to grow but with a few days of sunshine I'm hoping to get rid of them. Back yard is full of blooming bushes/trees - it is good to be in green Oregon. And, on this Mother's Day the sun is shining and life is GOOD. Wishing our daughters and granddaughters a happy Mother's Day. We enjoyed seeing new mommy Kealy (her 1st Mother's Day) and the babies yesterday. Mommy of 2-yr old Jadyn is anxiously waiting birth of Demi Lynn (due June 19).

Arizona carvings

Dorn carved the polar bear and cougar - Gma did the squirrel and flower basket (box) yet to be painted. Gma painted the projects

A few special days with Scout & Tahoe. Scout has a constant shadow companion in Tahoe. She has taught her well! Scout has slowed down while puppy is full of energy and can run as fast to get the frisbee. Puppy hasn't learned to bring it back yet - just play tug-of-war bringing it back. Scout is VERY patient. We'll say goodby to them on Tuesday as their 'parents' come pick them up. Casey has also enjoyed having them here for the 9 days. Scout enjoyed protecting the backyard from squirrels, cats and possums tho she now prefers to monitor it all from the deck rather than chasing them at the back fence.

Enjoying Scout again

HOME - since April 27 and still settling in. And then.....Scout and her new charge Tahoe arrived for a 9-day visit on May 3. She was glad to be here and follows Gpa everywhere! Puppy Tahoe has grown to full-size dog now and they have great fun together.

Now that we've unpacked, washed RV, organized paper work, opened 4 mos of mail----we're ready to hit the road again. Headed for WY mid-June and thankful Casey is willing/able to housesit.

Enjoyed stopping to see Jadyn and twins on our way into town. What treasures!!!

more later.