That Time of Year Again

It's come and gone, yet again, although you wouldn't know it from the store fronts, decorated yards, and the line at the post office. I feel like Christmas is still coming, lurking somewhere around the corner. How can it be over? There's no snow on the ground, there's no swarm of tourists, and I haven't been working for two weeks straight (I haven't been working at all, in fact). It's the first time in four years that's the case and I'm still getting used to it. That doesn't mean there hasn't been any Christmas spirit; Christmas Eve we strolled downtown under the brilliantly decorated store fronts and buildings, and even the Christmas cactus is decked out in festive cheer.
Christmas morning I helped Bubba get started on opening his presents. He's a quick learner - after the first one he unwrapped them all by himself. Two days later only one of those four toys remains whole. Oh, well.

Bubba and Carl all cleaned up for Christmas dinner.

Here's wishing everyone a happy holiday time of year!

Happiness is...

...watching dogs launch themselves across endless miles of beach, then taking off after them to escape a boyfriend with crab-goo-covered hands.

...eating delicious fried goodness in a restaurant packed with retirees (you know it's got to be good).

...laughing until your eyes water and your sides ache and all that fried goodness threatens to reappear.

...walking through a psychedelic wonderland of dazzling lights covering a formal garden, and realizing that Christmas is right around the corner.

...curling up for the night in a yurt and getting woken up at 6 in the morning by a thunderstorm, rain pounding on the canvas roof and thunder roaring overhead.

...getting ready to dive in to homemade, crunchy crispy hash browns and a delicious omelet as big as my head.

...driving up Siuslaw Creek through the driving rain listening to cheesy dance music on our way to meet my parents for lunch.

...listening to my parents squabble over the best way to get to the quilt shop.

...walking in the front door after being away and feeling at home.

Best holiday wishes from southern Oregon! Hope you're happy, healthy, and well.

Ashland/Fantasyland

There's nothing like hopping on your snow sliding implement of choice for the first time of the season to instill a little humility. This morning Carl and I did just that, throwing boots and helmets into the Subie and heading up to Mt. Ashland. Warm temperatures made for some firm, wet snow and our legs reminded us in the sternest terms possible that we've been driving around the country for the past two months on our butts. Great fun was had by all; it's hard not to love a place that's 30 minutes down the road, has no lift lines, and is full of locals. Carl all steezed out in his new gear, enjoying the view.

The past week has been full of gloriously mundane tasks and accomplishments, the kind of things you can only appreciate when you've been deprived of them. Over the weekend we cleaned up the yard, raking up all the fallen leaves, mowing the lawn, and getting our compost bin in order. Downtown is a quick walk up the hill so we perused the shops, did some Christmas shopping, found our favorite bakery, and got library cards. Although they don't allow dogs in the city parks, Ashland backs right up to Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest. Bubba led us on an exploration of some of the 28 miles of mountain bike trails back there, past twisting madrone trees and mystery shrubs with pale green vertical leaves. There are numerous grocery stores in town as well as a natural foods co-op, necessary now that we have a kitchen in which to cook our own meals. After so much time on the road the simple comforts of domesticity are surprisingly satisfying.

I'm enjoying the laid back schedule while I can, because the massage school to which I applied decided to accept me, oddly enough. Starting on January 3rd I'll be a full time student at the Ashland Institute of Massage, learning everything I need to know to become a licensed massage therapist (in theory, anyway). Who wants to come visit me now?

To celebrate my acceptance into school and Carl's new state citizenship we had dinner at the Standing Stone Brewery, our new favorite place. In addition to several varieties of delicious beer, they serve delectable, locally-derived food; I really wish I was getting some sort of kick back for writing all this. Alas, the ten minute walk will have to be consolation enough.

Back in the Motherland

Free at last, free at last, hallelujah, we're free at last! This picture was taken in Nebraska in the aftermath of an ice storm, but the sentiment remains the same. No more waking up, hopping in the car, and putting in 10 and 12 hour days. No more weird hotel rooms, gas station food, or flat boring states. The journey that began 3 pm on October 6 in Ketchikan, Alaska, has finally culminated on November 28 in Ashland, Oregon.

A brief summary of our accomplishments:

Days on the road: 54

Miles driven: 8,903 (not counting ferry mileage)

States visited: 22

Different plates observed: 49 (all but North Dakota - they got absorbed by Manitoba and no one noticed), plus 6 provinces

National Forests: 15

National Parks: 7

Middle fingers given to Carl: 3

Times the truck was in the shop: 3

Dead deer on the side of the road in Missouri: 33 (mostly west of Columbus)

Warmest temp: 75 degrees in Colorado Springs

Coldest temp: -11 in Kalispell, MT

Lowest elevation: sea level at the Oregon coast

Highest elevation: 14,115 ft atop Pikes Peak

There was sun, snow, wind, rain, and ice; we learned that squeaky cheese is delicious, Arizona doesn't observe daylight savings time but the Navajo Nation does, everyone loves Bubba, and WD40 sprayed on an open flame makes a simple yet effective torch. Somehow, after all that, we're still talking to each other. Miracles do happen.

The next adventure is a stark departure from our nomadic lifestyle. Carl went and got himself a real job in White City, OR working at the VA as a recreation assistant. White City is a flat town full of gun shops and ATV dealerships, so we've found a place further south in the hippie haven of Ashland. There are two breweries within a 15 minute walk, a bike trail that stretches all the way to Medford, and a massage therapy school that I am in the process of applying to. Needless to say we're all really excited to be able to unpack our bags and sleep in the same place every night.

Here it is! It's Oregon, so of course it's raining.
The house is starting to look less like the trailer threw up in the living room and more like an actual home. We couldn't resist the spiral staircase.

Looking back at the front door. To the left is a room we've set up as an office and Carl's closet.

Bubba still isn't sure what's going on.
The kitchen has some pretty awesome orange Formica, and the fridge is about to keel over with Carl's magnet collection.
The upstairs loft has storage running down either side; the trippy murals were already there.
Looking down into the back yard. There are raised garden beds, some surviving strawberry plants, and left over garden tools. The garage to the right has a large walled in storage space as well.
And the back of the house. Yes, the blue picnic table came with.

So there it is, the new homestead. It feels weird to be an official Oregon resident again after 8 years of wandering (not that I've ever bothered to change my ID). Not being able to pump my own gas takes some getting used to. We've got plenty of space so if you're ever in southern Oregon feel free to stop on by!