Springtime Rambles

Mother Nature has gone out of her way to remind us that we do, indeed, live in Oregon. After a couple tantalizing weeks of warmth and sun, we've settled into a routine of cool temperatures and above average precipitation. While this bodes well for rafting and fire season, my tomato plants are drooping and depressed (kind of like the folks around here). I have no doubt that in a couple weeks they'll all be wishing it was this cool again but for now they're starting to get cranky. The weather just gives me the push I need to finish up my lingering school work, and putter around the garden taking pictures of flowers. I had no idea that chives bloomed.
Both Carl and my mothers identified this vine, and I forgot its name both times. But it sure is nifty looking.
On Thursday Carl had a couple of hot dates at the VA hospital up in Roseburg, and I was able to switch around my clinic schedule to supervise him. They were surprisingly efficient and we had plenty of time in between appointments to get lost in the booming metropolis of Roseburg. Even the GPS was confused about where it was at. We had some delicious Greek food, by far the highlight of the town's cuisine, took a picture in front of the quilt shop for my mother, and flipped through old postcards at the antique store. I found a couple of Mt. St. Helens before she blew, along with some cool old images of Glacier National Park.

We took the long and scenic way home, winding our way east along the gorgeous North Umpqua River. It's famous for its waterfalls, so of course we had to stop at a couple. The first, Tokatee Falls, plunges 40 feet into a geologic pothole before plummeting another 80 feet into the pool below. Check out that sexy columnar basalt...
Next along the line was Watson Falls. Hiking up along the moderate-sized stream we were sceptical of what lay ahead. But like Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge, even a small stream can create something spectacular when it throws itself off a sheer cliff (don't try that at home, kids). We captured this photo using the timer function and a precariously balanced camera on the walkway railing. It only fell once in the process.
The road home swung us by Crater Lake and through some snow flurries. Even though winter's still got a firm hold in the higher elevations, things in the garden are hopefully poking up their heads and the lawn is growing exponentially. The chickens at two months old are halfway there to laying eggs and we're itching for some summer adventures. Three weeks until the Tetons!

Updates from the Funny Farm

7 weeks on and all the chickens are still alive, miraculously enough. They eat a lot, poop even more, and basically carry on as chickens are inclined to do. The ladies have taken up residence in their castle outside and get to wander around in the yard when we're there to watch them. Their newest discovery is the dirt bath: there's a nice open patch in the back corner, and the other day the chickens made it their own, rolling around in the dirt, ruffling their feathers, then looking around to make sure no one saw them looking so ridiculous. Sigh, they grow up so fast...
The only one we can pick out by name is Katie-hole, because she's got the biggest comb and a domineering personality. She may in fact be a rooster, but we're going to wait and see.
Carl's parents, Ed and Nancy, paid us a visit all the way from West Virginia. The boys put up the clothes line, and Nancy helped me identify the mystery plants in the yard and design an arrangement for the garden. Here she is eye-balling the chickens (see, I told you they grew).
Bubba's still not sure what to make of them. They're not sure what to make of him, either.
Speaking of the dog, he's turning a venerable 8 years old tomorrow. He's keeping me company by lounging on the couch snoring, but don't let that fool you, he's really got a terribly tough life. Hikes through the woods, swimming in the creek, a big yard to poop in...yup, poor thing.