Sightseeing with the Bowmans

Going to McMinnville again!! Here we are entering the highway from Surf Pines. We left at 8 am this morning and it was foggy with the sun just breaking through. Most of the photos are taken through the windows of our moving car.


I love the way the sun looks through the fog.


We were on Hwy 26 heading towards Portland. There were pockets of fog everywhere.


It was sort of eiry and spooky.


The higher we climbed the foggier it got.


Blue sky is visible above the dissipating clouds.


A logged over area of woods is in the forefront. You can see stumps and fallen trees.


All alone.


The woods are beautiful in the mist.


Other people are here.


We had to follow this guy until the highway formed a passing lane.


The sun is breaking through the clouds.


A winter landscape.


A pastoral scene on the way to McMinnville.


I wish I knew what type of tree this is, so perfectly rounded.


The tree in the Tillamook Cheese factory. We bought cheese curds and fudge, and ate some clam chowder.


The famous Tillamook cheese factory.


Unusual cloud formations above the cheese factory.


The smoke stack of the old lumber mill in Garibaldi where my step father worked part-time when he wasn't fishing.


This is where I lived from age 7 through 17 in Garibaldi.


The view at sunset from the highest point on the highway on Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain.

Just Sightseeing

The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see. The other side of the mountain was all that he could see.


We decided to take a back highway home from Seaside, wound around and up and over the mountains and ended up lost in the boonies.


All the houses looked like they were built in the 1930's and 1940's--right out of my childhood. I was born in 1939.


Astoria looked different from this part of Young's Bay.


The next day when we were done shopping at Fred Meyer, the sky cleared up after sprinkling all morning so we decided to check out the sunset at the beach.


This beach is actually called Sunset Beach. It was a minus 2 foot tide so the clam diggers were out.


Their sacks looked pretty empty to me. I don't think the razor clams were cooperating. DeWayne and Tiffany tried it without success several months ago. I doubt if we will get clamming licenses this year.


The sky and sunset were beautiful. I took so many pictures!


Another photo.


And another.


And another.


I told you I took lots.


It is getting pretty dark and the sun is dropping behind the fog bank.


Getting ready to load up the horses after a day at the beach. I'm jealous. I always wanted to go riding on the beach. I get to add that to the list of things I won't ever be able to do:(


Heading up Sunset Road a half mile to the right turn for Surf Pines and home.

Thanksgiving 2007

Since we don't have any family left in Oregon, I signed up to have the missionaries over for Thanksgiving so we would have company. We miss the holidays in Las Vegas when most of us could see each other sometime during the day even if we had to share you with you in-laws. We hope you all had a nice day spent with your loved ones.

Here we are (I'm taking the pictures). From left: The missionaries, Rhiannon, DeWayne, Ryder, Tiffany and Racer. We cooked everything from "scratch"----Turkey with two kinds of stuffing (One was with regular celery and onions and the other had added sausage and cranberries), gravy, mashed potatoes, candied yams with orange zest, green bean casserole with water chestnuts, corn on the cob, relish and pickle trays, rolls, and cranberry juice/ginger ale punch. I made two pumpkin pies with home made whipped cream and a Marie Callendar Razzleberry pie (the only thing prepared). I chopped all the onions and celery and prepared the vegetables for the relish trays, and DeWayne and Tiffany did the turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, and side dishes. Tiffany set the table while the kids and I entertained the missionaries until dinner was on the table. DeWayne and Tiffany cleared, put food away and did the dishes and I went upstairs for a long winter's nap!!


Racer is demonstrating an alternative method of eating pumpkin pie.


It's a messy method.


Racer and Ryder acting like typical boys.


Even if they fight they get along some of the time.


And let's not forget Rhiannon. She painted a whipped cream mustache so she could join the fun and get her picture taken, too.

Oh, Brother--What's Next!

1) Got a phone call from the dermatologist saying the spot on my nose is a Basal Cell Carcinoma. You know--the spot that looked like a skin colored wart that I cut off with my cuticle scissors, that didn't heal in three months. So I will spend the day in Portland while they do Mohs procedure.
They cut off what they think is enough, do a frozen section, look at it under the microscope and then if it isn't enough, they come back and cut off some more, over and over until they get it all. Hopefully I have some nose left when they are done.
2) Got a phone call from the primary care doctor saying my EKG was abnormal, so I went in and found out I have atrial fibrillation and my shoulder surgery is cancelled and I am on Coumadin (a blood thinner) because blood clots form easily in this condition and if it went to the brain I would have a stroke!
I feel like there is a little black cloud hanging over me and I wish it would go away!

Tiffany's Birthday

Tiffany, the lifeguard and swimming teacher, on her 28th birthday.


Rhiannnon is on top, Megan is below her, then Racer is below Megan, and Ryder is in front. Buck is to the right of Tiffany.


Tiffany is modeling her Nike jacket, shirt and pants.

Tiffany turned 28 this year and we had a party for her at the house after Church on Sunday. We got barbequed chicken, cole slaw, mashed potatoes and gravy and cake and ice cream at Safeway. Her friend, Buck, came over and Rhiannon's friend, Megan, was also here. Here is the gang.

Racer's Birthday

Racer, the 3-year-old, at Subway. Subway has the only Playland in the area.


Here is the gang. Ryder wanted to be the center of attention.


Ryder's Dad sent him a bike (which we haven't built yet) and he is wearing his new helmet. He thought his birthday was great!

A Doe and Fog on the Beach

This doe appeared in our back yard Sunday and just stood there when I went out to take her picture. She had her baby with her and it was hiding in the bushes.


Her baby was too skittish to walk down in the yard.


In the rainy months of November through April the weather changes many times in one day. This is what it is like to drive on the beach when it is foggy. I have been there with Jen when we could barely see.