Nightengale's Christmas Tea

My good friends, Gladys and Taffy, took the "hat challenge" and we attended a Christmas Tea at Nightingale's Bed and Breakfast. The innkeeper is an old friend of Gladys'. There were mimosas to start then a wonderful assortment of scones, tea sandwiches, cookies and chocolate covered strawberries. A local dress shop displayed new fashions. Great afternoon!  . . . and Taffy won a prize for her outrageous hat.

Ready to go

Lost - and found . . .

Autumn in Southern Oregon is a symphony of gold, orange and red. It's wonderful to be in a hiking group that routinely gets us out into nature. For most of a day we are part of an ever changing landscape. Lost Creek Lake is really a reservoir that it painfully low at this time of the year. But,  there is beauty in the bare banks of the lake - and promise that the changing season will bring rain, snow and rebirth.

Lost Creek Lake

Hiking Black Butte

I've always wanted to hike Black Butte, the cinder cone next to Mt. Shasta. With our friends, Gladys and Mike, visiting from Malibu we decided to go with the Wednesday hiking group. It was a rainy morning but cleared up just as we began our assault. Great feeling of being on top of the world as a reward.

At the top with great view of Mt. Shasta

Art Alive - and thriving . . .

A few days ago my good friend, Mary Lou LoPreste, and I drove 30 minutes up to Greensprings, a mountain village near Ashland to visit the renowned local artist, Harriett Rex Smith. She is 93 years old and still painting daily in her cozy studio retreat. Still living alone and driving back and forth to Ashland on mountain roads, she is an inspiration and role model. I bought the print below and will proudly hang it in our home.

Spring Dogwoods by Harriett Rex Smith

Money Matters

My son, Austin King, was recently featured on  a show that airs throughout Southern California and has a much wider reach via the internet. So great to hear his take on national and international investment strategies. Looks like MY investment has certainly paid off - he will be graduating this semester with a masters in Applied Economics! Here's the show: Alternative Lending for Today's Investor

Full Moon aRisin'

We are eking out a few more warm evenings on our deck before we say goodbye to summer. This full moon coming up over Grizzly Peak was spectacular! There was even a full eclipse in the middle of the night.

Peak Experience

Our Wednesday hiking group went on a 2 hour drive up to Crater Lake. Long drive, yes. Worth it? Oh yes! It was a beautiful early Fall day with crisp, cool morning air and glorious clear sunny skies as the day progressed.

At the top of Crater Peak

Morning Madness

At Morning Glory - fabulous hashbrowns!

And so it goes and goes...

Getting ready to pour concrete retaining walls. It's further along than it looks.

Greensprings to Little Hyatt Lake

Beautiful day on the trail . . .

Our Monday hiking group only had to drive 30 minutes to the trailhead at Greensprings. There wasn't too much smoke in the valley from several fires in the area.

At the trailhead

Ongoing process . . .

Kinda scary. Faith and courage needed at this stage.

Future front yard palazzo a gogo du jour con queso

Logan Landscape to be Reimagined

Tomorrow we will begin a landscape re-do on our front entry and side patio.  It's going to be fun to see the project take shape.  Here are a few 'before' shots to help us remember.  Click 'see more' for the rest of the pics.

Front entry from driveway

Stillwater Retreat

We go down to the yurt in the Shasta Valley for some off grid peace and beauty.  Recently we added a cabin tent to make having guests easier.  Even though both structures have stoves, we don't usually go there in winter - just too cold.

The many moods of Mt. Shasta  . . .

Deadfall Lakes near Mt. Eddy

Our Friday hiking group went to Deadfall Lakes near Mt. Eddy about a 1 1/2 hour drive into California from Ashland.  It's amazing how the terrain seems to change and be typically N. CA verses Oregon. It's a beautiful area with it's own personality.

Hike to DeadFall Lakes

Some beautiful scenery near Mt. Eddy...

First Lake

Birthday Bliss

My 69th birthday was a real winner!  Ron orchestrated the perfect getaway to the beautiful Oregon Coast, complete with romantic setting, great food, perfect hike, and even a wonderful massage by a practitioner that came right to our cabin.  Marking the last year of my 60th decade seems almost impossible.  How can the time have gone by so quickly? With celebrations like this, it's impossible to complain.

Our sweet little cabin at Wildspring Guest Habitat

Sunset at the Port Orford beach