Couldn't Resist...

P.S. - The Thunder Eggs are in the "Stow n Go" of the van... pictures of the rock collection will have to wait until we get home and unpack. Look for those next week!!

Thunder Eggs

Bud has wanted to dig for Thunder Eggs since... I don't know. Seems like FOREVER. So, for his birthday, we gave him a pair of gloves, a small shovel and a piece of paper that talked about digging for Thunder Eggs.

I think that he got the idea that we were going digging!

Thunder Eggs are the "state rock" of Oregon.

You have to work to get them chipped out of the ground with a pick axe (one should wear protective eyewear, but mom's sunglasses will work in a pinch!)

We went to a "fee site" where there were dig areas that were regularly excavated and turned so that you didn't have to dig so long to locate a precious "gem." (I could NOT resist the pun. Sorry for that.)

Bud gets his rockhound blood honestly... he didn't fall too far from the tree!

Some people just like the "ting ting ting ting" the pick ax makes on agate.

EVERYONE. I repeat - EVERYONE wanted in on the action!!!

It was time to head out and Pops dealt the ultimate blow... ONLY 3 Thunder Eggs per person to take home (we had filled 2 large blue buckets FULL).

This story will continue with some pictures of what the haul turned out in the end. Stay Tuned! (I have to take everyone's pictures with their precious items!!)

Shared Secrets

I am so glad to report that I located my memory card reader for my camera!! How smart I was to slip it in my camera bag... I do NOT remember doing that, especially since it was in the wrong place. Someone must have "helped" me out - and it worked!! On to the story...

When my folks drove home this past month, they took a "short-cut" that turned out to be longer than expected (Atlases do not always show all the twists and turns that abound on mountain roads like the turns might be shown in a flat-lander state!) But, their effort to try a scenic short route was rewarded with an unexpected scene that they recommended we see, too!

And what a scene it was!

This is as we got closet to the "rock pile" in the above photo...

The girls insisted it was a castle!!

A storm was brewing and the girls were nervous nellies about the lightening in the distance, so we had to hurry... and I didn't take NEAR as many pictures as I would have liked to.

There were large viewing windows and many small holes to look through that showed mountain peaks with their names... SO COOL! I would love to go back through on a beautiful clear blue sky kind of day to really look them over.

Two of the Three Sisters Peaks "North Sister" and "Middle Sister"... Blossom thinks the third sister died.

At the top of the observation tower is this dial of sorts that points to and names the peaks in the distance.

Later, as we continued on our journey, we were treated with this spectacular sunset!! As we drove out of a fire singed forest, the sky gave the illusion that the fire was still raging in the distance. Breathtaking.

My Daybook, Entry #42 - Happy Birthday, Bud, edition!

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, Sept 14, 2010...

Outside my window... noisy college aged golf tournament kids.

I am thinking... my "baby" turns 9 today. That isn't really possible, is it?? I don't have all my old pictures, so I can't do a review of how he has grown over the year. NEXT year, he will be in teh double digits. YIKES.

I am thankful for... Bud's amazing mind and how it challenges me!

From the learning rooms... oh, boy! oh, boy! We are on a wonderful great cool field trip this week!! Homeschooling is so fun and rewarding when you want to go away to do something and you can add in things along the way that are amazingly educational and fun and you chalk it up to a field trip ... week!!

From the kitchen... not much of anything since we won't be home! But, plans must be made none-the-less!

Tues: need a birthday cake/cheesecake/cupcake/pie... something!

Wed: there is a steakhouse in eastern Oregon that serves Nebraska Beef. I want THAT!

Thurs: We'll be finding rodeo food.

Fri: on the road ...

Sat: dinner with friends - hoping that Anthony's fish place is in the cards for us while in the Seattle area!

Sun: Brunch with Pops' aunt and uncle from Nebraska

Mon: Uh, maybe I'll remember how to thaw ground beef!!

I am wearing... Hatley pajama pants. They are pink with brown horses running. They are well loved. I need a new pair, but they don't seem to make this print any longer. Boo Hoo.

I am creating... fun memories with my family (we had a late night DQ treat last night at 8:50 pm as they were about to close.... got in just under the wire!)

I am going... to be a GREAT sport for all this travel about business!

I am reading... for Book Club - The Thirteenth Tale by... Diane Setterfield.

I am hoping... to have a successful dig tomorrow.

I am hearing... hotel noise.

Around the house... laundry done. Girls' room is clean and has fall clothes. I need to put some away so there are fewer choices, though. I tried to stick to the plan, but allowed too much. Need to pare down, more.

One of my favorite things... baby scent.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Thunder Egg (Geode) Hunting, John Day Fossil Bed exploring, attend the 100th year of the Pendleton Round-Up, visit friends near Seattle, Pops' and one or two treekids attend the Husker game vs. the Washington Huskies, Meet up with family for a quick visit... I think that is plenty!

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.