I got way behind on my blog.  And the longer it went, the harder it has been to get back here!  So much has happened and SO MANY photos! I am going to do my best to catch up and not post too many photos. 

March started out with a blood drive.  I have wanted to donate blood for years, especially the years when I was volunteering for the Red Cross.  I just never seemed to have the time when they were there to do it.  Since Jessi had donated a few weeks earlier, it was time for another donation, so I signed up and went with her.  I didn't know that they were going to look at my blood for Covid reasons.  It showed that I had plenty, so I knew my vaccine was working.  I also received a nice little text telling me exactly where my blood went.

I bought a really nice camera.  One that I have wanted for years, but just never could justify getting.  With our upcoming trip to Africa, I decided now was the time to splurge. It was a tough choice between the zoom lenses.  The one I thought I wanted was HUGE!  and it was heavy.  I decided to go with one that doesn't quite zoom up as close, but at least I know that I will get plenty of use from it after we get back from the safari.

Here is one of my first shots.  I love the detail in the focus.

So we took of for two weeks to stay in Florence, Oregon.  I love that little beach town. The bridge, the shops, the restaurants.  And for the first time, we were able to find the dunes.  We have looked so many times, but only found ones that were covered with grass or messed up from 4Wheelers.  This time, we did it!

They were as amazing as I hoped they would be.

We took a walk on the beach almost every day, but not always the same beach.

  

Some beaches were sand, others rock and this one beach was full of sand art.  God made art.  I was in awe.  I am posting a ton of the artwork because I just can't narrow it down to just a few. 

Those little heart rocks were there.  Really, I didn't add a thing. These creations were not just tiny little things, no they were giant sized.

Pretty incredible, huh?

We drove up to Newport and saw the seals.  There are more seals there than I have seen before. A little rock island is there that I don't remember and it was covered with them.  I cracked up at the one in the lower right photo.  He went back and forth like that with one flipper always above the water.

A first for me to see was these gorgeous Scoters.  There were a lot of them.  I don't know why I have not noticed them before this trip.

The weather was mostly sunny but a little chilly.

A little lake close to where we stayed.

The Florence Bridge.  I always love shooting it.  

We took a hike along a river.  It was one of the flattest easiest hikes I have ever done, but wow, the sights were breathtaking.  So many waterfalls along the way!

A few sunsets and then it was time to come home.

We came home to this jewel in the mailbox.  I actually had to hold back tears when I read the opening line. Josh sent me a letter from bootcamp.

We had a few days with the grandkids before we planned on taking off to see the California grandkids.

Well, believe me, I didn't post near as many photos as I had intended. 

February brought snow.  A lot of snow.  I had plans to stay with the Veras kids while their parents got away for their anniversary.  John delivered me to their house.  And then it started snowing, so much snow that the next morning, it was decided that they cancel their trip.  It was so much snow that John said that he wasn't going out to get me. That was just fine with me!  We had so much fun sledding and playing in the snow!  For five days!

The California Dixons had a snow weekend too. Just not with us.  I sure wish we could have all played in the snow together. 

We had our second shot and John was able to get his first.  We waited the 2 week time and celebrated with lunch at Salty's.

We had the kids overnight and went for walks.

This is a pointing tree.  The Indians used them a long time ago to point the way to trails and such.  This one is at an old home in Troutdale.

Across the road, the neighbor has some pretty fancy yard work made from trees too.

We have all been keeping a close eye on the Fox Marine pages.  It was pretty exciting to spot Josh in training.  Rachel captured a screenshot of him for us.  Since then, we have all been scouring the photos for more.  

I am pretty sure that is him, don't you agree?

I didn't get anything posted in the past few months.  Not because I didn't have anything to post, but because it has been just too hard to post without decent internet.  As I have said in previous posts, the lack of internet has been the biggest frustration since setting out in my trailer.  So here it is, April and we are in California at Dennis' place and I can finally take the time to catch up.  This post takes me back to..

JANUARY

Because of the pandemic surge, we held off with our planned trip, south to California, then east to Florida and up the east coast to where we left off on out trip last fall, then cross back over the lower mid states.  

Well, it took 3 extra months and being fully vaccinated for us feel safe about hitting the road again.  I talked John into leaving the trailer for his birthday.  We went to the Salishan by Lincoln City.  The restaurant was closed, but we could order room service.  Housekeeping was only allowed to our door to deliver fresh towels.  A few places in town were open for eating.  We walked the beach and it was even sunny.  We hiked to Drift Creek Falls.  I mostly wanted to hike there in order to see the suspension bridge, but the falls was extra special too!!  

Way last spring, the girls went with me to pick out yarn for me to make them a cape.  Josiah also wanted me to make him a gray sweater.  I loved having a project as we traveled to fill the spaces when the internet was so awful while we traveled.  I finally managed to finish them all and delivered them to the kids.

We took the kids for a hike to the Columbia River.

One of the biggest events of the month was getting our first vaccines!  Jimmy's home asked me if I wanted one along with him and I said yes.  Then I asked if there was a chance my parents could get any of the extra shots.  We were so happy that we were all able to get one.But for my parents this was HUGE!  They had been totally secluded since last March.  My kids qualified for theirs for either medical or education, and Cyndi and Dan received theirs because of using their plane for Angel Flight. Here are a few of us.

Here are three of the birthdays that we celebrated this month. John, Johnjr, my Dad, Emily, Ariel too, but didn't get photos of them all.

For Joshua, the biggest event of the month, most likely his whole life was his leaving to begin his Marine training!!! He flew out and had to do a 14 day quarentine before the actual boot camp began. Graduation is in April and we are all hoping that it opens up to the public so we can share in his acomplishment. 

So proud of him!!!