Oregon
Now that Tim's in college, when he said he didn't want to go to Oregon, we figured he's old enough to stay home by himself. So we let Angie invite a friend to go. She chose Shannon Russell. She's a sweet girl and was a joy to have along.
Dad and Ken heading off to do a little fishing.
The girls and I went to Silver Falls one day. Love this park! So many falls in a short distance and only about 30 minutes away from Mom and Dad's house.
They had gone ahead of me, but I figured they'd have to pass me on the way back up. Somehow, we missed each other. After searching for them for 45 minutes or so, I found a ranger and asked if they could help me. They called over to the historic lodge (which I had checked at least once) and the girls heard the description of themselves. So they piped in---"that's us!" Scary moment, but fortunately it was nothing.
Also love all the wild flowers that pop up all over Oregon
Another day we took a day trip to the coast. Our nephew, David, joined us. He spent a lot of time hanging out with the girls this trip. They even went to a pool hall a couple times.
lunch on the coast at McDonald's
We spent quite a bit of time in the car this trip. But the girls kept themselves occupied.
For the first time ever, we rented a Yurt in Southern Oregon.
Sort of neat---sure beats camping!
Then we headed to Crater Lake. A long trip from Dallas, so we haven't gone there too many times, but if I get the opportunity, I'll take it.
the lodge at Crater Lake.
the girls making friends.
We didn't go down to the water level this time, but we did eat in the cafe.
and they played in the snow. It was late summer, but there was still snow in the higher elevations. The Crater Rim road usually doesn't open until mid July because of the snow.
We continued South from Crater Lake. I've always wanted to see the Red Woods. I was surprised to see so many before we even got to the California border. That is a BIG tree!
We continued through the Redwoods into California.
Then cut over to the ocean a few miles from the Oregon border.
We don't often get to the Southern Oregon coast---too far from Dallas---so that was a big treat, too.
One little wayside park I like to stop at when we're down that far is Darlingtonia State Park. There's a field of these marsh loving insect eating plants growing wild there. They built a walkway through the boggy field of Darlingtonias.
I love all the monoliths along the Southern coast.
We spent the night in Bandon, Oregon. Love that beach.
What a place to catch sunset!
the girls at one of the wayside parks.
The lighthouse near the sealion caves.
Back in Dallas, the girls spent a lot of time playing on Grandpa's old computer. Those were the days!
We also had our family bar b q.
England
Since Tim was graduating this year, I used that as an excuse to take him (and Angie) on a senior trip. He wanted to go to London and Scotland, and I always wanted to get back there and see where I lived for the first year of my life. So I researched and researched some more (not as easy back then before all the online booking sites). Managed to find an apartment rental near Hyde Park for a pretty reasonable rate of about $250/night. So I booked 4 nights there. Somewhere along the planning, Carolyn was invited to join us, and she did. So we met up with her at Gatwick airport. Then started our fun.
I had researched and found the schedule for the train to London. Only problem was---we ended up a train that didn't go non-stop, and when we got on the next train, it took us back to Gatwick! But eventually we made it to London and transfered to the buses. They have a great bus system. Well marked signs and great bus schedule brochures. We made it to our condo. It was actually really nice, although there was a bar across the street that was pretty loud at night. Fortunately we were so tired it didn't really matter.
Our first venture out was to find something to eat.
our route took us through Hyde Park
Ended up at Hard Rock cafe. I think it was the original one with all kinds of Beatles memorabilia.
Not only do they have a great bus system, but their underground subway system is pretty great, too. We had no problem getting around without a car.
One of the places Tim really wanted to go to was hampton court. We waited and waited for Carolyn. Finally she told us she had a headache and wasn't going---after we waited around for 3 or 4 hours.
But the kids and I still went and enjoyed ourselves.
Very impressive castle!
The grounds were amazing, too.
And it just so happened that daffodils were in full bloom!
can't resist taking photos of my kids!
especially with these surroundings
No pictures were allowed inside. Tim later mentioned that we never saw the King's side of the castle. He should have said something sooner.
Another of Tim's requests was that we made a trip to Scotland. So we hoped on a sleeper train after our 3 nights in London and headed up to Scotland.
So impressive! First stop----Inverness.
We wanted to take a tour of Loch Ness in search of Nessie. We managed to find a tour bus and went straight from the train to the bus---tired, but excited.
It was an all day tour---and well worth whatever we had to pay for it. The lake is huge. We had several stops along the way---a museum, the lake, a monastery,
end even here by a quaint rock bridge.
Then we found a B&B for a couple nights.
Toured Edinburgh castle. Shopped the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Tim bought this nifty jacket there. Angie got a couple sweaters.
After a couple days in Scotland, we trained back to London. Where Angie proceeded to dislocate her knee in the train station. Talk about a scare! Fortunately there were guards there that quickly closed off the stairs and one of them even relocated her knee. Paramedics came and said it looked ok and wrapped it up. Then we jumped in a taxi and headed to the station we needed for a quick trip to Bath.
Some stressful moments ensued there. We hoped to tour the baths, but it was too crowded. So we ended up on a tour bus. By now Tim had had enough of us women! he sat in the lower part of the bus.
After hitting up London for another bus tour, things were looking up again.
We decided to spend the last 2 nights in a hotel by the Gatwick airport and let the kids decide what they wanted to do the last full day---London again, Dover, Stonehenge, ??? They chose Dover. By now we were beginning to get the hang of the trains and buses and made there without a lot of problems.
Didn't do much but walk around, sit by the "beach", and go out to dinner, but it was a good day.
walking through the town of Dover
around Florissant
Back in St. Louis, life goes on.
Jan. and Feb. are cold and snowy.
Activities usually we mainly indoor things, like band conerts---and for me, volleyball 3 or 4 nights a week.
Tim and a couple of his buddies formed a band. They were great musicians, not that great at singing. But they had fun.
I think this was taken at Ken's Grandma's 90's birthday party. MaryAnn with her 5 boys, and Leroy.
MaryAnn and Tim
MaryAnn was widowed at a young age. Jim died of cancer when Ken and I were only married for about 2 years. She worked hard and raised the kids well. I didn't always have a great relationship with her, but I always respected her. After a couple "boyfriends", she and Leroy became a thing.
Cecilia---probably from the graduation party we had for Tim at our house.
just a random picture of Ken and me.
One of Tim's senior pictures. Taken by Prestige Portraits----whom I had just started taking sports candids for. Tim worked on the yearbook and said they didn't get any good sports pictures and that I should get a job with them---so I did---to take sports candids.
another awards night.
Tim and James got their share of awards, too.
Prom night! This time Tim went with a gal named Liz---who wanted to go with him, but actually got a boyfriend while Tim was in France. I thought that was wierd, but tim didn't care. I don't think he was serious about her. He ended up going to 3 Prom that year, I think. Of his group of friends here, the couple 2nd from the left ended up getting married. Tim ended up marrying the girl to his right (causing some rift with her prom date here).
Angie and "the Putz", as we often referred to him.
he did bring her flowers.
Wonder if she can still move her eyes independently!? Use to freak me out.
The school also had a mud volleyball tournie. Angie and her long time boyfriend, Kevin, were on a team.
Tim was on a team, too. James ended up at the hospital for stepping on some glass in the mud.
Graduating day!
of the approximately 450 kids who started McCluer when he did, only about 250 graduated! They blamed it on the "Great White Flight". I blame it on parents.
Our kiddos. We don't have too many pictures of just the 2 of them.
Not sure why we were dressed up here.
on to summer---and the annual UE watermelon festival. Yep, we still went.
Tim was dating the girl with her back to us here. They went away to different colleges. Agreed to date others. On one of his weekends back home he started dating Faith and ended up marrying her. Great gal!
Angie and her Stingers softball team again.
Tim going away to college---he scored high enough on his ACT test that he got a full scholarship to NW Missouri State.
Move in date. He seemed to like it for a couple weeks, then I think he got the love bug and spent more time trying to get back to Faith. Ended up tranfering to UMSL 2nd semester.
Not sure what this was for. I just loved that he still had an interest in piano even after quitting a few years ago. In fact, he said to me once, "Why did you let me quit taking lessons?"
On to Christmas---Faith fits right into our family.
they look happy
Our Christmas family photo
Angie and the putz
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