The pocket pickers

It isn't unusual for me to walk around the house with a pocketful of cookies. It even used to be safe.

Now, they know the silent sound of... the cookie jar lid.

And they line up. They don't line up to gently take a cookie from our hand, but they follow us around the house. Poised and ready.

Carefully at first, the nose brushes by a hand and ever so gently, hoping to go unnoticed it slips into the pocket.

Then, throwing caution to the wind the nose goes after the feast realizing at this point it is much better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

Flo immediately eyes her target.

Not wanting to waste even a minute, she dives in going straight for the treasure.

We've been invaded by the pocket pickers.

Oregon by Greyhound • Upper Butte Creek Falls

The Adventure Upper Butte Creek Falls

Location LAT 44.92389 N LON 122.51222 W

Date November 14, 2009

Weather 32°, Sunny

Distance 33 miles


Let me tell you about my mothers. I'm thinkin' I might just trade them in.

Sure I look forward to my adventures, but I like my weather a tiche warmer. Just because it is warmer where we live, it's different in the mountains. I think the snow on the ground was our first clue.

Wasn't so bad once we got down to the trailhead, no snow... but when the almost outta gas light went on? Visions of hiking 15 miles to civilization made me really nervous. Checked the iPhone, nope, no service. People around us? Nope. Did I have winter wear, you know boots, hats, mittens? Nope.

So maybe this waterfall was beautiful to them, I was worried about getting my skinny butt back to the warmth of my cushion. We made it to the gas station, the moms got lucky, but they had better be a little more aware of that gas guage for the next adventure!





What can I say? Just another beautiful day in Oregon.

Sun up to sun down

Wake-up time around this joint on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays is 4 am. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we're rolling our butts outta bed at 5 am.

Begrudgingly, the dogs file out the door to take care of business. So wouldn't you think that on the week-ends they would enjoy sleeping in just a little later? Nope.

At 5:15 am this morning when I was ready to sell all of them on Craigslist I saw stars. Lots of stars in the sky.

Grab the camera woman and get the coffee in the to go cups, we're off to see the sunrise.

Just five minutes from the house... doesn't get much better than this.


And then, the evening comes. All the dogs find their favorite place to nest including the snugglable Flo.

Nope, it just doesn't get much better than this.

Oregon Greyhound Adoption Event

It's a great season for greyhounds if you are thinking about adopting one.

Along came a spider...

And frightened my greyhounds away.

Ehhh, not really, its cold and they all have their noses tucked. The spider is braver than they are.

What an awesome day off

Captured some color.


Bottled-up a little blue sky.


And basically just hung out.

Notta greyhound

Oops

Behind the scenes

I've captured a couple of good shots this year of the dogs, but I could have never done it without help.

Somebody had to pull a few weeds and turn the pumpkin around.


Somebody had to be at the other end of the leash, picture after picture. And sometimes all of the post-processing in the world could never make the picture.


Somebody would stand at the other end, waving a leaf, throwing a rock and making a series of ridiculous noises. And after all of that, we still wouldn't get cooperation.


Somebody had to humor me when I'd check the weather forecast and shout out "this is where we're going, get the dog." And then patiently wait after I would take picture after picture.


Even in the freezing cold, wet feet, slick rocks... somebody was there helping me with my gear and walking around entertaining the dogs while I would sneak off to take just one more shot.


Somebody is always behind the scenes and for that I want to give a giant thank you to my wonderful bride.

I couldn't do it without her and I wouldn't have nearly as much fun.

Thanks K. Lubs you much.

Flo's maiden adventure

Flo had her maiden adventure today. She was great in the car. She immediately curled up in to a ball and went to sleep.


Of course, smiling for the camera has never been Flo's thing. Ever. So that was a bit of a challenge.

And then, 5 minutes from home she decided she got car sick.

Breakfast, all of it. I never knew until today that
a.) Flo doesn't chew her food
b.) Kibble swells to 5 times its normal size once it has had a chance to lay around in a belly.

Thanks Flo. Next time we'll either wait a little while longer... or not feed you!


It was a beautiful day looking down over the valley.

Just a drippy day

Hopefully today was not a preview to the winter ahead of us.

It was rainy, it was windy. The dogs didn't want to go out. There were no adventures.


Even the resident spider who has carefully re-built her web every morning gave up. She put on her fluffy coat and just hunkered down.

Happy Birthday Budmuffin!

It's my 12th birthday today.

I think I shouldn't have celebrated so much.

Winter in the gardens

What does a greyhound do when it's dark and windy and rainy?


Find the softest cushion in the house or


maybe even the couch. Tuck your nose in and settle down for a long nap.

Oh that's right. It's the same a greyhound does when it is sunny and bright and beautiful!

Oregon by Greyhound • Three Pools

The Adventure Three Pools

Location LAT 44° 50' 22" N LON 122° 18' 41" W

Date November 1, 2009

Weather 46°, Sunny

Distance 43.1 miles

Yes Flocko doggo, it's your adventure today.

It's a bit nippy out, don't you think?


Last time we were here, there wasn't nearly this much water.


But you are such a brave boy, you don't seem to be to afraid of it.


And look at what a great climber you are!


Two months ago, we could walk everywhere around here. Now there is very cold water flowing over the rocks.


Flocko, which part of very cold didn't you hear?


Sun was just coming over the rise. Three Pools was stunning.

November's calender kid

What a difference

Two months can make.


In the middle of the frame is Thor's Hammer at Three Pools in the Opal Creek Wilderness. We saw this for the first time on Sept. 4.

Just for grins and giggles, we went back on Nov. 5, just a little over 2 months later. Wow, what a difference two months can make. I expected the water to be much lower.


Boy was I wrong.

Nov. 1, 2009

Wow. 'nuff said.

Tell me your story

In the heart of the Pacific Wonderland there is a farm with a big beautiful old two-story home.


Nobody lives there anymore. They started to paint the front and one side, but it was never finished. The windows were boarded up on the back porch.

A beautiful red Pontiac Catalina was parked behind the house,

Poised and ready to go. But the most recent tags on the license plate read 1974.

A John Deere Tractor A had weathered well and looked to be ready to hit the fields.

Not really sure what type of farming they did.

Even though the hood ornament remained in-place and intact in all of it's chrome glory,

The 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe had seen better days.

The most current tags dated back to 1972, the clock stopped at 3:45.

I wish I knew the story of the abandoned farm house in the Pacific Wonderland.