A Boy, A Dog, and A Stick

Leaving the house to do an errand...coat, diaper bag, snacks....oh, I need my camera!



We didn't even make it past the front door!




How can I pass a park without stopping to let Jesse play?











He thought that was a lot of fun! I wonder if he would like to walk around a neat Christmas tree farm that we like to go to?

"Oh boy, there's a dog following us around...







and he LOVES sticks!!!"













The stick went about 2 feet, but the dog didn't care!



"What are you waiting for? Pick it up, pick it up!"













All that action got us heated up. We both peeled off our coats.





Oh, now we're distracted by those lovely dandelion seeds!













"There's that dog again! Where's the stick?"



Ooooooooooooo...the anticipation!




Yep, it went about 2 feet.








"Do it again! Do it again!"


"Hey, it's fun just to beat the trees with this stick!"






"It's time to go, Jesse..."
"Uh uh!"

His shoes caked up with mud, he fell over several times, he got me muddy, but it was worth the delight written all over his face...

all the way back to the truck!




When we got home, he couldn't resist one more look at the pumpkins and gourds (notice, he has bare feet!)










He worked up a good appetite!


Now he's down for a nap, and that's why I'm postin'!

One More Trip to Ankeny

Back to our favorite pond at the refuge before the rains set in!

Mallards

Great Blue Heron

Killdeer










Brewers Blackbird
Greater Yellowlegs








This species is All Boy





















Rose Hips










We continued on to the Buena Vista Ferry. It was like looking at a thousand paintings!












I caught this Red Tail Hawk in flight.

Ahhhhhh. Now I can start thinking about indoor projects.

Well...Jesse and I might put on our boots and stomp in a few mud puddles!

Wood Splitting

We finally rented a wood splitter and tackled our huge pile of wood. I say "we" but it was Bill, Matt, and Andy with the help of 4 of our Young Single Adults (Kurt, Garrett, Derek and Taylor).

Andy hauled off debris and old rotted wood.


His little family enjoyed a ride as well (Andy, Megan and Jesse)!












Megan and Andy picked several gourds from our garden for me. They were ALL stripped, so I bought some colorful ones to add to them.

Megan helped me clean up garden tools, and then we had a little visitor!

Fire Scare

We had a little fire scare this fall. For those of you familiar with our property, this is looking up at it from a neighbor's house below us. Bill thought his burn pile was completely out, but it came to life when the wind picked up. We were gone, so two of our neighbors "saved the day" (and our house!)

It is difficult to see in this picture, but there is a darker strip across the middle of our property. There is a cluster of cherry trees where the fire spread, it encircled our barn, and encroached on the neighbor's property!

Picking Peaches

This was a while back, but Megan and I enjoyed picking peaches together in West Salem. While Megan was picking, Jesse reached up and helped himself to a great big peach. We didn't realize it until Megan had juice on her and felt the peach drop over her shoulder!

Next we crossed the Wheatland Ferry over the Willamette River so we could go home on the east side of the river. It was a satisfying day, and we will be enjoying our canned peaches all winter!

Baxter Park

Never too old to have fun! Megan and I took Jesse to Baxter Park, a fairly new park here in Salem, and we had a great time!









































It's not hard to decipher THIS sign language! I want YOUR ball!




Running and exploring...the things that boys love to do!