It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Megan and I went back to the tree farm where I had taken Jesse earlier in the season. Jesse found the same dog he played with before and he was thrilled. All he wanted to do was throw sticks for him.



"Where did he go?"



We found our tree and headed home.


Jesse helped decorate the tree and enjoyed that very much!













Bill just put the star on top of the tree!

Today we discovered some "Reindeer Glasses" in the bottom of a Christmas box. Jesse wore them for about an hour!

















"Jingle Bear" gets a kiss...

Hunting Season

The guys (and gals) had a good hunt this year. Chris and Diane each got an elk. Bill didn't fill his tag this year, but he still had a good time. I decided to go with him the day after Thanksgiving because I haven't done that for several years. It was a beautiful day, and I loved being in the hills surrounding Tillamook.



One little road we hiked down was called "Root Ball Road." I think these guys gave it that name. Can you guess why?







Terry's white pick-up was at the top of the ridge where Diane got an elk earlier in the season.

While the guys visited on this landing, I decided to explore a nearby trail.















How blessed we are to live in such beautiful country!




























There is beauty in even the smallest parts of nature.







My brothers and I (Terry, Chris, Becky)
Terry, Chris and Bill














What a view!

Afterward, we stayed long enough at my mom's to enjoy a dinner she and Candy prepared. It had been a while since I spent time with all of my siblings and my mom! It was great!


The hunting party had their traditional picture taken before we left for home.
This was kind of the funny part. As we left Tillamook, we saw the elk herd that likes to hang out near the Blimp Base (they are protected there).












There were several bulls!

Thanksgiving

We had a fun Thanksgiving gathering with family and friends. Anne arrived with a project. She and Megan and I worked on the binding of her homemade quilted table runner so we could use it right away!











"Hey, this was worth the wait!"


Look at that spread! Everyone loved Matt's one hour rolls in particular. He was smart this time...he made THREE batches!


Anne also made some cheerful little table favors filled with mints.




She brought another fun craft project for us to do. We made some quick and colorful refrigerator magnets. What a fun way to spend time together.

Ankeny

Megan and I made another trip to Ankeny Hill Wildlife Refuge with Jesse. He loved the boardwalk, and we loved being out in the crisp winter air.
The cattails were still beautiful, even with their winter foliage.

Abandoned?

When I saw this good-sized nest at the bottom of our driveway, I realized how little I knew about bees. Is this a bee's nest, a wasp's nest or a hornet's nest? Do they abandon them this time of the year? If so, where do they go? I know some bees hibernate, but this nest would not provide much protection from the elements. It sure is beautiful, though.

Life is Good!

Life has been good to me. Not too long ago I had lunch with two dear friends I've known since grade school, Bonnie, and Madeline!




Then I met Cindy Wiren, a new cousin on my Mom's side of the family (the Smiths) and enjoyed an afternoon sharing stories, pictures, and family history records.




Megan and I made some homemade clay and played along with Jesse for about an hour!




















Next we had company from Indiana. Our nephew Rob, his wife Gayle, and their children Emma and Ethan came for the weekend, so it was a great time for a Farr Family gathering!

Patrick, Rob, Bill, Jim and Alex





We talked Rob and Gayle into letting us take Emma and Ethan to the beach while they attended a wedding. Feeding gulls...
braving the wind...

















and eating at Mo's...













where we ran into my brother and sister-in-law, Terry and Diane!!!



The tide was exceptionally high and it brought in a lot of driftwood and logs.


We walked out on the boardwalk with the kids...
































It was a fun day having experiences we will always remember. When we first arrived at Siletz Bay, Emma spontaneously sang "Down By the Bay" for us :-).