Another Visit to a Favorite Place!

 We never pass up an opportunity to enjoy the Oregon Coast! On the way to Yaquina Head, Bill stopped so I could snap this picture of Agate Beach. Yaquina Head is in the background.

 Yaquina Head was windy, but it was beautiful and interesting as always!

 Anne's looking at seals with her binoculars, and Matt, Kate, and Louis are finding little rock crabs. This place has the best tide pools on the whole Oregon Coast!

 Yaquina Head Lighthouse

 Louis is Kate's boyfriend. We are enjoying getting to know him! He calls her a midget :):)

 Louis, Kate, Bill, and Anne

 Matt is our rock climber :-).

Bill

Three Pools

 For my birthday I went up the river (The Little Northfork of the Santiam) with Anne, Kristin and AJ. Kristin is getting her feet wet.

 The water felt great. It was crystal clear! Anne said the water felt great.

AJ is a guy! He's picking up rocks!

A Fun Birthday!

 In this family, we love any excuse to gather :-). I was glad the kids wanted to gather on my birthday. Anne and Matt made my cake, and then it took three people to light the candles (and there were only about one third the number of candles compared to my age)!

 It was a lovely way to end my day!

Beautiful Vacation!

 Bill and I returned to one of our favorite places in Washington. We visited Cape Disappointment, just across the Astoria Bridge, a few years ago and determined we would camp there one day. Well, we finally made it, and we loved it! This is the North Head Lighthouse.

 We invited our daughter Anne to join us for a couple of days since she is on vacation from teaching. We don't get to see her that often during the school year. Her husband Matt had to work.

 The lighthouse was built in 1898. This is Bill just entering the lighthouse. We climbed the stairs to enjoy the view from the top.

 Anne coming back down

 Beautiful fern along a hiking trail

 There were amazing driftwood forts along Waikiki Beach and Benson Beach.

 Benson Beach with a view of North Head

 Taken from inside one of the forts

 Bill and Anne on Benson Beach with North Head in the background

 Anne (taken from within a fort)

 Bill

 Anne and Bill (I wonder how many people have taken this same picture :-)

 Beautiful wood grain in the driftwood

 Enjoying Benson Beach in the evening

 Succulents growing on the rocks

 One of our favorite places is the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Bill and Anne are exploring the Bunker.

 A rusted door

 We hiked a long trail to the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse. This is Dead Man's Cove.

 This little fella was adorable!

 Another old bunker along the trail

 Looking back toward the jetty and Waikiki Beach from Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

 This lighthouse was smaller than North Head and we did not get to go to the top. However, it was a grand view.

 Looking back at the Interpretive Center from the lighthouse

 Another grand view of the lighthouse

 Thimble berries and lace :-)

 Fox Goves

 Thimble Berries

Looking out at the jetty where the Columbia River meets the ocean
Lewis and Clark called this "Bald Hill" and there was nothing but grass on it when they climbed it and first viewed the ocean. One of the trails we hiked took us to the top of this hill. We had a great time and would go back again. We had to reserve our campsite 9 months ahead because this place fills up quickly!

Smith Family Reunion

 We met in Siletz, OR this last Saturday with several relatives for another Smith Family Reunion. It was one of the nicest reunions I've attended because there was a lot of visiting and getting acquainted with one another! Myra, Grace, Steve, and Debby compared stories from the many pictures put out for viewing.

 We had some wonderful displays. One of my cousins, Clarinda, has won the title of Miss Siletz for a few years now.

 Another cousin, Debby, displayed her art and her soaps, vinegars, jams and jellies.

 My daughter Kate displayed some of her art.

 Individuals spent quite a bit of time looking at the family history and photographs.

 Four of our cousins who are members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians made fry bread for all of us. Talk about a treat!

 Sharon does all of the measurements for the dough. She is forming the bread.

 Sharon, Teresa and Tonya (sisters)

 Sharon, Clarinda, Teresa, Tonya

 Aurora (Felicia's daughter) was a little shy about having her picture taken, but I caught her anyway :-). What a cutie! See that beautiful piece of fry bread next to her coated in sugar and cinnamon? It was amazing!

 Bev, Chris, and Ed

 Bill, Maizie, and James

 Our "Family Tree" wall chart

 Sharon with some grandchildren

 Skip's family and Tina's family

 Becky's family

 Myra and Steve, Chris and Bev

 Mitzi (sister to Sharon, Teresa, and Tonya)

 Charlie made this wonderful fish cooked in the traditional way.

 Chris brought some of his famous smoked salmon.

 Mazie and Lily enjoyed time together.

 Bill loved that fry bread!

 We met in the Siletz Grange Hall which was quaint and comfortable.

 Grace, Teresa (in background), and Jerry

 Doc and Charlie

 Doc, Teresa, Charlie, Grace, Felicia, Aurora

 "Ziggy" and his mom Tiffany

 Honoring those who served in the military

 A special moment where Shawn honored his dad, and then we all sang happy birthday to Skip :-)

 Becky and Tiffany

Two pretty ladies...Zuanna and her mom Kristi