Christmas Village

 I love to put up the Christmas Village that Bill's mom collected and painted. My cats love it too. They lay on top of the lights!

Exploring the Oregon Coast

 My daughter Anne and I made a fun overnight trip to the coast just before Christmas. Our first stop was Astoria where we found this beautiful Snowy Owl. My neighbor, who is also a birder, told us where to find it, and off we went!

 We had to hike through some soggy terrain and walk over a narrow, slippery driftwood "bridge" but the efforts were well worth it. This was the first owl I photographed.

 A yawning owl :-)

 It was cold and windy at this jetty at Fort Stevens, but the waves were spectacular!

 There were three Snowy Owls, and you can see this second one as a tiny white dot in the grass.

 This was the third one. It looked smaller and younger.

 Anne and I drove down the coast and stayed overnight in Bay City. The next morning we made a drive along Tillamook River. I LOVE reflections, and this river has some of the best around.

 I cannot resist a Heron picture :-).

 As we drove toward Bay Ocean, we made a milkshake bet as to who would see the first Kingfisher along the Tillamook Bay. Anne won :-).

 Another Heron along the spit at Bay Ocean.

The quaint little town of Cape Meares

Anne at Cape Meares Beach

 More beautiful waves at Cape Meares Beach.

 Tangled seaweed on Cape Meares Beach

 Watching the waves over the cliff at Cape Meares Lighthouse.

 We watched this huge wave span at least half of the cove!

 Another Heron on Netarts Bay. This is a particular funny picture as the heron is looking directly at me :-).

 How blessed we are to live in this amazing world!

Grand Nephews (and they are that)!

 I enjoyed a visit from my sister and 3 of her grandsons. While Candy visited Mom, I took the boys to Silver Creek Falls.

 Collin, Lee, Than

These guys spent a couple evenings with my mom and brought her a lot of music and joy!

Leaving Home

Mom is putting on a brave face as she leaves her home of over 60 years for the last time. Terry and Diane spent most of the day helping with last minute things to do, and Bill and I tried to make things as easy as we could for her. Mom traveled with me to her new home in Keizer, Oregon where she met the care givers and the other residents. She was quite cheerful as she sat to have dinner with them, and I proceeded to set up her furniture and to decorate her room with the things she picked out. I helped her to bed and then went home and "crashed!" She is well cared for, and we make visits often. We have Mom over for visits, for the holidays, and other family members and friends visit her as well. She celebrated her 85th birthday soon after moving in and received MANY bouquets of flowers and lovely birthday cards! We are grateful she is in a warm and caring home and that she is close by so we can tend to her needs.

Betsy's Flowers

Mom's flowers were beautiful even into the fall. These are just a few: Lily, Black-eyed Susan, Naked Lady and Sweet Peas. Each time I watered them for her, I encountered this female spider tending her web. I tried not to drown her as I watered, and finally I ran into the house and grabbed my camera to capture her antics :-).

Surprise Visitors on Tillamook Bay

One day Mom and I drove around Tillamook Bay toward Bay Ocean. We saw 7 Egrets fishing along the shore! It's not such a surprise to see an Egret on the bay, but it IS surprising to us to see that many in one place! I couldn't resist this heron perched on the pilings :-).