The Shoe Box
So you visit your relatives, right? At some point someone, probably your mother, goes to the closet and takes out a dust-covered shoebox.
Oh, no - it's picture time again!
You mutter that you have to get to the dentist for a root canal, but she says, "Sit down, dear. This won't take long."
Four hours later . . .!
OK - here's our shoebox! Click the small pictures to view larger ones or click a link on the left to escape
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November - 2002
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East of Salem on Highway 22 sits Detroit Lake formed when the Santiam River was blocked by Detroit Dam, close to the town of . . . Detroit! The low lake, fall colors, and fog formed a beautiful picture well worth adding to our shoe box. |
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Early winter storms had turned Santiam Pass into something out of the pages of National Geographic. |
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March 2003 - Michael's Adventures
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In March Michael completed a multi-year journey by qualifying for his Black Belt in Kempo. This is the day after he completed his test. What's not showing are the multiple bruises and bloody T-shirt from all the sparring! |
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Yes, this looks, um, interesting. We've seen what he can do and whatever game we're playing, we're on his side! |
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Yes, at this level his hands are weapons. Add to this his skills with the bo ( = staff) and short staff ( = stick) and he's a complete package. |
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Michael and Diane in the Portland airport. Michael is heading out to Australia for a four-month adventure of living abroad. This is March - he'll be back in July.
Yes, that's a cast on Diane's ankle. She broke it in January. Her recovery process was and is right on track.
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Here's our Australian wall - not a "wailing" wall, but a tracking wall. What you can't see are tiny pink pins that mark Michael's travels.
Yes, those are the postcards he's sent.
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April - 2003
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A heavy rain shower blew over the area just as the sun was setting. This double rainbow appeared over the house across the street. Hopefully they'll share the pot of gold with us since we found the rainbow! |
May 2003 - Mothers Day and Roses
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| David came down from Seattle for a surprise visit and brought a delicious no-bake chocolate decadence delight from a Seattle dessert restaurant. A surprise son, Chinese take-away, and chocolate dessert - a perfect Mothers Day, according to Diane.
But first, a ride on Salem's Carousel. Each horse was hand-carved as a community project.
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You can't see it, but the "saddle" is a cat! |
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David ended up on the only horse that didn't go up and down! |
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Finally, a horse I can relax with. It actually goes where it's supposed to! |
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Diane finally has a rose garden in the back yard. They do well, as you can see. Here are a few of the better ones.
No, I don't know what they are called.
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This one starts out yellow, then shifts into the pink range as it opens. |
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A red rose....see, I do know something! |
July - 2003
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July was an interesting month for us! On July 4 David had a bad fall while rock climbing and broke both his legs! He came down and spent several weeks with us after getting out of the hospital.
On July 19 Michael returned from his 4-month Australian adventure.
Somehow all of us met at the Portland airport within minutes of each other - Michael with the balloons, Diane, Grace (David's girlfriend), and David with the shaved head (his idea).
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A few days after everyone moved in and David's ramp was in place Diane helped Sarah, our wonderful neighbor, say "Hi" to Khan-Pur.
Sarah loved it.
Khan-Pur was not amused!
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