Family Talent Night

Well, talent may be pushing it a little.  Entertainment and fun is more like it.  This silliness has become a tradition of our get-togethers, some of us dreading it and others embracing it.  This year Mom and Duane outdid everyone with their 15-minute version of the radio-show, Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keilor.  They sang, told stories and generally hammed it up.

Michael, our story-telling historian, teamed up with Ingrid to continue the saga of Mikel Bad-Eye, and his adventures at sea.  Their "act" included audience participation, with all of us singing rousing sea-chanteys and cracking up over Ingrid's black tooth!

Warren and I, being teachers of course, had to share a little Norwegian lesson, pointing out some of the words that were hard for us to say like kjott (meat) and sjofart (seafarer).

Larkin had Mom and Alli try to re-create the story she had supposedly told us, by asking questions of us to get clues.  This one is a little hard to explain, but it was fun having Alli in the "hot seat."

Alli was going to teach Colter to be a "broom master" by imitating her every move.  She had Warren ready to put a wet sponge in Colter's chair when we wasn't looking and he ended up with wet pants; from the look on his face, I think he kind of knew it was coming!

We had a wonderful evening of laughs and fun together, followed by chocolate brownies and ice cream!

Family Fun

I had intended to show you the photos from our talent show, but forgot that they are not downloaded to the computer I have with me here in Oregon.  However, my sister sent us this one in an email to cheer up my Mom.  This is from our Norwegian lesson.  Passing gas is a significant achievement after abdominal surgery!

Oregon Coast Trip

I wish I could say I am home from my trip to the Oregon Coast.  Actually I am still in Florence, but instead of lounging on the beach, I am waiting in the hospital with my Mom!  On our last evening together, she began to have an upset stomach and went to bed early; we were all packed up, ready to head back to Montana, but delayed our departure Thursday morning in order to help Mom and her husband Duane get to the hospital 30 minutes away from our rental house.  They determined she had an intestinal blockage, similar to what happened to her last summer.  My sister Ingrid was able to stay with Mom, so we headed on home.

They waited through Sunday to see if things would resolve on their own, but she ended up having surgery and another bowel resection.  I flew back out here, so my sister could get back to her job in California.  This is my last week before school starts, so we'll see how things go.  We are praying for quick healing and no complications so she can return to Houston before too long (medical transport would cost $26,000!)

We did have a wonderful week together prior to Mom getting sick.  Here's the family that was able to be there:

Duane and Mom

Ingrid and Michael

Colter and Alli--my future daughter-in-law!

Warren, Larkin and Anna

We had cool windy days (just like June in Norway!), but the sun was shining most of the time.  We explored tide-pools, went to Lincoln City for a sand-castle festival, to Newport to visit the Aquarium, picked blackberries, flew kites and walked on the beach just below our rental house.  Here are some of my favorite moments:

Hayhurst House on Searose Beach; we had to climb up and down the steep walkway from the house to the beach. 

Alli and Colter at the top of the walkway in our backyard; we had a beautiful view of the ocean from the house.
We even saw some whales out at sea the first evening we were there.

the girls out for a quick shopping trip in Yachats

Colter and Alli inspecting the sand sculptures

Ingrid, Michael, Colter and Alli in front of Mo's, our lunch time restaurant

the lovebirds dancing on the sidewalk

Warren flying his kite

Ingrid helping Warren out

building our own sandcastles

Mom in a rocky nook out of the wind

beach sculpturing

Mom and Larkin picking blackberries

Tide-pool finds:

purple sea urchins

green anemones

starfish orgies

friendly natives

I'll post this for now and share our "talent show" fun with you when I get another chance to blog.
Thanks in advance for your prayers for Mom.

Waterfalls from Lynn

I just got some photos from Lynn so I'll post a few more shots of what I did last week.
Thank you, Lynn!

Rest stop before the climb to Shangri-La;
Warren, Dell, Gail, Anna

Anna and Warren on the climb to Shangri-La

Anna and Gail in a Shangri-la flower meadow

Anna tackles the scree slide down to Iceberg lake;
notice the telemark technique!

Warren on the scree field

Happy hikers by Iceberg Lake

Waterfall on Swiftcurrent

Waterfall below Mt Wilbur

Apikuni Waterfall

Waterfall below Grinnell

Waterfall Week #4

Saturday couldn't have been more different weather-wise; we had a gorgeous sunny day with no haze--we call this a "bluebird day."  Lovely weather to wrap up our camping trip.

Warren set off at 8 a.m. to go on a GMS climb up Ptarmigan Spire.  I had an earlier post about Ptarmigan Lake; they hiked up the same way and on up to the high ridge above it to a rocky perch. Here are his photos:

Ptarmigan Spire--they had to navigate this rocky ridge via goat trails.

Looking down at Ptarmigan lake--Warren is showing his artsy side!

Warren's hiking companions on top of the Spire.

Dramatic view of the Ptarmigan Wall, over to Iceberg Peak and Mt. Wilbur;
Iceberg Lake is nestled in the curve of the Wall--you have seen these places
from other directions in our previous hikes.

Lynn and I went over to another area of the Park, to Grinnell Lake, actually above the lake toward the glacier.  But there were still snow hazards on the upper part of the trail, so we got up to another waterfall and then had to go back to camp.  Enjoyed the sunshine, warmth, and spectacular scenery!

Mt. Gould above Lake Josephine

Fireweed on the way up..

Lynn on the trail with Salamander Glacier behind.

Grinnell Lake basin and waterfall coming from the glacier.

We had a wonderful cooling shower from this part of the waterfall! 

Lynn took photos of me doing the same thing!
Maybe I can get them from her before too long and add another post 

The first snow hazard on the trail where we decided not to try to go further.
I know my mom is thinking, "Good girl, Anna!"

Warren and I needed to leave and head back to Kalispell that evening.  On the way out of the Park, this little black bear came right out to the road, checked traffic, and then turned around and went back up the hill.  Guess he changed his mind.

What a wonderful summer we are having!  Could it get any better?

We are off to Oregon on Thursday and the internet access will be limited.  I will try to blog at least once or twice at a cafe.  All of my Norwegian family should know that I am really looking forward to sharing photos of our trip in June with my family here, especially my sister Ingrid.  I would love to bring her to Eigeroy some day!!  Hilsen!