Friday in Medford

Lucy was off so we all drove down to Medford to look for a Wii for Cade's birthday next week - and I nipped away for 9 holes at Quail Point - a very pretty little course in the middle of a retirement resort. You could tell it was mostly played by Seniors as, although it was only a 9 hole course, there were additional rest rooms at the 4th green and 7th tee!

I had a beer on the deck and waited to be picked up - and then we went to Kaleidoscope for lunch. Described as a pizzeria and bar, we've been there every year and never been disappointed - good choice of ales and good food and nice surroundings - that is, if you ignore the Grateful Dead sculptures outside! Waiting for lunch:


It was Scott and Lucy's 7th anniversary and they went out for sushi in the evening - via Medford again - they discovered a store that had a Wii and they would only hold it for them for one hour!

A couple from Thursday - Braeden fell off the stand seats and gave himself a fat lip - here's the close up on Friday morning:

and Cade showing off his 2nd place ribbon at BMX:

This morning (Saturday), Scott and Cade have gone off to Medford to get a tyre - sorry, tire - for the 4 wheeler. The rest of us are heading in to GP - might look for a pair of sandals and maybe a larger suitcase - bought some clothes at Costco yesterday.

Tonight Jo and I are heading to Jacksonville for the Britt Fest - it's Buddy Guy on first then George Thorogood and the Destroyers. We may take a picnic and possibly a detour via a new brewery I discovered yesterday - Southern Oregon Brewery - they have a Tap Room that opens at the weekend 4-10.

Thursday

Apart from a brief trip out to get some bread for lunch, the daytime hours were spent at Delsie Drive again yesterday. In the evening we had Cade's BMX again and this time he managed an overall 2nd place in his category:

Braeden and I watched from the stand:

Braeden had fun on his swings and slide at home:

Off to Medford this morning - Jo and Lucy shopping - me having 9 holes of golf at Quail Point - never played there before.

Wednesday week 1 GP

Finished the EC autobiography yesterday morning - now started on Ronnie Wood's. For lunch we went to Summer Jo's - a farm/restaurant - everything grown locally and organic of course. It's a really nice spot - and Jo adored her lunch.


Braeden climbed a tree in the garden - doesn't he look happy?


Of course, there's always a before and after with Braeden!


We then headed off to Wildlife Images - a wild animal rescue centre - bald eagles, golden eagles, hawks, owls, raccoons, wolves, brown and grizzly bears and mountain lions. Entry and tours are free - donations accepted. Here's a tender moment at the start as we waited for our guide:

Jo conjured up one of her specials, using chicken, for dinner.

Today (Thursday) we're sitting the boys again - nothing planned - we'll play it by ear.

More video and photos

Bailey had fun rolling around whilst the others were in the pool at the weekend:

Braeden had to get in on the action as Cade finished off his BMX last night:

BMX night

The answer to yesterday's riddle was a Nutria - which we know better as a Coypu (ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coypu).

Anyway, the diary next - what did we do on Tuesday? Not a lot - but that's OK. Jo and I were sitting the kids - I ran Lucy to work and she cycled home again. We did a grocery shop at Fred Meyer - and I took 10 minutes out to look for new shorts (did I tell you that the ones I brought here were irreperably ripped in the butt when Lucy put them in the washing machine in Florida?) - and new sandals. In the end, I got neither - need more time - or for Jo to be with me to help out - another time perhaps. I did pick up a belt however - but that's all.

Late afternoon it was the pool again, then, in the evening, Cade had his BMX practice/races. It's a great set-up - and well supported. Cade got his gear on and wound himself up by practising jumps (without bike) over Braeden in the house:

Cade was just a little disconcerted when he saw that they had slightly changed the layout of the track since he was last there a couple of weeks ago and he went very quiet - perhaps he needed his Dad's encouragement - Scott had hurt his neck and had a headache so had to stay at home. Lucy and I tried hard to encourage Cade and he got through the evening OK with a 3rd place in his final race. They line-up in age/ability categories before they walk up the hill to the starting gates:

In his first race, he came 4th:

Later on, they were allowed to use the track for practice runs. Some of the older/more experienced kids (and adults!) have the skill and confidence to balance on 2 wheels with the front wheel resting against the gate before it falls, but Cade has still to learn this, so tends to be a bit slower at the start:

Lucy, Jo and Braeden watched from the stands:

The temperature dropped dramatically - it fell down to just 70 degrees F by the time we left at 8:30 pm!

Lucy's not working today but I don't know if there are any plans - I'll probably get the Eric Clapton autobiography finished (thanks, Kelly - I know it's been a long time since you bought me it, but you know the only chance I get to read is when we're on vacation!). I've already finished another Rebus (Black Book) plus Peter Alliss' autobiography - Ronnie Wood next! Going to have to visit the book store to top up. Nearly bought a stack of John Grishams at the airport - perhaps I should have - Scott has just finished reading The Brethren, which Jo and I listened to in audiobook format.

Myrtle Creek

Today's riddle - I've seen these animals many times before at Myrtle Creek GC and always believed them to be Muskrats, but yesterday my playing partners told me they were, in fact ?????? - I can't remember the name! I think the word begins with A - they were apparently imported about a hundred years ago as a potential substitute to the beaver, whose population was on the wane, but their pelts aren't as good as the beaver's. No amount of web-trawling has revealed the name yet - can anyone help? This was a baby one - maybe 2-3 feet long - Daddy would be more like 4-5 feet:

Myrtle Creek is beautiful and full of wild life - swooping turkey vultures, wild turkeys, but thankfully yesterday, no whiff of skunk! A very tame doe strolled out beside us at the 4th green, complete with fawn - and there was another one lurking in the woods. This shot was taken from just a few yards away:

Lucy cycled home yesterday - I had dropped her off at work in the morning with her bike, on my way north to Myrtle Creek. We just hung around in the afternoon and eventually got in the pool - Jo's 3rd visit - amazing!

Jo made soup - and we also had a delicious pud straight from the recipe book - can't remember what it was called - by then all the brain cells were dead - I had somewhat overdone the gin content in our evening G & T's!

Dropped Lucy off again this morning so I've got her car - may go shopping later - we'll see how the kids are.

Sleepy Sunday

Scott got back quickly with the dogs - his Dad drove over half way to meet him. Bailey was active:

but poor old Ryan just lay there:

We didn't go anywhere so just spent time reading, snoozing, listening to music (downloaded new Beck album plus two new audiobooks) and eventually the pool:

Scott cooked salmon on the BBQ and Jo made up noodles - Lucy mixed an alcoholic smoothie and I did the G & T's! It was pretty hot yesterday - well in to the mid 90's I suspect.

We're all up this morning - Scott and Lucy are going to work and I'm taking advantage of half price Monday at Myrtle Creek GC - should be back early afternoon.

Saturday

Well, the Lesinas finally got home safe and sound yesterday - I picked them up at the airport early afternoon. A very quiet and slow day - although we did manage a dip in the pool and hot tub.

Dinner was preceded by the usual G & T and Lucy went to Alberston's to get some chicken and she made up a Caesar salad - very nice.

Watching the final round of the Open this morning - and I'm babysitting - Jo and Lucy have gone to church and Scott has driven to the Coast to get the dogs.