Fishing

It was a fishing trip like so many others. It started out, not quite at the crack of dawn with us borrowing dad's boat for a day on the reservoir. Oh, what Ricky would do to have a simple little fishing boat!The reservoir beckoned to us. The setting was beautiful, clear blue skies, calm waters and just a slight breeze.


While getting the gear ready we watched one bald eagle chashing other birds away from its nesting area and a juvenile osprey learning to dive for fish. We got a picture of the nest. The osprey is perched in the trees to the left of the nest, but very difficult to see.It was an idylic setting compared to the miles of fast running river we had driven along. The river was packed with boats anchored near the shores in hopes of catching a Chinook salmon.

Our desired prey were more elusive. Kokanee are fickle fish and can elude trolling fishers like no other. But, we were determined. And, after about 45 minutes of trolling along the southern end of the reservoir, we got a bite!

Rick grabbed the pole and reeled for all he was worth. Rikard was at his side, ready to help in case of emergency. It was the first catch of the day and everyone was excited. The kids knew we needed to bring this one into the boat as quickly as possible to let the line back out again to catch more. We celebrated our first victory of the day.

Little did we know it was the last. The rest of the day was spent...

telling Rikard not to touch the pole like that, or like that, or like that... convincing Keeli that the fish finder wasn't the same as daddy's Playstation...

finding alternative entertainment for the kids since the fish didn't want to play... Keeli was exhausted by early afternoon and took a nap... and Capt. Holestine lounged on the foredeck... Maybe our luck will be better this weekend.

Mother Load o'Love

My kids shared a big hug and kiss with me for Mother's Day and we want to SHARE THE LOVE with all our family and friends.

Tatum is growing up and public displays of affection are so embarrassing sometimes. Her kiss for everyone was a bit half-hearted as she couldn't take it seriously.

Rikard has too much love and affection for just one mom. He really puts his heart and soul into kissin' and huggin'.

Keelis is still too much of a sweet little baby girl to care about anything more than blowing a kiss and moving on to the next thing to hold her attention for 10 minutes.

Happy Mother's Day to one and all!

May Flowers

The air around our home is aromatic with the scents of lilacs and Russian olive trees in bloom.

Lilacs line the south side of the garden. There is a large lilac "forest" in the traditional dark and light purple colors and one white lilac tree.

Next to the house the clematis has its first blooms of the year. This one is against the east facing side of the house. The red clematis on the south side of the house hasn't yet bloomed.

I am waiting for my favorite flower, the peony, the bloom. The buds are about the size of the end of my thumb this week.

The original start of this flower was dug up from my parent's home when I was first married. Family legend has it my great-grandmother planted it there. It traveled to our first apartment together then back to our hometown (three blocks from my parents' home). Then, after college to another apartment where it lived in a big pot and to our first home. This is the first year since moving to our current home five years ago that it will bloom.

Now, please send good vibes that the wind won't blow the blooms apart the day they open.