Some Oregon Photos

My first week Cindy and I drove around doing some shopping (food for our share of the meals at the cousins gathering) and checking out some of our old stomping grounds. This is the first home SLK and I bought. Tyler was born when we lived here and we added the covered porch on the upper left. This is a better paint color than when we lived there.

Just down the hill from our house was Mom and Dad's house. Our homes were the same floor plans, tri-levels. Dad's flag pole he installed is missing and it also is a new color-guess those 1960's colors needed updating. Cindy's house was between these two homes and yes, it too was the same floor plan. It was a very popular design.

Our first weekend found us traveling to Lake Billy Chinook/Three Rivers for our annual cousins gathering. It was also the Hood to Coast Run and it was thrilling to see the runners...

and their support teams waiting and cheering them on.

Big gathering of support vehicles here and runners waiting to start their legs of the long journey.

I never, never get tired of viewing Mt. Hood. Simply gorgeous!

When we got on the other side of Mt. Hood we started seeing smoke. Something was definately on fire.

Alot of smoke.

We were even seeing flames in some areas.

I can always imagine my boys fly fishing along this river whenever we go by it.

I love seeing the agricultural activities and guess it reminds me of our "farming" days in Joseph, OR.

Each year we take this route and I love the smell of the onions growing and seeing the crops of carrots grown for seed and the fields of mint.

We cousins are gathering and we are all the grandchildren of these precious, dear grandparents...Albert and Flossie. My photo of a photo of them on their wedding day. Oh how beautiful I think they are!!!

We gather once again at the beautiful home of Skippie and Garry. What generous and fun hosts.

The view from their deck is very smokey. Very. We can't see Mt. Jefferson that is such a grand view from this point. During dinner ash from the fires started falling on us and our tables and food. I've never experienced that before (we were eating outside).

We had so much fun chatting and sharing family stories and memories.

More of us chatting.

Below - L to R: Dolores, Merlin, Tammy, Bob, Skippie, Cindy and me.

Missing of the cousins: Jody, Dick and Steve.

Right after this photo was taken we all sang In the Garden which was one of our grandma Flossies favorite hymns.

Dolores brought many family photos, most of which I had never seen. She let me borrow several for copying and you kiddos can expect your own copies. I find this an incredable treat and hope you do too. I'll share more of those photos in future posts.

Right after we left this fun gathering the road/highway we drove was closed for a few days due to the fires. The fire did a lot of damage and lasted several days. I'm glad we got out safely when we did.

We certainly missed the cousins who weren't with us!

Oh, I got the computer fixed today. Hurray!!!

That's why I'm able to share all of this.

CousinFest 2011

Just back from CousinFest 2011.

Dear cousin Steve M. that couldn't make it named it that and I love the title.

We were again at Skippie and Garry's lake house at Three Rivers (Lake Billy Chinook) in central Oregon. We had wild fires that added to the excitement and here is the view from Skippie's deck.

This is my photo from last year. That's Mt. Jefferson in background.

Wow, you really get a feel. This fire in on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. There are evacuations of homes and the highway we drove out on is now closed for 17 miles so we got out just in time.

7 of the 10 Geiss cousins were in attendance and it was choice! I loved, loved hearing stories and memories of the oldest cousins that were new for me. I've been trusted with cherished family photos and will make copies before returning so kids let me know what you may or may not want.

I can't get enough of my family!!

I hope you'll consider taking the time to record your memories and info for you kiddos and any future generations that come along. . . photos too.

Wishing you love and a happy day.

Happy day, msk

Cousin Fun and Laughter

Oh dear, I loaded the photos in reverse order. Oh well. Here we go.

Don't you think it's rather strange that I'd be posting a photo of a you-know-what? After a fun and delicious dinner at Bucca di Beppo SLK announced we just had to check out the interesting restrooms. Never have I encountered a framed ladies under garment before so just thought I'd have to photograph it for you to also get a chuckle over.

My attempt at being clever and catching both Skippie and me in a bathroom photo.

L to R: Bob, Jan, Garry, Skippie and SLK. We talked the night away and shared much including food and memories of our beloved mothers who were sisters and extended family. If you weren't there we were probably talking about you too. ;)

Cousin Bob and Jan came all the way from Oregon for a little fun, sun, family and spring training baseball games. What a winning combination.

Below: Bob and me. Bob is that trim and I of course am much thinner than the photo shows. Arrgh. We posed by my little container lemon trees as that is rather a novelty to a native Oregonian.

My heart is so filled with joy and love for you dear cousins. What a heritage we share.

Happy day, msk

Take A Peek

My cousins Skippie and Garry have a live web cam on the deck of their lake home. We have our cousins retreat there in the summer and have more fun than you could imagine a group of senior gals having. Yes sireee.

Click here to see the updated, live photo. Mt. Jefferson is almost in the center of the screen, currently covered in snow. This is facing west so hopefully you can imagine the gorgeous sunsets we see in the evening.

I've seen this several times before, it's at one end where a river empties into the lake. We drop anchor here and have our gourmet lunches.

Another view though these are pitifully small.


Not us, but we are on a delux pontoon boat that has all the "bells and whistles" one could want. It may surprise you to know that this boat goes fasts enough to pull a skier. No snide remarks about pontoon boats please.

See you Oregon buddies soon. I'll miss the AZ family but not this heat. Whew!

Happy New Year with Love

Blessed with a gorgeous, sunny, lemons hanging from the trees day. Couldn't ask for anything more....well, that's not true, I could be even happier if all my kids were herea to share it. The next closest thing is using our web cams and doing our face to face chats. I call that skyping. .....Oregon just got on the scoreboard. Go Ducks. Anyway, counsin Skippie is skyping too and told me she sent the following photos of their home at Three Rivers. I've really enjoyed it in the summer but these snow pics are great. Also got a skype call from cousin Tammy so this day is just getting better and better.

Best wishes to you.

What does it look like out your window. Really, I'd love to hear.

Taking You Back

When the Geiss Girls II (second generation) get together at Skippie and Garry's lake house we are out in the middle of nowhere. At least that is my opinion. No electricity. No water or sewage lines. No gas lines. No telephone lines. No restaurant. No service station. Skippie and Garry share a well, have gigantic propane tanks, solor and wind generators. I love it. I wish I could be so self contained. There is a 3 bay volunteer fire station. And it is in that fire station that a few followers of Christ meet on Sunday to worship. Can you guess who provided the music. You got it, the Geiss Girls. Tammy, on the right has been the choir director in the First Christian Church in Milton-Freewater, Oregon and fills the roll of our fearless leader very well.

Here we are, able to relax and smile after the services and our singing.

L to R Cindy, me, Skippie, Jody and Tammy

Dr. Garry was asked to be the "preacher" as their regular one was away. Well done Garry.
Practicing on the deck. We sang an old hymn I Come To The Garden Alone. Jody and I were unfamiliar with it but we really did practice alot and we all finally felt comfortable.

More practicing photos.

View off the deck of Lake Billy Chinook

and of course Skippie has the

Geiss Thumb.

Our delightful photographer is Skippie's daughter Tonya and here is her equally delightful granddaughter Natasha. She was really taking in all our song practicing.

We would all try to run out on the deck a sun set and watch the last half of the sun go down. Did you know that stimulates your pineal gland (click to learn more). Aren't we so avant-garde.

Lame-o

RATS!!!! I just spent considerable time finally blogging about the past few days and mistakenly put it on my blog Butte-iful Sisters. Just check out the pictures etc. over there. Boy do I feel lame.

Getting Ready For The Lake

I'm making Noelene's Christmas puff treats to take to the lake tomorrow. You can find the recipe here at Knight's In The Kitchen. None of the Oregon family has tasted this and I hope they like it. We Geiss girl cousins get together and have more fun than you might imagine. We think we are just SO FUN and funny. You'll be happy for us!

I purchased a card reader at an electronics store and am able to transfer my photos. Hold onto your hat...there are a lot. And...they are all out of order but I know you will just deal with it.

I feel officially like family as of today...both Bodie and Sassy were in my bed with me this morning. Are you like me and love sharing your bed with pets!!!

My second home. Oh how I love, love, love Oregon summers!!

Jody leaving for the hospital on Hanna's surgery day.

Hayden blowing bubbles with his experiment kit.

Hanna going out the door for surgery. She had such a great attitude and is healing rapidly and well. She and family even joined the family 4th of July festivities which was just amazing since her surgery was the 1st. Her swelling is going down and the bruising looks like pretty green eye shadow. She is a doll.

Jody and Ben's birds. Six chicks and they don't know yet how many will be laying hens and how many will turn into obnoxious roosters. We are having quite the time with them especially when they roost under the truck and we spend a lot of time prying them out and into their pen. Ben's named them and if you knew you'd crack up over his choices. Maybe that will be shared later. First night here a sister from Jody's ward brought by this big bowl of freshly picked cherries. Could not be any sweeter or better.

Elder Wood helping with the chicken round-up after Sunday dinner.
Well you made it. Thanks for letting me share the vacation with you. 3
P.S. I just checked the weather and it's 41 degrees hotter in Phoenix...65* in Wilsonville and 106* in Phoenix. Yikes!