Chelsea is our oldest dog now. She came to us after Kahlua died, and what we hoped would be a good companion for Bailey. What we have learned, is that Chelsea is a loner, a farm dog, and has the instinct to protect. She is 1/2 shepherd and 1/2 Maremma. Maremma's are bred to be watchdogs on farms, mainly to be with the sheep. We knew she had an instinct to protect, as we've watched that in her barking and her possessive nature about her property line! Over the years we've watched her keep an eye on the kids...always near where they were when the were little....and still watchful when Kristin is outside alone. What we didn't realize, was the nature she really has to heard, to keep her charges safe. Kristin was outside today working with me in the yard, and she had her chicks out there pecking around in the grass. We weren't paying close attention, since they hadn't moved much from the area she put them in, but they started heading toward the driveway. To us it was no big deal, but to Chelsea, she rounded those chicks up, and headed them back to the grass in no time! It was very cool to watch.
Not only did she lay out there with the the entire time, but after she hearded them back to the grass, she stayed close, making sure they didn't get that far from her again.
This is a side we've not seen of Chelsea. However, it was great to see her gentle nature, and even "mothering" side when a chick ended up under the steps. Chelsea was right to her side, and waited with the chick until Kristin got there and got it out of the tall, tangly grass. Way to go Chelsea..you've earned another day or two of keep. Well done!
What a beautiful day it was....
We headed to church, and enjoyed a great service with Rod & Lissa....then a good lunch at KFC, which allowed us to visit awhile before going home. Brandon is getting so big!
We arrived home, and it was so nice, and Kristin's chicks are getting so big, that we told her they needed out of the cage for awhile. So, she let them out in the front. They had a great time picking around in the grass. They didn't stray too far from her though. She has become their mother hen! We keep trying to convince her to give them to a family that has a group of chicks, but she is pretty adamant on wanting to try to do this....now she has to convince Daddy...Mom is a sucker for pets of any kind!
We took our usual Sunday afternoon nap...a quick one mind you, and then we piled in the car, and headed off for a ride together. We hit an old logging road outside of Sweet Home,and took it all the way to Cascadia....a few side trips between here & there mind you. We saw Foster Lake & Sweet Home from heights we've never seen before (Aunt Cec would have loved it!), Green Peter Dam from 2500 ft...and some great views. It was an amazing drive, and God's beauty was all around us.
Foster Lake and Sweet Home
The house from down in town....with a close zoom, then cropped..a bit grainy, but pretty good for probably over a mile away!
Green Peter Lake & Cascade Mountain Range
We ended up out by Cascadia park, so we took Bill to see the Wolves out there. I counted 30 in one pen, and there were many, many more out there. I'm not sure if it's a rescue, or what the deal is. Most of them were beautiful white wolves. Bill tried to get someone's attention to talk to someone, but you don't dare open a gate where there are 30 white wolves waiting to greet you! No one ever came to the gate...one of those unspoken blessings from God, I'm sure. We have only been down to 2 dogs for two weeks....surely it's not time for another!
Afterward, we headed to Skyline for dinner, and then home to get ready for Home School group tomorrow....a great day, and a fine ending to the weekend!
We were so excited to get out...the weekend forecast was awesome...and I was out of work 1/2 hour early, Charlie was already at the house when I got home, Bill had the trailer hooked, tires checked, airbags filled, and ready to go. Way to go---thanks Kristin & Bill for working hard to get things ready this week. Thanks to Brady for smoking the awesome trout you sent home with Ryan!
We loaded dogs and piled in the truck...headed out of the driveway by 5:45--and were at camp at 6:05---you gotta love that! We set up, Charlie & Bill got the fire going, and we enjoyed bratwurst for supper. 
An hour or so after supper, the rain clouds rolled in. What a bummer! We did not pull out the awning because it was supposed to be nice all weekend. I guess that's what we get for living in Oregon, and being in the Cascade Mountains! We headed inside, played a few games of cribbage, and then headed to bed.
Saturday, we woke to partly cloudy skies. We started a fire, and put up the awning. We had showers on & off, but nothing major...at least not until we started off on a hike, and got poured on!! We headed back, dried off, some napped while others watched a movie....and when we woke, the sun was out! Charlie had already restarted the fire, since it had gone out, and we enjoyed chili in the dutch oven for supper...always love fire cooking. After dinner, we enjoyed a few hours of campfire, visiting, stories, and just relaxing. 
Nothing like a good fire. We headed in around 11, Charlie & Bill watched the end of the movie that they had started earlier, the kids headed to bed, and I hit the shower...ah...smokey hair!
Sunday we woke to beautiful sunshine. To tide us over until we got the fire started, I made a few donuts. Next time we will pack more fixin's for donuts! We decided to hang at camp, and do our devotion around the campfire. Each person took a turn reading a section from the chapter we would have read from at church this morning...and we had the commentary to study it deeper. It was a rich time, and Charlie rounded us out in prayer.
We enjoyed a great breakfast that Bill cooked over the fire...French Toast and bacon. 
After cleanup, we headed out once again to hike...but this time were rewarded with a sweet hike, great weather, and some good pictures!
We headed back to camp, relaxed a bit, and headed home. Enjoy the pictures!
Friday was a rush home from work, eat, and out the door again with Bill, Jen & Brady as we headed to the Marriage Conference at Calvary Chapel Corvallis. We arrived a few minutes late, but did not miss any of the speaker. We heard Ken Ortiz from Calvary Chapel Spokane, who does many marriage conferences. He was incredible. On Friday night he said "In wrapping up for this evening...." We all looked at our watches, and it was already 90 minutes since he'd started to speak...it felt like 15. He was engaging, funny, and best of all, downright honest.
We left the conference, and headed to Shari's for dessert. We walk in and run into Scott Hicks, who we had just met a few weeks before at Christwalks Award dinner for a contest that Kristin had entered. As it turned out, he knew both Robert & Charlie, and was doing the music there for the evening. He is James Taylor gone Christian! He writes all of his own stuff, and was just a great guy to listen to. He remembered us (at least he acted as if he did) and we told him we needed more CD's....if you stop by Shari's in Lebanon...and Scott is working...make sure to ask him for a CD. He's incredible!! Here's his YouTube page. My favorite is Daddy are you Watching, but I don't see it on Youtube yet! We need to collect the rest of his CD's as Robert says he has more than one!
We headed home, and headed to bed, as we head to be on the road at 7:30 to Corvallis for day two. We were not disappointed, and spent from 9:00-3:30 enjoying the conference, the day and the company. I came home refreshed, renewed, and WOW...what work it is to keep a good marriage going! I do know this...I loved this saying and will remember it always. "I'm at my best when I'm with you..." Awesome!
Ryan & Kristin were great to take care of the kids while we were gone.
We headed home, and spent the rest of the afternoon & evening hanging out. McKenzie (Kristin's friend from Washington and grand daughter to our neighbor) was down for a visit, and has been here all week. Her Aunt Adele, also our neighbor, bought McKenzie & Little Ryan (her brother) a pair of chicks--Some type with the word "Red" in it. 
They are cute little rust colored chicks. They kids have fun playing with them all Saturday afternoon.
We had awesome weather....what a beautiful weekend...Thank You Lord for the sunshine....it's always prettiest when the sun shines!
We enjoyed a good steak supper, a great evening on the porch (the weather & the view were perfect) 
and then a movie after the little kids went to bed...."Old Dogs". Such a funny, clean, family movie. We all headed to bed around 12, and crashed!
Sunday brought a nice sunny morning, and we headed off to church. Melissa and Brandon met us there, and we enjoyed a great service. We headed back home for lunch a nice visit with everyone before Lissa & Brandon headed out...which Jen & Brady took off shortly after...taking Ryan along with them for a few days break...and a chance to go fishing with Brady!
Just before everyone left...the phone rang....the neighbor. Mom would not let the kids take the chicks home...would Kristin like to keep them until they were big enough to pass on to a family with adult chickens? Kristin thought they would never ask. She spent the afternoon getting everything organized and together....(the neighbor had EVERYTHING she needed) and as she was playing with them on the porch Bill said "When I saw those chicks earlier this week....I just KNEW they were going to end up HERE!" He's a good daddy....
We will keep you posted. Here are the pics from a great weekend!! Enjoy!
Today was a sad day at the Richard's household. Probably more so for me, since I'm the real animal lover in the house.
Bailey came to us through a friend, who knew we were looking for a companion for Kahlua. Hey, almost free puppies--so, when Kristin was 3 weeks old, we headed out to look at puppies. Margaret, Bills Mom was out to visit and thought I was totally insane for even looking into getting another dog. But, we did, and she has been a great dog.
She had a soft heart, and always was wanting to care for whatever animals we had. When Ashley had kittens and abandoned them, Bailey would gently pick them up in her mouth, and carry them to her bed, to try to care for them. When a neighbors cat got hit on the road, and left a litter of kittens, Bailey sought out her kittens under a house, and brought one home, looking at us as if to say "Can I keep it". I wish I had a picture of that cat dangling from her mouth...it's whole head gently held in her big mouth, and the body hanging. We did let her keep the kitten, which Ashley ended up nursing, as she'd just been fixed, and little did we know, she had a litter in her, too soon to deliver. She had milk come in,and saved this little kitten. 
Bailey would share her bed with whatever animal we had...as she did with Ashley, and 'Her kitten" Sinatra.
Bailey has been so sad since Kahlua crossed over that rainbow bridge in Sept of 2001....she has never been the same since her caretaker went away...which is when I became her "mother"---when inside and she outside, she would follow from window to window, wanting to be near. A more faithful companion I never had.
This last year has been tough on Bailey, although she had trouble getting up & down steps, she would not sleep downstairs...it was next to where we were or nothing. She didn't seem to be in too much pain, but did move very slow, in which we've especially noticed this last 6 months.
It was a tough decision to do, but I've always been a firm believer in not keeping an animal for yourself, but to say goodbye when it is time. Even to the last minute...she was worried that I was crying....what a faithful girl. 
Bailey, the morning she left us...
It was very peaceful, she simply closed her eyes, and fell asleep. I am thankful to Dr Amy and the staff at Brownsville Animal Clinic, as they allowed me to be with her to the end...as well as let me sit as long as I wanted with her afterward. To them, I will always be grateful.
Ann Landers had this in her column many years ago...and I was reminded of it this morning when my cousin Sarah said she'd be praying for me.....while this never speaks of heaven...it's there with my Father that I know we will be again!
Thank You Bailey, for your wonderful spirit, your loving gentleness, for the way you always took care of our kids as they grew, and for worrying over me right up until your last breath. You will be missed. My desk chair is a lonely place right now without you laying right beside me.
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
Ann Landers Version
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth.
It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors.
Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge,
there is a land of meadows,
hills and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies,
the pet goes to this place.
There is always food and water and warm spring weather.
The old and frail animals are young again.
Those who are maimed are made whole again.
They play all day with each other.
There is only one thing missing.
They are not with their special person who loved them on earth.
So, each day they run and play until
the day comes
when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!
The nose twitches!
The ears are up!
The eyes are staring!
And this one suddenly runs from the group!
You have been seen,
and when you and your special friend meet,
you take him or her in your arms and embrace.
Your face is kissed again and again
and again,
and you look once more
into the eyes of your trusting pet.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together,
never again to be separated.
Today was a beautiful day. Bill & I got some things done this morning, Kristin arrived home at 11 from her sleep over, and Ryan's plans with his friend got canceled because his friend woke up with the stomach flu. I guess we were supposed to spend the weekend together!
It was such a beautiful afternoon, and Bill had lots of homework, and Kristin wanted to hang out with McKenzie who was visiting her Grandma (who happens to live next door to us), so Ryan, Charlie & I took off with camera's in hand to Cascadia State Park, which is about 15-20 minutes from here. We weren't sure if our destination would be the waterfalls, or the Petroglyphs.
We started down the river trail, and decided to head to the Indian Cave. The river was beautiful, the day was beautiful, and the wind was blowing a perfect breeze, the temperature at 70 was incredible for hiking, and we headed out. As we walked along the river, my mind continued to thank God for these blessings around us. This just didn't all appear, it's not all kept in harmony with the changing of the seasons, but by God's big plan....God's wonderful creation. My feelings of feeling so close to God were confirmed when Charlie said he was really enjoying walking through the woods, the beautiful greens, the spring flowers and the river, and he said that he couldn't help but think that this is what the Garden of Eden looked like. He quoted how God put Adam in the garden and said....all you have to do is sit in the cool of the day, name my animals, and enjoy my creation. Then sin entered the perfect world.
I can say, I felt no sin, only gratitude, only the blessings that God put around me for not only this afternoon, but every day when I wake up and do nothing more than roll over to face the window, and that view that I will never take for granted is there...ever changing, but ever beautiful. Thank You Lord for all you've done for me, for my family, for my friends. My your blessings shine through me always. May I be a living testimony to you.
Our afternoon of walking through the woods brought us upon a few caves. We shared the stories that Tony our Forest Service friend shared with us regarding the cougars...Charlie approached cautiously, when Ryan growled like a cougar....now, mind you, Charlie is a big guy..but can he jump!! We had a good laugh...thanks for laughing with us Charlie.
We arrived at the cave, and met another family there Geocaching. We shared what we knew about the cave, and enjoyed catching some sun, and taking in the pictures on the wall. We took the path along the river back, and played on the shore in a few spots, and enjoyed a great hike. We figure we did about 4 miles....and enjoyed taking it all in. Sorry that Bill & Kristin didn't join us...as it just didn't seem the same without my best friend....but there will be more times, and homework is important stuff! Enjoy the pictures!
Friday was a leisurely day. We had breakfast and Bill worked on his Dad's computer. We did some laundry, and then had a short nap...the first in over a week!
Off to Dixboro (Think that was the name of the town) to a fun old store, that took us 30-45 minutes to go through. It was tons of fun, and thankfully, there was no room in the suitcase, or I might have brought a few things home!
We picked up pizza and headed back to Mom & Dad R's--where Bill's sisters, brother-in-law and nephew came to hang out, and spend some time together. Unfortunately, my brother had other commitments, and being we were out of town so much...we didn't get another opportunity to get together, but I am very thankful for the time we did have and that he was able to bring the kids over with him.
Some pictures we took while we were all together. Jeff had already gone home, or we might have done some entire family shots. Oh well!
Saturday started early, both Bill & I awake at 6:30--probably anxious to go home. We were both missing the kids, and missing home. I must admit, being out in Ypsilanti, where it was nice & quiet made a big difference in our stay there this time. Much more relaxing! We headed to the airport at 9am, and were through security and to our gate by 9:50--lots of time to hang out before the flight.
We had a beautiful day for flying, and I watched as we flew out of Detroit, and over Michigan, over lake Michigan, and heading west, that the areas of people grew more thinned, and as we headed over the Rockies, I realized....wow...I was truly a Western gal now....having really missed the beauty that God surrounds us with here in Oregon each day...mountains, green all year, trees, streams, rivers, lakes, and fresh air....I'd forgotten how much I appreciated that!! Thank You Lord for fresh air!
We landed in Portland 20 minutes early and as we headed to baggage, I heard "Mommy"---even out of context, you never miss the sound of your own child....as Kristin was running towards us to greet us. Nate & Katie had brought the kids in to meet us--what a treat!
We got our luggage and headed out to a clean car--WOW NATE, thanks--tires armoralled, rims sparkly shiny, outside washed, inside swept--inside & out looked awesome. What a treat. Thanks again Nate...you can have the Suburban anytime!
We decided to go to IKEA--as we had never been there. I figured 30 minutes or so? Ha! It was almost 3 hours before we came out of there! We had a blast, and then went to get some dinner. We headed south around 9pm, and got back to Brownsville, dropped off Nate, Katie & Audrie, then headed home...another 25 minutes. We had the truck unloaded, and were closing down the house to head to bed at midnight...(AKA 3am to us who's body clocks were still on Eastern Time!). It felt so good to be home.
We made it up and out for church this morning...it felt so good to be back in the swing of things. Home afterward to get some laundry going, and of course a nap! Feeling a bit under the weather....sore throat and earache, but praying I will feel better for school in the morning. Thank You Lord for a safe trip, great visits, wonderful friends who stayed with our kids, and most of all...thanks, for where we live!
Thursday started early as Gayle came to Margaret's to pick me up. We then headed off to McDonalds for coffee at 8:15AM....and managed to spend until 11:30 before we heading downriver to do some touring around. Our destination was Olive Garden, and we had a great time visiting over lunch.
Then for the big adventure.....a stroll through Eureka Heights!! We had a blast, and although I didn't have a camera, we took a few ucky shots with the cell phone. Better than no memories at all! Our time together ended all too soon, and we headed back to Bill's folks.
Bill & his parents spent a day at the Dearborn house, cleaning up, packing some things into the car, and heading back to Ypsi. We regrouped and headed to Cracker Barrel for dinner...wow...my two most favorite places, all in one day!
After dinner, we met back at Margarets with Randy, Patty, Uncle Tom, Aunt Kathy, Meri & Arianna. It was good to get to visit, and spend just a few short hours before everyone packed up and headed out again.
One more day before heading back to Oregon. It's been a good trip...lots of visits, some good quality time, and of course, lots of laughs.
Check out the few pictures from today....
The day was beautiful and we headed out to Lansing to spend the day with TEAM Hendy. Todd, Erika, Abigail & Madison. It was an awesome day, and the sun was gorgeous!
We arrived at Todd & Erika's around noon, and we played outside with the kids while we visited. Lunchtime hit, and we had YUMMY Chili, and then hung out with Abigail as she painted (We have a beautiful addition for our fridge), had some laughs, Bill snuck in a nap, and we enjoyed the sunshine while the kids played after naps. The day went way too fast, and before we knew it, we were eating dinner, and ready to head home.
Thanks for a great afternoon, and a fun visit. We love you guys.
