Dogs

Bailey and Zoe

Dogs have been a part of the family for quite some time.  Gail grew up with dogs but I did not.  Shortly after Valerie was born, they family took a vote on whether or not to get a dog.  Valerie couldn't even talk yet, but she voted for the dog. 

The first dog was Bailey, a Cocker Spaniel.  He was conceived accidentally when one of Gail's friends left her dog in heat outside.  I affectionately called him butthead.  He wasn't real bright. 

Gail, on the other hand, is very bright and good at training dogs.  As long as she was holding treats in her hand, Bailey would do most anything.  She even made him a performing dog as attested to by the entry into Maria's 4th Grade Talent Show.  He was probably not the dog she would have picked, but he was a dog.

The second dog in the picture is Zoe, an Australian Shepherd rescue dog.  He came about because as Bailey was getting old, I asked her if she wanted another dog.  Before I knew it, she had found one and was training her as well. 

Professor Henry Jones Jr,
i.e., Indy

Bailey passed away in May, 2004.  Zoe in 2013.  She talked me into another dog about 6 months later.  Indy is an "All American Black Dog", i.e., a Lab mutt.  She's trained him well, although he probably gets away with more than the other two did.  You know how it is with the baby of the family. 

Sketches from the Young

When we went to visit my parents years ago, we did not have the luxury of taking devices with video games or other diversions.  The kids would have to pack some their own toys, or become creative.

We ran across this page in a notebook when we were visiting my parents recently, and it reminded me that one of the favorite activities of my daughters was making stories.  The stories had fanciful characters and far out plots. 

Apparently, this story was about dogs.  Valerie was always very good at creating fanciful worlds filled with furry friends.  Her attention to detail always included naming her pets as well. 

The story may be lost in time, but the images remain. 

Summer Vacation 2003 - Washington, Oregon, Northern California

As the kids were growing up, we made it a point to take summer vacations, and given the number of people, it was usually a road trip.  We frequently traveled long distances, so we had plenty of time in the car.  One popular activity was keeping a journal of our trips.  I found this while cleaning out some boxes late last year.  It contains our road trip to Oregon.

I apologize for the lack of resolution in some of the pictures, the scanner had difficulties with some colors.  And I made the images pretty big so that there's a chance you can read them. 

This was also the trip where one of my favorite pictures was taken. 

Requim for a Tree

Earlier this week, a storm in Northern California blew down a tree in Calaveras Big Trees State Park.  (Drive-Through Tree Felled by Winter Storm)  In 2009, we took a vacation to the Sierra Nevada's and happened to stay at Angel's Camp. 

One of the days, we visited Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and found the famous Drive-Through Tree.  Although you could not drive through the tree anymore, just standing inside the tree was pretty impressive. 

Although cutting a hole through the tree probably hastened it's demise, I don't judge those who did it.  Death is just another part of the cycle of life.  The remains of the tree will decompose and become nutrients to the next generation of Sequoias.  

Favorite Pictures: Daughters on Sea Lion Statue

In 2003, we traveled down to Arcata, California for summer vacation.  We spent much of the time driving along the coast in Oregon and Northern California.  Along the way, we stopped at Sea Lion Caves in Florence, Oregon.  We saw this statue, Stellar Sea Lion Family, and decided we needed to have a family picture as well.  

Valerie

Valerie followed Corinne by two and a half years just about to the day.  With the third, we thought we had figured out this giving birth thing.  The others went quickly enough that I was wondering if she was going to be born in the back seat.

During baby classes, they tell you to pack a bag to keep yourself occupied in the delivery room in case it was a long labor.  We skipped that step.  We probably shouldn't have.  This labor started with Gail's water breaking, not so much the contractions.  The morning dragged on, still no contractions.  Finally, the doctor told us to head to the hospital. 

In the afternoon, they decided that it needed to induce labor, so they gave Gail Pitosin to speed things up.  By the time that kicked in, Gail was in serious pain but it was too late for a epidural.  (Gail likes to point out that I got annoyed because labor started right in the middle of a movie.)  Shortly after midnight, Valerie grudgingly came into the world. 

Three for three on the girl front.  Once again, our friend Jeff drew a beautiful drawing for the birth announcement.