Cherries are Ripe, Right on Schedule...

We have three cherry trees, a Bing, a Ranier and a Sour Cherry... they are always ripe right around the 4th of July. The staircase to our deck leads you right through them so you can graze as you go up the stairs. Unfortunately it is a race between the birds and our guests as to who gets them first. They are messy and sticky on the staircase. The good and the bad always seem to go hand in hand :)

My Kids Smilin' in Costa Rica!

Pride of Ownership

I just can't capture the whole RV Park or the peacefulness of it in a photo.

I have a group of five Airstream RV'ers, three motorcyle tent campers, a couple in the Inn pulling a raft behind their SUV- en route to a river float in Idaho, an elderly group of three loving the upper deck of the Inn and the ripe cherry trees, a single gal here for the Cattleman's Convention, and a few other RV'ers that just happened upon us. Over and over again tonight I heard "what a lovely place you have here"... Mike mimics that statement sometimes, but we both know it is the thing that feeds us and keeps us working hard to make this little oasis the special place it is! It has been a very long hard week trying to keep it going by myself, but I retire tonight patting myself on the back with a "job well done!"

Zoe, Zander and Zink.... We went to our "Hidden Hole" today. These have got to be some of the luckiest dogs to live and play here :)

Mom... Zoe - 5 1/2



Zander 10 mos.











Zink -2 1/2
Zink dives down and picks up huge rocks off the river bottom and brings them to shore and then goes back in for more. Oh these dogs are such a delight and good company in the absence of Mike and kids.... It was a much needed escape for me from this busy inn... just an hour of sun and water can rejuvenate me.

This is the basket I recently finished and donated to the Hospice Auction

Last fall I made the frame out of our grapevines, added the antler and couldn't find any good willow or birch to weave so I let it sit unfinished, all winter. I finally completed it Saturday, June 1st while I sat in the yard tending to the Saturday Market, and after a request for a donation to the John Day Hospice. I decided to take a photo so I could remember it. What I like about it is the weight and balance it has when picked up by the antler. There is such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when ya hold up that finished project. I suppose it is like that for most creative accomplishments... like Aunt Bea and her handmade quilts, and the saddle maker down the street... how dare I put myself in their artistic company!

I Pray When I Putt - I Wonder if Anyone Noticed.?

I am sitting here relishing in the fact that Mike and I won a two -day couples' golf tournament.... It was a "Chapman" format... we both hit off the tee, then hit each other's ball, and then played alternate shot into the hole with the better ball... anyway we shot 69 both yesterday and today and ended up winning by one stroke. The couple that we always go head to head against, shot a 64, 75 .... I played with confidence and surpized myself a few times! (long, staight dirives are SO fun) Mike and I "pulled our cart in the same direction" all weekend... from running the inn to a team on the golf course... my mommy would be proud.... anyway, about my blog title... I was re-thinking some of those four-foot testy putts I had to make today and realized that I actually close my eyes and selfishly ask God to give me wisdom as I line up my putts... everyone has their own brand of pre-shot routine... mine is a quick "help" in prayer!! And, ahh now that it is over, it is a feeling of thankfulness! How lucky am I !?!

Six, Six, Six

Get Right

(with God)

or

Get Left

(Behind)