Ok, so it’s been a while since I’ve been by to blat (blog/chat) or I guess I could call it chog (chat/blog). I have good reason, though, but these are my new words I made up for the day. Call it writer’s license. So since this is a travel-blog, I will continue with our timeline.

So for my reasons? I've been traveling of course. Some areas where we stay do not have internet. I can't believe I can actually live without it! I didn't think it would be possible. Actually, it's not, which is why I now have a T-mobile Smartphone. It's a like mini windows computer on my phone and I can have internet wherever I go. We're about to test out that theory I'm sure, as I hit the road again. However, I have been on the internet for 13 years, so I do find it hard to part with my old friend "Reference" for any length of time!

In Hawaii, I had internet a lot of places we went on my phone, even though the map shows no service there. But, oh yea, back to my reasons...I was having to much fun in Hawaii for three weeks to even think about blogging. I guess I was slogging (slacking on my blogging).

About my blog...Where was I? Oh, yes…..back to Central Oregon. We staid for a few months in Metolius, Oregon which is between Redmond and Madras. Incidentally, Metolius is about 1 hour south of Wasco. However, it has a lot more civilization! The people were very friendly. We attended church in Madras, and the members there were oh so friendly. It was a great experience, and I still keep in touch with some friends we met there.

I met the coolest, neatest Lady Loretta, who is a mad-mad quilter; a woman of many talents. When we would talk on the phone, she would be castrating her sheep, and holding her cell phone in one fell swoop! I don’t now how she does it. … No, seriously, I don’t wanna know, but props to her. All I have to say is you are awesome L! She is a true cowgirl, and he husband is a real cowboy! They are awesome,k and she wasn't just multi-talented, multi-faceted, but she was also a comedian. Wow, could she make us laugh!

Loretta sent me off on her 4-wheeler to photograph her 2000 acre ranch along with the 100s of Herfords and Black Angus, and Suffolk sheep (from Scotland), 3 huge, beautiful ,white dogs - Great Pyrenees (one named Happy) and 2 llamas: a boy named Sue and a girl named Lou. I may post some photos of that later. I love the country feel at her ranch, it had a sacred feeling. I renamed her ranch (only in my mind) "Healing Heart Ranch!" It was just a beautiful experience, and Central Oregon is a beautiful area. It looks a lot like Utah.

Another highlight of our time in Metolius was Wendy and the kids. Wendy and the kids were able to come on the road with her husband Clint who works with my husband, and they stayed for a while. Oh Wendy…she’s a great laugh. It seems that’s all we do around them. Come to think of it, we all laugh a lot together, me, my husband, and his crew and their families. What a hoot! Wendy and the kids and I hung out. It was fun exploring parts of Madras and Redmond with them. Boo sure loves those kids. And they get soooo excited to see Boo. Oh, Wendy is a mad-mad quilter, too. She’s got skills. More recently I found another talent she was hiding from me – she’s an awesome painter!

Hey did I mention the “water – water everywhere” factor of Oregon? Within 10 minutes every direction there was a body of water. Boo was in dog heaven swimming in so many bodies of water! East of us were two….Lake Billy Chinook at the Cove Palisades State Park where Richard, Kyle (Rich’s best friend since Jr. High) and me and Boo went swimming; and lake Simtustis. Oh how I wish I could post the photos as I go. I may just be a blidiot (a blogging idiot; beginner) and don’t know how. Anyway, Haystack Resevoir, and Ochoco Resevoir were to the east of us, and the Prineville Resevoir up from Ochoco, Crooked River, Deschutes River (all the way down through Bend, too). We visited the sites above Lake Simtustis at the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

One day I went with another lady to the Redmond County Fair and saw all the 4H stuff, and pett a bunch of animals, then to Smith Rock State Park – what an incredible place to photograph! People come from all over the country to rock climb here. Richard and I ventured down to Bend a few times, and went to some festivals and some farmers markets that were totally cool. I love that town. We went to a street fair and danced at a lived concert street dance in Bend. I think it was 4th of July? That was a blast! Richard bought me the coolest pair of turquoise earrings their that I wear often (thank you, Honey).

Kyle Richard and I took a trip down to Crater Lake (a few hours south of Metolius). That lake is a crater from a volcano that imploded....with no inlets or outlets. It is the bluest water I've ever seen! We checked out the lodge and watched a video about the bizarre occurence of this lake. It was a fabulous and educational experience!