More photos!

We also did some hiking while we were in Oregon (although less than we might have liked, since it was VERY hot while we were out there).



This waterfall was the highlight of one hike we took - and also where we stopped to have lunch (and turn around)! It was noticeably cooler near the water, where you could feel the spray and breeze blowing on you.



A beautiful lake surrounded by somewhat marshy fields. Notice how well the "keep out of this area" signs are working on the local populace...



On the waterfall hike, we passed through an area that had been burned in a forest fire a few years back. The dead trees were actually very impressive and, in some ways, beautiful. On many of the trees, the dead trunks had turned a silver-ish shade which was quite striking.

One of my friend's blogs has a "spirit animal" test on it... an amusing way to pass a few minutes. And, amazingly, a way to look, however superficially, at what's important to you...

Your Score: The Cougar

Here's your results! Your spirit animal has a Nobility ranking of 13 out of 18.

Your spirit animal is the cougar. It is a stealthy and deadly protector. With a cougar as a spirit animal, you have nothing to fear in this world. Your life is blessed and you are on the right path. You will still have hard times, but you will pull through them, always stronger for your travails. Congratulations, few are fotunate enough to have such a spirit animal!

***Wondering how this animal was chosen for you? These questions were carefully thought out to see how important you hold certain virtues such as: humanism, self-knowledge, rationalism, the love of freedom and other somewhat Hellenic ideals. Some of the questions were very subtle. Your score was then matched with an animal of corresponding nobility. However, you shouldn't think this was a right/wrong sort of test, but more of an idealistic values test. It's ok to not hold these values, you'll just get an animal spirit of lower stature if you do!***

Link: The What is Your Spirit Animal Test written by FindingEros on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Pictures!

Ok, after much fighting with the wreck of a study closet (to find the photo software), and a bit of struggle with Vista (to install the software), I have photos of the recent trip to Oregon! Here are a couple to start with.



The view from the front yard. Amazing - and unbelievable to two City Kids (tm) that there are views like this from people's houses. :-)



The fish pond - a koi, a catfish, and a whole bunch of middling-to-small goldfish. It's very relaxing to watch the fish swim - and they're "trained" to come to the edge of the pond when they hear/feel feet approaching. Feeding frenzy!

Traveling

We just got back from four days in central Oregon - lovely weather, if a little too hot for optimal vacation time. :-) We were out to visit Bryan's dad and step-mom, which is always nice. They have a lovely house in the middle of the high desert (which is quite the change from Illinois!).

We did do a little hiking, a little sitting by the pond, and a little wine drinking. I'll post pictures as soon as I manage to get the photo software working on my new computer.

Steamfresh

If you like veggies - and can't get to the store all the time to get fresh ones - I highly recommend the Steamfresh veggies. I think they're BirdsEye - frozen, and 4 servings cook up in less than 5 minutes in the microwave. Leftovers reheat well, too. :-)

In other news, Cubs took 2 of 3 from the Brewers this weekend. We, of course, saw the one loss. We've decided we can't go see the Cubs again unless they've already clinched a playoff spot - or have been mathematically eliminated.

Have a good week!