Fish, Fudge, Friday

This has to be one of the most gorgeious highways in America. Hwy 101 - Redwood Highway. We drove through the Redwoods, along the coast line down to Eureka, CA.




Eureka is a quaint little harbor town. It is known for the many Victorian homes it contains...amongst other things.






In addition to the boardwalk, horse and buggies, fun signs....we went to see Mike's oldest sister, Mary K, and her dh, John. We visited, took them to lunch, went to the boardwalk....fed pigeons and found a GINORMOUS selection of salt water taffy and fudge. Just for new readers....Mary K is the one on the left in red, John is the gentleman on the far left.




On the way back to Crescent City we stopped in Arcata to visit more relatives. Mike has an uncle, Jack, who lives in Mexico most of the year. He had called earlier in the week and Jack was in Mexico but we planned to stop by and see Aunt Bev. When we stopped Jack was home....and Nancy (cousin) and her children were also there. What a fun surprise. We had a GREAT fish fry....and lots of fun catching up. In fact, our children were unaware that they had an Uncle Jack and second cousins in Arcata.




Uncle Jack & Aunt Bev on the far left. Cousin Nancy and Bruce on the far right....and the two kids in the front girl and boy are Nancy's children Emily and Zach.


Another highlight of Friday is that Earl, Mike's 1/2 brother has flown in from Coloardo Springs. We look forward to fun weekend spending more time with him....and Mike's second sister Rebecca will be in too.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Sleep Out!

Here are some photos from the sleep out. I'm sure Jared will write more up about the event....and since THIS is supposed to be a family journal I may have to not only link to him, but rewrite the stories here. LOL

This is another family tradition. There were s'mores, bon fires, rain, rocks and sand....all the things that a good camp out is made of. OH - and m/ms for Bible verses.

Bre and I talked about seasons yesterday. It was two summers ago that I was SAD to miss the hike up to Marble Cave as I watched little ones. I stayed home with Stacia last night...but by our next trip down this season will be over and I will be sleeping on the beach once again....something I've not done since little ones began to arrive. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Rafts, Rocks and FIRE

The children have been dreaming of building a raft out of driftwood.

We spent yesterday on the river. We've enjoyed a run of great weather...like none I've experienced in 27 years of visiting. Mike and the kids built their raft and all had fun either floating it or watching it.













We ate lunch on the sandy beach. The beach USED to be very rocky. The beach and the bottom of the river are now sandy. It's fun to watch the river change with the years. We discussed sand ettiquette and I was reminded NOT to bring supplies to make lunch at the beach. ::snort::


THIS is BIG ROCK....

...generations have been swimming or floating out to Big Rock and playing. The water around Big Rock is DEEP and so the rock itself is great for diving off of.... I KNOW but GENERATIONS of Gocker's have been doing this and Mike is always very careful to check the water levels and such before the kids jump/dive.


Over the years a small, sandy beach has developed by Big Rock....we spent the afternoon down here swimming, sunning, reading and sunning. Stacia, our little fish, brought me an orange life jacket and told me, "Please give me a life so I can be safe." She and Zander had been wading by the sandy beach and not out in the deep waters of the rock. I obliged. The next thing I knew she was SWIMMING out to Big Rock....if the others could so could she....then Zander swam out and back several times, not about to be outdone by his little sister. I stayed on the beach with my book.

We had the beach all to ourselves - with the exception of these visitors.

Fire? That is what I'm sure several of us are feeling this a.m. despite the 30 spf sports sunscreen we used. The BACK of my knees and thighs are burning.....Stacia is up now and yes, she has a moon burn (you figure it out).

This girl did not get sunburned...

We came back to the trailer. I made cornbread to go with the stew that had been simmering in the crockpot all day.

All but Stacia and I went out to sleep on the river beach. We did sandy laundry, watched a movie and slept.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Family Watershed Moment - Part 2

A comment was made last night that brought great clarity to an issue I've been pondering..... It was said, "If the weather is nice tomorrow we'll play on the river, if it's bad we'll go to the ocean!"
NOW I get why none of my family love the ocean as I do.....it's always wet, foggy and COLD....and the Northern Pacific coast is nothing like the oceans in Africa or the Philippines. I must work to show the family the fun of the ocean.....

TODAY it was gorgeous....






We stopped at the Chart Room....a little restaurant right on the beach...


From the window you can see Battery Lighthouse, the Ocean (obviously), surfers, fishing boats and sea lions.





These two hung back on the dock while I walked out for closer photos.


Stacia came with me. After the sea lion slid into the ocean she looked down....and said, "It's lots of water without a bottom." She wanted BACK ON LAND NOW, and wouldn't look at ME for a photo for NOTHING. LOL




We found Salt Water Taffy.

We went grocery shopping.

We baked cookies, played games and made dinner.


Hmmm.....I suppose the bottom line is, "I did laundry, bought groceries, cooked and cleaned," but it sure seemed like a fun day. ::snort:: Note there is not one obscene Longhorn gesture in this post.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Family Watershed Moment - Part 1

Do you see it? The kid is flashing the Longhorn sign when a bright light appeared...a halo around his head....and the rest of the family jumped on the Longhorn bandwagon. Who are we to fight such a divine signal of the error of our ways? Roy, Jared is sure that you informed him that an Aggie PHD stands for Post Hole Digger? You are not helping... ::snort:: It appears that most the family has gone over to the dark side.

Yesterday, we split up. Half decided to hike up Little Bald Hill and then down via Sheep Pen Gulch. We knew Stacia wasn't up for the hike. I've been having "leg issues" again and we knew I wasn't up for the hike. Arielle and BreAnne opted to keep the two of us company.

These brave souls set out around 9:00 a.m. and hit the trail at 9:30 a.m. We were not to see them again for 12.5 hours....a full 5.5 hours later than Mike predicted. ::snort:: Mike has enhanced the reputation of his hikes amongst the children. I learned long, long ago. ::snort::


Years ago, before the arrival of children, it became our family tradition to hike to the top of Little Bald Hill and plant fruit tree seeds. Mike mentioned last night that we need to take saplings up next time. I guess our orchard is not doing as well as hoped. ::snort:: This is a beautiful hike and there IS a trail....Krista told us a bit ago that she plans to have her wedding at the top of Little Bald Hill....guess y'all better start training or learn to jump out of a plane. LOL

Zander reported late last night that the "hike would have gone much quicker if Krista didn't have to keep stopping to take pictures of flowers." ::snort:: Guess she's her Mom's daughter.












Is it the hike or the shock of making an obscene Longhorn gesture that is causing Zander such alarm?




You know you've reached the top of Little Bald Hill when you arrive at the outhouse.


Lunch and Play in the meadow at the top. Even the shadows make Longhorn gestures around here.












It took four hours for the G team to hike to the top of the "hill". It took 8 1/2 hours for them to hike back down via Sheep Pen Gulch. Why?


There was NO TRAIL... ::snort:: Zander labeled Mike "The Scout".




Finally back at the trailer for the Chicken Dinner that has been waiting...and showers....

The tired hikers...


Krista displays why one should never go hiking in capris. ::snort::


They ate, showered, and slept. I'm not sure if Zander managed to sing througout the hike. I DO know that I'm up early washing loads of muddy clothes.

For a first hand account of the hike, visit Jared's Blog.

Still a bit of time in the dryers, I think I'll go write about another family watershed moment.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...