Tuesday, May 19
It took longer than I expected to travel the winding and hilly roads between Ft. Smith and Hot Springs, Arkansas, so I arrived at Aunt Dean's house a few minutes before noon. I walked up to her patio and found her asleep in a chair there. I called to her softly, and she immediately woke up and smiled at me. She looks older than when I last saw her, (25 years ago, I think), but she still looks like the woman I remember. I, on the other hand, have changed a great deal in this amount of time. We talked about the memories I have of her mother and father, and she really enjoyed and remembered many of the same things, and told me more that I never heard before. Then her youngest daughter, who lives across the street from her, came over to check on who the stranger was visiting her mom, and I met my cousin that I hadn't seen before. Her name is Marlene, and she provided me with address and phone links to the rest of my cousins on Aunt Dean's side. Aunt Dean wanted me to see another of my cousins who lives across town, so she came with me and gave me driving directions. She is over 90 years old, and is very fit and mentally sharp, although she will have surgery tomorrow to remove a cataract that has obscured her vision in one eye. I was able to pray for her about that before I left. I feel so blessed and honored to have found and spoken with two of my aunts, at my age! Can you feel the praise in my heart, can you imagine the hallelujah dance going on in my mind, even though I am too tired to do it physically tonight? Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Travel through OK
Monday, May 18
All the tables were occupied when I went to eat the free breakfast at the motel in Amarillo this morning. A middle aged man invited me to share his table. As we struck up a conversation, he told me that he and a friend were using their vacation time to be storm searchers, but the weather was too good. I told him that it is probably my fault, because I have been praying that I don't encounter any tornadoes as I cross these plains.
I drove the entire width of Oklahoma today. The worst part was seeing a semi truck hit a great blue heron. The best part was seeing Lake Eufala.
The crowning point came after I registered to stay in Fort Smith Arkansas. I tried again to call the number I found on People Search for my father's sister, my Aunt Dean. She answered! I am going to go see her in the morning. She lives in the Hot Springs National Park. The Lord God who has kept me safe from tornadoes is also giving me my heart's desires on this trip!
All the tables were occupied when I went to eat the free breakfast at the motel in Amarillo this morning. A middle aged man invited me to share his table. As we struck up a conversation, he told me that he and a friend were using their vacation time to be storm searchers, but the weather was too good. I told him that it is probably my fault, because I have been praying that I don't encounter any tornadoes as I cross these plains.
I drove the entire width of Oklahoma today. The worst part was seeing a semi truck hit a great blue heron. The best part was seeing Lake Eufala.
The crowning point came after I registered to stay in Fort Smith Arkansas. I tried again to call the number I found on People Search for my father's sister, my Aunt Dean. She answered! I am going to go see her in the morning. She lives in the Hot Springs National Park. The Lord God who has kept me safe from tornadoes is also giving me my heart's desires on this trip!
Sunday, May 17
I got up early this morning to take my friend, who isn't nameless but prefers anonymity, to catch a shuttle bus to Albuerqueque, where she hop-skipped flights back to Tennessee. She made it home safely, she called this evening to tell me so. I was sad to see her go, but Jiffy was happy to reclaim his spot on the front seat.
I took pictures of the oldest church in Santa Fe, then went to a fairly new church, where the worship and praise singing was very much like my home church, Celebration. It is interesting to me that this last Sunday of my trip is the only one that I was a total stranger to the church. God has done such amazing things, given me such a new picture of many facets of my life and relationship to Him.
This evening's stopping place is Amarillo, Texas. I remembered seeing mountains to the Northwest when I was here last, but was disappointed that I couldn't see them this time. Atmospheric conditions, I guess, or maybe I remembered the wrong town.
I got up early this morning to take my friend, who isn't nameless but prefers anonymity, to catch a shuttle bus to Albuerqueque, where she hop-skipped flights back to Tennessee. She made it home safely, she called this evening to tell me so. I was sad to see her go, but Jiffy was happy to reclaim his spot on the front seat.
I took pictures of the oldest church in Santa Fe, then went to a fairly new church, where the worship and praise singing was very much like my home church, Celebration. It is interesting to me that this last Sunday of my trip is the only one that I was a total stranger to the church. God has done such amazing things, given me such a new picture of many facets of my life and relationship to Him.
This evening's stopping place is Amarillo, Texas. I remembered seeing mountains to the Northwest when I was here last, but was disappointed that I couldn't see them this time. Atmospheric conditions, I guess, or maybe I remembered the wrong town.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Saturday, May 16
My friend and I, and Jiffy, traveled down I25 through Colorado to a few miles inside New Mexico, where we turned and went on a scenic route to Taos, which is an artist colony and also has ancient pueblos. We went to one just north of Taos, which is still the home of contemporary tribal people. The pueblo, made of adobe, was constructed over 1000 years ago. It is over three stories tall. The bottom story is mostly shops for the sale of Indian artistry. It was so fascinating. On the way, we went through snow, rain, and a lightning storm, but it was worth it. Having another person to share the driving, praying, laughing and eating is a lot of fun! We also saw the Rio Grande, which is a wild river with white water this far up in the mountains. Taos is over twice the altitude of Denver! We are spending the night in Santa Fe. We stuffed ourselves at a wonderful restaurant called Zia's. I ate a mango crisp for desert, and thought it compensated satisfactorily for the mango I lost crossing the border into Canada.
My friend and I, and Jiffy, traveled down I25 through Colorado to a few miles inside New Mexico, where we turned and went on a scenic route to Taos, which is an artist colony and also has ancient pueblos. We went to one just north of Taos, which is still the home of contemporary tribal people. The pueblo, made of adobe, was constructed over 1000 years ago. It is over three stories tall. The bottom story is mostly shops for the sale of Indian artistry. It was so fascinating. On the way, we went through snow, rain, and a lightning storm, but it was worth it. Having another person to share the driving, praying, laughing and eating is a lot of fun! We also saw the Rio Grande, which is a wild river with white water this far up in the mountains. Taos is over twice the altitude of Denver! We are spending the night in Santa Fe. We stuffed ourselves at a wonderful restaurant called Zia's. I ate a mango crisp for desert, and thought it compensated satisfactorily for the mango I lost crossing the border into Canada.
Visit with a friend
Friday, May 15
When we arrived in Cheyenne last night, our hotel had overbooked, and had no room for me. The staff there called and arranged another booking for me, in a historic hotel downtown. Interesting, but unexpected. (I'm trying to be flexible, but would prefer that things go according to plan, especially when I'm tired.)
The car was still warning-free and functioning normally, even when I was climbing toward Denver, the mile high city. I was going to the hotel there that houses flight crews, because my friend still has free flight priveleges even though she retired from being a flight attendant to become a fork lift operator. She will be with me for a couple days, before she catches a flight home from Albuquerque. We traveled, still at 60 mph, to Pueblo today. I wore off one of her ears today, will work on the other one tomorrow.
When we arrived in Cheyenne last night, our hotel had overbooked, and had no room for me. The staff there called and arranged another booking for me, in a historic hotel downtown. Interesting, but unexpected. (I'm trying to be flexible, but would prefer that things go according to plan, especially when I'm tired.)
The car was still warning-free and functioning normally, even when I was climbing toward Denver, the mile high city. I was going to the hotel there that houses flight crews, because my friend still has free flight priveleges even though she retired from being a flight attendant to become a fork lift operator. She will be with me for a couple days, before she catches a flight home from Albuquerque. We traveled, still at 60 mph, to Pueblo today. I wore off one of her ears today, will work on the other one tomorrow.
Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Bears
Thursday, May 14
Today was very interesting. On our way to the giant-sized mountain sculptures, Jiffy and I drove through a place called Bear Country, where the humans stay in their cages, (the cars) and the wild animals are free and roaming around. We saw elk, reindeer, wolves, mountain lions and a plethora of bears. Jiffy growled and was ready to fight the wolves and bears. He especially did not like the bears, because they approached our cage with a cheeky impudence. Quite a photo op, especially when I saw two of the bears, cranky with the end of hibernation, rear up and trade punches.
I saw Mount Rushmore for the third time in my life. They have built a much more substantial and interesting viewing plaza than when I was there 40+ years ago. The faces are still the same - majestic. Crazy Horse, only 17 miles away, is impressive, but unfinished. It may take another 50 years at the rate they appear to be going, but they now have specialized tools and more funding, so it may be going faster now.
Trouble developed on the way to Cheyenne: the car had a warning light come on, and according to the owner's manual, it indicates problems with the transaxle. I think that means the transmission. I called Jonny, my son, who gave me some mechanical advice, but more importantly, prayed with me. I had stopped at a service station, so I turned the car off and went in and asked for the number of a mechanic I could call after hours. When I went back out and started the car again, the warning light was off. Jonny told me to drive at 60 mph to avoid stress on the transmission, and I did that all the way to Cheyenne. I think God answered our agreeing prayers. But it is interesting to me again, the demonstration that faith is so much easier in theory than in fact!
Today was very interesting. On our way to the giant-sized mountain sculptures, Jiffy and I drove through a place called Bear Country, where the humans stay in their cages, (the cars) and the wild animals are free and roaming around. We saw elk, reindeer, wolves, mountain lions and a plethora of bears. Jiffy growled and was ready to fight the wolves and bears. He especially did not like the bears, because they approached our cage with a cheeky impudence. Quite a photo op, especially when I saw two of the bears, cranky with the end of hibernation, rear up and trade punches.
I saw Mount Rushmore for the third time in my life. They have built a much more substantial and interesting viewing plaza than when I was there 40+ years ago. The faces are still the same - majestic. Crazy Horse, only 17 miles away, is impressive, but unfinished. It may take another 50 years at the rate they appear to be going, but they now have specialized tools and more funding, so it may be going faster now.
Trouble developed on the way to Cheyenne: the car had a warning light come on, and according to the owner's manual, it indicates problems with the transaxle. I think that means the transmission. I called Jonny, my son, who gave me some mechanical advice, but more importantly, prayed with me. I had stopped at a service station, so I turned the car off and went in and asked for the number of a mechanic I could call after hours. When I went back out and started the car again, the warning light was off. Jonny told me to drive at 60 mph to avoid stress on the transmission, and I did that all the way to Cheyenne. I think God answered our agreeing prayers. But it is interesting to me again, the demonstration that faith is so much easier in theory than in fact!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Travel day
May 12, Tuesday
We woke up to sunshine today in Cody, Wyoming. Our motel was close to the Western Museum and to the Big Horn Sheep Presevation Center, both of them with metal scuptures, which I caught on the camera. It is sunny, but the wind is blowing with a fierce knife edge. The route Peggy Sue (my GPS) planned for us went up, up, up a snow covered mountain. The roads were good, but at the top the wind was blowing across fields of snow and creating snow storms. I tried to get pictures of that, but wind things are elusive, so I don't know if I caught it. It reminded me of the Holy Spirit, so powerful and impossibly beautiful and hard to describe!
I was feeling sorry for the people of Wyoming and So. Dakota that they have to endure this wind all the time, but I think it was especially strong today. When I stopped for gas, the sign for the gas station blew off and went skittering down the road.
When we arrived at our overnight place in Rapid City, I took Jiffy for a walk. As we were crossing the pavement, he became airbourne for a couple seconds, and I had a dog kite! He sure looked astonished when he landed.
Tomorrow we see Mt. Rushmore and Chief Crazy Horse, and then head south, hopefully back into springtime.
We woke up to sunshine today in Cody, Wyoming. Our motel was close to the Western Museum and to the Big Horn Sheep Presevation Center, both of them with metal scuptures, which I caught on the camera. It is sunny, but the wind is blowing with a fierce knife edge. The route Peggy Sue (my GPS) planned for us went up, up, up a snow covered mountain. The roads were good, but at the top the wind was blowing across fields of snow and creating snow storms. I tried to get pictures of that, but wind things are elusive, so I don't know if I caught it. It reminded me of the Holy Spirit, so powerful and impossibly beautiful and hard to describe!
I was feeling sorry for the people of Wyoming and So. Dakota that they have to endure this wind all the time, but I think it was especially strong today. When I stopped for gas, the sign for the gas station blew off and went skittering down the road.
When we arrived at our overnight place in Rapid City, I took Jiffy for a walk. As we were crossing the pavement, he became airbourne for a couple seconds, and I had a dog kite! He sure looked astonished when he landed.
Tomorrow we see Mt. Rushmore and Chief Crazy Horse, and then head south, hopefully back into springtime.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Yellowstone National Park
Tuesday, May 12
Jif and I had an interesting experience touring Yellowstone today. It was snowing and very cold, except for the hot springs and geysers that dot the mountain sides. I was wishing they had used some of the technology that Klamath Falls employed years ago to heat the roads and sidewalks with the natural steam. At least we didn't have to put the newly purchased chains on. We saw buffalo, which should turn out good in the pictures, because some were right in front of the car. Jiffy thought that was entirely too close! We had difficulty finding a place for him to walk, what with hot springs everywhere, and when I finally found a pullout with some nice woods and grass, with an overgrown path to a visible pond a short distance away, a posted notice had us scurrying back to the car. The notice said that this area was a nutrient rich feeding area for bears emerging from hibernation. I was pretty glad we didn't see any bears. We did see elk, but the pictures of those might not be so good, they blend in to their scenery.
We went in at the northern gate, and I had hoped to leave by the eastern gate, to go to our hotel in Cody, but that route was closed by snow. The north eastern gate was open, but I would have to go back into the teeth of the storm we went through on our way to Old Faithful, so I chose the wimpy way and we exited at the western gate. This meant we had to drive all the way around the park, which is huge! We arrived at the motel at 10:30 last night. I'll be glad to head south again soon, and although I didn't think this time would come, with only a week left of my Great Adventure, I'm beginning to get homesick!
Jif and I had an interesting experience touring Yellowstone today. It was snowing and very cold, except for the hot springs and geysers that dot the mountain sides. I was wishing they had used some of the technology that Klamath Falls employed years ago to heat the roads and sidewalks with the natural steam. At least we didn't have to put the newly purchased chains on. We saw buffalo, which should turn out good in the pictures, because some were right in front of the car. Jiffy thought that was entirely too close! We had difficulty finding a place for him to walk, what with hot springs everywhere, and when I finally found a pullout with some nice woods and grass, with an overgrown path to a visible pond a short distance away, a posted notice had us scurrying back to the car. The notice said that this area was a nutrient rich feeding area for bears emerging from hibernation. I was pretty glad we didn't see any bears. We did see elk, but the pictures of those might not be so good, they blend in to their scenery.
We went in at the northern gate, and I had hoped to leave by the eastern gate, to go to our hotel in Cody, but that route was closed by snow. The north eastern gate was open, but I would have to go back into the teeth of the storm we went through on our way to Old Faithful, so I chose the wimpy way and we exited at the western gate. This meant we had to drive all the way around the park, which is huge! We arrived at the motel at 10:30 last night. I'll be glad to head south again soon, and although I didn't think this time would come, with only a week left of my Great Adventure, I'm beginning to get homesick!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
May 11, Monday
This was a travel day, with a mixture of alternating rain and sun. I-90 enters Idaho only a few miles from Spokane and climbs into the Rockies with a series of passes, each seemingly higher than the last. The highway ran beside a rather large river which we crossed and recrossed several times. The only name I saw was Clark Fork, I don't know if this is a fork of a larger river, but I have never heard that name before. I know the Rockies are called that for a reason, but I was expecting more of the great exposed outcroppings of bedrock that I have been encountering. Here, though, there are HUGE rounded boulders, that look like magnified river rocks. I expect that might have been because of the ancient glaciers?
Dennis called and said he found an on-line record of the twins in The Pines cemetary, but will have to go out there again to find the actual markers. He also found a record of our Great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Lucy Ellen Mannin Bryant, who was born in the 1850's I think he said, and died in 1942. That must have been a hard year for Grandma Berry, because that was the year my Mom also married and left home. She must have had Empty Nest feelings so strongly. I'm grateful for the talent and energy Dennis has in searching out our lineage.
This was a travel day, with a mixture of alternating rain and sun. I-90 enters Idaho only a few miles from Spokane and climbs into the Rockies with a series of passes, each seemingly higher than the last. The highway ran beside a rather large river which we crossed and recrossed several times. The only name I saw was Clark Fork, I don't know if this is a fork of a larger river, but I have never heard that name before. I know the Rockies are called that for a reason, but I was expecting more of the great exposed outcroppings of bedrock that I have been encountering. Here, though, there are HUGE rounded boulders, that look like magnified river rocks. I expect that might have been because of the ancient glaciers?
Dennis called and said he found an on-line record of the twins in The Pines cemetary, but will have to go out there again to find the actual markers. He also found a record of our Great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Lucy Ellen Mannin Bryant, who was born in the 1850's I think he said, and died in 1942. That must have been a hard year for Grandma Berry, because that was the year my Mom also married and left home. She must have had Empty Nest feelings so strongly. I'm grateful for the talent and energy Dennis has in searching out our lineage.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Gardens and God's goodness
OK! Due to technical (no internet hook up at some of my overnight stays) and timing difficulties (my days so full of activities I'm too tired to blog) I am seriously behind in keeping you up with my travels. So lets start with last Wednesday, May 6 and go through today, Monday, May 11.
May 6
I took my car onto the ferry at Port Angelo, Washington this morning at 8:30 for the 90 minute trip over to Vancouver Island, Canada. The ferry is huge, with space for semi trucks, more than 100 cars, and goodness knows how many motorbikes. In spite of that, the boat swayed a great deal, shifting the level of the deck about a foot (it felt like 3 feet!) up and then down. One walks like a drunken person, lurching along. I found a seat near the front of the inside lounge, where I observed some newlyweds walking hand in hand on the outer deck. They went to the prow of the boat, and began to use the photo technique my sister Jacquie taught me: they held their camera out in front of them, pointed toward them, and leaned close to get a photo of them cheek to cheek. However, just then the boat shifted and they banged into each others head! The other ladies on the row inside with me looked at each other and then me, and all of us broke into laughter at the same time. By then the young couple outside had also finished laughing and rubbing their heads, and took the picture sucessfully this time.
By the time I cleared customs in Victoria, minus the mango, apples and an orange I had aquired in the three western states, it was 10:30 a.m. I drove the 25 miles to the Buchart Gardens, thankful that Peggy Sue (my GPS) works in Canada also. I took about 100 pictures of the gardens there, beautiful in their spring mode. I wish I could see that garden several times a year, in all its' seasons.
Only a couple miles (kilometers?) from there are the butterfly gardens, an enclosed rain garden with lush tropical foliage and THOUSANDS of butterflys, flitting and flirting all over. There were also numerous kinds of birds, singing and twittering, almost invisible. However, one of the birds was quite visible. I think it is called a stilt, but it seems to have a shoe fetish, and follows you around trying to peck your feet while you are trying to take pictures! I was also surprised to meet some flamingoes there, and while they weren't as up close and personal as the stilt, I did get pictures of them from about 6 feet away. I never was able to get a picture of the brilliant blue butterflies that swooped very close to me sometimes, but never lit for a photo op. It wasn't until on my way back to the hotel that I remembered I also have a video option on my camera. If that is the only wasted opportunity on this trip, I'll count myself fortunate. When I got back to Victoria, I did a little shopping for souvenirs. Peggy Sue directed me to the hotel for the night, where I fell asleep as soon as I got to the room, I was so tired from all my garden viewing.
May 7
I got up early and got the car packed, then went to see and photograph some of the totem poles, then out to the Government House public gardens, open from dawn to dusk. These were dedicated by the Queen of England when she was there, I think it said in 1998, but I may be remembering the date incorrectly. These were also beautiful, but less organized and tended than the world famous Buchart Gardens of the day before.
The ferry back to the USA left at 10:30, after discharging its incoming passengers. Of course, it was 12:30 by the time I got through US customs, so I had to race at 35 mph down the penninsula to pick up Jiffy before the kennel closed for the evening. Since Peggy Sue refused to recognize the address of the kennel, Jacquie had directed me to it from her computer as I came on Tuesday. Today, Jacquie was at work, so I called Jeannie in Georgia, and she performed the same service for me, so that I could get back to Jiffy in time. I did get there by 2:30pm, and Jiffy and I began the journey up to Seattle then on Interstate 90 through Snoqualamie Pass and down to Cle Elum, where we turned north to Wenatchee, the Apple Capital of the country. Jiffy was suffering separation anxiety, and wanted to be in touching distance every second. He got upset when I'd leave the car to get gas or go to the restroom. He loves to travel, but does NOT like to be left behind. The hotel in Wenatchee was the poorest accomodation so far. They lacked many of the amenities I've come to take for granted, but the lack of WIFI was most annoying. Oh well, I can stand anything for one night, and I was really tired anyway.
May 9, Saturday
The really big river beside the highway we came in on is the Columbia! I hadn't thought about where the Columbia originates. This morning, I did laundry at a coin-op place before we started for Spokane. We went through some more of the coastal range of mountains, the Cascades, before decending to flat rolling plains reminiscent of Kansas. Very small towns where the price of gasoline was almost double. Fortunately, we filled up before we left Wenatchee. Peggy Sue directed us right to my cousin Dennis's house, where he hugged me and introduced me to Helen, his warm hearted wife, who made me feel instantly at home. They have two dogs and a couple of cats, so we got all our animals sorted out and assigned space. Since Dennis and Helen love to find and restore antiques, their home is as lovely and as comfortable as a Bed and Breakfast, with the bonus of being family! We visited and played games, and ate a wonderful lasagne that Helen prepared. Dennis showed me his collectors den/office downstairs, and we took the pictures I brought of Grandma Berry to make copies. We talked almost non-stop! It is so good to see Dennis happy.
Sunday, Mother's Day, May 10
This was another red letter day for Divine Appointments. I went to the church in Greenacres where my mother and Dennis's mother (sisters, adopted by Grandma Hattie Berry) grew up and accepted the Lord. Grandma Berry was a member of that church for over 60 years of its 104 years of existence. I spoke to the church briefly, telling them of how much it has meant to the lives of our families, several generations removed from Grandma Berry now. Dennis and Helen have returned to that church, where Dennis is now an elder and Helen accepted the Lord and was baptised several years ago. Wow!
After we ate out, we came home and I called our cousin Dave, and told him I was in town and visiting Dennis, and we would like to see him. He immediately invited us over, and said we could also see his mother, if we wished. Aunt Evie is still living! Dennis was as shocked as I was, we both thought she had died several years ago. She is now 92, and looks like grandma did when she was in her 90's--bright and sweet. Of course, she doesn't remember us, but I assured Dave that I did not want to try to make her connect us to her past, I just wanted to hug her. We did meet Dave, whom I have not seen for 50 years (he looks a great deal different, but recognizable) and his wife and some of his children and grandchildren, one of whom is expecting their great-grandson soon. Dave had a triple bi-pass heart surgery a couple years ago, thankful that he did not have to experience a heart attack before the problem was discovered. It is difficult to catch up on both sides of 50 years of living! But so good to get reconnected after all that time. Dave also gave me the phone number for Glenda, his sister, my other cousin I wanted to see if possible.
First, we visited Aunt Evie. Her face is so familiar looking. I think it is the Bryant heritage, and my sisters and I will probably look exactly like her when we reach the 90's. But her lines have settled into laugh lines, as grandma's did, and I'll be satified if my wrinkles look exactly like that. Aunt Evie still lives in the same house she grew up in, lived all her married life in, and still will live there until she dies. I find this to be an incredible fact.
Then we went on to see Glenda and meet her husband. Among the other 5o-years catch up facts, I learned that Glenda is a recent survivor of cancer. She is a beautiful and interesting person, and I wish I had more time to get reaquainted with her.
Well, after that, Dennis took me to two of the Spokane cemetaries, where he and his brothers had been part of Grandma's cleanup crew every memorial day. He knew where some of the graves of my family are, and I took pictures of the gravestones. We couldn't find the graves of my twin sisters who died two weeks after they were born, but Dennis is sure they are there. He will find them and send me pictures of their markers.
Dennis said he will remember this day for the rest of his life, and so will I. I think God arranged all these meetings not only for me, but for Dennis to share them with me. I found out a lot more things about the past and my family than I ever knew, new insights that illuminate things. How good our God is, the one who sees all, and weaves new patterns in our lives. I am humbled by the way He has continually been working things out. What will be next? I am eager to see what else He has planned.
May 6
I took my car onto the ferry at Port Angelo, Washington this morning at 8:30 for the 90 minute trip over to Vancouver Island, Canada. The ferry is huge, with space for semi trucks, more than 100 cars, and goodness knows how many motorbikes. In spite of that, the boat swayed a great deal, shifting the level of the deck about a foot (it felt like 3 feet!) up and then down. One walks like a drunken person, lurching along. I found a seat near the front of the inside lounge, where I observed some newlyweds walking hand in hand on the outer deck. They went to the prow of the boat, and began to use the photo technique my sister Jacquie taught me: they held their camera out in front of them, pointed toward them, and leaned close to get a photo of them cheek to cheek. However, just then the boat shifted and they banged into each others head! The other ladies on the row inside with me looked at each other and then me, and all of us broke into laughter at the same time. By then the young couple outside had also finished laughing and rubbing their heads, and took the picture sucessfully this time.
By the time I cleared customs in Victoria, minus the mango, apples and an orange I had aquired in the three western states, it was 10:30 a.m. I drove the 25 miles to the Buchart Gardens, thankful that Peggy Sue (my GPS) works in Canada also. I took about 100 pictures of the gardens there, beautiful in their spring mode. I wish I could see that garden several times a year, in all its' seasons.
Only a couple miles (kilometers?) from there are the butterfly gardens, an enclosed rain garden with lush tropical foliage and THOUSANDS of butterflys, flitting and flirting all over. There were also numerous kinds of birds, singing and twittering, almost invisible. However, one of the birds was quite visible. I think it is called a stilt, but it seems to have a shoe fetish, and follows you around trying to peck your feet while you are trying to take pictures! I was also surprised to meet some flamingoes there, and while they weren't as up close and personal as the stilt, I did get pictures of them from about 6 feet away. I never was able to get a picture of the brilliant blue butterflies that swooped very close to me sometimes, but never lit for a photo op. It wasn't until on my way back to the hotel that I remembered I also have a video option on my camera. If that is the only wasted opportunity on this trip, I'll count myself fortunate. When I got back to Victoria, I did a little shopping for souvenirs. Peggy Sue directed me to the hotel for the night, where I fell asleep as soon as I got to the room, I was so tired from all my garden viewing.
May 7
I got up early and got the car packed, then went to see and photograph some of the totem poles, then out to the Government House public gardens, open from dawn to dusk. These were dedicated by the Queen of England when she was there, I think it said in 1998, but I may be remembering the date incorrectly. These were also beautiful, but less organized and tended than the world famous Buchart Gardens of the day before.
The ferry back to the USA left at 10:30, after discharging its incoming passengers. Of course, it was 12:30 by the time I got through US customs, so I had to race at 35 mph down the penninsula to pick up Jiffy before the kennel closed for the evening. Since Peggy Sue refused to recognize the address of the kennel, Jacquie had directed me to it from her computer as I came on Tuesday. Today, Jacquie was at work, so I called Jeannie in Georgia, and she performed the same service for me, so that I could get back to Jiffy in time. I did get there by 2:30pm, and Jiffy and I began the journey up to Seattle then on Interstate 90 through Snoqualamie Pass and down to Cle Elum, where we turned north to Wenatchee, the Apple Capital of the country. Jiffy was suffering separation anxiety, and wanted to be in touching distance every second. He got upset when I'd leave the car to get gas or go to the restroom. He loves to travel, but does NOT like to be left behind. The hotel in Wenatchee was the poorest accomodation so far. They lacked many of the amenities I've come to take for granted, but the lack of WIFI was most annoying. Oh well, I can stand anything for one night, and I was really tired anyway.
May 9, Saturday
The really big river beside the highway we came in on is the Columbia! I hadn't thought about where the Columbia originates. This morning, I did laundry at a coin-op place before we started for Spokane. We went through some more of the coastal range of mountains, the Cascades, before decending to flat rolling plains reminiscent of Kansas. Very small towns where the price of gasoline was almost double. Fortunately, we filled up before we left Wenatchee. Peggy Sue directed us right to my cousin Dennis's house, where he hugged me and introduced me to Helen, his warm hearted wife, who made me feel instantly at home. They have two dogs and a couple of cats, so we got all our animals sorted out and assigned space. Since Dennis and Helen love to find and restore antiques, their home is as lovely and as comfortable as a Bed and Breakfast, with the bonus of being family! We visited and played games, and ate a wonderful lasagne that Helen prepared. Dennis showed me his collectors den/office downstairs, and we took the pictures I brought of Grandma Berry to make copies. We talked almost non-stop! It is so good to see Dennis happy.
Sunday, Mother's Day, May 10
This was another red letter day for Divine Appointments. I went to the church in Greenacres where my mother and Dennis's mother (sisters, adopted by Grandma Hattie Berry) grew up and accepted the Lord. Grandma Berry was a member of that church for over 60 years of its 104 years of existence. I spoke to the church briefly, telling them of how much it has meant to the lives of our families, several generations removed from Grandma Berry now. Dennis and Helen have returned to that church, where Dennis is now an elder and Helen accepted the Lord and was baptised several years ago. Wow!
After we ate out, we came home and I called our cousin Dave, and told him I was in town and visiting Dennis, and we would like to see him. He immediately invited us over, and said we could also see his mother, if we wished. Aunt Evie is still living! Dennis was as shocked as I was, we both thought she had died several years ago. She is now 92, and looks like grandma did when she was in her 90's--bright and sweet. Of course, she doesn't remember us, but I assured Dave that I did not want to try to make her connect us to her past, I just wanted to hug her. We did meet Dave, whom I have not seen for 50 years (he looks a great deal different, but recognizable) and his wife and some of his children and grandchildren, one of whom is expecting their great-grandson soon. Dave had a triple bi-pass heart surgery a couple years ago, thankful that he did not have to experience a heart attack before the problem was discovered. It is difficult to catch up on both sides of 50 years of living! But so good to get reconnected after all that time. Dave also gave me the phone number for Glenda, his sister, my other cousin I wanted to see if possible.
First, we visited Aunt Evie. Her face is so familiar looking. I think it is the Bryant heritage, and my sisters and I will probably look exactly like her when we reach the 90's. But her lines have settled into laugh lines, as grandma's did, and I'll be satified if my wrinkles look exactly like that. Aunt Evie still lives in the same house she grew up in, lived all her married life in, and still will live there until she dies. I find this to be an incredible fact.
Then we went on to see Glenda and meet her husband. Among the other 5o-years catch up facts, I learned that Glenda is a recent survivor of cancer. She is a beautiful and interesting person, and I wish I had more time to get reaquainted with her.
Well, after that, Dennis took me to two of the Spokane cemetaries, where he and his brothers had been part of Grandma's cleanup crew every memorial day. He knew where some of the graves of my family are, and I took pictures of the gravestones. We couldn't find the graves of my twin sisters who died two weeks after they were born, but Dennis is sure they are there. He will find them and send me pictures of their markers.
Dennis said he will remember this day for the rest of his life, and so will I. I think God arranged all these meetings not only for me, but for Dennis to share them with me. I found out a lot more things about the past and my family than I ever knew, new insights that illuminate things. How good our God is, the one who sees all, and weaves new patterns in our lives. I am humbled by the way He has continually been working things out. What will be next? I am eager to see what else He has planned.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wow! Things happen faster than I can keep up! Monday, May 4, was a travel day through Oregon on the desert side of the Cascades, usually dry. It rained almost all day. At one point, the temperature was dropping and the rain was beginning to look slushy on the windshield, so I was afraid I was in for a snowstorm. Just then a friend from Virginia called, and she prayed with me on the phone. Within 3 minutes the temperature had raised 5 degrees, within 20 minutes it
was up 9 degrees and the rain was only a sprinkle! I was unable to go to Crater Lake as I had planned, because there were drifts of snow and worse, there was fog as I entered the gate at the bottom of the mountain, so I just turned around and continued up Highway 97 to the Columbia River. I did detour for a drive through Chiloquin, then also stopped at the Loggers Museum. Many of you know that my father was a timber faller. He started when they used 2-man cross-cut saws. It was interesting to see some of the machinery I saw or heard about as a child. I spent the night at The Dalles on the Columbia River. When I have time to research, I'm going to find out what that name means.
Tuesday, May 5
Jiffy and I traveled down the Columbia Gorge to Portland, detouring to the "Historic Highway" to see Multnomah Falls and some smaller but still impressive waterfalls. I also saw a rainbow that spanned the Columbia River! I arrived at my sister Jacquie's house around 11 a.m. She fed me lunch, then we went to the Chinese Garden in Portland. That was so much fun! Jacquie read the narrative description to me as we went from place to place in the garden, and I got to take pictures instead of having to navigate. We talked until about 2:30 in the morning, or rather, I talked and she tried to keep her eyes open and politely listen, but it felt so good to share my heart with her. We went to the top of a hill overlooking Portland the next morning right after we took her son to school, and I saw a very historic and spiritually important facet of Portland. I wish I could have seen the mountains, but she will take pictures for me sometime this summer and send them to me. I had to make sure of my schedule when we got back to her house, but even though it was still early, I found out I didn't have time to travel to the ferry for Victoria, BC today. So I will only have one day to see the gardens. Jacquie and Steve prayed for me before I left, and I rejoice because I know a little more about their current prayer needs as well
I did have to rush to be able to get to the kennels in Olympia before they closed so I could stash Jiffy. I don't want the hassle associated with making him an international traveler. The down side of all this is that I didn't have time to make a connection with my best friend during highschool days. I hope she can forgive me. I spent the night at Port Angeles, and was very tired! I'll tell you about the gardens I saw today when I stop tomorrow, at Wenatchee, in the apple country of Washington.
was up 9 degrees and the rain was only a sprinkle! I was unable to go to Crater Lake as I had planned, because there were drifts of snow and worse, there was fog as I entered the gate at the bottom of the mountain, so I just turned around and continued up Highway 97 to the Columbia River. I did detour for a drive through Chiloquin, then also stopped at the Loggers Museum. Many of you know that my father was a timber faller. He started when they used 2-man cross-cut saws. It was interesting to see some of the machinery I saw or heard about as a child. I spent the night at The Dalles on the Columbia River. When I have time to research, I'm going to find out what that name means.
Tuesday, May 5
Jiffy and I traveled down the Columbia Gorge to Portland, detouring to the "Historic Highway" to see Multnomah Falls and some smaller but still impressive waterfalls. I also saw a rainbow that spanned the Columbia River! I arrived at my sister Jacquie's house around 11 a.m. She fed me lunch, then we went to the Chinese Garden in Portland. That was so much fun! Jacquie read the narrative description to me as we went from place to place in the garden, and I got to take pictures instead of having to navigate. We talked until about 2:30 in the morning, or rather, I talked and she tried to keep her eyes open and politely listen, but it felt so good to share my heart with her. We went to the top of a hill overlooking Portland the next morning right after we took her son to school, and I saw a very historic and spiritually important facet of Portland. I wish I could have seen the mountains, but she will take pictures for me sometime this summer and send them to me. I had to make sure of my schedule when we got back to her house, but even though it was still early, I found out I didn't have time to travel to the ferry for Victoria, BC today. So I will only have one day to see the gardens. Jacquie and Steve prayed for me before I left, and I rejoice because I know a little more about their current prayer needs as well
I did have to rush to be able to get to the kennels in Olympia before they closed so I could stash Jiffy. I don't want the hassle associated with making him an international traveler. The down side of all this is that I didn't have time to make a connection with my best friend during highschool days. I hope she can forgive me. I spent the night at Port Angeles, and was very tired! I'll tell you about the gardens I saw today when I stop tomorrow, at Wenatchee, in the apple country of Washington.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Home to Klamath Falls
To my relief, it was sunshiny when we left Fresno at 8:15 Friday morning. The drive to the foothills of the Sierras was through beautiful groves of orange trees, almond trees, and pomegranite trees. The last was new to me and I had to ask what they were at a fruit stand. These were interspersed with grape vineyards. I don't know if it is a tradition, or just the custom for one vineyard, but at the end of each row of grape arbors was a rose bush bearing deep red roses. Days of wine and roses?
Well, I should have expected it, the climb to view the waterfalls and cataracts in Yosemite was up 7000 feet of switchbacks. But the beauty and wonder of God's mighty creation and continuing display of power was worth it! When I came through a tunnel at the highest point and got out to photograph the waterfall on the mountain opposite, it just then started to rain. So all the rest of my pictures of Yosemite probably have rain drops on them. It was beautiful, but I came down praying for safety on the wet pavement, puntuated by praises for the beautiful sights around most every turn, even in the rain.
When we finally got down, around 2:30 p.m., we began the trip to Klamath Falls. I stopped with great relief at Danny's house around 11:00 p.m. We talked until 2 a.m., but I wasn't driving on a dark wet road any more, and felt euphoric! This is the longest amount of driving I have done in a single day.
Saturday morning, I called and set up times to visit people I love here, and Roger and Carolyn took Danny and me out for lunch. It was good to see my brother again. I was glad Danny was there to help carry the conversation, though, because I began to get sleepy and lost track of the discussion a couple times. I really love to hear Danny's stories best, stories of the people and incidents he has actually known and lived. I think he should write a book, but he thinks he would be sued or shot if his viewpoints were published. Maybe he's right.
This morning, Sunday, I went to church at Shasta Way here, the church where I was a charter member when it began in the 50's. Some of the people who were my Sunday school teachers were there, and a neighbor who lived on the farm behind ours. He talked to me about my Dad, and told me about some of the pastoral calls he and dad made together as elders to help in the hard times of members of the church, and how he respected Dad's advice and prayers in those situations. What a blessing! The Lord gave me two other viewpoints that are a deep help and encouragement to me and my prayer life, using these dear people, who are becoming so frail. I know that I'll see them again, but maybe not in this world.
I had lunch and a two hour catch up chat with my friend Carole. How good it is to have instant rapport with someone who shared deep friendship and child rearing times. She held on to me in times when I was in clinical depression, and pulled me through some very bad times with her prayers and bright spirit. She taught me a lot, how to can vegetables and marvel at the beauty of beets and carrots standing in proud rows on a sunny counter, and how to pronounce almonds correctly. I learned of her private prayer needs, and cried when we had to part again.
I had another Divine Appointment this afternoon with with a woman that a week ago the Lord told me to visit when I got here. She is going through a rough experience, one that I have walked through and finally gained the victory, with God's help. I was able to pray with her, and give her a little encouragement and love. She said she remembers me often, as a bright light. Even though you don't know her, please add your prayers to mine that she will finally emerge victorious. She has already made some progress from when I last saw her. Also pray for her sons.
Tomorrow I'll leave for Crater Lake, if I can get in. They have snow. Then on to the Columbia River. Ho hum. More waterfalls! Also, more rain, according to the weather report.
Well, I should have expected it, the climb to view the waterfalls and cataracts in Yosemite was up 7000 feet of switchbacks. But the beauty and wonder of God's mighty creation and continuing display of power was worth it! When I came through a tunnel at the highest point and got out to photograph the waterfall on the mountain opposite, it just then started to rain. So all the rest of my pictures of Yosemite probably have rain drops on them. It was beautiful, but I came down praying for safety on the wet pavement, puntuated by praises for the beautiful sights around most every turn, even in the rain.
When we finally got down, around 2:30 p.m., we began the trip to Klamath Falls. I stopped with great relief at Danny's house around 11:00 p.m. We talked until 2 a.m., but I wasn't driving on a dark wet road any more, and felt euphoric! This is the longest amount of driving I have done in a single day.
Saturday morning, I called and set up times to visit people I love here, and Roger and Carolyn took Danny and me out for lunch. It was good to see my brother again. I was glad Danny was there to help carry the conversation, though, because I began to get sleepy and lost track of the discussion a couple times. I really love to hear Danny's stories best, stories of the people and incidents he has actually known and lived. I think he should write a book, but he thinks he would be sued or shot if his viewpoints were published. Maybe he's right.
This morning, Sunday, I went to church at Shasta Way here, the church where I was a charter member when it began in the 50's. Some of the people who were my Sunday school teachers were there, and a neighbor who lived on the farm behind ours. He talked to me about my Dad, and told me about some of the pastoral calls he and dad made together as elders to help in the hard times of members of the church, and how he respected Dad's advice and prayers in those situations. What a blessing! The Lord gave me two other viewpoints that are a deep help and encouragement to me and my prayer life, using these dear people, who are becoming so frail. I know that I'll see them again, but maybe not in this world.
I had lunch and a two hour catch up chat with my friend Carole. How good it is to have instant rapport with someone who shared deep friendship and child rearing times. She held on to me in times when I was in clinical depression, and pulled me through some very bad times with her prayers and bright spirit. She taught me a lot, how to can vegetables and marvel at the beauty of beets and carrots standing in proud rows on a sunny counter, and how to pronounce almonds correctly. I learned of her private prayer needs, and cried when we had to part again.
I had another Divine Appointment this afternoon with with a woman that a week ago the Lord told me to visit when I got here. She is going through a rough experience, one that I have walked through and finally gained the victory, with God's help. I was able to pray with her, and give her a little encouragement and love. She said she remembers me often, as a bright light. Even though you don't know her, please add your prayers to mine that she will finally emerge victorious. She has already made some progress from when I last saw her. Also pray for her sons.
Tomorrow I'll leave for Crater Lake, if I can get in. They have snow. Then on to the Columbia River. Ho hum. More waterfalls! Also, more rain, according to the weather report.
Friday, May 1, 2009
"
Yesterday was a day for sight seeing and travel. I wasn't quite prepared for the idea that traveling 45 miles in Sequoia National Park would be done in the lowest gear possible to prevent burnout of the brakes. The HUGE Sequoia trees only grow in altitudes between 4000 to 7000 feet. That means that the roads have switch backs that "meet themselves coming back" as we used to say in Oregon, especially when going over the Greensprings Mountain between my desert home and the lush valleys on the other side. Also, the similarity with Oregon is that the road has a sharp and vast drop-off, this time on the side I was driving on. The views from the pullouts were breathtaking, and whole hillsides above me were covered in wildflowers. I climbed to the altitudes where there are groves and forests of the Sequoia trees, which tower over the lodgepole pine and what I think were Douglas fir trees near them. I was frustrated that I could not get a picture of an entire Sequoia in one frame, my camera range doesn't expand that far. The size of these trees, and their antiquity, is breathtaking.
Oh, in reading back, I have used the word "breathtaking" more than once. Maybe that was because of the altitude! There is a museum close to the summit, and I walked across the parking lot and up a trail to the viewpoint. There were three whitetail does just ahead of me on the trail, and I may have got a picture, but it is probably the kind where you say, "Now, where is the deer in this picture of trees and branches and rocks?" I was afraid to leave Jiffy alone in the car, because there are posted warnings about bears breaking into cars for food. On consideration, though, I thought Jiffy might be safer (and me too!) enclosed in the car than at the end of a leash with me as his only protection against a hungry bear. However, neither of us saw any bears.
I met a young man named Steven when I stopped for lunch at a lodge on the way to Kings Canyon park. He told me his history, but gave me no opening to discuss deeper things. I think this appointment was to pray for the Holy Spirit to draw Steven to himself, so that the loneliness in his life can be filled by the only One who can fill the inner hungers for any of us.
Tomorrow I plan to go to Yosemite, and then home to Klamath Falls. It will be good to see Danny. The weather may be a problem - rain, possibly snow is predicted for today. Please pray about this, also.
Oh, in reading back, I have used the word "breathtaking" more than once. Maybe that was because of the altitude! There is a museum close to the summit, and I walked across the parking lot and up a trail to the viewpoint. There were three whitetail does just ahead of me on the trail, and I may have got a picture, but it is probably the kind where you say, "Now, where is the deer in this picture of trees and branches and rocks?" I was afraid to leave Jiffy alone in the car, because there are posted warnings about bears breaking into cars for food. On consideration, though, I thought Jiffy might be safer (and me too!) enclosed in the car than at the end of a leash with me as his only protection against a hungry bear. However, neither of us saw any bears.
I met a young man named Steven when I stopped for lunch at a lodge on the way to Kings Canyon park. He told me his history, but gave me no opening to discuss deeper things. I think this appointment was to pray for the Holy Spirit to draw Steven to himself, so that the loneliness in his life can be filled by the only One who can fill the inner hungers for any of us.
Tomorrow I plan to go to Yosemite, and then home to Klamath Falls. It will be good to see Danny. The weather may be a problem - rain, possibly snow is predicted for today. Please pray about this, also.
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