June--Part II, Granddaughters and Rafting

Mike (having returned from his sailing trip while I was in Italy) picked me up from the Portland airport the night of June 26. It was wonderful to see each other after a long, but full, two months. But we did not have time to revel in our reunion, since we had a raft trip planned starting just days away. The next morning we drove back to Blue River with two of our grandchildren who were going on the raft trip with us.

In the few days at home, I managed to unpack, do laundry, go to the local clinic to get diagnosed and treated for whooping cough, shop for a 5 day raft trip and visit my mother. The girls and I had lunch at Birch Home one day where we enjoyed the sun on their patio.

 

Marin, Angelica and my mother at Birch Home

I have to include this photo of Angelica and Marin playing "Spy Girls" while eating dinner on our pond's bridge.

 

On June 1 we headed off to Clarno where we were going to meet a large group of family members and friends to launch seven rafts on the John Day River the next morning. The majority of the group were new to rafting, so we had chosen a calm river with very little rowing skills necessary. By noon on Friday we were all afloat, leaving none of our party of 28 behind. (A vision of a new version of "Home Alone" passed through my mind as we loaded gear, food, and 28 children and adults on the rafts.)

Once afloat I was so happy to look back and see my favorite rower pushing our raft down the river.

 

Part of our group were very interested in fishing.

 

While others were happy to just float and enjoy the scenery.

 

Most of the time on the rafts was spent like this: letting kid's handle the oars and experience nature.

 

Of course, I absorbed scenery, colors and patterns for future paintings.

 

So now we are home for a week, but leave for more rafting and camping tomorrow. My cough is better, although I'm still a bit tired. But as the saying goes, I'd rather wear out than rust. And I know my studio awaits my return, after the summer activities are over.