Adventure 758: Ferguson Family Lake House/Post D

We think the more the merrier, so we were happy to welcome Liz to the fold. We're uncertain about the status of the fire North of us, but no planes circled today. We did see a couple of helicopters trailing buckets head toward the fire. The main adventure today was Leticia and Sawyer trying to master the air wing while riding the paddle board. The rest of us did normal lakin' stuff. Some went huckleberry picking. Some played in the water.  For dinner we enjoyed Angela and Sawyer's spring rolls and pineapple fried rice. Yummy to the tummy. Dessert was a poor sister. Mimi put out a few red vines on an upside down casserole lid she used as a serving dish. Truly meager. We then numbed our minds with three rounds of Mexican Train. Seriously though, many laughs sprinkled themselves amidst the turns, so naturally, life is good, especially today.

Really, just a candid shot.

Make your own spring role.

Wing sail girl, Leticia, just a minute before she becomes famous.

Fancy dessert tonight.

Coming up Mexican.

Mimi started the day off with her dad's famous Abe K French Toast.

Young chef in residence, Sawyer.

Selfie of the day: Better living through grins.

Emily hiding under one of Falcon's pillow forts.

Tia taking Falcon on a kayak ride.

Abe K French toast with huckleberry syrup and fresh raspberries. Maple syrup optional.

Liz says, "I can figure this espresso machine out.

Tonight's chef team.

Liz and Bonnie waiting for the "cool cats" to move through the spring roll line.

Adventure 757: Ferguson Family Lake House/Post C

A squadron of four water planes spent the day circling the cabin dropping gallons of water on the fire North of Lion Head. Right now, it's a zero contained burn about forty acres in size. The planes, along with two helicopters, dropped water most of the day. The reports says about seventy personnel are fighting on the ground. Hopefully, the firefighters will be successful knocking this thing down, but there are no evacuation notices right now. If the wind changes, that could too. As for the lakin' crew, today was create your own adventure. One bunch went huckleberry picking, another went kayaking, and still another took the paddle boards out. I hung out under the umbrella watching Falcon dig in the sand. Tough duty, but someone has to do it. I made a come back to edge Sawyer in a close game of horseshoes.  For dinner, we enjoyed Libby's enchiladas, corn salad, and watermelon. Another excellent meal. Justin showed up just before dinner, so that's good. You should have heard Falcon squeal, "Daddy's here!" Tomorrow, our friend Liz Ulmen will join us, so more fun will be had by all. Clearly, life is good, especially today.

Libby whipping up enchiladas and corn salad for dinner.

Water planes sucking up water to douse the fire.

Emily "air walking" off the piling.

I think this was the "ringer" I threw to edge Sawyer 21-18.

Tia

Falcon snarfing the enchiladas.

Dad and son fun.

The view from the deck.

Falcon taking a break.

There goes that air walker, Emily.
 

Adventure 756: Ferguson Family Lake House/Post B

Chad Gearin, a private pilot and Sawyer's dad, flew into the Coolin airport from Portland. We enjoyed a visit with him at lunch and then he took most of the crew flying over the lake. All reports indicated great fun, a bit of nervousness, and a most excellent adventure. Mimi, Libby, Sarah, Falcon, and I held down the fort. Every time Chad flew by he buzzed pretty low by the cabin, tipping his wings in salute. High quality fun for the crew. Otherwise, it was lakin' as usual: beach time; food; game time; food; nap time; dinner; Mexican Train; watermelon and biscotti for dessert; bed, most likely dreams of what we'll eat tomorrow. As for today, a good time was had be all, so naturally we think life is good, especially today.

Falcon, freshly showered, smelling sweet.

A view from the cockpit.

Mimi showing her kayak form.

There goes Chad!

Chad on take off from the Coolin airfield.

The cousins, or grandkids, however you choose to look at them.

A fire just North of Lion Head had water planes working to douse it all afternoon.

Mimi and Libby enjoying the five o'clock Mojito.

There goes Chad!

Angela and Sawyer off in the kayaks.

Sarah working the paddle board.

Leticia getting ready to handle the "stick".

Tonight's thin gruel: Mediterranean  chicken with pita, greek salad, and tahini sauce. Yum.

Adventure 755: The Ferguson Family Lake House/Post A

We arrived safely, unloaded, unwound, and proceeded to begin lakin'.The house is fabulous, large enough to hold us all comfortably, and well appointed. Everyone made quick use of the place. Emily and Falcon made sand castles. Sarah jumped off the piling. I swam to the dock. Judy, Sawyer, Angela, and Bonnie made dinner  Judy prayed, thanking God for our blessings. After dinner we enjoyed a nice respite on the beach. Beautiful waxing moon just a week before full. Sky clear. Air dry and calm. Hard to get any better. You know what I say, "Life is good, especially today.

The girls helping Steve hook up to the wifi.

Lake front.

Kitchen

Falcon

Sawyer

Sarah

Steve and the night's thin "Thin Gruel".

Selfie of the day: Me and my favorite daughter.

Master

Main living room

Emily and Falcon

Good fun.

Fric and Frac

Adventure 754: Family Vacation 2022/Priest Lake

The adventures of Fric and Frac have now become the adventures of Fric, Frac, and the rest of the Cats. We've been lucky enough to herd all of the cats together for the last three summers. We check in this afternoon to a lake house we rented just past Huckleberry Bay. We'll be there for a week with a full complement of of water toys including a sailboat, way too much food, and the promise of excellent weather. Last week, Judy and I were on a walk. One of our neighbors asked us if we missed the trailer. Our answer: "Not yet." We had ten really good years in the RV. We experienced much of the country, suffered very few mishaps, and enjoyed every minute. We're now moving into the Air B&B phase of our adventures. This winter we'll spend three months in Tucson in a well appointed rental home. It's all good. It's especially nice now to get our adult children together along with our four grand children. Sawyer, nineteen, is blossoming into a fine young specimen; Emily, a sophomore to be, is on the verge of more independence by adding herself to the driving world; Sarah, an eighth grader to be, and our artist in residence brings her daily good cheer, and finally near three year old Falcon has everyone chasing his rainbows. So a good week is in the forecast. Those of you who know us understand that we exist on "very thin gruel". For the week each of us prepares a dinner and a breakfast. Lunch and snacks we make up on the fly. This year Judy and I are fixing Sonneburg Sausage sandwiches with my mother's potato salad, baked beans, and fruit. We're fixing Abe K Friesen french toast and bacon for our breakfast. Angela and Sawyer are making Oriental spring rolls for their dinner, and a casserole for for breakfast. Steve and Bonnie are making Mediterranean Chicken for dinner, and some muffin tin baked eggs for breakfast. Leticia is doing Paella for dinner and some elaborate concoction for breakfast. Libby is a wild card at this point, but she falls very close to the tree in terms of cooking skill. Clearly, we'll be living well. We feel blessed to be in this position. It's taken some time to blend this group together, so it's quite satisfying to enjoy time with these quite cool cats. Simply put, life is good, especially today.

Frac's new owner, Chris Baker, driving away.