FROM MEDFORD TO ASHLAND AND BACK

…ON BICYCLES!

Just recently the Bear Creek Greenway, a bicycling and walking trail, has been completed. It now extends all the way from Central Point to Ashland. We have ridden the Medford-to-Central Point route many times, but never the Medford-to-Ashland route.

Until today.

Since things have been slow at work lately, I took the day off and Debra and I ventured off into new territory. We stopped along the trail to enjoy the scenery, to rest our aging muscles, and to drink water. After arriving in Ashland, we had lunch at the world famous Burger King, then headed back to Medford.

By the time we finished our 20-mile jaunt, both of my ischial tuberosities were screaming for Ibuprofen.

The new freeway exit at Barnett road has been under construction for several months. The new section of the bicycle trail is to the left of the Best Western Motel, just under the green sign which reads “BARNETT RD”.

.

.

We drove our bicycles to the Dairy Queen at I-5 and Barnett Road and started our ride there.

.

.

Before taking off, we hydrated ourselves.

.

.

Then off we went.

.

.

Further

.

.

And further

.

.

The Rogue Manor retirement community can be seen on the hill.

.

.

My left hand functioned to control the brakes, the shifting, and the button on the camera.
.

.

Bear Creek provided beautiful scenery and resting areas along the way.

.

.

Here is photographic proof that we made it. El Tapatio Restaurant is located at the first Ashland exit.

.

.

An old car was parked behind El Tapatio.

.

.

Eventually it was time to head back to Medford...
.

.

…Through shaded trails

.

.

…And over bridges, until we returned to the house on Hybiscus where a bottle of Ibuprofen was patiently waiting.

YET ANOTHER PROJECT

When I finished landscaping the backyard before the summer began, I was sure I was through with projects for awhile. But the control panel for the pool filtration system was always in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. The owner's manual said it should be in the shade. Also, the thermometer which reads both water and air temperature would routinely read the air temperature at around 120 degrees. That's because the control panel was in the sun. It never got that hot. Not even close.

I needed to devise some form of shade. Nothing fancy, since nobody ever goes to the side of the house anyway. So, off to the hardware store I went to buy some PVC pipes and a tarp.

The control panel is now shaded.

Now I am through with projects for awhile.

MOST CURRENT FAMILY PHOTOS

Here are the most up-to-date photos we have of our children and grandchildren:

The Weathersbys

We actually have a photo of these guys which is two days more current than this one, but the more current photo was already shown on a previous posting. This photo was taken in a swimming pool of some friends from the church they attended in Ashland before they moved to Beaverton.

The Moffits

This photo arrived in my Outlook Express Inbox just minutes ago.

Ben & Hunter

This is an old one, but the most current one we have.

Ashley

This photo was taken as I was sitting in the passenger seat of Ashley's car while she was backing out of a parking space at Rogue Valley Medical Center the night we visited Silas. I have no photos of Ashley taken after this one. This is the most current.

The Vallos

Yikes! We need another photo of the Vallos. We haven't gotten a new one since this one.

THE CHANT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD

First, it was Naomi (No. 10 on The Roster) who uttered her very first word just eight days ago. And now Neo (No. 8) is singing that same happy song, “Papa, Papa,” halfway around the world in the mountains of Mindanao.

For Neo, however, this was only his second word. He first needed to learn the word, “Hi”, so that he could use the more important word, “Papa”, in the proper context.

I have a couple of 2-second audio clips of Neo uttering these two words but, unfortunately, these clips do not want to upload to this posting. Nevertheless, here are the complete written transcripts:

FIRST AUDIO

Belinda: "Hi Neo."
Neo: "Hi."

SECOND AUDIO

Belinda pointing to photo of me: "Neo, kin-u an?" (who's that?)
Neo: "Papa."

And there it is! The chant heard ‘round the world!

.

.

Naomi, earlier this month, was not able to say the word “Papa”. She tried to cope with this inability by doing strange things like sucking on bottles of sunscreen.

.

.

.

Naomi, who still cannot say “Mommy” or “Daddy”, appears quite giddy since she has learned how to say “Papa”, often laughing and doing silly things like wearing buckets on her head.

.

.

.

Neo, shown here only two months ago, frequently wore a serious expression on his face prior to being able to say the word “Papa”. He tried to cope with this burden by sitting alone and clutching lifeless toys.

.

.

.

Neo, who can now unleash his joy verbally, is sandwiched between two sisters who are obviously thrilled that their little brother can now say “Papa”.

.

.

.

Neo likes to watch his mother feed a piglet when he is not too busy doing other things like chanting the word “Papa”.

BELINDA

I was born a middle kid.
She was born a middle kid.
I had a big sister.
She had a big sister.
I had a little brother.
She had a little brother.
And today she has something

I don't have.

Today she has a birthday.

Belinda’s first Sunday at church (August 1978)

.

.

.

Baby shower for Belinda and her mom at Aunt Lois’ house (September 1978)

.

.

.

Three ladies ready for church (September 1978)

.

.

.

Two sisters ready for church (September 1978)

.

.

.

Two-month old Belinda ready to go for a ride to Galt Christian School where her mom is going to help with the kindergarten class (October 1978)

.

.

.

Smiling two-month old (October 1978)

.

.

.

Belinda caught snoozing on camera (October 1978)

.

.

.

Belinda’s first Christmas (December 1978)

.

.

.

Belinda with dad (January 1979)

.

.

.

Belinda with mom and sister (undated)

.

.

.

Belinda on her sister’s third birthday (June 1979)

.

.

.

Opening gifts with mom on her first birthday (August 1979)

.

.

.

Celebrating her first birthday with Grumps (August 1979)

.

.

.

Belinda with puppet (October 1979)

.

.

.

Pigtails (April 1980)

.

.

.

Hunting for Easter eggs with mom at Granny & Baba’s (April 1980)

.

.

.

Playing piano with Bethany (June 1980)

.

.

.

Inside a tent with Bethany at Fort Dick Bible Church family camp (June 1980)

.

.

.

Modeling a hat (June 1980)

.

.

.

Celebrating 2nd birthday with dad, Lanae Smith & Bethany (August 1980)

.

.

.

Belinda and Bethany (September 1980)

.

.

.

The word “Belinda” means “bright and shining”, obviously (October 1980)

.

.

.

Family photo (December 1980)

.

.


HAPPY BIG THREE-O
MIDDLE KIDDLE