Saline Courthouse and buffalo

The Cherokee actually have two buffalo herds: the TV buffalo and the wild buffalo.

Gilcrease Museum

I tend to love the paintings best in any museum, but this one had many other impressive displays.

Sea Lions on the docks

From an anthropologist’s perspective, I think the rivalry is almost touching.

Oregon Wine & Sake

Along the route are 31 highlighted wineries within a 30 minute drive of the city.

North Idaho panorama

Despite their infrequency, the trips Tara and I always enjoy are the periodic visits to see my stepfather Jim at his remarkable mountaintop cabin. Tara has known that mountain all their life, and confessed to spiritually “needing” to be there sometimes, to go for a walk alone, and to reconnect to childhood and peace and the […]

Last Trip to the Snake

For awhile it seemed like paradise, this 5 acre plot of land on the banks of the Snake River, just southwest of Boise, Idaho. And when my Pa was younger, the upkeep was somewhat invigorating. But health problems mounted, and the work was never done. Morally defeating was the fact that tasks completed had to […]

Beach time

Confession: I live about 40 minutes’ drive from the Pacific Ocean and I hardly ever go there! That’s a crime, isn’t it? Yes, yes it is. In 2016 I’ve been to the beach two times. I went to Astoria for my birthday in January, and later in the Spring, I went out with a group […]

Rocks and Rain, but no Goats

Second big hike in a row with no mountain goat sightings. Do you think it’s me? I hiked into the Goat Rocks Wilderness for three days and two nights with my boyfriend. Our timing was uncanny, and we were up there during the only three rainy days in between sunny weeks either side. Though I […]

Traditional Mother’s Day

Our traditional Mother’s Day is not likely similar to yours. Nonetheless, aren’t traditions sometimes the whole reason we look forward to a holiday? For Tara and me, it’s camping. It all started because I am the outdoorsy one and Tara less so. And when the kid was little, I just laid down the law and […]

Beaver Creek Falls

I was told that there was a falls on Beaver Creek. That’s MY creek!