A Day on the River

Hello from Grants Pass, Oregon!

Today we went river rafting on the Rogue River. The chilly morning winds were chicken skin cold, but as the day continued we were warmed by the sun’s afternoon rays. We floated, paddled, bumped, shivered, and relaxed down the rugged and lush canyons for 14 miles. Only a fraction of the river's 215 mile entirety. Every bend in the river offered another unparalleled view of a piece of Mother Nature’s brilliance.

I chose the family owned and operated outfitter Ferron's Rogue River Fun Trips and was so happy I did. It was just the six of us and our wonderful guide Wayd. For most of the day we seemed to be the only ones on the river, passing the occasional rafters, fishermen, or people kayaking.

Wayd’s patience, humor, comfort on the river, and wealth of knowledge made him the perfect guide. He taught us about the important role the Rogue has played in the lives of Native Americans, pioneers, fur trappers, gold miners. He also helped us understand more about the feathered, finned, and furred creatures that call the Rogue home.

With his help we closely viewed and learned about Canadian geese, blue herons, snowy white egrets, and turkey vultures.
We followed a bald eagle, proudly perched on one tree, as he flew over the river to perch upon the branches of another. And followed him again as he flew to the branches of one more.

Baby deer stood chomping on a sweet treat of grasses along the river’s edge. A turtle who was sunning himself on a rock, slivered into the river. A thick pile of aslant sticks protruding from the rocky river banks was the result of a beaver’s diligent work. Although we did not see a beaver, we admired her home building skills. As well as the nest building skills of the osprey – their tumbleweed-like nests sat like a penthouses on the tops of evergreen trees.

We stopped along the banks of the river to pick and eat the juiciest wild blackberries we’ve ever tasted.

“Kids,” I announced, "this is your science class for the day."
Wayd didn’t miss a beat and explained what eddies are and gave a brief explanation of the life-cycle of the salmon. It is spawning season now and we witnessed 2 dead salmon floating in the river, a few jumping, and a giant one swimming upstream.

Not a bad way to learn, considering we also enjoyed some fun white water, a picnic lunch with homemade cookies and plenty of time for horsing around.

At the end of the day, I told the kids they had an assignment: Each of them must choose an animal that we saw while rafting, and write a one to two page paper about the animal. Research on the internet - it’s habitat, diet, characteristics, etc.

I was expecting a lot of complaints. But the kids’ only voiced one problem with the assignment: which animal to choose. Sally immediately began her research and writing about the blue heron and Payton began his work on the bald eagle. Janey took a keen interest in the blackberries and although they are obviously not an animal, I told her that would be an OK topic too. She is currently torn between writing about wild blackberries and wild salmon. Wyatt is curious about that turtle we saw.

But then again, as I write this, Wyatt has already interrupted me 3 times about something else he is curious about. He has asked for my permission to conduct a science experiment in the hotel room. He has taken ice from the ice bucket, and a Holiday Inn cup and wants to see how long it takes to turn ice into hot water using the in-room microwave.

I think only 6 days into the trip and the kids are starting to understand how one can learn without sitting in a classroom.

By the way, it takes one minute and 34 seconds to turn ice into hot water. And less than that to fall in love with the Rogue River.

Getting Ready is Half the Fun

We are down to the wire as they say. Leaving in a few short hours. I had the kids wash the car yesterday to make room for all the bugs who will be martyred for our trip. The inside of the car has been cleaned too. Janey got a little carried away with the armor-all wipes, so the seats may be a little slippery for a while.

I am hoping they prove me wrong and the trash bag hanging from the fancy new hook I bought will not remain empty while trash is dispersed on the floor of the minivan. Our Economy on Wheels should take care of that without me nagging.


In the last couple of days, in addition to packing and running errands, I thought it would be a good idea to clean out my closet, and every drawer, the kitchen cupboard, the refrigerator, and the garage. Perhaps I could have started this part in June. (of 2010)

Our front entryway looks like we are moving in or out. But Scrubby knows something is happening. Ready to be loaded:
3 suitcases
a few backpacks
Rubbermaid containers: one filled with medicines, a first aid kit, tissues, nail clippers, chap stick. (Thank you Jean)
One filled with cameras, ipad, chargers
A three drawer plastic container for the trunk. The top drawer containing school supplies: pencils, crayons, markers, journals, tape, scissors, the bottom two drawers: cutting board, knife with a sheath, apple cutter, paper bowls, paper plates, plastic silverware, ziplock bags and containers.

We have a portable library (a sectioned canvas container that will sit in the backseat) One section books, another books on CD, and another- travel games.

An ice chest


The To-Do list is still daunting -
So I am going to cut this short and give Scrubby a bath, make him a hot dog omlette so I can feel less guilty for leaving him, and then drop him off at my parents.

Catch up with you on the road! First stop - San Jose, CA - a weekend with Matt's family.

Two things to worry about as our departure draws near.

We leave two weeks from today. There is a lot to be done. That doesn't scare me, I will do what I gotta do. I am filling up my basket of neurosis more quickly than my suitcases though. Filling it with the same two eggs every day.

1. The Dog
2. My Wisdom Teeth

I feel sorry for our wired haired little mutt Scrubby. Our departure is going to break his little rescue terrier heart. He is completely attached to me (is in fact curled up next to me while I write this.)

Although it was Sally who insisted she couldn't live without this dog a couple of years ago, it became the classic scenario - I'm the one who takes care of him and so he bonded most with me. When I leave to run errands, if I don't take him in the car with me. He sits and stares out the window, pining for me until I come home.

I overlook all of his horrible habits, limited intelligence, and social awkwardness. He appreciates my unconditional love and I am the center of his universe.

A big meatball with Scrubby written all over it, will be his when we return.

Second biggest neurotic thought on my mind: Actually, it is vision more than a thought. Me in some small town outside Des Moins, in an emergency wisdom tooth extraction surgery while my kids are left to fend for themselves in a small dated waiting room with nothing to eat for hours.

For 20 years, I have been advised to get my wisdom teeth pulled. This past January the dentist gave me a referral for an oral surgeon and gave a whole list of reasons, such as gum health, why my wisdom teeth really needed to be taken out. I had planned on doing it this summer.

To combat my neurosis, I have come up with a mantra. Repeating these words will help keep my mind from worrying and keep me centered on the less daunting thought: driving cross country with our 4 kids and being solely in charge of their education.

My dog is safe, my teeth are fine

Say it with me.

In the beginning there was carpet and apple seeds

When I was in 3rd grade, my teacher Mrs. Malone had a humongous rug in her room. It was a map of the United States and each state was a different color and type of carpet. Varying lengths, (this was the 70's and shag was a given) textures and colors were cut into the shapes of different states and somehow sewn together.

The rug was where we sat when Mrs. Malone took attendance and counted who was buying lunch. But best of all, it was where we sat when she read aloud to us. I tried to sit on a different state each time we came to the carpet. As she read aloud, I sat and listened while running my fingers through a thick orange Indiana or tracing the patterns of nubby brown Colorado, pressing my shoes into velvety green Oregon or picking at thinning red New Jersey. The royal blue Pacific and Atlantic Ocean carpet bordered the map and completed the rug into a rectangle.

In third grade, my favorite place to be was on the map rug listening to stories. One of the stories we heard was about Johnny Appleseed. He went all over the country planting apple trees. But to me, the point was, he got to travel all over. A seed was planted within me.

During a spelling test or other desk work, I would often look over at the rug and wonder about the funny shaped states. Who lived there? What did it look like? I knew one day I would have to see for myself about the real fibers of which our country was made.

So Johnny Appleseed and Mrs. Malone, guess what? I am going on a sort of a magic carpet ride. With my most favorite people in the world.

Find your cozy spot and join us!