Leaving Bend

This is Drake Park which is about 1/8 of a mile from the cottage. We have walked here every day. Click HERE to see the Parks and Recreation page for Bend. There are SOOOO many parks! And eight of them are doggie parks!

The other day we went to the dog park at the "Old Mill District". We mingled with the locals and it was FUN! Then we walked over to "Dog Beach" which is an area where the black labs and retrievers can go swimming and fetch the floating targets. She took me down there to see what I'd do since I've never really been near water before. I got right in there with the best of them! But only up to my torso! 
Below is a picture she took with her cell phone so the quality isn't very good, but it's evidence.
 There were six or seven black labs in the water -- and one long-haired blonde collie-afghan poodle!

Anyway - - it's our last day in Bend. We are taking the long way to Mount Shasta via Eugene and Medford OR. A special stop in Roseburg OR to drop off a resume (hey, you never know). We have enjoyed our days here and have learned our way around. It is a beautiful community and we have learned some interesting things about Oregon while here:
~

~Most people here are very courteous and "well-behaved". A realtor I met who has lived here for ten years made the comment "It would be nice if someone would just speed through town or something. It gets a little dull here."

~They may tend to be old-fashioned here, but they tend to be very liberal.

~There's no Sales Tax in Oregon!!

~They pump your gas for you -- it's state law (state law in New Jersey too by the way)

~It's state law to "Move Over or Slow Down When A Car Is On Shoulder of Highway" (in other words, it's required by law to be thoughtful and courteous if it doesn't come naturally to you!)

~There's a strict leash law in this part of Oregon. If we are caught off-leash in a public place it's a $375 fine.

~Gas stations have unisex bathrooms complete with automated faucets, soap and towel dispensers

Off we go! Six or so hours to Mount Shasta! We'll keep you posted!

I Loved This Place in Bend on the River

Welcome to the River Willow

This is the willow tree that the cottage is named for. It has a ladder that goes up the side of it and a rope that hangs from it for old fashioned jumping!

People rent inflatable rafts up the river and then peacefully float down the river for about three miles. It's hard to believe that there are any problems whatsoever in the world when you are just floating along like that -- or watching others floating along like that! We had a great time just waving and saying Hi to everyone who floated by!

Outside on our patio.

Wish you were here!!

Kayak Jack!



River Willow Garden

This place reminds me of Paul McCartney's song
Little Willow:

BEND, LITTLE WILLOW,WINDS GONNA BLOW YOU
HARD AND COLD TONIGHT.
LIFE, AS IT HAPPENS,NOBODY WARNS YOU,
WILLOW, HOLD ON TIGHT.
NOTHING'S GONNA SHAKE YOUR LOVE,
TAKE YOUR LOVE AWAY.
NO ONE'S OUT TO BREAK YOUR HEART,
IT ONLY SEEMS THAT WAY...HEY.
SLEEP, LITTLE WILLOW,
PEACE GONNA FOLLOW,
TIME WILL HEAL YOUR WOUNDS.
GROW TO THE HEAVENS,
NOW AND FOREVER,
ALWAYS CAME TOO SOON.
... OH, LITTLE WILLOW.

Salt Lake to Bend

There's nothing like simple wide open spaces to put things in perspective.

Beautiful Utah Countryside

What should have been a 10 hour trip turned into almost 14. A five car pile up on the 2-lane highway in Salt Lake started the day. (We considered ourselves lucky, though, we weren't involved!)
We hit Boise at rush hour! And then almost 200 miles of construction and darkness -- with "steep drop off"s on the right and new curbing on the left - no lines painted yet on the road and our car in the lead to light the way for the line of traffic behind us! It was a dark and tiring 200 miles but Kate and I got into Bend safely -- albeit several hours later than planned.

The camera battery died early so there are no photos of Oregon posted here. The prettiest leg of the journey started about an hour over the Oregon border. Not a sign of mankind anywhere except the highway itself running through God's Country. An occasional ranch along the river, whose water meandered along the highway for most of the trip into Central Oregon.


This seems like an optical illusion to me somehow.... But it's very real!

It was somewhere in Idaho, I think.

Sedona to Salt Lake

This was an unexpectedly beautiful trip! MAPQUEST must have taken me the scenic route. Here are some of the stops along the way -- or shall I say some "point and click" moments...

This was on the highway heading north from Flagstaff to Page. So typical of the AZ landscape.

Not so typical once we get into the Page AZ area. Check out the rocky passes.

Mapquest routed me near St. George's Utah, and through Kanab. Then through Zion National Park -- the panoramic views were much more impressive than my camera could capture.

Wait!? Have I returned to Sedona so soon? No, this may be a red rock canyon, but it is the red rocks of Bryce Canyon.

The spires of Bryce Canyon

Tomorrow we go from Salt Lake City to Bend OR. Stay tuned!

Sedona To Salt Lake

This was an unexpectedly beautiful trip! MAPQUEST must have taken us the scenic route. Here are some of the stops along the way -- or shall we say some "point and click" moments...

This was on the highway heading north from Flagstaff to Page. 

 Check out the rocky passes.

Mapquest routed us near St. George's Utah, and through Kanab. Then through Zion National Park -- the panoramic views were much more impressive than my camera could capture.

Wait!? Have we returned to Sedona so soon? No, this may be a red rock canyon, but it is the red rocks of Bryce Canyon, Utah.

The spires of Bryce Canyon

Tomorrow we go from Salt Lake City to Bend OR. Stay tuned!

She Was Much Prettier Than Me!!!

Beautiful Grady

We did something very difficult this week. We had Grady put to sleep. It was a huge decision but she has been struggling for the past several years. Towards the end she was SOOOOO restless all the time -- wandering wandering wandering pacing, pacing, panting, standing still now and then saying, "What did I come in here for?" She couldn't hear, she couldn't see, her eyes would run and every time she turned around she be hitting her head on something else or was falling into the rosebeds at the front of the house. 

Best Buddies: Watching our House Being Built

When Kate made the decision on Friday to take her into the vet, she told her in advance.  She told her that we would be going on Tuesday. Kate was very kind and loving. I didn't really understand, but I was paying close attention. We had an absolutely horrendous Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. We all slept on the floor together Monday night and for the first time in many months Grady slept through the whole night, got up in the morning, stood at the door waiting to go out, went out and pee-ed, came in looking for breakfast, ate all of it, played with me and then Kate put in the car to take her over to the vet. It was a near-perfect 24 hours with her. I think it was her final gift to us.

Sweet Grady Makes the Most of her Final Day

Kate had the vet put her to sleep in the back seat of our car which had Grady's bed in it, all nice and comfy, and all of her favorite toys. Sun was streaming in the windows and the fresh air was circulating all around. I was beside her on one side; Kate was on the other. For being so difficult, it was really perfect. 

While she was a beautiful dog, Grady never looked more beautiful than she did when they lifted her out of the car and presented her to us for one final caress. She had had such pain and confusion on her face for so long and her eyes were always so runny and gooped up and when they lifted her out you would think she had just come from the Doggie Salon. She looked pure and clean and perfect, with the wind tossing her hair about. 

We did the right thing. Grady more than earned her way across the Rainbow Bridge simply by being the loving attentive friend that she was to us. We will miss her a lot, but we are "all better" now.

Grady: A Life Well LIved

Where It All Began - The Syracuse Pennysaver

It is only Destiny that makes things happen. Many phone calls, many dogs and puppies interviewed, many ads simply cast aside. This one was the one. It was love at first sight.

Grady was as integrated into our Bradley Street neighborhood as Kate was! It is really because of her that Kate had so many friends. It was because of Grady that Kate ultimately had the courage to move to Arizona. Funny how being loved so unconditionally -- even by a four-legged friend-- can give you the strength you need to meet life's challenges and transitions.

Grady's Final Day

It was a Very Good Life!

Spring, and the land lies fresh green beneath a yellow sun.

We walked the land together, you and I

And never knew what future days would bring.

Will you often think of me

When flowers burst forth each year?

When the earth begins to grow again?

Some say death is so final

But my love for you can never die.

Just as the sun once warmed our hearts

let this love touch you some night

When I am gone and loneliness comes~

Before the dawn begins to scatter your dreams away.

~

Summer and I never knew a bird

Could sing so sweet and clear

Until they told me I must leave you for awhile

I never knew the sky could be so deep a blue

Until I knew I could not grow old with you

But better to be loved by you

Than to have lived a million summers

And never known your love.

Together, let us, you and I

Remember the days and nights for eternity.

~

Fall, and as the earth begins to die

And the leaves turn golden-brown upon the trees

Remember me, too, in Autumn, for I will walk with you

As of old, along a city sidewalk at evening-time

Though I cannot hold you by the hand.

~

Winter, and perhaps someday there may be

Another fireplace another room

With crackling fire and fragrant smoke

And turning, suddenly, we will be together

And I will hear your laughter

And hold you close to me again

But until then, if loneliness should see you out

Some winter night, when snow is falling down

Remember, though death has come to me

My love will never go away.

~

~Orville Kelly

 Charlotte said...

Oh Kate, How much I know how very hard helping Grady on his way to the Rainbow Bridge was for you. My arms are around you in this time of loss of the wonderful and dear friend that Grady was in your life.
Blessings,
Charlotte McCabe
Buddie's Mom from Flag

April 2, 2009 at 6:54 PM

 kathy kusnierczyk said...

hello my friend grady, this is jake. I am welcoming you to my home with open paws. I have missed you and my friends and family but waited patiently for your arrival. it is time again for us to run, play, steal each others stuffed monkeys and to sit together in the warm light of heaven. together we will watch over and protect our loved ones. this place is wonderful. no pain, no soreness. you will feel like a young pup with all kinds of energy. they treat us well, filled water bowls, lots of toys, soft clouds to sleep on. we even have some super natural powers to see our humans and send them good vibrations to protect them like we did on earth. i am so glad we will be togther. I know you will miss your human as she does you, but in time you will be together again. but for now my dear friend grady its great to be together again......Jake

April 3, 2009 at 6:37 AM