Whistler

I did not get to talk to David today but he is staying just north a Whistler in a campground and I am missing him so much tonight.

This evening Emmett and I were in the backyard playing and as I was pushing him on the swing I looked up over the house roof and there was the moon, rising. I had so much comfort in that image, thinking of David 2,000 miles away from us but looking at the very same moon. Studying it and capturing a beautiful image of it.

Tomorrow night, the 19th, I will be in Phoenix at a gallery opening for David's work. Since he is not here right now I will be Mrs. David Shannon-Lier and will do my best to represent him as best I can and answer questions. He has 5 pieces showing with 4 other artists in a show named "What are we doing here?" The few pieces I have seen look amazing, I am so excited to be able to see the show together and meet the other artists.

I spoke with David tonight, he is spending his last night in Vancouver on a roof deck taking his first moon scape tonight. He says he has an amazing view of the city and he thinks it will be a great photograph.

He has spent the last two days with cousins there and seems to be having a blast. He told me twice (he just have really enjoyed his time) that he went for a bike ride with the cousins to go out for ice cream. And had to chuckle when Phillip Maynard mentioned it was so dang hot he was going to fall off his bike! (it was in the low 80's, wimps ;-)

He is off tomorrow to his first campground and in two days will be headed into Alaska for the Arctic Circle.

6wk Research Expedition

Most of you probably have not heard but David was awarded a research grant from ASU to continue photographing the moon this summer. He has decided to use this money to rent a car and drive north to the Arctic Circle in Alaska, which is about 200mi north of Fairbanks.

The trip began July 6th with Emmett and I joining him for the first week through the Sierra foothills up to Portland, OR. Emmett and I have now returned to Phoenix after an amazing trip of visiting cousins in LA, Albany, OR and Portland, OR and camping for 6 days in Sequoia National Park, Calvaras Big Trees State Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Diamond Lake just north of Crater Lake National Park.

The camping was fabulous, Emmett was a superstar on the trip and the views and surroundings were breathtaking. Each day had it's own special feel.

Well I will do my best to update everyone as David trip progresses with stories and pictures if I receive any.

91 yr old soliciting sex?

Ok so I caught your eye, let me tell you this funny interaction I had the other day at work. I was working up in acute which I don't do very often and was blessed enough to work with a very hilarious 91yr old woman. She was so witty, telling story after story to the point where we were both in tears we were laughing so hard. There was one story I want to share with you, the most shocking. So shock warning!

This wonderful woman, we will call her B, tells me she lives in an assisted living. Assisted livings, you should know are very expensive, about $4,000/mo. This of course includes rides to appointments, all three meals, assistance with bathing if you need it, help with your laundry and more but still very expensive. Well B and her best friend were having a hard time meeting their bills each month, so B's best friend came up with a scam. She decided she would lure men into her room offering sex. While the men were excited and undressing she would steal their money and then kick them out without their clothes on!

I of course was shocked and asked, 'how in the world did she get away with this.' Well B said, these men couldn't remember one minute from the next so they often would look around confused about why they were standing in the hall without their pants on, put their clothes back on and walk off.

B and her friend since then have been caught, scolded and told to return the money but that is a pretty clever scam.

The people I meet, the things I learn.

Oma and Bamboo have arrived!

We are so excited and blessed to have Oma and Bamboo here for a week, (David's parents).

Devil's Canyon

 Emmett and I got to join friends for a short hike in Devil's Canyon today, it was a perfect day for a hike, a picnic and seeing some cattle since we were on Bureau of Land Management land.




BLM land is open for the public to use for hiking, camping, allowing your animals to graze so sometimes you are hiking and come upon a group of cattle which is a little odd for me.

An old post I just found: Trees!

Today Austin and Missy came home with a surprise...Trees! But, not just any trees; they were fruit trees. They had been talking about putting trees in for a while, and today they found a local nursery that had fruit trees that were affordable, so they got four! One of each of: cherry, apple, peach and plum. We promptly dug four holes and planted the trees using the compost we have been making. Everyone helped out:

I dug the holes Alison added the dirt mix

Austin and Missy planted