Mini-mini Rangs in Sac

A gathering of Boomers in Sacramento at Ron & Carols house. Center Ron, left, Mary, Debbie, Diane, Carol, Jim, & Elaine. It was a very happy Happy Hour!

Jim loves to try restaurant's recommended on Drive In's, Diners & Dives, so off we went to try out Dan's Kitchen in Sacramento. It was good!Jim highly recommends the Blue cheese, bacon burger!

Dick Willsey

This is my(Dianes)brother-in-law Dick. He's been fighting leukemia and lung cancer for 1 1/2 years now. He's been in the hospital six times this summer with problems, mostly pneumonia. We left Wa. state as soon as Jim was finished with his cataract surgeries, a few days after Labor Day so we could come to Sacramento to be with my sister and brother in law. We're so glad we have an RV & are retired and mobile. It's been a whirlwind of Dr. appts, a very short stay in a Rehap facility(took 2 days to get admitted) where they discovered on a Xray his lung was collapsed. An ambulance was called, 8 hrs in the emergency room, many tests later then finally admitted to a hospital room. Surgery was performed the next day it was microscopic surgery(thank goodness). They relieved the pressure around the lung allowing it to expand, placed a tube in his side to drain the inside of the lung & also glued his lung to the lining. If all goes well he will be home at the end of the week. We are glad to be here and help in any way we can.

Sadly I have to update this entry. Dick lived only a short time after being discharged from the hospital. He passed away on Oct. 25 at home with his wife by his side. My sister had a wonderful Celebration of Life party for Dick. He will be greatly missed.

The Eruption of Mt. St. Helens

I took these pictures of photos from a ranger presentation. These were taken from an observer at a look out point 5 miles away! He snapped and ran I'm sure.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

Seeing as the weather was going to continue to be georgous we headed over to Mt. St. Helens. What you see in this picture are weathered logs still floating on top of Spirit Lake. For those of you who may have forgotten, Mt. St. Helen's erupted in 1980. Today one can still see the devastation of how the eruption has reshaped the landscape.

When we first arrived to Windy Ridge the mountain top was covered in clouds.


This is about an hour later when the clouds lifted. Notice the right side of picture which is the north side of the mountain top. This is where the mountain bulged then erupted blasting away everything in its path.

Spirit Lake has returned but note the lack of vegatation around it.

Beautiful Mount Rainer

Mount Rainier

Summer finally kicked in for Washington state so the weather was perfect for a visit to Mount Rainier National Park. We entered in from the north end first visiting the Sunrise Visitor center area. We were early as we had boondocked at the ski lodge at Crystal Mountain the night before. Enjoyed a nice hike but due to my limited hiking abilities(bum ankles) I turned back only to come across a bear by the trail. Luckily a Ranger was there keeping an eye on things, the bear was enjoying wild flowers and sunning himself ,about 30 feet off the trail, close enough for me. But darn it all I had given the camera to Jim. Good thing we arrived early because as we were leaving the area past the toll booth they had traffic stopped allowing a few cars in as others left. I guess everyone wanted to catch in on the favorable weather!

It was a beautiful drive through the park as we headed over to Paradise. Amazing as the weather was all the trails going out of this area were still covered in snow. They had cleared a short trail out behind the visitor center which was packed with people!

An added bonus to the beauty all around us were the wild flowers that were in bloom due to the late summer.

Family Fun in WA

More More Manson visits

We all drove up Chelan Butt Rd to the top of the hill. From this 3000 ft mountain top you will find hang glidders and paragliders taking off. What a fantastic sight this is. This is our second ride up here to watch.

Our swim baby Kourtney.

Cooking in the kitchen with Grandma, Lauren mixing up a pie, with baby sister Kourtney looking on.

Our big girl Lauren gets the big pool.

Coming to Manson

Ganddaughters Winnie and Abby arriving on the Amtrak for a weeks stay with us for Bach Fest in Chelan

Winnie, Grandpa Jim and Abby attending the Noon Series concert.

Yeah! More grandkids. These are our grandson's from Hemet Ca. for their first visit to our Manson home. This is Adam & Mason.

Their dad, my son John.

Son John, his son 10 yr old Adam, cousin 11 yr old Alex and John's 16 yr old son Mason.

Family Fun

Kourtney bathing in the sink.

Lauren having her first ice cream float.

The family at the Community Memorial Day Potluck

Cousins 10 yr old Nikki and 11 yr old Alex having time at Grandma & grandpa's

Jim off for a swim with the grandkids.

The group shot. Jim, Nikki, Diane, and Alex

Our daughter Denise with son Alex and niece Nikki.