Winter Wonderland
We are having what looks to be a record snowfall in Oregon. Its been like this since Saturday 12/20, with no end in sight. I measured 14 inches on the back deck!
Dexter Neil Humelbaugh Nov. 23, 2008
Dexter Neil Humelbaugh Son of Robert and Karen Humelbaugh
Nov. 23, 2008
7# 9 oz
13 3/4 inches head
20 1/4 inches long
Wisdom of the ages
" The Oriah Mountain Dreamer " who studied with native elders of Canada.
I have sent you my invitation,
the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don’t jump up and shout, “Yes, this is what I want! Let’s do it!”
Just stand up quietly and dance with me.
Show me how you follow your deepest desires,
spiraling down into the ache within the ache,
and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward
to feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.
Don’t tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart.
Show me how you turn away from making another wrong without abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.
Tell me a story of who you are,
and see who I am in the stories I live.
And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.
Don’t tell me how wonderful things will be . . . some day.
Show me you can risk being completely at peace,
truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment,
and again in the next and the next and the next. . .
I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring.
Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall,
the place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your own will.
What carries you to the other side of that wall, to the fragile beauty of your own humanness?
And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other, let us risk remembering that we never stop silently loving
those we once loved out loud.
Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart.
And I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.
Show me how you take care of business
without letting business determine who you are.
When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us shout that soul’s desires have too high a price,
let us remind each other that it is never about the money.
Show me how you offer to your people and the world
the stories and the songs
you want our children’s children to remember.
And I will show you how I struggle not to change the world,
but to love it.
Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,
knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging.
Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,
holding neither against me at the end of the day.
And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest
intentions has died away on the wind,
dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale
of the breath that is breathing us all into being,
not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.
Don’t say, “Yes!”
Just take my hand and dance with me.
I have sent you my invitation,
the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don’t jump up and shout, “Yes, this is what I want! Let’s do it!”
Just stand up quietly and dance with me.
Show me how you follow your deepest desires,
spiraling down into the ache within the ache,
and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward
to feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.
Don’t tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart.
Show me how you turn away from making another wrong without abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.
Tell me a story of who you are,
and see who I am in the stories I live.
And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.
Don’t tell me how wonderful things will be . . . some day.
Show me you can risk being completely at peace,
truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment,
and again in the next and the next and the next. . .
I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring.
Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall,
the place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your own will.
What carries you to the other side of that wall, to the fragile beauty of your own humanness?
And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the clear, healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other, let us risk remembering that we never stop silently loving
those we once loved out loud.
Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart.
And I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.
Show me how you take care of business
without letting business determine who you are.
When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us shout that soul’s desires have too high a price,
let us remind each other that it is never about the money.
Show me how you offer to your people and the world
the stories and the songs
you want our children’s children to remember.
And I will show you how I struggle not to change the world,
but to love it.
Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,
knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging.
Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,
holding neither against me at the end of the day.
And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest
intentions has died away on the wind,
dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale
of the breath that is breathing us all into being,
not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.
Don’t say, “Yes!”
Just take my hand and dance with me.
Beautiful fall in Oregon
Asian Redbud
Top of Bald Peak
Eissa has been photographing some of the beautiful fall colors. They are worthy of publishing!
Colin G Looney MARINE 9/19/08 Semper Fi!!
Gayland, Kara, Lucas, Poppy (Gayland's father-in-law) and Ray (Grandpa) with Colin
Ty's daughter Mikayla (Colin's Niece) Showing her support!
Colin and Elissa
Colin and me
Nana turns 70...a rock'in party
Nana threw herself a "rock" party for her 70th birthday on August 29th. Everyone brought her a rock of some kind. I am really not sure what she is going to do with all of them, but knowing Nana, it'll be cool. The party was attended by about 70 people..I didn't count.Mom's younge
r sister Doris, and her son Kevin came in from California as well as Dad's brother Frank and his daughter Lisa. Lisa brought a few of her kids with her as well. I didn't get nearly enough pictures as I was busy with the food, but I got a few good shots of 
various attendees..the elderly..the young. Kay Henkel (Ginger's mother in law). Rob, Karen and Brenna were there (baby due in November!)Frank came with me too and helped with the food and the visiting. A great time was had by all.
The Colors Orange
Elissa is loving her post college free time...so much so that
she decided to add a few pets to her schedule. First came Ziggy. Chosen at the humane society because we felt he could withstand the great and grumpy
and quite stuck up Blue Cat. He sure can! He is either very brave or very stupid..you pick, but he IS a character and will not give up on the possibility that Blue will someday look upon him with favor...but he's gentle enough for children. It's fun having a playful friendly kitten in the house.Then Elissa started thinking about riding again..so she started looking for a horse. Along came Chase. 1/2 Hanoverian, 1/2 Arab. Just turned 3 in June. Guess who gets to break him? He's also "orange" that's chestnut in horse color lingo. Also an intrepid curiosity seeking, playful guy. Prima is supremely happy to have a friend.
Riggs Road 4th of July Celebration
Riggs Rd. has long had a tradition of a parade followed by a picnic on the 4th of July. Its a casual affair on our little mile long street. The neighbors deck out their tractors, riding lawn mowers, wagons, bicycles and golf carts with streamers, balloons and anything else they can think of. My neighbor Laurie and I always give our horses a bath and decorate them with flags, ribbons and whatever else I find at the dollar store. This year Skidboot and Prima got to lead the parade...everyone else 
had to dodge the badooger piles:) Pictures anyone?
had to dodge the badooger piles:) Pictures anyone?
Some Pics of Prima
Colin Exits High School to San Diego..Boot Camp!
Just four short and speedy weeks after Elissa both graduated from College AND made a return trip to Austria AND started her new life as employee slash at PerloMcCormack Pacific, it was not only time for Colin to graduate from Aloha High School, but also time to send him off to the Marine Corp in San Diego for boot camp.
I on th
e other hand, went to sunny Florida June 9-12 for a work seminar. Colin graciously gave me permission to go to Florida and miss his actual graduation as long as I agreed not to miss boot camp graduation in September. Colin did have a wonderful party at his dad's house on June 7th and there were so many people there that I was able to catch up with.. it was fun!. I then boarded a plane at 0 dark thirty on June 8th and headed to Daytona Beach. My first trip to the east side of America. It was a great trip although I spent most of it inside listening to lectures and taking notes. In the evenings I did manage a few long walks on the warm and muggy beach and a few dips in the very warm Atlantic ocean. I'd like to go back..to relax!Meanwhile Colin graduated in a ceremony at the University of Portland with Gayland & Patty, Elissa and Ray & Maxine present. The last one out of the nest. He's a tall brave handsome sweet boy..and I was all together about him leaving until I was in church on Sunday and our elderly friend Millie..with whom Colin had a close friendship..she's a GREAT lady..anyway, she said a long prayer for him & Elissa and I went all blubbery.
Sunday, June 22nd, Elissa and I and Hana (just a "friend") took Colin to his recruiters office with just a t-shirt, his wallet and $20.00. No phone, no computer, no 'nutt'in. We'll see him again in September I guess..if he survives.
Meanwhile I am desperately trying to refi the house and get out from under leftover coffee shop debt. What a trial..what a learning process...what a pain in the butt. I have however, been dating a very cool man, yes, an actual man. We're both so old and jaded that we've been having each other's (well..mostly on my end) most trusted experts "vet" the other..trying to make sure we're not once again kissing a frog. One never knows, but it's kinda cool so far.
Little Lucas Loone
y, meanwhile, has been battling asthma. This resulted in an overnight hospital stay while I was in Florida and now daily asthma treatments. Poor little pumpkin. His wonderful mommy and daddy, Ty and Kara celebrated their 5th (WOW) anniversary on June 14th, and my parents, Robin and Homer Humelbaugh celebrated their 50th anniversary in May. We all gathered for dinner at Ginger's house. It was uproarious fun!Colin's address for the summer is:
REC LOONEY, COLIN G
2nd BN G Co. PLT
35051 Midway Ave.
San Diego, CA 92140
When Montana says Goodbye to Elissa
When the mountains begin to look like stars do, on a very, very dark and clear night, with edges so sharp and vivid that you feel you could reach up and pluck them out of the sky, or perhaps when there's such a glorious full, full moon that you can't breath looking at the vastness of it, you know you're in Montana. It shouts rugged grandeur from every pine covered steep crag, and the air is so dry and populace so sparse you can breath in a whole lung full of air without sharing a molecule of it with anything but the white tail deer. I love Montana.
Missoula, Montana sits in a valley ringed by mountains such as these. A true old brick college town that hums with youthful and mostly liberal, earthy energy. The cars are dirty, the streets are wide, the houses cozy, and historic Old West buildin
gs and churches populate the old downtown next to the Clark Fork River.
Such is the place, at the University of Montana at Missoula where Elissa has spent the last four years, with the exception of this year's Austria adventure Jan. thru May, and such is the place where last weekend(May 10th) she graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration wearing a silver tassel for graduating "with honors" and gold cord for graduating "with high honors" a maroon cord for graduating as a University Scholar with the Davidson Honor's College, and, last but not least a HUG
E presidential medal for being selected as an outstanding senior for her work at the University Center..which included not one, but two campus wide swing dances (including marketing) AND she and her group won $1000.00 for their 3rd place undergraduate placing for their "Fitted4" business plan (thanks to Aunt Ginger for the prototype camo pants) in which they also won the best "elevator pitch" award and made it into the top 15 business plans for the WHOLE COMPETITION. Gayland and I and Ray and Maxine watched the final four presentations, and personally, we think she should'a been in the final four!!! No bias here!
We stayed in a great house about 10 miles up I-93 at the edge of an Indian Reservation. Horrible red carpets, but comfortable just the same, with a view of those glorious mountains and edged by a huge pasture full of pregnant and newly delivered mares(mule babies) (I liked this part, don't know about the others). Friday morning we attended the awards ceremony for the Outstandin senior recognition awards, which was followed by a reception at the Davidson Honors College, where the Dean said to Gayland, "you know some kids earn this title and some don't, but yours does". Saturday, w
e slogged through the long graduation ceremony (times two..geez! the torture, the aching buns!) followed by a barbeque at the ranch attended by Lissa's friend Kelly (fellow graduate) and her family. Sunday, Lissa & I cleaned and packed her apartment, and Gayland and fam. arrived at 1:30 to pack it up into the cars. Wagon's Ho! We were off like a herd of hungry Oregonian's to Mackensie River Pizza., and barreled home, Gayland style, first thing Monday morning. Whew!
By the way, should you ever visit the Cougar Ranch..owed by a wonderful French woman named Helene, you will enjoy the world's BEST french cooking for breakfa
st!
Missoula, Montana sits in a valley ringed by mountains such as these. A true old brick college town that hums with youthful and mostly liberal, earthy energy. The cars are dirty, the streets are wide, the houses cozy, and historic Old West buildin
gs and churches populate the old downtown next to the Clark Fork River.Such is the place, at the University of Montana at Missoula where Elissa has spent the last four years, with the exception of this year's Austria adventure Jan. thru May, and such is the place where last weekend(May 10th) she graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration wearing a silver tassel for graduating "with honors" and gold cord for graduating "with high honors" a maroon cord for graduating as a University Scholar with the Davidson Honor's College, and, last but not least a HUG
E presidential medal for being selected as an outstanding senior for her work at the University Center..which included not one, but two campus wide swing dances (including marketing) AND she and her group won $1000.00 for their 3rd place undergraduate placing for their "Fitted4" business plan (thanks to Aunt Ginger for the prototype camo pants) in which they also won the best "elevator pitch" award and made it into the top 15 business plans for the WHOLE COMPETITION. Gayland and I and Ray and Maxine watched the final four presentations, and personally, we think she should'a been in the final four!!! No bias here!
We stayed in a great house about 10 miles up I-93 at the edge of an Indian Reservation. Horrible red carpets, but comfortable just the same, with a view of those glorious mountains and edged by a huge pasture full of pregnant and newly delivered mares(mule babies) (I liked this part, don't know about the others). Friday morning we attended the awards ceremony for the Outstandin senior recognition awards, which was followed by a reception at the Davidson Honors College, where the Dean said to Gayland, "you know some kids earn this title and some don't, but yours does". Saturday, w
e slogged through the long graduation ceremony (times two..geez! the torture, the aching buns!) followed by a barbeque at the ranch attended by Lissa's friend Kelly (fellow graduate) and her family. Sunday, Lissa & I cleaned and packed her apartment, and Gayland and fam. arrived at 1:30 to pack it up into the cars. Wagon's Ho! We were off like a herd of hungry Oregonian's to Mackensie River Pizza., and barreled home, Gayland style, first thing Monday morning. Whew!
By the way, should you ever visit the Cougar Ranch..owed by a wonderful French woman named Helene, you will enjoy the world's BEST french cooking for breakfa
st!
Camelia's....
Camelias bloom and fade early in spring bringing glossy green leaves and intricate pink blossoms in abundance, then drop to the ground and quickly fade to brown. Next year's contribution to next year's blooms.
Meanwhile, being a clever girl with a socket set and a $12.50 new rototiller belt, I fixed (within 3 different tries at the belt configuration as I can't download the manual & can't find the original)the rototiller is FIXED and the garden is tilled! with only a slight sunburn to show for it.
Meanwhile out on the track..and down in Stayton
Colin has had a very successful track season so far, and last Saturday (while the sun was remarkably OUT and burned my arms!) He had a PR of 170"5". GO COLIN
Later that day...ran down to Stayton in the new ride and celebrated many birthdays with Rob & Karen(BIG news due in 9 months!), Alex, Ginger and David and Mom and Dad (50 years May 24th 2008!) We had a great if not overly boistrous dinner. Mom gave me a bracelet that reads," Isn't it great what clever girls can do...P.Pan) Love it!
What a great weekend! (except for the rototiller breaking)
Spring in Heather's Yard
My back,, shoulders and feet planted all the flowers and trees in my yard. This
makes Springtime extra special, because I see the reward of all those hours (and dollars). I gave up on the garden rototilling yesterday..when the drive train belt broke (what a PAIN!) and took flower pictures instead!
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