First Valley Snow!

The first snow has fallen in Washoe Valley and it is both beautiful and peaceful. The valley looks amazing in it's new coat of white. It is a day to reflect and be inspired... Later I will journey out to take a few photo's of the valley and will share them with you tomorrow. Until then, I made this little video this morning before too many had disturbed the peace. Enjoy!



Life is like a blanket of snow. Be careful how you step on it. Every step will show!

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com

Back to Reality (for now)

Hi Friends,

Saturday night and tomorrow we have to travel back to reality and the grind of work and the daily rat race. It seems like there must be something more, something I am missing, outside of what everyone calls normal. Working just to look forward to vacation, putting up with the boss all week just to be happy on the weekend ... there must be more. Maybe I will be able to figure it out when we get home. Maybe I will have to get away to a mountain top or some other quiet place to figure it out.

We had a great time as we always do. Gold Beach was both fun and refreshing and our time there just too short. We did come away feeling that our usual lodging was getting to usual. Perhaps variety is the spice of life and staying at the same Hotel or Inn seems too much like reality.

Brenda and Ashley had fun as did the Puppies. The temperatures at the Beach were in the higher 60's and low 70's (maybe 70's) all week. No rain, not even a hint came our way but the wind did blow most days. We did not even feel bad for anyone stuck at home in the 100+ temperatures

On our ride home we stopped at a great little tide pool full of life. There were star fish all over the place and little creatures clinging to the rocks waiting for the next high tide to come around.

Things we will change next trip...

New lodging.

Maybe a place with lighter winds.

Brenda has to ride the Jet Boats with us.

More time on the Beach.

Okay that wraps up another fun adventure for us. We have mentioned what we will do next time but nothing really serious yet. Want to see what we saw? Check out the Flickr Photos and relax with us.

Later Dudes...

Don, Brenda, Ashley and the Puppies

Still on Vacation 'Rogue Valley Balloon Rally'

Hi Friends,

We are still on vacation in Oregon but back from the beach (bummer) and back in Medford for a day or two.

Today while Brenda slept in, I tip toed out to see the Rogue Valley Balloon Rally at the Medford Airport.

It was a really pretty and refreshing way to start the day with lot's of blue sky and fresh air. I took a bunch of pictures in the 45 minutes that it took to get maybe 20 balloons in the air. If you want to see some of the photo's they are on this Flickr page. No works of art this time, but still fun to look at.

More on the vacation later.

Don & Brenda and the Puppies!

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com

Gold Beach 4th of July Romp Underway!

Hi Friends,

Just a short note this morning to let you know we are having a great time at Gold Beach. The 4th of July Fireworks are finished and we are looking forward to a jet boat ride up the Rouge River today. There are plenty of pictures on the Flickr page if you want to see what we have been doing.

More tonight maybe... after our river adventure.

Later..

Don Brenda, Ashley and the Puppies

A 25th Anniversary Celebration... "Renewing the Spirit."

So we took a few days to celebrate our 25 years together last weekend. It gave us time to pause life for a few days and concentrate on enjoying each others company without distractions.

Our journey started with a drive to Moonstone Beach at Cambria, California. A quiet, neat little oasis on the Central Coast of California that allows visitors to enjoy nearly empty beaches and a slower pace to each day. And they are dog friendly so we could take Rusty and Peppy along for the ride.

We got a great room looking out at the Ocean at the Cambria Shores Inn, an amazing place where the owners and staff really are glad you are there. They greet you with a smile and really do everything imaginable to make you confortable (thanks Tim and Patrick).

The weather was great and very refreshing. After leaving the warm early Summer temperatures of Reno we were glad to experience the cooler and comfortable air with temperatures in the high 50'2 to mid 60's.

We walked on the empty beaches and listened to the Ocean as it's rolling and rushing cleansed our souls and rejuvenated our Spirits. Rusty and Peppy right there with us, enjoying running on the beach and exploring. Peppy ran so much, we thought he might collapse, but he didn't and was ready to go again the next day.

One day we spent time checking out the Elephant Seals along the beach just North of Cambria. There were thousands of them, all lying on the sand shedding their Winter coats and lying there. It was an amazing site and something we will not soon forget. Best of all after the initial drive, it is all free and you can stay as long as you want. Nature is amazing.

It was a perfect weekend. We came home tired still as it is 8 hours driving to get back home. Sure wish we could find a way to keep the refreshing we received in Cambria without the draining drive home.

25 years ... I can't believe it has been that long. It really just seems like yesterday that I saw Brenda for the first time. Sitting in a chair at Butler Aviation on her first day at work. Cute as a button (still is) wearing a way too big sweater with an amazing smile. Wow, nice flash back and wonderful life so far. I can't wait to see what the next 25 years bring.

There are plenty of pictures on the Flickr page if you want to check them out.

Until next time...

Don

Friends ... It's Time to Stop This

Hi Friends,

It is hard for me to believe that in this World something as disgusting as this is able to continue without global outcry. Please take a minute to visit SaveDarfur and find out what is happening in Africa and how you can make a difference.

Thank you for caring!

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com

End of an Adventure .. Lifetime of Memories

Hi Friends,

We have returned from what may go down as one of our greatest adventures to date. This time we were gone for just 9 days but we were able to do so much the results were priceless.

We got to ...
Visit with family
Get out of the house
Enjoy the Ocean
Explore Ashland
Ride Segways
and did I mention, get out of the house for a while.

In addition, I read an amazing book called 'a long way gone, Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.' It was one of those books you just can't put down until you are finished. It is also one of those books that change the way you see things and exposes you to things you did not know existed. I really recommend you pick this book up and see for yourself.

So how to wrap up this trip in a few words.... It was wonderful and really packed a lot of punch for such a short time. I guess the only thing I can come up with is "Life is Good, enjoy every single day God has given you because tomorrow is never guaranteed."

Until next time ..

Don http://www.tuckertimes.com