Sunday Salon on Monday, August 8

Three fawns camouflaged 

Weather: Cooler but still smoky.

Sisters

Home: We have been in Central Oregon for a week of vacation with the family. We had a glorious and healing time together. The weather was hot with smoke in the air from wild fires in the area and blowing in from BC but we still enjoyed every moment. There were family dinners with fabulous food like Don's grilled salmon, Robin's special creamy potatoes, Tom's flank steak, Grace's Taco Tuesday, and dump cake made by my girls. We played in the swimming pool and read books poolside until the blazing sun chased us back inside. We walked and golfed. We played games with Scattegories being our favorite this year. The poor people upstairs that had to put up with our laughter. My parents, age 88 and 89 said this was the last year they would host one of these family reunions. It is our turn to take over the family reunions in the future, (my sibs and I.) We had several visits by deer which are very close to resort pets. The photo above shows three of the fawns who wouldn't come too near, like their parents.

The happy new couple

Wedding: Before we headed to Central Oregon we helped celebrate the wedding of our niece, Samantha to her German husband, Basti, in Oregon City at a wonderful wedding venue. Samantha and Basti got married a year ago in a civil ceremony in Germany, then two weeks ago held a reception in Germany to celebrate with their German friends and family. So we called this ceremony their third wedding. Whatever number, it was a beautiful and fun occasion.

Tony, father of the bride, and his sisters

595: We had very spotty Internet reception at the resort where we stayed in Oregon. For that reason I didn't/couldn't look at my email. During the week I piled up 595 unread messages, most of them are unwanted political or companies advertising something or an another, but I am sure there are several messages that I really need to see. Sigh. Be patient if you emailed me. It may take me days to find your message.

Mule deer. Photo credit: Grace Ruddy, used with permission

Forgot: After our family reunion we headed east to Hermiston to meet up with Don's stepmother to pick up his father's pickup truck and his ashes. Don and his brother plan to scatter them later this summer or fall. We got the pickup but forgot the ashes. Dang. That means another long trip on another weekend to get them. Sigh.

Reading: I read much less than I anticipated on this vacation, only finishing two audiobooks while in the car and one half of another print edition. This is pretty unusual for me.

Completed books since the last "Sunday Salon" on July 23rd:

• Dead Wake: The final crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. A book club selection. Audio. 
• The Uninterrupted View From the Sky by Melanie Crowder. A YA novel set in Bolivia that deals with the corrupt judicial system. Print.
• BookSpeak: Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas. Illustrated, children's book. Print.
• The Gentleman's Guide to Virtue and Vice by McKenzi Lee. A delightful, humorous YA novel which is set during the 1700s but the theme is LGBT based. Print.
• Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. Another book club selection. The writing was very good but the story was discouraging. Don gave it a 2.25 star review. Audio.
• The One-In-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood. A Young boy set out to complete a Boy Scout badge with a 104-year-old woman. When he dies, his father completes the task. Very well done. Another book club selection. I gave this one 5 stars. Audio.

Currently reading:

• Longbourn by Jo Baker. ANOTHER book club selection. This one is a sort of Upstairs/Downstairs book set in the home of the Bennet family of Pride and Prejudice. The characters are the staff mentioned only briefly in the famous novel by Jane Austen. Print. 58%.

Watch this clip: If you live in the Seattle area you no doubt know about or have seen Ciscoe on King 5 news. If you don't live in the Seattle area, you will wish you had this character on your local news. Enjoy. (It is only a minute long.) He makes you feel good just watching him. Click the link here: KING5

Have a wonderful week!