2024 ..so far

So far 2024 has been a very good year. We have continued to do alot of our normal activities: daily walks, volunteering, travel and caring for our 8 year old Irish Wolfhound, Emmie. Marlene loves to get up early in the morning to see what our Mountain looks like, and then take some stunning pictures, like the one above.

We've continued volunteering for the USO and the West Columbia George Humane Society.

And as usual we attended the WCGHS benefit dinner, "A Tail To Remember"

And in March we went on our 9th (11th overall) Joe Bonamassa "Keeping the Blues Alive" Caribbean Cruise.  This year it was back to Cozumel Mex.  

Joe Bonamassa

This summer, instead of taking one big trip, we decided to take a few shorter getaways, so that Emmie wouldn't have to be alone so long at one time The first one of these trips was a driving trip to Lake Chelan up in north central Washington. While there we took a boat trip all the way up the 50 mile lake to the little village of Stehekin.

The original Stehekin one room school building

Beautiful Rainbow Falls in Stehekin

Unfortunately, while we were there, there was a large wildfire that came very close to the village. The day after we left, the area came under a mandatory evacuation order and all tourist activity was halted.  While on the boat back we witnessed water bombers landing on the lake, taking in water and then dropping it on the fire.

Of course no summer would be complete without our annual visit to the Clark County Fair. Here is Marlene standing in front of a huge dinosaur slide,  which she didn't use.

Our gardening efforts this year weren't as good as some years....just one cucumber, however we raised something in the tomato bed that was successful, and it wasn't tomatoes....baby bunnies, which Marlene shaded and kept safe.

Our other trip his year was to celebrate our 20th Anniversary.  It was a train trip to Vancouver BC.

We had a great time exploring the city, the waterfront, Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium and Granville Island, as well as indulging lots of excellent food.

 

Stanley Park

The Vancouver Aquarium

One big change in our volunteering activity this summer was the moving of the USO from the the Portland Airport to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). We enjoyed volunteering at the airport, and seeing all the military travellers, however the change to MEPS has been very good. It's been great to see all the young people excited and a little anxious to begin the journey of service to their country.

 

Emmie

Well that's the end of this post...hope to get another one out before the end of the year.

2023

This Blog is turning out to be a yearly item.  We started this several years ago, and at first we were getting an issue out every month, or more, but as time has progressed it's getting less and less.  Not because we don't have anything interesting to share, but just procrastination.  So we haven't done one since the end of 22, so this one will be a short review of just some of the highlights of our year in 2023.  Yes we're already halfway through 2024, so we will try  to get another one out at least before the year ends.  (maybe)

Time marches on and everyone got a year older in 2023 including Martin

. Early in the year we had a great visit with some of Marlene's family. her Nephew Paul, and his wife Lisa and daughter Raynn.  They were passing through Vancouver and we met them for breakfast

Our 8th Joe Bonamassa Keeping the Blues Alive cruise  in March was to the Dominican Republic.  Here we are sitting on a giant chair on the grounds of a rum factory that we toured, and below inside the same factory posing with a friendly resident. 

Marlene makes friends wherever she goes including  on the Pink Street in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Martin wasn't the only one to have a birthday in 2023.  Emmie celebrated her 7th with a Mcdonalds cheeseburger.

Another great trip we had in 2023 was back to Marlene's hometown of Rockford Ill. for her 55th High School Reunion 

We had a great time exploring Rockford while we were there including taking a walk along the Rock River and meeting the "Rock People".   And below we were able to go to a local production of Cinderella. 

And another great trip in 2023 later in the year was a trip to Las Vegas where we met more of Marlene's family, who traveled there from Rockford, and her sister Maxine who came from Seattle.

We all went together to see Brad Garrett and a great time was had by all.

We even saw "Fat Elvis", although he has lost some weight and just goes by "Large Elvis" now.

Marlene drinking beer. (wow) and Martin finally hit a Jackpot!

 It was another great year, we had special fun events and trips, but also our regular activities, including our daily walks and our volunteer shifts at the shelter and the USO.  Stayed turned for 2024.

Closing out 2022. Reno and Christmas with neighbors and family

We are way behind in our blogging, so this is to try to get caught up.  This post is to finish the last few months of 2022, after our Athens Cruise, and Marlene's trip to Rockford. In late November we took a quick trip to Reno to see a Joe Bonamassa

The snow dusted hills around Reno

And as usual a great show by Joe

And of course we spent a little time in around Reno.  Neat to see the holiday decorations during this time of year

 

And we got home to a cold December but continued our daily walks in spite of the weather

And then just before Christmas a neighbor of ours invited us to a party with an Elvis impersonator , right in their living room.  By the way the neighbors who thru this party are in their mid 90's

And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without our annual Family Christmas Party.  Above Kate and Jon. Below Anna and Marlene

Dan Molly and Brandon

It was another great year