Part of one of the firefighter's staging area on US Highway 93 near Missoula. See the Datastorm satellite internet receiver on the fifth wheel?

7:03 pm Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Many year ago when I began working on my family history and genealogy I gradually found and made contact with dozens of new “cousins” across the country. Some I already knew existed but many more were new to me. As I corresponded with them via letters and telephone calls in the beginning, then e-mail and for the few within a drivable distance from my home town in person, I discovered a plethora of jewels in my family tree. And my cup runneth over!

Our recent visit with my cousin Lea and her husband Bob in Medical Lake has gifted me with another of those gems. Lea is a year or so younger and her husband is a year older than me. Like I said in a previous post, Lea and I have corresponded over the past years but it was our first meeting in person. Phil and I were welcomed so warmly, we instantly felt like family.

“I have been riding since I was a youngster and broke my first horse when I was nine years old” Bob told us when I asked him where he learned the expertise used every day for training, riding and caring for the many horses on their ten acre ranch. Over 50 years ago when her father died while she was in high school Lea had to give up her horse when she moved in to town with her mother and sister. Finally, less than 20 years ago she was able to realize her never forgotten dream of moving back to the country where owning, riding and competing as well as training horses would again be possible. As they gave us a tour around the ranch we could sense the love and pride they both feel about this laborious lifestyle they have chosen, even into retirement.

In October 2007, they will celebrate 50 years of marriage with their children, grandchildren and their one great granddaughter as well as many other members of their family and friends from around the country. We will not be able to attend but we wish them much happiness and lots of beautiful new memories for many more years to come.

Here we are, squinting into the sun for posterity:

L-R: Phil, Joy, Nikki, Lane, Lea, Isaac, Bob, Tyler and Bryant and in front, Nikki's tiny chihuahua pup, Scout.

Here's a picture of champions, Rosie and Lea in competition.

Last picture of Lea and Bob with all five of their children taken in 2002, just a few months before son, Scott passed away.

sitting, L-R: Scott, Lea, Nikki, Christyn

standing, L-R: Tom, Bob and Steve

I loved this picture so much, I took a picture of it to share with all of you. It was taken by a friend of theirs while Bob and Lea were on a trail ride about ten years ago.

A table full of grandchildren having dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Granddaughter-in-law, Heather and her daughter, the newest member of Bob and Lea's family: great granddaughter, four month old Lillianna Rose.

A candid shot of Bob in a pensive moment.

Just a few of the many trophies that Lea and her horses have won over the years.

Lea leading her champion paint, Wild Rose-- affectionately known as "Rosie" over to say hello.

Lea and her pet goat.

Part of the herd ...

1:30 pm Thursday August 16, 2007

Phil is soooooo happy! He has a good size fishing lake just steps from the door of Penny the Pace. I am also soooooo happy because our Datastorm found a hole in the tall trees that surround us to connect with our Internet satellite so we are online.

We have a date for dinner with my cousin, Lea and her husband, Bob tomorrow. They have suggested we go to the “best place to eat around here”—the casino. We said we can believe it telling them about the great buffet at Little Creek Casino in Shelton.

We had our “linner” (what I call our late lunch-early dinner combo) at Chili’s in downtown Spokane yesterday and then walked around Riverfront Park which is just down the street from the Convention Center. From there we went to Wal*Mart and replenished our fresh fruit and of course, some other absolute essentials including a couple prescriptions for me. We were home in time for Phil to manage a couple hours of fishing before dark.

Here are some of the photos we have taken over the last few days:

Our Penny the Pace and the Lone Ranger at Dan's Landing RV Park and fish camp near Medical Lake, WA. Clear lake is just in front of her on the right.

Can you see the sun shining through the little hole in the pine trees? Our satellite internet dish found "the bird" through that gap and I was a happy camper!

Fish on!

Phil and his 12 ft. port-a-boat http://www.porta-bote.com/

tieing up to Dan's Landing dock after a great morning of fishing on Clear Lake.

Busy railroad bridges cross I-90 going north into downtown Spokane. This section of the highway descends two miles down into the Spokane River valley where the city is located. Did you know there are two cities in one? Spokane Valley is a city of it's own directly beside the city of Spokane. Who knew?