The Oregonian Adventure - Part One

I have had many great adventures during the last ten years or so.  I have seen many beautiful places and met many wonderful people through fly fishing.  This trip took me to see my son, Dan, who lives in Oregon now.  He sure did spoil me!  A doughnut run was in order.  Voodoo is definitely one shop that I had to visit while I was there.  Nothing ordinary about it, that's for sure.   Besides touring the city of Portland and surrounding areas, we got some fishing in too and I got to see some close friends.  A perfect vacation!  

Great dinners out... Tableside guacamole???  YES, PLEASE!!!  This guy did a fantastic job mixing this up!

Besides the amazing food every day, there were some places to play "tourist".

The Portland Intl Rose Test Garden... WOW!!!  Let's put up my favorites in one pic.

Portland is known as the "City of Roses" because the weather is ideal for growing them.  There are 10,000 roses in this garden.  Is that a few more than yours???

The scenery around Multnomah Falls

 Then, there is Tillamook Cheese Factory and the Portland Coast...

What else can we get in on this trip?

Let's meet up with my friends, Alice and John!  They are only two hours away and we wanted to get in a bit of fishing and go crabbing!!!   =)  I met Alice online in a fly fishing group many years ago.  We have kept up our friendship by going on a few adventures through the years.  I have always wanted to visit her neck of the woods in Oregon.  I finally got to do that.

My bestie, Alice.

Showing my son, Dan, the ropes. 

Teaching him to cast.  He was a fast learner, thank goodness!!! 
I wasn't sure if any of my children would ever want to fly fish with me.  
Now, I have both of my sons trying it out.  That makes my heart happy.

Crabbing is not an easy task.  But, Dan put his muscles into it and got it done.

I did my part in holding one for a selfie.

Hahahahaha.

After a patio boil at 8 pm...  We have dinner!  Along with steak and chicken, oh my.

What a great day out with some great people.

We must get some sleep now.  Tomorrow is the long awaited trip to the

Metolius River...  I have waited like 4 or 5 years to experience it.

To be continued...

Sorry... =) But, it is a story unto itself.

RD

Adventures With Friends

Sometimes I wonder how long my body will withstand my fly fishing days.  I work hard when I am out there.  It's never been something that has come easy.  What fun would that be?  Haha.  It's something that I love immensely though.  Being laid up after surgery, I was finally given the doctor release to fish again.  I packed up my bags and headed to Montana to fish the "Three Amigos" trip the second week of April.  Every year, we have this annual trip on the Beaverhead River and surrounding areas.  Last year, I did not attend due to my accident and back injury and the Covid 19.  So, I was more than anxious to see my buddies again and get on the water with them.  Our time together was fun, but catching fish was not like previous years.  Next year might be at a new location. Stay tuned.

  Here are some pics of the trip.

My best catch was the first day.  A beautiful 24" bow.

It's always good to have buddies that carry tools in their truck.  

Wading sticks that "stick"!!!

A couple weeks later, I hit my favorite Wyoming fishery with one of my best buddies.

Back to baking cookies for family and friends.

Then, out to visit my favorite brown trout and colorful cutties in my home state.

And back to Wyoming this past Saturday to fish with an old friend of twenty years...

Adventure in every riffle.  Now to rest up a bit and leave those fishies alone for awhile. 

I have work to do this week.  =)

xoxo

RD

Luck of the Irish?

 Today is St. Patty's Day and I am looking back at this past year.  Wow.  I must have a bit of Irish in me, because I have survived 2020 and the many things that came my way.  Despite the long break from the blog, I am feeling compelled to write yet another post.  You see, an old friend of mine, Mike Agneta, reminded me that there is joy in writing and remembering those adventures in life.  Whether it's good or not so good, you are on a journey.  It is up to you what you do with the hand that is dealt to you.  So, here I am.  Green shoes and all.  Because I did have a bit of Irish luck and God's blessings upon me this past year.  Now, let's get this story rolling..

Through many prayers and support of family, friends and doctors, we have much to be grateful for.  My husband had a heart attack last February and upon finding him falling over the side of the bed, I was able to catch him... sort of... after he hit his head on the night stand.  Sorry, hun.  911 was called again. This was the second visit that night from the paramedics, after the first crew passed him off as being ok.  Obviously, he wasn't!!!  Ughhh... So, a heart stent was put in and a week later he was home.  

I couldn't let him get all of the attention.  He was finally feeling stronger than ever with that new stent.  Then, I call him as I am shaking like a leaf after being hit in an intersection.  Everyone walked away from the car accident, so that is the most important thing.  Someone was watching over me that day.  Many months of chiropractic visits and physical therapy was done.  Oh, February 2020.  All we can say is that we came out of it alive.  We don't want to miss those grandkids hugs and kisses, ya know?

Things happen in threes.  A dog bit me on my upper leg two weeks after the car accident.  Of course, it had to be the same side that was black and blue already.  I was not entering any beauty pageant!  Then, March 2020 brought us the news of COVID 19 and the pandemic began... Get out the masks!!!

Yes, I was finally able to do some limited fishing and my back was finally feeling better by my birthday at the end of August.  It seemed like that I was doing more sitting than fishing the other times out.  I had a banner day to celebrate!  The bottom left pic is that epic day of cutthroats.  It is true, back injuries take time to heal and sometimes they never go away.  It is what it is.  If you need to borrow a heating pad or an ice pack, I've got em!

 By the end of the year, we were feeling very fortunate to have escaped Covid anyway... Oh wait.  Sorry.  Did you ask me what I got for Christmas in 2020?  Hahahaha.  COVID 19!!!  Just a few days before, I tested positive.  I landed in the hospital for a few days.  All of the refrigerator was full of Christmas dinner and no one to share it with.  We were now quarantined.  Then, I gave it to my poor hubby who we had tried to protect all year.  As expected, he got deathly ill with it because of all of his health history and was in the hospital for a week.  Oh, what fun!!! But, again we were blessed and came out of it shaking our heads on how this virus affects people differently.  We now await for our vaccine next Saturday and feel incredibly grateful for our recovery from everything 2020.  =}

2021?  Well it started out like this...

Haha!!!  This was at the end of January.  Arthritis of the thumb. 

Next month, if all goes well...  You will see me back on the water.  I have a lot of making up to do!

So how was your year???  

XOXOXO

RD

The 45th Day Of January...

Let's face it. January never seems to end.  It always feels like the longest month of the year.  Maybe it is due to the Christmas hustle and bustle of December.  Then, boom!  We are in the slow, exhausted pace after the holidays.  We are recovering and moving more slowly.   Boredom sets in as the days are a little darker and colder.   Am I right?  When we are having fun, the time clock seems to speed up.  And let's face it... January usually doesn't provide fun unless you are skiing or snowboarding!  But, I'm not doing that this year.   Fishing?  Sure... I always like to freeze my A off during the winter for a couple of fish.  Hahahahaha

I definitely believe the lack of daylight in the early evenings is a factor in thinking there are 45 days in January instead of 31.  

Ok, ok.  Enough complaining.  So... next time someone talks about how long a month this has been, just ask them how their day is going!!! Haha.

Here are a few things that I have tied up this month...

And from the oven this month...

Alright!  Bring on February!!!  Warmer days?  More fish?

ORDER UP!!!  =)

The Rear View Mirror of 2019

I learned more.  I grew in many ways.  2019 was not one of my easiest years.  But, I don't think that I signed up for what was easy...  What fun would that be?  Right?  The joy of success comes from hard work, dedication, and maybe a bit of pain. 

Looking back on a year gives you perspective.  It gives you perspective on things that you did. And things that you wanted to achieve, but didn't.  Did you get the things done that were the most important?  And if you didn't, will they be on your list of New Years resolutions?   Well, for me, it all depended on priorities.  And unfortunately, this blog has suffered this past year because of being so busy with the "other" things.  So, for those who still come over and read when I do post a new story, thank you.  I must admit, that when "Windknots and Tangled Lines" pulled their plug, I lost a bit of interest in my own blog.  I have talked to Howard from time to time over Facebook.  I am glad that I still have the connection with him, as he is a very dear friend after all of these years of blogging.  

I traveled many miles in 2019.  Tied many new patterns of flies.  Fished with many good friends.  Caught many beautiful fish.  Layed on the couch the day after fishing because it took everything out of me.  It was a rewarding year on the water and also an exhausting one.  Would I do it over again?  Probably.  But, maybe with a smarter head and pace myself a bit better.  Hahahaha.  This great past time called flyfishing just catches me in its web sometimes.  The dusty roads often lead me to a great adventure.  The water stares at me with all of its beauty of life underneath.  The mountains surround me with 
the ringing of music.  (You know, the hills are alive...
with the "Sound of Music".)  

• Can you blame me???

My biggest accomplishment this year on the water was getting my youngest son, Ryan, to join me.  And he caught his first fish on the fly.   Nothing could beat that...  He even stuck with me and fished in a rainstorm.   I love my kids so much!  =)

So, I invite you now, to see the beautiful places that I journeyed to in 2019.  May the new year of 2020 give you much joy and happiness. And here's to good health for all of us!  Maybe less cookies.  Ha!   I am indeed grateful to have the fly fishing blogging friends that I have as part of my adventure.  XO 

RD