Ready to return home

We've had an extremely hectic couple of weeks, running from Dr. to lab to my brother's and back again.  Got lots of answers, some good, some not so good, but we're doing ok.  Weren't able to get everything done, but decided to head home anyway.  We've been staying with my brother and sister-in-law in their wonderful home in Sisters, Or.   Great to have a place to stay while we dash around, but two weeks is a long time to have someone invade your home - even family. Was great to spend a little time with our two grandsons here, see our daughter and now will head up to Washington to spend a couple of days with our son & kids and then head for home. 

I love Oregon and it's diversity.  We raised out kids in Astoria, which is at the mouth of the Columbia River, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean.  From the ocean you travel over the Coast Range, to the Willamette Valley, which is a very fertile, beautiful, busy area.  Then there's the Cascade Range.  If you haven't seen them, they're spectacular.  When traveling from our son's, south to Bend (which is in the center of the state) you get a view of several snow-capped from a single viewpoint.  What's left of Mt. St. Helens, Mt Adams, both in Washington state, Mt. Hood, Mt Jefferson, Black Butte, Three Fingered Jack, Mt Washington, The Three Sisters (three spectacular peaks just south of Sisters Oregon, Broken Top and Mt. Bachelor.  Wow!  The center of the state is known as the high desert, where they grow lots of hay and cattle.  So much to do and see and remember.

Both, heading south into Oregon and back to Washington, I wasn't able to take photos of the mtns. as there were forest fires on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and at Mt. Jefferson, covering most of the mts. in a layer of choking smoke. 

Will be comforting to get back into our rut on our little place in Belize.   Sure have missed our Bailey.  So thankful that Rene could take care of him and our place while we're gone.