New Years Eve is coming

For all of you out there following the New Years Eve traditions at the Stromers stay tuned for a great surprise this year......see you New Years Day!

Christmas time on the River

We had a Christmas Eve dinner at my moms house in Oxbow, to do our book exchange, and play games. Mom made Chicken Noodle Soup and we had lots of goodies and plenty of wine. Great time.

For Christmas dinner everyone came to my house and I made a Rib Roast and we had rib, bacon wrapped scallops, barley salad, baked pototoes, squash and onion bake and home made sour dough rolls. Much much more than we needed. After dinner we cleared the table and played games until it was time for dessert!! OMG...too much food.

Back seat view

Back seat view of the ride home.

Wintery weather

Coming back from the coast we crossed the middle of the state over Santiam Pass. It was typical winter weather again. The trees were flocked with fresh horefrost and the sun was shining brightly. Just another beautiful day in the many faces of Oregon.

Cape Perpetua

The kids at the Cape Perpetua overlook. A great place to sight see the coastline and to whale watch. Dan, Melissa, Emily and Patrick. Go Beav's. (We were really bummed about the outcome of the bowl game)
Dan took our picture from the kiosk overlook built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the day.

Since the tide was high we mostly looked for agates on the beaches. Here is a handful of some we found. A couple are not agates just pretty rocks. For those of you out there who don't know how to tell an agate from any other leaverite....just set the stone on the lighted end of a flashlight and if the stone lights up...it is an agate.
This is the proper technique/posture for hunting the elusive agate.
This is Melissa's favorite picture. The trees here are special, as they grow the center of the tree shifts so that more wood is placed on the supporting side to protect the tree from the strong coastal winds that blow year round. It gives the trees that leaned over look.

More Coast Pictures

You can see that the sky is slowly turning blue. This was the last day on the coast.This is the second day on the coast...still rainy but we still went to the beach.

We collected beach stuff and made a title for our trip. Some seaweed, a crab, shells, drift wood and presto...you have a greeting card.
I am out trying to find good stuff....It was rainy and cold but I only got my feet wet...so it's all good!
At Cape Perpetua.

Oregon Coast Sunshine Day

The weather was still cool...but the sun was peeking out and making it a beautiful day.
Melissa with the waves.
The Oregon Coast is one of the most beautiful coastlines of all.
We were at the Devils Churn, and the tide was fairly high. Patrick is being cautious as he inches toward the edge. The churning action of the waves in the tight rocky ravine cause lots and lots of foam. So all that stuff you see flying through the air is fluffy foam. And as it plops on the rocks it makes a really weird sound.
Although it looks like whipped cream or latte foam....it doesn't taste like it. Not unless you like fish lattes!! We tried to get Dan to take a lick but he decided against it once it was close enough to smell!!

Fun times on the Coast

Patrick and Emily at the Aquarium. Cool exhibits, you can actually crawl inside the fish tanks.
Patrick, Dan, Melissa, and Emily inside the shark jaws.
At the rental house playing cards waiting for the rain to subside enough to head outside again.
And of course, taking full advantage of the hot tub.

Merry Christmas To All

Merry Christmas from the Stromer's. We were able to take a few days after Patrick flew in from Georgia to spend time together at the Oregon Coast. We rented a house at Waldport and spent the three days touring, walking on the beach, playing games and in the hot tub!! We are tourning the Rouge River Brewery...sampling a few of their brews!. On the days that the weather was a bit MOIST...we did indoor stuff.

Annettes house in Carson City.

The whole crew went to Carson City to Annettes new house to help move furniture and have a look at the new place. She has a cute little house that overlooks the Carson River. It is quite nice and in the country.
We also took the time to get Bob and Thelmas motor home covered for the winter. Russ and I crawled up top to spread out the cover and Emily helped fasten it down.

The crew at Tahoe

We spent Thanksgiving with Terry's siblings and mom in Tahoe. We are just casually sitting around on the Friday after Thanksgiving, drinking coffee and watching the sun come up over the lake. That's why Russ had his sun glasses on in the house.

Terry catches another steelhead

Terry went fishing before we left for Thanksgiving at Tahoe and he hooked 3 steelhead but only landed one. Here is the picture of the fish. They are very pretty fish and great eating as well. Terry is rigging his stuff up for a night fishing expedition next...Maybe on the full moon.

This is what happens if you don't catch fish

After a day on the river fishing for steelhead, we came home empty handed. So....we cracked walnuts instead of cleaning fish. WE have bags and bags of walnuts from our two trees and every chance we get we crack nuts. Emily cracked a bunch to take home with her. Sorry about the scary picture.....didn't really get too dolled up to crack nuts, and what do you expect from wearing a hat all day :O

Steelhead Fishing

Come fall, the steelhead return and it's fishing time again. Emily and I are in the Lagoon Hopper at the foot of Oxbow Dam fishing for those illusive steelhead.
Luckily the weather is cool but the sun is shining. You can see the foot of the dam with the water spilling down. The steelhead migrate up to Hells Canyon Dam where they are trapped, and taken to the hatchery. The wild fish are released and the hatchery fish are returned to the resevoir and this is where we are fishing for them.

This picture shows Terry in the Lagoon Hopper and I am standing on shore fishing.

Unfortunately we didn't catch anything this day, but it was a beautiful day to be on the river fishing.

From Dawn till Dusk

When we have our Cider press party, it goes from Dawn till way way past dusk. We began the day collecting equipment for the press and setting up the area, we pressed all afternoon, ate flat iron sandwiches and soup by the fire outside and played games, bobbed for apples and carved pumpkins, then we played Partini well until late. Dave, Melissa, Emily, Brian, Melissa, Dan and Terry and I. It was a long, event-filled day with much visiting, fellowship, eating, playing, laughing and enjoying each others company. So all you folks out there, mark your calendars for next year, there is always plenty of room!!

The big kids do pumpkin carving

This is one of the masterpieces created by the big kids. I didn't know pumpkins had rear-ends?
No Dan, don't eat the inside...

Emily, Annette, and Brian hard at work.
Melissa showing off her cool design.

Roll up your sleeves and dig right in.Melissa and Dan with the finished product.
Emily and Brian with the pumpkin creations.

Not just for the Kids

Such a pretty sight, makes for eager participants.


Emily gets her game face on.......Dan taking his chances in the deep water.No apple, but a fresh new look...Go BEAVS!!

Bobbing for Apples

We saved a few apples for the tub so the boys could do some bobbing.
Terry explains the rules.
Ready, set, go.....
Seth takes a deep breath, he's going back in.......