Exotic Animals in The Columbia Gorge???

Who woulda known??? I just got off the phone with a friend of mine who told me about a little surprise they discovered while driving Highway 14 along the southern border of Washington State. In Dallesport, WA, Schreiner Farms exists to "raise approximately 20 species of exotic animals, most of which are available for sale." I can't wait to check it out. Apparently you can't get out of your vehicle but camels, zebras and giraffes Oh My! In the Gorge???

So in a few weeks when our family makes our annual pilgrimage to Hood River, OR for the Fruit Loop, we will have to make a little trip over there to see what it's all about. We'll let you know.

Canada 2006 eh?

Buddy says, "Hey Mom!?!? When can we go back to Canada? That was fun!" Mom snapped that shot.
Well just in case you were wondering... my wife and I recently returned from a whirlwind tour of Canada with about 2700 miles on her parents mini-van and 400 hundred more on our own car. We left on Wed. Aug 2 and returned the 12th traveling through Walla Walla & Spokane, WA; Sandpoint, ID; Cranbrook, BC; Banff, AB; Rocky Mountain House, AB; Red Deer, AB; Medicine Hat, AB; and Assiniboia, SK and many others.
My wife's family reunion was between Rocky Mountain House and Red Deer and was fun to meet her paternal family members for the first time. Extremely kind, warm and welcoming people. Most of them still live in central Alberta. But, personally, my favorite part of the trip was visiting a few farms on the wide open prairies of south central Saskatchewan. A very warm and friendly town called Assiniboia is the birthplace of my father in law.
While we were there my wife started a new hobby of spelunking through old homesteads. Homesteads that had not been lived in for a very long time, some more than forty years. The ones shown here became sheds when the family grew or the farmer became established financially.
One such home came equipped with a Fire Master fire extinguisher. I had never seen one like this. You throw it at the base of the flame. Now, who knows if you should breathe whatever is stored inside but that's a different matter.
Here is another, that is much older than the house in which we found the extinguisher. More to come on Canada...

When We All Get To Heaven!!

I guess this is what happens when you get a group of crazy Christians together who are dyin' to get to Heaven! Okay maybe not a good choice of words but we do look forward to Heaven to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for eternity! ... and that is a very long time!
This past Tuesday our small group met once again but with a photo contest in mind! We had several categories to choose from like most humorous, most colorful, most spiritual, etc. so we opted for most ______ (you fill in the blank). Well, we filled in the blank alright. We just don't know what to call it.
For those of you pet lovers... we have proof right here that "All Dogs go to Heaven!". Need I say more! (You might need to look closely but there are two little doggies way up high in the clouds!)
Thanks everyone for particpating in this fun event! Don't worry I won't reveal your identity. You can remain anonymous unless someone recognizes you!

... Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus we'll stand and shout for victory!!!!

Huckstead Boy's Little Doggy Special - Part 1

Since I know there are other young men out there who like little doggies here is a special post just for you!

Here is Buddy going for a walk practicin' his prancin'!
"Someday, " he says to himself, "I want to be in a dog show! Do you like my black coat? Oh... and just in case you were wondering my gray hair is not because I'm old. I was born that way. My gray spots are called dappled coloring! I turn two years old in July."

"Hi my name is Squirty! What's your name? I know my name sounds kinda funny but that's just the beginning! My full name is Squirty Jones Cross. Did you know that Buddy is my brother? Yes! It's true because we came from the same litter.... and well he's my cousin too! Because our dad's are brothers too! So what does that make us? Bousins? or Crothers?

"As you can see, Buddy and I went on a walk last summer and our parents tried to put us on the same leash. Well as you might have imagined it didn't work so well. We both have a mind of our own when it comes to walking and just about everything. We daschunds are known for that you know. But that's not a bad thing Buddy and I love spending time together.
"One unfortunate thing about that walk was that because I'm a bit heavy I got blisters on the pads of my paws. I healed pretty quickly though.

"Hey, It's me Buddy again! I just thought you should know that I like Jif creamy peanut butter."

Well I hope you enjoyed part 1 of the Huckstead Boy's Little Doggy special! Stay tuned for Part 2! Let me know which picture is your favorite or something special you noticed in one of the pictures!