EVEN MORE PICTURES CHRISTMAS 2008

Norm (Ojii) made the boxes.

Isaac and his wonderful coat.

MORE CHRISTMAS 2008 PICTURES

Thank you, Isaac, for the pictures.

CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

Joy, Brandon and Kristen brought food to us for a Christmas gift. Thanks, grandkids, it was wonderful.

PATIO TILES: THE REAL STORY

The finished product of Bob's work looks great. The truth behind the finished product makes it even more amazing. The tiles are from Mexico. The size is not consistent and the sealing was a nightmare. (Note the nice step in the finished product below.)

POMEGRANATES

They planted the pomegranates and now they are reaping the benefits.

SISSY POSES

Norma was taking some pictues of plants in the house. Sissy invited herself and posed for the photos.

MAN OF MANY TALENTS

Bob has done many things to make their house more attractive. The last project has been the patio.

Trevor, a high school senior who lives across the street, came to the door recently with a cake. We had been having children come to the door selling items for various school projects. Norm expected a short person with candy

CAKE FROM TREVOR

JOY AND NICK'S VISIT

Joy had a week off work at the University of Minnesota Hospital. Her friend, Nick, had the same time off from Mayo Clinic where he is a resident. They visited his family in South Dakota and came to Oregon for four days. Nick, Joy, Isaac and Lagaytha came to our house on Thursday for lunch.

TRIP TO YACHATS

The prediction was for nice weather for October 28-29. It was true. We had two beautiful days at the Oregon coast.

FLOWERS IN THE BACK YARD

ROARING RAPIDS JULY 2008

TRAIN PICTURES

The track from Central Oregon to Eugene has been closed because of an avalanche on January 19th. The slide covered two parts of the track because of the switchbacks in the tracks resulting from the steep terrain. Snow, rocks, trees and other debris covered the tracks up to twenty feet deep. The only trains we have seen are those carrying rocks to the repair site. Some of the trees are stored in the town of Oakridge a few miles from the slide area.

SNOW HAT

The lady was able to smile in spite of the extension to her hat.

ONE MORE MACHINE PICTURE

On Saturday night we had about six inches of snow; Sunday morning one of the machines came by to pick up the used ties and load them on a truck that is travelling on the track behind. The pictures were made through our dining room window and falling snow.

Norman's dad worked as a "Gandy Dancer" for the MKT Railroad in Texas. He and two other men operated a handcar (originally one operated by hand, but they had a motor. They went up and down the railroad removing old crossties, and putting in new ones. They dug them out by hand, pushed in new ones, drove in spikes with sledge hammers, and tamped (put crushed rock around the tie and packed it in) in the new tie. These pictures show how a few machines and a few more workers can do the job now. One machine removes the old tie. Another cleans the hole with a large brush. Another moves the old tie out of the way and aligns a new one. The next one inserts the tie in the clean hole and "squares" it with the track. A few men and at least one woman place a plate on the tie and tap the spikes in place. Another machine drives the spikes and tamps the tie. Finally, a machine levels the crushed rock, sweeps the middle of the track, and grades the rock on the sides of each rail. Norman's dad came home with salt on his clothes from sweating. We did not see any sweat on the drivers in the enclosed cabs. If the other workers perspired, it was not obvious.

WORKING ON THE RAILROAD

CHRISTMAS WITH FAMILY

Bob, Norma and Sissy came through the snow, Brandon and Kristen came from the snow, and Joy came through the rain. Norma arranged poinsettias with lights. We had food and fun.