Ashland Life and Style ....

Oh, what a wonderful time I'm having here in Southern Oregon - Ashland to be precise.  I think I mentioned in an earlier blog that I'd connected with a couple I'd met a year ago in Guatemala.  Richard and Joyce are the founders of Legacy Foundation http://www.legacyfound.org/ and were in Guatemala to work with some Mayan pueblos.  Go to the website for more information concerning the wonderful work they're doing all over the World.

I'd spent a wonderful time with them day before yesterday and was invited, again, for a dinner party last evening.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect:  warm, but not hot, and the mosquitos were somewhat somnolent, that is, I didn't get attacked like I frequently do (others did).  The dinner party participants were:  Richard and Joyce (retired from careers with the UN and Directors of the  Legacy Foundation), their son, Jeff, a musician, Ann, an Anthropology professor at SOU in Ashland, her husband, Keith, a retired professor of International Studies at SOU, Brian, a retired Ashland businessman, his wife, Diane, a retired professor of Social Services Research at San Jose State University, CA, Lacy, current dog extraordinaire, and me.

What an interesting group.  The conversation touched on many current-event subjects, including politics and religion, travel stories and adventures, families, food (which was fabulous), music and lots more.  Joyce and Richard are the consummate hosts making us all comfortable and happy; we ate outside on one of their decks .... here are a few pix I took when I arrived while it was still light ...

 Lacy inspecting the property and making herself right at home - while we were having cocktails on this lower deck, a huge gaggle of Canadian geese, maybe about 50, circled above and landed in the pond you see here.  There, after a few quacking conversations, they settled for the night, heads tucked under wings - such a beauteous sight

A grape arbor over one deck

Another view from the same deck.  There's a hot tub located on this level with a slide into the swimming pool!

                             Dinner was delicious with perfect company - a sublime evening.

This morning I awoke to the sound of gentle raindrops on my roof.  I don't remember the last time I've been in the rain.  In my lifetime, I've complained about rain, but what a welcome wake up today!

After some coffee and Internet I took Lacy out for a walk - she slept in until ten-ish after her social evening.  On one of the grassy areas in the RV park we met Tucker, a Miniature American Shepherd, a recently recognized breed by the American Kennel Club.  He has the same confirmation as the Australian Shepherd, just smaller.  A lovely dog with whom Lacy 'bonded' immediately.  His 'mom' C.C. and I got into a great conversation, during which she invited me to go to the Introduction this evening of a work shop, The Art of Inseeing, she's giving this weekend in Ashland.  I accepted and will attend at 7 tonight in the Ashland Public Library; after the introduction I hope to be able to explain what the workshop is about and how it might fit into my life.  C.C. is a full-time RVer who's travelled around the US for about the last two years; I'm sure she has lots of words of wisdom.  She's parked in her Winnebago a couple of sites from mine; hopefully we'll visit more.

 Tucker is four, an older man for three-year old Lacy

I'm sure he knows how handsome he is!