Roving Doctor & Farm Wife

Two Gramas

2011-12-13T19:17:00.000-08:00

Hi from Dallas! Grama Happy (that's me, farm wife) and Grama Betsy (my daughters mother-in-law) are in Dallas to babysit the grandsons. Neither one of us thought we could go it solo, so we decided to go man on man defense.....(or in this case, boy on grama defense) So far so good! Jack and Sarah are in Cancun taking a well deserved vacation. Here are some photos of the week so far.

Yum......Grama Happy and Walker made pie dough cookies.

Charlie gets some exercise with the punching ball.

Grama Betsy gives the boys a piano lesson. (you can see who's concentrating the most!)

Charlie ringing the dinner bell, (in his left hand, I might add!)

And a big thumbs up for Team Grama!

Walker meets Snow White at the Dallas Arboretum. They are doing their Christmas season, and had several storybook castles.

Walker also checks out Dasher who was on loan from Santa for the day.

Grama Happy and Walker really like the Mermaid throne.

Walker has a great time in the Pioneer park going through the old cabins.

Grama Betsy and Walker peeking out of Hansel and Gretels cottage.

Two Gramas and a boy in Cinderells carriage.

See ya next time!

Finding a sink for our new bathroom

2011-11-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

I'm a little ashamed of myself. It's been months since I've blogged! But, the Farm is now wired, and I have no excuse for not blogging . We have state of the art, fiber optic internet, right here in the boonies of Eastern Oregon. So....Hello again, from the Farm.
We are doing a little remodel. The bathroom in the farmhouse, is not exactly the most functional space for a lot of company, so we are adding a bigger bath with a shower and bathtub with lots of room. I wanted to do something a little more useful with the vanity sink. Something big enough to bathe a baby or do a little laundry, and also unique. So I went online and found a vintage sink just like I wanted. Unfortunately, it had a big crack, was expensive (not to mention the shipping for a cast iron sink) and it was already sold. But the seed was planted. A few days later, on my way to town, I saw a sink......looked like what I wanted, but was across the river and up a gorge....hmmmm, it's worth checking out. So we put on our rubber waders and over the river we went. Here are the photos of our shopping trip, Eastern Oregon style.

Here is the sink I found online.

Heading up the gap, to take a look.

Hmmmm...looks ok....

100 yards down the hill, time for a break. It's really heavy.

We check out a Magpie nest on our next break.

Crossed part of the river, rested on the island before we tackle the deeper crossing.

Success.

One more leg. Phew!

Did I say it was heavy....

Finally, we make it to the road and car.

Yup...my finger is right on the spot where we started. Quite a hike with a cast iron sink for two old folks. We must be nuts...right?

Wrong! We are amazing! It's going to be perfect. I'll post photos when it finally finds its home in our bathroom.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Cattle Drives and Bermuda

2011-04-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

I know, I know....It's been way too long since I last blogged. So sorry!
It's been beautiful here at the farm. While the Doc is away, the wife's been at play! Lot's of weeding and planting, getting ready for Spring. I may even mow soon.
I got to go up with the cowboys last week to watch them drive the cattle up into the hills. It was a gorgeous day and the scenery through the Snake River region is spectacular. It was a real treat for me, and I know Hubby Doc would have loved to have been there. He also would have been some help, all I could do was take photos.

Hubby Doc is off to Bermuda again,( without his beloved wife ) I'm sure he's miserable without me! So since I am not there to get some great new shots, I dug into my archive and selected a few from last years trip. He's been working his brains out, not only at the clinic, but also at the Hospital in the ER. Last year he only worked the clinic, so this is a new experience. He is enjoying working with the other docs at the hospital.

Happy Spring to you all.

A Blessing

2011-03-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

Soon after losing Dad, we blessed our newest member into the Universe. Charles Baird Greenman was born on August 4th in Dallas, Texas. He was born with several challenges, but is growing stronger every day. He and his Mama traveled to Cayucos, California for a blessing/fundraiser for his upcoming surgery.

While in Cayucos, Hubby and I helped our kids work on their restaurant renovation. Schooners Wharf will be back up and running soon with a brand new kitchen. We built a hostess station for the dining room, and had a lot of fun just being there with the the kids.

Rites of Passage

2011-03-05T23:08:00.000-08:00

February was an emotional month for us. Sadly, we lost Hubby Docs beloved Father, Obbie O. Atkinson. He died from injuries sustained in an small airplane crash. An amazing tribute was held at the Estrella Warbird Museum, attended by a couple hundred people. He was one of the driving forces in getting the museum to its present state. Several buildings, full of memorabilia, a library, and many beautiful old airplanes. He also was a member of the Freedom Flight pilots, who did fly overs for services of deceased military men. Fifteen airplanes were involved in the fly over for Dad. Quite a tribute, indeed. We'll miss you Dad, happy flying with all your angel buddies.

Obbie O. 12-16-25 2-4-11

Marine flag ceremony

Joining the St. Mary's Team

2011-01-30T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hubby Doc starts the new year with a contract with St. Marys in Cottonwood, Idaho. They love him, he loves them, so it's a perfect match. He will work on a part time basis, which will still give him time to work an occasional job with Vista, and work on our place in Oregon. It's a four and a half hour commute, so he is home on weekends, or I can slip up for a visit. I am visiting right now, so I'll show a few pictures of my trip up.

Came upon these guys while driving along the Snake River.

Hubby Doc sees them all the time, but this was my first sighting.

The bald eagles are back too, I saw about a dozen in all. Watched several fishing in the Snake.

This is an abandoned train station in Council. So picturesque in the snow.

Sunset in the rear view mirror.

Whoa! 2011 already?!!

2011-01-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. Good grief, has it been a month since I blogged. So sorry, let's catch up.Hubby Doc worked until the 17th of December in Cottonwood and then we headed to California, to spend the Holidays with family and friends. He doesn't go back to work until January 17th, so we have a nice break.

We head out of our hometown, in Oregon, in this! Crazy snow in Oregon and Idaho, and even into Nevada. It was really beautiful, although a little schetchy for driving. Stayed overnight in Reno, and made it to our holiday destination the next day. Happy to see sunshine!!

Here is our first sunset on Christmas Eve.

And here is our home away from home, parked in our daughters driveway, for the next several days. Good to have our own little place to escape to when it gets too hectic.

I think the cat feels the same way. Paper bags are also a good place to hide!

Played games (notice my 84 pointer in the upper left corner) Boooyah!!

Danced the Nutcracker,

Opened gifts with the Grandbabies,

Hula Hooped!

Watched the girls cook,

And ate our weight in crab legs. (Phew!)

We were all stuffed. Time for naps.

We enjoyed a good walk the next day with the kids. Great views from the hill above Cayucos.

We then snuck away for a quiet lunch at Sebastians. Amazing french dip!

The old school in San Simeon, across the field from Sebastians, Hearst Castle on the hill above.

And the newest member of the family, (tada!) our daughter and husbands new restaurant. They bought it about nine months ago and are really getting it ship/shape. We are so happy, because this has always been our favorite bar and restaurant. Now it's part of the family! We call it our Grandbar. If your in Cayucos, it's the BEST>

New Years Day Polar Bear Dip. Too chicken to go in (it was raining and pretty dang cold) so I took photos.( Notice Schooners in the back ground.)

There are some crazy, brave folks around here! Even an 82 year old participated!

A few beach shots. It's been gorgeous most of the week.

And finally, I leave you with this sunset. I hope you all have a year of good health, prosperity, joy, and too many blessings to count.

Over the River and Through the Woods

2010-12-06T15:47:00.000-08:00

Over the river, hills, mountains and through the woods and snow to Hubby Docs farm we go! A long weekend off, so we head back to the farm for some R and R. Had an absolutely beautiful drive home. Enjoy.

Pretty pink mountains yesterday evening.

Our barn in the snow.

Wow! Real icicles for Christmas decorations.

Snow gently falling all day Saturday.

The quail were happy we were home to feed them. We have about 150 of them in the yard.

He looks pretty happy to be shoveling snow. Let's see how he feels about it in a couple of months!

White on white.

A look down the driveway before we spoil it with tire tracks.

The drive home.

Snake River on the Idaho side looking across to Oregon.

Highway 71 from Cambridge to Oxbow Dam.

Whitebird Pass, Idaho.

Loving Cottonwood

2010-12-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I've really dropped the ball on the blogging! So sorry.
Anyway, Hubby Doc has been working in Cottonwood, Idaho since October. He worked here back in August of 2009, and really enjoyed the people. So, he is happy to be back, and the staff is happy he is back too! They like him so much, they are working on keeping him here on a part time permanent schedule. That would work out well, since it's only a four and a half hour commute from our farm. He would still be able to take other jobs for short stints, which he would like. We'll see how it all comes together.
I hope you enjoy a few shots of the area.

The commute.

Heading to work.

Downtown Cottonwood.

Home away from home. Right across the street from the clinic and hospital.

Shoveling the walk.

View out the dining room window.

View from the front window.

Side yard.

St. Gertrude. Up the hill about three miles from our place.

So many beautiful barns around here.

Peak to Peak

2010-09-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

Today, we took the Peak to Peak Gondola Ride. WHOA!!! An amazing treat. The gondola takes you up Whistler Mountain, then you take another gondola from Whistler to Blackcomb Mountain. It's a continuous cable for 1.88 miles across the Fitzsimmons Creek. Beautiful!!! and exciting. While on the deck of the Blackcomb roundhouse, we got acquainted with some wildlife. The Whiskey Jacks are very friendly, and downright aggressive if you have any food. We were also able to spot four bears while on the adventure. We all made it back safe and sound, and are looking forward to another day of exploring tomorrow.
I'm all in for the night. Sweet Dreams all.

The Fab Four!

Not for the faint of heart!

360 Views

"Got Food?"

Birds eye view!

A happy BC bear.

Biking in Whistler

2010-09-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it! It was an iffy day, rain one minute, sun the next, but we took a chance. Rented a couple of cruisers near our place and headed for Lost Lake on the Valley Trail. Whistler has an extensive trail system for, walking, biking, in line skating, jogging or cross country skiing. It goes all over the valley and is tons of fun. We managed to get only, slightly disoriented! We had a great ride, even if we didn't end up where we meant to go. We did get rained on, but we were prepared, and fortunately, as me ole Mum always said, "thank goodess you're not made of sugar". ( Well she was right about that! ;- )

Stopped for a little picnic.

Found this make-shift barn on a ride we took yesterday, out in the country.

On the Road Again

2010-09-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you Willie Nelson! Yes, we are on the road again! This time for some R&R in Canada. Had a beautiful drive through Oregon, by way of Pendleton, where they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-up. YEE-HA!!! Wish we could have stayed and checked it out, but we were on a schedule. Headed north through Washington, by way of Omak to check out a couple of clinics that come up once in a while. Pretty area, so maybe someday we might just end up there for a job. We then headed west on highway 20 toward Vancouver, BC. We ended up staying the night in Mazama at an Inn owned by my cousin and his partner. Sweet place! Very rustic in a cozy, comfortable way. Great restaurant, and a fabulous area for hiking, skiing, or just hanging out. We wished we could have stayed longer(but, remember the schedule, oh, yeah.)
Next morning, we were off to the border. Had a crazy drive through Vancouver, the freeway just turns into surface streets through the city. Very slow going, but interesting to see the city. Once we popped out on the other side, it was clear sailing to Whistler. We lucked out with the weather, it was clear and 76 driving up there. What an amazing drive.
We are now hanging out in our condo. Sleeping in, walking around the village, eating good food, taking in the scenery, and generally, just relaxing. Ahhhhhh!
It's raining right now, but if it let's up, we're renting bikes tomorrow and heading out on the Valley Trail. I'll let you know.......

Good Bye Winslow

2010-08-31T15:44:00.000-07:00

Today was Hubby Doc's last day. The folks at the clinic had a potluck at lunch for him and also got him a groovy cake! He was very pleased. I think he is really excited about the figures on the cake. Their laser swords light up. I'm sure we'll have to try them out tonight when it gets dark! Anyway, it was a good gig, but we've been away for two months, and we're so ready to be home on the range. Here are some parting shots.

Just a few of the staff.

I want this truck.....SWEET!

The famous corner.

Over 100 trains go through here everyday!

The next job is back in Idaho, starting in October, so blogging will be spotty for a while. Have a great September.

Clouds and Meteor Crater

2010-08-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

While Hubby Doc works, I play! I headed out to Meteor Crater early one morning before it got too hot. It's only twenty miles from Winslow, so I dropped him at work and took off. It is the best preserved meteor, so they say, and I believe it. Really interesting to see the visitors center and take a short walking tour. I highly recommend it.

I'm back in Dallas with my new grandbaby for the week, while Hubby Doc finishes up this gig. I fly back on Sunday, and his last day is Tuesday. Then, it's back to the farm for a little while. YIPPEEEE!!!!

Here are some shots of the crater, and the clouds around Winslow. They have the most beautiful skies! Lots of rainbows too, but I didn't catch any of those.

This is the edge of the crater, way off in the distance.

This cute guy kept getting in front of my cloud shots!

Hubby's Commute to Dilkon

2010-08-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

About twice a week, Hubby goes to one of the outlying clinics. Here is the commute to Dilkon, a 45 minute drive north east of Winslow.
Usually, there is a waiting room full when he arrives on the van with the other staff members. Most of the Native Americans don't bother making an appointment since they don't have cars. They just show up when they can get a ride and wait their turn. The system seems to work for them, but it's pretty rough on the medical staff. You really have to be flexible, and fly by the seat of your pants!

This clinic is on the reservation.

Not a lot of traffic.
Don't fence me in. Drive with care, these guys are out in the open.

No problem, you are driving in beauty the entire way out to Dilkon.

STOP! Here we are, welcome to the Dilkon Clinic.

Surgery room.
Hubby Doc's favorite thing, the COMPUTER. ;-(

Hubby is winding down this gig. Less than two weeks now.

A Wow Weekend in Sedona

2010-08-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Work hard, and reward yourself with some R and R. We went to Sedona over the weekend to meet up with Hubby Docs brother and wife. Had a great time and LOVED the scenery.
Overlooking the golf course and villas.

Out the back door of our villa.

Sporting our Vista tee shirts.

From the Sedona Airport overlook.

A look back at Oak Creek Canyon.

P.S. Thank you to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers for Charles Baird. He is now home with his family and doing very well. He's a fighter! My new name for him, after being among the Navajo, is Charlie Fighting Bear. Here he is, taking a little snooze.

A Day in the Clinic

2010-08-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots of Hubby Doc off to work. This is the main clinic in Winslow. It is next to the Urgent Care and The Traditional Medicine Man. He works here about two thirds of the time. The other days, he is in Leupp or Dilkon.

Are We in Arizona?

2010-08-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

We had a beautiful weekend in Arizona! On Saturday morning, we headed south on highway 87, and in no time we were in high country. Spent the day enjoying scenery, cool temperatures, and just being together. Ended up in Holbrook for a great prime rib dinner. Sunday, we headed for the Mogollon Rim, and, again spent the day in cool beautiful areas. Had a yummy lunch in Flagstaff, then went back to Winslow by way of Leupp, so I could see the clinic.
This is Hubby Docs first assignment working for Indian Health Care, and it is a little different than a regular clinic. He enjoys the older patients especially, and says they are very interesting to talk to. Two of the clinics are way out in the country on the reservation. One is the photo shown, and the other is Dilkon. (no photo)

Finally, a baby

2010-08-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

He was worth the wait! August 4th, 10:13PM, Charles Baird Greenman was born in Dallas, Texas, at home with the aid of an amazing midwife and assistant. My daughter was, also amazing. I am so proud of her. She is a Doula, and has worked at the Birth Center here in Dallas, so, is a true advocate for midwifery.
Little Charlie, however, was having a little trouble getting up and running. He just couldn't get that big cry out that they want to see. So he was transported to Baylor Hospital, and is recieving a little help from the great staff there. Hopefully, we will have him home in a day or two.
Meanwhile, back in Winslow, Hubby Doc is really missing his little Wifey! I've been in Dallas a month! I'll see you soon, Sweetie, I swear.

Homesick!

2010-07-30T13:38:00.000-07:00

Bear with me. Hubby Doc is in Winslow, and I'm in Dallas. We've been apart for three weeks, and I'm missing him and homesick for our beloved Eagle Farm. Pictures from home.

A refreshing dip in Eagle Creek!

Mr. Toad and Hubby Doc on a wild ride!

Local traffic jam.

This looks cool and inviting.

A visit from one of the grandbabies.

Solving the worlds problems.

Getting ready for a fire and some star gazing.

Boys are always fascinated by big tractors.

Miss you honey, wish we were here!........;-)

Thanks everyone, that was better therapy than seeing a counselor.

No Baby Yet

2010-07-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

Well, no baby yet, here in Dallas. Her due date was yesterday, and she is more than ready. We keep busy with Walker(photo of him enjoying a cake ball, a very special treat!)and last night we went out for a grownup dinner at a lovely restaurant. I'll keep you posted.
Hubby Doc had a good weekend. His brother flew up to Winslow in his private plane for a short visit. Had to cut it short, because some bad weather came in. While he was seeing him off, he met three pilots, who got stranded because they couldn't fly to their final destination. To the rescue! Hubby Doc drove them to Show Low, about 80 miles away, and really enjoyed their company. They wanted him to stay the night and golf with them, but, of course, he had to work today. He was happy, to at least get the chance to see their planes and check out the airport. (sorry no pics of his adventure, I've got the camera with me)
Hope you all had a good weekend. ;-)

Cooling off in the front yard. (trying)

To my Hubby Doc......

Scattered Family

2010-07-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

This post finds the family scattered all over. I'm in Dallas waiting for my daughter to 'pop', as her two year old puts it. We are joined by Gramie Betsy, from Seattle, and having fun while we wait. (and drinking a little wine)
My son is in Scotland visiting his dad, who lives in Gardenstown. He is seeing a lot of countryside and enjoying cooking the fresh fish that comes into the harbor, across the street from his dads home. I'm pretty jealous. It's in the 60s there. (did I mention, it's freakin HOT in Dallas?)
Meanwhile Hubby Doc is left, slaving away at the Indian Health Care clinic in Winslow. He is looking for his wifee to come back soon. (I will, I promise, Honey!)
Back in California, Hubbys kids are enjoying birthdays and beach time in Cayucos. Sorry, no pictures.
When I get back to Winslow, I'll post about the job he is working.

Exploring Winslow

2010-07-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Took off on a day trip around Winslow and discovered some lovely scenery. In case you didn't know, Winslow is on the Santa Fe Railroad route. Over a hundred trains go through here everyday, including Amtrack, twice a day. Next door to the train depot, is the La Posada Historic Hotel. An original Harvey Inn and Restaurant. So beautiful and fortunately, being restored by new owners. The old hotel was shut down years ago, and it became headquarters for the Santa Fe Railroad for 30 years. It's now an amazing restaurant, and hotel featuring 60 rooms, all decorated in fabulous antiques and southwest style decor. I took a tour given by the Winslow Harvey Girls, that was quite imformative and fun. The prices are very good for the rooms, and the food is amazing and priced fairly as well. So, if you are ever in Winslow and you get tired of 'standing on the corner', go check out the La Posada. You'll be glad you did!

Off to Winslow

2010-07-04T18:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we are on the road again. We left our Oregon Farm and headed straight to Salt Lake City to see our Vista gang. Hubby Doc was happy to get a chance to thank everyone for all the help he's gotten the last twenty months. He was also honored to receive the framed award for Locum Tenen of the year. (of course, our good friend Dan was quick to point out how sorry the rest of the Docs must be, if he got the award! Thanks Dan.) Then, there was the question from his dad. How many were there in the pool? Anyway, I'm so proud of him. I think he's the best Doc in the world. We loved seeing the staff, and had a lovely dinner with a couple of the gals. Thanks everyone!
The next morning, we were off to Cedar City, where our son-in-law was working with the Shakespeare Festival. Luckily, we caught him on his last day there. Had a quick lunch, then took in a play. It was so great to see him and we loved the play!
We drove east to the Cedar Breaks Monument, then traveled on to Kanab, where we spent the night in the Historic Perry Lodge. Took in the 4th of July Parade, then headed to Flagstaff, Az.
Lots of beautiful country, then the vast desert of Winslow.
Hubby starts work on Tuesday with Indian Health Care. So, more news then.
Happy 4th of July America!

Back to Grandview, Washington

2010-06-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

Well, it's back to work for Hubby Doc. A return trip to Grandview, Washington this time, for just a week. I'm not with him to take summer photos, but I will remind you with a few shots I took last time. I'm sure the vines and hops are green now, so use your imagination.
I'm in Santa Rosa visiting my son and his girlfriend. They are working the summer theater at the college. Saw 'Forever Plaid' last night and it was darling! What energy those kids have. Son is props master, and girlfriend is lighting designer for SRT.

Farm Fun!

2010-06-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hubby Doc is off to an assignment next week, but before that happens, we had time for entertaining. First my brother and his lovely wife came for a few days. (not long enough! ;-( we miss them already) Then Hubby Docs folks came for a few days. (again, not long enough)
While they were here, every one got a turn on the new play toy. We've named her Ruby. She's a Honda Rubicon, so Ruby seemed like a good name.
Next week, Hubby Doc heads to Grandview, Washington for a five day gig, comes home for a few days, then we are off to Arizona for a two month job. Stay tuned for blogs on the road.

Hubby Doc is Now, (officially) a Cowboy

2010-05-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

He's got the hat, he's got the boots, he's worked with the guys in a corral full of cow manure, and now, he's got his own fourwheeler. Wasting no time, he was out early this morning to help moooove some cows. We are gonna have fun with this thing! I hear the country back roads calling our names already.
In the mean time, I had the best time watching two fledgling blackbirds yesterday. They were out of the nest, hanging on the edge of some branches and screaming for food. Every time one of the parents would come near, they went crazy! Eventually, one just fell off the branch in his frenzy to get the food first. Then, the next thing I knew, the other one was on the ground too. Of course, that created all kinds of chaos. All the birds in the yard were freaking out. High drama! Oh, and I made a pie that turned out so pretty, I had to take a picture of it. Yum!

Tailgate party in the High Country

2010-05-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

We got up early one morning, grabbed a thermos of coffee and some left over blueberry pie, and headed up a dirt road to the high country. It was a pretty rough road, but our old PU climbed it like a mountain goat. Incredible view, and lots of Bitterroot in bloom.
We are getting lots done. Hubby Doc is filling up the shed with all his tools and stuff, and I'm happy to get the celler space for all my stuff. It's all about getting organized!

Back on the Farm

2010-05-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, we are sooo happy to be back on the Farm! Of course, we started right in on our shed project. We've been working on it for over a year, so we are anxious to "git er dun". Hubby Doc finished the drywall, while I started in on the rock around the outside. We did a little painting, put up the ceiling and will get to the floor soon. We should be moving stuff in very soon!
I'm making sure Hubby Doc is veeerrryyy careful on the ladder! (in case Sue reads this)

Here are a few more shots. Hubby Doc's outdoor workshop. A before picture of the shed, and a shot of the lovely lilac in front of the house. Also , our cow family. They've been watching our progress. The babies are so cute. They get real frisky in the evening and chase around the field.

45 degrees to 85 degrees!

2010-05-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

We left Alaska and headed to California. Hubby Doc is attending the PRIMED Conference this week in Anaheim. It's his favorite conference, so he is having a great time.
Today is my birthday (yes Cinco de Mayo, my friends call me Consuelo) so what better place to spend the day. I'm headed out to find Mexican food ASAP.
On our way to Anaheim, we stopped by for a, too short, visit with our Grandbabies
P.S. I'm 39 (again!)also, the infant isn't ours, just afriend.

High/Low Tide

2010-04-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

The tides here are amazing to see. Here are some photos of the extreme highs and lows. Also, look what washed up last night. There are lots of icebergs out in the water, but this was the first one we'd seen on shore.

Ferry to Wrangell

2010-04-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hubby Doc finished up work on Monday about noon, after a weekend on call. To celebrate, we took a short vacation (from our working vacation in Petersburg) on the ferry to Wrangell. It was a three hour ride up through the narrows and across to Wrangell. We had great weather, high clouds, but no rain. Perfect for our trip. We stayed in a sweet B and B, hiked all around town, checked out their fabulous museum, and found plenty of good food. They are known for their Totem Poles, which were really amazing. The people there were very nice and helpful. The local brochure, says all the towns folks are official greeters, and I would have to agree.

Magical Place

2010-04-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

Shhhh....Don't let it out, but I think I found where the Gnomes live. I won't tell you exactly where, but it's on the edge of town, near a beach. I took a stroll, down a path in the rain forest, and I'm sure I heard them twittering as I passed by. This truly is a Magical Place.

Blessing the Fleet

2010-04-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

Today, at the square, in front of The Sons of Norway hall, they had the Blessing of the Fleet. Petersburg is nicknamed Little Norway, and today, the Norwegians and others had the yearly ceremony. Most the fishing boats are headed out this week for a LOT of fishing. The canneries are ramping up and things are coming alive for this little community. Unfortunately, our time is coming to a close, so we're going to miss out on the busy season.
It was a lovely blessing, and I especially loved the sweaters. It's fun to see the local flavor in their dress. I only wish we could see them in their beautiful costumes they wear for other gatherings. So colorful! Afterwards, they had coffee and the best little Norwegian cookies ever. Makes up for the fact, that they eat Ludefisk!

The Stickeen

2010-04-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today, while Hubby Doc worked, I got to take a boat trip up the Stickeen. Of course, I felt terribly guilty going without him, but, it had to be done. Some of the medical staff put the trip together, so it was fun to be with some folks I already knew.
The Stickeen is a wild river and a popular recreation area. We only went up a few miles, but many go over a hundred miles up river to enjoy hot springs, great fishing, camping and hunting.
It was especially beautiful today, because the weather was clear and sunny. We really lucked out!
Many of you will remember the story John Muir wrote. Stickeen, about a dog he befriended while exploring the river area.

Gone Fishin'

2010-04-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

It's all about fishing here. There are about 3,300 people here, and about 1,500 boats registered locally. They fish, they talk about fish, they eat fish, they make fishy kinda jokes and when they go on vacation, they go some place else, to fish. It's so cool to see all the fishermen walking around. They wear rubber boots, cableknit sweaters, knit caps and slickers. I really wanted to take some pictures of them, but they don't really look like the kinda guys that would be OK with that. So I didn't have the guts to try. But if your ever here, you just gotta walk into one of the local bars! (Just don't ask for a Cosmopolitan!)
Even the airplanes are on floats. Groovy, you can just throw a line right from the plane. Two of Hubby Docs favorites. Boats and planes. In this place, the planes are boats.

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

2010-04-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

Rain, rain, go away, oh wait, that's right, we're in a rain forest! So beautiful here, even in the rain. Took a walk last night during a slight break and got a nice shot of the harbor.
Later, we drove up to the ball park to catch a glimpse of the fireworks. They were fabulous! (yes, it was raining)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETERSBURG! 100 Years

2010-04-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Today was Petersburgs official 100th birthday! What fun. The community met on the baseball field today for a photo. I went to take some pictures of all the townfolk getting ready. They were hoping all 3300 would show up, and I think they were close!
There will be fireworks tonight and lots of events through the year.

On the Job

2010-04-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hubby Doc has been in the clinic for several days now, and just finished a weekend on call. So far, so good. The clinic, hospital, lab, and extended elder care are all under one roof, so it's all yours, when on duty. He's impressed with the staff. Nurses and support staff have been great and he appreciates all the good help. There are no surgeons or specialists on the island, so anything that needs extra attention, goes to Seattle. So until a plane can get in to do that, you are IT!
The island has 3,300 people and a large tourist crowd in the summer, so the medical center can be quite active. They usually have three or four full time Docs and bring in locums as needed. We hope to come back sometime. We love the area.

Cry Wolf!!

2010-04-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

It's official! We saw two wolves in our back yard. We were watching the neighbor boy and his dog out back one evening, when Hubby Doc said. OMG! there are two wolves out there! The boy had the good sense to walk his dog slowly back to the house, and the wolves just watched, then loped around a little before slipping back into the woods. Apparently, it's unusual to see two wolves together this close to town. Lucky us. We showed the picture to our hosts, to confirm what we saw. We thought, maybe a neighbor had a couple of wolffy looking dogs and didn't want to jump to conclusions. But they said, Yup! Thats a wolf alright. My picture is fuzzy, it was on zoom, and through a window, but here it is. Also, a view of our backyard, and back of the house we are in. We are bottom floor to the left.

Community Health Fair

2010-04-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

Well, today we had an experience we hadn't planned on. Hubby Doc worked in the clinic this morning, then at noon, dashed over to give a talk at the Health Fair. His topic was, how to interpret your lab results, and he did a great job. I got to the fair early, and had my hearing tested, my bp checked, got a B M I, a neck massage and checked out all the support organizations for the medical community. (why, you might ask, did she need to do all that? She is married to a Dr. Well. do you remember the story about the shoemakers children, who had no shoes?....) Anyway, a good time was had by all, and we all learned a lot. Good job Petersburg Medical Center.

EAGLES,EAGLES,EAGLES

2010-04-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

Had a few minutes to kill before I picked up Hubby Doc this evening. I took a drive along the edge of the water and saw an aerial battle between some bald eagles and some raven. I pulled over and got these shots. In all, there were about a dozen eagles flying around. Very cool

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JACKPOT!!!

2010-04-14T12:24:00.000-07:00

Another gorgeous day! I took a long walk along the bay and saw several bald eagles. Walked back into town and discovered my new favorite spot! Emilys. Coffee and baked goods, oh my! Had a frosted molasses cookie (one of my all time favorites) and a great cup of coffee. The place is soooo cute, and the girls were very nice. One of them did the beautiful tile work on the counters. I was impressed! A MUST STOP IN if you ever get to Petersburg. Plus a great way to see some of the locals.

Petersburg Scenery

2010-04-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

As promised, more pictures. These are a few shots I took around the area.

A Fine, How Do You Do

2010-04-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

We were welcomed in grand fashion. With only 3,000 people on the island, it's all hands on deck! One of the PTs from the hospital (who also happens to own the apartment we're staying in) picked us up at the airport. I asked ahead of time for a contact number I could call in case our flight was late. The girl just laughed, and said, oh, don't worry, we won't come until we hear the jet land. Now I know what she meant. The town is small, and the airport is right in town.Very handy.
As we got the tour of town, she invited us to a potluck at one of the Doctors houses. He had been the doc on a boat, doing a documentary in the Falkland Islands and was showing some pictures of his trip. Very interesting, plus we got to meet a lot of the hospital and clinic staff.
What a great introduction to Petersburg. Thanks everyone.

More pictures tomorrow. ;-)

North to Alaska

2010-04-11T21:47:00.000-07:00

We are off on another adventure. This time, to Petersburg, Alaska! It was an amazing day to fly, clear blue skies and views that knocked our socks off! We were picked up at the airport, and got a quick tour of the town, which is, DARLING! We really lucked out. This place is spectacular!

Farm Doc

2010-03-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Well, Roving Doc is at home on our farm and loving it! His latest gig has been helping our friend, Karen with lambing. She is an acupuncturist, and he's a GP, so these ewes are in good hands! He'll be back to doctoring people soon, but in the mean time, it's good to keep your skills up.

Last Few Days in Grandview

2010-03-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

Well Hubby Doc is wrapping it up. Here are a few last shots of the area.

Home away from home.

Beautiful clouds north of Grandview.

Cool barn in Grandview.

Grandview, What's it all about?

2010-03-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Grandview is situated in a huge valley. Amazing agricultural area. Driving around on the backroads, you'll see farm after farm. Lots of cattle, and they can grow most anything. It's really beautiful. The photo of the tall poles, is a hop field. The hops grow up the poles like beans. In the summer those will all be covered in green vines to the very top. Of course there are lots of grapes and orchards too.

Week Two at the Grandview Clinic

2010-03-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

Hubby Doc made it through his first week, and is well into week two. Things are going well, but as usual, the computer system is always the tough part. I think I mentioned before, every clinic has their own system and they are drastically different. But, by golly he's getting it down. Even the people who work there say it's a monster.
I loved being with him the first week, but I went back home over the weekend, so I could fly to Dallas and see my daughter and her family. Hubby Doc will drive to Seattle this weekend to see his daughter and her man. So, we both will have some quality time with our girls.
One more week after that, and this assignment will be over.

Welcome to Grandview, Washington!

2010-03-02T17:13:00.000-08:00

Well, we hit the road again. Left our sweet little place in Oregon, and headed out on a new assignment.
I can't tell you much about the job yet, so I'll fill you in on our digs. Vista knocked this one 'Outa da park'. We are staying at a darling B&B, out in the countryside. This is a big wine area, so, we are surrounded by agricultural properties. Cows, hops and grapes. Our apartment is the bottom floor of an old farmhouse that has been totally redone. Apparently, the owners bought the house for $1.00 and moved it from another location. It is sweet and cozy. Oh, by the way, did I mention it's called the Cozy Rose Inn.
We love the two person hot tub, and the beds are really comfy. Our hosts have thought of everything! So many nice touches. Fruit, water and coffee already to go in the morning. And......OMG!......chocolate chip cookies wrapped up on a plate next to our bed. Man, was I happy to find those!
Check it out!

Goodbye Bermuda

2010-02-13T11:35:00.000-08:00

Well, today is Hubby Docs last day of work. He is scheduled to fly out tomorrow at 9am. With some luck, it will happen. I don't know if you're following the weather, but it's nasty out there! Nothing is flying in or out right now because of high winds. The causeway, which connects the main islands, has been closed off and on. Hubby Doc was four hours late to work one day, and the crew ahead of him had to stay overnite, since they couldn't get home. Crazy!
So, keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully, his plane can get off the east coast, actually land in Bermuda, then have an opening into New York. If that happens, he should be OK. His final leg is LAX to Boise. I will be happy to have him safely home.
The pics are, stormy seas from the deck of our place, and a farewell sunset. It's been a great adventure, but, SEE YA!
Next job is in Washington state in March.

Bermuda Digs

2010-02-08T18:24:00.000-08:00

Boy! We really lucked out with our accommodations. Knowing how expensive food is in Bermuda, we requested a place with a kitchen. Kaneesha, really came through for us. Since it's the low season, she was able to get us a really cute apartment above a home, on Shelly Bay. We had water views on three sides, and an easy walk to the bus stop. We were able to cook,and make lunches for Hubby Doc to take to work. Saved us a bundle.
The grocery stores carry most things that we are used to seeing in the states. They are more expensive, but if you take the time to compare items, you can do OK.
The restaurants are faboo, but pricy, so it was nice to be able to eat out once in a while, and eat in as well.
If you work here, and don't have a kitchen, you could pick up a few cooking items at the local ACE Hardware and make do. A microwave ($150 to $175) and a coffee pot ($40) would pay off in the long run, and you could sell them before you leave.
Be sure to request at least, a room with a fridge and the bare necessities. Vista and the people at the Bermuda Hospital Board do try very hard to give you what you need.
Thanks Kanesha!

Happy Birthday

2010-02-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Today is Hubby Docs Birthday. So, Happy Birthday Sweetheart! Unfortunately, he had to work tonight. Here he is in front of the boat I wish I could have given him. Too bad, he's just getting a Bermuda teeshirt with a boat on it.

It's all about the Scooter!

2010-02-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

Well, we had to do it. Even though the hospital board would prefer you did not rent a scooter while working for them, we just had to.
In Bermuda, there are no car rentals,so your options are, ride the bus, take a taxi, or rent a moped. Oh, or walk. We rented from Oleander Cycles Ltd. They have several locations, which is nice, because you can return your bike at any of them. A one day rental, is $55 for a double scooter, plus a $30 non-refundable maintenance fee. We got a 15% discount because we were with the Hospital Board. (funny, since they don't want you to rent one in the first place.) If you rent for over 7 days, it goes down to $20 a day. That's pretty reasonable.
So, off we went on our adventure. So fun to see the island on a moped. You do have to be very alert, as the Bermudians drive on the left. The roads here are very narrow, and everyone drives as fast as they can! It's freaky!! The locals on mopeds, pass anywhere. No kidding! They'll pass on a curve with cars coming in both directions! And as you can see from my pictures, the roads are not wide enough for that. It's a thrill!
We covered the island from one end to the other, then put it on the ferry and rode back to Hamilton. Great day!
Oh my Goodness! How did our darling Grandchildren get on this page! Sorry.

Office Visit

2010-02-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

Roving Doc is working hard! The clinic is on the far east end of Bermuda, on St Davids Island. It is a state of the art facility, clean and well maintained. There is no lab, but they do have Xray. The staff, RNs and Xray techs, are skilled, friendly and competent.
Since it is an Urgent Care facility, he sees both adults and children. The patients are appreciative and gracious, much like the people of Bermuda.
The down side, is the hours. The clinic opens at 4pm, and closes at midnight on weekdays, and is open weekends from noon until midnight. OUCH! Tough shift. Luckily, our systems are on Pacific Time.
He's four weeks in, on a six week commitment, so feeling good about that!
Thanks for checking in. Leave a comment if you like.

Bermuda chicks

2010-01-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

Who knew Bermuda had so many stray chickens! Not a lot of feral cats, no stray dogs, haven't seen a wild pig, but everywhere you go there are chickens. At the beach, in the parking lots, at the forts, crossing the street, in the graveyards, on the golf course, you name it, they are there! Karen, you would love it.

PS Eggs are really cheep here!:-)

Bermuda Bus System

2010-01-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Since Hubby Doc signed an agreement that he would not rent a moped, we've been getting to know the bus system. Turns out, Bermuda has a wonderful bus system that is easy and fun to use. We both got a monthly pass ($55.) which gives you unlimited use on the bus and the ferry. The bus runs from early morning until 11:30ish and covers most the island. The drivers are helpful, and will tell you which stop you need for your sightseeing. You can walk to most tourist sites from the bus stops.
The local children and senior citizens, ride for free. So the bus is also the school bus. You might want to keep that in mind, as the buses get pretty full when school lets out. We actually enjoy being on the bus with the kids, they're fun to listen to. They are also very polite.
Using the bus from the airport doesn't work out too well, as they don't allow large suitcases. If you travel light though, you could catch the bus, if you have exact change. A taxi ride will be costly!
Getting to work on time for Hubby Doc was a concern. He had spoken to other docs who had been here, and they were taking cabs and using the bus, or whatever they could arrange ,at their expense. He expressed this concern to Vista, and with a little magic and fairydust, the hospital shuttle picks him up every day, then brings him home at night. Very important, since he gets off at midnight.
Signing off 'til next time. C.

Some favorite shots

2010-01-24T15:39:00.001-08:00

Stay tuned!

Eye Candy from Bermuda

2010-01-24T14:24:00.000-08:00

Just a few island shots to hold you over.

Time for a little more sightseeing

2010-01-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well, Hubby Doc had three days off when I arrived, worked one day, then was off for another day. So, we jumped on the bus and headed for the southside of the island. We saw lots of lovely beaches, which we will visit on a sunny day. Hopped off at the dockyard to see a few things we missed the first time, then went to an old cemetery where the sailors were buried. Very interesting. Many of the gravestones were from the late 1700's and early 1800,s.

Hello from Bermuda

2010-01-18T13:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I made it to Bermuda! Yay! Happy to see my roving Hubby Doc!

After several days of bad weather before I came, Hubby Doc was happy to see me, and the good weather I brought along from California. We had three days of lovely weather as you can see from the photos.

Bermuda, Here we come

2010-01-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

The job we have in January and February is in Bermuda. The Hubby Doc is already there, and I head out next week. So stay tuned for my next post from Bermuda.

Peace and Blessings to all in the New Year!

St. Mary's in Cottonwood

2010-01-09T20:45:00.001-08:00

Next stop, Cottonwood, Idaho. This is the train trestle that was behind the house we stayed in. Hubby Doc and a friend had to climb up and check out the view. Gorgeous country and a super little hospital with friendly people. We really enjoyed this gig. The house we stayed in was big enough to have visitors, so our friends came up from our home town for a weekend. We had a great time going to a Pow Wow in a nearby town. So crazy, we ran into a Doc that used to work with my hubby at the Pow Wow. He retired and is living in the area.

Hubby Doc liked seeing the Native American patients in the clinic. He especially liked the elderly people who told him of some of the folklore. Having some Indian heritage of his own, he is very interested in the culture.

Another weekend, we took a car trip up toward the north to see the Palouse. That is a high grassy plain. Vistas as far as you could see,with nothing but wheat fields. Lots of cute little towns and friendly people.

Thanks Cottonwood. We wouldn't mind going back there.

Yes, I know, It's mixed up!

2010-01-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

So, my daughter helped me pull this together, and I'm trying to catch up on a years worth of jobs. Bear with me while I figure this out. The Tacoma job was in Nov. and Dec. of 2008. The Welton job was Feb. and Mar. of 2009. We will get current soon.

Next, off to Welton, Arizona

2010-01-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

Here is the amazing staff at the Welton clinic. These ladies were a big help to the Roving Doc. Since he doesn't se habla espanol, he would have really been up a creek without their help. The patient load vacillated between local Mexican families, and the snowbirds, in town for the beautiful weather.

It just so happened that a remodel was going on at the clinic while hubby Doc was filling in. The fellow that was doing the remodel was very nice, and the ladies liked having him around. One day a patient came in. The poor woman had her hand stuck in some kind of kitchen appliance. The hubby Doc asked for the heavy duty cutters, and everyone looked puzzled. Apparently, they didn't keep cutters on hand. Luckily the handyman was there, working on the remodel. Hubby Doc went and found him, went through his tool box, found what he needed and freed the womans hand. You never know what will walk into a clinic. It's good to know, that with a tool box, a little duck tape and some yankee ingenuity, you can be on your way!

We loved the area. Very beautiful, as you can see by the photos, and we stayed in a great place, right by a golf course. It doesn't get much better than that!

The last day hubby Doc worked, the ladies brought in amazing mexican food for lunch, including a tres leche cake. YUM!

First Post for the Roving Doc

2010-01-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hey Everybody! Welcome to the Roving Doc.

After thirty years in a busy practice, my hubby Doc left to try something new. He signed on with Vista staffing solutions, and off we went to work some temporary jobs in new locations. We don't know, could be crazy, could be great! Tag along with us, and let's see.

First stop, Tacoma, Washington. Two months in the worst weather they've seen in a long time. Not only a challenge weather wise (we're from central California) but, quite a challenge on the job for hubby Doc. Community Health Care in several clinics scattered around the area. While he dealt with lots of staff, different computer programs (why can't they find one that works for all practices) and tons of sick people, I explored the city. Lots of beautiful neighborhoods with great shopping.

We lucked out when we checked in to The Red Lion. Lisa and her staff made us feel like family. They even invited us to their Christmas party.

Not bad for our first job, but we did decide that two months is the absolute max for a job.

The pictures were taken from our hotel. Mt. Ranier was spectacular!