THIS IS WHY I HATE, HATE, HATE MAKING PIES!!!!

     Why, why do I listen to that man when he puts on his puppy dog eyes and says, "I sure have been in the mood for some pie!"

ADELE, THE WUSS, DID IT!!

     For over a year Victor has been trying to get me to go with him on the ATV trail that goes to the summit of the mountian that faces our cabin.  I like safety;  I like smooth roads; and I don't like the unknown.  So I keep declining.   But when Audrey told me Grandpa had taken her and one other grandchild "up on the mountain where we could see the cabin"  I felt a little ashamed.  He wouldn't endanger the lives of children, would he?  Then surely he was serious when he said it wasn't a bad road and it would be OK.
     And now I know.  There were one or two nerve-wracking spots, but the day was glorious (boy, have we had WEATHER!!) and the view down into our little cul-de-sac was so cool.   I was so tense when we stopped that my legs and arms were shaking, but it all calmed down and the ride home was just lovely....because then there was no more fear of the unknown.   So enjoy the pictures:  I DID IT!!

This is the second crop of wildflowers near Morgan's cabin;  The first set were blue.

I'll say one thing for storm front days.  The clouds and sky are beautiful!  And it is cooler and all the plants love the daily, tiny cloudbursts.

This is a zoomed-in view from the summit, looking down to the Ponderosa Rd. cut-off leading to our cabin.  Recognize the red octagon roof?  The dirt road to the left is the one to Morgan's cabin.

This is the true view of our cabin from the summit.  You are really up there!!

And this is the zoomed-in view of our cabin from up there.  Boy!  Glad I am not out sunbathing in the nude or something!!

So what is more impressive, the view of our place and Rochna's...or the amazing view of the lava flow?

And right where you need to stand to look at our valley below is this amazing uprooted weathered tree trunk and a nice view of a red escarpment behind.

But as wonderful as it was, I was kinda glad to be on our way home, calm enough now to really look around and enjoy how beautiful the forest was up here.  We even found my visor that had blown off!  And we made it back to the cabin before the deluge started and our faces were stung with only had a few raindrops.  This has  been a gloriously beautiful summer up here this year!