Dakota will do anything to get to a squirrel! His favorite past-time is now climbing trees. This is one of three trees he heads for at lightening speed each and every time he goes out the front door. Two of the three trees are in the neighbors back yard. I'm convinced that when he's tied up that the squirrels get together and tease him to death. By the looks of things it won't be long until he's up chasing them in the tree tops.
In 2004 I purchased one of the first Scion XB's sold in the state of California. I loved that car. It was simply the funnest vehicle I have ever owned. I drove it for three years and then sold it to my sister D'Ann. I used the money to purchase a scooter to get around on and camera equipment to pursue my interests in photography. And look at me now! A dog, some Tony Lama cowboy boots and a big big truck! I have everything except for the camper trailer and the concealed weapon permit! And I'm still a Democrat!
We're making lot's of progress in the basement. My sister-in-law is the Dungeon Master and the Mudder! Please say mudder real slow! The two bedrooms are finished except for baseboards and trim around the doors. The new floors look great. And it looks like we're going to be able to finish the ceiling, install the floor, and finish the painting this week on the Rec Room. I thought my family would like to see the picture of the Rec Room with hardly anything in it. They will understand what a miracle this is! Perhaps the rest of you won't, unless there is someone in your family that stacks everything from the past 40-years from floor to ceiling and wall to wall! Then maybe you too will understand.
This is the baby of the family, my little brother Tommy. I love the way he thinks things through. He just doesn't screw things up. Doing a great job!
And this is my Dad. He pitches in and helps here and there. I can tell he really likes the transition and is excited to have it put back together in a way that our family will really be able to enjoy it. We'll have a pool table, a dart board, air hockey, video games for the kids, and lots of sleeping spaces available for the many family members that visit during the year.
My niece Santana has had a visitor from Germany during the past month. Marika was a foreign exchange student last year and lived with Santana and her family. I told them I would do some portrait photography for them, and since this was my first attempt to do something nice in this genre I did it for them for free. I thought it would be nice if they had something to commemorate their friendship. They're BFF's you know. I was pleased with the results but have much more to learn. I think I need some studio equipment which I hope to be able to purchase this fall. Lot's of fun though. And the girls were great! 
The Malheur County Fair is 100-years old this year. It was originally known as the Corn Festival. And by the looks of these square dancers they could still be corn growers. There's lots of corn grown in this country. The old-timers say that during hot weather you can go out in a corn field and hear it grow, it grows so fast!
A bunch of family went over on Wednesday evening to watch the County Fair Talent Contest, which my niece Santana competed in. She won first prize and $300 and the right to compete in the Oregon State Fair. She sang some country western song, something about losing her man, smoking a cigarette and drinking a six-pack of beer. She hit the high notes though.
I had alot of fun with my photography. The three photos posted here just might make my triptych collection. They're my favorites. I've posted more in a slide show and hope you all enjoy them. Click on the slide show to the left to view them in larger scale. Hope you all enjoy your county fair as much as I did.
200 Model T Fords recently drove through Vale. They were on a road trip from New York City to Seattle. My friend Rosann called me up at 6:30 a.m. to inform me of this earthshattering event and we agreed to meet at the Livestock Sale Yard to view the parade of cars as they drove towards Unity and John Day.
The Model T Ford was manufactured from 1908 to 1927 and was known as the Tin Lizzie to the masses. 1908 is the historic year that automobiles came into popular use. It is the first affordable automobile that put America on wheels.
The Model T was designed by Childe Harold Wills and two Hungarian immigrants Joseph A. Galamb and Eugene Farkas. Before starting a Model T with the hand crank, the spark had to be manually retarded or the engine might 'kick back'. The crank handle was cupped in the palm, rather than grabbed with the thumb under the top of the handle, so that if the engine did kick back, the rapid reverse motion of the crank would throw the hand away from the handle, rather than violently twisting the wrist or breaking the thumb.
The car's 10-gallon fuel tank was mounted to the frame beneath the front seat; one variant had the carburetor (a Holley Model G) modified to run on ethyl alcohol, to be made at home by the self-reliant farmer. Because fuel relied on gravity to flow forward from the fuel tank to the carburetor, a Model T could not climb a steep hill when the fuel level was low. The immediate solution was often to drive up steep hills in reverse. 
Consistent with the practical-mindedness of folk in those 'make do' days, the cost of the car was rationalized by added duty. The vehicle was used much like a farm vehicle by taking off the rear wheel and uysing belts, etc to power commonly available belt-driven equipment of the time. An example is a wide belt, powered from the rear hub, used to move hay from the ground to the hayloft in the barn.
I don't think there is anything more special than witnessing our nation's birthday in a small town. Vale has a long tradition of celebrating the 4th of July, always with lot's of family, flags, parade and rodeo. The Vale 4th of July parade was 101 years old this year. The Vale Rodeo turned 95.
