Paired like Geese for Life

"Honeymoon cottage" at the Wanapum State Park, WA

Our wedding in Vantage, WA, was all that we could have asked for - and more! The weather cooperated, all the guests and family that could attend were there, two wonderful videos were taken of the event for the absent ones to enjoy and soon there will be pictures from the hired photographer to review.

Susan Smith, pastor's wife and Wayne's
daughter helped to arrange the flowers. 

Just as Pastor Smith (Wayne Smith is Wayne Ratcliff's son-in-law) said to the group, "I now declare you are husband and wife," two geese in the Columbia River, near the beach where we were having the ceremony, suddenly began honking loudly and as we were watching, the two took off and flew away. Everyone agreed it was better than a basket of doves being let loose!

Bronwyn Brady and "Lolita".

I was 'given away' by my two friends, Carol Joy Bennett and her husband, Joe Woodbury. I had another dear friend, Bronwyn Brady, standing attendance with me by driving me to the venue, and she took some of these photos.

Joe Woodbury was my escort part way,
then his wife Carol joined us for the last lap.

Prior to the wedding, we stayed at Sportsman's Campground in Union Gap, WA, near Yakima for the Washington Spring Sashay (square dance event) with three well-known callers: Jim Hattrick, Adam Cristman and ----. Hattrick is an old friend of Wayne's who he hasn't seen in some time, so it was a lovely reunion for them.

While at that campground, I saw an osprey near a pond where we were walking. He watched us closely as we moved through his territory. It was here we discovered that the tow bar was broken and I would have to follow the RV for the rest of the trip.

Broken tow bar meant following the RV everywhere.

This eagle is giving us the "eagle eye."

Wayne and Susan Smith, daughter of Wayne R. (right)

Our next stop was the Big Pine campground on the Yakima River. It was running fast and high but the campground was somewhat empty of campers. It made for pleasant camping and while we were there, Wayne's son-in-law Wayne Smith and his wife, Susan, came down to discuss wedding plans. That was the night a huge eagle decided to swoop down over our heads and park in a tree nearby. Very impressive and Wayne R. got a photo of him.

During that stop we took time to find some of the local potholes so Wayne could get some fishing in.

We caught two trout and many sunfish. Wayne ate the trout.

He let me use a rod and was surprised to discover he was marrying a woman who wasn't afraid to put a worm on a hook and one who could also catch a fish... not just him (LOL!).

My logger lover lowering a limb... not mine - ha ha!

We also went over to visit his other daughter, Aleece Martin, but they were off getting a couple of pigs for their farm, so he found a chain saw and got rid of the willow tree that scratched the Jeep during his son Dennis's wedding two weeks before. Once a logger, always a logger, it seems.

The next stop was Wanapum State Park in Vantage, where the wedding took place. It is a very lovely spot on the Washington side of the Columbia River, just above Wanapum Dam. It fills up quickly in the summer and it was already full for our weekend in May as well.

Wanapum State Park from the highway up above it.

The bride, Larry Dykeman, Dennis Hughes and the groom.

We were very lucky to get the spot we did up on the "Inner Circle" where the sites are larger, more grass and trees on the site and neighbors are spaced apart. And the view was awesome! The beach area where we had the ceremony is perfect for families with children with lots of space to run around and water shallow enough to be fun. The trees offered protection both from the wind and the hot sun, because surprisingly enough, it was rather warm for May that weekend.

Several of Wayne's friends were there:
Dennis Hughes was his Best Man, Larry Dykeman drove with Dennis from Deer Park, and his school chum Bailey Sammons and his wife Terry, came from Olympia to help us celebrate.

Terry Sammons, the groom and Bailey Sammons of Olympia.

We kept the ranger busy that weekend with people coming and going but when we went through the ranger station for the last time, she had a big smile on her face and thumbs up!

Bride is escorted by Joe and Carol... we had
a laugh ahead of time picturing them 'holding
me up' as we are all seniors!

We have some photos that were taken of everyone who was there, but I still don't have them to post here.

After the ceremony, we had a potluck with hamburgers, hotdogs, salads and soft drinks followed by cutting the cake (carrot cake with cream cheese frosting) and toasts with sparkling apple cider. I so appreciative of everyone who came and participated in various ways to make it such a special event!

Ceremonial spot on the Columbia River, heralded by geese!

The "Tikquities" amongst the
Petrified wood in Vantage, WA.

What a birthday present!!

Pastor Wayne Smith introduced us as Lord Ratcliff and Lady
Anne Tudor because back in time there was a Lord Ratcliff
who married a Tudor... history repeats?

When we get the wedding photos of family and friends, I will post them here and a few on Facebook.

Ollie, Ollie, Osprey...?

   If it got up over 40 degrees today, I never knew it... I stayed 
inside working on becoming germ-free and making sure this cold didn't do to me what it's done to so many - gone into the lungs. About lunchtime I decided to go into my office (15 or 16 steps away) and actually got some work done for awhile. When my son showed up, he plunked himself down and then gasped,"Mom, lookit!" When I followed his pointing finger, I saw this lovely young raptor, an Osprey-looking bird perched on a limb about 200 yards away. I carefully moved and went to get my camera. Here is what we saw....        According to my limited research, it is a juvenile, but on closer looks at the photos, I am not certain it is of the Osprey family. I really need to have someone with more experience evaluate the shots. At any rate, the youngster stayed on the limb for quite awhile, preening its feathers and watching us watching it. My son left after the bird flew off and called me when he got home. "Mom, you might not believe this, but that bird is sitting in the tree right outside my house and it is screeching!" I could actually hear the noise through the phone. Same bird? He only lives about 4 miles from me.... so it could be.

   What adds to the wonderful mystery of this story is that back in the fall, we were biking around the local Lake Dupont and came upon a downed Osprey (this really was one) in shock. No one wanted to abandon it to dogs or mischievous humans, so my son and I were nominated as "bird people" to get it into a transport cage (because I have one at home for my Gray) and get it to a rescue group the next day. Although we tried to find someone to take it that evening, no one was available. So I brought it to my house and covered the cage (I don't have a garage.) and checked on it once or twice until about 1 a.m. I went inside and woke up at 5, but the bird had died.

   I was desolate. I followed all the guidelines for rescue (don't give it any water or food, protect it, etc.) but the truck that hit it, had done it's damage. The bird never cried out when we moved it from the road to the transport cage, and never cried out when I approached the cage later that night. Now what? I have a 25 pound bird to deal with. Not your little parakeet.

I called Florida Fish & Game and someone there said, "Just dump it. We don't want it." It deserved better than being pitched in the garbage.

   A few of my Native American friends were interested in having some feathers, but had no ideas of what to do. So I found a place in my garden that the ground was soft enough to dig in, and I got some cedar chips. I laid a bed of cedar chips, put the bird on top of them, sprinkled some more on top and lit my sage incense wand. Walking quietly in a circle around the spot, I urged Grandfather to take the spirit of this bird with Him, and to let it soar. I asked forgiveness of the man who drove off without stopping his truck and forgiveness of all of us who tried to rescue it.

   When I was at peace with myself about it, I piled the dirt on top and around and then found some leaves to put under some more cedar chips. I set the leaves on fire and watched the chips burn down. When the fire went out, I put more dirt on the spot and added some heavy branches to keep animals away. 

   Today's visitor was sitting on a branch almost on top of the spot where the Osprey is buried.