An Afternoon at Crater Lake

A trip up to Crater Lake National Park from Diamond Lake takes about 30 minutes. Because it is so close we usually go every year. This year there is construction up at the rim where the visitor building, cafeteria and gift shops are. The Park is removing the parking lot that sat between the lake Rim and the visitor buildings and is putting a new one in behind the buildings to improve the asthetics and impact to the lake. Other construction is happening too, but I must confess ignorance because Alex was hungry and he wouldn't wait for me to go and explore!!



The lodge has a great veranda where you can order food and drinks. It is a great place to gaze at the lake, sit in the shade of the old grand lodge and relax. We had coffee on the Veranda (read with a stuffy british accent) and rocked in comfy rustic rocking chairs. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon, huh?

Bath Time at Diamond Lake

Bath time for babies at Diamond Lake has a long history. Our family has been coming to the Lake for 47 or 48 years. There have been many babies in those 47 some odd years and they have all had their baths in the Diamond Lake sink. So, whenever a new baby comes on the scene, it is a bit of a production to watch the little naked tyke get his tubbie.

Diamond Lake, continued

The Cousins...and Cousins squared. My cousin and his wife had twin boys two weeks before Alex's was born. Their mom is on the right, their Grandma jo is in the middle (my Auntie) and that is I, on the left with Alex the wee one.








Doing hard time on the lake with my Uncle and Aunt (foreground). That is Mt. Thielson in the background.











My Dad and Uncle contemplating the day's activities. I imagine the options being discussed went something like this:
"Whadya wanna do today?"
" I dunno, whadya wanna do?"
"I dunno, lay in the hammock, fish, lay in the hammock..."
"......."






My family.

Diamond Lake 2006

Every year my family meets at Diamond Lake in the southern Cascade Mountains. Our family has been coming for 48 years. Not every one, every year, but at least a small group makes it up every season. There have been many intersting memories created here, from celebrations of job announcements to wedding announcements. This lake holds our family near and dear. The fishing has been down right awful the past several years due to the Tui Chub that have taken over the lake. Because of the Chub, the lake and its ecosystem is sick. This year the lake is being drained by 8 feet and the process for removing the fish from the lake has begun. This winter the lake will be poisoned and all the fish will die. The lake will be restocked in the spring with trout....and hopefully a few more decades of good fishing will resume and a healthier lake will return. I learned that this is not the first time Diamond Lake has to be poisoned to remove the trash fish and to help restore some balance to the ecosystem. Some time in the 50's the same thing had to be done and it was successfull, as far as I know?
At 5:30 am, our human alarm clock went off. Being such a nice morning, we got up and carted our human alarm clock with us for a stroll up to the lodge for some hot chocolate and coffee.








My parents have a deer problem back home. My Aunts and Uncle thought a perfectly fitting gift for Dad's newly renovated back deck would be their own concrete deer. Ha ha?! My dad named it Damn.










Alex doesn't know what to make of Damn...or my Aunt maybe either?











Before I knew it, Alex had joined the crew and was signed on as Cabin Boy, arrrrggggg!












Shaun, Alex and I went for a walk down to the fish hatchery outlet part dealy of the lake. The lake is being partially drained this year in preparation for a "clean up" of the trash fish that have taken over the lake and compromised its health. The mosquitos are really bad.

Visits from Grandma and Grandpa Q

Grandma and Grandpa came a' visitin' again, this time in the heat of summer. We watched fireworks from our driveway, late at night. We went for a beautiful walk in sweltering heat along the River and we ate dinners on the back deck and drank morning coffee on the front porch. Alex and Grandpa got to know each other much better on this visit. Last visit, Alex was still a little colick head and cried every time Grandpa tried to hold him...in fact, Alex just cried all the time.

This visit, Alex poured on the charm. He taught Grandpa and anyone else he came into contact with that he thinks mouth raspberries are the funniest thing and so we all entertained Alex while he laughed at his ridiculous family and we had a great time!