Hiking Accident

Had a little accident on a hike up towards Gobbler's Knob near Mt. Rainier on Thursday.

 This is the bandage they put around my head at the doctors office after cleaning out the wounds and giving me a few stitches.  I was out hiking with Ned Witting and some others from the Ward.  We took a little side trail up to a granite rock formation and on the side trail back to the main trail, there was a lot of loose gravel and it was steep.  I started slipping and stepped off the trail to avoid hitting into the person in front of me, but there was nothing under the grass I stepped onto and I tumbled a little - coming to a stop when I hit my head.  I had two bad cuts and the problem was a lot of dirt and gravel that the doctor and nurse had trouble getting out.  But I survived.  We can't go through life without a few tumbles now and then.

 We did finish the hike before turning back.  Actually this was our second hike, we went on one the week before also.  No accidents on that one.

 Beautiful streams and trees all around.  We live near some fantastic wilderness areas.

 We saw lots of mushrooms out.  This is just one example.

Mt. Rainier was unbelievable.

 This is the small peak which was our view point.  Ned Witting and three others that joined us that day: James, Katie, and Julia, from our ward.

 Some other things going on last week.  We had a wonderful General Conference to listen too.  The messages were inspiring.  In between Sunday sessions - Talitha, Malachi, Caleb, Layne, David, Andrew, Mallory, and Spencer joined us and we had waffle ice cream treats.

 I think this was the prettiest one.

Also Caleb had a birthday, and again Malachi and Talitha and their familes joined us.  We had dinner (taco bar), cake and ice cream.  Happy quarter of a century birthday Caleb.

China Shanghai

We flew into China on Peach Airlines, for a tour guided vacation with Gate 1, and our initial stop was Shanghai.

 Shanghai is a modern Chinese city on the coast.  It's considered the financial capital of China and is a showcase for modern buildings and skyscrapers.  Here's Jacquelyn on the Promenade along the waterfront at Bund with modern skyscrapers in the background.

 Our tour guide and tour manager was Frank, for the whole tour, and also pictured here was the local Shanghai only tour guide.

 We took a tour of the Jade Buddha Temple, dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

 Close up of the beautiful Jade Buddha.

 More statues at the temple complex.

 Smaller profusion of statues.

 Angry faced Buddha.

 Some have Hindu influences.

 One day we had a free evening in Shanghai so four other couples and us went on our own to see the Shanghai Tower, the second tallest skyscraper in the world. We took a subway to get there.  It was fun to get out on our own.

 A view from the top of the Shanghai Tower, which is 128 stories and has the world's highest observation deck and the second faster elevator to the top.  It was completed in 2015.  The view is incredibly high.  Shanghai looked very modern with lots of skyscrapers and lights and boats along the river.

 One day we went to a factory where they made silk embroidery paintings by hand.  Very intricate and very ornate.

In this wildlife embroidery painting the eyes of the wolves would follow you around the room.