Grandpa Bell's Funeral
My Grandfather Bell passed away last weekend, so this weekend my parents, my uncle Morris, my sister Carrie and I drove up to the funeral in my sister's minivan. We had a good time.
The first day (Wednesday) we drove the long drive from Pocatello (where Susan dropped me off to meet my parents) to Quincy, Washington (where my grandparents lived). It was fairly uneventful, and actually pretty nice without noisy children. One highlight was our stop at Country Mercantile, a pretty cool store outside of Pasco, where we sampled pickled asparagus, sweet onion mustard, pickled garlic, and various jellies. Carrie and I bought several chocolate covered nuts, chocolate covered dried fruit, and chocolate truffles. It was so good that we stopped again on the way home. We stayed at a nice Best Western in Ephrata (15 miles from Quincy). Carrie and I shared a room and after we checked in and unpacked I had to laugh at the difference between Carrie's toiletries and mine.
Carrie's Toiletries
My Toiletries (I did buy deodorant after we arrived)
On Thursday Mom had to prepare for her funeral talk and meet with the other members of the family. So Carrie and my Dad took a trip to Grand Coulee Dam to photograph and sight see. The drive is really beautiful. I had no idea how unusual and lovely the landscape just outside of Quincy was. I didn't find much of interest to photograph at Grand Coulee Dam (it was impressive though). We did find a couple of cool waterfalls, some caves, and a nice overlook of Dry Falls State Park along the way though. That evening we had dinner at a little pizza place in Ephrata. I had one of the best Calzones ever (Pesto Chicken). We liked it so much we went back the next night.
Lenore Caves, near Soap Lake, WA 2007
Dry Falls Overlook, near Electric City, WA 2007
Waterfall #1, near Grand Coulee, WA 2007
Waterfall #2, near Grand Coulee, WA 2007
Motel, near Grand Coulee, WA 2007
Friday was when the funeral was held. It was a nice ceremony. It was more of a celebration than anything. Everybody gave great talks, and Uncle Paul told a couple of memorable experiences that had us all laughing (I don't know if I've ever heard hell used in that context from the pulpit before). After the funeral we went back to Grandpa's house. The siblings had to sort a few things out, so the rest of us had a good time driving the old tractor, taking rides in Paul's plane, and visiting.
Pallbearers Carrying the Casket
Grandpa's Brand on his Casket
Grandpa and Grandma's Tombstone
Burning Trash from Grandpa's House after the Funeral
The small home where Grandma and Grandpa raised their 8 children.
Irrigation Ditch on Grandpa's Farm
Saturday morning we came back and had another rather uneventful drive. For a better written description of the trip see my sister's blog.
The first day (Wednesday) we drove the long drive from Pocatello (where Susan dropped me off to meet my parents) to Quincy, Washington (where my grandparents lived). It was fairly uneventful, and actually pretty nice without noisy children. One highlight was our stop at Country Mercantile, a pretty cool store outside of Pasco, where we sampled pickled asparagus, sweet onion mustard, pickled garlic, and various jellies. Carrie and I bought several chocolate covered nuts, chocolate covered dried fruit, and chocolate truffles. It was so good that we stopped again on the way home. We stayed at a nice Best Western in Ephrata (15 miles from Quincy). Carrie and I shared a room and after we checked in and unpacked I had to laugh at the difference between Carrie's toiletries and mine.
Carrie's Toiletries
My Toiletries (I did buy deodorant after we arrived)
On Thursday Mom had to prepare for her funeral talk and meet with the other members of the family. So Carrie and my Dad took a trip to Grand Coulee Dam to photograph and sight see. The drive is really beautiful. I had no idea how unusual and lovely the landscape just outside of Quincy was. I didn't find much of interest to photograph at Grand Coulee Dam (it was impressive though). We did find a couple of cool waterfalls, some caves, and a nice overlook of Dry Falls State Park along the way though. That evening we had dinner at a little pizza place in Ephrata. I had one of the best Calzones ever (Pesto Chicken). We liked it so much we went back the next night.
Lenore Caves, near Soap Lake, WA 2007
Dry Falls Overlook, near Electric City, WA 2007
Waterfall #1, near Grand Coulee, WA 2007
Waterfall #2, near Grand Coulee, WA 2007
Motel, near Grand Coulee, WA 2007
Friday was when the funeral was held. It was a nice ceremony. It was more of a celebration than anything. Everybody gave great talks, and Uncle Paul told a couple of memorable experiences that had us all laughing (I don't know if I've ever heard hell used in that context from the pulpit before). After the funeral we went back to Grandpa's house. The siblings had to sort a few things out, so the rest of us had a good time driving the old tractor, taking rides in Paul's plane, and visiting.
Pallbearers Carrying the Casket
Grandpa's Brand on his Casket
Grandpa and Grandma's Tombstone
Burning Trash from Grandpa's House after the Funeral
The small home where Grandma and Grandpa raised their 8 children.
Irrigation Ditch on Grandpa's Farm
Saturday morning we came back and had another rather uneventful drive. For a better written description of the trip see my sister's blog.
13 Comments:
Please don't EVER retire your blog! That was an excellent update!!
I loved that you found the website to the truffle store! I just finished my last bumpy blackberry truffle today and now they are all gone. sniff sniff
That was a great trip, I can't wait to go to Seattle in a few weeks! Nobody sleeps!!
I agree with Carrie. That was a wonderful update. I enjoyed the stories and the photos. Good job!
That was a good update. I'm so glad you put the picture of the toiletries. I'm just sad that you didn't get a picture of the chicken pesto calazone---it might be worth a trip back to Ephrata one day.
I want to taste a truffle.
Love the photos and the write-up.
I love the pictures of the waterfalls. If you ever feel like printing a print off for me.....:)
I'm glad you had fun on your trip.
I'm with Carrie--don't even think about retiring the blog! I think the toiletries comparison is one of my favorite memories of the trip. The photos of Dad's casket is truly (at the risk of sounding sappy) precious to me. Thanks for the link to the truffle/gift/sweet onion mustard store! One of the waterfall photos is now my computer background at work and has already received several compliments.
Oh yeah, I forgot to comment on the last picture of the irrigation ditch. That ditch holds special memories....that is where Carson learned how to pee in the great outdoors!! Of course, he pulled his pants down to his ankles so every farmer that drove by got to see his "cheeks"!
Retire the Blog?!? Don't even think of it. I have been wondering about the lack of posts...Don't Stop. This was a great story to hear about. I Howled at the toiletries comparison
Yeah, dude, don't give up the blog! Your life is interesting to others (believe it or not...).
Very nice stores. Great shots of your Grandpa's funeral. I like the one of the trash burning. Also the house is neat.
Dry Falls is a remnant of all of the floods that passed through there...the draining of Lake Bonneville was one of them.
Nice update. So nice in fact, that I was inspired.
Great job, Darren! You need to keep the blog! That's how I keep track of you!
Sorry for your loss... your pictures of the motel and your toiletries have feeling. We just got back from Texas, The Riley's 18th Annual Blue Bonnet Trip, check it out.
-julian
Thanks for long overdue update.
would you critique some of my piks?
~~ jeff
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