We are home

This story is pretty upside down good luck navigating through the pictures and verbage. Jack

plus as usual some spelling problems

So she painted a winter scene on the tarp!!

What a woman!

I was up stairs thinking I had a job well done and the wood would be dry this winter and looked out the window and there was Joyce with paint bucket brush and some rags making scenery on the old brown tarp. I just laughed and laughed, that's my Joyce.

I built a wood shed very soon after we returned home. Sort of used a couple of trees that God had provide in a nearly square pattern and some poles . I have hundreds of these little poles that will be eliminated when the forestry thinning happens so I might as well use them for something creative and guess what they made a not pretty but practial dry place to store our winters wood. Joyce said it looked good when this look was presented, but the front was open so I put a big brown tarp up and then she DID NOT like the brown tarp.

these pictures get all tangled up you have to do your own detective work to get this blog together, it is beyond me.

They love these quilts. Joyce was very happy to give them to the ladies as they refused any payment. and we were very pleased with their care of our place.

Brenda and Denise watched our house while we were away and spoiled our horses grooming them every day and caring for them. Joyce made them each a frilly quilt and they were so excited.

I brought the rear seat metal home with me for the Model T. I found this part in the hay loft of the Gates barn and again Wes gave it to me. I have the plans to build the wood frame, that was how they were built but after 90 years the old model t body is almost all gone and for sure the wood. I have a friend who has a sawmill and he is going to mill some Black Oak lumber for me and I already have the plans . At my age I need to get started on this project. Joyce and I normally don't buy green bananas.

My cousin Wes Gates gave me this tool box while we were in Hillsboro visiting them. I put a new bottom on it and painted it and now it is my special tool box. My tools which were scattered all over the barn now have a place to live. Thanks Wes.

Model T oregon visit

We are home from our Oregon visit. had a great time visiting with all the Oregon relatives. Cottage Grove looked at homes to buy, Hillsboro, visited the Gates farm and Red Vandehey who I had not seen in years. There we, Wes and I and with help from the younger generation got the model T on four good tires. 

I found a back seat in the hay loft of the barn and Wes said I was welcome to it. I was able to disassemble it and get all the parts in the rear storage area of the motor home and brought it home with me. Now I will be working on the back seat and seat cushions. A backwards approach but then I never have been to conventional.

                                                

Then we went to Vernonia for the Webb visits enjoyed their company and hospitality for a week or so.

                                                

This is Don Tiffany a life long friend of mine. This Don actually caught the fish, while he and Don Webb were fishing together near Clatsknie Oregon in Th e Columbia River.

Don caught a 40 pound salmon while we were there and fillet it and sent some home with us. We then went back to Hillsboro for a bit more model t work .

Then on to Cottage Grove for more house hunting and mostly getting to know the areas and how it could work for us when we moved there.

Hally and nick have a Tortoise Robin found on the street. It was a rare African variety and eventually was given to a person who would take good care of it. We thought it was a turtle and put it in water and left it outside. Being a Tortoise it was so cold it would not eat, so it was a good thing Robin found and expert. The Great Grandchildren were not so sure about it.

Robins quilting room, which is a remodeled double garage attached to their house in Cottage Grove

Last but not least we visited with our grand adults, they are not children, Mike and Rebecca Fouquette, in Concord Ca .
Our lace was well taken care of by Brenda and Denise they took care of the horses and kept order while we were gone.

MODEL T

We have just arrived back from a 5 week trip to Oregon. It was a great trip had a small Reunion with the Webb family visited our daughter in Cottage Grove. then on to the Portland area Hillsboro to be exact to visit the cousins at the Gates century farm. I enjoy my cousin Wes he is my age and retired so he is available when ever you might say. A few years ago my wife bought me a Model "T" ford from Wes and it is still on the farm, we work on it each time I go up there. this year we put new tires on the front wheels, installed two back fenders cleaned up a few details and towed it around the barn yard, in hopes it would start, however it was reluctant and did not start up.It did pop a couple of times which is encouraging. We may go north and pick it up but our house is for sale and it seems unreasonable to trailer it down here when we plan on moving to Oregon when we sell.

Harvesting for winter

Joyce has zucchini plants to end all Zucchini plants the leaves are more than a foot wide and they have Zucchini's by the bunch. We are picking and storing, now we will make that wonderful relish, with green  peppers and  red  peppers, just for color  I think.  We  have been to town gathering various spices and we are going for the grinding soon as we get done helping the neighbors and wall papering a friend's just acquired trailer he lives in it so it should be nice we think. Then there is the winter wood, we have two cords split and stacked, but there is more, from the National Forest and then a blow down in our woods we need to harvest plus a couple of trees our son Tim had fell for us before he passed away. The harvest also include the flowers. I like the lilies and they are all finished blooming now but the wild flowers are in their glory and soon the marigolds will bloom and it will be football season, since I am not a football fan the flowers let me know from high school days marigolds recall the memories of the fall football games. That does not seem to make any sense as I read it back but sometimes I don't make much sense, but I enjoy life and the blessing of the Lord every day. The Lord works in wondrous ways and continues to bless us each day. I think we will done with phase one of the wood harvest in a couple of days. We do want to go on  vacation one of these days and so must have the har vest finished before we leave. Our friend is watching our house this year as we have our vacation, she says "it will be like camping in the woods" and it is in the woods. I must be off on today's project helping Joyce wall paper a trailer. then there is church tomorrow. Bless all of you. Jack and Joyce 

Joyce's 80th Birthday

Last Saturday we had a birthday party for Joyce. I have said over and over you only get to be 80 once in your life and we need to celebrate Joyce's birthday, also she has said "I never had a party before, so I believed it was time, and we did it. Some comments were you only have each year once in your life, my answer is "But we all don't make it for 80 years so let's celebrate"A party we did have. With the help of many friends, Beverly Hobbs, Patti Smith, Hazel fixed food. Rob Odom and John Hobbs plus Paul East supplied music during the entire time, more than four hours we celebrated. We borrowed chairs and tables from churches and also American River Inn furnished some chairs. We are grateful for all of the help and support we received from the friends neighbors and acquaintances. The estimates of attendance are somewhere between 175 and 200 people wished Joyce a happy birthday at that celebration. Our thanks to all who came and all who worked to accomplish such a wonderful time for Joyce. As a complete surprise Joyce's two younger sisters came from Oregon and Washington state and really surprised her. Our house was so full of fun and sister to sister visiting I had to leave the house a couple of times to collect my wits. But it was wonderful

Gates Leather Shop

AKA Wild Horse Outpost We do saddle and Tack repairs as well as make recommendations for repairs. We do saddle strings, Dee ring installation, resew western horn caps, re fleece skirts and replace worn stirrup leathers.
530-333-1183 j_jgates@hughes.net for contacting us.

We also made custom waist belts, gun belts, chaps, add cartridge loops to gun belts.

Picture of a Bag Pipe box restored to original condition. This box was nearly 100 years old and in a "Tattered" condition when we started working with it.

Gates Leather Shop

Today we spent the morning at Echo Valley Ranch, which is a feed store in Auburn CA. We had spoken to Penny a month ago about offering our services to her customers of a free saddle and tack inspection of any saddles and or tack the customers brought to us. This was a twofold thrust, one to promote echo valley customers public relations and two to generate some leather business for the leather shop and get our name out to potential customers. The morning went quite well we were seated on the front deck of the store and greeted the customer as they came in offering business cards and a bit of conversation when they were in the mood for talking. Penny was happy with the program and we were able to pass out more than 50 business cards along with several inquiries about what and where our shop is.
We are also known as "Wild Horse Outpost" I thought it was a clever name since we are located on a road named Wild Horse, but it did not explain what our business was about and Gates Leather Shop seemed all encompasssing so we actually have two names for our endeavors.

MODEL "T"

1923 Dodge trunk

1924 Model T Ford

Many years ago when I was visiting the Gates Farm in Hillsboro Oregon, it is a century farm started by my grandfather and grandmother, My cousin Wes Gates had a model T Ford and he and uncle Johnny had worked on it and got it running. Wes told me it had been stored in a sheep pen and so the body was very rusty from the ammonia fumes. It has a front seat and then nothing behind the front seat in the way of a body. We had thought when we get it running again maybe we would fashion pickup bed from wood for it. But it has a hood and radiator and 4 fenders. The back wheels are of wooden spokes and the tires are 30 by 3 1/2 inch. The car has two in the back but the front wheels belong to neighbor, so when Joyce bought the Model "T" from Wes the front wheels and tires did not go along with the car. We take our vacations in Oregon and work on the car during our vacation so for a couple of years for short periods of time working with Wes and my Brother Mike and got some help from my brother-in-law Nick. But we have not ever got it in shape to run or stand up on four wheels and tires that belong to the car, I guess that is my car now. We have checked out most of the running essentials but last year when we were ready to start it up we water in the radiator and the water ran right out the bottom of the radiator tank. Mikes wife Mary was there she is a pretty good mechanic and started whooping "It's running out!" That was the end of that trip Joyce and I had to go home. Now it is "next year" and I have more plans I have sold some stuff for enough money to buy two tires, tubes and bands, required by model T wheels. the best news of all is I repaired some motorcycle saddle bags for a fellow and he  owed me a bit of money, when it was pay up time he wanted to trade, well I wasn't sure, but I had watched a looked at the rear part of an old car beside the road just before entering Georgetown for as long as I had lived in this area. That is nearly 40 years that car 1/2 body had been there and this fellow had bought that house.  I looked over there and casually mentioned I might trade for that old rusty car trunk, actually it was the back half of a 1923 Dodge either coupe or roadster, I was sure he would not trade such a Jewell for $50.00 that is all he owed me. But Bill said OK I'll load it up and bring it to you house. I was ecstatic, Joyce was not so happy about the deal. Now I have it and it is rusty. I have worked with fiberglass before some and I believe that is the solution. So I now have half a car in Oregon and half a car in California. When and If we get it together it will be a 1923 1/2 FORDGE

FREE SADDLE INSPECTION

Summer is here and it is time for all you horse riders to check your gear, preparing for a summer enjoying your horses. The Tevis Cup Race has been delayed this year due to the heavy snow in the mountains. This gives us all time to look over our tack. I will be having a free saddle inspection along with recommendations and quotes on any repairs that need to be done. This is at the Echo Valley Ranch in Auburn July 16 all afternoon. Bring your gear and come over to see us. Jack and Joyce  Gates Leather shop.

sentimental

As we get older we get sentimental about things, our toaster of all things is one of those. When we came back from Newfoundland in 1957 we bought a new house and a few furnishing, I made some furniture and we bought some at a nearby auction yard. One of the thing we purchase was a brand new toaster. It was fascinating the way it worked, you just dropped a piece of bread in the top and it toasted it and then when toasted it rose up out of the toaster and was ready to butter. This was before computers and so I know it was not computerized and was always taken by the uniqueness of it, and the fact that someone figured out how to get the toast up when it was done, of course it wasn't always "done" but any way how did it work. My curiosity has gotten me into a lot of trouble during my many years,  of course it wore out or give up or something and we had many toasters since then, none quit as intriguing as that particular one. A few months ago we were doing our flea market garage sale mode and stopped by a local business that was remodeling and having a sale, and lo and behold there was the same model and makes, a Sunbeam, toaster for sale for a pittance, of course I had to have it. I think Joyce's memory was a bit better than mine and she was not that impressed but I was so excited she got excited along with me and we purchase the Sunbeam toaster and brought it home. We have been using it ever since. What I did not remember was that they are a bit temperamental and somehow in the morning, I believe the electricity is weak, the toaster does not toast the same as in the afternoon and when you turn it up then it makes your bread charcoal, charcoal is good for you they say but it does not taste so good.  But I love this old toaster nostalgia I guess. We put up with the inconsistency of  how well the toast id toasted, I guess because we are nostalgic.
That'sthe way we are!.

Corona

I am the "straight man" Joyce is the artist. I do sewing machine stitching and she does free hand sculpting.. Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars? is that the way it goes?

Even though we are octogenarians we try and have fun, it is a bit slower fun than we used to have but it is till fun and we enjoy our lives.

One day we got a call from some folks in Southern California who are accomplished horsemen and parade in the Rose Festival every year. They had purchased a new saddle and needed a Corno, a saddle blanket cover, for their new saddle.

It was a project and a challenge with 64 black pom poms and exact measurements to fit the new saddle. We had fun and the folks were pleased so pleased they sent us some more work of similar nature.

       These pictures are of a new one made fro the new saddle.  some fun!

MAGNETO ?

When we lived at Penobscot Ranch there were so many things left there that were so intriguing to me. I am a "Junkie" I love old rusty stuff. There was tons of old rusty stuff left behind. The ranch had been run by caretakers for many years and then of course Ad Long became ill and was not able to tend to the Ranch. So lots of rusty tools, junk, wire and some very interesting things to me were mine now that I owned the Penobscot. There was a welder made out of a world war II aircraft generator, I recognized it because it was a popular thing to do after the war. There were lots of surplus aircraft parts on the market and a welder could be made from one of these generators. There was an oil furnace burner without the furnace, I never could do anything with that one. There was a large whole house blower that probably went with the furnace, I still have that. It is such a treasure I cannot part with it, but have never been able to use it for a single thing. Some of the things were large and saleable as I have mentioned earlier and we sold them to pay the taxes etc, but the small insignificant rusty items pretty much stayed and rusted more, however there was this magneto a small two cylinder one that was very appealing to me and I kept it in a special place as I thought some day I might be able to use it on a baler or build a small go cart or get a large stationary engine with two cylinders an I would surely be able to use it. Of course that never happened and so when we moved up here in the forest it was one of the things that came along with us. One day I decided to sell it at the flea market and none of the local collectors even knew what it was. "What is that" was one question asked.
I decided to sell it on Craigslist and  I did not get one call. I looked on E-bay and guess what? I found one going for $162.00 that was not complete! WOW. It was a JEWEL! I decided I had a jewel and I would list it on E-bay as soon as possible. It took awhile before I got around to listing it, but when I did there was not much action lots of lookers but no bidders then lo and behold  I got an e-mail from a person from Australia who was on holiday in San Francisco, he offered a big price. The hook was the person was leaving in a week and how could we do this ? It takes a week for the money to clear pay pal. In a week's time this person would be in Australia. I called my grandson Mike in Concord and he agreed concord was half way but they were having a party that night and the timing was bad. I contacted E-bay about what I could do so I would not violate the E-bay rules. I was advised to terminate the sale, so I did, now I did not have the magneto listed on E-bay and the person's name and address was lost. The magneto is still safely in my possession and I will list it  as a Jewel again one of these days when I am more familiar with the rules of E-bay.

Today

Today is Wed feb16 2011, and it is snowing, when we awake it was just a skiff, when we left the house for a Dr's appointment there was a couple of inches. We drove to the Otter creek bridge slipped a couple of times going down the hill and decided to return home. Joyce said "You have never backed down from a decision" , my thought was maybe I am finally getting wiser, at eighty four. We drove back up to the mail boxes and saw someone had snowplowed Volcanoville road from the two mile mark back, then we saw a truck go by with a plow towards Wentworth Springs Road, well in that case we will try it again but when we got back on Volvanoville road the truck had not plowed the road and so we turned around again, visited with Kathleen Lindsen at the mail boxes and came on back home. The fire is nice and with the light keeping the TV satellite dish clear of snow, we are cozy. You all have a nice cozy day as well,

Granfolks: Jack and Joyce believe in Angels

Granfolks: Jack and Joyce believe in Angels: "In our experiences over the years there were several times that we believe angels visited us. One day at Penobscot Ranch a man was brought t..."

Jack and Joyce believe in Angels

In our experiences over the years there were several times that we believe angels visited us.
One day at Penobscot Ranch a man was brought to us by one of the neighbors. His condition was pathetic, sunburned and dirty clothing, he told us he had slept down by the river and the sun had come up and sunburned him. He was wearing sandals so the tops of his feet were scorched, and blistered. He was asking to do some work for food or whatever we were willing to give him. He spent the day with us working in the gardens and around the house. Joyce had such sympathy for him and ask him about his feet, they were hurting him, and she took his feet and massaged cream on and into the fried skin she used sunburn lotion to relieve the pain. I remember he asked "Why would you do this for me?"  Joyce simply replied "you need some help". At the end of the day our neighbor Robert took the man to Cool Ca. at the cross roads where he might catch a ride and be on his way. When Robert came back he said the man had disappeared! What? Robert said "I let him out of the car and when I looked back he was gone,not there any more completely disappeared". Robert was awe struck he had looked about fro the man and he was no where to be found. Disappeared? an Angel? Well we think he was.
Tim's Angel
One time Tim was downtown Sacramento and broke trying to call home for money, he was calling from a phone booth. Tim's story I (TIM) stopped at a phone booth to make a call trying to get help. This fellow rode up on a motorcycle and ask me if I had  a fuse? I looked around in my car and could not find a fuse. The stranger suggested he would pay for my gas if I would take him to a parts house, so off we went. Now I had not revealed any information to him about myself or my family, however the stranger said "Tim, Jack and Joyce really love you and are doing all they can for you". I have no idea how he knew your name or the situation, but he said the names right out in plain language. We got the fuse and returned to the motorcycle, he put the fuse in the bike and disappeared! There was no noise and I was right there in the phone booth but he was gone quick as a wink.

The Tandy Angel
One time Joyce and I were shopping at the Tandy store in Sacramento and again a phone booth was involved, we were trying to make a phone call in the phone booth at the corner of Marconi Ave. and Fulton streets. this person appeared from nowhere and ask about a church he might go to. Joyce said "we could have church right here" The man answered "We don't need a building?" and Joyce said no. If you have  needs we can pray for them right here and now. The man was very humble and Joyce told him we would meet him in the fast food restaurant across the street in a few minutes as we had some shopping to do in Tandy's. We went to the restaurant and he was nowhere to be seen or found I looked out back but he was gone.

TIM memorial

Drew BuellJanuary 31, 2011 at 6:33pm Subject: Video Hey Jack, I video taped the service for Tim last Saturday and just put it up online. The audio quality isn't the best, when the pastor gets up it gets really quiet but I wanted you to at least have a copy of it. You can find the video by following the link I've pasted below. http://www.facebook.com/l/e074dhVQfNJOQM9u8apfozrFIQQ;vimeo.com/19381599

For those who were not able to attend and would like to view the memorial service of Tim Gates. Pastor Drew Buell of the Cool Community Church has graciously offered the above video.

Jack & Joyce

TIM

We are so appreciative of all of the comfort, thoughts, prayers, cards and visits that have been bestowed upon us during the time of mourning for our son Tim Gates. We have read and grieved and been comforted with each and every blog comment, Facebook comment, cards, flowers and  food  we have received.We have reconciled ourselves with the fact that it was time for Tim to be with the Lord our God and that he is now with Him in heaven where there is no pain, no problems every thing is perfect and comfortable. We spoke to many folks who had known Tim as a believer and also as a logger and mechanic. The experience was comforting for us, his parents. We will miss him terribly but we know he is in a beautiful place now. Again THANK YOU ALL.

Singing in the Forest

Jack & I are doing ok.  We thank all of you for your support & prayers. As people come & go we hear stories of Tim, our son's adventures with fishing & logging his 2 loves. When he came off of the ventilator, he just was singing & singing.  I started remembering how I would hear this song coming through the forest, and would ask Jack,"what is that?" and he would tell me with a laugh,"that's Tim, singing and then a big yell "timber", as he fell another tree.  I would always hold my breath and listen until he would start his saw to begin cleaning up the limbs.  I know this strange pain I have deep in my belly will some day fade, but for now we have to walk this path and see how much we loved him.  Some times we are not aware of our depth of love and admiration we have for our children until we soul search and step back and look at them from a different eye.   Joyce

Tim Gates

On January 19th surrounded by his family Tim Gates went home to be with the Lord and Saviour. Tim served many on the divide with his tractor work and providing firewood. He will be missed by his wife Renita, and parents Jack and Joyce Gates, Tim's compassion and humor will also be missed by many friends he has made over the years. A celebration of Tim's life will be held on January 29th at 2:00 p.m. at Cool community church. 863 Cave Valley rd. Cool CA.

God Said No

My mother's heart was so broken, I just knew I would never be the same when I heard God say no.  But in that same instant I understood what Mary must have felt seeing her beloved sons hands tied to the cross as my sons hands were tied to the  bed. I could not stop the tears.  I had asked God to give me the strength to be strong.  When I found my self understanding and submitting to those that were in charge and had the wisdom we all had prayed for, I began to see what God was doing.  He said no but I have a gift for you.  When they took the ventilator off we were sure he would not be able to speak and would be in pain, how ever, Tim said "that feels so good". He began to sing and laugh, and talk to every one. He talked to Renita, and she just hugged him. His daughter was so thrilled to be able to really love and talk to him. His dad and I stood at the foot of his bed and he said "mom" and nodded his head at his dad. He spent 4 hours just talking and loving on family and friends.  This was so unexpected.  It was about 6:00 when he went into lung failure and began to have so much pain.  He said,"mom" he knew I would do some thing, and I did. He had to be sedated and Renita his wife said, she knew this was the last he would know us.  God said no but I will give you this precious moment...   Joyce, wife mother, grandmother & great grandmother.

MEMORIAL

Tim's memorial is being scheduled for Saturday the 29th of January in the early afternoon. The place will be the Cool Community Church. The church is located south of Cool Ca. about one mile on highway 49.

OUR SON TIM

Our son Timothy Gates went to be with the Lord 1:45 AM January 19 2011

TIM GATES

Tim vital organs are shutting down. He has double pneumonia, liver not functioning properly , his kidneys are failing, and a Staff infection throughout his body which means his physical strength and general condition is very poor. The decision has been made by the family to remove life support equipment from him and keep him comfortable with sedation and put God in charge of him.

TIM

There is still hope! Tim's liver is infected and his kidneys are shutting down. The pneumonia is nearly impossible to cure with those conditions. There is still hope doctors are trying new antibiotics every day. Pray fro healing.

TIM

This morning early we had a doctors conference. Dr. Blatt; his opinion was Tim has a bad liver and with the liver being in bad condition makes his lungs  difficult to heal. Staff infection in his lungs is the main problem and healing that kind of infection is extremely difficult, they have tried several different antibiotics. His ankle is now believed to be a contributing factor but not the main problem. Today the sedative was lessened and he was aware we were there, he nodded his head for Tom his brother and smiled at one of the nurses, he agreed with Pastor Koontz that he would like prayer and nodded his head for me that he had heard me. His temperature was down to 37.6 this morning but by evening it was back up to 38.7. The male nurse assured us that the temp going up was not so bad an indication that healing was taking place. Some other doc Said that his prognosis was guarded. So some good reports and some not so good today.

TIM

Yesterday was my birthday 84 I was and still am as far as that goes and will be for about one year. Thank all of you for your blessig and happy thoughts that you expressed.

Tim's report for the day is; his heart has leveled out and seems to be functioning in a normal manner with the proper rhythm. They did a CAT scan on the ankle and the bone man said there is nothing to drain, there is cellulite and some foreign particles in the ankle. The pulmonary nurse said he has multiple places of pneumonia in his lungs. I did not know that pneumonia was defined in multiple places. The ventilator is being removed every 24 hours and his tolerance to breathing with out it checked. Today seemed as though the nurse was encouraged by his tolerance and his breathing on his own. His temp is back up to 38.8 Celsius. Yesterday he was on a cold blanket when it was lower. We continue to pray and ask for praying from all of you Jack & Joyce

CHURCH

As we drove by last Tuesday Joyce noticed the auction notice was not on the door of the Roadhouse church. We turned around and went back to double check and sure enough there was no notice of auction sale. Now is the the Lord? or is it something else?
  We are busy checking on Tim's condition that we have not had time to check with anyone about the missing sign.

TIM

Today the heart doctor said his heart beat had stabilized that is a good one. The nurse reported his temp was down to 99+ that is good as it is down a bit. The new doctor on the ICU duty has diagnosed that the staff infection has invaded both of his lungs this is serious. The source of the problem seems to stem from the hardware he has in his ankle, which has been sore and bothering him for a year or more. They believe now the infection started there and is on going. The hardware need to be removed but in his sensitive condition he could not stand a surgery. probably not very ell said but hopefully conveyed the message.

TIM GATES

This is a picture of a healthy TIM in 2006

TIM

Today 1/12/11 Tim has improved a slight bit. We talked to the heart doc and he said "his heart is the least of his problems" This Doc thought maybe there was a thyroid problem. The nurse gave him a blood transfusion and he improved considerably his temp went down a bit. This morning his heart had an arythama then this afternoon it was steady then it went back to arythama. His temp went down 1/10 of a point. The last thought we heard today was the steel in his ankle was the main problem up until now that infection had been the lowest priority. He is on three different antibiotics. The doctor says "we are not out of the woods yet". We ask a nurse if she thought he was going to die and she said "Oh no" .
We are going every day and standing by and being with him even though he is heavily sedated and does not know we are there. We are in prayer for his recovery constantly.

TIM

Picture of Tim when we were logging the outpost forest.
Tim is very ill in Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital. His diagnoses: infection in an old ankle repair that has steel implant. Pneumonia his lungs are not working that good with the pneumonia and of course that is also an infection. He has contacted staff infection which is extremely difficult to control. He is in a good deal of pain and therefore agitated to the point he has to be restrained. He is sedated to keep him quiet enough for the ventilator and IV tubes and wires to stay in place.

TIM

Tim has improved just a Little in the last 2 days still not out of the woods.
The doctors are still trying to find out some of the multiple problems his body has infection in the steel ankle he has, staff infection in his body, severe heart beat fluctuation and he has pneumonia.

Please pray for healing the doctors, nurses and staff  are doing a great job at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital.

TIM

Our son Tim is in the hospital with Pneumonia, Hepatitis C, complications from and old steel ankle implant. Both his Heart and lungs are not working sufficiently to support him without a ventilator and medications.

                                      PLEASE   PRAY   FOR   TIM

church

It was a busy day today. A notice the Roadhouse church building is going up for auction in a week or so. We have been there by the Grace of God and Jim Wright for three years. We have to rely on God's grace for a place to worship, He can do ANYTHING. we must rest in that.

Praise God for the healing of Robin Davis, Jane Bales, Kathy Cervantes all the answers to prayers.  Our son Tim is in ICU today diagnosed with Pneumonia and a serious infection in and old ankle wound with a metal pin, plus infections in his body currently on a ventilator and getting three different antibiotics. Please pray for healing

Church Forclosure

Jack and Joyce in the garden

There is a notice posted on the Jokers Roadhouse Motorcycle Bar, this is where we have our church meetings, which says "Notice of Forclosure" according to the notice  the owners, not the church, or maybe the church as occupants are also mentioned, there is twenty days to pay up or move out. "the place will be sold at auction"
 We have just purchased a new sound system and a solid walnut cross for the church use. We have to trust God as there does not seem to be anything we as mortals are able to do. We cannot afford a building and the places that are available are remote or unsuitable in our opinion.

other blog

if you read this one try "Gates Penobscot Ranch Stories.blogspot.com" as well. That one is our memories, events, and activities we experienced while operating the "Penobscot Ranch Camp and Tours". We hosted an estimated 240,000 children during our nearly thirty years of owning and operating the Penobscot Ranch.

about normal ?

Today things are begining to retuen to normal in our life. Christmas and the holiday season seems to be over, the tree is downa nd the decorations are packed new yeras resolutions have been made.
 If you are readng our blog we would ask that you pray for Janet Bales she recieved a kidney and liver trans plant last evening it was a long surical procedure. But praise the Lord Janet who lives in Quintete, only a few weeks ago was given like two weeks to live and we prayed to the lord Jesus Christ for her to be healed We have known Janet for many years, she was a vendor at the Ranch when we had the Christmas festivals that has been at least twenty years ago. Also Kathleen's son who is very ill and Kathleen took him to the hospital in Davis last night or night before. However his little girl is a praise.The doctors said she would not be able to walk and never be a normal child  but Kathleen came to church with a normal baby in her arms just two weeks ago. Praise God for the answer to prayers.
 Today was a day of clearing cleaning and burning I cleared some trees that were over hanging into Wild Horse trail and took down some small trees to improve the view. Joyce is determined to downsize and so with the help of our daughter in law Renita and our neighbor Debbie they have been working and packing and visiting all day in the garage.

Walk in the forest

This is the time of the year that I think of all the things I could be doing that would be life changing, however I seem to keep going over the same ground each year.  What I don't seem to get is God does all the changing & I am His instrument for His Glory.  Wow that sounds good.  However as I was sitting contemplating all this, my dog Bobbie & the stray  cat were nagging me to go on a walk on our forest trails.  So off we went, Bobbie checking out all the animal smells & the stray cat, named Stray, was close at my steps.  He had lived in the forest for many years before I was able to tame him, so he is very aware of the unforeseen dangers. I carry a very large walking stick to protect us.
As I am walking along the trail, praying & singing, I am in my own wonderful world unaware that I had taken the wrong path, down a drainage path.  I thought, my the winter has been so hard on the trail we must come out and clear the trail.  Snow & freezing had lifted up the ground & limbs were in the walk way, what a mess.  As I rounded the bend another trail intercepted & now I became aware that I had taken the wrong trail.  I looked back up the right trail and it was nice & clean and safe for me to continue my journey.  My how God does take over and continues to guide me on His path. Life is not always the way I want it, I feel I need to be doing something to change it so I am not so uncomfortable. How quickly I take over the direction of my life & not listen to God.  I worry, cry out, I just know we are not able to handle this one, and He says "you say Lord Lord and I tell you what to do, & some day you will say Lord Lord & I will not hear you"   I had gone to the word just before my walk & turned to 1st Peter 4:12 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon  you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;You share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."  God just keeps cleaning, & polishing me, hopefully so others will see Him in me.  Just a little walk in the forest helped to teach me to be alert & to stay on the right path, and to trust Him to show me the way.   Amen?

NEW YEAR

We wish you a happy new year! and many more. Had free pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon after church this morning served about 25 people had a great fellowship time. We have a new sound system and reassurance from the owner Jim Wright that we were insured fro liability and fire in the building. Jim is happy we are taking care of the building and has given us free run of the place until they have returned from Lake Havasau I have copied about 70 pages from the Folsom school district fifth grade class that visited the Penobscot ranch in 1991. each student wrote a letter and the teacher included many pictures. It was a trip down memory lane for me as I was scanning them into the computer.

ROSE BOWL GAME

The quarter back said it (Dalton)
^{1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
They did and they won the ball game}

NEW YEAR

It is news years day 2011. Joyce and I have been at least 59 of these days together and we are still enjoying the Rose Parade.
We stayed in last night and waited for the snow not disappointed we had a couple of inches this morning. Steve called from NC and wished us a happy new year. Church is tomorrow and Dale Wilson and his wife Joy are coming . Dale is going to play a violin a solo for our church.
Church is going along quite well and why not God is in charge and we must submit to His will. The bar is closed and  the church has the entire building for as long as god wills it. We have no idea but believe that He will take care of us as scripture says "He takes care of the birds so He will surely take care of us" That is my interpretation. Jack