Bassetts, CA and the Sierra Buttes

We were blessed to spend Friday and Saturday with supporters (George & Robin and Larry & Bonnie) who treated us to an overnight in Bassetts, CA. A two-hour drive north of Grass Valley up California's "Gold Rush Trail", Highway 49, Bassetts is a small village of cabins nestled about 5,300 feet up the High Sierra Mountains at the base of the Sierra Buttes in Sierra County. Geographically, it is a breathtaking region of California and the Buttes are a unique volcanic outcropping towering an additional 3,000 feet above Bassetts and the surrounding area. There are multiple lakes in the region in which to fish, float, kayak, mountain bike (MOUNTAIN bike) and just relax taking in the sun, the blue sky, and the mountain air.

While our stay in Bassett's was short, just 24 hours, we maximized our time, laughed, played games, talked, got caught up with each other after 4.5 years apart, hiked, explored, and ate well at the cabin under Bonnie (tacos filled with fresh fish they'd caught in Mexico) and Robin's (breakfast burritos loaded with eggs, sausage, and guacamole--we ARE in California, you know) tlc. Throw in several pots of Caroline's coffee, and wonderful malted shakes from the grill inside Bassett's Station, and we packed it in and packed it on with gusto.

No, we didn't make the hike to look-out tower at the summit, but we did drive to several of the lakes as well as the Butte Summit Trail Head where we took a short walk up the trail that leads to the tower.

It was a great day trip that begs a second, longer trip to the area at some point in the future. Thanks Carl (for the key to the cabin), and George, Robin, Larry, and Bonnie for making this trip possible and hosting us in such a wonderful fashion.

Here are a couple snapshots:

This is the creek just below our cabin. 

The summit of the Buttes is centered just above the trees.

Bonnie, Robin, Karen, me, and George. Larry was kind enough to take the picture!

 Karen on the trail to the summit.

 Karen enjoys the beauty of God's creation.

 This is as close as we came to the summit.

Lower Sardine Lake with the summit in the background.

We had wonderful weather, fellowship, and food and enjoyed scenery that stunned our senses.

Heading Into The Weekend

Photo Shoot
We had a great "shoot" with Sue and her assistant, Scarlet. I believe that Sue has the giftings to actually make us look good in a photo. Of course, the grounds at Empire Mine are a gorgeous setting for photography. Hopefully, Karen and I didn't detract too much from the setting...We'll get back together with Sue next week to look at the photos and make our selections.

Errands and the California Department of Forestry
Thursday we ran errands and took care of business in town. When we went to K-Mart, one of CDF's fire-bombers was circling a puff of smoke off toward Brunswick. The bombers have been flying a lot these past few days. Here are some snapshots I pulled from Google Image Files:

When we left K-Mart the bomber was gone as was the puff of smoke! Good work CDF!

Fingerprinted
While we were in town I was fingerprinted at Bank of America. We'd received a gift by check from one of our supporters and stopped in the local branch to cash it. As we didn't have an account there, bank policy required that I ink-up my right index finger and put my fingerprint on the front of the check. THAT was a first...

Bassetts, CA
This afternoon we're blessed to head up Highway 49 a few more miles for overnight fellowship up in Bassetts, with George & Robin, and Larry & Bonnie. We've never been there before but the photos we've seen of Sardine Lake look rather inspiring!

Lower Sardine Lake via Google Image Files.

Sunday Morning: Truth Seekers and Kindred Spirits
We'll be back in plenty of time to prepare for our Sunday morning opportunity to speak to the combined Truth Seekers and Kindred Spirits classes during Calvary Bible Church's first service and then to worship with everyone at second service.

Maybe we'll see you there?

Midweek Sunshine

Monday evening we met with Judy, our friend, former missionary to Africa, and member of Calvary's missions team. Between our service in Ohio and her service in Africa, we hadn't seen each other in eight years or so. We had a fun evening getting caught up, enjoyed her wonderful home cooking, and were blessed to share ideas about mission service, mission vision, and the realities of missionary service from our different perspectives.

Yesterday morning we met with two special saints, Jack (91) and Alice (88). They'd taken special interest in us after we married and it was such a joy to visit them in their home, hear about their adventures learning to operate their I-Pads, and to gain wisdom from their 68 years of marriage and faith.

Last night we reunited with long-time supporters Jeff and Susan for a BBQ under the tall pines that surround their house. After dinner we enjoyed time with their Bible study group. It was a privilege to sit-in and be included. We were warmly welcomed and blessed by the study and the fellowship. We plan to visit First Baptist next month.

This afternoon, we're off to Empire Mine State Park for a photo shoot with Sue, a photographer and friend. The mine is only about five minutes from here.

Bourn Mansion, Empire Mine

 Clubhouse, Empire Mine

 Workshop, Empire Mine

Sue and Stu have been part of our team since the early days. We hope to use Sue's work to update our "official" missionary portrait at Calvary and to provide options for some new prayer cards and/or bookmarks, magnets, T-shirts, coffee mugs, flags, hats, hand-towels, air fresheners, wanted posters....you know, all the "Keith & Karen" gear your heart desires. Be watching for our on-line store...(just kidding).

Roses and Spiritual Roots

We've greatly enjoyed the opportunity to relax the past few days, play tourist, and just resettle into the High Sierra Mountain reality. We've read, played cribbage (Karen leads two games to my one), taken (and continue to take) the time to talk about important things between us, and hiked a bit on nearby trails.

 Cribbage!

 I'm holding six points (toward the count) hoping to peg a point or two in the play.

 One of the several public hiking trails around Empire Mine State Park.

On Saturday we made the two hour drive up to Lake Tahoe to be part of the lakeside baptismal service and evening fellowship meal with our brothers and sisters from Calvary Bible Church who are enjoying a week of family camp at Sugar Pine Ridge State Park.

 A portion of Lake Tahoe.

This was Karen's and my first trip to Tahoe and it truly is as beautiful as the pictures. It was such a joy to witness the public profession of faith in Christ by the one man and four young ladies in anticipation of Christ's ultimate testimony before God in Heaven acknowledging each of these individuals as His own.

Sunday we worshiped at Calvary for the first time in 4 1/2 years. It was a sweet time of greeting, hugs, handshakes, smiles, and tears as our brothers and sisters welcomed us home after such a long time away. We look forward to continuing this reunion for five more weeks.

Calvary Bible Church, Grass Valley, CA

Today we started the focused effort to set appointments, confirm details, and arrange opportunities to share our ministry with MMS Aviation with anyone and everyone having ears to hear. We're currently booked every night this week, are already scheduling into next week and beyond, and are arranging daytime appointments as well. This coming Sunday we'll speak to combined Sunday School classes and look forward to seeing familiar faces, learning to recognize the new faces, and answering all the questions generated by God's work in our lives over the past few years.

At our borrowed "home" here, we continue to be blessed by the contemplative setting and quiet, semi-secluded location. Here are four snapshots of some of the roses we're privileged to enjoy (see, touch, and smell) within our gracious host's back yard garden.

Thank you for your prayers and gifts that make this critically needed time of reunion and refreshment a reality for us. It is wonderful to be back in the mountains and back to my spiritual roots.