![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.centerdeep2.com\/riverbendprep\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_65791.jpg\" "\\"IMG_6579\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nHanging out… Kirsten and I broke away for a little while to visit Pottery World. \u00a0I love wisteria, and was delighted to see it in bloom! We took a field trip up to Empire Mine in Grass Valley.<\/p>\n The Empire Mine is the site of the oldest, largest, and richest gold mine in California. From 1850 to its closing in 1956, it produced 5.8 million ounces of gold.This 5.8 million ounces of gold would fill a box 7 feet on each side. It is estimated that this represented only 20% of the available gold…80% remains. The Park contains many of the original mine buildings, the owners cottage and the restored gardens and grounds as well as the entrance to 367 miles (the equivalent of a round trip from Grass Valley to San Jose) of abandoned and flooded shafts and tunnels. The park consists of 845 acres of forested back country and 12 miles of trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders.<\/p>\n In this picture, the boys are looking at pieces of gold that came from the mine. \u00a0This mine may possibly be reactivated now that gold is up in value. We toured the beautiful grounds, Bourne ‘cottage’, and clubhouse.<\/p>\n Going into the mine… Jam-man, catching up on some reading, and snuggling with Chelan \ud83d\ude42 The boys running the golf course… When David and I moved from North Bend, at the same time, a young couple moved into North Bend to serve as interns for our church. \u00a0They became good friends with some of our friends, and that included the Cheneys. \u00a0Topher and Kelly have now moved to our area and Topher works for William Jessup University. They joined us for dinner one evening. \u00a0It was nice for everyone to catch up with each other. Crazy children in an unheated pool… David was so sweet and took the boys for an afternoon so I would take Jay and Kirsten to some local wineries. \u00a0This is the Mt. Vernon Winery<\/a> in Auburn… Next stop, Vina Castellano<\/a> in Auburn. \u00a0Check out the door! Cool cave \ud83d\ude42 On the last night with the Cheneys, we all went to an early Easter service (on Friday)… All dressed up in Easter finest! \u00a0When we went shopping for a new outfit, I was planning on a Polo type shirt and slacks, but the boys wanted tuxedos. \u00a0When I said no tuxedos, ‘A’ asked if he could at least have a tie, so this is the compromise. \u00a0I joked that we are raising either Republicans, Mormon missionaries, or Souther Baptists!! Worshiping with another set of North Bend friends who live here now, the Noes…
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