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Saturday, September 8, 2012
Portland Rose Garden
Mom and Aunt Shirley came out in July to help celebrate Micah's 2nd birthday and attend the baptismal ceremony for Jonah.
Now, for them, no trip to Portland is complete without:
1. playing Micah & Jonah
2. dinner out with Carole, Brandon, and Connor
and,
3. a trip to the Portland Rose Garden.
I took quite a few photos while there, and put them together in a book for them. You can see it here:
Now, for them, no trip to Portland is complete without:
1. playing Micah & Jonah
2. dinner out with Carole, Brandon, and Connor
and,
3. a trip to the Portland Rose Garden.
I took quite a few photos while there, and put them together in a book for them. You can see it here:
Click here to view this photo book larger
Photo Book Tip: Create an adventurous travel photo album at Shutterfly.com.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Wow ~ it's been a while...
… since I updated this and a lot has happened. Rob had a meeting in Portland, OR, in November, and I went with him. We went the weekend before his meeting started and spent some time with Connor. Sunday afternoon, Connor decided to play slug and sat around watching football all afternoon; Rob and I went and found some good places for biking and birding. I got some nice photos, too, at a park along the river. Monday I dr
opped Rob at the conference center, and headed out to Astoria to visit my good friend Gigi Crowley for a couple of days. We spent some time down at the docks, watching the seals ~ and the crazy people off a tour ship who were determined to get themselves knocked into the harbor by the bull seals they were antagonizing. Gigi, her husband Mike, and I were all rooting for the seals!
Mike & Gigi Crowley
opped Rob at the conference center, and headed out to Astoria to visit my good friend Gigi Crowley for a couple of days. We spent some time down at the docks, watching the seals ~ and the crazy people off a tour ship who were determined to get themselves knocked into the harbor by the bull seals they were antagonizing. Gigi, her husband Mike, and I were all rooting for the seals!Mike & Gigi Crowley
Harbor Seals enjoying the warm docks
This guy seems to think he's pretty special!
Returning to Portland, I made contact with a birding acquaintance who took me out for an afternoon of birding. We had a wonderful time, and I was able to add two new lifers to my life list.
After his meeting, Rob and I headed out to Cannon Beach, OR, for a couple of days of R&R. He got in some great bike trips, and I scored a third lifer, with plenty of time left over for reading by the fireplace, some photography for me, and some lovely dinners out. I LOVE seafood!
Thanksgiving in Bellingham again
We headed over to Bellingham the following week for another Thanksgiving at Lutherwood with Carole, Brandon, and Brandon's folks. It was pretty quiet this year: Melissa, Brandon's sister, and Connor and Kendall were unable to join us, but we talked to all of them during the holiday. It was a relaxing visit with Karen and Stan and the kids. We arrived on Tuesday evening and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner. Karen and Stan returned to St. Louis on Friday. Carole, Brandon, and Smsokey took us on a couple of great hikes.
A hike at Washington Park on Fidalgo Island
Kendall called on Saturday to let us know he had arrived safely in Ft. Bragg, NC from Ft. Sill, OK. He told us he thought he might be deployed, but no sooner than late January. Not the best news for Thanksgiving, but we had no idea how much worse it would get. As we were packing up the car Monday morning to head back to Plains, he called again at 7:30 am. Once again, the Army plan had changed: he would be deploying to Afghanistan on Dec. 15.
Once the details were worked out, he was told that instead of the leave they said he'd have, he would get a four-day pass. So we started looking for flights to get him home. Unfortunately getting from Ft. Bragg to Spokane isn't the easiest flight schedule to work out, and he basically spent two of his 4-1/2 days on a plane. Carole, Brandon, and Connor met him in Spokane, and they spent the night there so Kendall could connect with some of his college friends. Then all but Connor came over to Plains on Friday.
Suddenly Christmas
Rob and I had gone into high gear. We went from thinking it would be our first Christmas with no kids home to having three of the four arrive 2-1/2 weeks BEFORE Christmas. So there was shopping, wrapping, baking, and decorating to do, all at a lower level than in ordinary years, but we wanted to have something like a mini-celebration under the circumstances.
We invited several of Kendall's special friends over for a couple of hours Sunday afternoon. It was a nice chance for him to see some people without running all over Plains.
Celia Huygens was one of the family friends who joined us to wish Kendall well on his new adventure.
After everyone left about 4:00, Carole, Brandon, Rob and I all piled into the cars to head to Spokane. Kendall's plane would be a little less stressful than trying to get him there at tha hour from Plains. We had a nice dinner together, Kendall went out for a bit with some friends, then came back to the hotel. We were all up and on the way to the airport by 5:30 am. Many hugs and some tears later, he got into line for security and disappeared into the crowd.
The four of us still on the ground went back to the hotel, showered, packed up, and then went to find some breakfast. Then Carole and Brandon headed back to Bellingham. Rob and I went looking for a good map of Afghanistan, then headed back to Montana.
Back to the first Christmas Plan
When Rob and first learned that none of the kids could make it home for Christmas, we decided to find somewhere to go to celebrate quietly on our own. We didn't want to fly anywhere, and considered the Southwest, but then also thought about Cannon Beach, OR. We'd had a nice time there in November, and finally settled on that option; it would be a much shorter drive and so more time to relax.
We took a small artificial tree, our stockings, and when I found we had a mantle over the fireplace, I went to a store and found a nice garland to hang there. Even if we weren't home, we still had the Christmas spirit.
The weather was variable, giving us some nice days, some not so nice, but we came prepared with books to read by the fireplace in our room while we watched the rain (this is Oregon, remember!). Connor came out on Christmas Eve from Portland and we all took a walk on the beach; it began to drizzle, then to rain, then to pour, then to hail. We were soaked when we got back to the cabin, but warm showers and a glass of wine warmed us back up. Then we went out for a lovely Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas morning we gave Connor his stocking, had breakfast while the rain pattered on the roof. Connor had plans that evening with friends in Portland, so he took off about 1:00.
Rob and I spent the next few days pretty much doing what we felt like. Biking, birding (yep, another new lifer for me), eating, reading, chilling. We began checking for emails from Kendall, and learned that he had arrived "safely in his current location."
After his meeting, Rob and I headed out to Cannon Beach, OR, for a couple of days of R&R. He got in some great bike trips, and I scored a third lifer, with plenty of time left over for reading by the fireplace, some photography for me, and some lovely dinners out. I LOVE seafood!
Thanksgiving in Bellingham again
We headed over to Bellingham the following week for another Thanksgiving at Lutherwood with Carole, Brandon, and Brandon's folks. It was pretty quiet this year: Melissa, Brandon's sister, and Connor and Kendall were unable to join us, but we talked to all of them during the holiday. It was a relaxing visit with Karen and Stan and the kids. We arrived on Tuesday evening and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner. Karen and Stan returned to St. Louis on Friday. Carole, Brandon, and Smsokey took us on a couple of great hikes.
A hike at Washington Park on Fidalgo Island
Kendall called on Saturday to let us know he had arrived safely in Ft. Bragg, NC from Ft. Sill, OK. He told us he thought he might be deployed, but no sooner than late January. Not the best news for Thanksgiving, but we had no idea how much worse it would get. As we were packing up the car Monday morning to head back to Plains, he called again at 7:30 am. Once again, the Army plan had changed: he would be deploying to Afghanistan on Dec. 15.
Once the details were worked out, he was told that instead of the leave they said he'd have, he would get a four-day pass. So we started looking for flights to get him home. Unfortunately getting from Ft. Bragg to Spokane isn't the easiest flight schedule to work out, and he basically spent two of his 4-1/2 days on a plane. Carole, Brandon, and Connor met him in Spokane, and they spent the night there so Kendall could connect with some of his college friends. Then all but Connor came over to Plains on Friday.
Suddenly Christmas
Rob and I had gone into high gear. We went from thinking it would be our first Christmas with no kids home to having three of the four arrive 2-1/2 weeks BEFORE Christmas. So there was shopping, wrapping, baking, and decorating to do, all at a lower level than in ordinary years, but we wanted to have something like a mini-celebration under the circumstances.
We invited several of Kendall's special friends over for a couple of hours Sunday afternoon. It was a nice chance for him to see some people without running all over Plains.Celia Huygens was one of the family friends who joined us to wish Kendall well on his new adventure.
After everyone left about 4:00, Carole, Brandon, Rob and I all piled into the cars to head to Spokane. Kendall's plane would be a little less stressful than trying to get him there at tha hour from Plains. We had a nice dinner together, Kendall went out for a bit with some friends, then came back to the hotel. We were all up and on the way to the airport by 5:30 am. Many hugs and some tears later, he got into line for security and disappeared into the crowd.
The four of us still on the ground went back to the hotel, showered, packed up, and then went to find some breakfast. Then Carole and Brandon headed back to Bellingham. Rob and I went looking for a good map of Afghanistan, then headed back to Montana.
Back to the first Christmas Plan
When Rob and first learned that none of the kids could make it home for Christmas, we decided to find somewhere to go to celebrate quietly on our own. We didn't want to fly anywhere, and considered the Southwest, but then also thought about Cannon Beach, OR. We'd had a nice time there in November, and finally settled on that option; it would be a much shorter drive and so more time to relax.
We took a small artificial tree, our stockings, and when I found we had a mantle over the fireplace, I went to a store and found a nice garland to hang there. Even if we weren't home, we still had the Christmas spirit.
The weather was variable, giving us some nice days, some not so nice, but we came prepared with books to read by the fireplace in our room while we watched the rain (this is Oregon, remember!). Connor came out on Christmas Eve from Portland and we all took a walk on the beach; it began to drizzle, then to rain, then to pour, then to hail. We were soaked when we got back to the cabin, but warm showers and a glass of wine warmed us back up. Then we went out for a lovely Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas morning we gave Connor his stocking, had breakfast while the rain pattered on the roof. Connor had plans that evening with friends in Portland, so he took off about 1:00.
Rob and I spent the next few days pretty much doing what we felt like. Biking, birding (yep, another new lifer for me), eating, reading, chilling. We began checking for emails from Kendall, and learned that he had arrived "safely in his current location."
Monday, September 10, 2007
Visiting Brandon, Carole and Smokey
During Carole's break between quarters, I traveled to Bellingham to visit. We met in Portland where we stayed one night with Connor. (Carole had ridden the train down a few days before to visit her friend Briana.) Connor took us to a Cuban restaurant for dinner that night. We all tried something different and shared. While the food was excellent, I was introduced to a white wine sangria that was absolutely wonderful.
Once we got to Bellingham, we had a lot of fun shopping, touring parts of the campus Carole is attending, and exploring Clayton Beach. Brandon had to work during the days since camp was still in full swing; the week I was there they had a total of 65 kids in 
the 3rd through 8th grades.
It made for some lively mornings since Carole & Brandon's apartment is over the kitchen and dining hall!
On Saturday we decided to play tourist in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, so the 3 of us piled in the CR-V and headed out to Anacortes to catch the ferry. There was a bit of excitement enroute: a huge road department dump truck kicked up a rock that was aimed just right and demolished the moon roof! We all thought we had been shot, but Brandon (who was driving)
kept his cool and didn't drive off the road. Fortunately the Honda dealership in Bellingham was able to get the glass in on Monday afternoon, repair it on Tuesday, and I was able to get on the road Wednesday ~ just one day later than planned.
Whoops!
Friday Harbor
The last night was sleep-out night for the campers, so instead of eating in the dining hall, we grilled shrimp kabobs on the deck, then a couple of staff members came by for a game of Yahtzee.
I was up early and on the road heading home. It was a long, but easy trip. I arrived back in Plains about 9:00 pm.
Once we got to Bellingham, we had a lot of fun shopping, touring parts of the campus Carole is attending, and exploring Clayton Beach. Brandon had to work during the days since camp was still in full swing; the week I was there they had a total of 65 kids in 
the 3rd through 8th grades.It made for some lively mornings since Carole & Brandon's apartment is over the kitchen and dining hall!
On Saturday we decided to play tourist in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, so the 3 of us piled in the CR-V and headed out to Anacortes to catch the ferry. There was a bit of excitement enroute: a huge road department dump truck kicked up a rock that was aimed just right and demolished the moon roof! We all thought we had been shot, but Brandon (who was driving)
kept his cool and didn't drive off the road. Fortunately the Honda dealership in Bellingham was able to get the glass in on Monday afternoon, repair it on Tuesday, and I was able to get on the road Wednesday ~ just one day later than planned.Whoops!
Friday Harbor
The last night was sleep-out night for the campers, so instead of eating in the dining hall, we grilled shrimp kabobs on the deck, then a couple of staff members came by for a game of Yahtzee.I was up early and on the road heading home. It was a long, but easy trip. I arrived back in Plains about 9:00 pm.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
A wedding and time with old friends . . .
Back home from NC. The weather Down South was a great improvement over recent Montana weather: Unbelievable though it may be, the temps were in the mid-high 80s with (comparatively) low humidity. It was lovely to hear some of my favorite birds from the old days ~ cardinals, blue jays, Carolina wrens, Carolina chickadees; and of course, the song of the June bugs, tree frogs, cicadas.
The bride and groom at the rehearsal dinner.
Mom made a Groom's Cake for Ron as a surprise dessert at the rehearsal dinner.
The Big Day boasted beautiful weather for the couple and the wedding party. The ceremony was lovely and neither Ali nor Ron seemed nervous. The ceremony went off without any problems, and the guests enjoyed the reception.
First Dance
It was also a chance to visit with family and friends. Spunky, 90-year-old Aunt Laurine Snouse, cousin Laura Lou Byers, Aunt
Jo Rives, cousin Shirley Reed, and Aunt Shirley Henkel joined Mom, Dad, and me for a seafood dinner one evening. Afterwards we all returned to Mom and Dad's house to watch a video of Aunt Shirley modeling in a benefit fashion show; then we watched the slide show of Kendall's commissioning and graduation weekend that I created.
And lightning bugs! I sat out on Mom & Dad's deck and watched them several nights.
The wedding of my sister Alison and her fiancé Ron was beautiful. The weekend was hectic, but a lot of fun.
The bride and groom at the rehearsal dinner.
Mom made a Groom's Cake for Ron as a surprise dessert at the rehearsal dinner.
The Big Day boasted beautiful weather for the couple and the wedding party. The ceremony was lovely and neither Ali nor Ron seemed nervous. The ceremony went off without any problems, and the guests enjoyed the reception.
First Dance
It was also a chance to visit with family and friends. Spunky, 90-year-old Aunt Laurine Snouse, cousin Laura Lou Byers, Aunt
Jo Rives, cousin Shirley Reed, and Aunt Shirley Henkel joined Mom, Dad, and me for a seafood dinner one evening. Afterwards we all returned to Mom and Dad's house to watch a video of Aunt Shirley modeling in a benefit fashion show; then we watched the slide show of Kendall's commissioning and graduation weekend that I created.Thursday, July 5, 2007
Daughter's Birthday
Our (first) sweet little bundle of joy arrived at 7:52 pm July 3, 1979. That makes her 28 day before yesterday! (Groan - that makes us . . . old???!)
Couldn't visit for her birthday, but was able to get Bob & Jane at the camp to surprise her with her favorite birthday treat ever: a lemon meringue pie! She called afterward and could NOT believe we'd done it. But what's a mom to do? The only thing she said she wanted for her birthday was a "lemon meringue pie like I always used to make for her . . ."
Thanks Bob and Jane!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Another one (back) in college
Yeah, I know: I said my baby had graduated from college. But just in time to save me from some serious "empty nest" blues, Daughter decided to go back for a teaching certificate.
Actually, the nest is still "empty" since she doesn't live here any more. But Carole is pretty excited about being accepted to and beginning an intensive 5-quarter program at Western Washington University in Bellingham to add a teaching certificate to her BS in psychology from Carrol College in Helena, Montana (class of 2001). She says that so far the classes are great ~ except for a technology course that "is pretty boring so far but hopefully will move fast."
Other back-to-school accomplishments: She got up at 6:00 am three days ~ learned there is a "new" math ~ and so far, she says, she's read every word of the assigned readings for every class. (She also said she expects that to last about 2 more days).
Rob has been gone most of the past week for work ~ Boulder, Ft. Collins, Denver; he is on a wildfire behavior research team at the Fire Lab of the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana. The job requires a lot of travel during "fire season." Following the "First Law of the Forest Service Wives' Handbook," just about anything that could go wrong when he left, did ~ but after (too many?) years' experience, I handled it all with great aplomb ;-) Found someone to help with some emergency fence repair after the horses got out Wednesday morning (Thanks a BUNCH, Ron), retrieved said horses from their wandering adventures, and got them back into the corral.
AND, while heading down to feed those horses that evening, avoided being trampled by a very aggressive doe who was hiding her fawn somewhere between the house and the barn: she charged me and our two Labs ~ never did figure out exactly where the fawn was hiding. . . even the dogs ran from her!
I'll be leaving in a couple weeks for a trip to see my family in NC to celebrate and attend my sisters' wedding in NC. It will be good to be back in the South again for some seriously warm weather. It's been pretty nice here off and on in Plains, but they just don't do summer here like they do "back home"! (Yeah, some of you are groaning about how I must be nuts. What can I say ~ I love the summers I grew up in!). Hurray: two weeks of lovely NC summer! Too bad I can't make it out to the coast . . .
The boys seem to be doing fine. Just talked to Connor, and we're probably going to see him later this week. As Rob says, he has to be in Portland a couple of days to continue his "world tour" for work. ConMan said he'd be around and we could catch up one night fo dinner with him. Kendall is enjoying his BOLC at Ft. Sill, OK. They got pulled in from field training a couple days early because of the flooding there, but will head out again to complete the exercise next week, with a break for July 4th.
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