Xmas 2010

Ahh, Christmas...seems like it was over a month ago...umm because it was. I am finally getting around to documenting it. This year we spent xmas vacation in Southern California with Sara's family on the front end and the Palkies on the back end. Deb and Mary Anne flew in from Canada and Warren from Iowa.

I have some words for whoever wrote the song about it never raining in California! What was intended to be a "golf" vacation ended up being a running vacation. Running from car to building and tattered dangling awning to the next store front to stay out of the rain that is. The first two days we were there they recorded over 10 inches of rain along with wind damaged buildings, flooding and land slides. When California does weather they go all out. We spent the rainy days visiting some of San Diego's indoor attractions, art museums, aquariums, etc. The clouds did clear for us and we were able to spend a couple nice days out and about. We visited the San Diego Zoo, took a whale-less, whale watching cruise (which is really the same as saying spending a day out on the ocean), we walked the beaches of Ventura and spent xmas with the Palkies.
A California Snow Man

A Three Hour Tour...A lovely day on the water.

The San Diego Zoo. My folks drove down from Ventura for the Zoo festivities and a night at the local PF Changs.

Christmas at the Ventura Beach.

The Girls showing off their new xmas rain coats and scarves from Santa.

Mom showing off her new cupcake apron and dad playing us some tunes.

Fall in a Nutshell

This is really a catch up blog for the last 3 months. I haven't been diligent with the camera so you will have to use your imagination, but here is an overview of some of the recent events.
Sherry picked 25 pounds of grapes for me...so I had to learn how to make grape jelly! Turned out fantastic. I will be making a lot more than 25 pounds of it next year.


I was able to swing in to see the fam for a day on a business trip to LA. Here they are showing me their Franken Masks. The Franken Masks evolved from watching football and all of the coaches hiding their mouths with their play cards when calling plays.


20 Gallons of beer. :-) Our first try at GF and regular pumpkin beers on the left and two batches of Thanksgiving Wise Ass Red.

It started to get cold which made two things happen. Sara put up a fence and gate so we didn't have to go out into the cold rain with the dogs for their business. AND the girls found a warm spot in the closet to snuggle. Their new favorite sleeping place.

Aforementioned Thanksgiving Wise Ass Red and Kari showing off her art.

A good chuckle about this years Thanksgiving buns!

Megan on TV on the Ellen show and me watching with excitement!

Portland Visitors

I have had to take it easy this summer so my new hobby has been fishing. I have been out a couple times with my $14 Fred Meyer Rod and lures with no luck. You may have seen the photos so you may understand the the river alone has me addicted, fish or no fish. This weekend we had some friends visit from Portland and Kari brought her fly fishing gear and expertise. Now I am even more addicted! Still no bites but that is just a matter of researching the river, fishing holes and flies. My next trip out will include quite a bit more research and stops at the local fly shops.
Me in action in the McKenzie River. My first fly fishing experience.

Kari in action and Kari showing off her flies.

Don't let the following smiles fool you, I am quite sure Sara is done with fishing. Not only have we not had a single bite, and the beauty of the river can only hold her attention for a few minutes before she needs a project, she over estimated her ability to balance on the round algae covered river rock and took a digger in the chilly water. As you can see in exhibit one, she was soaked to her waist. Exhibit two she displays an entirely new ensemble of forgotten clothing abandoned long ago that she dug out of the trunk of my car.

My friend, Odie has been putting some final touches on a kayak she has been building in her garage. Here is the virgin run.

After it was determined that the Kayak performed as well as it looked Kari, AJ and Jessica all got their turn.

And finally, just in case I haven't seen you in person in the last few weeks, a new Do! I love it! Granted it did require a shopping spree of new, big, hoop earrings, some eyebrow maintenance and wait for it...yes, a lesson in mascara, both product and application. Clearly I haven't tried it out in public yet, but that is in the works.

35 Years of Utah Women's Basketball

A fabulous weekend in Salt Lake City. The University of Utah Athletic Department threw together a reunion for all of the women who have ever played hoops at the U. That is 35 years of women's basketball. It was fantastic. Friday night we had a big dinner. Saturday there was an alumni game, a tailgate party and tickets to the football game. I started laughing when I got off the airplane on Friday morning and was still smiling when I headed home Sunday night. Ya, you can say it my face hurt...:-)

The Dinner Party!

Alumni Game
Fascinating that everyone still pulled out the same moves. Impressive! OK, they may have been a step or two slower and asked for subs sooner, but really, they were the same moves!

36 Years of Head Coaches at the University of Utah

Fern, 8 years. Elaine 31 years. Anthony, year 1.

Tailgate Party

So fun to hang out with gals I haven't seen for 15 years. It was like we never left off.

Outdoors

Well, it has been a long summer of surgical recovery. We finally decided to get out of the house and try our hand at a sport that my body would allow me to do, fishing. Sara, John and I had a great spot on the river. All the people floating by on their boats were pulling fish in as fast as they could cast out. We on the other hand had a lovely evening eating a delicious picnic I had packed and practiced casting for a couple hours. I may not have even got a bite, but I will go back. I loved it. Not really even sure what I would have done if I would have actually caught something. But sitting on that rock, listening to the water rush by and enjoying my surroundings has me hooked. Fishing anyone?

Another weekend outing took us up the McKenzie river as well. This time in search of a rock climbing wall. Unfortunately we never did find that wall but Susie, Adam, Kaia, Sara and I had a lovely drive in the woods. Once we figured out where we took a wrong turn we decided it was too late in the day to set up a climbing adventure. Thank goodness we had a rockin' game of Monopoly waiting for us at home.

Norma

Norma, who has kindly been named for her enormous overbearing size and huge personality is another few steps closer to being finished this week. It's actually beginning to look and feel like a livable space.

Sara installed the toilet and sink, which I must say makes working over there much easier. The shower is next. She found the cabinets for the bathroom on Craigslist (of course). Word is that they were actually cabinets removed from Jerry Garcia's wife's house, located only a few acres away, on a few hundred acres just to the west of us.

Sara's dad was visiting this last week and was eager to lend a helping hand with projects. He single handedly installed all of the blinds upstairs and did some serious organizing downstairs (everything that was under the gigantic blue tarp from the last post had to go somewhere and Warren was game.)

Sara got both fans installed while Warren and I played the "hold the ladder steady and hand important things upward role."

Then we started the floor. Brazilian Cherry to be exact! I organized and cut to fit. Sara nailed them in. The process was seamless and....oh....25 hours later...late on Sunday afternoon...we were done, oh no wait, not done? Short by half a box? That's right 14 square feet! Of course the flooring store was not open on Sunday so the celebration and brazillian cherry floor dance was delayed by another day.

Yep, those are my shoes in the last 14 square feet of subfloor showing.

Today, I can officially say, the project has been completed! Here are photos from either corner of the same great room.