Labor Day

September 06, 2010 by Seraph in Cortez

Just a quick hello before I head off to labor on this Labor Day morning!

We've been "spring" cleaning this week.  I've filled Robbie's Audi w/ boxes from the kitchen, and I still have to fit in 2 garbage bags full of old linins.  Both Robbie & I have gutted the old clothes from our closets (we did Isa's clothers at the begining of the summer - but with all of her growing, we could stand to do it again).  Last night we rearranged the living room, opening everything up and making more breathing room.  There's sill a bunch of boxes in our bedroom closet to go through, which scares me!

Other than that, we went and picked raspberries yesterday.  There were slim pickings, as most of the berries won't be ready until next week.  We'll try to make a jar or two of jam with what we have, and sneak over to pick more next week.

Well, off to work.  I wonder if holidays, like Labor Day, will fall to the way-side as more of the US economy moved towards the service industry.  Remember to thank your grocery clerk, barista, or anyone else working today so that you don't have to!

Glad I'm Not Eaten

September 03, 2010 by Adam in Family

Joanna and I went for a nice hike around the trails near the hospital.  It was a bit of an adventure, and the trail near the river faded to deer trails and tall grasses.  There had been cougar sightings, so every little noise made Joanna jump a bit.  I joked around, and was somewhat cavalier about it.

We'd been hiking for 45 minutes, trying to figure out how to get back to the hospital, when Joanna announced "I see cat ears in the river."  I thought it might be nutria, a rather large rat-like thing, and we continued on.  Within a minute, we heard a deep growling/coughing noise and immediately decided to slowly backtrack and head inland.

We got a little giddy on the way back once we reached the big field next to the hospital.  All the people in the gym thought we were pretty awesome for having seen one of the mythical cougars.  I think we'll stick to exercising in the gym next week.

This week Isa continues to be sick

September 03, 2010 by Seraph in Cortez

This week Isa continues to be sick.  She tried school on Tuesday (made it half day), went all day on Wednesday, but was home yesterday and today.  Her nose is swollen and scabby (gross), but she's starting to get better.  She was feeling well enough to create a dark wizards spell book this morning! 

On Wednesday Robbie and I went to a farm with our friend Amanda to pick tomatoes.  We stayed to help pick 1000+ pounds of veggies for the food bank, and bringing home 2 large buckets of tomatoes, and a box of peppers, chilies, and mellons.  Isa and I worked late canning tomatoes, and I now have canned tomatoes and tomato sauce to go with my pickeled green beans.  This weekend we're hoping to pick raspberries for jam, and next week it will be apples!  In the next week or two we may go out and dig potatos with Amanda.  I feel a bit like animals hording for the winter!

Robbie started work today.  He missed the training in August, so he's in doing an observation with another Title 1 Tutor today.  Next week he should get a regular schedule.

Sweet Mocha Friday

September 03, 2010 by Adam in Family

For some reason I woke up at 5:30 a.m., convinced Joanna that getting out of bed was a fine idea, and everyone got to school and work when they were supposed to. Dishes were done, laundry was folded, and the kitchen was cleaned up. Of course, today is the last day of summer school, but it's nice to know that we finally figured out the routine.

Last night was busy. I got to say hello to Emma when we returned, who was playing with Berry and Duncan, as well as catching ladybugs. My mom very nicely cleaned and organized Emma's bedroom. The rest of the evening was fairly frantic. I helped Collette put up curtain rods and a couple other things. Then it was off to food shopping, where I somehow managed to get it all in one cart. Returning home, Joanna and I collapsed on the couch to fold laundry and watch Chuck. We also delivered the "sorry I backed into your car" pie to the neighbors, who were quite appreciative.

The plumbing issue has turned into a confusing, expensive mess that I'm trying to sort out. Insurance will pay for replacing the ceiling, but not the plumbing. The contractor already charged me $900 to open up the ceiling, and the plumber charged another $600 for the less-than-satisfactory emergency repair. I'm getting a check from the insurance and my hope is that I can somehow do a bunch of the work myself and it won't be quite as crazy expensive as it is. I'm getting a plumbing estimate today, and maybe Monday I'll start cutting holes in walls.

There are countless other things to do, such as taking old TVs to be recycled, and selling the Subaru. The sprinkler system is still not working. Still, things are getting done and taken care of. Most of the driveway is empty, and Joanna's office is unpacked. We saved all the bubble wrap and let Berry and Duncan jump up and down on them. Sam and Emma have school supplies and clothes for school. Life is slowly getting organized.

My morning mocha was delicious, as always. Tonight Joanna and I are going to watch Yayoe play the ukelele. This weekend the plan is to hang out and get ready for school, perhaps with a berry-picking trip in the middle. Sunday night is the big family dinner. I'm looking forward to seeing my dad after his death-defying open ocean race.

Broken computer, broken internets

September 02, 2010 by Sadie in Sadie Miller

This is the first day in two weeks where both my computer and the internet have been functional. During my computer-free time, I made another dress, which I wore for our engagement photos. Sleeves and pockets are two oft-forgotten features in ready-to-wear dresses that I'm really crazy about.

I want to thank all of the wonderful, wonderful people who have sent cards, emails, and called to congratulate us. It is so much fun to be engaged to Greg. I mixed our books together yesterday- what a thrill to have my Lies My Teacher Told Me next to his Sundown Towns!

At this point, we're planning a mid-August wedding on a family farm in Maine. There are many more details to iron out, and we're taking advantage of the last week of our mutual vacation before Greg starts school on Tuesday. He's taking three math classes, a computer science class, and an honors political science class his first semester!

Morning Eggs

September 01, 2010 by Adam in Family

This morning Emma directed Duncan and Berry to fetch her herbs from the window box, and cooked herself scrambled eggs for breakfast. Everyone had great fun, and Emma extracted promises that they would come stay with her when she moved to Italy as an adult.

Yesterday was fairly remarkable, in odd little ways. The old pipe from the kitchen sink burst last week, after the plumber drilled through it while cleaning it. At the moment that part of the basement has the ceiling removed and there's a temporary pipe that lets us use the kitchen sink. Fortunately insurance is going to pay for all but the deductible, so I think I'll be stuck with a little over a thousand in damages. That's strangely the good news, as otherwise it would be over three thousand.

Jamie and I also appear to have reached an agreement on spousal support. I think that means that we can finally get something written up and signed relatively soon. The next few years will be tight financially, so I'm hoping no more pipes burst until then.

I've arranged for Sam to walk to Roosevelt with a couple girls from the neighborhood. Hopefully that'll increase his street cred, or at least minimize the chances he gets lost. Sophia used to go to school with Sam, so it'll be good that he has a familiar face with him.

In terms of Joanna and I, I think we're spending our hot date night at home, replacing car batteries, getting ready to make peach jam, and unpacking the office. Good times.

Weekend Fun

August 31, 2010 by Seraph in Cortez

We had another great - but busy - weekend!  There was a mycology (mushroom) group here this weekend.  So we watched a bunch of middle-aged nerdy science guys & gals scour our mt, and display 150 different types of mushrooms.  This inspired us to go on our own hunt/picnic on Sat afternoon.  We filled a basket with lots of cool fungi to dissect (at this point we don't know enough to actually eat anything!), and made a lot of spore prints.  Over all it was a lot like Easter egg hunting.On Sun there was the Santa Rosa Festival in Dixon (where Isa goes to school).  So we went over and walked in the parade.  We were all pretty tired, and headed home soon after. 

Yesterday Isa woke up with a stuffed up nose and sore throat.  She ended up staying home, while Robbie headed to Velarde to get his new job set up.  He will be a Title 1 tuoter, working with K-3rd graders who are having reading problems.  It starts at 25 hr per week, and could quickly go up to 40 hr.  It will also give him the perfect foot in the door if they open up a second 3rd grade classroom! 

Parades and Beaches

August 30, 2010 by Adam in Family

We had a very exciting weekend, all around.

Friday night Joanna and I headed down to the Eugene Celebration for music, food, and a horde of people dressed in interesting costumes. Days later, Joanna brought up the ice cream bar, dipped in chocolate and nuts. It was that good.

Saturday I collected the kids, fed them crepes and bacon, and headed down to watch the parade. We lasted a reasonable length of time before the kids got restless and we dashed across the parade route to make it to the library. We stocked up on assorted books before making the long walk home. I ended up carrying Emma much of the way, along with the massive bin of books she begged me to take with her.

The afternoon was fairly low-key. Joanna stepped out to get the reins of the Fox Hollow web site. I went to TrueValue after that and got the parts for the tire swing. Assembling it went surprisingly well, making our backyard even more of a playground/farm combo. I made dinner for everyone and their bottomless stomachs. I think I eventually got to sit down and have a bite after fetching butter, salt, more drinks, and a half-dozen other things.

Sunday was our great expedition to the coast. The drive out went fairly well, with movie players for all. Sam got a little car sick, so we parked by the side of the road briefly to let him eat ginger candy while we picked blackberries. Soon we were on our way to Heceta Head. We got the perfect parking spot and picnic table. Immediately everyone rushed off to jump in the water.

It was a perfect beach, with sea caves and a little stream to build forts upon. Sam and Emma got completely soaked and we were constantly getting people to change their clothes. The weather was beautiful and we played until late afternoon, stopping by Florence for dinner before heading home.

We're in the final week before school starts. We have another grand school supply shopping trip, and Sam should get a bunch of clothes arriving magically in the mail thanks to Joanna. I'm starting to get excited for the fall to start in earnest.

Heading Home

August 30, 2010 by Lohring in Lohring

Look at that last picture and you can understand why Mike broke his rib.  That's a 5 ton boat.  The boat in the foreground is the other boat Mike restored.

I'm at a hotel at Heathrow getting ready to fly home.  For my final English meal I had a Big Mack with two all beef patties, special sauce, etc.It was very new and one of the nicest, cleanest McDonalds I've seen.  I'll call in as soon as I get back.

Race pictures

August 30, 2010 by Lohring in Lohring

More race pictures at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/timtapping/20100829Powerboat#