Spring?

Pulled my first shift as a volunteer at the Bethlehem Inn. It's a homeless shelter in Bend. A woman brought in "blanket bears" for each of the children staying there. 

They are made by a group that donates them to various organizations in our area. 

Each bear is tied to a color coordinated blanket. 

Afterwards I drove to Portland where Spring seems to be right around the corner. 

The Crocus are popping up all over. 

Evidence of plenty of moisture falling prior to this perfect day. 

So if you are a bit tired of Winter, rest easy, the weather is still perfect somewhere. 

Stay warm. 

Cave Work

Been making progress in the cave. Most of the stuff came from the Re Do Store or Goodwill.

Got most of the books out of boxes. 

Fly tying/rod building bench out of a set of bifold doors. 

I want to get some shelves or cubbies for my reels.

Right now they are sharing space on the bookshelves.

Got a great desk from the Re Do Store.

Notice the pillow I added to the footstool. Got a pillow from Goodwill, a button and upholstery needle from JoAnn's and tied it to the handle. The chair in the foreground was $5.00.

So far the artwork is limited but I hope to add more.

Another perfect day; high was 64 it felt like Spring. Don't think so.

Stay warm, I hear that is not easy in some parts of the country. 

Perfect Weather

Some more pics from last Portland trip.

Nina likes selfies, and trying hats on Grandpa.

Louis being a tunnel.

Here are a few of his favorite friends taking a nap together.

Question.
If the weather in Bend is so perfect, why must the statues wear scarves?


I think it is just to look cool, 'cause, as you can see, the weather is perfect!

Stay warm; I hear that's not easy in the rest of the country.

Still in PDX

Saw the recently remodeled federal building today. 

Built in the 70's it is now a model for "green" architecture. It captures thousands of gallons of rain water and uses it for irrigation and gray water needs. It recaptures the irrigation water and reuses that too. 

At the bank of eight elevators there is one control pad where you enter the floor you where wish to go. It then sends you to one of the elevators and when you get inside, the only controls are to open and close the door, and emergency intercoms. 

I pushed the button for the top floor, got into my assigned elevator and went up, stopped, went up some more (there were no lights indicating what floor we were on), and then went down a bit. When the doors finally opened I was at the floor I had started on. I guess I wasn't cleared for the top floor. 

Meanwhile, Louis is into building trucks. 

This one is his double tanker, double cab tow truck. When I told him to say "cheese", he smiled and said, "Truck,"

This is also a truck. 

He really likes selfies. 

Nina has had a lot of "Kodak Moments" but grandpa has missed most. She isn't all that anxious to be photographed. 

This is her spoon eye patch, Arrrrrgh. She likes being photographed at dinner the least. 

Rain forecasted for the next few days; should be perfect by Tuesday. 

Stay warm and dry; I hear that the Polar Vortex is coming.