Off to La La Land

Off tomorrow for a fun filled 11 day trip to the planet of the crazies. You know you are not looking forward to this when the best part is that it includes 4 days on the road. 

Got the laser etching done on Louis's chair/stool.  Thought I'd have a name tag made (required for my woodworking group) while I was there.  I used a 1" scrap for the name tag so there is a bit of work left to do on that one.  Or I could use large zip ties to attach it to my shirt.  I'm thinking Velcro.

Got the retaining wall portion of the fence repair job done.  All that is left is backfill, replace the pavers and we'll get one side yard back.  That covers about 1/4 of the fence that may need the same treatment.

Three small bucks hanging out in front of Home Depot. Must not be hunting season yet.

Had some spectacular weather over the past few days. Since this sunset at the end of a few days of thunderstorms, we've had two days of perfect weather.

Stay cool, I hear it is still hot out there.

PS: I gave up on my camera over a month ago. The phone has been my camera for the past few posts.

Climbing Wall Done

Got the climbing rocks for the wall. They were pretty easy to put up. First you need kids that are awake. 

Big sister was very helpful getting the boys up. 

Louis had to work on the sand box mural then he was ready for the wall. 

They were both very helpful.

Finally, it was ready for climbing. 

He has yet to use the rope.

It was right up the wall, no waiting for instructions. It was obvious to the climbing gifted.

Nina was a little more cautious, but was not to be left behind. In fact, she was the first to figure out how to descend the wall. Louis still takes the easy way down.

So it has been up and down since. Next step, the roof.

Weather perfect and forecasted to get more perfecter.

A Few Days of "Normal"

Problem is, we have no "normal". Teri got back a couple of nights ago (11:30 pm) and we are still unpacking and getting the house looking like a quiet retired couple live here.  Perhaps if we hired a quiet retired couple to live here year round we could keep up that facade.

Teri's trip to LA was interesting if not fun filled.  She went primarily to help her mom begin a transition to easier living.  First step being to downsize and get more help with the day to day routine.

So, they looked at living alternatives and talked to a realtor.  To make a short story shorter, they found a place in Woodland Hills that looks good and the house is under contract after two days on the market. Looks like things will get busy for Teri again soon and there might even be a trip to LA for me in the deal, oh joy!

Before we go south again I'd like to get the small retaining wall project done and there is one more trip to Portland for two Timbers games within five days.  And for wood projects there is Louis's stool and our kitchen pull outs but they will progress as time permits.

The wall project really doesn't have that much left to do. Really.

Louis's stool progresses well also. I found a guy that is turning the two dowels for me so the whole thing will be made out of Juniper.

Lots of smoke in the area from distant fires.  The weatherman promises that a low is moving in and that will clear it out a bit.. Of course that will be accompanied by more lightning and perhaps our own fires.

Other that that, weather is perfect.

Cat Alarms & Climbing Walls

Didn't update my Portland family portraits so that will have to wait a few weeks. 

Ryan & Judy have an alarm system but it is pretty low tech. None of those pressure sensitive mats at the windows, just pressure sensitive cats. 

Strategically placed to trigger the alarm should pressure be detected. 

We got the climbing wall done; except for the gripping rocks, which the play ground  store had, once again, none. 

Still needs one more board and the knotted rope.

Teri gets back from LA tonight. Always a good place to get back from; I'm sure she will be unwinding for a while. 

Not a cloud here, light breeze and high of  93 today. Guess I'll hide out inside till the afternoon. 

Stay cool. 

Back In Portlandia

After a quick laundry stop in Redmond it's back to PDX. Spent morning getting more lumber to work on the climbing wall then off for the evening game ritual. 

First get banded like a migratory bird. 

Only the first 1000 of the not-so-rare Timbers Army Loons get banded. I found an old guy to model his. 

Then get back on the bus that conveniently stops near the Great Harvest Bread Co. Grab a coffee and cinnamon bun and walk the block to the river. 

Weather was perfect. 

Sorry Sara, I was going to include a photo of the awesome cinnamon roll but after opening it on the park bench for a sample.......

This was the leftover brown sugar and butter that I didn't eat. Guess I'll give up on that "food blogger" career I was considering. 

Then after a little "culture absorption" I went to the game. 

The game wasn't pretty. More of a street brawl on turf with confused arbitrators and loud foul mouthed drunks in the stands, all ending in an unsatisfying tie. I even had the guy next to me throwing up. Luckily, it was in the final minutes and no bystanders were splashed. It wasn't our finest hour. Oh well. They can't all be. 

Kids out doing family stuff; Grandpa home doing his stuff. Weather is perfect for both. 

On My Way

Teri's in LA, I'm in Anchorage. It's 12:12 am and my flight for Seattle leaves at 2:20. Seldom does a trip to Alaska not involve at least one red eye or spending the night in an airport. 

Went for a short walk to check out the Worsfold's personal ski area and the fireweed one last time. 

I went a ways up Olsen Mountain road before I remembered that gravel trucks were doing a lot of hauling, which was stirring up lots of dust. Good guy water truck driver was wetting down the road to hold down the dust. He shuts down 50 ft on either side of me so I don't get drenched.

This is the view from their dinning room table. 

And from the porch swing. 

It's ever changing and always dazzling. The "lawn" takes hours to mow and usually has the resident Sandhill Cranes grazing. 

The perfect weather is supposed to break this weekend; just in time for the "Salmon Stock" concert in Ninilchik this week end. 

I should be in Redmond around noon today, where I'm told that the weather is perfect.