06-30-11

With the bake sale behind me, tonight was more of a catch up night than a breather night. Get rental agreements ready. Freeze strawberries. Bleach a fridge. Start thinking ahead a few days. And last day of my photography class.

The prompt today was to piece it together. I immediately thought of stained glass windows, and where better to find that than church. As I was trying to capture the windows, I realized how pretty the pews look glowing in the setting light. And how calm and peaceful it is. Reminded me of the verse “Be still and know that I am God.”

Need some peace in my life. June was a whirlwind... maybe July will be better?

06-29-11

The theme of today was baking and bleaching. Had to do lots of hand washing as I moved back and forth.

When we decided to do a bake sale as a Relay for Life fundraiser, I thought for sure we’d be done with the duplex! Silly me… was blessed to be able to take a half day vacation today though.

So between scrubbing filthy bathrooms, today I baked:
3 loaves of Cranberry Orange bread (well, the bread machine did most of the work)
A big batch of olive bread (5 hours start to finish)
Chocolate chip cookies
A double batch of Pistachio Chai Muffins

I thought of Xander as I ate a wad of chookie dough - not enough for another pan! The muffins were a new recipe, and it is a keeper for sure- quick and delicious. http://gastronomyblog.com/2011/05/15/pistachio-chai-muffins/

After all this baking and bleaching, I am certainly ready for BED!

04-28-11

Xander helped me make a double batch of Strawberry Lemon cookies for our upcoming Relay for Life bake sale, so he reaped the reward of licking the dishes and being my taste tester.

What a gooey mess!

06-27-11

The upstairs duplex is move in ready, with no tenant to move in. He stood us this evening, so back to the drawing board.

I stayed behind to photograph the unit. Amazingly, the walk in closet seems to get more comments than the second bathroom.

06-26-11

If yesterday was the work day, today was the play day. We played at the VBS finale, I played in the kitchen trying new recipes, we played in the garden (even if it was a duplex, not ours), Xander, the Rushtons, the Karnofskis and I played “try everything” at the vegetarian/vegan potluck (the dessert table rocked! Xander scarfed the cookies and strawberries), and I got my Sunday chores done early enough to have two hours of “free” time.

Confucius says: “It is better to play than do nothing.”

06-25-11

10pm, time for bed. We got to the library today, so I can even start my new reading group pick. I photographed the cute statue in front of the library for my photo class assignment to capture metal.

Spent most of the day getting grimy at the duplex, or shopping at Home Depot for the duplex. Not the way we really want to spend a gorgeous summer day, but making progress, and that might help me sleep better.

06-24-11

I never took more photos today, so guess my photo for the day is my photo class assignment, books. I took these this morning before work and it’s been a whirlwind ever since.

Between books right now, but my to read pile is shrinking.

Happy Friday!

06-23-11

After a time away due to Xander being sick again, Xander and I made it back to the Humane Society today. Xander chose a female beagle this time. She was a handful, hacking, attacking the cats, and trying to flee from the off leash area. And another dog that doesn’t want to play ball. But, she was accepting of love and wasn’t at all aggressive, so a thumbs up overall.

06-22-11

Back to the taboo subject of politics.

The March issue of Seattle Business magazine had an interview with Governor Christine Gregoire. Can't say I'm a big fan, but some of her statements make sense to me.

She talked about the faith community and non profits being the safety net instead of government. I agree. She said we are headed toward a second-rate education system that can’t provide the skilled workforce needed to retain companies. I say we’re already there. She wants to overhaul the bargaining rights of public employees. There's a start. She said to expect big increases in college tuition. Ouch! She says the answer to health care costs is to make people take personal responsibility for taking care of themselves and charge higher premiums if they don’t. Amen. She’d like to focus on small business and privatizing some state agencies. Sounds good. And overhauling state taxes is on the agenda, since Washingtonians pays a low proportion of personal income toward taxes. Hmmm, guess we'll all have to sacrifice…

When I drove by the "Right Wing Uncle Sam Billboard" in Chehalis today, I got a kick out of today’s message. I researched the sign a little. According to roadsideamerica.com, the billboard started when I-5 was built through a farmer’s property. He was disgruntled, and now his grandson keeps up the tradition.

“We’re going to get through this, dadgummit, and we’re going to be better and stronger for it.” - Christine Gregoire

06-21-11

First day of summer took us to the country club. The kids swam while Bruce and I had an early dinner. Other than grumpy old men in the locker room (according to Xander), it seems okay.

Got a new tenant settled in today, so took a little breather before tackling the next two…

“I don't know what I'm really good at. I'm really good at sittin' by the pool.” - Alex O'Loughlin

06-20-11

I wanted to get a photo of today’s chaos – at least ten teens in our living room making a ruckus, but they don’t appreciate the paparazzi. And I don’t appreciate their noise.

So, to the opposite extreme – a quiet walk to and through the Japanese garden in search of a “corrugated color” shot for my photo class.

Thinking tonight is the last evening of being crazy busy – maybe I can get back to the garden. But I’m probably just fooling myself.

06-19-11

Here’s Bruce Jr. and Bruce Sr., recipients of a fathers day discount on their morning coffee run. The focal point of the day was Grandma McDaneld’s 80th birthday party, but Bruce got father’s day love and excitement with the story that ran in the local paper today: http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_2ea02e92-9a12-11e0-b00e-001cc4c002e0.html

Happy Fathers Day!

06-18-11

It’s not every day you see a gorilla tap dancing. That was the opening act of a jungle themed dance recital.

I spent the morning helping with a mini mission project, the afternoon driving, dinner with Grama & Grampa, the evening watching Kayla and Molly show off their dancing skills, and the “late night” enjoying a snack at Jack in the Box. Nope, I still don’t care for their milkshakes…

Kayla danced ballet and tap in a bright feathery costume, and Molly did tap as a zebra.

06-17-11

It feels like God is not lining things up very well for me this week, but I did have a cool thing happen this morning.

Normally I check for my daily photo prompt when I first get to work. Today I got up 15 minutes early (thanks to Xander’s coughing, erg), and decided to use that extra time to check my assignment from home.

The assignment was to shoot photos directly into the sun. When I glanced outside, it was overcast. But by the time I was ready to leave, the sun was shining. I was able to take some photos around the house and even stop at the lake on my way to work, all photos I would have missed if I had followed my normal routine.

Happy weekend!

06-16-11

Busy, busy, busy.

It’s been on my list to photograph my gorgeous huge globe allium in bloom, but I wanted to weed the area first so the photo would look nice. The prompt for my photo class today was to capture the color blue. So I decided to go after my allium photo from a different angle.

Spent most of my evening scrubbing a very filthy kitchen. Fun, fun, fun!

06-15-11

I hate having to get up an hour early.
I hate how slowly the scale moves down, but how fast it pops up.
I hate my hair, I really do.
I hate it when the kids are bickering at each other, which they seem to be doing all the time.
I hate that it is already the middle of June!

But I love that I have such willing participants for a fun photo shoot.

06-14-11

An evening of interruptions.

Starting to unwind after work was interrupted by going to do a move out inspection at a duplex.
That appointment was interrupted by a showing to prospective tenants at the other duplex.
Dinner was interrupted by the drip drip of a plumbing leak at home.
My evening treadmill and reading time was interrupted by a second showing to prospective tenants.

Great to finally be getting interest in the newest duplex, but makes for a disjointed evening.

06-13-11

Sometimes it’s nice to go to the office and work on someone else’s problems and issues. As hard as it is to get up on Monday mornings, it's one of my favorite work days.

06-12-11

Today the prompt for my photo class was polka dots. I wringed my hands a bit – after a really long church service and many hours at the duplex, I didn’t appreciate such a specific topic. How can Anastasia not have polka dots in her wardrobe?!? I figured something out, then later it dawned on me that our living room pillows are polka dots!

06-11-11

Day started with running all the way around the lake, first time. Almost ready for my 5K!

Then I undid all that good and much much more by eating lunch at Big Ass Sandwiches, a street vendor Bruce has been wanting to try. I got the veggie, but it had no evidence of veggies – a veggie patty with two tons of fries (on the sandwich!) and a weird cheese sauce.

We walked around downtown Portland taking in the Rose Festival. To me this photo screams Portland – the bridges, the bikes, and lots of extra boats for the special day. The floats and drum & bugle band were very fun too.

06-10-11

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go...

After a very quiet day at work, headed to the duplex for some heavy cleaning. I'm not very fast, but I'm very thourough. And I have cool new purple gloves!

Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow...

06-09-11

Anastasia doesn’t get much time on my blog, sinc eshe doesn't hang around us very much. So here’s a not so great quality photo, but of her. Tonight may have been the last middle school band concert I have to go to for a very long time. Anastasia was taught how to adjust her music stand to the right height, but that means no more good photos for mom. The kids wore sunglasses for their last song, just for fun.

Is it the weekend yet?!? Bring it on!

06-08-11

How can June be in full swing already? The kids are counting – 8 more days of school.

I’m starting to sort my work projects into “before vacation” and “after vacation”. Friends are planning their summer hikes and outings. Two weeks to VBS, three to 4th of July, four to family camp.

We bought a camp stove, air mattress, and garden shovel on sale at Freddie’s tonight – sizzling summer savings even though the weather is far from spectacular.

The triplex we tried to buy had a bad fire last night. The duplex we did buy is not getting a lot of prospective tenant interest; as late as it feels, maybe it is still too early for summer moves.

06-07-11

Today we got our fourth graduation announcement.
Our back door was with the door man all day getting a window installed.
We signed a rental agreement with tenants who haven’t even seen inside their new home.
My photo assignment was color in the kitchen, so I decided to capture the rainbow…

"We live in a rainbow of chaos." - Paul Cezanne

06-06-11

My photo assignment today was to photograph white on white. I posted a photo of our toilet in the class gallery, and am getting lots of fun comments on it. I took some photos of my sleeping buddy Ducky on our white bed, but this one’s a little intriguing too.

Happy Monday!

“The middle of the road is where the white line is / and that's the worst place to drive.” – Robert Frost

06-05-11

Today we spent some quality family time at the duplex.

Bruce painted, I scrubbed window wells with a toothbrush, Xander power washed, and Anastasia did a bunch of miscellaneous tasks.

Making progress, on track for July 1st renting.

Xander ended up wet head to toe, with soggy shoes.

06-04-11

Three things to choose from for blog photo today- flash mob geocaching event, another trip to the Humane Society, and my Technicolor photo assignment.

Anastasia went to Seaside with Brad today, so Xander had to endure the embarrassment of watching (and photographing) his parents doing the hokey pokey with about 100 strangers at a mall in Portland. Just for fun. We stopped by Dave’s Killer bread bakery and found out they have a bulk discount. We got 13 items for under $30!

Back in Longview Xander and I took another trip to the Humane Society. On a warm day it is the perfect place to be, since the leash free area is in the shade. We chose poorly again, this time a dog who had been beaten and run over by a car. We endured without incident, and then spent some time with the new puppies. They tried to eat Xander’s shoelaces, but he adored them. Scary puppy eyes, but captured Xander’s joy.

06-03-11

Some weeks are longer than others. Feel like I just made it through a very long one. And was rewarded with Starbucks with my honey this evening, sitting outside in the sunshine for a change.

I used my comp time to take off work early and Xander and I went to the Humane Society. We chose an unphotogenic geriatric Pomeranian to socialize this time, and he wanted no part of us. But got some confidence back with a dog we can tuck unde rour arm, so maybe we’ll choose the Husky Xander likes next time if he is still there.

My photo class assignment today is to capture the transition as color is born in nature. My giant Allium have already popped and the rhodie had too much direct sun to capture the gradations of pink, but here are my Nectaroscodum Siculum Mediterranean Bells coming into bloom…

Happy weekend!

06-02-11

Today’s photo prompt is to look for iconic color. Brands that communicate by color as much as by logo.

I decided I wanted to photograph the blue Morton’s Salt can. I have always loved salt, and by not eating much processed food I can add table salt to my food. Some things I don’t even want to eat without a peppering of salt – potatoes, sweet potatoes, sprouts. My favorite way to eat steak is salt fried.

Jokes on me; we don’t have Morton salt in the cupboard! But in the search, I found another great example – we all instantly know what the orange box on the grocery store shelf, in the spice cupboard, or in the fridge is.

Enjoy the colors in your life!

06-01-11

Happy June! Started another photo class today.

First assignment is to photograph a color that you equate with bliss.

Dark brown is not my favorite color, but it has a lot of bliss to it. The color of my eyes. The color of good garden dirt. Great companion to lots of other colors, especially pastels. Warm and rich. The color of my favorite Starbucks beverage. And of Twix and Almond Snickers.

Brown is bliss.