08-31-16

A work in progress.  Getting closer, getting the attention of the neighbors.  And no more carpet!

08-30-16

Out in the woods today.  This is cable logging.  Which I learned today is based on the mast and lines from ships.

08-29-16

Got invited to a photography club tonight.  Don't think these photos have the quality or subject matter to win many over.  But it's my life.

Tonight, to the Highlands.  Volunteer meeting and going door to door to spread the word about the basketball tournament this weekend.

08-28-16

We're almost done watching Under the Dome.

It's feeling a lot like Lost,w here it is getting weirder and weirder and isn't going to wrap up.  Thanks, Stephen King.

An invisible and mysterious force field descends upon a small actual town of Chester's Mill, Maine, trapping residents inside, cut off from the rest of civilization. The trapped townspeople must discover the secrets and purpose of the "dome".

08-27-16

Back to the Electric Bean tonight for church.

Funny how we can be gone for a week but don't miss a week of church.

08-26-16

We got Xander home in time to get to work tonight!

We saw a lot of wildlife this trip. Most of it real, but this was a fun statue we ran across when exploring Central Washington University in Ellensburg.  Then to Yakima, then home via Highway 12.

Good to go, great to be home.

08-25-16

Saying good-bye is never easy.  We took Anastasia back to her temporary home, for a few more weeks, and headed west.  Another stop in Butte, and a long drive to Ellensburg.

Happy centennial Yellowstone, today is your day!  Technically it is the National Park Service that turned 100, but Yellowstone was the first park.

08-24-16

This is where we stayed for a few nights.  Western bungalows. 

In Pray, Montana.  Population 681. It is near Chico Hot Springs but not much else.

It has brownies, cinnamon rolls, a herd of deer in the yard, spotty wifi, river access, swim towels to take to Chico (LOVED the hot water pool!), and even some neighbors hunting Pokemon.  It also is partway to Bozeman, so we headed that direction and got Anastasia hooked on Pokemon Go! Cell service is a beautiful thing...

08-23-16

The siblings are reunited!

We had planned to tour Grand Tetons today, but with the wildfires closing the main road, we decided to spend the day exploring Yellowstone.  Anastasia showed us around her new area and she got to get to other areas of the park.

Bison, geysers, and huckleberries...

08-22-16

A LONG driving day.  We got up early to miss Seattle traffic and headed across I-90 to Livingston Montana. We made a lot of stops, took us way longer than 10 hours.  A new favorite is Butte, MT.  So many Pokemon!  Oh, and cool historic buildings!

I could get used to the 80 mph speed limit in Montana!

08-21-16

Day one of our official vacation, but didn't get far.  Two hours of the 12 hour drive done. We needed to pick Xander up in Seattle and spent the night with Fischers.  With a lot of Pokemon fun in between.

This photo doesn't have any of us in it. but captures Pokemon mania at Bellevue Square Park.  Someone calls out a rare Pokemon and everyone starts running in that direction.  Some cities are starting to vote to have Pokeman related items removed from their parks to reduce the traffic.  What a shame, this is so fun!

08-20-16

Headed to Portland this morning with the in-laws, Amethyst, and Ayaka.  Old buildings, fire escapes, statues, chocolate ice cream, all kinds of American things for a Japanese student to wonder over.

08-19-16

Another hot one... house guests arrived to beat the heat.

08-18-16

Haircut day!

08-17-16

Raspberry season!

08-16-16

Porch, deconstructed.  There are concrete steps below, the door changed heights, a brick planter... and now a time capsule Bruce added.

08-15-16

Getting way too used to packing my computer home from work!  Life overfloweth...

08-14-16

Think I've been to the home improvement box stores four times this weekend.  And the weekend isn't over.  And tot he lumber section, yawn!  The game plan for the porch is worked out though...

08-13-16

Relay for Life.  Hottest day of the year.  This was the crowd for opening ceremonies, it dwindled during the 24 hour event.  We came and went ourselves, as we normally do, but this time to run to the AC!

08-12-16

Goodbye porch!  It's time for an overhaul!

08-11-12

Creation complete!

Used this blog to supply some journaling, love having this time capsule.

It's a challenge to scrapbook a virtual activity.  Especially when I forgot to send a bunch of photos to Walgreens!

08-10-16

A pedicure seems to be a multi day process in my life.  Soak nails, cut nails, remove polish, add polish.  Except have to add polish after walking but well before bedtime... first world problems!

08-09-16

Look what came in the mail today!  It helps to have friends that send freebies.  Time to get creative!

In other Pokemon news, I caught my 100th unique Pokemon today and Bruce caught his 2000th Pokemon.  #MASTER

08-08-16

With Pokemon at rest areas, we seem to stop at them all now.  Gotta catch them all!

Stayed in Eugene a few extra hours because we found an awesome Pokemon nest - with a farm fresh restaurant with outdoor seating, why would we want to go home?!?

Way more fun doing work travel with Bruce in tow, even when he takes silly photos to send to Xander...

08-07-16

Hello Eugene!

Spent the day working our way down I-5, stopping to walk and catch Pokemon.  This was the last walk of the day, on Pre's trail, with our hotel int eh background.  Last time we were here we drove all around looking for access to this trail, all to find it is a great walk from the hotel!

08-06-16

Guess who won First Saturday today!

Me!  I was surprised, because it didn't feel like a high score day, but I rocked it!

The numbers are dwindling and many of us are also playing Pokemon Go! now, but it is a fun group of people and excuse to explore Vancouver/Portland.

08-05-16

bibimbap!

I had never heard of it before watching Masterchef last night, and tonight we had it for dinner!

Bibimbap is a Korean dish, it means "mixed rice". It’s served as a bowl of warm rice (crunchy on the bottom) topped with sautéed and seasoned vegetables, and traditionally a fried egg and sliced meat. The hot dish is stirred together thoroughly just before eating.

Bruce made his curry and boy was it great!

08-04-16

Concert at the lake.  Picnic dinner and steps to the music.

08-03-16

Master Chef!  Not sure what I enjoy more -Dave Ramsey or critiquing Christina's outfits.

08-02-16

Xander went to the LCC bookstore and got a few things to round out my Red Devils basket for Relay for Life.

08-01-16

The roses in the front pot are flourishing.  The rest of the yard seems to be choking for water under my neglect.