Amber is up to something

Shutting it down

2010-03-17T04:36:00.003-04:00

Yes, I'm finally updating this blog, but only to shut it down. You see, it's not just me anymore. I am now part of an "us" and we are usually up to something together. So it seemed fitting to start a new blog full of the musings and adventures of Richie AND Amber. Visit our new blog here.

Crazy Flower

2009-10-06T19:10:00.002-04:00

I regularly walk through my neighborhood and the other day I saw this amazing flower. I have never seen anything like it. I'm not sure what it is, but I think it's one of the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen.

West Coast Trip

2009-10-06T18:58:00.002-04:00

In August, Richie and I took a long trip up the coast to visit our families and take a little vacation. We had a great time and we learned that we like each other quite a bit. In case the news hasn't spread to everyone who reads this blog, we're engaged!

On Our Way

2009-10-06T18:40:00.006-04:00

We left for our trip up the coast and headed up scenic Highway 101. We found a lovely little beach town that we'd like to visit again someday. Avila Beach is a cute little town that looks like a great place to spend the weekend. After a quick stop, we were on our way.

After a brief stop at Richie's parents' house in Fremont, CA we were headed up to Oregon. (Don't worry; we stopped there and spent some quality time with his family on the way back.) Our first stop was Ashland, OR where Richie lived when he was in grade school. It was fun to see the house he lived in and the old places he used to frequent. Ashland is a great town with a cute old shopping district. It is most famous, however, for it's annual Shakespeare Festival, and while we were there, we got to see Cervantes's Don Quixote. It was a marvelous production and we had perhaps some of the best seats in the house - 3rd row center. The play was performed on the Elizabethan Stage, the first of such outdoor theaters in the US. It was the perfect night for an outdoor performance and I hope to visit Ashland again someday.

Oregon - A Hometown Visit

2009-10-06T18:20:00.005-04:00

When we arrived in Oregon we spent some time at my parents' house and they spent some time getting to know Richie. My mom says that the first time she met him, she already liked him. I think everyone got along quite well. I took Richie into downtown Portland and we visited some of my favorite spots. It was a beautiful night to walk along the waterfront and show him the city I love.

After some Portland time we headed to the beach. Of course we had to spend time at my favorite place in the world. I love the Oregon coast and I wanted to show Richie why I loved it so much. We had perfect weather the entire time and enjoyed a relaxing visit.

Margaret enjoying an afternoon on the beach. Andrew, Linda, Savannah, Margaret and LeGrande all came to the beach to visit. It was great to see everyone. The kids are getting so big!

On the Bay

2009-10-06T18:02:00.004-04:00

We visited Richie's family in Fremont, CA next and enjoyed many beautiful spots in the Bay area. I regret not taking more pictures during our stay here, but I did get some good shots of our trip into San Francisco. We also visited Palo Alto, the Stanford campus, won lottery tickets to see the play Wicked and had some good family time.

Richie's family is wonderful and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. They are warm, unassuming, generous, hilarious and just fun to be with. I felt right at home in their house and I'm grateful for their hospitality.

Here are some shots from San Francisco, mostly at Pier 39. It was a beautiful breezy and I ate soup in a warm sourdough bread bowl on the pier. We also saw the largest group of sea lions I've ever seen. They were especially smelly and quite mean to each other. But I did enjoy them posturing for a good spot on the deck.

The Proposal

2009-10-06T17:24:00.005-04:00

The last leg of our trip was perhaps the most memorable. As I posted previously, we camped in Monteray and visited Carmel before driving through Big Sur. We had a brilliant day finished off by a stunning sunset along the coast. We stopped at several view points along the way and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I came to find out later that Richie had hoped to propose at one of these lovely spots. But it wasn't meant to be. Our privacy was constantly inturrupted by other travelers who also wished to enjoy the view. There was still time left in the evening and there would be other spots along the way, Richie thought. (I was unaware at this point.) We continued to drive when it became clear that our car was overheating. We were forced to stop on the side of the road while this car that had been so faithful to us throughout the entire trip took a much needed break. After cooling down, we were able to pull into a gas station. I ate a dinner of convenience store nachos on the curb while Richie burried his head under the hood, trying to determine the problem. The town we landed in was very small and neither of us had cell reception. We made friends with some people at the gas station who tried to diagnose our problem. We then decided to have the car towed and stay in the small town of Cambria for the night. We later learned that the car's water pump was faulty and needed to be replalced.

The tow truck driver, an experienced surfer named Brett, picked us up and took us to a hotel where we would stay until we could get our car fixed. Once we got settled in our room, we were very tired and glad to rest for a bit. Durring the whole ordeal, Richie seemed especially anxious and stressed. He had planned on a romantic proposal but our story was meant to be unique and a bit adventurous. As we were settling in, Richie got on one knee and asked me to marry him. It wasn't exactly what he had planned, but he knew he wanted to ask me. I think the fact that I didn't get upset about the car breaking down may have sealed the deal for him. I of course said YES.

Here we are after a long day of sight seeing, an exciting evening of car difficulties, and, of course the exciting event of getting engaged. We were tired, but very happy.

Big Sur is a Big Hit

2009-08-26T21:26:00.004-04:00

Richie and I are on our way home to LA after a wonderful trip. I'll post more pictures when we get home, but I thought I'd share a few from our beautiful drive. We're stopped for a quick vehicle tune up which gives me a chance to post some pictures of the amazing drive from Carmel to Big Sur. It's been a near perfect day. Pancakes and eggs for breakfast, made on the campfire. The Monteray Museum of Art. Yummy lunch in Carmel. A stunning day on the beach. A tour of the Carmel Mission. Breathtaking views of the Pacific coast around every corner.

This guy ...

2009-08-06T13:10:00.006-04:00

is the reason why I went to LA. He's also the reason why I'm now in LA, at least for the summer. It's beautiful and sunny and I can go to the beach often. I'm still loving California, and even though it's hot, I don't mind. It cools down at night and there are farmers' markets everywhere. It's my kind of place. Fortunately my work has allowed me to work remotely and I was able to rent out my condo. So far this summer has been fabulous.

Loving California

2009-06-07T23:35:00.003-04:00

I took a fun trip to LA at the end of May and absolutely loved it. To be honest, I didn't think southern California would be for me, but it turns out that I kind of love it there. I went to Santa Monica and its famous pier, hit the beach in Malibu, loved every minute in Santa Barbara, saw the pre-Broadway play Dirty Dancing, bought fabulous produce at a local farmers' market, saw some great places in LA and left wanting to come back.

Santa Monica

2009-06-07T23:34:00.004-04:00

The Santa Monica Pier is every bit as exciting as I thought it would be. Lots of people, fun rides, people fishing, the salty smell of the ocean and an exciting energy that I loved.Here's a view of the pier from the top of the Ferris Wheel. Maybe carnival rides are cheesy but I love them. I make no apologies for wanting to play like a kid on a beautiful day at the ocean.There was a boxing game in the pier arcade that I had to try out. I made it all the way to level 3. All those years of boxing classes finally paid off.

Malibu and Santa Barbara

2009-06-07T23:15:00.008-04:00

The beach in Malibu is beautiful but full of people. It is a little different from the beaches I'm used to in Oregon but beautiful all the same. Santa Barbara was probably my favorite place I visited on my trip. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of good pictures of this beautiful town. It's a beautiful area with fun shops, lovely scenery and cool architecture. Here are some pictures of me on the pier at sunset.

The Getty

2009-06-07T22:16:00.003-04:00

The Getty is a fabulous art museum in LA that I just had to visit during my trip. It's a huge art complex with several buildings and beautiful gardens. The views of the LA area were pretty amazing too.

Some of my favorite works were: "Portrait of Jeanne Kefer" by Fernand Khnopff and a Joseph Mallord William Turner painting that has a super long name - "Van Tromp, Going About to Please His Masters, Ships a Sea Getting a Good Wetting".

Girl Time

2009-06-07T22:05:00.003-04:00

At the end of my trip I met up with some friends from the mission. April, Michelle and Lucinda all met me in LA and we had some good girl time. Most of the time we spent chatting and catching up. And it's always good to reminisce and tell good mission stories. Thanks for joining me ladies. I had a great time

Loving Mom

2009-05-10T20:29:00.004-04:00

Today I am reminded of how much I love my mom. But I was reminded of that yesterday too. And I'll probably be grateful for my mom tomorrow and most definitely later in the week. Mother's Day is nice, but I am thankful for my mom every day of the year.I have been so blessed with an amazing mom. She's done a lot of great things for me over the years, but most importantly, she has loved me, always.

Happy Mother's Day mom. I love you.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

2009-04-23T16:12:00.006-04:00

I'd like to take this opportunity to post a few more vintage photos and acknowledge the birthday of my grandpa Henderson. Although he has been gone for many years, I still think about him occasionally and remember the things I learned from him. He always seemed to have an honest approach to life, and even though I was only 12 when he died, I have a clear recollection of how much he loved his family. There was never any doubt about that. Here is Grandpa Henderson with his first grandchild (me). Daniel Garvin Henderson was born April 23, 1926 in Jersey City, NJ. He loved to work with wood and build things in his basement workshop. The Japanese culture fascinated him and he admired it's simplicity and beauty. He was very proud of his Scottish heritage and shared his love of Scotland with his family. He loved starlight mints, tea, Neil Diamond, M*A*S*H, Japanese gardens, the beach, and most of all, his family. (Pictured below, from left: Andrea Henderson Stahr (my mom) Daniel Henderson, Ermina Henderson, Sheila Henderson)Happy Birthday Grandpa. I feel fortunate to have known you.

Warmer weather is coming

2009-03-10T12:34:00.006-04:00

I'm ready for Spring and then Summer. The weather here has been nice lately and I'm so ready for winter to surrender to spring flowers, budding trees and days without wearing a coat. Here are some old pictures of me enjoying the warm weather of the Oregon summer when I was about 2 or 3. I'm not exactly sure where this carousel is. Maybe my mom can chime in and give some additional info. I don't remember loving this outfit, but I'm sure I did. I do now, that's for certain.

I remember the great summer family gatherings at my grandparents house. Grandma and Grandpa Stahr were excellent hosts and their patio was the perfect place to get together. Now that my parents live in their house, the patio is still a great place to host a party. Here are my parents, nearest to the fence, aunt Patty, her son Brad, and me.Uncle Ted and aunt Eleanor used to come visit from some far away state. Maybe Colorado, Arizona or California. Anyone in the family want to fill in this little detail? I always liked them and was amused that uncle Ted looked so much like my grandpa. And man, I had cute clothes when I was little. Where are those dresses now?

Navy Boxing

2009-03-01T22:46:00.003-05:00

On Friday night I went with some friends to the US Naval Academy where we watched the annual Brigade Boxing Championships. There were 10 fights in weight classes from 125 to heavyweight. I had never been to a boxing match so it was exciting to be a part of the excitement. The event is the Navy's school championship and the gym was packed with midshipmen and Navy alumni. Since I took a boxing class for a couple of years, I felt I knew a little about the punches and techniques and I was excited to see my first fight. It wasn't long and brutal like Rocky, which I think is what I was expecting. It was very athletic and all the fighters hugged each other after each fight. Not a very "Mike Tyson" thing to do. The fighting wasn't violent at all, although the last two fights did produce some blood. I guess that's why people watch, right?

Snowshoeing in the Adirondacks

2009-02-24T22:20:00.005-05:00

Last weekend I took a quick trip up to Albany to join Emily, Doug and Benjamin on a snowshoeing trip in the Adirondacks. We headed up to a small town halfway between Lake George and Lake Placid where we hiked to a yurt at Falls Brook.

Saturday was a perfect day with plenty of sunshine and minimal wind. We headed out to find the frozen Stony Pond but we never quite made it. We still had a great time enjoying the blue sky and fresh snow.

Little Squirt in the Yurt

2009-02-24T21:31:00.004-05:00

Benjamin and Emily enjoying the nice warm yurt. This kind of backpacking is way better than sleeping in a tent. You don't have to load your pack down with the tent, a ground pad or any kitchen gear. Did I mention that it was heated? It was heated. The yurt came fully equipped with a gas stove and kitchen items. Emily and Doug made some delicious Thai food on Friday night -- I'll take that over tinfoil dinners any backpacking trip. Winter camping is cold, you say? Then opt for a yurt. Ours was well heated with this trusty unit, that worked so well that we heated water on it. Little hands and wet shoes beware. This heater will burn or melt anything that touches it. My only recommendation: install a fan to promote air circulation. The air from the waist down was freezing, waist to head was semi warm, and the high ceiling area enjoyed if you were sitting on the top bunk was a veritable sauna. Our yurt at Falls Brook. Emily and Doug were very dilligent about making sure Benjamin stayed warm. Here is the happy family gearing up for a day out in the snow. Ben loves his hunting bunting.

Winter's Beauty

2009-02-24T21:06:00.003-05:00

Obviously this trip was mostly about enjoying the beauty of winter. There's something so peaceful about a quiet forest covered in a thick blanket of snow. While taking breaks on the trail, we enjoyed that deep silence that is only enjoyed in the back country during winter. Here are a few glimpses of that beauty.

Beautiful and Delicious

2009-02-16T22:37:00.004-05:00

Last week I went with some friends to a gallery event at the McLean Project for the Arts. It was called Gals in the Gallery, a ladies night that also had a demonstration by a internationally renowned pastry chef. The theme for the evening was the Art of Chocolate and the chef built a beautiful chocolate sculpture right in front of us. We got to taste some yummy treats too.Here is part of the final product. He made these amazing roses out of white chocolate paste. Alisha, MacKenzie and me enjoying a fun girls night out. Besides the sweet treats, we also saw some intriguing art.

Good Memories

2009-02-09T18:38:00.009-05:00

I didn't take many pictures during my holiday trip to Oregon. But I did manage to find these old pictures. It's fun to look at photos from the past and remember how much more simple things were. Or maybe they just seemed easier. Being an adult seems to bring responsibility and big decisions and sometime disappointment. Life was a little easier when I was running around the driveway with friends and sticking my tongue out. I seemed to do a lot of that. I don't remember exactly which vacation this was, but I'll venture a guess and say it's when we went to Cove Palisades. It could have also been Ft. Stevens. Camping was such a great vacation. I wish I did more of it now. Really it's all about sleeping in a tent and cooking and keeping the fire going. Not much else to it. I have no idea where or when this picture was taken, but I like it. Someone told me I look like Dorothy. I especially like grandma Henderson in the background. This looks like it could have been a school concert. More importantly, I remember loving that shirt. I wish they still made cool shirts like that. I have more pictures that I'll post in the future. I'll save them for when I don't have anything new to report.

Bananas for the Steelers

2009-02-01T22:38:00.003-05:00

So as you may know, I'm not a huge professional sports fan, however, I do enjoy a good Super Bowl party. Tonight I went to a fun gathering with friends and since I didn't really have a favorite team, I picked the Steelers. When at the grocery store looking for something to bring, I saw a box of Nilla Wafers and got an idea.
Here is my version of a Super Bowl winning dessert. I think I'll call it "Bananas for the Steelers". Congratulations Pittsburgh and fans everywhere. There's plenty of pudding left over so stop by for a celebratory snack. In case you don't know what the Steelers' logo looks like, click here.

The Inauguration

2009-01-21T22:49:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to attend the Presidential Inauguration with my friends Alison and Becky. We started out at 5:30 a.m. and arrived at a packed Metro station. We elbowed our way onto an overflowing train and I could sense the other passengers' irritation. To ease my guilt for having pushed our way on, I shouted "I love you all" and everyone laughed. We were all going to the same place, all going to take part in history. And one day our children and grandchildren will read in their text books about the first African American man who was elected President of the United States. I'll be able to say I was there.

Bitter cold and I didn't care until I couldn't feel my feet

2009-01-21T22:27:00.006-05:00

Here are Becky and I standing in front of the first police barricade. We were still smiling because it was still early and we hadn't suffered much yet. Little did we know what we were in for.After the barricade was opened, we headed to one of the security check points. There was a secured perimeter around the parade route and everyone had to pass through metal detectors. Here are just a few of the people we shared the day with. The smiles were starting to fade. Three hours later, after standing still in 20 degree weather we weren't feeling as fresh, but we kept our eye on the prize. We weren't going to stand on The Mall all day like most people. We were going to a party in an office on Pennsylvania Avenue where we would get a comfy seat in a warm building, where there would be large restrooms and plenty of food. We finally made it through the check point and limped to our destination. We soon learned that we had been lucky. Some of our friends waited 6 hours in line at a security checkpoint where the power had died, rendering all metal detectors useless. Three hours no longer seemed so horrible. Here are Becky and I starting to feel a little cold. We were grinning and coming close to bearing it. At times, though, the cold wind seemed unbearable.

Presidential View

2009-01-21T22:11:00.004-05:00

This was our view from the office we were in. We were right in front of the Navy Memorial and across the street from the National Archives building. We could even see the platform from which Ann Curry and Al Roker were broadcasting all day. At one point Ann was dancing with the crowd that was doing the electric slide. But forget morning talk show hosts. This is what we had been waiting for all day. And we actually saw them, albeit from a window. President and Mrs. Obama stepped out of their bullet-proof Cadillac limo and walked in the street, right in front of our building. I know this picture isn't that great, but you can tell it's them. Michelle's yellow dress stands out in a crowd.

So now I can say I witnessed history. I attended the Inauguration of President Barak Obama, our nation's 44th president. And not only did I witness it, but I was inspired by this epic event. It is our turn to join in and do something that makes our country better. What will I do? What will you do? Let's start thinking and let's start doing. Regardless of our political views, we can all do our part to make American even better.

Federal Treat

2009-01-21T21:49:00.004-05:00

A party isn't posh without the ultimate favor. I'm pretty sure this one takes the cake. Or the chocolate bar. Eating the White House and the national Capitol never tasted so good.

Beautiful Sister

2009-01-14T19:17:00.002-05:00

Take a look at what my sister Rebecca is doing this weekend. http://www.jennejohndance.com/performances.htm.

I'm so proud of her!

Thanksgiving weekend

2008-12-08T00:06:00.003-05:00

Rebecca, Matt, Madeline, Lillian, Emily, Doug and Benjamin all came down to DC for Thanksgiving weekend and stayed at hotel Amber. It was cozy but we had a great time. I wasn't very good at getting pictures of the whole group, or the important things like all of us sitting down for dinner, but here are a few fun moments from our time together.

Does four years make it a tradition?

2008-12-08T00:02:00.003-05:00

As we have done for the past 4 years, we participated in a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning. It was FREEZING and some of the younger participants didn't enjoy the trot as much as those of us who were running to keep warm. It was a good way to assuage a little guilt due to Thanksgiving over indulgence.

Purple turkey eaters

2008-12-07T23:57:00.002-05:00

Madeline and Lillian with my friend Genvieve, the daughter of Eric and Alisha who joined us for Thanksgiving dinner. It was great to have friends and family together to give thanks and enjoy a good meal.

This is what we're here for

2008-12-07T23:49:00.003-05:00

Food. Isn't that the real reason for celebrating Thanksgiving? Yes, expressing gratitude is important but so is the big meal, right? Our turkey turned out pretty well and so did everything else. Everyone pitched in to make lots of delicious food that left our bellies very very full.

Dinner in the fort with Cleopatra

2008-12-07T23:43:00.002-05:00

Emily is an awesome fort maker. She turned my living room into a special place where Cleopatra the Egyptian princess came for dinner. Her lovely little sister was there too.

Up to something

2008-12-07T23:31:00.004-05:00

The day after Thanksgiving was a good time to burn off some energy we "gained" from all the eating the day before. We visited a huge park with all kinds of play structures. I hung out with Lillian quite a bit that day and she kept me guessing. I love her mischievousness. Doesn't this face say "If I could run faster than you, I'd definitely get into some serious trouble"?

Bindi

2008-12-07T23:28:00.003-05:00

How do you say "India is beautiful" in Hindi? I'm not exactly sure but Madeline knows. Really, she does. Ask her and she'll tell you.

Cute addition to our gang

2008-12-07T23:22:00.005-05:00

This was Benjamin's first Thanksgiving and it was fun to have him. Especially since I could eat his cheeks all day. He's adorable and his parents are pretty great too.

Street Performer

2008-12-07T23:10:00.005-05:00

On Saturday we went to the Museum of American History where we saw lots of fun things, including the ruby slippers from the Wizard of OZ, the original flag that inspired the song "The Star Spangled Banner", Kermit the Frog, a cool illustration exhibit and plenty of lines. We walked around the National Mall for a bit after visiting the museum and spent some time in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden which, during the winter, has an ice skating rink. On our way back to the car we saw a musician playing music on the street. Madeline decided to add her bit to the performance.

Now it's time for Christmas

2008-12-07T23:04:00.003-05:00

On Saturday we started the Christmas season with some treat making. Madeline led the gang in dipping pretzel rods in chocolate and sprinkles. Truthfully, there aren't too many things more delicious than the salty-sweet taste of chocolate and pretzels. Yum.

A photographer in the making

2008-12-07T23:00:00.003-05:00

Madeline took this picture of me. Not too bad, huh. I'm pretty sure she'll be a famous photographer some day.

Where is Anthony?

2008-11-02T23:07:00.003-05:00

Last weekend I went to a Halloween party. I thought for sure lots of people would dress up. People dress up for Halloween, right? Not at this party. My friend and I were the only ones dressed up. So all you blog stalkers out there who are reading this (especially the ones who were at the aforementioned party) next time there's a Halloween bash, I expect to see some serious dressing up. Here's a picture of MacKenzie (China Doll) and Me (Cleopatra).

Note to Mac: I know you said you didn't want me to post this, but I promised my mom. You look super cute, really.

Worker bee ...

2008-10-30T18:20:00.002-04:00

... that's me. What have I been up to, you ask? Working, working, working. This weekend I hope to be able to relax and maybe take some fun pictures to post. I'm pretty sure a picture of me at the office wouldn't be exciting at all.

I am first mate

2008-10-13T23:28:00.009-04:00

Since I had Columbus Day off, a friend invited me to go sailing. It was a perfect day to be out on the water and we spent hours in the sun, relaxing and not doing much of anything. I couldn't have asked for a better day off.The whole gang, from right to left: Jake, Annie, Ryan, Monica and Mark. I have begun logging my 365 days as first mate needed to become a captain. I think I did pretty well and I even got to climb the mast. America's Cup here I come.

Small town visit

2008-10-13T23:00:00.007-04:00

This weekend I did something I've always wanted to do -- get in my car and drive, without a plan, without a pre-determined destination. I knew I wanted to head west, so I drove through the beautiful Virginia countryside and found myself in Strasburg, VA, about 60 miles from home. I checked into a brand new hotel (I was the first person to sleep in my bed) and enjoyed this cute little town. I ate a big breakfast, sitting at the counter of the Hi Neighbor restaurant and I did plenty of antiquing. Sadly I didn't come home with any great finds, but I enjoyed the hunt.

I ended my short trip in Shenandoah National park where I drove along Skyline Drive. I went on a very brief hike, enjoyed the beginning of fall colors and saw an amazing sunset. The perfect end to a perfect impromptu trip.

The great relay

2008-10-05T22:48:00.005-04:00

I did it! A daunting 183 miles, 12 team members, 2 vans and enough water and Gatorade to bathe in made for one exciting adventure last weekend. I ran the Ragnar Washington DC relay which started in Cumberland, MD, traveled across most of Maryland, passed through DC and ended in Crystal City, VA. I ran three different legs: 7.7 miles, 3.3 miles and 5 miles, all in the rain and two in the dark. It was something I had been training for since late May and it was exciting to finish something I had worked so hard for. Our team didn't win, but we finished and that's all I was hoping for. Stretching out before my first leg -- 7.7 miles. I wore a head lamp so I could see in the dark. It was my longest leg, but perhaps the easiest. I was fresh and had plenty of energy.
At the exchange for my first leg.
My team met me half way on the trail and took my picture. I was still feeling pretty good.
Me with Ali and Ann. This was taken right before my last leg which was undeniably the hardest. The cold I had been fighting got the best of me and I started to have some difficulty breathing. Thanks to the encouragement from another team along the route, I pushed through and finished. I was glad it was over.
Our team at the finish line: Ashley, me, Alison, Susan, Ryan, Alisha, Amy, Ali, John and Matt. I didn't look super great because I got a little sick at the end. Notice my red mouth from the three Gatorade's I downed in the preceding 30 minutes. However, I was smiling big because I was so glad it was over. I had a great time with a great team. I'm definitely planning on doing this next year.

My favorite place in the world

2008-10-05T22:21:00.004-04:00

In August i went to Oregon for a week. I spent the entire time at the beach which is what I had been craving for quite some time. The Oregon coast is quite possibly my favorite place in the world.
It rained for the first three days so we spent a lot of time inside. Savannah and Margaret gave us a little dance recital.
I love this picture. Doesn't Margaret look like Andrew when he was little? She makes funny faces just like he did too.

Cape Falcon

2008-10-05T22:10:00.004-04:00

I wanted to get at least one hike in so we decided to hit Cape Falcon in Oswald West state park. It was 5 miles round trip and the views were spectacular.

Around the bonfire

2008-10-05T21:30:00.011-04:00

We had some great bonfires on the beach throughout the week. Even though it rained during the day, the nights were generally dry so we were able to build fires and watch the sunset almost every night. We enjoyed marshmallows, smores and hot dogs and we even made cobbler in a makeshift dutch oven fashioned from tinfoil and an old stockpot.

Throughout the week, we had a variety of people join us on the beach for the bonfires. Linda, Savannah, Margaret, LeGrand, Sheila, Lynn, Kevin, Kennedy and Kyle all joined us one or more nights.
Savannah and Kennedy playing in the sand before sunset.

Mom and Sheila loving their matching hats.

It was great to spend more time with Lynn & Kevin and their kids. Thanks for coming for the whole week guys. I'm glad you came!

Kayaking on the Nehalem River

2008-10-05T18:51:00.008-04:00

On Friday, Dad and I rented kayaks in Wheeler and headed up the Nehalem river. It was a perfect blue sky day after a long week of rain.

The Hall: Before and After

2008-06-29T21:23:00.005-04:00

What is our facination with the before and after? Who doesn't love a good makeover show or a magazine article with pictures showing the ugly before and the beautiful after? I decided my own front hallway needed a little improvement; I wanted something a little more inviting to greet me when I opened the front door. As you can see all white can be a little drab and uninspiring. Nothing that a coat of paint can't solve. The painting is a print I picked up in Spain - La Tierra by Cesar Manrique.

Road trippin' down south

2008-06-11T22:10:00.010-04:00

Last weekend I took a short little trip to Austin, TX and Nashville, TN. My company had a vehicle in Austin that needed to be driven back to Virginia and while we could have paid a transport company to ship it up here, I thought I'd better go down and take care of it myself. I love Austin -- it's great restaurants, fun night life, live music and eclectic art scene. My company also has a condo there, which they are selling, so I had to take advantage of the super cool pad one last time. This is the view from the condo's 28th floor balcony. You can see why I wanted to visit there one last time before they sell the place. In another life (where I have lots of money) I have a sweet place like this.I flew down to Texas with a co-worker and after two days in Austin, we loaded up the car and started our long journey north. The first day we drove 14 hours through Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee, finally arriving in Nashville around midnight. After a good night's sleep, we wandered around Music City for a day, listening to all the live music pour out into the streets. We enjoyed the music, looked in some of the shops and ate some delicious southern BBQ. I had pulled pork on corn cakes with plenty of coleslaw and BBQ sauce. YUM!

Of course, for me, a trip wouldn't be complete without a visit to an art museum or gallery. I visited the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and saw an amazing exibit of paintings on loan from the Cleveland Art Museum. Here are two of my favorites from the exhibit.

La Vida by Picasso

The Red Kerchief by Monet

Walking down the street in Nashville, I came across a rather unique gallery - Nashville's Smallest Art Gallery. It is just a glass case on the side of the building. I loved these paintings by Ryan Hale.

After enjoying a brief day in Nashville, we hit the hay early so we could leave at 3 a.m. the next day. I was excited to pass though the rest of Tennessee and a large part of Virginia. My favorite part had to be the Smoky Mountains which were so breath taking that when I saw them, I screamed. We passed through them in the early morning just before sunrise and the hills were covered in a thick fog that hovered above the rolling mounds of green. They truly looked smoky, almost to the point of sultry, like a smoky nightclub with an air of mystery. Unfortunately I remembered to pull out my camera after it was too late. This was taken somewhere near the Tennessee - Virginia boarder. My trip through the south was definitely too short. Someday I will plan a proper trip there and take time to visit the Grand Ole Opry, Smokey Mountain National Park, Texarkana (just because I like the name) and other random towns full of interesting people, rich southern soul food and beautiful landscapes. Oh, and I promise I'll take more pictures next time. I am sad that I didn't get a real picture of Nashville or the long country roads through Texas. Next time.

Saratoga Springs

2008-06-08T23:08:00.009-04:00

For Memorial Day weekend, Rebecca and I went up to Albany and surprised Emily with a fun little sisters weekend in Saratoga Springs. It was nice to get away and spend some time in horse country. We of course had to try on some gear. Aren't we the cutest cowgirls ever? After a morning of shopping, we hit the Saratoga Farmers' Market where we browsed booths and had some delicious samples. I think a lazy morning at an outdoor marked is one of those simple summer pleasures that I miss during the winter.
After shopping and walking around town, we were ready to relax. The whole point of the weekend was a visit to the famous Roosevelt Bath House and Spa so we were glad to finally be there for our treatments. To start off, we had mineral baths, which, to be honest, seemed a little sketchy to me. I don't even take a bath in my own tub unless I scrub it for hours so the thought of bathing in a public bathtub was a little unappealing. And, when we got into our separate rooms, it kind of felt like a hospital room with an old porcelain tub and institutional white tile, not to mention the water was orange and you couldn't see the bottom of the tub. Who knew what could be lurking in the fizzy water. Once I got past all of that, it was relaxing and I started to understand why people have been going there since the '40s to enjoy a good mineral bath. After a facial and then a massage, we were sufficiently relaxed. It was time to enjoy a night on the town.
After dinner at a deliciously over priced restaurant (Saratoga is famous for them) we went to see Ann Hampton Callaway at the Spa Little Theater. We seemed to be a little out of our age bracket, but it was a brilliant end to a fabulous day. She sings mostly old standards, jazz and blues and does an excellent Barbara Streisand impersonation. We laughed and not just a little. And I am positive I am becoming like my mom -I like waiting after the show to meet the star. I admit when I was younger I was slightly sheepish when our mom would encourage us to go backstage and meet someone who was only being nice to us because he or she needed to maintain a fan-base. But now as I've gotten older, I've embraced this practice. It's fun to get autographs and cheesy posed pictures. Thank goodness I started a blog. Now I have a place to display the backstage photo shoots.

A lazy Sunday in Saratoga

2008-06-08T22:40:00.013-04:00

On Sunday we got up early and watched Emily's husband, Doug, finish a duathlon. (He finished 3rd in his age group - Congrats Doug!) It was nice to get up early and enjoy the nice weather. While we were waiting for him to finish the race, Rebecca and I wandered around some of the art galleries in the up & coming art district of Saratoga. Then we met up with Em & Doug for brunch at Mrs. London's bakery. It was so delicious, I cleaned my plate. The Saratoga sparkling water was a highlight too. They're very proud of their water up there.We enjoyed the perfect Sunday afternoon -- lying on the grass in the cool shade of a big tree taking a nap.

More pictures of Saratoga Spa State Park and the bath houses. The whole complex was designed to be a place where people would linger and relax. We did just that.

Maria

2008-05-16T19:31:00.015-04:00

My neighbor, Maria, is adorable. She's 96, Italian, has a huge family, makes delicious waffle cookies and loves to garden. She has lived in her condo since it was built more than 30 years ago and knows just about everyone in our neighborhood. One of the first things I noticed when I initially looked at my condo was the flower garden in front of the building. I discovered later that it was Maria who maintained the numerous rose bushes and other flowers.
Maria's husband, Dominic, long ago built planter boxes so the roses could have a proper home. Now gone, Dominic is remembered fondly by Maria and all the neighbors who reminisce about how much he loved his roses. When the flowers are in bloom, Maria cuts large quantities and takes them to her husband's grave. She says she wants him to still be able to enjoy them.
Up until this year, Maria has tended these beautiful flowers. But now it has become difficult for her to climb in and out of the garden and her eye sight isn't quite as good as it used to be. All the residents in our building were asked if they could help keep up the garden. If no one volunteered, the property management company would have to take it out and put in more low-maintenance shrubbery to replace the roses. When I volunteered to help, I thought for sure other people would step forward as well. Nope. It was just me. Since digging in the dirt makes me happy, I don't mind so much, especially when Maria keeps me company and sits out on the steps and talks to me while I'm working. She gives me tips and lends me tools. I'm pretty sure I love her. Everyone else who knows her does too.

A New Kitchen

2008-05-13T23:35:00.003-04:00

Ok, ok, ok. Here are the pictures from my remodel. Every day when I come home and drop my keys in the bowl on the counter, I am reminded of how much I love my new kitchen.

Before

2008-05-13T23:18:00.007-04:00

Yes, this is what it really looked like. Avocado green counters and ancient cabinets in all of their ugliness.

Starting Out

2008-05-13T23:04:00.007-04:00

Ripping out all cabinets and counters took about an hour. Then I spent a careful evening taking out the asbestos flooring. Don't worry, I wore a mask, goggles and gloves.

A brilliant friend suggested that I paint before doing any of the major work. That way I didn't have to tape or put down a drop cloth and I only had to do minor touch ups when I was all finished. My friend Kelli helped me paint one night. With this color, we felt like we were painting with melted chocolate.

My expert tile work friends Eric and Alisha helped me lay the floor. I originally wanted to pour a concrete floor, but that didn't quite work out. This grey, concrete-looking tile was the next best thing and I'm really happy with it. I think it's the part of the kitchen I'm most proud of.

Hanging Cabinets

2008-05-13T22:34:00.009-04:00

Since all IKEA cabinets are flat-packed, I needed to assemble them prior to hanging. I used the living room as a work area and drilled, screwed and hammered until they were all ready to put up on the walls. Hanging cabinets was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. With the help of several friends, over a period of a couple of weeks, I put them up and took them down a total of 3 times. The drywall is a bit Swiss cheese-like so they're hanging on a few brackets and a prayer.

Almost Finished

2008-05-13T22:20:00.006-04:00

So when I started this project, I thought it would take me 3 or 4 weeks. I had no idea how time consuming all the little details would be. Under cabinet lighting and molding and sanding and caulking. So much work! So, 10 weeks later I finished. I guess you could say it dragged on a bit. Here are some pictures from the home stretch.

All Done

2008-05-13T21:42:00.011-04:00

So finally, the third weekend in November I finished. (Well, I still have a few little things to fix up, but for the most part I'm all done.) When it was all over, I invited the friends who helped me over for a dessert party. When they all left, I sat on the floor and cried. I couldn't believe I had done it. After all that time, more than my share of paper plates and frozen meals, I had successfully remodeled my kitchen. Thank you to some amazing friends!! Kelli, Alisha, Eric, MacKenzie, Jason, Mark, Rana, Jason, Sarah, Annie, Megan, Cristi, and Steve all gave up Saturdays or weeknights to paint, tile the floor, hang cabinets, install counters, connect appliances and put on the finishing touches. I couldn't have done it without them. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

A fabulous trip to Spain

2008-01-17T17:26:00.000-05:00

Here are a some pictures from my recent trip to Spain. It was so great to get away, especially after a very busy December. I met up with my friend Monica, who lives in Madrid, and we traveled to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, then to Sevilla in southern Spain before returning to Madrid for the final day. I saw some amazing architecture, beautiful landscape and awe-inspiring art. I ate tapas, met new people, and was reminded that traveling is an important part of life. It gives me the opportunity to experience something different and learn to appreciate differences in people and culture. It helps me to understand that my life is great because I'm living it.

Lanzarote
One of the Canary Islands and closest to the coast of Morrocco, Lanzarote is a beautiful island that is more volcanic than tropical. It is covered in lava flows and small white towns that dot the moon-like landscape. We visited many sites there, all of which have the heavy influence of Cesar Manrique, an artist and architect who was born on Lanzarote. After gaining notoriety in the art world, he returned to his birthplace and built the tourism industry into the island's main industry. His art is also amazing. I've discovered a new favorite artist.

The Cactus Garden, designed by Cesar Manrique, is a uniquely beautiful spot that had me walking quite cautiously. I kept thinking that they surely had special cactus spine removal kits, just in case I tripped on the stone paths. Luckily I made is through without a scratch.

Mirador del Rio was an overlook, perched on a cliff across from a tiny island off the coast of Lanzarote. Don't these pictures look like they were taken from a plane? Well, they weren't. We really were up that high.

Enjoying the sun! A beautiful swimming pool built into a lava flow.
The beach on Lanzarote. All sand beaches on the island are man-made. We decided to go to this natural spot. It's beautiful, late in the day.

Sunset, in a town called Playa Blanca.

Eating Italian on New Years Eve. We had hoped for a traditional Spanish New Years, but the island was so full of tourists that not many of the restaurants served traditional Spanish food. We settled for Italian. It was delicious.

This pic was taken just after midnight on New Years Eve. Instead of eating 12 grapes at 12 a.m., like the Spaniards do, we rang in the new year with mostly British tourists in a small Irish pub near our hotel. They sang Auld Lang Syne and watched the ball drop in London's Trafalgar Square via cable TV. We had fun anyway.

Sevilla
I loved Sevilla! It was beautiful and exactly what you might think of when you picture a typical European city. Cobblestone streets, tiny back alleys, colorful buildings, old architecture, amazing food, cute old people wandering the streets at night. I loved every minute of Sevilla and would definitely recommend it to anyone traveling to Spain.

Sitting by a fountain in one of the many plazas.

They had some amazing tile work all over Sevilla.

Plaza de España at sunset.

Most everyone in Spain goes out at night, some for dinner, some for a walk. And they're always dressed up. I was especially impressed by the older population who got all decked out to go out for a bite. These were some lovely ladies who we thought were particularly adorable.

A flamenco show

The streets of Sevilla

El Real Alcázar is the royal palace in Sevilla, Spain's former capital. It was here that Columbus planned his exploratory trip with Ferdinand and Isabella. Many other important things in Spanish history happened here, however, I'm not exactly sure which ones. There weren't any posted signs or plaques anywhere. It was still beautiful and impressive in size. Just when we thought we had seen it all, there was more.

Eating tapas at a typical tapas bar. I even tried blood sausage. While the flavor was good, I couldn't get over the fact that I was eating animal blood. At least I can say I tried. My favorite tapas were: tortilla de batatas, croquetas, queso manchego, chorizo and fried eggplant drizzled with honey.

The cathedral in Sevilla is the largest Christian church in the world, as deemed by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Eating paella -- it was amazing. At this restaurant I also enjoyed the best gazpacho I've ever had. We definitely splurged, but it was well worth it.

Madrid
I spent my first and last day in Spain exploring Madrid. While I didn't especially love the city, (it was dirty, crowded, loud and full of not so friendly people) I fell in love with the art. I visited both el Museo del Prado and el Museo Reina Sofia. I saw Picasso's Guernica, a painting I've read about and always wanted to see. Here are a few more of my favorites out of the ones I saw. These little thumbnails really don't do them justice. Most of these were at least 10 feet high and 9 feed wide.

Guernica, by Picasso

Las Meninas, by Velazquez

La Familia de Carlos IV, by Goya

Madrid did have some cute little spots, including this fun pastry shop. You had to push your way to the counter and tell them what you wanted. Then you ate, standing up and trying not to get bumped by the person next to you. I had an empanada de pezcado (tuna pie).

On the outskirts of Plaza Mayor in Madrid.