Moving to Vancouver Washington

Go to my new blog

2009-05-01T23:06:00.001-07:00

"moving suz" has moved. Please go here for new posts.

It's been great to document moving and making a new home. I will continue the saga of creating community and learning about my environs on my new blog.

Marauders

2009-04-29T13:00:00.001-07:00

It was so convenient to hang seed and suet feeders for the birds off the trellis. But by the second week in April the squirrels woke up from winter and found all those nuts and suet just waiting for them.

S'pose they need food too, but they can empty a feeder in a day or two -- that might last over a week for birds.

So off to the Backyard Bird Shop I went. I got the tallest feeder they had. I still needed to add a little "tent" gizmo to keep them from climbing up the darn pole!

So far so good. The squirrels still hang around the bottom and eat all the "spill". I took the screen off my kitchen window and moved the feeder closer so I can photograph the birds from indoors.

Just so you know, that's a Pine Siskin noshing away.

Tulip Tripping

2009-04-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back we had a heat wave of sorts and I drove a friend and my sister off to Woodburn, OR to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

It was a little tricky to shoot in the bright sunshine. But nothing soaks up the sun like yellow ...

Nothing says "yellow" like tulips.

How about these little bowls of sunlight?

Of course, they came in every color and shape. This brilliant cluster was in the display area, where folks could see the names and choose bulbs for order.

They weren't all showy. We fell in love with this blushing beauty.

There were acres and acres of rolling stripes of color. I ran into Craig Tuttle while out roaming the fields.

Of course, what would a tulip field be without the little tulip girl?

After the Party

2009-04-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

After the orgasmic burst of blooms, the air is a flutter with drifting petals. The ground assumes the color that once was in the tree.

I've seen sidewalks and gutters that were brilliant pink. Here in my yard it was quite pale.

In these parts the sunniest time of day is frequently late afternoon and evening. Here's my Chinese Elm aglow in the setting sun.

The crows congregate in the day's last rays and make their own special ruckus as they go about it. It's nice knowing we're enjoying these balmy evenings together.

Ode to Winter's Passing

2009-04-17T16:06:00.001-07:00

This isn't entirely finished, but I wanted to get this out while it still has some seasonal relevance.

Ode to Winter's Passing

Winter's lean calligraphy
Of leafless limbs
Is slowly blurred
In pale blushes
Of pink and gold,
Rust and red.

Lost are the spare black veins
Etched high against the steely skies,
Their eloquent soliloquy
Increasingly obscured
By diffuse profusions
Of their own concealed
Fecundity.

Tints, at first tentative
And faint
On winter's chilly cusp
Deepen into bolder hues.
I feel giddy and unsteady
To be so newly
Unconstrained from
Winter's quiet dialog.

Slowly I gladden
And let loose a
Drunken joy
That life indeed
Has triumphed
Once again.

Then and Now

2009-04-17T10:35:00.001-07:00

It's been one year since I moved to Vancouver. I arrived the afternoon of April 14th, 2008, but wasn't able to sleep in my house until the next day when the furniture arrived.

It's hard to believe there was so much upheaval and chaos. (We quickly forget unpleasant memories!)

Looking back, it seems like a lot was accomplished. Besides moving in, a new heat pump was installed, insulation and lighting amended, trees removed, the house painted, a new front door installed, garage insulated, dry-walled and painted, new garden beds prepared ... and on and on.

I have definitely "landed". I absolutely LOVE my new home and community. I've been surprised how quickly I was able to reestablish community and make new friends from ... Zen Center, gardening, ushering, birding, hiking, Farmers markets, Drinking Liberally, a gym, etc.

I miss my friends in California more a year later, now that the dust has settled. But this new life in a home, with a yard, a neighborhood, SEASONS and having TIME ... well that's pretty sweet too.

Since this blog is about my "moving", I will be replacing it with a new blog in the near future (when I'm not in the garden all day!). It's been a great year.

Sourdough starter ...

2009-04-11T09:44:00.001-07:00

This is what gray, wet days are good for --- baking! Michael Pollan made it sound so easy. Hoy! Maybe for him. This was definitely trial by error.

I should explain that I was inspired by a passage in An Omnivore's Dilemma about whipping up sourdough starter on the window sill. I used the Boudin Bakery website to get started -- basically leaving flour and water out to soak up ambient bacteria.

After that, it was a bit dicey. My first batch of bread tasted great but was very flat and dense. I got the starter out again and let it sit for about 10 day (!!!) -- mostly because I just didn't know what to do with it.

But I didn't have the heart to throw it out. I "freshened" it again (with equal parts water and flour), let it sit overnight and le voila! I had live starter. It rose like a dream.

These loaves are going fast!

Just Google "sourdough starter" -- there are oodles of YouTube videos. Just one word of caution, the start up process takes about 4 days minimum. Don't do what I did and start a day before company arrives!

Proof!

2009-04-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

This yellow variant House Finch is a permanent resident in my yard. He's got quite the song. He trills from high in the trees as good as any canary. (incorrect grammar aside)

Here's proof at my own feeder!

Spring Jewel

2009-04-09T10:34:00.001-07:00

In the four years I've owned my home and the year I've lived in it, I've never seen my cherry tree bloom before. It's taller than my house even. I just love being greeted by this scene when I arrive home.

I'm reminded of popcorn, cotton candy and even bubble bath suds.

The best part of standing under the boughs is the constant hum of bees and the clicking of hummers. Both are having a field day supping from the blooms.

Spring gone wild!

2009-04-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

My friend Yvonne and I walked through her Portland neighborhood yesterday afternoon. At 75 degrees, my cotton jacket was tied around my waist.

Rows of flowering plum lined many streets.

I knew about tulip magnolia blooms ...

But I didn't know that so many trees flowered before they leafed out.

Gardeners were out and ready to respond. We talked to at least half a dozen.

It seems that my own cherry tree went from buds to blooms in a single day. I even had to mow the lawn!

Another view -- during a late afternoon siesta. Cotton candy or pink popcorn come to mind.

A Break in the Weather

2009-04-06T13:04:00.001-07:00

Last Friday the weather broke up and we got sun!

A walk along Salmon Creek revealed buds already well developed. Flora and fauna seem to know it's spring.

These hillside thickets have yet to don its spring colors.

The Evanescence of Spring

2009-04-03T14:15:00.001-07:00

This has been the soggiest time of year since I moved here almost a year ago. The tulip bloom is a week late already.

This morning, during what proved to be a brief interlude in the rain (note sunny boughs on lower left) I went out doors to check up on my lettuce seedlings. Copious plumes of steam were wafting off of my own roof and those of my neighbors. At first I thought it was chimney smoke.

In just a few minutes it was over. (It's a lot prettier in a forest -- to which the French say, "the wolves are tending their ovens".)

Did You Know?

2009-03-30T13:19:00.000-07:00

I've been away on retreat contemplating emptiness and spaciousness. It is amazing a) that our minds are so chaotic and "busy" and 2) that they can calm down to stillness.

Ahhhhh. Or should I say, Om.

In the meantime, I received this YouTube video detailing some jaw-dropping statistics on our changing world.

Bird Highway

2009-03-22T14:32:00.001-07:00

The weather may be hard to read, but the birds aren't confused. The jays are building nests. The chickadees are chasing each other with renewed fervor.

I spied a Downy Woodpecker who took great interest in my suet cube. It's not much bigger than a sparrow. (web photo)

I believe that's a Lesser Goldfinch on the bottom.

This beautiful Rufus Hummingbird has started coming by every afternoon around 4PM. He's quite punctual.

And perhaps my most unusual visitor was the yellow variant of the House Finch. (web photo) The best photo can be seen here.

Daffodil Time

2009-03-22T14:13:00.000-07:00

Springtime is here and it's "stormy weather". A gray, wet day can break open to sparkling sunshine without much notice. But don't count on it to stay that way.

I grabbed a sunny walk late yesterday afternoon. I chose a new neighborhood that overlooked the Columbia river. I like this view of the dappled shadows on the water.

The cherries are out in full force. Again, clear skies frequently come on the breeze making it hard to look up into a tree that isn't moving!

The yellow of daffodils is off the charts. Like ducks in rain, they thrive in this cool, wet weather.

My front door camellia is coming on strong. The blooms have more color and vigor.

March Madness

2009-03-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

This weed is amazing! It's kept me bent double weeding for the past several days. I couldn't find it in any of the local weed indexes, but finally identified it as Little Bittercress (Cardamine Oligosperma).

It's a member of the Brassicaceae family which includes mustards and cruciferous vegetables (your broccoli family). The Genus is Cardamine.

It has a fabulous quantity of roots when in loose soil and seems to flourish in any environment. The poorer the soil, the sooner it sets bloom. When the seeds mature they spray explosively at the lightest touch. They are generally easy to pull up.

I am so ready for spring. My lettuce seedlings need to be transplanted, but the weather is still quite volatile so they're going to have to wait a little longer.

We got rain for the next three days.

Fort Vancouver Walk

2009-03-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was a sunny day, perfect for an afternoon walk. Fort Vancouver affords tranquil alleys with little traffic.

For some reason, I found this row of utility vans intriguing. That's the I-5 bridge in the background.

Mt. Hood is at its best in the late afternoon light. Since Vancouver is west and north of the mountain, it's in shade much of the day.

That's the tip of Mt. Jefferson poking above the distant Cascades with Portland's Mt. Tabor in the foreground.

I love this copse of trees lit up in the afternoon light.

I came across the first cherry blossoms of the season. There was a brisk breeze so I wasn't able to get any detail as everything was swaying and wiggling.

I love this walk. It's a pleasant way to get in 4 miles and discover little neighborhoods tucked away off the beaten path.

I'm not sure if this is Mt. Rainier, but the amount of snow and its alignment make it a strong candidate. It's the smaller mound to the left of Mt. St. Helens.

Blooms and Sprouts

2009-03-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

On days like today, you think spring is here already. But it's fleeting. Storms are predicted for the weekend. This camellia is very reliable. Come March, it's blooming. I think it's suffered a little from this dry winter though.

The crocus close at night. This morning these were wide open.

To my great surprise, my Parrotia Persica is blooming! I had no idea. This is the first I've noticed. Turns out it's a relative of the Witch Hazels.

This tree tends to keep some of its leaves, so the blossoms aren't quite as showy as they otherwise might be.

The day lilies and iris are up and seem to radiate great joie de vivre. And who wouldn't in this glorious sunshine?

Hachooo!

2009-03-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

We're having a little cold snap here --- in more ways than one. For the past two days we've had intermittent SNOW and hail flurries. It's not even that cold, but it was snowing!

And I'm sniffling ....

Yes, those are PC handkerchiefs I ordered on the web from Lartisana. Decided I was denuding the planet with my Kleenex usage and switched to cotton a few months ago. They're getting a work out.

Meanwhile the trees are noticeably "pinking". I was surprised to see that even my backyard maple is budding up.

Throughout the yard anything that can send up shoots or sprouts is doing so. If I were feeling better, I'd provide more examples -- just trust me on this.

Winter Color!

2009-03-02T16:09:00.001-08:00

Today's been one of those on again off again days. One minute dazzling sunshine, the next black clouds and a brief squall --- very emotional weather!

But color's in the garden. My little Witch Hazel twig has provided a lovely shower of yellow for the past month. This display should be much more spectacular when this tree/shrub gains some size.

The crocus bulbs are blooming. They too are new and small. Crocus tend to naturalize and multiply over time.

I only planted about half of the mixed pack of 100. Either I chose the yellow and white bulbs, or there weren't many of the purple. No matter. Yellow and white is fine by me.

Portland Stroll

2009-02-26T16:43:00.000-08:00

For a day that started out with snow on the ground it was pretty darn sunny. I call this "emotional weather" as in a mercurial temper "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood".

I usher downtown, right across from this intersection at Broadway and Main.

This is just one of the several dozen sidewalk posts/hand rails bordering the theater. (Don Quixote perhaps)

I've always loved the way a cityscape is self-reflecting.

Another neighboring building is the Sovereigh apartment complex right next to the Oregon Historical Society. Trompe l'oeil was never better.

I pass by the Southpark Seafood Grill on my walk from the parking garage to the theater. It is always so inviting -- and always has customers.

Yes, that's a salmon diving through the building -- a pure Portland landmark.

The art museum is just a few blocks away and is home to one of Portland's heritage elm trees.

In taking closer shots I wasn't sure which was more interesting - the tree or its shadow.

Where I Walk

2009-02-17T15:22:00.001-08:00

I tend to walk at the end of the day. Mornings somehow disappear and then I'm productive in the afternoon. By 4PM I'm ready to take a break. I was a little late last night. I didn't get to the lake until 5:30.

The light was just turning dusky and the lake was reflecting the sky nicely.

I like this walk for the view (obviously) and because there's nice elevation. Seems a lot higher than 230 ft. (not at all sure how to read this darn thing)

It was quite dark when I got to the top of the hill and found another lookout point.

And of course, it's all down hill on the way back.

The ABC's of taking a picture

2009-02-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

Truth be told, for most of the 15+ years I've been shooting digital pictures I've done little more than point and shoot. Lately, friends have provided me some rudimentary instructions on aperture and shutter speed . . . the bigger the number the smaller the hole. I had the fraction (shutter speed) mixed up with the F-stop (aperture) until just recently. Not that it matters. When I'm out there shooting my mind goes blank and I can't remember anything.

Last week I met a fellow usher, Jan Landis who is a professional photographer. She generously offered to take me out on a photo jaunt at Kelley Point Park.

The weather was just turning from drippy to sunny when I shot this image before we started. I liked the mirroring of the verticals.

We strode the beach along the Columbia shoreline as she explained tonal zones, and how to read histograms. Cameras (no matter their quality) can only accommodate four zones in the same shot. The sky is too bright in this photo. I'd have to use a mask to make separate adjustments in PhotoShop.

This is an example of what NOT to do --- take a shot when the tripod is not level.

Oh Yeah!

2009-02-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

Six days out. The Red Sails lettuce seeds jumped out in less than 48 hours. My little set up provides all the heat they need. Now I'm wondering where I'm going to plant 12 heads of lettuce!

I've got one Mache (Corn or Lamb's Lettuce) sprout. They were planted deeper so this shouldn't be too surprising.

Not so fast!

2009-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

Guess that cold blast in Seattle made its way to the bottom of the state. It was snowing steadily all morning. Started turning to slushy rain/snow by mid-morning.

My salad seeds are planted INDOORS -- after I read the label's instructions: "performs best when air temperature is between 60 - 70 degrees".

I punctured drainage holes in some Earthbound salad containers and used an old CD rack and bubble wrap to create a mini-greenhouse in my office. I used window film to gain a little privacy now that the blinds are raised.

Full Moon

2009-02-09T21:59:00.001-08:00

My house faces North on my property. As a consequence, I have poor moon-viewing opportunities. So this morning as I was putting out the trash on the curb I was thrilled to have a great shot of the moon sinking in the Western skies.

It took a lot of juggling with the tripod to get a picture that excluded street signs and lights.

A Lovely Day

2009-02-08T18:43:00.000-08:00

It's still winter but Saturday was a sweet surprise. The skies cleared and it was bright and sunny. Sophie languished in the sun under Tibetan prayer flags while I fixed lunch.

On her recent visit to the vet I was admonished to keep up the fresh veggies in her diet. Here she happily noshes on a yam.

I drove over to my sister's house near Lake Vancouver to pick up her mail. I just missed sunset, but was able to capture a little post-sunset glow.

I was fascinated with the tree silhouettes but had an awkward time finding a spot that was clear of wires or rooftops.

It was one of those moments when I'm so concentrated looking West that the rising moon in the East came as a complete surprise. It will be full on Monday.

I Digress

2009-02-06T14:45:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a little diversion here to report on my sister's adventure. She's had a fierce case of wander lust (with a little SADs, empty nest, RV fever and hunger for warmth thrown in). She calls herself the "runaway mama".

She got herself a Dodge van a year ago and a small pull-behind trailer about a month ago. She took out the back seats and replaced them with a twin mattress. Her trailer holds clothes, reading material, food, dog, bike and laundry supplies, etc. With her recumbent bike and a little cooler she's all set. She even has a cool little port-a-potty.

Here she and her dog, "Mr. Lincoln" drop by to say 'good-bye'.

And she's off on her maiden voyage in her new get-up.

It was probably around 11 AM when she hit the highway. She didn't go very far ~ only 223 miles. But she rode her bike and gave Mr. Lincoln a good run. She stopped at the Seven Feathers Casino and just parked her rig in the parking lot. With all the coming and going she felt perfectly safe.

* click on map images from better clarity (this is my first effort with Snagit)

Then it was on to Corning, Ca. ~ at a leisurely pace, replete with doggie walk and bike ride in Caldwell Park, Redding. She camped in the parking lot of the Rolling Hills Casino.

On her third day she cut over to Hwy. 99 so she could see Yuba City and pass by the Women's State prison in Chowchilla. Her final desination was Goshen where she stayed in her first RV park, the Wooden Shoe.

Day 4 took her to Palmdale, where she just drove into a little neighborhood and found a private spot (after checking with the residents that it was okay). This was a pretty drive through the Sierra foothills. She was particularly taken with the area around Keene and the Tehachapi mountains ~ famous for the Tehachapi loop - a well known railroad buff destination.

Last on the southward leg of her trip was a short jog to Palm Springs where she was delighted to find the Happy Travelers RV Park at the base of the mountains on the Taquitz Wash.

She bought up a week's stay and is ecstatic to be thoroughly "amputated from life" and untethered from any obligations or demands. She loves RV camp life (rife with Canadian winter escapees) and forays to neighboring La Quinta and Rancho Mirage.

With her new Eee PC she can get free wifi from the libraries and check her email and the web. This is more plugged in than she usually wants to be however, as she and Mr. Lincoln are too busy exploring new sights and trails.

Change and Hope in the Garden

2009-02-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

Winter is loosening its grip. We're still having frosty mornings in the mid-20's. There's a new phenomenon -- something they call "freezing fog".

It melts really fast so you have to get out there early.

It's been positively warm (over 50 degrees) in the afternoons. It was time to start cleaning up winter's remains. The entryway hydrangeas were the first to tackle.

I'm still pondering this weeping Japanese Maple. Master apprentices only watch for fifteen years before they're allowed to make any cuts.

With all this new light and warmth I couldn't resist starting a salad garden. This is the "hope" part -- right outside my office window.

I'll be serving up two kinds of lettuce.

New Visitors

2009-01-29T10:14:00.001-08:00

Not sure how long this fellow's been around, but he's new to my feeder and much more cautious than the regulars.

Try as I might, this Chestnut-backed Chickadee would barely stick around for his portrait.

These little fellows seem to be Bushtits. Sibley's illustrations don't quite match. They're smaller than the Chickadees and are quite partial to the suet.

On a clear day ...

2009-01-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

January 26 ~

You can see forever! Well, nearly so it seems. Today was one of those cloudless, dry days when visibility is razor sharp. I went to a local vista point to take pictures of the Cascade range. Another photographer was already there.

Objects ~ be they bridges, moons or mountains ~ always seem larger when on the horizon and smaller when in context, so to speak. Either way, I'm not sure it's a quality that translates to the snapshot image. These are taken from above and thus appear smaller than other vantages.

Here's Mount St. Helens to the North.

Followed by Mt. Adams to the West.

And Mt. Hood to the South.

On a walk today, I actually saw the tip of Mt. Jefferson -- nearly 100 miles to the south -- for the first time. I've also seen the tip of Mt. Rainier at sunset -- still glowing brightly in the light while Mount St. Helens was in shadow.

Snow Curiosities

2009-01-25T15:30:00.001-08:00

We had a more regionally typical dusting of snow last night. I took off for a morning walk to enjoy it while it lasted. The thick morning accumulation melted very quickly as the day progressed.

The first to greet me were these imprints of raccoon (I think). Notice the larger hind feet.

In a world turned white, the crows were still black as ever. There's a pair in this tree.

There are at least 12 birdhouses in this picture. (Can you find them all?) There were several dozen more in the adjacent trees.

Later I came across this string of Christmas lights along a fence. Those little projectiles are the plastic ties holding them on the fence.

The thin snow left traces of all kinds of things -- from bird tracks on roofs to tire spray and every walker's footprints. Even snow falling off the wires left distinctive strips.

I came home to the imprints of all the birds scavenging the spray from my feeder.

Winter Sports

2009-01-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

With the day starting in the 20's and increasing to the 40's by mid-day -- I spend more time indoors looking outdoors and the birds make for great entertainment.

This hummer found my refilled feeder in record time -- and seemed so pleased that she/he just sat there on the perch for a long spell.

It took a few days for the chickadees and sparrows to notice this new feeder, but once they did it became the focus of much flitting to and fro. The feeder was emptied in less than a week.

This suet basket seems to please as well.

One warmer afternoon (when the birdbath wasn't frozen solid) the birds seemed to be catching up for the entire winter. Half a dozen or so took prolonged dips.

La Fond du Cuisine

2009-01-06T16:34:00.001-08:00

I'm going to have to wing it as to the gender of "fond". All counsel welcome.

In any event, these inclement winter days are perfect for indoor projects and there's nothing I love to cook more than a good stock. I model my ingredients loosely on Rebecca Katz's recipe in One Bite at a Time for her "magic mineral broth".

It's sort of clean out the refrigerator plus kombu seaweed, lots of root vegetables and a finishing dose of parsley (and I add in dandelion greens). The kombu and parsley are the "mineral" part.

I was out of fresh thyme so only added bay leaves and juniper berries for seasoning (besides S&P). Cloves stuck in large onion chunks are also good. I cut an entire head of garlic in half and toss that in. I used chicken necks and backs to make this a chicken stock. I like the flavor and the gelatin.

After cooking about 2 hours and cooling, I strain all the solids and when they've cooled put them into plastic bags and freeze for later disposal. (not necessary for a vegetarian broth) I chilled the cooled strained (through cheese clothe) broth overnight to solidify the fat and skim it off.

For extra clarity I stir two lightly whipped egg whites into heated broth and let it come to a boil and then strain again. (Not sure if this results in any loss of nutrients.)

The finished product is golden and glistening. When cooled I pour into pint-sized glass jars and freeze.

Approximate recipe:
In a large stock pot heat 2 Tbsp oil (your choice - coconut, olive, butter, etc.)
Chop and add:
1 large onion
1 leek
4 - 6 celery spears
1 fennel bulb
3 - 4 carrots
(add salt and stir - let wilt while you prepare the following)
Coarsely chop (1" - 2" chunks) about 8 cups root vegetables:
Celery root (or celeriac), sweet potato, turnip or parsnip, yams, potatoes, etc.
* optional 3 lbs. chicken backs, necks, feet, heads, etc.
Add water to cover by 1" - 2"
Kombu (2"x3" square)
1 garlic head cut in half (remove any bad parts)
season with more salt, cracked peppercorns or juniper berries, thyme, bay leaf
Bring to boil and simmer 2 hours
Pour through colander to remove large solids and return to pot
Bring back to boil and add:
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch dandelion greens
Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes
Strain and cool

"Ghost Breath" for the New Year

2009-01-04T15:05:00.001-08:00

I can understand why the Eskimos have 1,000 words for snow. This morning there was the most ethereal "ghost breath" frost on everything.

It was an exquisitely thin white veneer coating the tiniest articulations. (click to see detail)

A teacher once advised leaving plants to wither "as long as you can stand it". There's beauty in a faded bloom as well.

The world has been shrouded to a tint of its former self.

Let there be light

2008-12-27T12:55:00.001-08:00

It took a few days to adjust from the drama of being snowed in to being in a temperate, dry and sunny climate where traffic moved freely and being outdoors was no big deal.

After several nice family Christmas celebrations my friend Rita and I drove over to San Francisco's Ocean Beach -- which used to be my back yard.

I can take almost as many pictures of sun-splashed waves as I can of mounting snow!

I do not have Photoshop on my laptop and am therefore unable to tweak these photos as is my wont. The brilliance of sun-0n-water makes the white balance difficult.

Being in my old neighborhoods and seeing old friends tugged at the heartstrings.

Out by the skin of my teeth!

2008-12-24T15:53:00.001-08:00

December 22 ~

At 5AM I crunched my way through 8" of snow to my shuttle. We crawled at 25 mph to the airport in the predawn hours. Not surprisingly (despite an earlier confirming email) my flight was canceled. A four-hour wait in a serpentine line earned me a seat on a new flight some 8 hours later in the day. Yippee!!

It was cozy in the airport lobby. I gazed out at rows of boarding platforms without planes.

It was a tinker-toy wonderland with snowplows churning industriously to and fro. I couldn't help but be reminded of the toys my nephew once played with.

Finally at 4:05 PM we gratefully and incredulously boarded.

I couldn't believe it was really happening until I was airborne. This is a shot of a very snowy PDX. Free wine and beer were served on board. It all felt like a small miracle.

Ice on things

2008-12-21T11:33:00.001-08:00

Last night it was eerily bright all night long. My sister surmises that the city lights were reflected in the cloud cover --- which was reflected in the snow layer. Who knows? To my surprise, the paper was still delivered this morning. It took me a while to understand the strange gait of the delivery person. He was crunching through 5 - 8 inches of ice-crusted snow.

Here are my boot-prints.

Anything and everything was coated in a thing sheath of ice. The bare branches of the Japanese maple provided a perfect foil.

It's hard to take pictures when everything is white. But here's on pine tree frond.

It's fun to greet the neighborhood kids on my walks. I couldn't go far this morning, but it's hard to keep the Russians indoors during this weather. It's been a great opportunity to connect.

For comparison's sake, here are the standbys:

Here's hoping the shuttle shows up today and the my flight's not delayed. This may be my last post before Christmas (if not 2009). Have a good one.

Snow on Stuff

2008-12-20T16:01:00.001-08:00

We're having a "once every two or three years" snowfall. It's been snowing all day long! I'd be enjoying this so much more if I didn't have to get to the airport at dawn (pre-dawn this time of year) on Monday. Freezing rain is predicted for tomorrow.

But today we are blanketed in 3 - 4 inches of "powder" (and it's still coming down thick). It is lovely stuff. Here are some of the usual suspects in my yard.

All the above were taken this morning. There's even more snow now. My hydrangea's have been transformed into giant snowcones.

I came across a neighbor's mailbox on my morning walk.

Even the lowly fire hydrant took on extra charm.

A neighbor's car.

I had to drive to the pet store to board my bird (Sophie). At my house the snow nearly topped the sidewalks.

This scene is from Andresen - a major boulevard. I was grateful for everyone's caution. We were crawling at 20 miles per hour.

Lines of Winter

2008-12-19T12:28:00.001-08:00

I know Washington is the "evergreen state" -- but not exclusively so. The deciduous trees create fabulous line-scapes against the winter skies.

Snow laden branches create reverse outlines with white being dominant.

As I drive through town, I have my favorite trees to look forward to. On this quiet snowy day, I had the street to myself and was able to get this shot of a tree near my sister's.

From late spring through fall these trees are fluffy masses that block out the sky. In winter they become a lacy screens that let the sky come through.

More white stuff

2008-12-18T11:24:00.001-08:00

The thing about snowfall is that it's so quiet. I awoke this morning to find it had been snowing through the night. We had less than an inch on the ground, but it was making more of an impression than Sunday's snowfall.

It was warmer (above 30) and very pleasant. It was coming down pretty thick when I went for a walk through the neighborhood.

I'll never get used to this! Snow has always been something I "went to" --- like a day trip in the mountains to ski. It's just not something I think of as being at my home.

There's plenty of food out there for the critters.

My Russian neighbors used a shovel to gather up snow from the street and sidewalks to make a snowman.

The sun came out during the day and there was a lot of melting, but the snowman (woman?) persevered.

A Winter's Walk

2008-12-16T18:14:00.001-08:00

Dressed in 3 layers from head to toe and equipped with sunglasses and visor, I head out for a walk along Salmon Creek.

I was surprised to discover that the surface of the creek was frozen.

All along the way I was serenaded with the constant chirping and rustling made by sparrows. Most flitted away as soon as I got my camera out, but this critter was quite intent.

I am fascinated by just how much color is produced by bare branches of shrubs and trees.

This wooded trail seemed quite appealing.

These hardy maple leaves make a nice contrast to the blue sky.

I have posted pictures of the creek water and ice formations in the following entry.

Water and Ice

2008-12-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

Walking along Salmon Creek at 27 degrees brought some surprises. This twig somehow accumulated crystalline drops fit for any chandelier.

This shadowed under-ledge produced large frozen globes of ice.

Even the shallowest puddles were transformed. I am amazed at all the gaseous bubbles congealed in this image.

Each blade of grass is a small miracle.

Get out your sunglasses!

2008-12-16T11:18:00.001-08:00

OK, a great many of us are experiencing this arctic blast. I turn off my heat pump at night and the indoor temp this morning was 47 -- even after beefing up my insulation.

My window thermometer read 12 when I got up and 15 when I took this picture at 8AM

My birdbath is solid ice!

But it's brilliantly sunny!! When that wind comes out of the Columbia gorge it is biting cold. All you need is a hot flash and it's quite refreshing.

Marvelous Critters

2008-12-15T09:06:00.001-08:00

You gotta admire these little fellows. It's 17 degrees outside and these little birds would make you think they couldn't be happier.

I took the picture through the window from the comfort and warmth of my kitchen.

Half a dozen or so Black-capped Chickadees were busy flitting from place to place with seeming great merriment. I noticed them yesterday feeding underneath shrubs. Maybe they're hyper-active to keep warm.

We've got cloudless skies, icy roads and very low temps. I had to cancel my vet appointment for my Senegal parrot, Sophie.

We got snow!!

2008-12-14T14:14:00.001-08:00

Okay, this may be small potatoes for someone who gets real snow ... but here in the Willamett Valley (e.i. Portland/Vancouver) ... this is big news. Not to mention, I grew up in Woodland Hills on the outskirts of LA. I think it snowed once during the 20 years I lived there.

Hydrangea's line my entryway. Each leaf is a cup of snow.

The last remaining blooms caught some flakes as well.

My ever serene Buddha has a light patina of snow.

It's continued to snow all day, but it's never going to be enough for snowballs.

This video shows the snow falling in my front yard:

This video shows the snow flurry in my neighborhood:

I went out for a walk and got caught in a heavy snow flurry. While is was coming at my back I was all right. I had to adjust my hat and scarf when walking into it. As a friend remarked, "there isn't cold weather -- just poor clothing". It's been around 28 degrees all day. I had good clothing.

This is a scene from my walk. The dogs thought this was grand!

A Walk Along the River

2008-12-09T15:31:00.001-08:00

It was a beautiful morning for a walk along the mighty Columbia. Rosie the Riveter was the first to greet me.

Next was a gaggle of geese parked in the path. (Egad! That's a lot of geese poop.)

Fortunately, I was headed in the other direction. The path was bordered with beautiful, moss-covered stone and iron rails.

The winter light was pale and these trees were among the few to still be losing their leaves.

That's most likely an Osprey nest on the pilings.

It cannot be said that the I5 bridge is a thing of beauty!

It wasn't until I was driving home that Mt. Hood glowed in the distance. It's hard to portray the drama of this image on the horizon.

Rain's Return

2008-12-07T14:44:00.001-08:00

Yesterday finished with a magnificent sunset cloud display.

All those clouds spelled warmer nights and today we got gray skies and a few hours of drizzle. My mystery tree has lost nearly all its leaves, revealing the swirling branches underneath.

I'm off for a four day meditation retreat. It's a winter-type of activity.
Om!

Frosty Nights

2008-12-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

Sunrise: 7:35 AM
Sunset: 4:27 PM

If there's one thing I love, it's hoarfrost. It was 27 degrees on my window thermometer at 6:30 AM. After my morning coffee I tiptoed outside in my bathrobe and bedroom slippers. The ground actually 'crunched' underfoot.

Sure enough, my birdbath was frozen solid!

My poor fava beans are taking a beating. Hardy as they are, they go limp in when frozen. But they do bounce back in the daytime.

Yesterday, I caught these two squirrels (through a screened window) when shooting the upright fava beans.

I came across this hole in my lawn when searching for hoarfrost subjects. Was it the squirrels?

A New Season

2008-11-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

Sunrise: 7:17 am
Sunset: 4:35 pm

The winter solstice hasn't come yet, but with so many bare branches it feels like it. This has been a very mild fall on the West Coast. Daytime temps have rarely dipped below the mid-50's, and many have been in the 60's.

My maples are mere branches now.

I'm off to Southern California for Thanksgiving. See you back in two weeks.

Nature's balancing act

2008-11-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

It's not the change in temperature, but the shorter days that make the leaves turn colors and fall. Has to do with photosynthesis.

I've been creating piles and piles of leaves all around my yard.

I load them into the wheel barrel and then unload them onto a tarp in front of the shredder. I don't have a collection bag, but just let the output spray onto "receiving tarps".

My process is not "carbon neutral" but much less toxic than if I were using chemical fertilizer. I just roll up the output tarps and funnel the shredded leaves into my compost.

This addition is about 4 wheel barrel-fulls of leaves.

My compost is hot! It's so exciting to lift it with a pitch fork and see steam come out. It's warm to the touch. It should be alternating layers of "green" and "brown" --- but I have an overabundance of brown.

It's only November, but when the leaves are raked away, I find sprouts already budding.

Turn, turn, turn. It never stops.

After the storm

2008-11-13T12:28:00.001-08:00

Sunrise: 7:07 am
Sunset: 4:43 pm

Yesterday marked the first hard, all-day rain of the season. It was soggy! But today we have really bright sunshine and blue skies.

My mystery "front yard tree" (dwarf camphor?) is barely giving up its leaves.

After my French Canadian guests left, it was laundry time. I rarely need to use my dryer. Indoors or out, this little $20 rack from Target does the job. (I still need a real clothes line for sheets.)

While finishing my morning crossword puzzle I spied this poor fellow limping slowly past.

Possums are pathetic looking even in good health. I don't know how his hind leg was paralyzed. He (or she) didn't look any too happy.

Couch Surfer Guests

2008-11-13T12:10:00.001-08:00

I hosted my first Couch Surfers. They were a couple from Canada, Pierrette and Yvon. We had a thoroughly delightful time together. They were originally from Quebec and now reside in Vancouver, BC. It was a treat to hear French being spoken.

My sister Nancy joined us for homemade pizza pie and salad. You'll note in the picture that each wineglass is different. I moved here with 2 of each kind and have managed to break 1 of each kind. *sigh*

Pizza Dough recipe:
1 1/3 cup warm water
1 tbsp yeast
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups flour (you'll be adding at least another 1/2 cup as you kneed the dough)
Let rise twice when time allows.

I searched on the web and played around. I'm still working on it.

Bureaucracy!

2008-11-10T15:09:00.000-08:00

You might think it's no biggie to discontinue your license in the state you moved from. NOT!!

I wrote letters,sent photocopies and listened to countless auto-phone teller options and scoured the web site. Nada! California does not make it easy to leave.

But today I got lucky. At the tail end of a lengthy array of options I finally heard the option for a "technical agent". Eureka! After 15 minutes of being on hold, a tiny human voice squeaked out of my cell phone speaker.

It's so easy to do, it's laughable -- just not obvious at all. From the California DMV site, select Forms and then Commonly Used Forms (good so far -- didn't need advice for this).

The form you want is under the Vehicle section, "Statement of Facts" (who knew?). It's very user-friendly. You can type in it and even save what you've written. You only need to fill out section G, stating when you left the state and that you do not want to register your car any longer.

Only glitch -- no mailing address. The helpful Technical Agent gave me an address to use.

Photography 101

2008-11-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

Well, this wasn't what I had planned for the morning. But my friend Ron called to give me a few pointers in basic photography -- like aperture and shutter speed.

This was taken at 1/15; F8. A stool and phone book served as my tripod and I used 2 second delay. I reduced the size in Photoshop -- thanks to a great video tutorial by Darrel Priebe on YouTube.

Remember, the theme was raindrops looking like Christmas lights. This little sucker's right outside my kitchen window, so it's what I'm looking at while doing dishes or cooking.

(click on image to enlarge)

The new face of Fall ...

2008-11-06T10:01:00.001-08:00

Sunrise: 6:57 am
Sunset: 4:51 pm (I can attest that it is pitch black at 5pm)

As Fall progresses, there's a new face in my garden. Fluffy, lush growth is being replace by transparent, veiny outlines of nude branches.

This Japanese maple got some help with leaf removal. The dead leaves tend to get tangled in clotted masses and rot "on the vine" as it were. I just swept my hand through the branches and the leaves fell off without protest.

I am continually struck by how this seasonal transformation resembles Christmas ornaments. These raindrops look for all the world like a string of lights. (click on image to enlarge)

I haven't figured out how to broaden the depth of field on my camera. Where I see the entire plant in focus, my camera wants a narrower target. Taking pictures sure makes you appreciate what our eyes can do!

It was a good day!

2008-11-05T11:59:00.001-08:00

November 4th, that is! I watched the election results with the Vancouver chapter of Drinking Liberally. It felt so good to whoop and holler for our guy. It's been a long time coming. I was so touched that the entire bar was cheering -- not just our group.

Did you notice it was unseasonably warm and sunny in most of the country? We had bright sunshine all day.

I spent the day raking leaves, and even mowed the lawn. Each tree is different. Some lose them all in a swoosh (like the dogwood and birch). Others, like this maple, are slow and meticulous.

My fava bean yeild is closer to 90% -- they're just taking their time. The daytime temps have moved from the 60's to the 50's. But the "rainy weather" is only at night (so far).

25 days after planting:

They're up! (sort of)

2008-10-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

I counted 46 Fava bean sprouts -- that's about a 50% yield. This isn't balmy San Francisco so germination has been much slower.

I've found a few casualties. I'm not sure of the predators -- but jays and squirrels "handle" everything in the ground. This was the first sprout. It's been nibbled on for the past week and now it's been cut clean in half.

I planted alternating rows of 3 and 4 seeds. It's rare to find more than 2 sprouts to a row.

I'll broadcast red clover to fill in the gaps. They're very hardy and easy to plant. Here are the sprouts from about 10 days ago.

Now I read that folks are starting the Fava beans indoors and planting the seedlings!!

Meanwhile the colors continue. The Parrotia Perska is the yellow tree in front of the maple with the red burning bush underneath.

The maple is a Red Sunset maple. How appropriate.

Better than TV

2008-10-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

Today's project was to enlarge the "circle" under my infamous tree in the front yard -- that everyone admires, but nobody knows what it is.

With a lot of bending and crawling and shoveling I laid down a layer of newspaper, a layer of wood chips and a layer of compose. It's called lasagna gardening. We'll see.

The blue jays thought I did it just for them! After all that work I could hardly move. I took a shower and then brought out my camera, blankets and my La Fuma recliner. I felt like I was in my own personal park.

The last rays of evening sunlight warmed me and lit up the orange-red barberry shrubs while the chickadees flitted in the branches and supped from the bird bath.

Here are two Black-capped Chickadees and an Oregon Dark-eyed Junco:. (this is the better than TV part)

Compost!

2008-10-28T10:06:00.001-07:00

A few months ago I got myself a garden chipper/shredder from Craig's List. I'd read that shredded leaves compost a lot faster. (It also greatly reduces their volume!)

Here's my little 5HP MTD "Yard Machine" shredder.

It was quite messy. The shredded material BLASTS out with great force and has to be captured and contained. I used a tarp and a large shipping box. About 60% went where I wanted. I was able to rake up the rest.

Here's my compost pile:

It's just a pile now -- that I cover with a tarp. I may eventually build an actual bin.

Uh, about that garage ...

2008-10-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

OK, I always knew this but ... upon closer examination, it's pretty discouraging.

When a hot car motor cools off, those vapors from the engine contain all kinds of carcinogens - most notably benzene. Here in the Pacific Northwest, our gasoline comes from the Alaskan North Slope and "has double the benzene content of gasoline sold in other parts of the country and three times the amount allowed in California". Yikes! Oregon Toxics Alliance ; Wired

An attached garage can be a cesspool of toxic fumes that enter your home and are absorbed by the interior carpets and wood. Nature, March 9, 2000, Grist

Yuck! Looks like my car's gonna be back on the driveway and the door between my house and garage thoroughly weather-stripped and the common walls and outlets thoroughly sealed.

Just Add Wind ...

2008-10-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

sunrise: 7:45 AM
sunset: 6:00 PM

My dogwood was the first to go. All the leaves were on the tree in the morning, but by afternoon ... 90% were on the ground. It was a breezy day.

This picture was taken AFTER I'd raked up the gutters and my neighbor's lawn -- both of which were solid red.

When it comes to raking leaves there are no boundaries. The leaves on your lawn may be from the next block.

Frosty Mornings - Toasty Car

2008-10-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

This is what greeted me when I came home from my morning walk.

The temps have been dropping down to freezing at night. But there's no frost on my windshield because my car's in my NEW GARAGE!

The painters came back last Monday and had the whole place primed, painted and cleaned up in about 5 hours. (If I'd done it (by myself of course) it would have taken a week!)

Now all I have to do is whittle away at the pile of STUFF in the middle. A few dump runs, Craig's List postings and some shelving should do the trick

Like the parting of the red sea, I've hollowed out a channel for night-time and rainy-day housing of my car.

You get a star if you noticed the WASHINGTON plates! (got a license too -- no test required)

Fall's a-happening

2008-10-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

sunrise: 7:39 AM
sunset: 6:10 PM

We lose 92 minutes of daily sunlight between October 1 and October 31. There are great web resources for sun and moon rise/set and all sorts of twilight times.

Too bad smells can't be transmitted over the web. It is intoxicating to be outside this time of year!

It's kind of like spring in reverse. Folks talk about sitings of especially splashy colors.

My dogwood is just beginning to drop its leaves.

I can't resist raking them up ... even though I know there's a whole tree-full yet to drop.

This Witch Hazel Arnold Promise is still in the pot, but putting on quite a show.

The birch are nearly entirely yellow now.

Even the hostas (pronounced like 'hostages' - not 'hostess' as was my inclination) are turning.

I do NOT own a cat!

2008-10-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

For all the good it does me! I eschew cats as pets because I want to preserve bird life. I have a bath, feeder and nesting box toward this end. Without any pets of my own to claim their turf, some six neighborhood cats (at last count) have claimed my yard as theirs.

Here's my neighbor's Manx (bobbed tail not seen):

Here's another beauty of unknown origins:

This calico has been particularly possessive:

This is the newbie, who seems young. She is unafraid and came right up to my back slider. She's also very interested in the birds.

Planting Crocus

2008-10-20T10:31:00.001-07:00

I love crocus. They were one of the few bulbs I was able to consistently grow when living in an apartment. I ordered a mixed pack of 100.

Let's hope the bluebirds and squirrels don't unearth them. I want to have COLOR next February and March.

Being so small they're pretty easy to put in the ground.

Cute Web Gadget

2008-10-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

I came across this on another blog. I always wanted a koi pond! Click on the pond to feed the fish. Try it out. (How DO they do these things?)

To create your own, just place your cursor in the upper left corner and click on the logo. This will open a new window.

Where I Walk

2008-10-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Just 2 miles from my house is access to one of Vancouver's river walks, Burnt Bridge Creek. There's ample parking and lovely views.

Beautiful stonework borders the creek-crossings:

The area by the main boulevard is planted with wild roses:

They produce enormous "hips" about the size of your thumb:

Here's the overall effect:

I usually walk between 7 and 8 AM. I love the smells and the wildness. It's nice not to worry about cars or uneven pavement. Below is the area folks frequently let their dogs off leash.

I came across this oddity - 6.25 miles East of Lake Vancouver, where Burnt Bridge Creek empties. I found another at 5.75 miles. Don't know why the odd mile fractions.

Couldn't help but think of my friend on the Northern California coast who loves geocaching.

My destination before I turn back is the bridge over the creek, where first I look back from where I came (East) and gaze at the fingerlings and submerged grasses undulating in the slow current.

Then I walk over to the other side and study the waters where my friend John Rotsart spied a dozen or so 4" long crayfish. I look and look but can't spot them now. Maybe they hybernate in winter?

It's about 3 miles round trip. So far, no matter what the temperature, I'm warm by the time I return to my car.

Winter Cover Crop

2008-10-15T12:34:00.001-07:00

There's only so much I can do. I'm using Fava Beans to nourish the South border ~ some 450 square feet.

Here they are after 24 hours of soaking (to aid germination):

And here's one in the ground. Four packages filled the area perfectly! (Only took 6 hours of back-breaking stoop labor!) The good news is that this soil is chock full of earthworms!

A Word About Soil Cultivation

2008-10-15T12:00:00.001-07:00

This blog has been totally neglected these past few months because I've been outdoors attempting to revitalize my garden. The soil is hard clay - a shovel can't pierce it. I've had to use a pick, and sometimes only the pointy end will penetrate.

It's exhausting hard work. I can only do a few hours at a time. Even hired help only scratched the surface (so to speak). I am so dirty afterward that I close the garage door and remove my soil-caked jeans in the garage before I go inside!

It is a kind of treasure hunt though. Besides the pile of roots (below) I've also found buried junk - mostly bottles and a crushed tin can (maybe from the construction site?) and even bits of newsprint with the script still legible.

Except for being so exhausting, it's actually fun in a primal kind of way. Crumbling crusted earth into manageable bits is just a terrific sensation!

And here is the result - a level, (mostly) root free, compost-enriched bed ready for planting. This represents some 25 hours of hard labor.

Landscaping 101

2008-10-15T11:36:00.001-07:00

It seemed for months that all I was doing was removing plants (climbing hydrangea, wisteria, camellia - in addition to the dozen or so trees I had removed).

I finally "cultivated" (dug up remaining white pine roots and added LOTS of compost) the ground under the kitchen window and planted a Choisya "Sundance" in the hard shade and this lovely Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) "Tiger Rose".

I am just thrilled with it and can't wait to watch it grow. It has turned a luminous salmon pink color this fall.

Summer's Bounty

2008-10-15T11:26:00.001-07:00

I wish I could say these were from my garden. But, alas, that has yet to be planted (or even constructed).

At the Vancouver Farmers' Market one of my favorite vendors is Ron Gold who sell hydroponic, organic tomatos (and basil). These looked so pretty, I just had to snap a shot.

A Funny Thing This Summer

2008-10-15T11:17:00.001-07:00

August 09 ~ We had some really warm days this summer (something totally new to a former San Franciscan!). I was puzzled one afternoon when I noticed smoke arising from the window sill in my office.

It took a moment for it to register that one of the glass paperweights on the sill had created a prism that was baking the sill. You can see the burned arc just below the glass sphere!

My New Pantry

2008-10-09T16:54:00.001-07:00

August 29 ~ My kitchen has a small footprint. With little wall space I'm using the cupboards for pots and pans that used to hang on the wall.

To gain more "pantry" space I just installed wire shelving in my front coat closet. After yet another trip to Home Depot ... Le voila! ... plenty of room for bird food, dry goods, canned food and aprons, recycling bins, picnic coolers, etc., etc.

My First Trip to S.F. Bay Area as a VISITOR!

2008-10-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

August 20 ~ 25: I had promised myself before I moved that I wouldn't miss Rita's birthday. So off I flew.
My home away from home -- Rita's solarium.

Day 1 = land and visit my old neighborhood and work. It was bittersweet, but I had a great visit with my neighbors ... and my apartments was still empty and UNTOUCHED!
Day 2 = a walk and lunch with my good friend Trish and dinner with Bob and Jan
Day 3 = lunch with my friend Anne, the "virtual assistant" and a special "Friday Night Sail" with Rita's friends
Day 4 = (Saturday) Rita and I go to our favorite restaurant, Avatar's and see "Vicky, Christina, Barcelona"
Day 5 = Sallie hosts birthday brunch for Rita's birthday
Day 6 = lunch with my friend Marian and fly home

Rita and I in the "princess seats" sailing on the Bay.

Remnants of poolside Scrabble ...

I indulge in splash therapy while Rita snoozes ...

Sallie, Rita and Trish on Pt. Richmond walk.

Inside Work

2008-10-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

August 14 ~ My brother Tom started it, so I had to finish the job. For a nominal fee I hired someone to finish hanging the drywall.

Next is paint and ceiling insulation and then I can finally ORGANIZE my garage!

Back to the Grind

2008-08-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

August 4 ~ Finally the tree stumps were ground up. This took about six hours. Those filberts had very wide bases (of multiple shoots). Dust was EVERYWHERE! I had to hose off my brand new painted house -- but it cleaned off easily.

August 13 ~ I didn't get a picture, but we discovered standing water in one of the stump holes. So I had a "french drain" put in. This is basically a trench filled with sand and a large pipe to provide a conduit to move the water away from the house.

Road Trip

2008-08-16T17:09:00.001-07:00

July 25 - 28 ~ No sooner did my brother and his wife leave than my sister and I took off for the San Juan Islands. I had never been there before.

Everything being relatively impromptu, we waited at every ferry landing for several hours. PLAN AHEAD if you ever make this journey (especially on a weekend in summer).

But I was enthralled with the magical tranquility and beauty of the inner passage ways.

We "couch surfed" on San Juan Island and Guemes Island. Our hosts were generous and welcoming. We got an intimate taste of life on these islands that a hotel or spa could never provide.

My niece, Royce is a camp counselor at "Camp Orkila" on Orcas Island. She and Nancy pose for a snapshot in East Sound, Orcas Island.

See the entire slide show at my Picasa website.

There's nothing like a brother!

2008-08-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

You already know Tom hung my front door and installed the hardware. He also did the following:

leveled my refrigerator so the door would fall closed
installed the two outdoor lamps the painters weren't able to do
redid all my outlets and switches in white
installed "push" switches in the hallway
adjusted the flusher chain in my toilet
calculated, ordered and supervised Vickie, Rob and I hanging insulation in my garage
calculated, ordered and hung dry wall in my garage

It seems like everywhere he went he'd notice things that never occurred to me -- like the color of my switch plates to my refrigerator door falling open rather than closed ... or the air coolant line from the heat pump blocking access to the water heater.

I am a very naive first-time home owner!

Family Visit

2008-08-07T15:45:00.001-07:00

July 18 - 24 ~ My brother Tom and his wife Vickie drove up all the way from Ojai, CA. They brought my Tour Easy recumbent bike too.

It is so wonderful to have a guest bedroom and guest bathroom for company. It makes it so easy and comfortable to cohabitate.

My sister Nancy donated a brand new grill she'd never even taken out of the box. (I'm a suburbanite now!) Tom and Vickie used it every single night they were here.

Tom and Vickie are cooks. My new frig got a work out! After a day of hanging out in Portland and a shopping spree at Kitchen Kaboodle, Tom & Vickie oversee making my very first pizza.

Nancy's son, Rob paid us a visit from Pacific City, OR and he was put right to work.

Here's the very first pizza ready for the baking on my brand new pizza stone.

Mr. Lincoln found all the kitchen activity very interesting indeed.

We hated to see Rob go. He slept over night in Nancy's van and was a real trouper.

My New (old) Door!

2008-08-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

July 23 ~ I was prepared to buy a new door. Imagine my surprise when Arty of Arty's Door Shop suggested that I just put windows in my existing door. Cool!

Now about the paint. My sister has had a feature article from the Oregonian on her wall for the past two years about a Portland paint company, Chromatix . I was honor-bound to use their Fine European Paint on my door.

I went so far as to BUY the paint before I realized just how extraordinary it was. No way could I or my painters apply this paint. I hired Mike Snelson in Tigard, OR to do the job.

Here Nancy and Tom carry the precious cargo home.

Here's my brother Tom installing the hardware. The hinges, knocker and doorbell are still on order.

And here's the finished product. It's still more orange than I'd like. I'm told it will cure to a deeper brick color. I love it's glassy sheen.

My house gets painted!!

2008-08-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

July 1 - 12 ~ As anyone whose ever painted their home knows, the hardest part is choosing the color. I knew I wanted something in the aqua - green spectrum.

My sister and I drove through the neighborhoods in search of the right color. (Those little 1 inch square color samples are WORTHLESS.) I left notes on peoples doors and spoke to three home owners personally. Everyone was very helpful.

Here's the winning model house ~ Clary Sage (green) and Muslin (trim):

Then there was removing the plants from places they shouldn't be -- namely the wall-hugging/damaging climbing hydrangea and the overly robust wisteria. This was all done by yours truly.

July 14 - 18 ~ Combs Painting had painted the interior while I was an absentee landlord. They did such a good job that I went back to them without any searching. The crew is all Russian ~ (from left) Ivan, Alex and Vladimir, the foreman.

Day 1 - power washing. Believe me, this was a dirty, messy job. It took about six hours.

Day 2 & 3 - The generation of LP siding on my house is not hardy to the wet climate of the Pacific Northwest. But only the chimney (kept damp by the filbert trees) and a few isolated slabs needed to be replaced. Additional trim was added to the garage and front windows.

Day 4 ~ Painting! First all the windows were taped and the plants draped. (Note the missing hydrangea and the radically trimmed wisteria.)

Nothing like the Russian sense of living on the edge.

My front door was removed and taken to a shop for cut-glass windows to be installed. It was painted in Portland, so plywood was screwed to the opening while the door was gone.

Day 5 ~ Trim gets 2nd coat.

Exterior lamps are installed. This was the only sore point. The crew on hand had never installed lamps before and clearly did not know what they were doing. Between their broken English and a trip to Home Depot we managed to get the the two lamps beside the garage door installed successfully.

My brother arrived later that evening from Ojai, CA and finished the installation. In his capable and experienced hands, it was a "no brainer". We just had to come and go through the garage or back porch until the door came back from Portland.

Removing a Few Trees

2008-08-01T11:37:00.001-07:00

July 11 ~ Several trees around my house needed to go because they were just too big and too close. Additionally, I decided to take out the mini-forest of filbert trees that lined the south border of my property. They provide privacy and shade in summer -- but they were UGLY to look at from inside the house.

This White Pine would double in size if left to grow. It's roots were overwhelming the surrounding flower beds.

Here's a view of the filberts looking to the southwest.

Kunze Farm Landscaping is just down the road from my house. Besides a crew of 6 they brought a chipper to pulverize the massive amount of branches and leaves.

Here's a video of the white pine coming down:

Here's a video of one of the last branches coming down. The guy in the tree was a real acrobat and artist. It made for great entertainment:

There's a lot of light where none was before!

New Heat Pump

2008-08-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

June 27 ~ This is not pictorially interesting, but (hopefully) will significantly lower my carbon footprint. Again, my energy audit started the ball rolling when it was suggested I get my old heater cleaned. That's when I learned it was nearing the end of its life expectancy.

After several sleepless nights worrying about it, I paid a LOT of money to replace my existing gas heater and air conditioner with a heat pump. I followed the EERE guidelines and interviewed three companies -- something I was reluctant to do, but was very grateful for. You learn a lot just by hearing the sales pitch from different angles.

Area Heating got the job. It was a happy choice. Look at all the cars (and sunny skies) on the day of installation. Temps were in the mid-90's over the weekend.

The new pump is QUIET. I can barely tell it's come on. Here are some views of the final job.

Did I mention I had to prune the cypress to make room for the new equipment? (note the mold on the old paint from the too close tree)

Like I said, these aren't going to win any photo contests. Here's my new Trane XL16i.

It all started with an energy audit

2008-06-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

The local utility, Clark PUD offers a free energy audit. Overall, the assessor was fairly conservative. He discouraged solid foam insulation and told me my double pane windows were adequate and replacing them would not be cost effective.

First culprit, however, was the refrigerator. The original 1990 era Kenmore was not any level of energy star efficiency.

So off I go, now given free license to indulge in refrigerator shopping! I'd long dreamed of getting the super efficient (255 Kw/year) Eco-Fridg / Conserv but was put off by the small refrigeration compartment -- for better or worse.

Following the ACEEE guide, I got what appeared to be a modestly sized Frigidaire in the showroom. It looks a lot bigger in my kitchen.

I'm very happy with the door bins and I like the handles. But I've still got a lot of empty space to fill.

Local Color

2008-06-02T15:00:00.001-07:00

I couldn't resist indulging in some flower pictures. I didn't see many peonies in San Francisco. They seem to thrive here.

The iris are just coming on. I believe these are "rainbow iris".

These are just colorful ...

I discovered I was being watched ...

Historic Kiggins House Move

2008-06-02T13:45:00.001-07:00

June 1 ~ Lolli and Ron drove off to parts further North. My sister and I were off to a garden tour, but stopped to see the 101 year-old Kiggins House being moved.

It proved far more interesting than a garden tour! There were dozens of photographers and most of the local neighbors. It was very festive.

Take a look at this video I took of the house squeezing through trees:

Here's another shorter one of the brave young men making adjustments in between the wheels of the trailer and under the 100 tons of rolling house (keep an eye on their feet):

The Columbian (June 1) has a more comprehensive Quicktime video, "History on the Move" with interviews of the participants (Nancy and I can be seen in one frame).

Read all about it here.

Ron & Lolli Visit

2008-06-02T13:26:00.001-07:00

May 30 ~ Ron & Lolli survived overturned trucks on Hwy5 and arrived safe and sound on Friday night. They picked this wild azalea along the road in southern Oregon. It lasted all weekend!

The weather turned warm and sunny. Here Ron and Lolli enjoy a lazy afternoon.

Lolli and I enjoy our favorite pass-time --- Scrabble. It was close. I barely won 2 out of the 3 games we played. Lolli's not a novice any longer.

Ron offered to assemble the $90 desk I purchased over Craig's list.

It took us nearly an hour to assemble and then I spent another hour unscrambling all the wires and cables. There are more finishing touches to be made, but by and large it's up and running!

I can keep an eye on the birds out the window (my binoculars and camera are ever at the ready)

A Room of Their Own

2008-05-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

Having a place to offer friends to stay is a wonderful feeling. I am so thrilled that my guest bedroom (still a works in progress) and bathroom passed the test.

I bought an air mattress and thoroughly insulated it with both egg-crate foam and a mattress pad --- and apparently that worked.

I'm all ready for company. Lolli and Ron are next. I'd love more visitors! Come on, you're welcome.

PS - Sophie's thoroughly accepted her new toys. Here she is happily destroying a new wood toy.

Making a house a home!

2008-05-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

May 25 - After all that trekking and gadding about, Rita and I were ready for a day at home. None of my paintings were hung yet, so Rita got fired up to help with home decorating.

Her brilliant suggestion was the placement of my Stickley hutch. Here she is enjoying the fruits of her labor.

She was invaluable in hanging my David Marsh decorative shelves and Mexican arts. Here Nancy and I toast my new home.

A home isn't a home until you've shared it! Bob & Jan Burdich gave me the champagne at my going away party. Here's a toast to friendship at my very fist dinner party.

A Trek to Bishop's Close

2008-05-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

May 24 - It was a beautiful sunny (!) day to be outdoors. The Bishop's Close has been a family destination for decades. Nancy and her friend Bonnie joined Rita and I.

We meandered through the spacious, luxurious grounds snapping images that caught our fancy -- like this rhododendron:

... or these magnolia leaves ...

Or just hanging out and soaking up the colors.

Or watching the newts and salamanders in their leisurely pursuits.

We refreshed ourselves at Zeppo's in Lake Oswego -- a thoroughly upscale, posh town. Then viewed Willamette Falls and the pulp mill.

Inspired by Vernon DiPietro (artist displayed in Hood River gallery) I took this shot -- which unwittingly is the SAME shot he took!

Rita and I settled down for a low-key evening of Netflix (The Wristcutters proved to be more charming than its name would suggest) and were interrupted by an "emergency bulletin" on the radio about an approaching storm. We caught these pictures of this colorful sunset before the thunderstorm hit.

There's actually a rainbow in the upper left of this view.

Rita does the "Gorge"

2008-05-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

May 22 - My good friend Rita was my first guest. We went straight from the airport to an overnight getaway along the Columbia Gorge.

First stop, was "Crown Point", where some tourists snapped our picture.

Yes, the weather sucked. Next stop was Multnomah Falls where we had a delicious lunch at the Lodge in front of a fragrant fireplace (they must burn cedar!).

When Rita saw the road signs, she realized Bonneville Dam was on the Columbia -- where her father had been an engineer. Here we see the "spillway" releasing the exceptionally high snow-melt.

The skies cleared as the day worn on (see proof below).

Our destination was the Oak Street Hotel in Hood River -- famous destination for wind surfers.

The next day we returned via the Dalles and back along the gorge on the north (Washington) shore. Neither of us thought to take pictures of the mile long train the blocked our river view for several miles. We pulled over to let it pass --- only to find a 2nd train on the far track!

We hiked and dined at Skamania Lodge -- a future must-do destination!

Not Again!

2008-05-09T14:30:00.001-07:00

First it was my stereo. Then I had to replace my radio. Now it's the TV. I get intermittent "red screen". I can hear the audio and occasionally the see the video for short spells.

Apparently the coaxle cable intake on the TV is very flimsy to begin with and has gone belly up.

Is it a fifty cent fix or time for flat panel TV?

I've had disc 4 of season 3 of "The Wire" for three weeks now from Netflix. I still haven't seen it. Maybe I need to talk to Netflix.

Lilac Time

2008-05-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. With the weather warming up the blooms are a plumping!

Cut flowers keep a long time and have a most heavenly subtle fragrance!

This sprig is what I see from my dining table.

In Memorium

2008-05-06T07:57:00.000-07:00

Early Tuesday morning, April 8th, Nancy's beloved Tucker went missing between 1:30 and 2AM. Vancouver still has wildlife large enough to prey on small dogs like Tucker. Trash cans and recycling were out on the sidewalks that night. What should have been a brief pee break proved his undoing.

Tucker was a graceful, elegant little fellow -- a "min-pin" (Minature Pinscher). He LOVED his free-range walks. He'd thunder past us on his delicate Tinkerbell legs. Here he keeps a sharp eye on the neighborhood cats in Nancy's back yard.

Throughout my journey north from San Francisco, my sister Nancy obsessively scoured the rescue ads on the Internet (while checking her voice-mail for news of Tucker being found). Once we arrived in Vancouver, we went out on site visits to available puppies. Our second try was a winner.

Little Mr. Lincoln is a 16 month old chihuahua, born in early January 2007. He came from a loving family who sadly realized they did not have enough time for him. His 'mom' tearfully gave him up to Nancy.

Two weeks later, Mr. Lincoln is thoroughly adjusted to his new life. Nancy is busy socializing him and takes him everywhere. He's adapting beautifully.

And 'mom' is being much more conservative about keeping him leashed at all times when outdoors.

Two Girls and a Dolly

2008-05-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

OK, one of the big changes for me was having a washer and dryer of my own in my home -- a first in my life! I resisted the urge to buy the latest and greatest and found a matched set on Craig's list for $200.

But before I could install them I needed to prepare the laundry nook which needed some battered old plank shelving removed, then the walls painted and new wire mesh shelving installed -- all of which took me about a week to do.

My brother told me about "appliance dollies" -- oh my! They work miracles (along with a willing sister to help with the brains and muscle).

Et voila! Piece of cake.

After correcting everything we did wrong (drain not properly installed, hot and cold intakes reversed) I am happy to report it all works PERFECTLY!!!

New Home Mail

2008-05-05T08:26:00.001-07:00

Opening my mailbox for the first time was a real thrill. It was packed to the "gilly-gobbers" with postcards and letters from friends, along with the usual magazines and flyers.

It was great fun to decorate my refrigerator with the cards from home ... (yes, there are 4 cards from Rita -- a true friend!!)

Even more surprising were the discount coupons. How did they know I just moved in?

What I lost (haven't found yet)

2008-05-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

monitor cable (FOUND May 10)
wireless network router (FOUND May 10)
Tivo DVR power cord (FOUND May 10)
pepper mill (FOUND May 10)
electric tooth brush (FOUND May 8)
juicer - blade tightener/remover do-hickie

Remember, hired packers packed the kitchen and most of the bathroom. By moving day there were three people besides myself packing up odds and ends. Labeling went by the wayside in the flurry of activity.

Emptying my apartment was a small miracle!

What I learned

2008-05-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

You don't know how well the packers and loaders did until you UNPACK! (there were some boo-boos, but for the most part I was very fortunate)
Always have bottles of water on hand for the contractors -- every single one of them asked for this and I never had any on hand.
If providing lunch, ask for any food preferences ahead of time. I ordered pizza on the spur of the moment and later found one of the movers had tossed the bulk of his serving in the trash.
Protect everything against WATER. I had slight water damage and could have had a lot more. The van roof is a thin, transparent layer of fiberglass -- probably for light and weight. It's not water-tight. The van spent a few days in the depot in Portland and we had night-time rain.
About those boxes -- I bought too many -- especially the "large" size. I bought 30 small -- I'd recommend 40-50. That's enough to get you started. Most movers have their own boxes and not necessarily expensive either.
Styrofoam "peanuts" -- movers don't use them!!!! They use newsprint.
No matter what the size or weight -- pack all communications electronics together and label them well. This includes:

all connecting cables and power cords for computer and peripherals
routers, printers, surge protectors, speakers
all connecting cables and power cords for TV, cable, Tivo, etc.

*** Remember, with electronics it doesn't matter if you recover 99 pieces out of 100. A single lost component can make all the rest of them inoperable.

Unpacking

2008-05-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

The tape, saran wrap and blankets were unending. The blankets had to be returned as I'd rented them from U-Haul. They were only $1 per day for a dozen -- no questions asked about their condition when returned.

Somehow we rise to the situation. I am an orderly person and living in so much chaos was difficult.

Progress was difficult to discern in those first few days as MOUNTAINS of wrapping trash accumulated.