A Room of Their Own

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!

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

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"

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!

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

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

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.