Spring and Springing back to Drizzle

Spring in Oregon is such a tease. After months and months of rain and snow and really cold days with record precipitation we had a week of wonderful sunshine! My neighborhood was alive with the sounds of mowing, planting and digging. Kids were shooting hoops in the street and zooming around on roller blades and skateboards. The young girls were dressed in crop tops, if not just yet shorts, and the days lasted until late. We planted tomotos, onions (Walla Walla of course), lettuce and my first four rose bushes. Yesterday was a hint of today, with clouds in the morning and sun in the afternoon. Today was right back to drizzle, dark clouds that made the day seem short again...and it was cold. UGH! Perhaps another day of sun will come.
My week of work reflected the weather today. I could swear that, when my back was turned, someone painted a bull's eye on my ass and the world used me as a target. Last week a supposedly trusted employee and one-time friend (or so I thought) left without serving her 2-week notice. She took with her, in addition to the trust and friendship of some staff, some unique knowledge that should have been passed on to her replacement. Her personal demons apparently overwhlemed any professional behavior she might have manifested. I have seldom been as disappointed in an employee as I was in this individual. A lesson learned for me, I suppose, although I haven't quite defined exactly what that lesson is yet. Then, this morning, another delightful young woman on my staff became overwhelmed with personal issues and depression and resigned, effective immediately. She, as opposed the the aforementioned worker, resigned face-to-face with sincere and tearful apologies and hugs all around. My heart goes out to her and I sincerely hope she remains in contact with us so that we may know she is well and happy.
Tonight I am exhausted and have done virtually nothing physical. I hate mental exhaustion. I would rather be totally spent physically than mentally tired. Perhaps I should have been a brick-layer instead of a manager. I am going to the coast this weekend and I want to run, even if I run in the rain. I need to be running much more than I am, especially for the Hood to Coast.
I took some photos of my tulips and my back yard last weekend. They will qualify as "before" photos of my yard very soon. I am just beginning, but it is really fun to create the yard from scratch. It's odd to have purchased a 70 year old home and not have an established yard. I would have loved to have inherited old, old plants, but I guess I have to start from the beginning here. I'll include some photos. The "circle" of dirt in the center of my lawn will be a rose garden. I will plant (have planted 4 already) the roses in concentric rings with something like a fountain or statue in the center. Perhaps I'll bring my mother's White Dove from the coast and put it there.

Wednesday Evening

Another sunny day!!!! I raced home this evening to purchase a Weed Eater and work in my yard. I actually got the back yard mowed before I had to hire someone's goat to pasture out in it. I would not have thought a 33' X 36' back yard could be a challange to mow, but spring in Oregon brings a wonderous growth spurt to grass. I even was able (in semi-darkness) to spread some mulch in the area where I hope to plant the veggies that patiently await in small pots. Tomorrow I will once again hurry home to, hopefully, plant those veggies. I have now collected, in addition to my lawn mower and weed eater, a leaf rake, a toothed rake, a mattock, a forked goodie that does well for mixing mulch and various other small tools. I also have a lovely RED wheelbarrow and several hoses that I will endeaver to link to my front yard since it has no hose bib available.
My new truck is serving me well in transporting all my various garden implements and supplements. I have missed having a truck. Even though the 'Burb was a wonderful vehicle and very luxurious to drive, I had missed being able to toss "whatever" in the bed of a truck. I guess I am simply a country girl at heart. I grew up driving a truck and perhaps that forms you for life.
I have no photos to post for this evening, although I would have taken one coming home this evening had I owned a panoramic camera or lens. Being a clear, warm, day I was able to see Mt. St Helens, Mt Ranier, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood from Highway 30. I truly live in a beautiful area and feel very grateful for it every day. I don't even mind the commute. It is a new experience each day and always a treat.

Back to Work

It's Monday evening and another week looms ahead. I have got to get back to the gym and run at least three days a week again. The new gym has put me off with it's "meat-market" atmosphere and phoney, glitzy facade. I talked to June DeSimone (one of our Docs) today and she feels the same way. We liked the funky old gym where folks just went to work out and not to posture. Yuk!
I received an email from Eric today announcing his Commencement ceremonies from USC on May 12th. One way or another I am going to be there. Perhaps I'll fly down if Mike can't get away for a few days of sunshine. I certainly cannot pass up watching my son graduate with a Master's Degree from USC! Besides, Eric said if I packed light he'd pick me up in the Porsche! Can't pass that up either.
The weekend at the coast was very restful....especially since it hailed and rained the whole time. But I got half of an afghan crocheted for Emily and will be able to finish it by Saturday I'm sure.
I'll attach a couple of photos that I took Saturday evening from Gordon Matlock's driveway overlooking Haystack Rock at the beach. It was almost sunset and the storm clouds were very pretty. When we first arrived the surf was vicious and disorganized. As we watched, it calmed down and became an orderly procession of wave sets and gave up some nice reflections of the rocks and sun. I hope you enjoy them. If you double click on the photos they will enlarge. Click the back arrow to return to the text.

Easter Weekend

I hope all of you had a nice weekend. I am at the coast at Mike's. It has stormed nearly all weekend and there is still lots of "white stuff" on the ground this afternoon. The white stuff is actually hail, which Mike measured at about 1 inch this morning. We had the most awesome thunder and lightening storm last night that I have ever experienced and all through it the hail was pounding and pounding on the roof and windows! I haven't even gone out to run. Even though we have moments of bright, beautiful sunshine, the rain and hail return quickly and with a vengence. A little light rain is one thing to run in, but this hail....no thanks!
I purchased sweet peas, Walla Walla onions and edible peas yesterday at the local nursery. Thank heavens I haven't planted them yet. They would have surely been beaten flat last night. I'm not sure if I can even plant them today. Perhaps if I make a lean-to of some old glass windows we have it might be OK.
I drove my new truck up to Warrenton and back over Old Lewis & Clark Road yesterday. Even though it was difficult to see through the hail most of the way, my truck handeled beautifully on all the curves. It was quite fun to drive.....much different than my 'Burb. I am enjoying having a stick shift again. Jeremy's new truck is manual as well but he's not too crazy about that aspect of it. I guess I'm just old fashioned....or maybe just old!
Well, here comes the sun again. Perhaps I'll try to go out and plant some of those plants I bought. It's quite cold out though (duh, there's ice on the ground) so I might be easily discouraged.

My New Truck

Here are some photos of my new truck.

My New Truck

I am having trouble coming square with the nice things that have happened to me in the past three years. I moved to a state that is more beautiful than I could have imagined and have a job that I like very much. I feel I am doing well in that position and I love my staff. They are wonderful folks. I am with a fellow that I fell in love with in 1959 and we are doing well and I am happier than I ever thought I could be. I have been able to purchase my own home, and, although it is small, it is so very cute and just perfect for me. And, now I have been able to buy a brand new truck! I cannot imagine why this good fortune has befallen me. It is almost as if I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. Don't get me wrong....I am very grateful and I love my life. I feel very fortunate and I appreciate what I have very, very much.
I spoke with my dearest friend Vickie Sluka last evening. She has recently lost 92 pounds! She says she looks at her reflection in a mirror and says "Hmmmmmm!?" Not in admiration, mind you, but just Hmmmm. I feel that way too. It is a puzzlement to me, and, I am sure to her as well. We are happy for one another....as we have been dear friends for over 25 years. But it is hard to come around as to why this happens.
I managed to mow my front lawn tonight before dark, and even weed the front and part of my elderly neighbor's front planter as well. The back lawn will need to wait for tomorrow as will planting the vegetables I purchased the last two evenings. I have wonderful neighbors on both sides. I am "the middle" in space and age. The Kennedys on the south are in their 80s and the "kids" on the north are 20-somethings.
So, I went to Kelso, Washington this evening and took possession of my new truck. It's really a nice drive.......back to a stick shift for me. It took only one shift for my mind to click back to "stick" mode and I didn't give it another thought. Thanks Dad, for making me drive your 4-speed 3/4 ton truck with compound reverse before I ever was allowed the new Buick. I can drive most anything now.

Well, I did it

I bought a new car today. And I don't just mean new to me. I actually was able to buy a 2006 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab truck. And, since I am so stubborn about the color I wanted, I have to wait a few days for it to be delivered. Those of you who know me well will have already guessed what that color is, but, for the rest of you, it's RED. Actually, it's called Impulse Red Pearl. A pretty, wine-red, metallic color. With Mike's dogged assistance we searched all weekend and eventually found that even a used Tacoma with 60-80K miles on it was going to cost $17-$18K. For $2K more and much better financing I could buy a new one. So I did. I should have it in the next 3 days. Perhaps a photo will follow.
I was going to plant roses this weekend, but, that didn't happen. Hopefully I'll get home from work this week in time to do some work on that.
No rain today and much warmer, finally. I hope we have some warm days....I'm looking forward to some sun.

Tomorrow I hope to be able to find a new (or new to me) vehicle to purchase. There is a red Toyota SR5 4WD Toyota at Gresham Toyota to look at. Jeremy (Mike's son) bought the green one in Cannon Beach. I'm happy for him. Now I can get one as well. I will truly miss my Suburban and the luxery of the ride. But I cannot support that lifestyle with the current price of gasoline.
I purchased geranium starts last evening and planted them in my large terra cotta pots on my porch. It was 60 degrees tonight so I think they are safe from a freeze now. I will try to get my vegetables in the soil in the coming week. I even bought some roses this evening to plant in my back yard. I love the idea of creating my own gardening space.
If I get anything of any consequence planted I'll take photos to post. I hope my daughter Karen can visit me this summer and see my house. I really miss her. My son & his wife will come in August. Hopefully, by then, I will have some landscaping sone and more of my rooms inside painted. All things in good time.
And, I am tired, so Good night to all. Have a nice weekend.

OK, here are the two photos that didn't transmit with my last post. I found out, you can't upload bmp files...they are too big. SO I had to resave these as jpeg photos.

Enjoy.

This is the last for this evening

I have actually done this for two nights in a row. That's probably because I have given my BLOG site to another of my children....this time my older daughter, Cathy. I have yet to venture into this with my son, the computer Guru of the family. I suppose he would forgive his "elderly" little mother, as he calls me, if I were not very proficient at this. But I'd like to think I could get better first.
Perhaps Eric would post a photo of his new Porsche Cayman on this site for me. That would be cool!
I'll post two other photos here. The first is the outside of my house from the front. The first photo you saw was taken in the snow in December. This one was taken about a week ago when my daffodils began to bloom. I'll take another when the roses bloom. The other photo was taken from the wooded area at the end of my street. 4th street is a dead-end street and dissolves into a small, wooded bluff overlooking the Columbia River and our resident Boise Cascade paper mill. St. Helens is still a mill town and has two mills, both Boise Cascade. One is a tissue paper mill and the other is a veneer mill. Both are very close to where I live. The veneer mill in actually right down the hill and, when they are cutting the fir trees for veneer, I can smell the logs. It actually smells very nice. The paper mill, on the other hand, smells like day-old sauerkraut! I don't often get to smell that, but I've actually grown accustomed to it anyway. But, back to the photo. I was standing on the bluff looking out over the river one evening and happened to see a "cute" little tug boat passing towing a grain barge. This is the photo that I snapped.

These are other photos of the living area. As you can see, I have not too much actual furniture, but it's cozy. My photos are on the walls and my stereo is in an area of its own. And I like red! You can't actually see the area rugs, but they are all red. It seems to go well with my hardwood floors....and besides, I like it!

Some photos of my house

Some of you have asked for photos of my little "cottage" since I have painted. I will include some here. This is my dining and lving room area taken from the entrance into my kitchen. Bear in mind that this area is 27' long and 9 1/2 ' wide. So I have "visually" divided it into three areas. The doorway you see on the right is to my bedroom. There is another door on the right that is too cloe to see and that is my another very small bedroom that masquerades as my office.

I am sooooo bad about keeping up with this. I was bad about writing in my diary as a kid too, so this is not a surprise to me. I was even bad about doing homework until the last possible minute as well. I saw a cartoon recently where a husband was rubbing his wife's shoulders and telling her he would get rid of all the tension she had from trying to complete a project at 2am. When he finally rubbed all the tension from her neck and shoulders she melted and said "But the stress is what held me together, and now I can't work anymore." I sometimes think that is me.
I have told my younger daughter about my BLOG so now I am feeling as if I must keep this current.
I was at the coast over the weekend and it rained most of the time. I don't mind that, I just love being there. But, I do like to run. Saturday I was able to slip in between the rain and actually ran in the sunshine! I met some young folks at the top of Courier's property and talked to them for a while. I guess an "old lady" running is an anomoly and they seemed to take great pleasure in questioning me about what I was doing.......they even cautioned me to be careful on my way down because of the loose rock. GOOD GRIEF!!! I run on loose rock on purpose to strengthen my muscles in my ankles and feet. But then on Sunday the rain was clearly not going to take a breath. So, I put on my rain pants, a shell, a baseball cap with a long bill and my gloves and I went out in the rain and ran 2 1/2 miles. It was a great pleasure. I came back soaked from the outside in and the inside out. Mike had built a fire in the woodstove and the shower was hot. I came back downstairs and almost fell asleep reading the Sunday paper. So much for my rule that I don't care what happens while I am running, but I don't like to go out the door when it is already raining. I guess my feet are webbing and I am truly becoming an Oregonian. We rust, you know, rather than tanning.
OK, I've bored you enough. I have a question for any of you who are reading this. What is your defination of ART? Do you have expectations of beauty? Should it please you or just make you reflect or think? Or is it a way of seeing the world through another's eyes? Let me know how you view art and what you feel it should be.

So, now that I have a blog I should maintain it. I need to figure out how to arrange and re-arrange the photos that I post. I also want to add links to sites I'd like to share. Some of you may not know who I am as far as political or social preferences. That would be something I could share with you. I suggest alternative news sites such as "common Dreams" or "Alternet" and editorial columns such as Leonard Pitts, Jr or Molly Ivins. When I figure out how to import the Word program that supplies links I will give them to you.
Meanwhile, I am working on perfecting my leap into 21st Century technology with this blog. My boss at work is trying to turn this "word" person into a number-cruncher. I think he is a frustrated with me as I am with him, but we can still throw sarcasm and verbal barbs at one another,so I guess it all works out.

This is Mike & Me in his Jag in January 2004 after a snow-filled week. 

This was taken on MAr 16th at Mt. Hood. It snowed all day. I got totally lost in a white-out of butt-deep powder, finally found my way out with another skier that had no clue where we were. The snow was great and the photos even better.....but boy was I tired at then end of the day. The next day too. 

This is Mt Hood with the cloud cap frequently present. I was skiing there on Mar 2, 2006 and snapped this photo with my Canon A610. 

This is my little cottage the Sunday before Christmas. We got snowed in! Too fun. I made chicken soup and chocolate chip cookies. 

Hello Out There!

This is a means to keep in touch with those folks accross the country, be they family or friends, that give a hoot and whom I care about as well. Hopefully, we will be able to remain a part of each other's lives at whatever level we wish to explore via the internet. In other words, if you don't care, don't read this. Or, when you don' t care, don't bother, but look as you wish.

This is an experiment for me that a trusted and valued employee has introduced me to. I'm going kicking and screaming into old age and trying like heck to keep up with technology.