Katchen

Mom and chicks

2011-04-18T12:56:00.000-07:00

It must be spring

Having a chat

The whole family

Off they go

Swami

2011-04-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

I took these photos at a meditation Center near the start of our weekly bicycle ride with our San Diego friends. The beauty just doesn't end.

Craftsmanship Museum

2011-04-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

We rode motorcycles to a Craftsmanship Museum and I took these photos for my friend, Knight. Click on any of the pics for a closer look.

Made with matchsticks

San Diego Zoo

2011-03-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hub and I spent a fabulous day at the San Diego Zoo yesterday. In addition to enjoying all the animals, we were also reminded why we love spending the winter months here. It was an absolutely beautiful day...not too hot, not too cool, not a cloud in the sky. Just click on any photo for a larger peek...

Relaxing

Breakfast

So much bamboo, so little time

I could have watched these Pandas for hours

This dude was pacing the whole time

Fun in the pool

A lovely family

Mother and child...I could barely keep from getting emotional.

Snuggling

That's a lot of ivory

What a pussycat

Another kitty

Chillin

Oh so cute

So fun to watch

Sasquatch

Grooming time

Thanks.....

2011-03-09T20:47:00.000-08:00

......for the memories. Just the other side of the USS Midway, we located the display below. First of all we came upon the larger than life statue of a returning sailor kissing a nurse.
Secondly, we enjoyed the statues depicting Bob Hope entertaining the troops.

USS Midway

2011-03-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

The USS Midway is open to the public in downtown San Diego. We spent a better part of the day there and enjoyed our tour. I pretty much posted these pics for Greg.

Falcon

2011-03-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

While enjoying our breakfast, we happened to see a new friend out there this morning. Wow!

Sailboat races....

2011-03-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

As we traveled to and from Coronado Island, we happened upon a sailboat race on San Diego Bay. Sandi and Michael...you would have loved it!

A photo finish!

As the sun is going down

The Del Coronado Hotel

2011-03-04T19:56:00.000-08:00

Taking the ferry to Coronado island, then walking to the Hotel Del Coronado for lunch has always been one of our favorite things. We enjoyed that trip today. The weather was perfect!

San Diego

2011-02-27T19:50:00.000-08:00

We're spending some time in San Diego while the rain is falling in Portland. We have had some unnseasonably cool weather, but have managed to enjoy regular bikerides with our friends. The view from our travel trailer is serene. What do you think?

A friend of mine

2011-02-15T22:20:00.000-08:00

I saw this fabulous bird (note the broken foot) at the ferry landing on Coronado Island. It appears he lives there. It seems like a safe place as all the tourists feed him.

Coronado Air Show

2011-02-15T22:12:00.000-08:00

The Naval base on Coronado Island in San Diego staged an air show to commerate the 100th anniversary of their air craft. Actually, I mainly posted this on my blog for Sandi and Michael.
The last pics are of planes that took off from aircraft carriers on the base. It was a perfect day.

Valentine's Day sunset.....

2011-02-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

. ........In San Diego

Mt. Soledad

2011-02-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

Hail...

2010-11-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

....in West Linn

The four of us

2010-10-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

Our oldest son, Brian, came to Portland (from Chicago) to participate in the Muddy Buddy Race with his father...see previous blog postings. Our youngest son, Brandon, joined us from Santa Rosa, CA, to cheer for The McMuddie's.
The four of us spent a very special weekend together that I will remember for a very long time. How fortunate we are to have such a wonderful family.

The Muddy buddy

2010-10-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, hub and Brian participated in the Muddy buddy race here in Portland. Brian has enjoyed this race numerous times in chicago, but travelled to Portland to experience it with his father. Brandon flew up from California to offer support and encouragement.

What is a Muddy Buddy Race you ask? Well: Muddy Buddy is all about having fun with a friend, family member, partner or co-worker! Teams of two traverse a 6-7 mile off-road course and 5 obstacles. At the start of the race, one team member will run and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider will drop the bike, complete the obstacle, and begin running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike and begin riding. Teams will continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course. At the end of the race, racers crawl through the infamous Mud Pit crossing the finish line together as official “Muddy Buddies”!

And so it begins

Their McMuddie shirts are clean. These unique shirts are courtesy of Tom Mitsdarfer.

Into the mud

2010-10-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

After each of them ran/biked their five legs, into the mud they went...

The mud

Preparing to enter the mud

Fun in the mud

In the mud

They made it!

They finished....

2010-10-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

The McMuddie's

They may look a bit muddy, but they had a fabulous time!

McMuddie shirts courtesy of Tom

Hub

Brian

A bit tired

The medal ceremony

2010-10-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, believe it! They won first place in their division! The divisions were decided by their combined ages which in their case, was 103.

The medal

On the podium

Around the US....

2010-05-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

....in 80 days. Years ago, when we talked about retirement, we thought a cross-country, travel trailer trip would be a dream fulfilled and a check off our 'bucket list'. Well, we left West Linn, Oregon, on February 4, and began our cross-country jaunt. Many of our travels have been posted to my blog, but the trip was far more than the photos.
To begin, we wanted to be able to say we had visited all 50 states. We added South and North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC to our list. While we were in the DC area, we jumped on the Harley just so we could visit Delaware. On our journey to Chicago, we drove through West Virginia and FINALLY visited our 50th state....North Dakota as we head for home. We're not too sure why we had this goal, but perhaps it was just a good reason for a long trip.

We have seen some lovely places, spent time with some old and new friends, and just had a great time. We're eager to head home to Oregon just in time for our 41st. wedding anniversary on Monday.

Fortunately we had very few mishaps with our trailer, had relatively good weather along the way, met some great people, ate some fantastic food, have seen some awesome sites and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company. I guess I could/should say it has been the trip of a lifetime.

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

2010-04-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

Our last stop before heading home to Oregon was Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We spent some time with a few friends and took a scenic trip to see Lake Coeur d'Alene. It was beautiful. As we near home, the terrain looks more and more familiar. There is no place like the northwest.

Idaho

2010-04-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

I think northern Montana and Idaho are some of the most beautiful places in the United States. The photo below doesn't begin to give you an idea of its beauty. You will just have to see it for yourself.

The last three states....

2010-04-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

...Delaware, West Virginia and North Dakota. These are the last three states in our quest to visit all 50 states. During our trip, we have added quite a few to our list, but we recently visited states number 48, 49 and 50.
While in the DC area, we hopped on the Harley and head due east to Delaware.

On our way to Chicago, we took the route that would allow us to drive through West Virginia...Number 49!

And finally, we traversed North Dakota, our 50th. state.

We did it!!!

The Capitol

2010-04-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the Federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Thanks to our state Senator, Ron Wyden, we were able to have a tour of the Capitol.
The Rotunda is the center of the Capitol whose function is a ceremonial space. Unfortunately I mostly remember it as the site of many funerals of Presidents, military heroes, etc.
We both learned a lot from the tour, but more from the exhibits. We seemed to have forgotten a tremendous amount since our US History class in high school.

Library of Congress

2010-04-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes your socks get knocked off when you least expect it. We hadn't planned on visiting the Library of Congress, but were intrigued by entering through the 'tunnel' from the Capitol. It is probably the most stunning building we visited. The attention to detail was phenomenal. Our son, Brandon would have loved it and probably would have spent a week there. He particularly would have loved the mosiacs.
The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. One of the exhibits featured the editorial cartoons of Herb Block. He was so 'spot on' in so many of his cartoons.

House...

2010-04-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

...of the Supremes....the Supreme Court Justices that is. This is quite an impresssive building. Sixteen marble columns at the main west entrance support the portico. On the arch above is incised:

Equal Justice Under Law

You can click on any photo to make it larger....

Washington DC...

2010-04-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

......stuff

Washington DC license plate.

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

Wilmington, NC

2010-04-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

My cousin Richard and his wife Anita live in Wilmington, but they are in Michigan hugging their grandaughter, then off to China. I certaainly understand as I would give up visiting my cousin to hug my grandaughter and travel to China in a heartbeat.

We stopped in Wilmington for an overnight trip on our way to Washington, DC. Wilmington is surrounded by water (or so it seems) ... a river on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. We did get out to see the downtown area as well.
What is it about front porches???

Coen Brothers

2010-04-06T13:43:00.000-07:00

This posting is for my sons.

Spanish Moss

2010-04-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

I love it! Photo taken in a city park in Charleston.

Charleston

2010-04-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

This is a great city. I'm not into Architecture, but during this entire trip, I find myself taking photos of homes. I must admit it is interesting to see how each city has its own slant on style and history. We learned a lot of interesting tidbits when we took a mule-drawn carriage tour of downtown Charleston. We also brought our bicycles and rode around the city which is bordered by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers.

The bridge to....

2010-04-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

.....Mt. Pleasant, Sullivan's Island the Isle of Palms and Patriot's Point. We enjoyed a great Harley over this fabulous bridge to enjoy several unique sites just east of Charleston.

Fort Moultrie, which served as coastal fortification for two centries, is located on Sullivan's island. It is located just across the water from the famed Fort Sumpter where the first engagement of the Civil War took place.

Patriots Point is located at the mouth of Charleston Harbor.

Just several hundred feet from the Atlantic Ocean, these homes are very unique and built to withstand water from flooding and hurricane winds....hopefully.

FOOD in Charleston!

2010-04-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed several meals in the Charleston area...some good and some not so good and some very interesting.

We were encouraged to taste the 'southern east coast' barbeque and compare it to Memphis barbeque. While we enjoyed the vinegary and mustardy flavors, we both agreed we still like the Memphis barbeque best.

Our friends/neighbors, Janie and Phil, suggested several restaurants and we decided to sampleMagnolia's in downtown Charleston. It did not disappoint.

Our new friends, Eddie and Lisa, suggested a unique restaurant, Bowen's Island, on the way to Folly Beach. Without a doubt, it was one of the greatest experiences. Most enjoyed oysters delivered to their table with a coal shovel and a 5 gallon bucket for the shells. Hub was very brave and ate 'shrimp and grits'. He liked them! This restaurant was located at the end of a narrow dirt road. It consisted of several suspiciously rickety buildings right on the water. We were treated to the music of a unique trio easily our age. Wonderful! Thanks to Eddie for the pics.

And last but not least, following another tip from Eddie, we ate at Bimini in Myrtle Beach....where the locals eat. Sorry, no pics.

Alabama

2010-03-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

We are currently in the eastern portion of Alabama. Our goal is Charleston, SC where we hope to chill for a while. Actually the terrain of this part of Alabama is very different from the Mississippi Delta which is very flat (perfect for growing cotton). This part of Alabama has rolling hills dotted by forests of pine trees. Spring has sprung here as the trees are budding. It's good to see.

Just before we retired to our comfy bed, I took this pic of the full moon. It looks a little spooky.

Memphis

2010-03-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

Greetings from the mid-south. Last evening, we enjoyed some of the famous Memphis sites. The famous Memphis bridge, dinner at Rendezvous followed by music on Beale Street.
Since we lived here for 4 1/2 years, we also had the opportunity to visit some friends which was an added bonus. Missy and Steve hosted a get together consisting of many TKE co-workers of hub. It was a fabulous evening. Katchen got to visit Robert, Maggie and Dwayne. What a treat!

New Orleans...

2010-03-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

...from a bridge. We had a lovely time! We are in the middle of a cross country trip we have looked forward to for many years. We left our home in West Linn, OR on February 4, and have traveled about 5000 miles so far.

Incredible architecture....

2010-03-23T19:43:00.000-07:00

We were in New Orleans many years ago so have looked forward to visiting the big easy for quite a while. It did not disappoint. We ate some fabulous food, saw some beautiful homes, some residual Katrina ruins and of course....the French Quarter.

....in the Garden District.

Entertainment...

2010-03-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

...in the French Quarter. Below is just a few examples of the street entertainment.

Breakfast

2010-03-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

Beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe Du Monde.....

Awesome buildings...

2010-03-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

The old buildings in the French Quarter were surprisingly in tact after hurricane Katrina! As you can see, I just couldn't resist shooting endless photos. It is still a magical city.

Signs, trolley,s and more

2010-03-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

The French Quarter is unique to say the least....

Wierd signs, horns sitting in the street, a

horse drawn carriage, a very old, but fully

operational trolley and a sign promising

great gumbo (it delivered)!

Swamp tour

2010-03-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

We spent a cloudy, rainy day cruising in a flat-bottomed boat on what is called a Swamp Tour of Honey Island in Slidell, LA. We were promised views of several critters including alligators, but were told it was too cold for the alligators to show themselves. We saw several water birds and a captive alligator when we returned to the office.

We also saw a bit of damage left over from hurricane Katrina.

Apache Junction

2010-03-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a Harley ride to Apache Junction where we first visited a ghost town, then traveled to the end of the road (Yes! It was closed due to rain...in Arizona) where there was a lake. It was a great ride.

The smell of the fresh cinnamon rolls was too good to pass up, so we enjoyed them with Superstition Mountain as a backdrop.

Arizona...

2010-03-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

On the way to Phoenix. I was surprised (not too sure why) to see such an active presence of the Border Patrol. We were stopped on several occasions and asked if anyone was riding in our trailer.
Arizona is rocky, desert-like and with an occasional cactus thrown in for good measure. We also ran into some really nasty weather...rain, cold and yes...some snow. Go figure.
Check out some of the nasty clouds in the pics below. Sunny Arizona.....NOT!!!

Mellow Johnny's

2010-03-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

YES!!!!! Because of a rainy day in San Antonio, we were at a loss for indoor activities. So, we decided to drive 75 miles to Austin, Texas, to visit Mellow Johnny's. So you say....what the heck is Mellow Johnny's? It is a bicycle store in Austin partially owned by LANCE ARMSTRONG! I have to admit it was more my idea than hub's, but he kindly indulged me. It was quite a thrill and I bought a T-shirt. Hub even bought a hat.
I admit to being quite a fan on Lance Armstrong and fully support his ongoing Livestrong fight against cancer.

The way to San Antonio....

2010-03-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

......it pretty much looked allthe same. Mountains in the distance, trains carrying freight speeding by, windmills trying to generate electricity and dry, arid conditions. We were always happy to find a bit of civilization.

The Alamo

2010-03-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

While in San Antonio, we visited the Alamo. I sort of felt the same way I did when I saw Pearl Harbor. We got our butts kicked.

Galveston

2010-03-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

We took a Harley ride to Galveston today and passed several oil refineries. I guess they are the cash cow of Texas. Anyway, when we arrived in Galveston, we were treated to several architectural treats. To me, these buildings look like the typical southern mansions. Many of them were built in the 1800's and have withstood several hurricane's.

Kemah, Texas

2010-03-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

We had dinner with our good friend 'lil Sandy' and Jim last evening in Kemah, Texas. It was so-o good to see them. I know it's not too good a picture, but it was a fun evening.

Kemah has a boardwalk much like I remember from my
childhood summers in New Jersey.

Several neighborhoods are built on canals that lead
to the bay. Their sailboats are parked right out in
front of their houses.

I did it again

2010-03-02T16:23:00.000-08:00

I rode my bicycle 1000 miles in one calendar year!

San Diego Zoo

2010-02-24T16:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we visited the San Diego Zoo with our friends Liz and Joe. We enjoyed an absolutely beautiful day. I had never before seen live Panda's and it was quite a thrill. They are very peaceful and in a way, sort of magical. I continue to rate the San Diego Zoo as the best I have ever visited.

IN-N-OUT

2010-02-15T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here's where we enjoyed our Valentine's Day lunch!

Sunny San Diego

2010-02-12T19:43:00.000-08:00

What is it about palm trees?

On our way....

2010-02-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

....to San Diego AND the sun.

Jose...

2010-02-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

....really liked his new bike.

The Golden Gate Bridge

2010-02-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

It always takes my breath away. However, my granddaughter wants to know why they call it the Golden Gate Bridge when it's not gold. Good question!

In Petaluma.....

2010-02-05T22:29:00.000-08:00

.....near Santa Rosa, visiting Brandon. Warm and sunny!

Into California...

2010-02-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

...snow on Mt. Shasta, but not on the road. That's a good thing.

Jackson's Black Belt

2010-01-19T08:07:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday evening, my 12 year old grandson, Jackson, tested for his black belt in karate. He demonstrated form, self-defense, sparring and more. After many years of studying and this arduous test, he received his black belt. It was quite an evening and this grandmother is very proud. By the way, his mother has her black belt as well. What a pair!

Kennedy....

2010-01-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

While we were in Chicago, we celebrated Kennedy's 8th birthday and the day of her receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation. She is adorable, funny, smart and loveable.

House

2010-01-18T17:33:00.000-08:00

We had this house built and moved into it in 1975. Our family enjoyed some very happy memories during the 20 years it housed us.

Old friends

2010-01-18T17:26:00.000-08:00

When we were in Chicago, we spent some time with some very old friends. We've known these great people for about 30 years. When we chat, we pick up where we left off last time we met.

Spring????

2010-01-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

I think not, but there is hope.

Christmas - 2009

2009-12-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

Hub and I decided to travel to the Columbia Gorge hotel, in Hood River, for Christmas dinner. It is an old, lovely hotel right on the Columbia River. We had a wonderful evening. On the way there, we passed Multnomah Falls. It was a bit frosty, but still quite breathtaking.

Spider-webs

2009-10-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

They're everywhere!

Portland....

2009-10-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

.....this is why we love it. Doesn't everyone? Take a look....

Front yard

2009-09-29T09:39:00.001-07:00

After fighting weeds, quack grass and weekly mowings for 11 years, we decided to change the look of our front yard. A new sustainable look was our goal. What do you think?

Wicked hot!

2009-07-28T18:01:00.001-07:00

Hot!!!!!

Dogwood....

2009-07-05T10:02:00.001-07:00

......pollination

Oh No!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

Poor Kennedy needs new front teeth.....

Bryce Canyon

2009-03-11T19:09:00.001-07:00

I/we have been told by many persons that Bryce Canyon is awesome. Well, after today, we certainly agree. As you can see, there is snow on the ground, however, there was not a cloud in the sky, it was toasty warm, we could see forever and were struck by the incredible beauty. What a day!

1000 miles

2009-03-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

I did it! Thousands of pedal strokes, bike rides in Oregon, California and Utah, lots of grease stains on my leg, a few bumps and bruises, and a smile on my face. It took me 12 months, but I put 1000 miles on my bike in one year. I am so very proud of myself!

Sunset....

2009-02-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

...in San Diego!

San Diego

2009-02-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

Hub and I have some fabulous memories of San Diego from years ago when we escaped Chicago's winter and visited San Diego. One of our most memorable moments was always taking the ferry to Coronado, walking to the Del Coronado hotel and eating lunch overlooking the ocean. We enjoyed that same ritual today and it certainly didn't disappoint.

On the San Diego waterfront, we found several fabulous sculptures. The first depicts a sailor arriving home and greeting his 'best girl'. We then happened upon a set of sculptures saluting Bob Hope for his numerous tours to war zones. (Click on any picture to enlarge it!)

Time Trial in the sun in Solvang

2009-02-20T19:55:00.001-08:00

What a fabulous Time Trial. First the starting gate, then Lance on the course, followed by big George Hincapie, Chris Horner and of course Levi....raising three fingers in hopes of winning his third Tour of California in a row. We'll see!

Merced to Clovis

2009-02-19T20:53:00.000-08:00

The riders rode from Merced to Clovis. We went up to see the "King of the Mountain" on Crane Valley Road. 7" of snow fell the night before, but the plows came out and totally cleared the road. It was pretty warm and sunny up there and we enjoyed the bicycle snowman, batman, and of course the riders plugging up the hill.
We then drove like crazy into Clovis to see the riders arrive. Of course, we saw Levi don the yellow jersey again!

San Jose to Modesto

2009-02-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

It was raining AGAIN in Modesto. Below is a poster Livestrong is handing out. The next pic is the peloton screaming past us and finally ... Thor Hushovd ... winning the stage. Don't fret, however, Levi Leipheimer is still the overall leader. On to Clovis, Ca tomorrow. Can you say sunshine??????

Sausalito

2009-02-16T16:56:00.001-08:00

A few pics from Sausalito.... a pic of Astana's bus. A pic of Lance w/his 'game face' preparing to ride, in the rain again, from Sausalito to Santa Cruz. A terrible pic of part of George Hincapie and alas a rainbow because it's freakin' raining all the time. This is sunny California???

Tour of California - 2009

2009-02-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

Wow! Lance is back. Sacramento hosted the Prologue for this years race. Hub managed to get a few pics of some of our favorite riders....
In order below.... Carlos Sastre, Levi Leipheimer and of course....Lance!

Snow in West Linn, Oregon

2008-12-15T12:59:00.000-08:00

We had a few inches of snow yeaterday.....enough for a snow angel.....beautiful!

Rosa - Barack

2008-11-18T09:24:00.000-08:00

I just have to share......

Florence

2008-10-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

Last month, Hub and I took a trip to Italy. We began with a few days in Florence, then bicycled through Tuscany, ending with a few days in Rome. We both felt we had the perfect mixture of city and country. We walked, walked and walked, some more, stopping occasionally to eat gelato or have coffee in a Piazza and people watched.
We both agree it was a fabulous vacation!
(If you'd like to see a picture a little larger, just click on it.)

This magnificent gothic cathedral was covered with pink, green & white Tuscan marble.
We climbed the 463 steps to the top of the dome and were treated to a wonderful view of Florence.

Here we are, on top of the dome.......................................

From inside the dome....

The Piazza Della Signoria is loaded with history, sculptures and people. Hub's favorite piece is the one on the right below...the Rape of Sabien. The copy of 'David' is also located here.

Just down the street, in front of the Uffizi Gallery is my favorite 'live' sculpture. As you can see, he came alive for a moment.

The Ponte Vecchio (the old bridge) which spans the Arno River was spared by the Nazi's in WWII. It used to house butchers, but now houses gold and silver stores. The nighttime view was breathtaking.

I think the Photo below is a typical Florence site.

We spent hours people watching.

Bicycling through Tuscany....

2008-10-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

The middle portion of our trip was a fabulous ride through beautiful Tuscany. We traveled through pine forests, saw cork trees, stayed at a winery, visited an olive-oil mill, visited beaches, swam in the Tyrrhenian Sea and rode with 2 trip leaders and 15 fellow bikers.

(Again....click on any photo to enlarge it)

Our fearless leaders....Franco and Andrea. What would we have done without them???

Our group....

The 60ish ladies - and -

the whoe group!

Rode through pine forests....

...and through many beautiful Tuscan towns.

The view from two of our rooms.

Rome

2008-10-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

We ended our trip with a few days in Rome. We saw the Roman Forum, (the birthplace of Ancient Rome),

the Pantheon (the most preserved church),

the Colosseum (where gladiators fought),

the Trevi fountain (where we threw a coin to ensure our return to Rome),

the people gathering place...the Spanish Steps....very romantic at night!

St. Peter's Square and Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

Michelangelo's Pieta

We always seemed to end the afternoon in our favorite spot....The Piazza Novona to drink coffee and people watch.

Summer visit w/family....

2008-09-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

........we all met in Petaluma, CA to spend a few days together. We toured San Francisco, Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, Charles Schultz's museum, fed goats, ate s'mores, rode merry-go-rounds and enjoyed each other's company. I think everyone would agree it was good to spend time ALL together.

Charlie Brown gets a wet willy! Kennedy loved feeding the goats.

It's done!!!!

2008-08-31T17:15:00.000-07:00

Please note the very cool, red front door.

We'll paint the trim when we return from Italy!!!!!

The painting....

2008-08-31T17:12:00.000-07:00

...process begins.... I just love the color!

The LAST piece......

2008-08-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

.....of siding went on our house today! What's next? Clean up and paint.

Portland Bridge Pedal

2008-08-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

This morning, Hub and I rode 41 miles in the Portland Bridge Pedal bicycle ride. We rode over 12 of Portland's bridges and had a good time. Italy...here we come!

http://www.providence.org/bridgepedal/

Cascade Cycling Classic

2008-08-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

After riding hard for his teammate Levi Leipheimer (who did win the race), Chris Horner helped a member on another team who had crashed 2 kilometers from the finish line. The injured cyclist had an unrideable bike in addition to tons of road rash. Chris carried the injured ride AND his bike to the finish line.

More bike racing in Bend....

2008-07-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

Friday's Criterion in downtown Bend was crazy. Some of the corner's were so tight, we saw bodies everywhere. Hub managed to get a pic of Levi screaming past us. Yesterday's stage ended up on Mt. Bachelor. It was quite a site. As of right now, Levi is still in first place. We'll see what happens after today's final stage. We also spent a little time just enjoying the scenery...particularly the Deschutes River in downtown Bend. The weather has been perfect.

Cascade Cycling Classic, Bend, OR

2008-07-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

We decided to head to Bend (on the way to California) to see this bicycle classic particularly because Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer are riding. Today's stage ended after 78 miles on North Sister peak. By the way....there were professional women racing as well. The photos are in order: Levi finishing 5th, The woman's winner, Levi and Chris before the race, the start of the race with the police motorcycles, And they're off (the men), the women...ready to go (they're my idols), and finally the finish line.

4th of July - 2008

2008-07-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Our block party began with a bike parade led by a West Linn police person and Hub on his Harley....how American is that???

It appears a good time was had by all...

Moving on up....

2008-06-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

...to the second floor. Hub purchased these nifty thingy's to create a movable platform for siding the second floor. For extra stability, he braced them to the house with some metal brackets he designed.

New license plate

2008-06-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

I needed to renew my license plates, so I chose to contribute $20. to the 'Share the Road' foundation to get this new, nifty plate. They just gave me the plate with DRFT on it, so I decided it is a acronym for.... Dumb Folks Ride Tandems! That's us!

The siding project begins....

2008-06-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

...The first piece is installed...

The side near the shed is complete....

Kat used power tools!!!!!! I'm cutting up the removed siding.....

Siding project

2008-06-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have purchased a home with defective siding. We filed a claim with the manufacturer http://www.masoniteclaims.com/omniwood2/FAQ.htm , received our settlement, and now hub has begun the process of residing our house. He has 'saved' this project for his retirement....so now it begins....

The siding, felt/tar paper and nails were delivered....

Friends from Harper...

2008-06-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

While I was in Chicago, I had lunch with four former co-workers and friends. It was really great to see them again....Mary, Judy, Laura and Sherilyn

Trip to Chicago

2008-06-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, hub and I travelled to Chicago to visit the kids/grandkids and for hub to help Brian install a wood floor in his house. see pics: http://www.brianmcdonald.net/

I also had the opportunity to help Kennedy plant some flowers....