Marleen's 2009 photo a day blog

October 17-19

2009-10-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

The news around here is that we are all healthy! What a great feeling to be back to our regular life! The other news is that we now have an aquarium. We used to have one for several years, but the old one sprung a leak twice so I got rid of it. That was several years ago and I have been missing the peacefulness of having an aquarium. So we got it on Friday, got the water all ready and on Saturday we got a few neons to test the water. They did great. Yesterday we went back to the pet store and bought quite a few more fish including this angelfish and several more neons. The bad new? The angelfish has eaten 5 of the neons! We have names him Jaws!

Oct 16

2009-10-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

The Russian Orthodox church is just completing a new building. They just recently put the crosses up on the top of the steeples and this is the view from my duaghter's bedroom. The sunshime reflects so beautifully on the nice days!

October 14

2009-10-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

Home on Wednesday. Josi's temp stayed down most of the day and then headed back up around 2:00. So the blurry thermometer to remind me of why we can't go back to school yet. Her Aunt brought her jello cut out in the letters-Get Well Soon Josi, and Cadi is learning how to add multiple numbers on the abacus. Sure takes a lot of thought. I remember watching people use an abacus in China and thinking what a mystery they were. Beginning to figure it out myself!

2009-10-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

Still at home today with sick child number two, but one of the benefits was that after the fog cleared and the sun came out I spotted a bunch of spider webs on my back porch.

3 options...

2009-10-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

What can I say. Life just took over and I haven't kept up with the blog or with taking a picture daily. I guess I have 3 options. I can just quit, I can try to catch up, I can start out fresh today. The first one doesn't seem that great a choice to me, so I guess I will try to go with the 3rd option and catch you up a little with what's been going on. I've spent 6 of the last 9 days home with sick kids. This morning Josi's fever, which got over 104 degrees yesterday, seems to have broken. She is sleeping peacefully this morning. We did get to go to Anchorage a few weeks ago and see the Lion King. Most of the pictures are from our trip. Anchorage always gets more fall than we do. The cat and flower are at my friend, Maxine's house. She always lets us stay at her house when we go to Anchorage. She is a huge blessing in our lives! The other exciting news is we got a new t.v! Let's hear it for the PFD check! Oh one more picture. I made the wall hanging from material that MAxine gave me. Isn't it cute?

Day 263 Sept 20

2009-09-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

I actually took these yesterday, but hey it's my blog I can do what I want. We took a long walk along the sand dunes along the river and then headed to a little pond. These are about a fallish as our colors get, but I think it's beautiful right now.

Day 262 Sept 19

2009-09-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day and we headed out the road. Ran into these along one river bank and decided it was best to turn around and head to the car...

Day 261 Sept 18

2009-09-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

You get an old picture. I didn't get one taken last night. Halloween 2002

Day 260 Sept 17

2009-09-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Celmantine is a little shy, but we know have a newt living in our house...

Day 259 Sept 16

2009-09-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

Just playing on the computer.

playing around

2009-09-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

with different lighting in the layers section of PE5. Which one do you like best?

Day 258 Sept 15

2009-09-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

This is a snow cave that is up on one of our mountains. Love how the waterfall is coming out of it. I don't think this snow will be completely gone before we get our first snowfall. Fall is really upon us.

Day 257 Sept 14

2009-09-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

This was the sunrise that greeted us Monday morning! Not so hard to get up and face the day when God paints a picture that's this fantastic!

Day 256 Sept 13

2009-09-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a cold rainy day. It was a great day for homemade soup and cornbread with salmonberry jelly...

Day 255 Sept 12

2009-09-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Found out one of my friend's granddaughter has the swine flu. Talked to her mom on Facebook and she said she has learned a lot in the last couple of days. I went to the store and got a lot more disintfecting wipes and we are practicing wiping down all surfaces we touch daily. The kids were like they were on a scavenger hunt yesterday thinking all all the things we touch. remotes, phones, door knobs, wii games, keyboards, banisters...I figure if we spend 5 minutes in the morning and in the evening wiping things down it has to help. Just wish I could wipe the entire school down every day too.
No weapon formed against you shall prosper Isaiah 54:17

Day 254 Sept 11

2009-09-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

We had family game night on Friday. Threw a couple pizzas in the oven and our aunt and uncle and one of Cadi's great friends came over for the evening. Was played, Clue, Aggrevation, Pit and Spoons. At one point Cadi's friend was being so hillarious we almost wet our pants laughing so hard. We need to do this more often. It's good to wet your pants laughing!

Day 253 Sept 10

2009-09-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you can see this all that well, but here's a picture of sandhill cranes flying over us as they head south for the winter. It always makes ne a bit sad to hear them leave. I was reminded of something I wrote 4 years ago right after I saw others making their seasonal trek so I went looking for it and decided I would post it with this picture.

It is dusk. I just opened the door to let the dog in (okay so I forgot she was already in) and was greeted by the very loud sound of a flock of cranes flying over my house. They make a tremendous racket and it doesn't matter how many years I have heard the cranes in the fall I am always struck by the consistency of the formation they make, the instincts they have, and the volume of the call they make as they journey along their long trek south. Tonight I wondered what it was they were calling out to each other and I thought about each of you. We've made some long treks, sometimes through such unknown places, and sometimes in what appears to be the twilight just before the dark. And always through every trial there have been the others in the flock not only calling out those words of encouragement but also sometimes taking over the job as the one leading the way.

It's hard for me to hear the cranes in the fall, because their voices are what seem to call in the long dark winter, but tonight I felt like God gave me a moment to stand in the silence and look up at the cranes so that I could be reminded of all my friends both near and far that call out those words of encouragement and help shoulder the load that sometimes gets a little too heavy.

Thanks for being the ones who mean so much to me...Marleen

Day 252 Sept 9

2009-09-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

Took this right before I headed to bed last night. I have a candle in those thingys that soak up all the water that you use in floral arrangements. I love how the light reflects from all of them.

Day 251 Sept 8

2009-09-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

You get one of the old pictures for the day. I have always loved this picture of Josi. We don't have much grass where we live so she always loved to roll in the grass whenever and wherever we found some.

Days 249 and 250 Sept 6-7

2009-09-07T16:03:00.001-07:00

We just had the most fantastic two day camping trip with other friends from our church! We were blessed with fantastic weather and it just felt so good to be away from everything. We held church there Sunday morning and a lot of people who didn't camp came out for the service. It's going to be tough to go back to reality tomorrow...

2009-09-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Day 248 Sept 5

2009-09-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

This is what I woke up to this morning. Looks like fall is here. It is a beautiful day! We're going out to the glacier today and camping out with our church family. We're having church out there in the morning. Thank you Lord for sunshine!

Day 247 Sept 4

2009-09-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

My daughter now has a partial drum set to practice on. I couldn't quite see bringing the entire thing home yet, but she has a drum a cymbal and a bass drum. Who knew when I named her Cadence that she would become a drummer?

Day 246 Sept 3

2009-09-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

After patiently waiting for over a month, Josi's bed in a bag finally arrived! Now all I have to do to complete the room is sew 2 more sets of curtains.

Day 244 Sept 1

2009-09-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Pretty crummy picture but this is as good as it gets today. We have open house tonight at school and after that the girls and I raced home to watch part of America's Got Talent. Can't watch that without a bowl of popcorn!

Day 243 August 31

2009-09-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

I've been having a hard time keeping up with the blog. I'm usually taking photos, but just haven't been motivated to get them posteed every day. Might have something to do with those 29 kiddos who keep me hopping every day! Anyway this is what early morning looked liked on the 31st. Been foggy and drizzly most days...

Day 242 August 30

2009-08-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hey I lost a few days there. The beginning of the school year always sucks me up and with the remodeling of the school it's even crazier than it usually is. Plus I caught the king of head colds. Just spent the weekend sitting in my recliner blowing my nose. I am very thankful for these two cold remedies. If you're interested in the one from China you can get it from veryasia.com or from Amazon. It is the most fantastic stuff!

Day 237 August 25

2009-08-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a picture on Monday. Too tired after school to do much else other than sit in the recliner! Tuesday though brought sunshine so after school we stopped at Baja Taco and got a quick take-out meal. We ran home and ate, changed our clothes and then headed to Hartney Bay. It was so beautiful and peaceful! A day of sunshine quickly restores any Cordovan's soul! Looks like the clouds are back this morning. but I'm so thankful we got a chance to get sunshine in our eyes last night!

Day 235 August 23

2009-08-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

Just noticed today how healthy my coleus plant looks! Amazing what a summer of direct sunlight can do for a plant!

Day 234 August 22

2009-08-23T07:36:00.001-07:00

HAircut day here. I was so tired of my hair that I decided to go short again. It's so much easier to take care of and I can embrace the curliness if I want to. Cadi decided to go short too. This is as short as it's been since about kindergarten. I love the bounciness and shine of her hair. Definately a 6th grade haircut!

Day 233 August 21

2009-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hey, we made it through the first 2 days of school. Despite the photo of a few days ago, Cadi is so jazzed about 6th grade! She is really excited for this year. Josi was pretty happy with 4th grade too. She's always a little apprehensive about school even though she is a fantastic student. Some of the social situations in her class can sometimes be difficult. Anyway after 2 days of school we really vegged out. The kids played on the computers and I watched What Not to Wear in my old sweats! Cadi found this old baby blanket while we were doing the bedroom remodel and for some reason tonight it became a hair adornment. Never know what's going through that brain of hers!

Day 232 August 20

2009-08-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

First Day of school. I have a 4th and a (glup) 6th grader this year...

Day 230 August 18th

2009-08-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Paking up and organizing school supplies. See how excited the 6th grader looks!

Day 229 August 17

2009-08-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

Why, if I sat most of the day listening to people talk, are my dogs barking tonight? If my feet hurt after the first inservice day what are they going to feel like on Thursday after my first day of school? I think Tennis shoes will be in order!

Day 228 August 16

2009-08-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

You get an old picture for today, because I didn't manage to take one. This one seems appropriate though. This is Josi at almost 2 years old. Her expression kind of sums up what I'm feeling about going back to work after summer vacation. How did the summer fly back so quickly?

227 August 15

2009-08-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

We invited our Aunt, Uncle and one cousin over for dinner. Afterward we played Clue and Chinese checkers. We need to do that more often...

Day 226 August 14

2009-08-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

Bailey got a haircut and doesn't look so much like a science experiment that went bad! He also looks like he lost about 20 pounds. Do you think a haircut would help me lose weight?

Day 225 August 13

2009-08-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

We have finally entered the world of cell phones. The local phone company is giving away free cell phones with over 10,000 free minutes on them. You can get one for each member in you family. They are good for a year and will only do local calls, but hey, that's what we need. So we each have a cell phone. I think Cadi slept with her's last night. I'm sure her goal for today is to figure out how to do texting!

Day 224 August 12

2009-08-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Worked at school for awhile again today. The girls have been such great helpers hauling stuff all over the building, sorting mail, climbing ladders. The school is in a bit of disarray since we are going through a complete renovation during the next 2 years. Nothing is where it used to be so at times it seems like a scavenger hunt trying to find the supplies. Anyway we came home, found out the dog's hair cut was postponed, I spent too much time on Facebook and then baked some cookies. I want the grey cloudiness to go away for a couple of days. Could it possible go away for the weekend?

Day 223 August 11

2009-08-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

We've been working hard at school trying to get the room put back together so I haven't been taking any pictures. I'll try and remember to take a few today at school. Anyway here are a couple oldies.

Day 222 August 10

2009-08-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

Salmonberries are almost gone. But there were a few more hanging in there!

Day 221 August 9

2009-08-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

My two just goofing around. Love how they make each other laugh!

Day 220 August 8

2009-08-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

I just love our mossy forests. There is something so quiet and peaceful about spending time and walking through the lush carpets of a temperate rain forest. Of couse if I'm going to love the effects of the rain I have to appreciate the rain which is sometimes very hard to do...

Day 219 August 7

2009-08-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

I got a pair of purple drumsticks for Cadi from EBAY and they arrived Thursday night. I said something about them being the photo of the day for Friday and Cadi took it to heart. She choose clothes to match the drumsticks and then really put up with her mother making a photoshoot out of it! The only thing she didn't get was why I would want a picture of an ancient pickup! How she wants a drumset...even more than a Nintendo DSI !

Cadi's purple drumsticks...

2009-08-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Day 218 August 6

2009-08-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot! I almost got Bad Mom of the Year Award! But the good thing was everybody else forgot too! Today is August 6th! I thought it was August 5th all day today! Eight years ago today Josi came into our lives! What a roller coaster it was those first few years! Now she is such a delightful, sweet girl. I can't belive what a wonderful journey we have had so far. God has blessed me beyond belief by entrusting me to be the mother of the two most incredible kids in the entire world! Happy Gotcha Day, Josi!

Another old photo

2009-08-05T21:03:00.000-07:00

I just wasn't inspired to take a photo today. Busy sewing curtains for most of the day.So I decided that i would just post a really old photo. This one was taken just a few weeks after Cadi came home in 1998. I've always loved this one of the two of us!

Day 216 August 4

2009-08-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

Didn't post yesterday because i couldn't get out of the recliner! We started the bedroom remodel yesterday and managed to finish up tonight by dinnertime. I can't get out of the recliner tonight either, but it sure is a good feeling to be finished. Both of the girls love their part of the room and their half looks just like them! Josi's comforter hasn't arrived yet. Part of the joys of living in rural Alaska. I'll have to post another photo when it comes.

Day 214 August

2009-08-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

It was had to choose, but these are probably my favorite pictures of the activity going on at the glacier today.

Day 214 August 2

2009-08-02T21:53:00.000-07:00

Didn't get a photo posted yesterday and today I have far too many to choose from. Today we went "out the road" to Child's glacier. It was more active than I have seen it in a very long time! I got a lot of glacier pictures, and I will post a few of them in a little while, but I just loved this one I got of Josi while she was using one of my cameras to take pictures.

Let's get the party started answer

2009-08-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

For those of you not playing the games in Dodelle's party ignore this...
"I can't sleep till ..." you're next to me
"I can't live without..." you no more

"I know that it's love because..." I can't sleep

Day 212 July 31

2009-07-31T18:02:00.000-07:00

I just love the color of Salmonberry jelly! Can't you just taste it?

Old photo of the day...

2009-07-31T08:36:00.000-07:00

Since there was a picture of Josi with her pandas I wanted to post this one of her She was 3 years old. She's always been a hot sleeper and I found her like this when I wnet up to retuck before I wnet to bed. This may be the panda that met it's demise in the toilet!

Day 211 July 30

2009-07-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

Several pictures today. When Josi woke up and came downstairs she was carrying all of her beanie baby pandas. She has had many. When she first came home from China she didn't find anything she liked. I was a little worried that she didn't attach to anything...no blanket, no stuffed toy...no way to comfort herself. Then one day someone gave us a beannie baby panda and she latched onto it like she had found her best friend. Unfortunately there have been a few pandas that have gone Missing in Action. One day I came home from school to find a distraught Josi and day care provider. Josi managed to nock the panda into the toilet after it had been flushed. It disappeared down the toilet never to been seen again. I found a replacement (not an easy task in Cordova) and then shortly after that she lost that one someplace downtown. I finally wised up and got on EBAY and bid on several. These 4 are Minda, Pinda, Rebbecca and Shelley. She's had them now for about 6 years. Yesterday when we were cleaning out closets I found the last of the "back-up" pandas that I bought on EBAY. That one wasn't needed. Josi has loved and been comforted by these pandas. Sometimes I would find her asleep clutching all of them. She doesn't seem to need the comfort as much anymore, but they still take part in wild Panda adventures. Each one has a different voice and even if I still can't tell them apart they are each unique in her eyes.
The other photos Cad1 took while we were picking salmonberries yesterday. Uncle Bud and Aunt Wanda came with us. As you can see Bud had his bear gun just in case. I got quite a bit of juice so today is jelly making day. Wish all of you could taste Salmonberry jelly.

Day 210 July 29

2009-07-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Today's pictures are showing the difference 2500 miles can make! We left POrtland on the day it was supposed to hit 100 degrees and it's having a hard time getting above 60 here the last two days. Wierd though how it can still feel a bit muggy...Oh well, things to do in the house...
Had a very productive morning. Cleaned closets! The girls were a great help and we managed to haul an entire car load of stuff to Salvation Army! It was a great feeling to have all the clothes taken care of before school begins! Cadi wants to update her side of the bedroom, so I ordered new bedding and I'm hoping we can paint next week.

Day 209 July 28

2009-07-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

I didn't get a photo yesterday. We were traveling for most of the day. Today however I have a photo! Two very good friends showed up at my door this afternoon with a gift all the way from Japan. Don't think the kindergarten teacher will probably be able to carry this downtown or to school, but I LOVE my new purse! You just never know what you might find in Engrish!

Day 207 July 26

2009-07-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

Our last day in Oregon was spent with the cousins. We played with flubber and the 3 year olds were amazed that I could blow big bubbles with it!

Day 206 July 25

2009-07-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

Both of the girls finished the bonus round of the summer reading program while we were in Oregon. That means they got to put a book plate with their name inside any book in the library. Josi chose Roxy and the Hooligans as it was one of her favorite books from the Battle of the Books program last year. Cadi chose one of the Flight 29 Down books that she read this summer.

Day 205 July 24

2009-07-28T17:55:00.000-07:00

Didn't get a picture of any of us actually going to the movie, but did take a picture of the ad in the newspaper. We all thought it was a pretty funny movie!

Day 204 July 23

2009-07-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

Our last day together with the "cousins" This time we are back in Portland and we meet at the Portland Chinese Gardens and then have lunch at a nearby restuarant. It's always so hard to say goodbye knowing it will be an entire year before we see each other again.

Day 203 July 22

2009-07-24T22:26:00.000-07:00

The lighthouse picture sums up the weather the last morning we were at the beach. Very much a pea soup fog! We went and explored the tide pools in the morning and then came back to the campgound to try to eat all the food left over! After we packed up and left we stopped at Lincoln City for another little bit of time on the beach. Josi designed the sand man.

Day 202 July 21

2009-07-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

The second full day wasn't as nice weather wise which is probably a good thing. Some of us couldn't take any more sun! We still had a lot of fun together hiking, going on a scavenger hunt, decorating the t-shirts Cadi designed, and playing on the beach. As you can see there were Chinese Dog cousins at the beach too. Theses two plus 2 full grown and 4 puppy bull mastiffs!

Day 201 July 20

2009-07-24T22:15:00.000-07:00

Our first full day at Beverly Beach was absolutely beautiful! The best part was seeing our "Chinese Cousins"! This year we consisted of 3 families with a totla of 7 children from China. This group has been getting together now for 9 year! Some years we have only managed a trip to the zoo together, but the last several have been 3-4 days together at the coast. It's alway so much fun to see how each of the girls has changed and to catch up on the important news. Today we all managed to get way too much sun and sand, but it was just perfect!

Day 200 July 19

2009-07-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

I realized I was off a day after I posted last time. We went to Beverly Beach which is not too far from Newport and we camped for three nights is the most wonderful yurt! We were there with our "Chinese Cousins" and my sister, my niece and her family. I will try to catch up a little more tonight, but just thought I would post this picture of the yurt. We already are thinking about what fun we can have next year!

Day 199 July 18

2009-07-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

We got to see our cousin and his wife and new baby! They live in Oregon so we don't get to see them very often. We spent some time at the Art Walk, but it was really hot again so we didn't last too long! Cooled off with snow cones and then had some Chinese food and went back to my sister's house. The girls are checking out the Iphone. Glad it probably won't even work in Cordova so I don't have to say no! Then Cadi finally agreed to hold the baby! I think she finally figured out they won't break! We are heading to the Oregon coast for a 3 day camoning trip so I'll be out of touch for awhile!

Day 198 July 17

2009-07-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

Too hot to do much else today other than try to cool off with spray water bottles!

Day 197 July 16

2009-07-16T17:59:00.001-07:00

Been feeling pretty crummy the last couple of days. Sore throat and glands. LAst night when I woke up at 2:00 with a headache I recognized it as the headache that comes along with strep. Went to the doctor and sure enough I have a strep infection! Thought those were supposed to happen in the winter when I'm around a bunch of kids... Anyway I'm on meds and should be good to go tomorrow.
My sister made a solar oven and the girls had so'mores for lunch. Temperature in the oven at 11:00 was over 125 degrees. That's as high as the thermometer goes. The girls were invited to their cousin's house for a sleep over so i am drinking lots of fluids, resting up and taking it easy.

Day 196 July 15

2009-07-16T17:57:00.001-07:00

The girls were decorating my sister's driveway with sidewalk chalk. Caught this picture of Cadi. Love the colors in her shirt.

Day 195 July 14

2009-07-16T17:52:00.001-07:00

For the last 9 summers we have gotten together with our "chinese cousins" How our group has changed from year to year depending on which families are able to attend. This year there will be 3 families with a total of 7 girls who were adopted from China. The last several years we have tried to make some kind of a t-shirt for the girls to wear. We've had tie dyed, and spray on paint in the past, but this year we decided it would be a good idea for Cadi to use her artistic talents. She drew the dragon and then we put the picture on iron on transfers and put them on the shirts. The girls will get get to color her own shirt with permanent markers. I messed up on the first one and didn't put part of the transfer on the back so Cadi colored this one for an example.

Day 194 July 13

2009-07-13T16:41:00.001-07:00

We stopped at the spectacular lookout on the way back to Gresham -Crooked River. There is a train trestle going across this canyon that goes down about 300 feet. Kind of makes you stomach do a flip flop! More clouds on the way back but this time they were dark and ominous. By the time we got back to Mt Hood they open up and poured!

Day 192 July 11

2009-07-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

Day's end. The breeze came up quite nicely and cooled things down.

Day 191 July 10

2009-07-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

It wasn't unbearably hot in Bend but certainly hot enough to enjoy the Slip and Slide!

Day 190 July 9

2009-07-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Oregon clouds are so different from Cordova clouds! Got this shot as were were going over the pass on our way to Bend. Love the big billowy summer clouds!

Day 189 July 8

2009-07-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

Berry picking today...Raspberries and loganberries. A perfect day to pick too-not too hot. Loving the cooler weather. After all the berries were in the freezer the f girls made their own little berry tarts. Mine was mixed berry-blueberry, loganberry and raspberry. Yum!

Day 187-188 July 6 and 7

2009-07-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

We went to OMSI with the Oregon cousins. Had a lot of fun in the physics room especially. Nothing better than working with electricity! Stopped on the way home for fresh berries. Can't get enough of those fresh Oregon berries! This time raspberries and blueberries. Including a picture of some horses as my girls are always fascinated by how many horses there are in Oregon! We also went to see Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs so they can quite hounding me about seeing that movie. I forgot to bring my camera though so don't have a picture of that! Not sure what we're doing today. It has cooled down a lot and is in the low 70's. Colder than what's going on a home i hear!

Day 186 July 5

2009-07-06T06:33:00.001-07:00

We had a fun day! Started with a phone call from my niece asking if we wanted to go on a hike. Drove through the Gorge for awhile and then crossed The bridge of the Gods into Washington. We to Skamania Lodge and wander around their beautiful grounds for awhile and then had a wonderful lunch. Drove back to Oregon (gotta love those state lines in "america") and went to Horsetail falls. We climbed up the hill to Ponytail Falls. Really a very cool waterfall as the trail goes behind the fall. When we walked back down we headed to Mulnomah Falls for ice cream and a much needed bathroon break! Came home and after a nap on the floor I sewed some more and then headed to bed.

Day 185 July 4

2009-07-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

I know this will confuse many of you who know me well. This is what I bought and what I'm sewing! Not to big on the 4th of July so we hung around the house, bought 85 zippers, found yoga pants for Cadi and then after doing a bunch of sewing, we watched fireworks on t.v. and in the neighbor hood. Of course Cadi had her ears covered with pillows!

Day 184 July 3

2009-07-06T06:12:00.001-07:00

Another hot day in Oregon! The girls got to go "camping" with their cousins . My niece's husband has a huge new tent so they set it up in his brother's back yard and they had a lovely time cooking some mores, playing and spending the night sleeping in the "three room tent" I on the other hand had fun sleeping in a bed at my sister's house.

Day 183 July 2

2009-07-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day! A water park, watermelon, shade, and family. We went to a waterpark with my sister, my niece and her 3 girls. My girls spent lots of time playing in the water and soaking up the sun! It was 96 degrees when we got back into the car about 5:30, but it finally cooled off enough that we could sleep. Today looks like it's going to be just as hot. I think we have craft stores in our future today!

Day 182 July 1

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

A hot day, but not as hot as it's going to get. We went to a place that repairs sewing machines with my sister and next door there just happened to be a shop that sold "the best donuts in portland" so the girls had to try them out. Found the place for customer parking so they parked and ate while Delleen was getting the morot to her serger repaired.

Day 181 June 30

2009-07-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no photo for the 29th. We made it to Oregon and today my niece brought strawberries over to my sister's house. Nothing taste as good as that first bite of an Oregon strawberry! We helped her make freezer jam, but an awful lot of the berries went into our mouths! Supposed to be hot here the next several days. Into the 90's. Hope the Alaskans don't melt!

Day 179 June 28

2009-06-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

My new glasses came in. I can see better! We leave for Oregon today so I'm not sure how faithful I will be to postin daily. I'll get the photo taken.

Day 178 June 27

2009-06-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of time at the ball field today. It was the last day of the season so there was a barbeque with the typical Cordova spread of food! Then later in the day we went on a picnic with family and friends. The company was great, but the bugs were horrid! I didn't take too many pictures, because I was too busy swatting mosquitos! Anyway here's one of our campfire.

Day 177 June 26

2009-06-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we ended up going out the road again to One Eyed Pomd. Ended up running into some friends who graciously shared their innertubes, kyaks, food and friendship! We had an awesome time although I don't know how the kids stayed in the water as long as they did. I don't think it was above 55 degrees and the glacial feed streams, ponds, and lankes never get very warm. Although I remember swimming and playing in the same water when I was a kid and having great fun!

2009-06-24T18:18:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Day 175 June 24

2009-06-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

Three very Alaskan photos for you today. We headed "out the road" this morning because it wasn't raining! I got the one eagle flying high in the sky at Alaganik slough. There were a bunch of eagles out there fishing. Then the second eagle I caught in town. Notice the crow or raven chasing it? There were a bunch after this guy because he had a salmon or something in his talons. The last picture is of the stern of the Northwestern from "The Deadliest Catch" It's in Cordova this summer tendering for the seining season. Thought some of you fans would like to know where she is when it's not time for crabbing.

Day 174 June 23

2009-06-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

What a screwy day of weather! It didn't get over 50 degrees all day and the weather changed about every 5 minutes! We did manage to get a walk in after dinner and then the skies finally cleared a little for the rest of the evening. I got a couple flower pictures and then stayed awake as long as I could. The picture of Mt. Eyak was taken at 11:30 pm. We didn't do anything for Summer Solstice this year because it was so stormy so this is a close as I will get to a solstice picture this year...

Day 173 June 22

2009-06-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

What a cold dreary day. It began far too early with the dog insisting on going out at 4:00 am and then again at 5:00 am. I left him out the second time and when I woke up at 6:30 he had managed to wrap himself around the trampoline so I was out in the wind and the rain in my jammas and slippers trying to get him loose! Anyone want a dog?
Anyway the girls had softball practice at the rec center and then when they came home we started in on some unfinished projects. We got Josi's quilt finished. She even managed to tie part of it before she poked herself with the needle. So I finished it while she vacuumed and folded clothes! Cadi worked on finishing a pot she started painting at the library summer program. I thought they both did a fantastic job on their respective projects. Now the house has been tidied up a bit and they are both snuggled up under Josi's quilt watching "The Most Extreme'. Maybe we will play a board game or something tonight...

Day 172 June 21

2009-06-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Both of my girls decided it was time for them to be baptized. It turned out that 6 young people were baptized. What a joyous time!

Day 171 June 20

2009-06-22T10:55:00.001-07:00

The girls and I went to a wedding on Saturday and Josi took my camera and started snapping pictures. She got a few of me that i actually don't hate! The quality of a few of them wasn't great, but I took bits and pieces and scrapped this LO.
AKennedy-Handcut template no1-5
Paper and elements-Vinnie Pierce
Wishes and Dreams
Pieces of ME

Day 168/169 June 17-18

2009-06-18T16:15:00.001-07:00

When we were in Anchorage, my friend, MAxine, gave Josi a lot of flannel scraps. I cut out squares for her and she has bussily been sewing yesterday and today to complet a quilt top. This first picture shows about half of the top sewn and the other shows her back at sewing first thing this morning when she woke up! The fabric store isn't open today so we will go tomorrow sho she can select a back for her quilt and then we will put it together and tie it. She has really shown an interest and a very long attention span to this project. I might have a seamstress in the house. Of course this means I have to pretend like I enjoy sewing!

Day 167 June 16

2009-06-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Are you tired of trampoline pictures? Hope not because this is all we've been doing. That and scrapbooking. I have finally started to scrap again. I got 5 pages done today! Posting the one that goew with Cadi's jumping picture and will post the other jumping page too.

Day 166 June 15

2009-06-15T20:17:00.001-07:00

Shot this out the living room window this afternoon. Josi spent some time on the trampoline today. We went on a long walk and she had softball practice too. She should sleep well tonight!

Day 165 June 14

2009-06-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

We got the swingset down and the trampoline down! That was a big job and I still need to figure out how I'm going to anchor it down, but the kids are having a blast on it! I'm so thankful for Uncle Bud and Aunt Wanda. I couldn't have done it without them!

Day 164 June 13

2009-06-13T18:08:00.001-07:00

Doctor appointments for Cadi and I this morning and then softball this afternoon. Both of them are improving their skills each time they play. I started putting the trampoline together, but have to get the swingset and a climing structure out of the yard before we have the room to put up the trampoline.

Day 163 June 12

2009-06-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

One more birthday party picture of Josi blowing out the candles with her friends. It ended up that only one girl spent the entire night. So breakfast won't be a very big deal!
The big news it that the trampoline I bought while I was in Anchorage arrived yesterday afternoon. Now the big chore of putting it all together!

Day 162 June 11

2009-06-12T15:07:00.001-07:00

These are the cupcakes I made for Josi's sleepover birthday party she is having on Friday night. Tried to make each kid look a little like one of the girls who are coming...

Day 161 June 10

2009-06-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

June 10th is Josi's birthday! When we woke up we packed up the car. That's always a big chore, but now that the girls are older it's so much easier with their help! We went out to birthday breakfast at Denny's (her choice), then did the rest of the Costco shopping. Filled up the huge cooler with all the frozen stuff to get us through the next several months. Then we headed out of Anchorage. It was another beautiful day and the drive to Whittier was wonderful. Made me think several times of the white knuckle trip we made in January! We stopped in Girdwood for a fill up of cheaper gas and an ice cream cone. No birthday cake, but at least she got icecream. We made it to the tunnel in plenty of time and got to sun ourselves for awhile while we waited for the tunnel to open. Once we were through the tunnel we stood outside and talked with friends while we waited for the ferry to dock and unload. Once on the Chenega we made the fast trip across the sound. 3 hours and 15 minutes as opposed to the 12 hour trip on Friday. I love the fast ferry! The pictures today are of the Alaskan flag blowing in the wind at the Whittier harbor. my 9 year old daughter, and her favorite stuffed animal, Sabrina looking out the window of the ferry.

Day 160 June 9

2009-06-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

No wildlife shot today. This is my friend's kitten. My friend has a long arm quilting machine in her garage and she spends quite a bit of time out there quilting. Her kitten has found this new perch so she can be out there with her. Thought the potted kitten was pretty sweet.

Day 159 June 8

2009-06-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

This morning when we looked out the window these guys had come to visit my friend's front yard. They sure weren't afraid of having their pictures taken!