Even though we're quite settled in Independence, I'm keeping the name of this blog the same. I'm an Army brat and an Air Force wife...the road has been my life. No sense in denying it simply because I'm permanent for the moment.
2014 has been the absolute worst year of my life. I thought the year my parents divorced was the worst...and it was indeed bad, but this one takes the cake.
To start off with, I came to the realization that I did not fit into the world I thought I would. There were elements of happiness associated with my life in Louisiana, but not enough to keep plugging along. Old friends didn't get me and I didn't get, or didn't want to get them. I couldn't find a job. I felt the days, weeks, months, and years just slipping by.
Derron was unhappy too so we decided to make a big, bold change. My mother and my sisters, Erin and Mari, were living in Oregon. Derron liked the thought of living somewhere with four seasons and terrain, so we made the move.
Living in a 31 foot RV for 6 months was as close to hell as I ever want to be. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But we made it. Derron found work, I found what I'd hoped would be a steady job, and we found a house in a wonderful small town. I started making some new, wonderful friends. I got involved in causes and efforts that fed my soul.
Then my father died.
Like most people my age, I'd lost my grandparents. I miss them all. But being an Army brat, I didn't see them often. And even though today I think of them all almost daily, their deaths didn't hit me in the way my father's did.
I can not explain the sense of finality that comes over you when you lose someone that's been such a huge part of your life...in my case, oftentimes more in the physical than emotional sense. He died in July. I know it will take a long time before I "get over" it. But almost every day I hear myself say these words in my head..."My dad is dead". I do not know why I find that so incredulous.
We had to endure the memorial in July and then the internment in October. It's made for a very rough summer/fall.
The job I thought would be steady is not. So I took a temporary position with the state Democratic party. It's now over and thus, the job hunt begins again. I am way too old for this. It's so hard to keep putting yourself out there. I find the more I try, the more I want to lock myself in the house and wish the world away.
And now...basically on the eve of Thanksgiving, my mother and sister, Erin's, long standing feud has begun anew. It's more than I can bear. It makes me so thankful that I have Derron in my life. He does everything I ask...goes everywhere I want to go...he's so easy and accommodating. Knowing he's in my corner, on one hand, buoys me, and on the other, makes me want to pull inward even more. He's the one person I have in my life that I know will always be there. He'll always take my crap, hug me when I cry, and tell me when I'm wrong.
My family has never been ideal. It's never been the picture of happiness. We have memories but so many of them are sad, harsh, wrought with strife, and of so much time spent apart. I spent time today writing Christmas cards, wishing all my friends much happiness...when will happiness fill my life again?
Monday, November 24, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
It'll Be A Cold Day In Hell Before I Get Back Into That RV!
We've been out of the RV now for about 1 month. Have not accomplished much though regarding the house.
I was working a large event when we moved in. It consumed me. I had to put unpacking boxes off for a little bit. I'm back to it now but it still seems to be taking far too long.
We've hung pictures for the past two days. Just in the living and dining rooms. So much more to hang! That's one downside to having a husband who likes to buy art work when we travel -- and we have traveled A LOT!
We also did finally get the fence in. The dogs were thrilled, as were we. No more walking the dogs on leashes except for when they go to daycare.
We have a lot of painting to do...and yes, probably should have done it before we hung pictures. But the paint on the walls is fresh and not horrible, so I decided we could wait. Especially for when it gets cooler. We've been experiencing a heatwave here in the Pacific NW. Up to 100 a couple of times! And the house is not air conditioned. We won't be installing central air, but we will probably at some point add a couple of ductless units. Mostly so we can sleep in the master bedroom upstairs. We've been in the guest room downstairs where it's MUCH cooler.
The front of the house faces east and the back west, so we get a LOT of sunshine. I did not realize just how hot a place can get when you have floor to ceiling windows, unrelenting sunshine, and high temps. Really hot. Good thing the blackout curtains finally arrived. I feel a bit like a vampire now.
I was working a large event when we moved in. It consumed me. I had to put unpacking boxes off for a little bit. I'm back to it now but it still seems to be taking far too long.
We've hung pictures for the past two days. Just in the living and dining rooms. So much more to hang! That's one downside to having a husband who likes to buy art work when we travel -- and we have traveled A LOT!
We also did finally get the fence in. The dogs were thrilled, as were we. No more walking the dogs on leashes except for when they go to daycare.
We have a lot of painting to do...and yes, probably should have done it before we hung pictures. But the paint on the walls is fresh and not horrible, so I decided we could wait. Especially for when it gets cooler. We've been experiencing a heatwave here in the Pacific NW. Up to 100 a couple of times! And the house is not air conditioned. We won't be installing central air, but we will probably at some point add a couple of ductless units. Mostly so we can sleep in the master bedroom upstairs. We've been in the guest room downstairs where it's MUCH cooler.
The front of the house faces east and the back west, so we get a LOT of sunshine. I did not realize just how hot a place can get when you have floor to ceiling windows, unrelenting sunshine, and high temps. Really hot. Good thing the blackout curtains finally arrived. I feel a bit like a vampire now.
Friday, July 4, 2014
The "Adventure" Is Almost Over.
It's been a month since I last wrote. A lot has happened since then. I got a job. At first I was hired as a contractor and then just shy of two weeks, was brought on as a full-fledged employee. At Portland State University. But I don't have to work in Portland. But I do have to travel there periodically for meetings. And that's not a bad thing.
I am working as an Event Coordinator. Getting paid for something I'd probably do for free...and have done for free. And I get to work from home. With my puppies. I get to make Derron breakfast before he heads off to his office in Salem. I get to work in my pjs if I want to...I get to play with my dogs...and I get to make dinner. Not in a rush...I can take my time, chop to my heart's content, and make good, wholesome, nourishing food for my family.
Oh, and we bought a house. In Independence, OR. A very quaint, yet cool town on the banks of the Willamette River. It was the last stop on the Oregon Trail. Independence has the best coffee shop ever...and that's coming from someone who does not drink coffee.We can walk to the movies, dinner, the library, bars, a used bookstore...and the park (alongside the river).
We couldn't be happier. Moving to Oregon was the best thing we ever did. Truly. We won't be sad to move out of the RV or to say goodbye to the RV park that has been our home since early February. We've learned a lot about ourselves...how much we can take, what just about killed us, what we never want to live through again.
But we're on the other side now...and things are looking good.
I am working as an Event Coordinator. Getting paid for something I'd probably do for free...and have done for free. And I get to work from home. With my puppies. I get to make Derron breakfast before he heads off to his office in Salem. I get to work in my pjs if I want to...I get to play with my dogs...and I get to make dinner. Not in a rush...I can take my time, chop to my heart's content, and make good, wholesome, nourishing food for my family.
Oh, and we bought a house. In Independence, OR. A very quaint, yet cool town on the banks of the Willamette River. It was the last stop on the Oregon Trail. Independence has the best coffee shop ever...and that's coming from someone who does not drink coffee.We can walk to the movies, dinner, the library, bars, a used bookstore...and the park (alongside the river).
We couldn't be happier. Moving to Oregon was the best thing we ever did. Truly. We won't be sad to move out of the RV or to say goodbye to the RV park that has been our home since early February. We've learned a lot about ourselves...how much we can take, what just about killed us, what we never want to live through again.
But we're on the other side now...and things are looking good.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
It's Been A While.
Haven't blogged in a long while...about a month. It's been a rough month. We've been dealt some blows but we're not defeated.
I got really sick about the time Derron flew the winged tube of pestilence back from NOLA in early May. Thought I was going to die. Wound up having to visit an Urgent Care facility when our insurance provider threw a whole lot of roadblocks in our path -- that will be remedied shortly. I am a lot better now but still coughing now and then.
But there have been some good things happening too. Derron got a job about 3 weeks ago. He's doing IT Help Desk Support for the Salem-Keizer school district. The drive to work is less than 10 minutes...and his office is right around the corner from a Magic Cards store, a game he loves playing. He's been playing on Thursday nights with a bunch of other geeks.
We've also found an awesome realtor. We started out with a married team, the Kings, but they have yet, after showing us 2 houses we lined up, to send us 1 listing. Holly found me online and started sending me listings. At first I found it a little rude, but then I found a place I wanted to see in Independence and contacted her. Imagine Penelope from Criminal Minds. She's awesome.
Yes, we have decided for sure that we want to live in Independence. We even have the house picked out -- 3 blocks off Main Street. It has a great yard for the dogs and a large swath out front that Derron has already identified as a perfect landscape for his Halloween and Christmas tableaux. The neighbor across the street is a retired Marine and flies a Marine Corps flag...Derron is already planning to fly an Air Force one over ours. That should make us popular in the neighborhood!
We spend a lot of time in Independence already...the dogs love the dog park and Riverside park (well, mainly the boat launch), we are in love with Lionshare Bakery and the Hops and Barrel House, and have spent more than a few Saturdays at the small Farmers' Market. That said, last week we went to the Farmers' Market in Salem --- oooooooooh. The food choices! I had this little yeast pastry of sorts stuffed with egg salad. It was awesome! While walking out this guy asked me if I liked maple...say what? Maple happens to be my all time favorite flavor. I bought a Maple Bacon Whoopie Pie from him. So good...but so sweet. Derron had the most luscious brownie I have ever tasted.
I am still job hunting but more and more good prospects have been cropping up...so I've not lost all hope. I spoke to Holly's preferred lender yesterday and found out I don't have to make too much for us to afford the house we want...in fact I have to make only a pittance. That took a huge load off. Guess it does help to not carrying a lot of debt! So we're considering my taking an hourly wage job just to get out of the RV and into the house...and then keep job hunting for that perfect job.
We decided after hearing from the lender yesterday that we needed a night out. So we headed to McMenamin's Boon's Treasury, a local pub, for a bite to eat. I'd been there before and had the best appetizer in the world...Scooby Snacks - mini corn dogs. Who doesn't love corn dogs???? Ok...bad pic...there were a whole lot more of them in the basket before I snapped this.
I also brought home a Black and Tan Brownie -- too stuffed to eat it there. It was very yeasty tasting, just what you'd expect from something made with Guinness.
Well, believe that brings things up to date. The dogs and cat are still doing well but all are really itching for more space, a change of scenery, and all their stuff back! So are we! Maybe by the next time I blog, I'll have an update on that!
I got really sick about the time Derron flew the winged tube of pestilence back from NOLA in early May. Thought I was going to die. Wound up having to visit an Urgent Care facility when our insurance provider threw a whole lot of roadblocks in our path -- that will be remedied shortly. I am a lot better now but still coughing now and then.
But there have been some good things happening too. Derron got a job about 3 weeks ago. He's doing IT Help Desk Support for the Salem-Keizer school district. The drive to work is less than 10 minutes...and his office is right around the corner from a Magic Cards store, a game he loves playing. He's been playing on Thursday nights with a bunch of other geeks.
We've also found an awesome realtor. We started out with a married team, the Kings, but they have yet, after showing us 2 houses we lined up, to send us 1 listing. Holly found me online and started sending me listings. At first I found it a little rude, but then I found a place I wanted to see in Independence and contacted her. Imagine Penelope from Criminal Minds. She's awesome.
Yes, we have decided for sure that we want to live in Independence. We even have the house picked out -- 3 blocks off Main Street. It has a great yard for the dogs and a large swath out front that Derron has already identified as a perfect landscape for his Halloween and Christmas tableaux. The neighbor across the street is a retired Marine and flies a Marine Corps flag...Derron is already planning to fly an Air Force one over ours. That should make us popular in the neighborhood!
We spend a lot of time in Independence already...the dogs love the dog park and Riverside park (well, mainly the boat launch), we are in love with Lionshare Bakery and the Hops and Barrel House, and have spent more than a few Saturdays at the small Farmers' Market. That said, last week we went to the Farmers' Market in Salem --- oooooooooh. The food choices! I had this little yeast pastry of sorts stuffed with egg salad. It was awesome! While walking out this guy asked me if I liked maple...say what? Maple happens to be my all time favorite flavor. I bought a Maple Bacon Whoopie Pie from him. So good...but so sweet. Derron had the most luscious brownie I have ever tasted.
I am still job hunting but more and more good prospects have been cropping up...so I've not lost all hope. I spoke to Holly's preferred lender yesterday and found out I don't have to make too much for us to afford the house we want...in fact I have to make only a pittance. That took a huge load off. Guess it does help to not carrying a lot of debt! So we're considering my taking an hourly wage job just to get out of the RV and into the house...and then keep job hunting for that perfect job.
We decided after hearing from the lender yesterday that we needed a night out. So we headed to McMenamin's Boon's Treasury, a local pub, for a bite to eat. I'd been there before and had the best appetizer in the world...Scooby Snacks - mini corn dogs. Who doesn't love corn dogs???? Ok...bad pic...there were a whole lot more of them in the basket before I snapped this.
They make lots of good dipping sauces for fries and tater tots (yes, I said tater tots). I chose the Sriracha Mayo. Yummmmmm.
Derron had the Boon's Treasury Burger - Bacon, Tillamook Cheddar Cheese, Grilled Onions, and Hammerhead BBQ Sauce. He looks like he's falling into a food coma in the pic below...
I had the Tuna Salad Sandwich. Normally I don't do tuna out because I am really picky about tuna salad. But this one was good. Not great, but good. It included creamy albacore tuna (normally I do chunk light because albacore can be so dry...this one was a bit - but I brought home the second half and will add a little more mayo for moisture), celery, red onion, and fresh dill. I've never had red onions with tuna salad before but will definitely use some the next time I whip up a batch.
I also brought home a Black and Tan Brownie -- too stuffed to eat it there. It was very yeasty tasting, just what you'd expect from something made with Guinness.
Well, believe that brings things up to date. The dogs and cat are still doing well but all are really itching for more space, a change of scenery, and all their stuff back! So are we! Maybe by the next time I blog, I'll have an update on that!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Just Talking...
While he was gone, Gracie killed two more shrews...she's up to 6 (2 more since he's been home). She hunts all morning, no doubt in an effort to get a fresh one for daddy! Then she comes in for a drink of water, a nibble of kibble, and a very quick nap. Then it's back out to hunt some more.
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Life sometimes throws you a few curves...much upheaval last week and this week. Not all of it pleasant, but I believe I am on the right road...and able to concentrate better on what's important.
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We went to the Independence Hops and Barrel House last night. We both needed a drink and a bite to eat. John, the bartender, stopped us at the door to let us know their taps were down...some kind of electrical problem. But they did have an assortment of bottled and canned beer and cider. Nothing really interested me so I went for some Knob Creek Rye Whiskey and water. Hit the spot.
I ordered the warm artichoke dip. It was really an artichoke/spinach dip. Not that that's a bad thing, but I was really in the mood for artichokes. But it was good.
Derron stuck with cider and had a Barrel Burger. He said it was good but even more so once he added a horseradish mustard John told him about. John, by the way, was super nice...we'd go back for a draft beer just to say hi.
If we wind up buying the house in Independence we really, really want, we may be spending lots of time at the Hops and Barrel...it's less than 2 blocks from the house!
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We're still plugging away on the job front. Derron had what we thought were promising interviews a couple weeks ago but didn't get the jobs. Depressing but we can't let it get to us. He's applying for 3 more today. I have several applications out now, all with local non-profits. I am applying for a couple of state government jobs as well.
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Life in the park is good...all the big buses that showed up when Derron was gone (with the exception of the one right next to us), are gone. The two lanes in front of us are empty. That gives us lots more open space to walk the dogs. We took them to the dog park in Independence yesterday and then for a walk to Riverside Park. Hazelnut headed straight into the river as she's always done. But this time she got a shock when she stepped forward and fell off the boat ramp. We're pretty sure she won't make that mistake again.
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We keep looking at houses (from the outside and online) in Salem but really have our hearts set on Independence. I think we both prefer its quiet pace and all the local food/drink/bookstores within walking distance. It would be a great place to get involved in the community as well. They have a very active Town Council, Historical Society, and lots of civic organizations. Something to think about for the (hopefully) near future.
Monday, April 28, 2014
The Move Progresses
Derron is in Louisiana now packing our worldly possessions into a series of PODs containers. Once done, they will be picked up and stored - for safe keeping we hope - until we have a place to settle into.
Derron took on a lot this week...he had to mow a very overgrown 3 acres, pack all the already packed boxes (about 100) into a POD on his own, pack a few more, renew the car registration (we can't do that here in OR until we've been here 6 months???), get a termite inspection certificate, pay a visit to Public Health and schedule a well and septic system inspection, drop off a Power of Attorney with the title company handling our house sale, and drop off various items at our realtor's office. He'll be completely exhausted when he gets back here very late Wednesday night.
While he's been gone, I've been on my own with the dogs. The first day was a bit rough...I have to walk the dogs separately because they're too hard to handle together. Hazelnut had gotten used to Derron walking her. She hates change so naturally she had some issues. Nutella was in fine form...acting out, barking at all the little dogs, and jumping and lunging at everyone.
They spent most of Saturday and Sunday at The Dog Bark. That certainly helped. Today, Monday, I'm on my own with them again. Seems they've gotten the message...and both have been really, really good.
Gracie, of course, wants to go outside every single second of the day...and that's fine so long as our neighbor's dog, Liberty, is not out too. Also, I tend to forget she's out there. On Saturday, I left her out in the rain for a while...so sorry Gracie. I rubbed her dry with a clean towel, which she surprisingly loved, and made sure she was warm.
She's missing Derron at night. She's used to sleeping near him. Seems she's decided Hazelnut is a fair substitute...as evidenced by the photo below.
Derron took on a lot this week...he had to mow a very overgrown 3 acres, pack all the already packed boxes (about 100) into a POD on his own, pack a few more, renew the car registration (we can't do that here in OR until we've been here 6 months???), get a termite inspection certificate, pay a visit to Public Health and schedule a well and septic system inspection, drop off a Power of Attorney with the title company handling our house sale, and drop off various items at our realtor's office. He'll be completely exhausted when he gets back here very late Wednesday night.
While he's been gone, I've been on my own with the dogs. The first day was a bit rough...I have to walk the dogs separately because they're too hard to handle together. Hazelnut had gotten used to Derron walking her. She hates change so naturally she had some issues. Nutella was in fine form...acting out, barking at all the little dogs, and jumping and lunging at everyone.
They spent most of Saturday and Sunday at The Dog Bark. That certainly helped. Today, Monday, I'm on my own with them again. Seems they've gotten the message...and both have been really, really good.
Gracie, of course, wants to go outside every single second of the day...and that's fine so long as our neighbor's dog, Liberty, is not out too. Also, I tend to forget she's out there. On Saturday, I left her out in the rain for a while...so sorry Gracie. I rubbed her dry with a clean towel, which she surprisingly loved, and made sure she was warm.
She's missing Derron at night. She's used to sleeping near him. Seems she's decided Hazelnut is a fair substitute...as evidenced by the photo below.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Mystery Solved
We have been wondering about the field behind us. We thought maybe it was some kind of vineyard but we'd never seen one like it. While in Independence over the weekend, we discovered its purpose. It's a hops field! Evidently, Independence is the hops capital of the world.
Well it's been over a week since we crossed the Willamette River via the pedestrian bridge from West Salem to Salem. It was a beautiful day and there were many people out. Once in Salem, we walked to Riverside Park. Nice walk...good workout.
Nothing much else going on. We seem to spend a lot of time in Independence...where we hope to find a house sometime soon. We take the dogs to the dog park there, then walk them to Independence's Riverside Park. It's a good walk for them and us! Both the dogs like walking down the boat launch and wading in the water. Hazelnut more than Nutella, but both are happy to have a cool drink after a good walk. We've also been walking them up to Main Street from there to socialize them with the traffic -- not a lot in Independence, but more than they're used to.
We visited the Independence Heritage Museum yesterday and had a nice long talk with Peggy, one of the curators. She's been in Independence for over 20 years and shared a lot of town history with us. She's also been involved with city government and various boards and commissions.
Later in the afternoon, we ventured into Monmouth, just up the road from Independence, for some ice cream. There's a little 'mom and pop' ice cream shop on Monmouth Avenue across from a small park. We ate ice cream and sat in the sun for a while.
Derron has a second interview with the Salem-Keizer School District on Wednesday. We're hoping he gets it of course...but it would be nice to know sooner than later...he wants to go back to Bush and pack up the house before he has to worry about trying to do that while starting a new job. Most of the house is already packed up...but I need to arrange for PODS to be delivered and for some manual labor to help him. I am sure he's not looking forward to the work, but it will be nice to know our stuff is close by instead of so far away.
We found a house we both like in Independence...but we haven't looked at anything yet. I am trying to find a realtor so we can start compiling a list of places we want to consider. Main Street, or any street within a 3-4 block radius of Main Street, would be perfect since it would allow us to walk to everything -- the park/dog park, coffee shops/bakeries (there are two on Main Street), Thai food, 2 bars/pubs, Italian food (2 places), a used bookstore, the Civic Center, the library, and a cinema. Sounds ideal!
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Weekend in Independence, OR
We have been in and around Independence many times. There's a dog park there...so that's our primary reason for going there. Recently, we discovered its historic district and have fallen in love.
Last night we ate at Mangiare's on Main Street. Derron had Chicken Parmesan and I had Gnocci in a Gorgonzola Sauce with Shrimp, Spinach, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Artichokes (I didn't see any artichokes though). We also had Caesar Salads and Dark Chocolate/Bourbon Pecan Gelato for dessert. It was a lovely dinner.
The wine menu was interesting. Lots of Oregon and Italian wines. No Barolos, but they do have a Barbera. Too pricey for me right now so I chose a Chianti instead.
Derron enjoyed the Chicken Parm and Ravioli. I would have expected cheese ravioli, but they were stuffed with meat. Not house-made (I asked the waiter).
Last night we ate at Mangiare's on Main Street. Derron had Chicken Parmesan and I had Gnocci in a Gorgonzola Sauce with Shrimp, Spinach, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Artichokes (I didn't see any artichokes though). We also had Caesar Salads and Dark Chocolate/Bourbon Pecan Gelato for dessert. It was a lovely dinner.
The wine menu was interesting. Lots of Oregon and Italian wines. No Barolos, but they do have a Barbera. Too pricey for me right now so I chose a Chianti instead.
Derron enjoyed the Chicken Parm and Ravioli. I would have expected cheese ravioli, but they were stuffed with meat. Not house-made (I asked the waiter).
The gnocci were light and so tasty...and house-made. Kinda weird...if you can take the time to make gnocci, ravioli is not much of a stretch. Oh well. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the Gorgonzola sauce was soooooooooo rich. Not a meal you can have often, but once in a while.
This morning we took the dogs to Riverside Park bordering Main St. There is an amphitheater at the park where, in the summer, they show movies on Thursday nights and host concerts on Fridays.
We walked the quarter mile trail to the dog park and back. The dogs were pretty happy. As we walked by, we noticed people setting up for a Farmers Market (the first opening of the year!). So we took the dogs home and headed back. We tasted some great cheeses from Full Circle Creamery -- all raw cheeses. We tried their 20-month aged sharp cheddar, a herb cheddar flavored with sage, rosemary and thyme, and a Diablo cheddar flavored with a locally made hot sauce. The cheesemaker, Brian, has a Bachelor's degree in Food Science from Oregon State University, and a Masters in Camembert...in Camembert!
We then wandered over to the Lion's Share Coffeehouse & Bakery booth. I had the most magnificent chocolate croissant ever...and I can say that because I have eaten many a croissant on the streets of Paris...so I know my croissants. Derron had a blackberry scone and said it was delish.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
The Kindness Of Strangers
Monday --
I thought I'd killed my two plants. Gracie has been horrified because, actually, they are hers. At least she's the one who has been caring for them. We left them outside in the rain too often, for too long, and possibly in too cool temps too. Anyway, I looked up some remedies online and set about to make things right. Just today, when Derron and I were taking a walk, I told him I thought I'd killed my plants. He swore he saw some new growth since I'd repotted them and put them in indirect sunlight.
As we were rounding the far end of the park, we stopped at a beautiful garden. We saw the lady that gardens there earlier when we were walking the dogs. She thanked us then for keeping the dogs out of it. She has beautiful tulips in bloom now. Anyway...as we were stopped at the garden, she came over to talk to us. I told her about my plants...she asked to see them. Derron got them out and put them on the picnic table. I did see some new growth! She recommended using some of her dirt and sand to replace the top part of the soil I'd used when I repotted them. How sweet was that...she even loaned us her gardening tools to use. I repaid the kindness by giving her the old pots. She has a ton of pots and said she always needs more...she finds plants in the garbage and brings them back to life.
That's the "up" news of the week. Over the weekend I noticed my Microsoft apps were gone from my laptop start up screen. Seems when I upgraded to 8.1, they took a hike. So I spent several hours trying to figure out what went wrong. When I upgraded, seems the apps migrated to my Outlook toolbar. That's very helpful if I am online, but I wanted the apps back for offline work. Several more hours were killed trying to fix things. I wound up uninstalling Office 365 (biggest rip-off on the planet BTW), then reinstalling it. Fortunately it did not "take away" another one of the 5 installs I paid for...and in the process, Derron took the time to install it on his laptop as well...so now I don't have to lend him my laptop. Everything is good again, or at least like it was...
There's a progressive film series here in Salem. Tonight they are showing The Healthcare Movie. The writers/director will be there to answer questions afterward. We're going to get some Lebanese take-out and catch the flick.
Update on film news above: April Fools! Apparently I wrote the date down wrong. The movie is on May 1st. Oh well, we'll try again.
Wednesday --
We drove out to Silverton to look around. Nice little town...lots of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. We also stopped off at Silverton Falls. Too chilly for a hike, but we'll come back and hike through the Falls when it warms up. Derron captured a couple way off pics...we hope to get closer later.
Looks like a frog to me...
I thought I'd killed my two plants. Gracie has been horrified because, actually, they are hers. At least she's the one who has been caring for them. We left them outside in the rain too often, for too long, and possibly in too cool temps too. Anyway, I looked up some remedies online and set about to make things right. Just today, when Derron and I were taking a walk, I told him I thought I'd killed my plants. He swore he saw some new growth since I'd repotted them and put them in indirect sunlight.
As we were rounding the far end of the park, we stopped at a beautiful garden. We saw the lady that gardens there earlier when we were walking the dogs. She thanked us then for keeping the dogs out of it. She has beautiful tulips in bloom now. Anyway...as we were stopped at the garden, she came over to talk to us. I told her about my plants...she asked to see them. Derron got them out and put them on the picnic table. I did see some new growth! She recommended using some of her dirt and sand to replace the top part of the soil I'd used when I repotted them. How sweet was that...she even loaned us her gardening tools to use. I repaid the kindness by giving her the old pots. She has a ton of pots and said she always needs more...she finds plants in the garbage and brings them back to life.
That's the "up" news of the week. Over the weekend I noticed my Microsoft apps were gone from my laptop start up screen. Seems when I upgraded to 8.1, they took a hike. So I spent several hours trying to figure out what went wrong. When I upgraded, seems the apps migrated to my Outlook toolbar. That's very helpful if I am online, but I wanted the apps back for offline work. Several more hours were killed trying to fix things. I wound up uninstalling Office 365 (biggest rip-off on the planet BTW), then reinstalling it. Fortunately it did not "take away" another one of the 5 installs I paid for...and in the process, Derron took the time to install it on his laptop as well...so now I don't have to lend him my laptop. Everything is good again, or at least like it was...
There's a progressive film series here in Salem. Tonight they are showing The Healthcare Movie. The writers/director will be there to answer questions afterward. We're going to get some Lebanese take-out and catch the flick.
Update on film news above: April Fools! Apparently I wrote the date down wrong. The movie is on May 1st. Oh well, we'll try again.
Wednesday --
We drove out to Silverton to look around. Nice little town...lots of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. We also stopped off at Silverton Falls. Too chilly for a hike, but we'll come back and hike through the Falls when it warms up. Derron captured a couple way off pics...we hope to get closer later.
There's a little frog pond up by the RV Park office. Derron swears he's seen a frog there several times. We walk the dogs by there every now and then but until yesterday, never saw one -- when we were all together that is. But then...we were standing next to it while Derron pointed it out. I didn't see it...then the damn thing jumped into the water, scaring the bejesus out of me! Neither dog saw it...so Derron took a pic to prove it exists.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Loads More Catching Up
So much to remember to say...
Derron has another interview scheduled! This one is with the Salem-Keizer school board. He's not heard anything back on the first two interviews and I've not heard about the one I had last week either.
Beautiful couple of days in Salem lately. We've taken the dogs on lots of hikes. We went back to West Salem park in the very early morning on Saturday. It was COLD. Also, the trail that runs around the upper side of the park finally dried out so we've taken them there several times. We did see another BUNNY by the way, but Nutella, the bunny hunter, did not. Derron's questioning whether or not she is really a bunny hunter after all -- reason we say she is, is because Basset Hounds were bred to catch rabbits...and Nutella is part Basset, maybe a different part. The dog run at the back of the park is dry again too so we've put them in there a few times and let them work out some angst!
Today was clean up the RV day...love these days. The dogs are at daycare so we opened all the windows and door and aired the place out really good. I Cloroxed all the surfaces, Febrezed all the fabric surfaces and Derron vacuumed. It's so nice to have it clean for at least a little while.
I also have Chicken Cacciatore in the slow cooker...yummo.
More and more RVs and trailers have piled into the park in the last few days. We were eating lunch a few minutes ago when Derron spied someone new driving in...there's so much fascination with each new arrival. What kind of motorhome/trailer do they have? Is it new? Do we want one of those one day? Derron just got back from dumping trash and said the "Corgi Family" (we refer to everyone by their dog's breeds...and everyone has dogs!) has what looks like an outdoor kitchen in their pull trailer. WHAT????
Grandma and Grandpa -- the owners of the ginormous bus beside us, seem to have gone for a while. The bus of course is still here, but their bikes and jeep are nowhere to be seen. Not sad about that...just wish they'd taken the bus too. Still wishing to have our view back.
Well like I said in an earlier blog entry, the bird feeders my sister gave us are a hit. The blue jays here are incredible...some of them have black mohawks. Gracie's had her eye on a couple.
Speaking of Gracie, Derron had her outside on her harness this morning - he ties her to the back of the RV so she can explore the reedy area behind us - when he came in he said..."I don't want to give Gracie any undue credit, since I'm not really sure what happened, but she may have killed a shrew." A shrew...a little teeny, tiny mouse. Don't worry...I will not punish her for doing what cats naturally do - maim and kill, in fact I am a little proud of her despite the fact that I can't stand to see any animal killed. I guess I should just be happy she didn't bring it in with her. Derron, BTW, disposed of the little fellow. No doubt Gracie will be looking for it next time she goes outside.
Other than hiking, applying for jobs, tracking job applications, reading, watching Netflix, we've not been up to much. We do stroll around the RV park a lot, checking mail, doing laundry, etc. The pool should be opening soon; they are sandblasting the inside of it today. The gym is closing again for a few weeks for some reason or another. We still have a few trails here we've not yet investigated but will do so soon with or without the pups.
We've also been checking out lots of Salem neighborhoods. Still not exactly sure where we want to concentrate...there's a cool house near Minto-Brown Island Park. We took the dogs to that park yesterday. It's huge. The dog area is not fenced so we walked the dogs on trails instead. It would be nice to live near a park like that but the house is up a steep hill and that doesn't bode well come Winter.
Derron has another interview scheduled! This one is with the Salem-Keizer school board. He's not heard anything back on the first two interviews and I've not heard about the one I had last week either.
Beautiful couple of days in Salem lately. We've taken the dogs on lots of hikes. We went back to West Salem park in the very early morning on Saturday. It was COLD. Also, the trail that runs around the upper side of the park finally dried out so we've taken them there several times. We did see another BUNNY by the way, but Nutella, the bunny hunter, did not. Derron's questioning whether or not she is really a bunny hunter after all -- reason we say she is, is because Basset Hounds were bred to catch rabbits...and Nutella is part Basset, maybe a different part. The dog run at the back of the park is dry again too so we've put them in there a few times and let them work out some angst!
Today was clean up the RV day...love these days. The dogs are at daycare so we opened all the windows and door and aired the place out really good. I Cloroxed all the surfaces, Febrezed all the fabric surfaces and Derron vacuumed. It's so nice to have it clean for at least a little while.
I also have Chicken Cacciatore in the slow cooker...yummo.
More and more RVs and trailers have piled into the park in the last few days. We were eating lunch a few minutes ago when Derron spied someone new driving in...there's so much fascination with each new arrival. What kind of motorhome/trailer do they have? Is it new? Do we want one of those one day? Derron just got back from dumping trash and said the "Corgi Family" (we refer to everyone by their dog's breeds...and everyone has dogs!) has what looks like an outdoor kitchen in their pull trailer. WHAT????
Grandma and Grandpa -- the owners of the ginormous bus beside us, seem to have gone for a while. The bus of course is still here, but their bikes and jeep are nowhere to be seen. Not sad about that...just wish they'd taken the bus too. Still wishing to have our view back.
Well like I said in an earlier blog entry, the bird feeders my sister gave us are a hit. The blue jays here are incredible...some of them have black mohawks. Gracie's had her eye on a couple.
Speaking of Gracie, Derron had her outside on her harness this morning - he ties her to the back of the RV so she can explore the reedy area behind us - when he came in he said..."I don't want to give Gracie any undue credit, since I'm not really sure what happened, but she may have killed a shrew." A shrew...a little teeny, tiny mouse. Don't worry...I will not punish her for doing what cats naturally do - maim and kill, in fact I am a little proud of her despite the fact that I can't stand to see any animal killed. I guess I should just be happy she didn't bring it in with her. Derron, BTW, disposed of the little fellow. No doubt Gracie will be looking for it next time she goes outside.
Other than hiking, applying for jobs, tracking job applications, reading, watching Netflix, we've not been up to much. We do stroll around the RV park a lot, checking mail, doing laundry, etc. The pool should be opening soon; they are sandblasting the inside of it today. The gym is closing again for a few weeks for some reason or another. We still have a few trails here we've not yet investigated but will do so soon with or without the pups.
We've also been checking out lots of Salem neighborhoods. Still not exactly sure where we want to concentrate...there's a cool house near Minto-Brown Island Park. We took the dogs to that park yesterday. It's huge. The dog area is not fenced so we walked the dogs on trails instead. It would be nice to live near a park like that but the house is up a steep hill and that doesn't bode well come Winter.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Catching Up
Haven't blogged in a few days...so this may read a bit like a stream of consciousness.
Derron and I had interviews today. Spent the week preparing and worrying over them. Well, Derron worried more than I did. Poor guy hates this kind of stuff. But we got through them and are hoping to make the second rounds, if there are any.
Wanted to blog about this the other day but held back. TOILET TROUBLE. This is no laughing matter. While we do have a great bathhouse in the park, it's not terribly convenient in the middle of the night...especially when it's raining or is freezing. Derron fixed it, Thank God! Then today, it overflowed. I was really terrified it was broken. Derron never gets up in the night to pee, but I do...fortunately he fixed it again. Whew...seems it was something I had done to the little plunger thingee.
Then as I was fixing dinner, and Derron was BBQing kebabs in the rain, the microwave crapped out. If you remember from an earlier post, we JUST bought this microwave because the one that came with the RV broke down right after we got here. We decided to eat and worry about it later. In the middle of our meal (and after Derron checked the circuit breaker, which was fine BTW), it came back on. Never seen that with a microwave ever.
We've had lots of good weather lately and I have to say it's really improved our moods. We also got new and improved harnesses for the dogs and BOY do our backs appreciate that. If anyone is looking for a good harness, go to Petco and get yourself an "Easy Walk" harness. The dogs do not pull anymore...not ever. It's a miracle.
I've been getting more involved in local politics. I will be writing a monthly newsletter for the Marion County Democrats. Looking forward to that. I am also in the process of signing on for a year long commitment with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. PPAO is the political arm of Planned Parenthood here in Oregon. The position, a volunteer one, is as a member of a county-based Leadership and Advocacy Team. The LATs monitor legislation, attend events, register voters, etc. PP is a cause I care deeply about so I'm thrilled to get more involved.
Not much to report on life here in the park. Couple of new people here and there and a couple folks have gone. I've come across a few that have been here before and come back regularly. Primary reason is they have kids in one of the universities here. Still waiting for the big dog area to dry out...most of the water is gone, although some remains on the trails. Not sure how much longer it will take.
We take the dogs to nearby parks almost every other day. Good for them and us. We went to the West Salem park Saturday morning. Very nice park! They don't have a dog park but they have some really nice trails that run along the river.
We had Indian food for our anniversary on St Patrick's day. Probably the best Indian food I've
had in a very long time. We had planned to eat at the Star of India but it was closed so we had to go to the Taj Mahal. I'd read some "iffy" reviews about Taj Mahal so was skeptical. But we were more than pleasantly surprised. The samosa dough was incredibly tender and overall they were fantastic. I had Chicken Korma...the best way I can describe it is as "bright". The flavors were so fresh...the onions so delicately sauteed, and the chicken was incredibly moist. Just fabulous. And the naan...I had some stuffed with potatoes and spices. Never had it before, I typically go for roti (or whole wheat naan). I will never go back to plain naan or roti again. I can't remember what Derron had but he cleaned his plate -- I brought leftovers home and got to relive the meal for lunch the next day.
Oh and we got two free days of doggie daycare!!!! Seems our first day was suppose to be free but no one told us...and they missed a day and said they'd let it go...who am I to argue about that??? Nice little gift!
So, now that job interviews are over for the minute, we plan on relaxing tomorrow...take the dogs to the park, and eat leftovers!
Derron and I had interviews today. Spent the week preparing and worrying over them. Well, Derron worried more than I did. Poor guy hates this kind of stuff. But we got through them and are hoping to make the second rounds, if there are any.
Wanted to blog about this the other day but held back. TOILET TROUBLE. This is no laughing matter. While we do have a great bathhouse in the park, it's not terribly convenient in the middle of the night...especially when it's raining or is freezing. Derron fixed it, Thank God! Then today, it overflowed. I was really terrified it was broken. Derron never gets up in the night to pee, but I do...fortunately he fixed it again. Whew...seems it was something I had done to the little plunger thingee.
Then as I was fixing dinner, and Derron was BBQing kebabs in the rain, the microwave crapped out. If you remember from an earlier post, we JUST bought this microwave because the one that came with the RV broke down right after we got here. We decided to eat and worry about it later. In the middle of our meal (and after Derron checked the circuit breaker, which was fine BTW), it came back on. Never seen that with a microwave ever.
We've had lots of good weather lately and I have to say it's really improved our moods. We also got new and improved harnesses for the dogs and BOY do our backs appreciate that. If anyone is looking for a good harness, go to Petco and get yourself an "Easy Walk" harness. The dogs do not pull anymore...not ever. It's a miracle.
I've been getting more involved in local politics. I will be writing a monthly newsletter for the Marion County Democrats. Looking forward to that. I am also in the process of signing on for a year long commitment with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. PPAO is the political arm of Planned Parenthood here in Oregon. The position, a volunteer one, is as a member of a county-based Leadership and Advocacy Team. The LATs monitor legislation, attend events, register voters, etc. PP is a cause I care deeply about so I'm thrilled to get more involved.
Not much to report on life here in the park. Couple of new people here and there and a couple folks have gone. I've come across a few that have been here before and come back regularly. Primary reason is they have kids in one of the universities here. Still waiting for the big dog area to dry out...most of the water is gone, although some remains on the trails. Not sure how much longer it will take.
We take the dogs to nearby parks almost every other day. Good for them and us. We went to the West Salem park Saturday morning. Very nice park! They don't have a dog park but they have some really nice trails that run along the river.
We had Indian food for our anniversary on St Patrick's day. Probably the best Indian food I've
had in a very long time. We had planned to eat at the Star of India but it was closed so we had to go to the Taj Mahal. I'd read some "iffy" reviews about Taj Mahal so was skeptical. But we were more than pleasantly surprised. The samosa dough was incredibly tender and overall they were fantastic. I had Chicken Korma...the best way I can describe it is as "bright". The flavors were so fresh...the onions so delicately sauteed, and the chicken was incredibly moist. Just fabulous. And the naan...I had some stuffed with potatoes and spices. Never had it before, I typically go for roti (or whole wheat naan). I will never go back to plain naan or roti again. I can't remember what Derron had but he cleaned his plate -- I brought leftovers home and got to relive the meal for lunch the next day.
Oh and we got two free days of doggie daycare!!!! Seems our first day was suppose to be free but no one told us...and they missed a day and said they'd let it go...who am I to argue about that??? Nice little gift!
So, now that job interviews are over for the minute, we plan on relaxing tomorrow...take the dogs to the park, and eat leftovers!
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Day Started Out Grey...
It started raining just as we were falling asleep night before last. UGH! It was a bit drizzly in the morning but then it burned off and we had another beautiful day...4 in a row!!!
We moved our picnic table to be even with our RV cab. The new location gives us a chance to be more social with folks walking by when we're outside BBQing. The dogs decided to be a part of the group as well. May I introduce Sister Hazelnut and Sister Nutella!
We have a curtain between the inside of the RV and the cab but both are always "breaching" that line. We were sitting outside and just glanced in and caught Hazelnut. I thought I'd die laughing. Then Nutella did the same thing. I swear these two dogs are more entertaining than just about anything.
We'd been taking the dogs to a dog park in Independence, just a short drive from the RV park. We hadn't bother to explore any further into the town but did so today. Lots of cute little restaurants and bars, a used bookstore, a cinema, and a couple of bakeries...the downtown is not large but there is certainly something to do there.
On a side street we spotted this adorable restaurant, the Pink House Cafe.
Although we hadn't planned on eating out...who could resist. I had a wonderful curry chicken salad. I don't think I've eaten this much fruit in the last year!
So...we decided to try out the walking trail here at the park, at least the part that hasn't been (and still has in parts, been) underwater for the last few weeks. The dogs seemed pretty happy to check out something new. Of course, Hazelnut jumped at every sound...we got about a third of the way into the foliage when we hit a mud hole...so we decided to turn around. I'd switched dogs with Derron -- Hazelnut does better with him when she's scared, so I had Nutella -- AKA the Bunny Hunter. Good thing Derron has good eyesight and took a look down the return path...what lay in wait??? A BUNNY! I immediately set about distracting the dogs...I feared for my shoulders (as in them being dislocated by a charging dog). Derron scooted on down the trail, trying to block any view of the bunny...and scared it back into the bushes. We made it out without incident.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
What A Difference A Day Makes
Tuesday:
We decided to stay put in our current spot. Even though the other one has a "green" privacy fence of sorts, it's also right next to the dog run so dogs will be running around our spot all the time, meaning...our dogs will go nuts. So we'll stay where we are...not so bad here. The folks in the ginormous bus should be leaving soon and maybe they'll be replaced with a smaller rig. It would be nice to have our view back.
We had a sunny, albeit chilly, day today. Figured it was a good time to break out the grill. Hopefully we don't burn the place down!
Derron may have gotten a little carried away with the amount of charcoal he put in the little tiny BBQ. But the brats were really good...had a nice char on the outside. Just perfect.
Gracie tucked under a tree while Derron grilled.
The pups watched out the window while Derron grilled...well, until I took this pic of course.
Wenesday:
Another magnificent day in the northwest! Cold this morning but as soon as the fog burned off...gorgeous!!! We drove down to Albany to check it out. Nice downtown area but lots of closed stores/businesses. We had lunch at First Burger. Derron had an open faced chili burger. I had just a plain, boring burger. Both were good. They advertise that all the meat is Oregon-raised and ground in the restaurant daily and that the chili has never seen the inside of a can. Can't go wrong there!
For my contingent of friends who are (still) worried about Gracie and how she's faring in Dogville (the RV most days), she's doing fine. We set up chairs outside today and let her roam about. Here she's rolling in the sun...one of her favorite things to do. And then Derron walked her around a bit.
Thursday:
We went to a Hire Our Heroes job fair this morning. Got some good resume tips and made contact with two state agencies...one of which I'm already scheduled to interview with next week. Aside from having to get up early and out of sweats and fleeces, it was worthwhile. Derron made a couple contacts with Intel and Volt too.
Back to the RV to change clothes and then off to the dog park. We plan to take advantage of every ray of sunshine and exercise the hounds! Then back to the RV again, but this time to marinate some chops for dinner and then a nap...but of course Gracie, who's now become accustomed to spending time in the sun, decided she wanted to go out. So here are a few more pictures of our little hunter.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Jockeying For Position
Now that the flood threat seems to have died down, several people are moving their RVs to better spots. We have our eyes on one at the end of our row. It's protected on one side by a forest...well a forest by RV park standards. We have to go to the office tomorrow to pay for the next month's lodging, and are hoping to make our case for that spot. Since the office personnel moved us twice for reasons of their own, we're hoping they'll feel sorry for us and give us what we want.
In the meantime, we cleaned the RV from top to bottom. It smells great in here -- mainly because the dogs are at the Dog Bark! Every counter has been Lysol-ed and the whole place has been aired out. Nice sunny day today with a couple of very light showers...so we've had the windows open all morning.
Gracie started her meowing tirade in the midst of the clean-up effort so Derron put her leash on and tied her to the picnic table just outside the door (don't worry...we did this all the time on the front porch in Bush). And of course right away she started meowing to come back in. Presumably she wanted Derron to stay out there with her. Later Gracie...
Had the usual errands to run while the dogs were at day care...picked up new harnesses for them and a coupling that will allow us to walk them at the same time on one leash...yeah, that is so on Derron. They've pulled me over, knocked me down, and dragged me too many times to put myself in that position. Knowing them, they'll think they're sled dogs and drag me face first all over the park.
Derron's going to attempt to barbecue later...he's probably looking up how to grill using charcoal right now on the internet. We got some brats for him to try this first time out...how wrong can that go?
We stopped at Adam's Rib BBQ on State Street for lunch. Yeah, pretty much blew our eating out budget for the week in one fell swoop. But it was so good.
In the meantime, we cleaned the RV from top to bottom. It smells great in here -- mainly because the dogs are at the Dog Bark! Every counter has been Lysol-ed and the whole place has been aired out. Nice sunny day today with a couple of very light showers...so we've had the windows open all morning.
Gracie started her meowing tirade in the midst of the clean-up effort so Derron put her leash on and tied her to the picnic table just outside the door (don't worry...we did this all the time on the front porch in Bush). And of course right away she started meowing to come back in. Presumably she wanted Derron to stay out there with her. Later Gracie...
Had the usual errands to run while the dogs were at day care...picked up new harnesses for them and a coupling that will allow us to walk them at the same time on one leash...yeah, that is so on Derron. They've pulled me over, knocked me down, and dragged me too many times to put myself in that position. Knowing them, they'll think they're sled dogs and drag me face first all over the park.
Derron's going to attempt to barbecue later...he's probably looking up how to grill using charcoal right now on the internet. We got some brats for him to try this first time out...how wrong can that go?
We stopped at Adam's Rib BBQ on State Street for lunch. Yeah, pretty much blew our eating out budget for the week in one fell swoop. But it was so good.
Derron had the Tri-Tip (no brisket (his usual choice) on the menu) with mac n'cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, and cornbread. I tried his cornbread...a tad dry, but OK.
I had the pork ribs, pea salad, red potato salad, and cheesy toast. The rub on the ribs was great and didn't even need any sauce (more on that in a second). The pea salad was good and full of bacon. Derron hates peas and I love them...so any chance I get to eat peas out...I do. The potato salad was OK...needed seasoning. (NOTE: I am Irish and a bit of a potato aficionado. When it comes to potato salad, it can't be seasoned after the fact. The potatoes must be seasoned as they boil and again when mixed with other ingredients, while the potatoes are still warm. IMHO.). The cheese toast was entirely too greasy so I gave it to Derron.
The big hit was the sauce...several different varieties available. Derron tried them all, including one labeled, "brazenly hot". My favorite, and his, was this Hefeweizen variety. They also had a bourbon one, which was good...you could really taste the bourbon, but been there done that. Now, hefeweizen...that's something entirely new to us when it comes to BBQ sauce.
As Jason Mraz would say, it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!
We had a nice lazy day after lunch. Derron took a nap and I finished the Michael Connelly book I'd been working on. Tomorrow I will start The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker, which I picked up at a nearby used bookstore.
Picked the dogs up...tried on the harnesses...too big. My dogs have the weirdest proportions. So back to Petco tomorrow.
Derron decided he didn't feel up to BBQ-ing. Translation: he hadn't taken the time to read a how-to on the internet yet. Maybe tomorrow.
Now off to finish an Irish drama, Amber, I started on Netflix a couple nights ago!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
We're In For The Long Haul
Saturday:
Yes, it's raining again, but only after a magnificent 24 hours with NO RAIN! We got a glimpse of just what's in store for us come spring.
My sister, Mari, gave us a couple of bird feeders when we were in Portland Wednesday. We picked up some Shepard's hooks and bird feed at Big Lots this afternoon and will get them up as soon as the sun shows itself again. Pictures forthcoming.
We also got a small charcoal tabletop grill so we can cook outside where there is a lot more open space. Derron's never cooked on a charcoal grill so we'll see how that goes. I am looking forward to it as I've always preferred the way food tastes when cooked over coals.
Gracie made her big escape today after several days of jockeying for position at the door...despite the rain, wet grass, and mud, she seemed undeterred. Derron caught her not far from the RV. She hasn't given up hope of a life outside the tin can.
My poor plants are having a hard time. They thoroughly enjoyed the sunny day but they're back inside again after getting saturated. I am hoping to leave them outside full-time soon.
Oh, and I have a job interview on March 19th. Hoping for a couple more soon as well...applied for two jobs at two different community colleges. I am also meeting with Marion County Democrats to help them get their newsletter back on track (last published in Sept 2012) and bring them into the Twitter-sphere.
Sunday:
Slept like crap last night. Thanks daylight savings time. No rain this morning but it poured all night. Despite that, we took the dogs to the mud hole...er, I mean puppy park. They were happy...but yes, muddy. But before we took them...have to mention that we, rather Hazelnut, spotted a bald eagle perched high up in a tree. She was terrified of hawks when she was a puppy but when she got older (and bigger) she loved to sit in the yard and watch them fly around. She sat there for several minutes starting at it. Unfortunately we did not see it take off. That would have been a sight. I've seen several perched in trees in Minnesota but never one in flight.
It's race day so Derron's going to be glued to the TV. So I am doing laundry. I stripped the bedroom, washed all the linens, Febrezed the whole space -- even though I have problems with all the chemicals in Febreze, and opened up the windows and vents. I'm kinda hoping open windows and fresh air will counter any chemical issues.
The bird houses are a huge hit - thanks Mari! Almost as soon as Derron got them up, we had visitors. And we've been serenaded by song birds all morning. I think the birds are almost as happy as we and the dogs are that the sun has come out today. It's looking like almost a FULL rain-free week with temps in the 60s ahead of us. Be still my heart!
Yes, it's raining again, but only after a magnificent 24 hours with NO RAIN! We got a glimpse of just what's in store for us come spring.
My sister, Mari, gave us a couple of bird feeders when we were in Portland Wednesday. We picked up some Shepard's hooks and bird feed at Big Lots this afternoon and will get them up as soon as the sun shows itself again. Pictures forthcoming.
We also got a small charcoal tabletop grill so we can cook outside where there is a lot more open space. Derron's never cooked on a charcoal grill so we'll see how that goes. I am looking forward to it as I've always preferred the way food tastes when cooked over coals.
Gracie made her big escape today after several days of jockeying for position at the door...despite the rain, wet grass, and mud, she seemed undeterred. Derron caught her not far from the RV. She hasn't given up hope of a life outside the tin can.
My poor plants are having a hard time. They thoroughly enjoyed the sunny day but they're back inside again after getting saturated. I am hoping to leave them outside full-time soon.
Oh, and I have a job interview on March 19th. Hoping for a couple more soon as well...applied for two jobs at two different community colleges. I am also meeting with Marion County Democrats to help them get their newsletter back on track (last published in Sept 2012) and bring them into the Twitter-sphere.
Sunday:
Slept like crap last night. Thanks daylight savings time. No rain this morning but it poured all night. Despite that, we took the dogs to the mud hole...er, I mean puppy park. They were happy...but yes, muddy. But before we took them...have to mention that we, rather Hazelnut, spotted a bald eagle perched high up in a tree. She was terrified of hawks when she was a puppy but when she got older (and bigger) she loved to sit in the yard and watch them fly around. She sat there for several minutes starting at it. Unfortunately we did not see it take off. That would have been a sight. I've seen several perched in trees in Minnesota but never one in flight.
It's race day so Derron's going to be glued to the TV. So I am doing laundry. I stripped the bedroom, washed all the linens, Febrezed the whole space -- even though I have problems with all the chemicals in Febreze, and opened up the windows and vents. I'm kinda hoping open windows and fresh air will counter any chemical issues.
The bird houses are a huge hit - thanks Mari! Almost as soon as Derron got them up, we had visitors. And we've been serenaded by song birds all morning. I think the birds are almost as happy as we and the dogs are that the sun has come out today. It's looking like almost a FULL rain-free week with temps in the 60s ahead of us. Be still my heart!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
It's All About Perspective
Pitiful Pet Pictures
Hazelnut after her walk in the pouring rain this morning. Thank God for the binkies Grammie Cockayne made the pups a couple years ago.
Nutella looking somewhat forlorn after the morning's walk too.
And they're both down with their binkies.
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We spent the morning discussing our eventual remodel of the tin can. It will be almost a gut and rebuild, but we will retain some elements of its current form. I need to talk to our friend Mack to see if his RV guy in Louisiana has a friend in Oregon who can remodel/repair RVs.
The primary concentration is on making it waterproof!!!! Then the linoleum and carpeting go in favor of laminate wood flooring. I'd love real wood but laminate will work better.
We may lose the shower in favor of a closet. We can always buy an outdoor shower kit for when we choose not to stay in an RV park with a bathhouse. Taking a shower indoors is too problematic. There's very little space to dry off, and in Derron's case, the shower stall is not really tall enough for him.
We're going to turn the overhang into a media/storage area. Then we will lose the couch and dinette for an L-shaped couch. We can figure out later how to bring in a temporary table/trays for eating on the couch, but our goal is to eat outside whenever possible.
We've even thought about changing the orientation of the bed to give us more room in the back...once we lose the two impossibly small half-closets in there.
Lots I want to change in the kitchen too but still mulling over it. And we want to do an overhaul on all the lighting. There is plenty but not all in the right spaces.
Special thanks to my friend Desiree Maestri for turning me on to an RV group on Facebook. Lots of great info there!
We've also decided that as much as we love our pets, we would prefer to travel without them. I don't think any of them will put up a fight.
Here's Nutella claiming her favorite spot - SHOTGUN!
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