Devine Spice!

We started painting the house on Saturday! Here's what it looked like by the end of day Sunday. Now if the rain can hold off for a bit longer, we might have the house painted by Halloween!

30 years, Part IV

We found a skimboard in the garage of the rental house, and decided to give it a go...

30 years, Part III

Friday, we hit the waves...

30 years, Part II

With clear, blue skies, the big dune beckoned...

30 years, Part I

Last week was my 30th birthday, and we celebrated by renting a house in Pacific City with Susanna, Clayton, Vanessa & Aidan, Pops, Will & Heather. The house was just a dune away from the ocean, a short walk down the beach from our surfing spot and our beer spot, and we were blessed with sunny weather and good food.

We entertained ourselves with surfing, skim boarding and hiking the dunes, and we tempered all that activity with drinking beer, eating good food and soaking up the sun.

Will & Heather

Clayton, protecting his head

Will performs tricks

Vanessa warms up in the sun

Relaxin'

A year ago, today

24 hours in California

I took a quick trip to Palo Alto last week for an early Friday morning meeting, then had a long day at Stanford before my late night flight back to Portland. During my day on campus, I encountered a rubiks cube competition (perhaps one of the most boring competitions to be a spectator at), was asked to take part in a dating survey about Stanford students (when told that I wasn't a student at Stanford, they said no problem, when told that I was married and didn't date, they again said, no problem), wandered around the campus and the downtown area, and finally found a wonderful outdoor atrium in the Lane Library to set up camp.

Hop & Vine is a year old!

This month marked the 1-year anniversary of the Hop & Vine (originally "Yetti's"). I had a great time at the anniversary party on August 5th. Congratulations on a job well-done, Yetta!

Claire, Remi, Grace & Opie

Dory, Shy, Andrew & Mike

Andrew & Mike

Telling Stories

Last weekend my father, aunts & uncles, sister Susanna and family, Mike and I gathered together to remember my grandmother, who passed away in April. Over a fabulous lunch, spread over my grandmother's old dining room table, and overlooking my dad's amazing garden, we shared stories about Maga.

Some were shocking

Some were hilarious

Many of us stayed the weekend at Pop & Sharon's place, which is nothing short of amazing.


Their garden is in full swing and Pop is in the process of creating another set of koi ponds.


We finished Saturday evening sitting around the fire pit roasting marshmallows (thanks for the encouragement, Aidan!).



Aidan, as the only child, is used to being around lots of adults, and generally does very well. In an effort to give him, and himself, a little extra entertainment, Clayton put together a rocket to shoot off in the garden.