Stanford University

Last week Elizabeth and I took a trip to the Stanford University Medical School for work. While it was a quick trip, we did allow a little extra time to check out the rest of the campus. Over two very hot days we traipsed across campus checking out the wonderful architectural features and artwork. We stayed at Dinah's Garden Hotel, which I can recommend, and had an amazing Greek dinner at Evvia Estiatoria, also highly recommended.

Hotel pool - no time to use it, but it certainly looked nice.

The Start: Seattle To Portland - 200 miles on a bike

Mike and Papa started the ride at Papa's house on the Kitsap Peninsula in order to avoid the crowds at the UW start line. Only a mile or two longer, but far prettier (judged to be the best part of the ride).

They're off!


Scratch that - flat tire in the driveway


On the road again - I'm back to bed

Day One: Seattle to Portland - 100 miles more to go

While Papa and Mike were pedaling South, I leisurely took my time driving there (with a quick stop at Sandy Lew in Seattle). When I arrived I was quick to set up our tents, as space was quickly dwindling, and then grabbed a seat at the mid-point finish line to watch all the bikers come in.






After a shower, beer, dinner and ice cream, they prepared for day two... 100 miles more to go.

Day Two: Seattle To Portland - final 100 miles

After catching a few hours of sleep and waking to pouring rain, thunder and lightning, Mike and Pop headed off down the road towards Portland.

With 10,000 people in the ride, it was a slow cross over the finish line, but they both looked happy to be there.

We drank a quick beer while huddled under the umbrella and then headed for home, showers and hot food.

Green Garden

Vegetables, growing strong and tall

Baby bean


Roople was not so interested in the pea, so I ate it.

Ahh, the taste of freedom... tastes like pork.

No independence from house projects this 4th of July. With a hot tub in our future, we spent the weekend prepping the back yard for the "big tub move". On a whim, we decided to rip off all the siding on the back side of the house and insulate the downstairs bedroom. Since we started that ball rolling, now we have to scramble to get the plywood and siding installed, and painted, before we can move the hot tub into place.

We wrapped up the day with pork ribs, prawns and mojitos.

Keb' Mo' sings the blues

Last night after work Mike and I headed to the Waterfront Blues Festival to see Keb' Mo' perform. The original headliner for the night was to be Etta James, who I'm sure is quite good, but wasn't enough to entice me out. When I heard on the radio that Etta had to cancel, and that Keb' would be taking her place, I was sold.



For $10 and two cans of food for the Food Bank, we snagged a spot on the river, two cups of cold beer and some curly fries. The people-watching was stellar and the music fantastic.

Weekend in Woolley

Between a visit to the park, sliding down stairwells, eating bbq, moving furniture and wrestling... I'm exhausted.

Sliding down the stairwell in sleeping bags with Aidan, David & Vanessa

Aidan & Alexis
Baby dance dance revolution

David, Aidan & Vanessa
After "washing" the car with the hose, the kids decided to take a warm bath. Moments after the photo was taken, David tasted the water and threw up. Aidan and Vanessa shot out of the tub, while David just asked for more bubbles.

An afternoon in the park

Roasting marshmallows and making s'mores.

Slumber party in new pajamas, courtesy of Susanna.

Alexis is teething...

I spent the weekend with a smile on my face.

Progress of the Corn, Peas & Beans

A couple of years ago we planted corn - it sort of grew - but it was rubbery. We're hoping for better this year.


Update: It was not better.

Cereal anyone?

I'm having some fun with clay (Sculpey, to be exact) and recently made my most favorite food ever - cereal. I settled for Cheerios, since I figured that would be easier to make than Frosted Mini Wheats (I'm working up to that). While I had the "tan" clay out, I decided to make a basket of farm-fresh eggs as well.

Where have I been?!

Summer has hit Portland, and we have been taking advantage of the great weather. Mike is still training for the STP next month, which takes up most of his free time, and last weekend Pops came down so that they could do the Strawberry Century Ride down in Lebanon. I've been walking to the gym instead of driving, and checking out all the progress the neighbors have been making on their houses and yards (an interesting thing to live in a neighborhood that is slowly being made over). We've also been putting in many hours on the house, as well as paying others to put in many hours on the house (it's a wonderful, marvelous, fantastic feeling to come home from a long day at work to see progress has been made on the house, and to realize that I didn't have to do it!).


The garden is coming along; feels like we've weeded and planted acres, and there are still many beds left to plant. Many will remain to be planted until next year. All in all, it feels like busy, busy times, and we're still trying to figure out how we're going to fit it all in.

So much to do while the sun shines!