Labor Day Blues

B cleans fish with the Fosters

Brent Foster tackles the crab

Brian took a boatload of crab when out fishing this time

The dorys launch

We spent Labor Day weekend at the beach, making progress on the bathroom remodel and exterior paint. In addition, B did lots of crabbing and fishing and we brought both back to Pdx with us. Score!

We escaped the heat and ash from wildfires at the beach

the highlights

Leslie and B at Cirque Du Soleil

It wasn't ALL work and no play. We went to a Lyle Lovett show, taking Sarah and Kristin (who grew up listening to their mom listen to Lyle) at the Schnitzer. It was amazing.

We finally got to see Steven's band, Counterfeit Cash, play at their last performance in PDX in July. 
And in August we went to an open air concert in Eugene, Nate Radliff.

In September we went to see an amazing Cirque Du Soleil show, a first for both of us. And Brian got back to ComicCon with his friend Jason.  

"Curios" circus

Steven at O'Neills, the last show of Counterfeit Cash

Jason and Brian, still high from ComicCon

professional campers

Noble Rot

Nancy came to see us in mid-August. She was working as a camp host with her sister in Washington State and came to stay on her 'day off' to visit us, do some laundry and errands. We took her to Noble Rot, a Burnside Ave restaurant with a rooftop patio. We helped her with her new tablet and smartphone as well!

B and his mom, working out a cell phone

In the path of totality

Jess' first time on the Amy M., boating on the Nestucca River

We spent the Great American Eclipse in Pacific City, which was in the path of totality. Keith was already down there, working on his house. Jess joined us from Ashland and Michael and Leah came from Olympia. We didn't do any Hill Street chores for three whole days, it was great!. Jess got to try her hand at captaining the Amy M. on a river journey.

Leah and Michael on the deck at Hill Street

B and Leah waiting for the fog to burn off

On eclipse day we woke up socked in with fog. We debated driving inland a bit and Leah made plans to do so. But we decided to wait it out and sure enough, the fog dissipated just in time. And Leah changed her mind as well, so we all gathered at Hill street to watch. 

It was fascinating to watch the moon make its way across the sun but the best was the five minutes before the big event and shortly after. As it got darker and cooler, the light changed its tone and got an eerie look, like the light under a street lamp. The temperature dropped and the fog started to come back in from the ocean. The totality was breathtaking, even if for just those few minutes. It was worth every minute, every hassle, worth taking vacation days. All for those two minutes.

B, Jess and Leslie, geeking out

Not taken by us but EXACTLY what it looked like

Up up and away

Unloading the basket in Newberg

Mary, waiting for balloon deployment; regional fires made for a spectacularly red sunrise

August brought an interesting day for me (Leslie). It started out ungodly early, as Mary and I headed south at 5 a.m., heading for a long-awaited hot air balloon ride. The launch location was changed due to unfavorable winds but after we got to the new location, unpacked the balloon, unfurled the top and started to inflate it (and I helped!) it was called off for good. We had to deflate and help back up the balloon again.

Even though we didn't fly, we had to pack up

So at this point we had to punt. At my suggestion we traveled farther south to the Oregon Gardens, a place neither one of us had been to before. We ended up spending several hours there, it was really quite impressive.   

Oregon Gardens

After lunch we headed to Oregon's only Frank Lloyd Wright House, which was down the road (but originally built in Wilsonville). It was so interesting, quite a modest size but full of fascinating details, both in architecture and furnishings. 

Frank Lloyd Wright house in Silverton

Mary checking out the interior of the Wright house

Social time at the beach

Brian learns the river from his father

We did get some fun in Pacific City this summer. We took the Amy M. out once. And we helped Keith take out the ocean dory as well, to make sure it was up to snuff. We caught Jann during a visit down there and caught up with little Lily. We had more opportunities to socialize with the Fosters, Jann's family, and various Hill Street neighbors. 

B with his new 'sibling', Lily

Wetting the dory on the river

Brent tries drylad surfing

Leslie and Brian at PC

Another PC sunset

B takes a break

Hot fun in the summer time

Mary and Julie say hi to the Three Sisters in their coop

It wasn't all work and no play for us this summer. Leslie's group of girlfriends came over for a night of dinner, games and conversation. B's friend Jason was in town for ComicCon and caught Travis, who was working on our house.

Jason, Travis and Brian

We drove down to Eugene to see Lake Street Dive and Nate Ratecliff in a concert, then headed to the beach after, taking a leisurely drive on a new road. 

Nate Rateliff concert in Eugene

Ashfall from Oregon fires

Just before Kristin and Steven headed to California, he played a 'farewell' show with his band. We joined in at O'Brien's pub and it was crazy. It was standing-room, call the fire marshal crowded and the performance was fantastic. 

Trusten's mom Stella came for a visit and we were finally able to meet her, joining the trio for a wonderful meal and Tasty & Sons.

Sarah, Trusten and his mom Stella

Some projects in PC

Two big projects in Pacific City: a complete redo of the little bathroom, including replacing all of its plumbing and fixtures. Turns out, 50-year-old pipes are past their prime. We've also been tackling a complete repaint of the exterior of Hill Street house.

the Portland projects

Travis working on the french drain

Our big project this summer has been our garage/shop. It was nearly unusable, flooded in winter when the rains come and with a non-functioning door. Brian lifted the sagging roof with jacks and installed new trusses, replaced rotten siding and rewired the building. We found new doors at a recycled building store and installed them as 'carriage' doors instead of the old rolling door. Travis and his buddy Joey came into town to help us install french drains around the building's exterior. Now we're working on exterior siding, paint and interior details. The goal is to button it up by winter. 
Wish us luck!!
 

Travis's buddy Joey, Brian and Travis install the door

The hodge-podge garage in the before

Our whole garage has been spread out in the backyard all summer

Brian painting the interior to make it brighter and easier to see

Working in LO

A summer's potluck

This summer marked Leslie's two-year anniversary at Pamplin Media Group. Her office has a dozen people, a small enough group to feel like family. She supervises four of them and works with the others as a team. It's been a good 24 months.

Patrick, from the Windy City

Andrew, the rabid OSU fan

Dad's weekend Portland-style

Brian and Josh play Frisbee at Col. Summers park

Fathers Day this year had a special element. Since Kristin was heading to California we worked hard to get all five kids together. Josh flew in from Utah and Jess and Travis came to Portland. We gathered at a park in Portland for a picnic and a killer game of croquet. It was full of surprises. The newest addition to the family, Kristin's boyfriend Steven, won the game. And we had a volunteer coach, a homeless guy who wandered up with his chair, sat down and preceded to give us surprisingly informed game tips. 

Getting  ready for a family croquet tournament

We welcomed other family too. Keith dropped by on his way between Methow and PC and had a great visit with Josh. And Michael, Leah, Shiori and Lucas came down for dinner and some serious games. 

Is that you are saying Taboo?

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Lunch and game of croquet, with Jess, Travis and Josh