Dan the Man

Dan and I are in full project mode this summer. It seems in the past two summers we have been so busy inviting people over to swim, that we really didn't get much done around here...So we have a lot of things that were falling behind.

Last week we started pressure washing the patio by the pool. We didn't get very far on this chore last year so we were anxious to finish it up and apply the sealer, so the job won't be so time-consuming in years to come. Dan and I each spent 1- 2 hours a day each day last week pressure washing the patio and it's still not done, so you can see why we are motivated to get it all sealed this year.

We also pressure washed the metal patio furniture in preparation for painting it...we're giving the patio set a makeover and you can see the results on my Paper Caper's blog.

Going, Going, Gone!

Yesterday Dan cut down the fir tree in the back that has been shading the pool beginning around 4 pm on. To cut the tree or leave the tree was something up for debate even when Dan's parents lived here. Although I liked the tree, I had to agree, it was really limiting the amount of time we could swim in the pool...what sold it for me was my hope that eventually we can put a little covered area like a gazebo or something back there in it's place!

The process of cutting a tree of this size down was no doubt stressful. Add to that, using a chainsaw that didn't want to cooperate, then borrowing another one from the neighbor, plus the fact that it stared to lean the wrong way...it was an exciting time at Ernstopia. Dan called his Dad up who came over to assess the situation. All that was really needed was a wedge and soon the tree was down. I saw it fall from inside the house and didn't even have time to get my camera rolling again...but was relieved to see the tree come down with only minimal damage...Now I can plant my raspberries!!! So Dad, can we borrow your wood chipper?




Here is our first burn from the burn pile back in June. After 2 years worth of yard debris had collected, it was getting heaped up pretty high. The other photo is of Dan showing off his amazing Bass collection. Dan isn't normally a fisherman, doesn't even have his own pole, but thanks to his brother Dylan who loaned him his pole, Dan caught somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 fish on his rafting trip down the John Day river last month...more than the guys who invited him along!

Father's Day Fun

Last Sunday on our way to the Great Wolf Lodge in Washington, we stopped off at a rest area for a picnic lunch.

The entrance to the lodge is really fun with huge wolf carvings and lots of rustic touches everywhere.

The lobby has huge vaulted ceilings with a clock tower that expands three stories tall.


Here is the check in counter...it was just like Disneyland...waiting 30 minutes in line. Fortunately, although check in wasn't until 4 pm, we got to play in the water park while we waited for our room.


Here is the other side of the lobby. Through the windows you can watch all the action in the water park.

For the price of a regular room (4 person occupancy) plus the extra person charge ($30) , I was able to reserve the kid cabin room with beds for all three kids in a cute cabin.

The kids were so excited to see that inside our room was a little cabin just for them with bunk beds and their very own tv. Natalie was sure to call dibs on the top bunk!

Our room also included a log cabin bed for us and a fireplace in the corner.



So that concludes the first part of the tour...I'll be back to post some fun water park photos later.

Our lunch on the Willamette

Last year for my birthday, Dan gave me a certificate for a cruise on the Portland Spirit. I lost the certificate and just recently found it back in January. It's a good thing I found it when I did, because it expired in February! I made reservations for April 19, thinking that we would have better weather if I bumped it up a few more months...

While we didn't have the sunny weather I was hoping for, it was much better than the rain mixed with snow the folks at weather.com were predicting. The morning was cold, but the sun was out (and by "sun was out," I mean occasionally it would peek out from the clouds), so we were content with that!!!

After boarding, we were shown to our table and given some warm tea.

Our lunch was yummy. I had the grilled herb chicken and Dan had the beef shoulder entree.

On the ride back, we stepped outside for some up-close sight seeing.Here we are on the bow of the boat, just about to pass under the Marquam Bridge (my least favorite to travel over!) with the Hawthorne Bridge in the distance.

Here's the famous Portland landmark. I remember when it used to say "White Stag" instead of "Made in Oregon."

Here's a very ominous picture of the Steel Bridge. We passed under most of the bridges south of the Steel bridge. Fun Fact of the Day: Apparently the Steel Bridge is a railroad bridge (lower deck) owned by a railroad in Oklahoma and in order for it to lift up and allow ships to pass under it, they need to get special permission from Oklahoma and therefore the Spirit of Portland generally doesn't go under it.

Here is one of the recognizable towers you see on the Burnside bridge.


The Old Spaghetti Factory. Lots of fun memories here. I remember the first time I went to eat here was with the high school youth group (for Jason Birman's birthday I think!) Anyway, I'd pick this location over the Clackamas location in a heartbeat...even if it takes twice as long to get to! Dan and I always order the salad with creamy pesto dressing and the spaghetti, half meat sauce and half mazithra cheese with browned butter....so, so good and of course spumoni ice cream to finish it all off! Mmmmmm!


Of all the big fancy newer homes along the water, I think I'd rather live in this old Spanish-style estate... you know, if money were no object. Nice hu? Just a wee little thing, right!!!

On the return trip, we got to ride with the Captain and watch him "park" the boat. He has a separate control out on the deck that allows him to steer the boat up close to the sea wall. Doesn't he look just like a captain should?

After disembarking from the boat, Dan and I walked down to the marina and took some pictures of the dragon boats. He is going to be designing t-shirts for the Leatherman Tool Group's dragon boat team and needed to get some visuals.

Right after I took this shot it started to rain and...snow!!! So we ran up to Riverplace and then back to our car.

Are you kidding me? These photos were taken about 7:15 last night after dinner! I had to run out to the pump house and turn the pump back on so the pipes to the pool don't freeze!!!

The poor Rhododendron thought it was spring and was trying to bloom!!!

Fortunately, I hadn't planted these Dahlias yet and just brought them inside the house to warn up in their little pots. (See procrastinating can be a good thing!) This morning when I woke up there was still snow on the ground! Weird, weird, weird!!!

Moroccan Valentine's Dinner

Before Christmas I went out to dinner with my girlfriends and we decided it would be fun to all go out to dinner for Valentine's day. We talked about the Meltintg Pot fondue restaurant, but then we changed our minds when we saw the Marrakesh was in the Entertainment book!

Dan and I; Scott and Debbie

Emma and Dan

What can be more fun than sitting on pillow stools, eating with your hands, with belly dancers and funny waiters to entertain?

We had a great time. The kids stayed over with Grandma and we got to go back in time to a world before kids where you could have grown-up conversations, stay out late, go to the store on a whim (and in a timely manner too) with out car seats, 5-point harnesses and an arsenal of diapers. Ahhh...it was nice while it lasted!

Dan got me roses and a sugar free truffle!!! I made him this.

I can see clearly now, the cabinets gone...

Kitchen Upgrade: Phase I

When we first moved in, I purposely didn't put anything in these above cabinets because I knew I wanted them taken down. It's been something I've been pretty vocal about and I've even had several of my girlfriends offer to come over and help me tear them down. Well, finally 1 year, 4 months and 3 days later, I finally got those darn cabinets out of my way. Good riddens cabinets...you will NOT be missed!!! No more cupboard door hanging right in my face when I'm trying to cook, no ducking down below the cabinets when having a conversation with someone seated at the table and no more light being blocked by the cabinets either. I was a giddy as a school girl yesterday during demolition!!!

Before:

During:

Aahhhh After!!!

What an amazing difference it makes not having those big dark cabinets hanging down in the middle of the kitchen. I can't even tell you how happy this makes me! My kitchen went from feeling dark and depressing to bright and spacious thanks to Dan, Scott and John (who came over in just in time to help pull it all down).