Port Boat Springs

Some might think that Portland isn’t a ski town…and those people are probably usually correct…but not this year!

Portland has received a foot of snow in past week. I know, this sounds minor for any ski town. But in this port ski town, they don’t know what a “snow plow” is, they aren’t sure how to use the 4-wheel drive on those SUVs they are driving, and really, when it warms up just right, and that snow turns into freezing rain, those snow covered hills around the city are more accurately described as “ice covered”….which will give any car, truck, or van with chains on, in 4-wheel drive, a run for its money. …Like the double-trailer-oil semi that was jack-knifed in the road outside our apartment window yesterday morning. We should have charged for seats in our apartment window yesterday which looks out onto a more major thoroughfare on a hill.

However, along with all of the hazards of snow and ice in Port Boat Springs, come some beautiful sights that not many eyes get to see in a lifetime. Snow in the rainforest…pretty incredible. People skiing through downtown…hilarious. And, the wonder in people’s eyes…every conversation you overhear, the topic being the weather…and of course, LOTS of people missing lots of work and school, being advised to stay home. You gotta love it! Chip put together a little video featuring the skiing he/we have gotten in during the past week. At this point, my biggest concern is whether (no pun intended) Mindy and mom & dad DuRoss are going to be able to make it in for the holidays. We wish safety and patience upon everyone traveling!

Happy Thanks 60th Addition!

There were many reasons we made the trip back east again this year. First, the obvious- Thanksgiving- a perfect holiday for hangin out with family- especially in our home town. Chip and I had a moment to get breakfast with a friend from high school (great to see ya, Brad). It was so fun to run through so many memories, trying to recall exactly where all those streets are he would mention and that we knew so well as teenagers, but now can hardly piece together in the mind's eye. It is a mind blowing experience- looking at pictures of his new baby and glowing wife....the same guy who caused plenty of irresponsible raucous with us in our little home town...I know we are older (and wiser, and more beautiful), but sometimes it just really stares ya in the face and causes this explosion of mindful awareness about me, us, time, and life.



Another draw was the celebration of Chip's mom's 60th birthday. As you can see from the balloons in one of these pictures, we didn't stop the feasting and celebrating on Thursday, but kept on partying Friday night too! We enjoyed an amazing dinner cooked by Hope, more cake (yes, also had cake on Thanksgiving celebrating Gammy's birthday too!), and decorations for the event. Everyone pitched in to make it a special event.









The DuRoss' also put a beautiful new kitchen addition on their house that has been in the planning as long as I have known them. Their open hearts and home are constantly entertaining family and friends for dinners, birthday celebrations, or just general communion. The addition is well deserved and was christened in good form with the crowd using it heavily, testing it's abilities and capacities, and loving every meal and moment in it.

And a final highlight for us- getting to hang out with our niece and nephews! How sweet are they?! It was so fun to watch their interest in each other grow over the four days.- Just another reminder of how time flies. I feel like it was just yesterday that Evan and Madeleine were these ages.

We are thankful for the time we got to spend with not only the kids, but the amazing people who created them, our siblings, and our own parents. Thanks to all of the DuRoss' for making the trip. We love you lots and look forward to the next reunion!

"Gratitude is the heart's memory."
- French Proverb

Halloween

Well, our costumes this year were creative (I was "everything but the kitchen sink" and Chip was Q-bert...I know, random), but the executions were marginal. We were more proud of the many costumes Kessler wore (endured). She started out the evening as a princess, handing out candy to all the little girls and boys that stopped by our house (there were none- perhaps it was the locked gate we live behind that scared them off- I guess we will have eat all that candy).

It wasn't long after running into her uncle Josh, that he was trading costumes with her and she got to be a french fry (and Josh the princess). As you can see, Chip started trading costumes at this point too.
Costume number three was a pirate- she went from girly, to greasy, to greedy.

And finally, she was tired of all the costumes and sat at the door ready to go with her final costume on, Q-bert's conversation bubble- likely expressing her true feelings at this point.

I just couldn't leave this picture out.
"Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble."
-Shakespeare "Macbeth"

Things n' Stuff

Here are some random photos from the last week- some things we did, some stuff we saw.




Random art around Portland.
A walk in Cathedral Park.






The sweet puppy- always along for the ride!












Incredible trees.....so many incredible trees....







































And beautiful food.....so much beautiful food....

"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one."
- Malcolm Forbes

Homies

What a motley crew. These four boys went to elementary school together. Mike Jefferies (far right) got married this past weekend in Vail, CO. Several friends (and family) from home gathered to celebrate the occasion. I forgot how fun (and painful) it is to celebrate Ohio- style.
I can't believe I don't have any photos of the beautiful couple- I will have to add them later. In true Jeffries style, they picked the most beautiful weekend to tie the knot- the leaves were in peak fall performance and the weather beautifully cool and crisp. It was great to reconnect with so many great people. Thanks for an awesome weekend homies!
"Home is not where you live, it is where they understand you." - Chistian Morganstern

Fall Equinox Weekend

I am not sure if there is anything we didn't fit into this weekend. Chip passed another test, and therefore, was awarded with another three day weekend with less work to do. The set up of his program is truly brilliant.

As part of the weekend, along with relaxing mornings, going to the farmer's market, rafting and BBQing with friends, and surfing and camping on the coast, we were also offered the opportunity to spend some time in this dahlia garden.

























This garden was created and loved by a friend's parent who also lives on the Clackamas River (literally, it is their back yard). It was an incredible location and place to spend the afternoon and evening on its own. Then, we strolled into the garden. We were lost in time and space as our eyes, minds, and hearts tried to take in the splendor. It was so overwhelmingly beautiful. And, it was especially fun to experience this with eight other adults (both male and female)...all totally floored, and verbally sharing the disbelief all along the way.








And then, as if just getting to see them wasn't enough...we got to cut several to take home. What a treat!











"As the garden grows, so does the gardener."

I'm hooked...

....On surfing and my partner in crime for the past 15 years!

This past weekend Chip organized a camping and surfing trip to the coast with his classmates. It was so fun to see them all extremely relieved and giddy after their Friday exam. (For more pictures of our time on the beach check out www.flickr.com/photos/mommypants)

And, this time I rented a surf board and wet suit to experience the chilly waters of the Northwest finally. It is amazing what a little neoprene can do. I was totally warm and comfortable, and...I caught my first real wave on a surf board! I think the moment will be burned into my memory forever. It was unbelievable. I have been pushed along on a long board by my fair share of white water run out, and that is fun. However, to catch a wave at the crux of its energy and join it for its journey towards shore, is a rush of excitement comparable to few other G-rated experiences in life.





"Love is friendship set on fire."



























Chip and I celebrated our 7th anniversary yesterday. We have been adventuring together though for 15 years! Wow- wow- sometimes I stand so awestruck in the clarity of life's blessings. This was one of those weekends.

OBX

Here is quick video of some of our adventures. I haven't ever used the video program before, so it is a little rough around the edges. :) In summary, it was an incredible week with family in a place I have been visiting somewhat regularly as long as I can remember, The Outer Banks, NC.

The water was a highlight this year. The first few days it was clear and glassy- perfect waves for learning to surf. Then, Tropical Storm Fay started to come nearer and produced some rougher seas (but still sunny weather) for the second part of the week. I am still in shock about how well Evan and Madeleine swim. All those swim lessons have certainly paid off! They were out there in some of the biggest waves I have seen in NC, with strong currents. One day John, Evan, Chip and I body surfed these currents a mile down the beach to the pier and walked back to our towels and chairs. Evan (almost 9 years old) learned to maneuver and stand up on the surf board like he was born on the coast! Madeleine (7 years old), although barely big enough to hold onto the surf board, also insisted on standing on it and riding it like a boogie board at every opportunity possible. Wait till you see the pictures, you won't believe your eyes!


Other highlights included amazing feasts of seafood, playing tennis, and sunrise sessions of surfing and/or walking almost every morning. Of course, the best part was being able to eat, hang out, and catch up with my sister, her family, and my mom in person...no phone call or blog can ever make up for that! Thanks y'all for putting forth the teamwork it took to pull off the week. We love you all so much and can't wait for next time!





“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”

--Isak Dinesen

Leash Your Pet?

This sign is at the start of a trail head that Kessler and I walk on most days of the week. It makes my day to see it every time. At first, it just creates this ridiculous image in my head which often conjures me to laugh out loud. Then, the pure irreverence of the thing kicks in, and I love it even more. The simple joys of a black permenant marker. I feel like Kessler agrees (she is laughing at the sign in this picture), that the idea of leashing a bee, let alone "your" bee, is just about as silly as the idea of leashing her!



























Just a few shots from a hike we did this weekend up Eagle Creek. Katy, you would be proud- We made it down to the "Garden of Eden"...man this place is magical. Oregon is really knocking our socks off.

"That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest."
- Henry David Thoreau

Sandy Feet and Stained Hands

Chris, Erika, and Finn have been traveling in the Northwest for one of their summer vacations and therefore, we got the benefit of getting to hang out with them on either end of their trip. We will keep it brief on our end since C&E will extrapolate further on their blog about their adventures.


The first weekend allowed us an opportunity to do our first camping trip together on the coast of Oregon. The boys surfed for a few days. Erika, Finn, and I hiked out to a cove one day and along the coast by an old ship wreck another day.












Weekend two took place in Portland. It started with an incredible meal at a recommended Cuban restaurant in town. Saturday morning we drove a few miles out of town to the land of farms where we picked (and ate at least as many as we took home) our own berries (hence the "stained hands"- unfortunately I did not get a great shot of our red and purple fingers, but trust me, even Finn was "red handed" by the end of the event). We returned to Portland for a small (50- 70 thousand people) gathering of Portlanders for the annual "Flugtag" downtown on the river. It involved lots of Redbull, creativity, and hyperness. Check out http://www.redbullflugtagusa.com/ if you want to see the craziness for yourself.

It was awesome to catch up with and see Chris, Erika, and Finn. They were such good sports in our tiny apartment, and made camping with a one-year-old look pleasant. Impressive. Kessler misses Finn already!

" You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." - John Kabatt-Zin