Last Sunday of summer

Quick trip to Jantzen Beach

The boys and I drove the convertible to church with the top down.  When we left church we went out for the 5 for $5 cheeseburgers at Burgerville. Then we headed north to the Petco at Jantzen Beach. Even though the mall itself has been demolished there are still many stores open as the sign indicates.

Charred remains

 When Har and I had dinner with his brothers at the Quay we looked across the river at this vacant hotel and were remembering what a beautiful place it was and how sad it was to see it empty and dark. Well it wasn't dark early Sunday morning... the old Thunderbird Hotel was burning! They don't know what started the fire as it's still under investigation.

Open - Open - Open, Please

Here are a few pictures of the new Target store on Hayden Island. It won't be open for a couple of months yet but it was sort of cool to be driving on a newly paved road to get this view.  We drove right through where the old mall was.  

 Petco Pal

Cam was keeping the new fish from being bounced around too much on our ride home. 

Hayden was taking pictures for me since I was driving.

 A new resident needs a new residence. The plecostomus we bought is hiding under one of the cave type structures.  I'm sure he or she will be out and getting acquainted with the neighbors before too long.

The Rose Quarter

 I got to take some pictures on our way out to get the kids. All of the mountains were out yesterday. We saw the top of Rainier and Adams as well as St Helens and Hood from the Fremont bridge.

Two teeth gap

 You have to look really closely but there is a tongue showing through where there once were two teeth on top. It's surprising how different she sounds with that second one gone. She's gonna be lisping her way into first grade.

Only two days away!

It was a sunny day and after we picked up the kids we had to run to Freddies. I've never seen a yellow car cart but it seemed appropriate with the whole back to school themed displays all over. 

 This is the first year, ever, that I'll be packing lunches. I'll be doing some recipe searches for kid friendly and nutritious shelf stable stuff.

New McDonald's in the area

Joylynn wanted us to see the new McDonald's not far from their house. She ran in to get something for her own supper, since Jess was working late.  We parked in the shade and waited near this water feature. You could tell by looking around that, this wasn't one of our urban McD's.  Not even close to a  sub-urban one.  We were getting out to a rural area. Milk can fountains? What will they think of next?

 Look at that pouty face! Somebody was complaining because I moo-ved into the drivers seat after getting out to take a picture of the milk cans. I guess he figured Grampa should be sitting there.

Our California traveler is back!

Courtney flew back to Portland last night from San Diego. She had a great time traveling down through Oregon and the entire length of California with Cherise and the kids as Kiel drove the moving truck. 

Thanks for giving her the opportunity for such a big adventure K&C!

Hayden was helpful and went to pick up Courtney's suitcase off of the conveyor belt at baggage claim. I don't think he realized that people might think her heart covered luggage was his.  They probably thought to themselves..."He has a very pretty suitcase." It sure was easy to spot though! 

It's good to have everyone back home 

and ready for back-to-school.

I'm looking forward to having a routine again.

Saturday walk week 5

Our week 4 walk ended up being on the beach which was wonderful. I took my Berks off and was barefoot the whole time I was there. Very therapeutic.  Now if we only had a sauna here at home!!!

Tri-met changes

The public transit system here in P-town has made some big changes.  We used to have a 3 zone system and a fare-less square. All of that has been eliminated and all rides are $2.50 each and you can buy an all day ticket for $5.00 which is actually pretty cheap for tourists that are traveling around the city but pretty sucky for those residents that have been used to traveling around the fare-less portion and now have to fork out five bucks a day.

Some routes have changed like our #8.

They supposedly added two new routes as well. 

Garden envy

This would be my ideal garden if I could renovate my back yard. But if this was my yard the brick and iron gate would be the neighbors wooden one and I would be standing on the very edge of my deck with the neighbors laurel hedge brushing my right shoulder to take this picture.

Historical home

This house sold not that long ago. I don't know when it was registered with the National Register. It's a nice looking place. We have seen several of these million dollar mansions sell this spring and summer. If I could afford a million dollar house I wouldn't buy one in the city.

One of the houses on our walk that Harlan really likes. I love the river rock pillars. The chimney is river rock very much like ours too.

Friendly feline

We have dogs bark at us from yards and porches as we walk along but most cats aren't concerned with us at all.  This one actually came down the sidewalk to say hello.

Pretty kitty.

Waves of grass

I was intrigued with this decorative grass.  It looks like it is waving in the wind and reminds me of beach grasses.  As we walked by it I saw a single tomato plant under some of the fronds with a solitary pear shaped tomato growing. There were no other garden vegetables anywhere around the yard. Could it be from a dropped seed?

Pictures and seasons

This entire bed of Chinese lantern flowers made me think of Halloween.

This lace cap hydrangea made me think of those 4th of July fireworks that explode and then a second explosion sends stars of color further out from the main thing.

Thinking of Logan

We saw this bumper sticker (L) outside of this business (R). I don't know if the owner was inside working out, but they definitely could have been.

I think I'd like a Ranger as a personal trainer. Only if they didn't make me cry.

Apple spire

Though loaded with fruit, this tree has no branches apart from it's main trunk. I've never seen anything like it. The apples look might healthy though.

Camouflage vehicle

There is a truck parked in this jungle. It has been there for about 15 years as the license plate expired in 1997. There used to be an even older truck parked in this exact place in the late eighties. The entire house is overgrown and privacy fenced so I don't think we are going to be able to find out the whys of this vehicle's predicament.

Personal bike rack

I've never seen a bike attached to this so perhaps it's simply a sculpture at the back of the driveway. I thought it looked kind of cool with the conical looking flowers behind it.

Our poor tree

Our dying maple tree has one branch of red leaves already. These trees are usually the last to change color in the fall and one of the last to drop its leaves. With several leafless branches because of disease I think the poor thing is confused.

They are my favorite color of fall leaf though. And I'm thankful that the other tree is healthy and not changing color yet.

Once in a blue moon with friends

Lloyd Center roses in N. Portland

We had dinner with our friends, Tom and Kim, to celebrate his birthday. They have an amazing deck where we hung out and ate. From the deck I got a wonderful photo of her roses.  These were once upon a time bare root roses given to customers of the Lloyd Center Meier and Frank with a purchase of a certain amount. They are pretty hardy. 

Grandsons are the greatest

Tom and Kim's grandson, Vinny (20 months) got to come over to spend the weekend with them. Their back yard is a little boys' haven. What's better than a fire pit, wading pool and various balls to play with?! 

Big boys toys

 We brought work for Tom to do on his birthday. I marinated some steaks and we got to see him doing his magic under the barbecue canopy.

 Our boys missed out on a great evening.  It got a little chilly when the wind picked up but over all it was a perfect night for sharing food with friends.

 Blue Moon rising

 We got to see the huge full moon rising over the neighbors house across the street from their house. The clouds actually made the effect cooler.

Beautiful women

These pictures pick up a little of the serene atmosphere out there on the deck. The warm glow of the candles and the decorative lighting and the cool color of the vapor light at the corner of the house made just enough light for me to get pictures of Molly and Kim. They are both so gorgeous... inside and out.

Grandsons are goofy too

What a silly boy. Molly says he does this goofy face and shrugs his shoulders in when you tell him he's cute. He is cute! Cute as a bug and he reminds me a lot of our Wyatt at that age.

Vinny is one cool little dude.

I know he made his grandpa's birthday happier just by being there.