Merry Christmas 2014!

To Our Family and Friends, Near and Far, Merry Christmas!!

Trudy received a new blanket from Santa!

Early Thanksgiving

My sister and Morgan were finally able to swing a trip out to Oregon for an early Thanksgiving! I took a few days off of work and went and saw the sights, despite some terrible weather. Thanks to my sis for emailing a bunch of super cool photos taken with her iPhone!

Day One: Thanksgiving dinner in front of the fireplace

Day Two: Evergreen Museum

Day Two: Evergreen Museum

Day Two: Evergreen Museum

Day Two: Evergreen Museum (my favorite pic of Morgan!)

Day Three: Downtown Portland

Day Three: Lan Su Chinese Garden

Day Three: Lan Su Chinese Garden

Day Three: Lan Su Chinese Garden

Day Four: Goonies Day!!

The Goonies House in Astoria, OR

Tree and Morgan

Matt, Yoda and I

The Goonies Rocks @ Cannon Beach

Teeny Tiny Living Room: Fireplace

Hubs and I knew after the first winter in our teeny tiny cabin that we wanted to put in a real, wood-burning fireplace. We had a hole in the wall with a chimney but no insert that would allow us to keep warm. We debated for a short time about installing an insert but not replacing the surround. That didn't last long, as we absolutely felt we couldn't trust the craftsmanship of the existing surround /firebox considering the mold problems which previously resided there and nearly killed me.

So, we saved some money and started the process of our second major home remodel! We selected the insert quite a while ago, when I was on the dig at Fort Yamhill. I really wanted the cast iron version since I was finding cast iron on the dig. The stuff lasts forever! Next we selected the stone for both the wall and the ledge and finally, we choose the mantle. Finally, it was time to get the professionals involved and OH LORD! Lack of communication, missed and unreturned phone calls, unreturned emails, wrong orders, overcharges, inspections, busy schedules, no shows...you name it, it happened on this project. Hubs calculated that he expended 6 work days for this small project alone. BUT here we are right before Thanksgiving and our fireplace is complete! Isn't it beautiful!!

We ended up choosing cultured stone because real

river stone was so ungodly expensive.

Before demolition

A whole new look with antique black flagstone with chipped edges

Now with the cast iron insert.

You can see the chipped edge a little better here.

Than Hubs installed the mantle

First day of rock install

Second day...completed!

Our mason did such an amazing job!

The grout is a little dark but will start to lighten as it cures.

Really looks like a cabin now!

Silly Schnauzers

Rosie the Riveter

Each year our museum takes the opportunity to thank our veterans and introduce the next generation of high school students to the amazing sacrifices these men and women have made. As part of that mission, Tim, Robert and I conducted our Footlocker Program for the local school district. While standing in front of a B-17 Bomber, we dressed in WWII attire and using period artifacts explained to the kids what it was like in the European and Pacific Campaign and on the Homefront. We had a wonderful time and I think the students enjoyed it!

Robert (left) and Tim (right)

Not a period rivet gun...

Robert dressed in 101st Airborne Paratrooper uniform

Tim dressed in 101st Airborne Medic uniform

2014 Portland Marathon

My Hubs Man achieved a serious bucket list item today: he ran the Portland Marathon!!! After 6 months of training on weekends and during work days at lunch, he crossed that finish line!!! I wasn't able to be there for several reasons. First, since Boston they won't allow spectators at the starting or finish line and second, Trudy had an unexpected back episode at about 6:30 this morning and it took me over 2 hours to get her to a place where she could walk on her own. Talk about bad timing. We had a meeting place at mile 21 all set up and Hubs looked for me and I wasn't there. Such a dummer!!! Nonetheless, I was able to follow his progress from home until his RFDI cut out at mile 21. Hopefully in a few days the marathon will be able to tell us what his finish time was...

Start:     00:00:00   Pace: ---

5K:        29:02        Pace: 09:21

10K:      54:35        Pace: 08:14

8.9M     01:15:17   Pace: 07:43

13.1M   01:51:16   Pace: 08:35

17.5M   02:32:42   Pace: 09:25
21.1M   -----           Pace: ----
Finish   -----           Pace: ----

I am such a proud wife! What an amazing achievement! I will be bragging about him for quite awhile!

Photo credit: Dan Berger

Thanks Dan! You are rad!!

Oregon Ducks vs. Arizona Wildcats

Hubby and I made a trip into Duck country Thursday night to see our Wildcats beat the Ducks once again! We sat in a section where only 4 other Arizona fans resided (and they were 5 rows in front of us) and it was a sold out game. We had an overwhelmingly positive experience with the Oregon fans, so nice and congratulatory. A couple even gave us their cushioned seats because we were sitting in the bleachers. That doesn't happen EVER when you enter enemy territory, but these fans were classy to the maximum. Thank you Oregon for having us at Autzen Stadium and thanks for being the kindest group of football fans out there! Also, thanks for losing -- that really made our night!!!

Coin Toss

1/2 Time

We Won!!! Suck it Ducks!!

(Just because they were classy doesn't mean I have to be!)

Final Score: Arizona 31 - Oregon 24

Oregon International Air Show (includes video)

A few weeks ago, as part of my outreach schedule, I was asked to attend the 2014 Oregon International Air Show as an exhibitor. The museum signed up at the last minute so we didn't get a prime location, but still had great seats to enjoy the show! On Saturday my good friend (and fellow docent) Marlane went with me and on Sunday hubby and Executive Director Larry came out to help me too! I honestly had low expectations for the weekend but it turned out so much better than I thought it would. The highlight of the entire weekend....F-22 Raptor!! Are you kidding me? This plane is absolutely incredible!!!!

Marlane and I and the sun...we both got burned!

Hubby helping out at our booth

Heritage Flight: F-22 Raptor, 2 P-51 Mustangs and an F-86 Sabre

F-22 Raptor footage