Hudson Vacation: Day 1

The Hudson family (B, C, Liam and baby boy #2 on the way) arrived in Portland very early in the morning on Friday (5/25/12). After a few hours sleep and a delicious breakfast, we ventured out to see what Oregon had to offer.

Our first stop: Crown Point at the Columbia River Gorge

Liam and his Uncle Matt

The Gorge to the east

and to the west

Then it was off to the waterfalls:

542 feet high

Me and my handsome man!

The Hudson Clan

Such a good Uncle!

Walkabout Part II: Durham Park

What I find completely fascinating about Oregon is how you have no idea what is around each corner. Durham Park is that way. I followed a trail out of Cook Park and entered this small opening in the trees to discover just behind it this amazing landscape. It is my greatest hope that I will always view Oregon with the eyes of an Arizonan. This place is magical.

 Bridge over Fanno Creek

 Fanno Creek

Another new trail to explore

Model Building

At any given time I am working on two different models, one at the museum and one at home. At the museum I am currently building a balsa wood airplane called the Pussycat which is powered by rubberbands. The model I was building at home is Gus Grissom's Mercury capsule, Liberty Bell 7. I finished it and despite the face that it is my very first plastic model and quite small, I think it turned out alright! Next up: The Unsinkable Molly Brown Gemini capsule.

Before and...

After!

My model now rests next to the Apollo models that my dad made when he was a little boy.

Walkabout

Today is so beautiful in Portland, I couldn't bear the thought of exercising in a gym so I took off to Cook Park for a walkabout. I didn't go with any particular purpose or direction in mind, I just walked. After 1.25 hours, I found myself in another city, so I headed back home. Here are some of things I saw along my journey.

 Our backyard

 Roses are blooming in our front yard

Butterfly Garden at Cook Park

Railroad bridge over the Tualatin River

Railroads and trains are quite common here

The Tualatin River

Tualatin Park

Trudy: Update

I don't really know what to say about Trudy without sounding melodramatic, but she had another really bad episode on Sunday (after we got home from the fair) and an emergency appointment with the vet took place on Monday. She is on medication but her balance and ability to walk has been compromised this time and I am fearful. This week has been filled with emotion as I try to reconcile the debate of quality vs. quantity and when is it time to let go? How do you make this kind of decision? How long is the right amount of time to wait and see? How much pain is she in and how much more can she take? My "mommy" sense is telling me that hard decisions are going to be needed soon and my heart is breaking.

Bucket List: Plant a Garden

Hubby and I went to the Clackamas County Spring Garden Fair in Canby this past Sunday. The fair had anything and everything you could possibly want to create a garden. It was outstanding!

Over the last weekend of April I spent a tremendous amount of time in the garden, turning the soil and getting it ready for planting. When we were at the fair, I picked up the following plants: green peppers, lettuce, cilantro, red peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, and broccoli. Today I planted them. I have no idea what I am doing (or if they will grow) but it is fun!

Now it is time to focus on flowers. I bought the Geranium above at the fair and every store in town is having ridiculous sales on flowers, so I plan to pick some more up and start planting in pots. Lily jumped up to smell my flowers just as I took this photo. Silly girl!

Springtime

Spring is in full force in the Northwest despite the fact that it has fallen back into the 50s during the day. Last weekend I spent a tremendous amount of time in the garden. It is primed and ready for planting, now if I could just keep the dogs out of it!

Our neighbors tree which stretches into our yard

Bush in the front yard

Also a bush in the front yard

These were outside Fry's Electronics

New baby geese have joined the family

Spruce Goose

Since I am a docent I occasionally get the opportunity to do cool things around the museum. Yesterday I went for a behind-the-scenes-tour through a B-17 bomber and the Spruce Goose (cockpit pictured below). Both were endlessly fascinating and I highly recommend them to anyone who visits. The hat is a replica of the one worn my Howard Hughes when he flew the Goose in 1947. I couldn't make myself wear it...too worried about all the other people's hair germs. :)

Trudy Relapse

It has been another difficult week since Trudy presented with back problems again. She is on 6 medications with limited success. We are working closely with the veterinarian, trying not to give her too much but just enough to make her comfortable. Last night was the first full night of sleep in a week. I feel so much better but won't rest easily until she is feeling herself again.

WW II Veteran and Colleague

Today I attended the funeral of a man who was part of the Greatest Generation. Although I haven't been at the museum long, I had the pleasure of eating lunch with this hero the Monday before he died. There are few things more moving than TAPS and the three-volley salute.

Gurney Allen Pyne, Jr. 1924 – 2012 Services for Gurney Allen Pyne, Jr. of McMinnville will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at the Tigard Church of God, 15670 SW 98th. He will be buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Viewing will be Mon, April 16th and Tues, April 17th from 4:00-7:00 pm at Chapel of Macy and Son. Gurney Allen was born June 28, 1924 in Eden, Idaho to Gurney Allen Pyne, Sr and Margaret Lucille (Foote) Pyne. He grew up in Southern Idaho. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and bravely and proudly served his country for four years during WWII. In 1945 he married Marion McDowell and they had one son, Larry in 1947. They later divorced. On June 18, 1955 he married Gladys King in Centralia, WA and they lived in Portland. They had three chosen children. In 1968 the family moved to Dayton, Oregon and lived in Yamhill County most of the years since. Gurney Allen began working for Union Pacific Railroad in 1952 as a brakeman. He retired in 1985 as a through Freight Conductor. Following retirement he worked various jobs, including driving school bus for Dayton and as a Security Guard. For ten years Gurney Allen and Gladys traveled to Quartzsite, AZ for the winter. While in Quartzsite he became involved in working with rocks and making jewelry. During their married life they traveled the country extensively and made friends wherever they went. Gurney Allen is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gladys. He is also survived by three sons and one daughter; Larry of Lewiston, ID, Harold and Michelle of California and Sam of McMinnville; nine grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; a brother John of Longview WA and a sister Peggy (Bob) Nelson of Redmond, OR. He is also survived by four sister-in-laws who are like sisters. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, four siblings and four sister-in-laws. Gurney Allen was a lifetime member of VFW Post 10626 and volunteered at Evergreen Air and Space Museum for 10 years. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ignite Ministries of the Tigard Church of God in care of Macy & Son. To leave private online condolences, please visit www.macyandson.com.

So This Happened Yesterday

Around lunch time at the museum I was manning the front desk when I heard a helicopter. It seemed so close that I looked outside and saw the landscapers being whipped around in a fury. It was very close! I couldn't believe my eyes as a Blackhawk helicopter descended and landed right next to the space museum. I later found out that our museum is along the Army's training path and the flight crew stops in for lunch from time to time. Unreal!

A Walk in the Park

Beautiful days are here again, so the Phillips tribe wandered outdoors for a walk to Cook Park.

Our neighbor's Rhododendron -- which I want to plant in our yard now.

The Quello House, a historic home build in 1906

 Next to the park

Cook Park Picnic Area

Very strange tree...

So green!

The Tualatin River (0.5 miles from our house)

 Tremendous color everywhere, I can't get over it!

Model Shop

The museum I volunteer at has a model shop where a group of "little old men" get together every Friday to put airplanes together and fly them. I was invited by one of them to join, so yesterday I showed up to check it out. I brought along a few of my plastic models, although their specialty is building them from wood. They were very kind and quite gracious with their knowledge and were more than willing to provide some counter space for me to start my own project. They said if I like it, I can help put together some of their models too. 

Completed static model of the Spruce Goose

Remote controlled version of the Spruce Goose set to fly at the end of May