Portland Spirit Dinner Cruise

Hubby's company celebrates 50 years of business this year. In honor of the occasion, the company chartered a dinner cruise along the Willamette River for its employees and their spouses. We had a really nice time! Good food, good conversation, beautiful scenery! I usually don't like boats or deep water (and add sea sickness to the mix) but the Portland Spirit was a smooth and luxurious ride.

Can we just all agree that my husband just gets more handsome every single day?

I mean, seriously, look at him! I am loving the beard!

Canterbury Renaissance Faire

I convinced Hubby to take me out to my first Renaissance fair a few weeks ago in Silverton, OR. The day was beautiful and the temperature was just right! I wish I could say that I had a great time but I just found the whole experience to be...well...weird. I can't really explain it any other way. The venue was strange (not their normal location), the people were odd, and it had more of a swap meet vibe than a fair or festival. I am not against attending a different one in the future, but I think I will stick to comic book/sci-fi conventions, that's the kind of weird I understand!

Happy Birthday Trudy!

Trudy celebrated her "Sweet" 16th Birthday on July 26th. Getting her to this ripe old age has been a true labor of love and one that we continue to arduously pursue each day. She was diagnosed just a few weeks ago with doggie dementia. Just like with humans, our medical interference has allowed her body to grow old beyond its expectations but we are now seeing the consequences with her mind. She is on a special dementia medication that works about 50% of the time in dogs. Our vet (and probably everyone else in our lives) thinks we are nuts but she deserves every chance for a happy and healthy life! We love you T-Bear!

For those curious what doggie dementia looks like:

• Getting lost in the yard or in the house, can't find their way around familiar furniture
• Pacing and wondering, starring at random spots for long periods of time
• Sleeps heavily during the day and paces at night (Sundown syndrome)
• Easily startled, scared and shaky, does not recognize familiar people or pets
• Potties in the house, forgets commands/rituals they used to know

Apple's are Expensive!

My absence from the blog-o-sphere was not of my own making, unfortunately my computer video card decided to give up the ghost and I was computer-less for over 2 weeks. Luckily after talking to Apple and working with the repair shop, we were able to get a $700 repair free of charge. The video card was a known issue and although just a few months out of warranty, Apple did the right thing and covered the repair. Huge thanks to Apple and PowerMax!

You should see several blog posts here shortly!

Silly Schnauzers

This is so ridiculous and adorable!

Still wasn't sure after surgery if the tongue was going to be permanent...

But now we know that it is!

Trudy + bed + blanket = camouflage

Churro vs. Piper competing for sunshine, I'll let you guess who won. (Hint: it was Piper)

Still such a puppy despite her 11 years

Lily hiding in Churro's kennel because she hates when we use power tools

Happy 35th Birthday!

My Hubs Man turned 35 a week ago and he is more handsome now than the day I married him! Happy birthday to the hardest working, funniest, nerdiest and best doggie dad in the world. You are my better half in every way!

Trudy was having none of this beach trip!

Model Group Luncheon

Back at the end of March, the model group from Evergreen (which has mostly disbanded) got together for one of its notorious luncheons. Due to illness and a myriad of other problems, the entire group rarely is able to make it to the same place at the same time...until yesterday. What a wonderful day! We traveled to Lincoln City and ate delicious food at Fathom's Penthouse Restaurant and Bar. Wonderful conversation, belly-laughs and celebrations of recovery!

Funny Story: Another patron, not with our group but who was the same age as the others, came up to me and asked why I would be there with all those "old people"? I told him those "old people" were my friends! My group thought this was simply the best and referred to me as their "bus driver" who cares for them over at the "old-folks home". They were still laughing about it all the way home!

Madam President

At the beginning of the year, the President of the "Friends" non-profit I volunteer with announced that due to health concerns he would not be running for re-election. This left the organization with a huge problem, as we are quite a small board and have a small contingent of members. After much contemplation, discussion and research, Hubs and I decided this was a challenge I should accept.

For two months, I slowly picked up more and more responsibility with the "Friends" group and still donated a ton of time doing overnights at Evergreen. I quickly realized there would be no way to volunteer with both groups, so I made a choice. I officially said goodbye to Evergreen and was voted in as the President of the Friends of Historic Champoeg on the same weekend.

It has already been a rollercoaster ride full of changes and unexpected road blocks but I am challenging myself to handle them with dignity and grace. We have a great staff, some wonderful board members and supportive Park staff which will make the next 2 years an interesting adventure!

Puppysitting

My friend Robert and his wife went on a short weekend vacation and needed someone to watch their 12 week old Corgi, Gibbs. Of course, we volunteered because PUPPY! Gibbs was so sweet and crazy and wonderful and exhausting. He is welcome back anytime (although I don't know if our dogs would agree)!

That face is just too much!

He discovered the cat!

I dressed him up in a U of A dress....

and taught him to sleep on the couch.

But mostly he slept a lot!

Look at those tiny legs!

Day at the Vineyard

It has taken 4+ years but Hubs and I finally went to our first Oregon vineyard. It isn't that we are opposed to vineyards but we don't drink wine so the opportunity never really presented itself. Luckily my friend's Mom had her retirement party at Blakeslee Vineyard Estates and boy was it lovely!

Dogs vs. Wild Part II

Back in September of 2014 I posted about all the wildlife our dogs have been introduced to since moving to Oregon. This includes: squirrels, deer, moles and opossums (2 of these have been in Lily's mouth -- you guess which ones?) All of these animals live on our property in one way or another and our newest tenant to move in is: a rabbit! She is very sweet, is out exploring quite a bit and will stay out as long as the dogs don't bark at her.

Toothless Trudy

Trudy had surgery yesterday, a precarious procedure considering her age and potential reactions to anesthesia, however she pulled through and is home resting. She is officially toothless now at 15 years 10 months old. The last of her teeth were removed yesterday for good reason (see below). After 6-7 years as a puppy mill dog there was nothing Hubs or I could do to replenish the calcium to her teeth. We brushed, we bought solution for her water, we sprayed her mouth with special solution -- nothing could fix the years of neglect (abuse) by another family. We hope that she will start feeling better soon and find that life isn't quite as painful as it was before. It seems right now that she might have perma-tongue!

Teeny Tiny Front Door: Trim

One of the projects for this year has been to work on the trim around the doors and windows of our teeny, tiny little cabin. This is for two reasons: first, Clara (the woman who previously lived and died in our house) had a dog named Lady Ruby who apparently did not like to be left alone and thus there are claw marks on almost all of the moldings around the windows and doors. Second, we don't trust the insulation/installation technique used by the previous owner(s). Honestly, for good reason. Every time we remove something or update something in this house we have found shoddy workmanship. The plumbing, electrical, exterior paint job, insulation -- all of it done by someone with inferior knowledge.

Our front door was no exception. It only took about $20 worth of supplies from Home Depot to make it right -- good thing I have a husband who is rockstar at handyman projects!

We haven't decided if we will keep the trim white or paint it a different color. I suppose it will all depend on if we keep this door or switch it out for something better.