to answer your questions

where can you find my new blog?

2011-09-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

Over here at typepad.

My new address: http://toansweryourquestions.typepad.com/

how am i celebrating my birthday?

2011-08-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

In Austin with Ben, James and Abby in anticipation for Asa to be born.

For my birthday... and the next couple of days we are staying at Travaasa. Ben and I stayed at their sister property in Hana for our honeymoon. Both places are pretty special.

We started the morning with a swim in the Infinity Pool followed by an incredible yoga class. Afterword we met Abby and James for breakfast at the Blue Star Cafeteria.

Thirty-seven years old- so far, so good!

what is the allure of the automobile?

2011-08-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

The name of the current exhibit at the Portland Art Museum.

In October when Ben and I became members of the Portland Art Museum, one of the exhibits that influenced our membership decision was their upcoming exhibit Allure of the Automobile. The exhibit promised 16 of the most luxurious, rare and brilliantly conceived automobiles and would be the first exhibition to consider the stylistic development of cars in the context of prominent design movements such as Art Moderne and Postwar Modernity.

The exhibit finally opened and we love it! I think the cars and beautiful and amazing and Ben loves all of the "workings" of the cars. It's a great exhibit for us... and next week my nephews are coming to visit to take advantage of the exhibit as well. We can't wait!

what do i love about maryhill state park?

2011-08-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

The rocky beach.

I have to admit, I love the beach. I love the sand between my toes and the salty air. But when you live in Oregon... and the Columbia River is not far from your house, the "beach" takes on a whole new meaning. This weekend summer finally arrived. We spent the weekend at the beach. The beaches I am referring to are the shores of the Columbia River, which in this case are rocky. But they are beautiful and the water is clear and cool. Oh, and perfect for playing fetch with Foster.

what surpirse did i find in my garden yesterday?

2011-07-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

A ripe tomato!

I know it's practically August and my family in California has been eating tomatoes from their gardens since March (well at least June 1st). But here in Oregon, we experienced a long winter, a late spring and then came June-uary. I don't think we even planted our tomatoes until late May it had been so cold.

Anyway, yesterday afternoon I looked at the garden and was so excited to see a little splash of orange. I was beginning to think we wouldn't see ripe tomatoes until the fall. So happy summer has finally arrived.

what question can I finally answer for ben?

2011-07-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

What kind of convertible I want. The Lexus IS hardtop.

Ever summer Ben talks about getting me a convertible. He talks about which one he would buy and where he would store it in the winter. I know he's not serious, but it's very sweet nonetheless. The other day when we saw an old Mercedes convertible for sale I swear he was ready to buy it for me. If I would have said, "buy it" he probably would have.

Anyway, I never have an answer for him when he asks me what convertible I want because it's not a realistic question. What's the point... that is until I went grocery shopping the other day and saw the car above in the parking lot. It's a great looking car. That's the one I want and I would not mind having the beach that's in the background either:)

Oh, and it's a hardtop, so no reason to store it in the winter. I can drive it year round!

what's special about today?

2011-07-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

Fifteen years ago, yesterday, I flew to Dallas, Texas in anticipation of the birth of my nephew, Jake. Luckily, I arrived just in time because the very next day, July 28th, Jake was born. My sister, Jana, chose to have Jake at a birthing center with a mid-wife which resulted in bringing him home just a few short hours after he was born. I remember seeing him for the first time and marveling at how tiny he was and how young! I had seen plenty of newborns before, including my siblings, my niece and my nephews, but it was always in a hospital first. There was something incredibly special about seeing a newborn at home so soon after birth.

In a few short weeks, I will travel to Texas again. This time to Austin for the birth of my nephew, Asa. Like Jana, my sister Abby, has also chosen a birthing center with a mid-wife. I hope to be as lucky with my arrival time for Asa's birth as I was for Jake's. I am so excited! I can hardly wait... in the meantime I am enjoying reading her sweet baby blog found here.

Happy Birthday, Jake!

(you can find the pendant here and the bracelet here)

what did we do on the fourth of july?

2011-07-11T09:40:00.001-07:00

We started the morning by participating in the Kollas-Cranmer Memorial Run/Walk. The route was 7.5 miles and started at Mid Valley Elementary School in Odell (the school where I did my praticum).

From there it wound through Odell past an old barn...

where cows graze.

The route continued along, past another barn...

along Tucker Road ...

where Glider Rides are offered...

and airplanes take off from the airport.

At the four way stop near Windmaster Market, the route veered left past the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum and continued into town...

until the final destination at Jackson Park in Hood River.

That evening we were invited across the river to watch the Hood River fireworks...

from Washington.

As you can see, we had a great view of the fireworks and Hood River!

who got married last weekend?

2011-06-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

Cassie & Eddie!

What a magical wedding & weekend!
Congratulations, Cassie & Eddie!

*check out more beautiful photos by Wing here

who went hiking with us this weekend?

2011-06-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Bob and Jane.
About three weeks ago Bob and Jane left Brant Lake, NY for Hood River, OR by car. They wanted to drive across the country and we wanted a new car. So Ben bought a car via email/phone in Vermont, had it delivered to Bob and Jane in New York and they drove it across the country. You can read all about their trip west on their awesome blog, jane and bob and more.
Fortunately they arrived just in time for our first bout of seventy degree weather. We hiked on Friday. We hiked on Saturday. Today we hung out at the house and walked around downtown. We have had a great time and will miss them when they fly- not drive- home tomorrow.

what happens when you get your mail at 10:30pm?

2011-05-17T23:05:00.000-07:00

You get to see a beautiful moonrise.
I'll admit it, I've been burning the midnight oil while Ben has been away. I haven't been this "busy" in a long time. Although I have not worked full time since moving to Oregon, the last few weeks have been spent working eight to ten hours a day at my "part time" job, after spending the mornings at school shadowing a Reading Specialist and before completing papers and projects that are due at midnight (that's the beauty of online education). Which is why I did not get to my mail until 10:30 tonight... but it was worth it.

who's taking care of me while ben is away?

2011-05-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

Foster. He makes sure I get my daily walk down to the marina.

what was waiting for me on the doorstep?

2011-05-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

Flowers from Ben.
Ben has been in Australia on business for two weeks and will be there for another week. Originally the trip was supposed to last about a week, but tonight he had to extend his trip again. During the past two weeks I have been busy with school, work and teaching. Actually, I have preferred Ben be away during the past two weeks, but as my class comes to an end this weekend, I am ready for him to return. I guess I'll have to wait another week. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the flowers.

how did we let jane know we didn't forget her birthday?

2011-05-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

We sent her a Netflix.

where have i been spending my time lately?

2011-04-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

With an incredible Reading Specialist and maker of the beautiful items above.

Currently I am working on a Master's Degree in Education with a Reading Specialist Endorsement. A requirement of the program is to complete 90 hours of practicum work with a Reading Specialist. Luckily I was able to choose my own Reading Specialist and have been in her classroom observing and learning for the past few weeks. She is a fantastic teacher and mentor. I am amazed at what I am learning from her. So amazed, in fact, that when I found out yesterday that I am NOT required to do the practicum because I started the program prior to the requirement going into effect, I am choosing to continue to work with her.

Aside from being an incredible Reading Specialist, Keri also creates beautiful jewelry. Check out her Etsy shop here and see for yourself.

*the photos above are taken by Keri and are featured in her Etsy shop

what gift did i recently receive?

2011-04-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

A spice box from my friend, Kesi.

Kesi is the wife of Ben's colleague, Shaju. Although she lives in Portland and we don't see each other often, we find ourselves exchanging gifts- usually handmade. She makes beautiful handmade holiday cards and she's an excellent cook (I've tasted her cooking at Hood Tech via Shaju). The four of us talk about getting together for Indian cooking lessons. Our fantasy is to hang out with Shaju and Kesi for the weekend, while they teach us to cook real Indian food. In the meantime, I'll have to try out a few recipes with my new spice box.

Kesi included the following explanation for my new spice box (the explanations were colored coded, of course):
-tumeric powder
-kashmiri chili powder- not at all spicy, but a gorgeous red color
-corriander powder
-garam masala powder
-mustard/ cumin seeds- added to hot oil and allow to crackle & sputter before anything else is added
-whole spices- cardamon, cloves, cinnamon sticks, dried red chilies (whole spices are also crushed lightly in a mortar/pestle and added whole into heated oil for fragrance & flavor before anything else is added

Thank you, Kesi!

what happens when you wake up early?

2011-03-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

You get your very own Tide Pool Show.
When Ben and I went to Cannon Beach we woke up early and went for a morning run on the beach. We ran down to a large rock formation and started climbing around. The tide was low and we found a "hole" in the rock that is only visible during low tide. After climbing around we realized we were in a tide pool and found the treasures above. It was pretty magical.

where did we go last weekend?

2011-03-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

Back to The Ocean Lodge. This time I took Ben with me.

why was our trip to the coast cut short?

2011-03-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

They issued a Tsunami Warning.

This morning at 4:45am I received a knock at my door from Wendy Higgins, the general manager of The Ocean Lodge, telling me we had to evacuate Cannon Beach by 6:00am. Foster and I quickly packed our things and were on our way home by 5:00am. We passed many cars along the side of the highway waiting out the warning.

We are now at home, safe and sound, enjoying the sunshine.

where are foster and i spending the night?

2011-03-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

At The Ocean Lodge in Cannon Beach.

On Monday night Ben found out he had to go to Mexico for business. Normally when Ben leaves town I take the opportunity to visit my family in California. However, school, teaching, and a recent part time job I acquired no longer permit me to leave on a whim for an extended period of time.

Yesterday I realized I would have a 24 hour period where I could get away and nobody would notice. I chose my favorite place in Oregon, Cannon Beach. Foster and I are having a great time. We went for a walk on the beach when we arrived- it was raining. Later we went for a jog at sunset- it wasn't raining. Despite the on and off rain, we are in heaven.

what was different about this valentine's day?

2011-02-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

I chose roses instead of gerberas and made a box cake instead of a cake from scratch.

Gerbera daisies are my favorite flower but this year I chose roses because they remind me of the roses we used to buy at Good Goods.

When I went grocery shopping the other day and saw the pink boxed cake mix & frosting, I had to buy it. I made a batch of cupcakes and a single layer cake. I added a bit more water than suggested to the frosting, making it like Martha Stewart's royal icing. The cake was delicious and the cupcakes will be for later this week.

Although we didn't plan on buying one another presents, I ended up getting the hilarious book "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother", a beautiful painting of Hood River, and new ski pants. After dinner we went and saw the incredible movie, The King's Speech.

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day!

where did ben and i spend last weekend?

2011-02-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

In Portland.
For our anniversary, Ben and I became members of the Portland Art Museum. This weekend they had a special preview party for the new exhibit Riches of a City: Portland Collects. They had dinner and dancing with a live band, followed by a preview of the exhibit. We stayed overnight at Hotel deLuxe. We took advantage of a promotion they were running. When we arrived they upgraded our room and upon entering the room we noticed the diverter valve in the bathtub had fallen out. When we informed the front desk, they proceeded to upgrade us again to the king corner suite... all for ninety dollars. The view was spectacular! Thank you, Hotel deLuxe.

what am i dreaming of?

2011-02-03T15:23:00.000-08:00

The warm weather in Vegas.
It's cold this week in Hood River. Not as cold as Texas, yes Texas, but cold enough to make me miss Vegas. I'm ready for spring. While we were in Vegas, everything was decorated in honor of the Chinese New Year. The gigantic rabbit above had a mechanical tail that would wag.

where did ben and i spend last weekend?

2011-01-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

Vegas!

Ben parent's planned a trip to Hawaii with a stopover in Vegas. Fortunately they invited us for the Vegas part. We spent the weekend at the Palazzo, saw Jersey Boys and Cirque de Soliel's "O", walked along the strip, and ate wonderful food. Ben and I aren't gamblers, but on our last day I took a spin on the "Wheel of Fortune" twenty five cent slot and won $24.50!

what did ben bring me back from india?

2011-01-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

A set of tea cups and saris. He chose orange and blue because they were our wedding colors.

what do i love about this time of year?

2011-01-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cards. I love to catch up with friends and family during this time of year, especially through holiday cards. It's fun to receive photo cards and see how kids have grown over the past year or hear about family events through holiday letters. The highlights from this year were a photo card from one of my former students (she's now a junior... and still receives straight A's) and a reconnection with a friend from high school. I love the holidays!

where did we spend the holidays?

2011-01-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

In California, with my family. We stayed with Ali & Jon in their "new" guest room, complete with a ribbon at cutting ceremony. Sean and Ryan decorated the door with their awesome artwork. We felt very welcomed when we arrived.

This year all of my siblings were there so we made the most of our time together. My brother threw a surprise 45th anniversary party for my parents, we celebrated Caleb's 4th birthday, Cassie and the sisters got together for a pre-wedding lunch (she & Eddie will marry this summer), we held our annual Janky Yankee gift exchange along with the re-enactment of the nativity and the cousin gift exchange.

This year the adults opted to donate the money we would have normally spent on gifts to a family in need. My dad chose the family and it was such a success, we plan to continue the tradition.

Foster was able to come to California this year as well. Maci, Noah & I drove to California and Ben met us there flying from India. Foster had a great time with his "cousins". Sean and Ryan took great care of him and even bought him Christmas presents! He got a lot of attention and a lot of walks to the park.

While we had a great time in Cali, we are happy to be home! Happy New Year!

what did noah do at bonneville dam?

2010-12-14T11:31:00.000-08:00

Visited Herman the Sturgeon, saw a lot of rainbow trout and played in the energy efficient play house. His favorite part was delivery, retrieving and reading "his" mail.

where did noah take his new shovel?

2010-12-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

To the syncline. We went to see the waterfall and he insisted on taking his shovel. It was a great place to dig around in the rocks. He loved the waterfall and throwing rocks into it.

what did noah do today?

2010-12-11T18:22:00.000-08:00

Joined the crew of a submarine, piloted a chopper, drove a hog, "harvested" hay on a tractor... and oiled his tractor.

what is so great about oregon?

2010-12-10T19:52:00.000-08:00

When you visit a construction site, the construction workers let you climb into the truck and either let you control the machines yourself or operate the machine with you.
Take that California!

Check out more photos here.

what was noah's big adventure today?

2010-12-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

Snow Play! Today was Noah's first time in the snow. Like Foster, he pretty much jumped out of the car and ran straight for the snow. He LOVED it. He made snowballs for Foster, built snowman, (only to chop them down) and tasted snow for the first time. In the end, he did not want to go home. This may have been his first time in the snow, but it's not his last!

what was the eighth night of hanukkah?

2010-12-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

Gift Exchange & Hanukkah Story Re-Enactment.
Normally Ben and I would have a gift exchange and we plan to re-enact the story of Hanukkah when we have children. The tradition stems from my childhood. This year, Ben was on his way to India so, we are postponing our gift exchange. Instead, Noah, Mai-mai, and I made Hanukkah cookies. Noah's favorite part- the sprinkles!

what was the seventh night of hanukkah?

2010-12-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

Game Night.
We don't just play dreidel... we have Hanukkah dominoes and several Hanukkah card games. Although, this year we focused on a puzzle. The puzzle was fitting all of Ben's items in one suitcase for traveling to India. He left today for business and we'll meet up in California in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, Mai-mai and Noah flew up to keep my company while Ben is gone... Party!

what was the sixth night of hanukkah?

2010-12-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

Music Night.
Last year we hosted a Chabad Hanukkah Party. They requested music, so we found a Hanukkah CD at Borders. Unfortunately, Chabad does not allow music with words to be played. Fortunately, we found a CD of Hanukkah music we absolutely love. Even though last night was Music Night, we've been playing this CD all week long.

what was the fifth night of hanukkah?

2010-12-06T20:50:00.001-08:00

Nature Night.
We chose to celebrate with a trip to Mount Hood Meadows for skiing... ah to be out in nature.

what was the fourth night of hanukkah?

2010-12-05T17:17:00.001-08:00

Book Night.
Ben an I spent the day in Portland and went to Powell's Books. You can find anything at Powell's. It's huge... and that was sort of the problem. We went looking for books on India (possible upcoming business trip). We found the books and then decided to pick one each for Book Night... except we couldn't decide. Powell's is so big, if you don't know what you are looking for, you kind of get lost. So, we drove back to Hood River, went into our little bookstore and found our books in no time.

When we got home we found a package in the mail that had this beautifully wrapped present inside from Aunt Gloria & Uncle Bill. In it was a replica of the Old/New Synagogue or Altneushul, that we visited in Prague. It's the oldest synagogue in Europe that still functions as a house of worship... and according to legend some people believe the Golem is still found in the attic.

Bill and Gloria you picked out the perfect gift for us. We spent the most time at this synagogue on our tour. It was our favorite synagogue (you can see Ben standing in front of it) and we are happy to have a beautiful memento as a reminder of our trip. Thank You!

what was the third night of hanukkah?

2010-12-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

Bake and Deliver Night.
When I was little we used to bake a lot. All of us knew how to make chocolate chip cookies by age seven. It was a rite of passage in our house. Around the holidays I remember baking and delivering treats to our friends. This year we made Neiman Marcus cookies, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and threw in the edible dreidels as well.

what was the second night of hanukkah?

2010-12-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

Movie Night!
Even though the idea of movie night was to go out to the movies, we chose to stay in and watch a DVD. We have two theaters in town, but there wasn't anything we wanted to see on the big screen... and to be completely honest our "movie" was actually the HBO series, The Wire. After years of rave reviews we finally broke down and decided to give the series a chance... and we love it!

what was our first night of hanukkah theme?

2010-12-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

Craft Night.
When Ben and I got married and decided we would raise our children Jewish, that meant I would no longer be celebrating Christmas. Instead of giving up the holiday traditions from my childhood, I decided to incorporate them into our celebration of Hanukkah by giving each night of Hanukkah a theme.

For craft night, we made candles for the menorah, space pillowcases for our nephews back east, and edible dreidels to eat. The menorah is one that Ben made when he was little. We had a great first night. Happy Hanukkah!

who loves the snow more than ben and me?

2010-11-30T20:04:00.000-08:00

Foster. He can hardly contain himself when it snows. He literally jumps into the snow and loves to roll around in it. Luckily it's been snowing off and on since last week. Enjoy the pictures from our house!

why do i have a ridiculous grin on my face?

2010-11-28T18:31:00.000-08:00

Ben, Foster and I have spent the past two days cross country skiing at Bennett Pass. As Ben would say, "It's an all you can eat buffet". The conditions have been absolutely amazing! Everything is covered in dry powder snow which is great for skiing. We have skied here several times, but this time we were able to access new areas. Everything is so beautiful when it's covered in snow. The trees and shrubs take on shapes that remind me of animals. It's quite magical.

where did i spend black friday?

2010-11-27T09:27:00.000-08:00

In the kitchen. I made applesauce for Hanukkah presents and a turkey pot pie out of leftover turkey. It was AMAZING! For breakfast this morning we had fresh squeezed orange juice and I made french toast with poached pears and real whipping cream leftover from the pumpkin pie. I love Thanksgiving leftovers!

what was special about this thanksgiving?

2010-11-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

This was the first time we cooked a turkey at our house.

Yes, we have had turkey for Thanksgiving, but this was the first time we cooked one in our home. In the past we have either been away for Thanksgiving or we made a Tofurky. This year we wanted a real bird. We bought our "hen" at Farm Stand. It was a European-style air chilled turkey that grew up on a local farm... and it was delicious!

The rest of our meal included potato-fennel soup from Mousewood, roasted brussel sprouts from Ina Garten, sweet potatoes from Martha Stewart, cornbread- apple- sausage stuffing from Silver Palate (don't worry we use veggie sausage) and a pumpkin pie from Dishing Up Vermont.

We had a delicious meal and a lot to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving!

what happens when my in-laws decide to move?

2010-11-17T15:58:00.000-08:00

We become the recipient of family heirlooms including (but certainly not limited to) old photos, a lot of books, and Ben memorabilia.

After thirty plus years of living in the same house, Ben's parents have sold their family home in Bethesda and are moving to Brant Lake full time. The moving truck and Bob and Jane left today for Brant Lake.

Good Luck on your new adventure!

what thoughtful thank-you gifts did i receive for helping out at little winter?

2010-11-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

A crosscut board from Canoe, a cool canvas pouch from Forest Bound, a tall house ornament from my house party, a darling decal from Shanna, and super chic earrings from sulu.

Thank you Abby & Shanna & Alice & Susan.
You gals rock!

what are we celebrating this weekend?

2010-11-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Ben's Birthday & Foster's Birthday.

We know when Ben was born, but we're not sure about Foster. When we got him from Home at Last in The Dalles, they estimated he was about a year and a half. We decided he would share his birthday with Ben. Foster turned seven this year.

This year I wanted to get Ben actual presents for his birthday as opposed to a mention of a recent purchase as his gift. In the morning I presented him with the "we are so good together" mini mugs. I bought them at Little Winter from Shanna. She collaborated with a Portland based ceramicist to make these beautiful hand crafted cups. Ben loved them! His midday gift was a book from his favorite podcaster and in the evening, along with his chocolate cake, I gave him a card made from this print of Abby's along with cash for a new ski jacket. There is no way I was going to buy him a ski jacket without his input and it's nice to receive crisp hundred dollar bills in an envelope.

For Foster's birthday, he had a steak dinner last night (our scraps) and today we took him to the snow. He loved it!

what amazing event did i have the privilege of attending and assisting with?

2010-11-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

Little Winter- A Handmade Market put on by my amazingly talented sister, Abby and Chelsea of {frolic!}. They brought together twenty vendors from around the country, even a couple from Canada, for a two day sale at The Cleaners at the Portland ACE Hotel. The sale was a huge success. Check out a little video on this blog and photos from the event here.

Congratulations, Abby & Chelsea!

who celebrates their 38th birthday today?

2010-11-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

My sister, Jana.

Jana is the sister that's right above me, which means she's the third child of nine and I'm the fourth. Birth order is a big deal when you come from a family of nine.

I always looked up to Jana when we were growing up. She was definitely the "cool" older sister, especially in high school. I took my first plane ride to visit her when she lived in Texas after I graduated from high school and she took me to my first Cure concert. She was also responsible for connecting me with my nanny job back east.

Jana is the mother of three incredible boys and a second mom to all of their friends. Rarely do you go to Jana's house and not find a brood of teenage boys "hanging out". She is the person who is always there when you need her. Once I was stuck at the Denver airport because of a snowstorm. I made the airline fly me to Texas and called Jana to pick me up for an impromptu week-long visit until the airports back east reopened.

Jana is the sister who makes you feel good, no matter what. She can make you laugh when you don't feel like laughing and she is definitely the life of the party. She's the type of sister and friend that you can pick up right where you left off no matter how much time has passed. Jana is also strong- physically and emotionally. She is one of the most physically fit people I know and can keep it together regardless of what's going on around her (don't you see it in the Santa picture and on her big wheel). She rocks!

We love you, Jana. Happy, Happy Birthday!

what do i love about this time of year?

2010-11-02T20:50:00.001-07:00

The changing weather. Some days it rains. Some days the sun shines. Other days it rains and the sun shines producing the most magnificent rainbows.

what did ben's older sister suggest i be for halloween?

2010-10-31T15:09:00.000-07:00

A pregnant lady!

who celebrates their 31st birthday today?

2010-10-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

My sister, Cassie.

Here she is with her fiance, Eddie, in one of their adorable engagement photos by Wing. Cassie is the seventh child of nine and my sixth sister. When we were young, we used to sleep in the same bed out in "the cave". When I lived back east Cassie came to spend the summer with me. We started the summer with a trip to France to visit our sister Abby and ended the summer with a trip to New York City. We had an incredible time.

A few years later I moved back to California and Cassie graciously invited me to move in with her and her housemates and even found me a job. Eventually the two of us found our own place and started working together at Woodland.

Cassie is super talented. Her passion is acting. She has been in so many plays, I've lost count. She's been in movies and commercials- she even met her fiance while acting... and she teaches drama to elementary school children, full time, at a magnet school in the bay area. You could say she truly "does what she loves".

And she's got an amazing smile that lights up the room (you see it, don't you). Life with Cassie is nothing short of fun. She has an incredible year ahead of her and we wish her the best.

Love you Cassie and Happy Birthday, girl!

what was a favorite place of mine from our trip around the world?

2010-10-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

Cesky Krumlov a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cesky Krumlov, is a little town in the Czech Republic that winds around the Vlatva River and dates back to 1253. We were able to spend our last half-day there before flying to Australia.

The center of town revolves around the State Castle of Cesky Krumlov, one of the largest castles in Europe. It was owned by the same family who owned the Hluboka Castle.

The Cesky Krumlov Castle was much larger and spanned across most of the village. There were several buildings, walkways, lookouts...

and a beautiful garden...

with a fountain.

Like the Hluboka Castle, this castle has a bell tower you can climb. I did not get chance to climb the Hluboka tower...

so I made sure we did not miss this one.

The view from the top was amazing...

especially looking down on the town along the Vltava River. What a magical place.

what did ben and i celebrate on friday?

2010-10-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Four years of marriage. Love was in the air.

From the carrots we found in our garden...

to the inspiring art exhibit we saw at the Portland Art Museum.

who was a guest blogger on ETSY?

2010-09-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

My super talented sister, Abby, of course. Check it out!

where was the last stop on our world tour?

2010-09-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

OAK & SJC, Oakland and San Jose. Although we flew from Brisbane to Los Angeles together, Ben flew home via Oakland and I drove to V-town to visit my family. A few days later I flew home via San Jose, officially ending our trip around the world.

Before flying home and after leaving Pittsworth, we drove to Noosa Heads Beach via Esk and Maleny. A colleague recommended the route, the stops and the destination. What a fantastic recommendation!

Although we stayed two nights we really only had one day at the beach. We made the most of our day by getting up early and taking a morning walk along the beach, followed by a swim in the ocean. Ben's goal for the day was to try Stand Up Paddling (SUP) in the the ocean. Amazingly they were having a SUP demo day at the beach allowing Ben to try as many boards as he wanted for $10. We ate two incredible meals at restaurants on the beach and hiked through Noosa National Park (along the beach). We hiked in the afternoon and into early evening allowing us to see a spectacular sunset. After our hike we returned to our hotel for an evening swim followed by dinner, packing and bed.

When we arrived in Noosa, we contemplated changing our flight and staying longer. Instead we decided to make the best of our one day. When we woke up early the next morning to leave for the airport, it was raining. We were delighted we'd made the best of the day we had.

what did i get for my birthday?

2010-09-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

An Australian speeding ticket.
I was driving 112km in a 100km zone- translation 68mph in a 62mph. The officer was quite pleasant but didn't care that I was American, that it was my birthday, that I didn't really know where I was going, that I was going with the flow of traffic ("truck trains" were passing me), or that I had never received a speeding ticket. Keep in mind that I'm also driving on the wrong side of the road- yes, Australians drive on the left. He handed me the ticket, which wasn't capable of recording my American address, so he put my hotel address, and told me to go to the police station in Pittsworth and pay the fine.

In Australia (where we are staying) to get anywhere you have to travel for miles on country roads. Roads that are two lanes with no islands or shoulders. Roads that aren't quite flat, because the soil is constantly sinking and shifting, and full of potholes. Oh, any every other car is actually a truck- a big rig, a truck train (as Australians call them) coming straight at you. It's harrowing. Top that off with the paranoia of getting pulled over for driving faster than 100km (which I have not since receiving my ticket) and I no longer enjoy driving. Driving a rental car without cruise control doesn't help.

Anyway, the speeding ticket wasn't the only thing I received for my birthday. When I arrived at my birthday hotel room- with a view of Toowoomba- two flower bouquets were waiting for me. On was from my "favourite" husband and the other from my "mum" and dad. Don't you love the Aussies?

what is so great about my mom?

2010-08-31T22:14:00.000-07:00

She's got the "force" with her. She knows what to say and when to say it. She sees the best in everyone and everything. She knows everything will be ok.. and I love her for it!
Thanks, Mom.

why am i taking a break from posting?

2010-08-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

Received some sad news about the passing of a family friend. Ben and I are fine and our families are fine... just taking some time to mourn. Sending comfort to those we love and care about. See you soon.

what was amazing about the one room school?

2010-08-26T23:17:00.000-07:00

That it was in use until 1959. My guide, Trevor, attended a one room school and so did his children in the 1980's! Inside Broxburn State School there were photos of many other one room schools along with school newspapers and yearbooks. If you look closely at the desks you can see the slot for the slates (Trevor used slate and slate pencils) and the hole for the ink.

what were the highlights of the centenary cottage?

2010-08-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

The bedroom, the handmade mini organ, the wood burning stove, the oven, the kitchen scale, the old fashioned iron, and the dining room. A charming and beautiful cottage circa 1895.

what exhibits are housed in the old post office?

2010-08-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

An exhibit on the history of lace and a collection lace pieces, clothing and tools and an exhibit about the great Australian runner from Pittsworth, Arthur Postle. He broke several world records and was known as "The Crimson Flash".

The Pittsworth Post Office building was in operation until 1987 when it was moved to Pioneer Village and replaced by a more modern building in town- quote a building that's not so cold in the winter.

where's the fifth stop on our world tour?

2010-08-25T03:43:00.001-07:00

BNE-Brisbane, aka the gateway back home. Technically we are three hours west of Brisbane, in the small town of Pittsworth.

Today I visited the Historical Village at Pioneer Park. Trevor, a retired farmer, was my personal guide because there were no other visitors. The hours posted are 10:00am-1:00pm. I didn't leave the museum until 1:30pm. Below are pictures of the buildings I visited. I took so many pictures and learned a lot about Pittsworth, I decided to post the buildings today and will follow up later with pictures of artifacts from each building.

where's the fourth stop on our world tour?

2010-08-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

SIN- Singapore Airport, aka the gateway to Australia.

Tuesday we left our little village of Hluboka for Cesky Krumlov (above) a UNESCO World Heritage Site (I'll post more later). After a short visit there, we drove to the Prague Airport.

From Prague we flew to London, where we informed we needed a visa to enter Australia and we wouldn't be sitting next to each other. Luckily we were able to purchase a visa at the airport and a super competent ticket agent was able to seat us next to each other (with an aisle). From there we flew to Singapore and finally arrived in Australia, only to discover our luggage only made it as far as London. For some reason, it didn't phase us. We'd been flying for 28 hours and hadn't slept in a bed for two days, so missing luggage wasn't a big deal. We've lost luggage before and know it's always delivered the next day.

Finally we made it to Pittsworth, our "home" for the next two weeks. Our luggage arrived, we are getting over our jetlag and learning to drive on the wrong side of the road. Stay tuned!

PS What do you think of our luggage? That's all we have for traveling around the world for 36 days.

why didn't i post yesterday?

2010-08-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

We spent the day in Prague.

We covered a lot in a short time.

We visited museums on both sides of the river.

Ate delicious homemade pasta for lunch at a restaurant along the river.

Walked through the city and crossed the Charles Bridge.

Marveled at the amazing architecture.

Wished we could stay longer.

which museum did i visit yesterday?

2010-08-14T04:49:00.000-07:00

The Ales South-Bohemian Gallery.

The museum is located in the former Riding Hall of the Hluboka Chateau. It houses one of the most famous and most extensive collections of Gothic painting and sculpture in the Czech Republic.
During my visit, I was the only person in the museum (I think it had something to do with being right next to the castle).

It was nice to have the museum to myself. I spent a lot of time in the first hall that contained a collection of beautiful Gothic Madonnas carved out of wood. Pictures are not allowed in the museum (these photos were taken from their website) so I took time trying to commit the beautiful pieces to memory.

It's not that I'm a huge fan of Madonnas, but more the style of art- the carved wood, the paint colors, and the human depiction. They were breathtaking. The other halls contained a Karel Zlin exhibit and Dutch paintings from the 16th-18th century. I loved the museum.

Here are a few photos of Hluboka from my walk down from the castle.

I'm kind of falling in love with this city.

what was the drumming i heard from my window?

2010-08-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

The Great Medieval Knights Tournament of the Horses parading through town to advertise their afternoon show at the Hluboka Chateau.

Yesterday I heard drumming outside my window. I thought it was a street performer, the kind I used to hear in the city, but the drumming began to get louder and I realized the drummer was in motion. I looked out my window and saw the parade just as it was leaving. Today when I heard the drumming, I ran downstairs to see the parade up close. That's when the horses stopped, one of the knights announced the show, while other performers handed out flyers.

how much did lunch cost?

2010-08-12T03:17:00.000-07:00

9 crowns or 48 cents.

When Abby studied abroad in France, Cassie and I went to visit. One of the great things about our visit is that we knew a "local". Abby had lived there for a year and knew the places to visit and ways to take advantage of the local offerings. One thing she taught me was to go to the grocery store and buy fresh ingredients for lunch. Hotels provide amazing breakfasts and it's a treat to go out to dinner, but making your own lunch from fresh bread, local cheese, and fresh fruit can't be beat... and it's inexpensive.

Thanks, Abby. I wish you were here.

what big adventure did i have today?

2010-08-11T05:26:00.000-07:00

Touring the Hluboka Chateau. Originally the chateau was a 13th century guarding castle built in the Gothic style. During the 16th century it was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau. The Schwarzenberg's bought the chateau in 1661 and kept it in the family until they emigrated overseas to escape the Nazis. They rebuilt the chateau twice- once in the Baroque style and later in the neo-Gothic style. Click here for more on the history of the chateau.

Inside the courtyard. Unfortunately they would not allow pictures inside the chateau. You'll have to enjoy the photos taken of the exterior.

where's the third stop on our world tour?

2010-08-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

PRG-the Czech Republic, aka gateway to Australia.
Originally, we thought we'd be staying in Prague. A few days before we left, work plans changed and we decided to stay in Hluboka nad Vltavou, a little village two hours outside Prague.

This is the inside of the church you see in the photo above.

The church is located across the street from our hotel.

This morning we ran along the river and walked through the village.

There's a common theme in the Soviet artwork around the village.

Here's a sneak peak of tomorrow's adventure.

where's the second stop on our world tour?

2010-08-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

LHR- London, Heathrow, aka the gateway to the Czech Republic.

We left New York Sunday night and flew overnight to London.

We had a short layover in London, just enough time to buy power adapters and have a breakfast at Wagamama.

Then we took a flight to Prague- PRG, where we will stay until next Tuesday.

what's the best thing about hiking at brant lake?

2010-08-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

Our guide is an expert. Ben's dad, Bob, is an incredible hiker and guide. He knows where to hike to avoid the crowds and enjoy the best views. Here he points out the names of the peaks to Ben.

Ben and I at the top of Hopkins.

In addition to being an expert at guiding, Bob is also quite fast. Here were are at the beginning of the trail. Notice how we are all together. By the end of the hike, he was at the car relaxing long before the rest of us. Thanks for the great hike, Bob!

what's it like when ben travels with me?

2010-08-07T08:59:00.000-07:00

This.

All he has to do is push a button (me) and everything he needs to know appears magically in front of him.

where's the first stop on our world tour?

2010-08-03T13:54:00.001-07:00

ALB- Albany Airport, aka the gateway to Brant Lake.

Yes, we are traveling around the world for work and sightseeing. Our first stop is Brant Lake. Here, we are vacationing. We will be here for a week. On Sunday we will leave for the Czech Republic. After a week and a half we will fly to Australia. After Australia, we will return home. Our entire trip will last 36 days. Stay tuned!

how is foster keeping cool this summer?

2010-07-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

By relaxing in the hole he dug for himself.

what's great about living in the pacific northwest?

2010-07-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Fresh salmon (meaning caught in the morning and eaten the same night)...

fresh strawberries (so fresh they don't leave Hood River) with homemade challah french toast...

and blanket flowers from my own garden.

why haven't i posted lately?

2010-07-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

We have been busy enjoying our summer. The weather has been amazing. It's almost spring- like. It hasn't been too hot or too cold. The wind has been blowing and being outside is a pleasure. We've been spending a lot of time in the garden (I'll post about that soon) and I started my master's program. We will be going to Brant Lake in a week a half and Australia after. Below are some photos of a recent hike to Wahclella Falls. Hope you are enjoying your summer.

how did we spend our independence day weekend?

2010-07-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

With a trip to the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds.

We woke up early Saturday morning and drove three hours to the park.

We used Google maps for directions and although we saw beautiful wildflowers...

old barns...

and windmills the size of the Statue of Liberty, the last hour of the drive was along a dirt road.

But we followed the directions exactly and made it.

We arrived early, before the crowds.

The hills appear painted- a result of volcanic sediment and erosion.

There are many trails throughout the park to view the hills.

Our favorite was the Carroll Rim Trail. The trail ascends a few hundred feet in elevation and overlooks the entire area.

Painted Hills weren't the only thing to see at the park.

We had a great day.

On the fourth we went to Maryhill for windsurfing, but it was too windy. We picnicked and hung out at the beach instead. We ended the day with a delicious summer fruit crostata.

what exciting news did i receive this morning?

2010-07-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

I've been accepted to the Graduate Program at Concordia University in Portland. I plan to earn a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction with a Reading Specialist Strand. I start mid-July. Can't wait!

who celebrates their 41st birthday today?

2010-06-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

My sister, Allison.

Allison (Ali) is the second child of nine. The photo of her husband, Jon, and her was taken at the beach during my 25th birthday / family reunion. She snapped many photos throughout that weekend (along with my other sisters) and compiled the shots into a beautiful photo album. All the photos are black and white. Each page has one photo with simple accented borders. It's my favorite photo album. It also contains the most recent family photo-yes it is ten years old, but we haven't managed a family photo since.

Ali is amazing. She's been a mentor to me throughout my life. She introduced me to Monet. She was the first person to take me to the Getty. She (technically Jon) was the first person to employ me. She was the first person to take me to Hawaii. She always opens her home to Ben and me when we travel to v-town. She is the best.

She has four incredible boys. First she had Chris (the artist) & Nate (the mechanic) and ten years later she had Ryan (junior artist) and Sean (too young to tell- prediction-architect). Her boys are a hoot and we always have a great time when we're together.

Ali and Jon are a perfect example of a great marriage. They work together. They are true partners. They look out for another. They are fabulous parents.

Happy Birthday, Ali!
Love you so much.

what happens when i get a yearning for a road trip?

2010-06-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

We take one.

I was itching for a new hike and a road trip.

We got up early Saturday morning, drove to Terrebonne, Oregon...

and hiked around at Smith Rock State Park.

Here I am inside a hole. The next photo is what I saw from the hole.

They call this formation Monkey Face. Do you see it?

After our hike, we drove to Bend and had a delicious lunch at Chow.

Yummy, in season, organic food.

Some of it came straight from their garden.

what's the reward for waking up at 5:00am to hike?

2010-06-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Glorious views of Mount Hood...

and Mount Adams.

what did ben and i have for dessert?

2010-06-23T17:42:00.000-07:00

Homemade ice cream sandwiches.

Perfect for summer... don't you think?

where did ben and i have breakfast?

2010-06-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

Underneath high voltage lines on the Deschutes Trail.

Ben and I got up early this morning and went for a hike.

When we reached the top of the trail we had a breakfast of fresh fruit, homemade bread with Bonne Maman preserves, boiled eggs and orange juice.

Foster wasn't interested in food... he just wanted a stick.

We huddled near patches of tall prairie grass to protect us from the wind.

Ben was pretty satisfied with his hike and tasty breakfast.

what's great about growing your own flowers?

2010-06-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Having your own cutting garden.

Our roses are finally in bloom and this particular variety is super fragrant. The colors are vibrant and the scent is amazing. They also look great in this Simon Pearce vase we received as a wedding gift.

how did you get from the city to the train station in emeryville?

2010-06-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

By bus. When I recently went to California, I flew to San Francisco first to hang out with my dear friend, Kelly and my sister, Cassie. From there I took the train to Fresno where I met Ben. The funny thing about Amtrak is that you can't catch a train in the city. You have to travel by bus to the train station in Emeryville.

I boarded the bus at the Cal Train station and traveled along Market Street...

down past the piers...

to a stop at the Ferry Building...

and finally across the Bay Bridge to Emeryville. It was a beautiful day in the city!

what happens when you take sean and ryan to the beach?

2010-06-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

They make sand soup and sandcastles.

Sean is very serious when it comes to making sand soup.

He found the "perfect" soup spoon, used just the right amount of sand and stirred a lot.

His soup was perfect.

Ryan concentrated on making sandcastles.

He shaped and molded the sand just so. He made sure he added just enough water.

We had a great day at the beach!

what did i find under my bedroom door when i was staying at ali and jon's?

2010-06-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

Two envelopes addressed to me.

One was a card...

and the other was a picture with hearts.

where have i been for the past two weeks?

2010-06-12T20:12:00.000-07:00

In California celebrating Nate's Graduation.
(I also took a detour to San Francisco & San Luis... more on that later.)

To celebrate Nate's Graduation, we has a party for him the Saturday before graduation. We played "Nate Bingo"- notice the cards in the foreground.

We made "Nate Flags" using the picture Chris painted of Nate in his cap and gown.

Ali decorated with handmade celebratory signs.

It was a great party.

The Monday after the party was Nate's graduation ceremony.

We are so proud of him! Congratulations, Nate!

what happens when pete and alex visit ben at work?

2010-05-29T19:25:00.000-07:00

They look at things under a microscope,

manipulate drawings in Solid Works,

go inside an old Navy airplane,

try out Ben's unusual office chairs,

and measure.

what happens when aunt lindee gets to be in charge of alex and pete for the day?

2010-05-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

We hike along the Deschutes River.

Climb over the fence instead of walking around.

Play with HUGE beetles.

Watch trains go by.

Climb on wagons.

Throw sticks for Foster in the Columbia River.

Watch Foster retrieve the sticks.

Chase each other through the Stonehenge War Memorial.

Do arts and crafts at the Dalles Dam.

Have a lot fun.

what exciting event happened today?

2010-05-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ben and I got to race (as passengers) up and down the Maryhill Loops Road in Mini Coopers.

This morning Ben and I wanted to hike along the Maryhill Loops Road. Normally it is closed to cars and the only way to access the road is on foot. Today the Puget Sound Mini Motoring Club rented the road so they could race up and down. When Ben and I showed up and saw the parking lot full of Minis we asked what was going on and were immediately invited to ride as passengers. Here I am with Gina. I rode up in her Mini and Ben rode down with her.

Ready, Set, Go!

The beginning...

the middle...

the end. What an amazing ride!

where did pete and i go today?

2010-05-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

To feed the alpacas at Cascade Alpacas.

The alpacas are sort of famous... well at least they have been on TV. See them here in an American Express commercial and here in an interview with Jane Pauley that aired on the Today show.

how did we spend our last night with abby & james?

2010-05-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

Eating sushi (Austin may not have any), hanging out at the Florida Room photo booth, saying goodbye to their friends and eating our last black and tan brownie at the Kennedy School.

Good Luck Abby & James! We will miss you terribly. See you in Austin!

how were the last two days at mt. hood meadows?

2010-05-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Fantastic! This was the last weekend of the season at Mount Hood Meadows and we were able to ski with the Olhavas! They flew into town Friday night and were up early Saturday morning ready to ski.

Alex experienced his first ski lift ride...

and "spanked" Buttercup.

Pete was the hit of the kiddie parade with the infamous snowball maker.

The sun was shining and the mountain was out.

We had an amazing season!!

what happens when three boys try to fit into one cozy coupe?

2010-05-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

Chaos.
A friend of mine has three boys. Two are two and one in three- it's a bit like having triplets. When one of them wants the Cozy Coupe- they all want the Cozy Coupe. It was pretty funny.

Here's the oldest, remembering what it was like before the twins arrived.

The twins duke it out.

Lars wins.

what amazing event did i get to help my sister with last weekend?

2010-05-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

Crafty Wonderland's Super Colossal Spring Sale at the Oregon Convention Center. Two hundred artists and crafters from the Northwest and beyond set up shop for two days to sell their items. Of course my sister Abby sold her amazing photos in print form, on cards, as stickers and on bookmarks. I was honored to help her set up shop and sell her items on Saturday. She had a booth right near the entrance where her fans from all over came by to meet her and purchase her amazing art.

The photos I took of her photos don't do her work justice. Please check out her blog to see her work & if you love her prints (like I do) they are all on clearance now until May 9th when she will close her shop for a few weeks because James and she are moving to Austin. Ben and I very sad to see them go, but we are happy for their new adventure.

PS If you love Abby's work and act fast (today is the last day), you can enter a giveway at poppy & leo of Abby's prints, bookmarks and card sets. Good Luck!

why am i posting a picture of a doll head?

2010-05-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

Because I found it in my yard. Ben and I have been doing a lot of yard work lately. We've been clearing the massive amounts blackberry bushes (before you judge- they are invasive and take over everything in their path). As we dig up the roots and move the earth around, we find crazy things- watch bands, bones, action figures, glass, metal. This past weekend I found the doll head. It's the creepiest thing I have dug up by far.

what will fifteen dollars get in you in hood river?

2010-05-03T14:09:00.000-07:00

Three Blanket Flower,

two crawling Vinca,

a palate of Sedum,

five Wild Strawberry,

and six tomato plants.

what did i do in honor of earth day?

2010-04-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

Made a quilt using fabric scraps.

Instead of throwing out my scraps of fabric from previous quilts, I decided to cut them into useful strips.

I sewed the strips together.

Cut the sewn strips into squares.

Sewed the squares together... et voila!