Update on the Kitties- March 18, 2008

We showed you pictures of our latest additions, Clyde (orange) and Frieda (black), when we got them in November. They are growing fast and are very entertaining. The have track meets throughout the house (usually around our bedtime) and are constantly with each other. These pics show that they are just regular cats who lay around and sleep about 23 hours a day! And Clyde always gets his way!

A Second Time Around the Block- March 2008
We have met so many people and feel so welcomed in Portland...although we did not move into Portland until last summer, we feel like we are talking our second trip around the block. We are also enjoying an early spring...


...in fact, Stephen mowed the lawn last week, the earliest ever for us. There are blossoming trees and bushes and we have begun to plan our gardens and transplant a few shrubs and plants. The growing season starts in February and we are very excited about getting down and dirty in the yard. Check out this link http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenristau/Spring2008InPortland for some early signs of spring in your yard and in our immediate neighborhood.

We apologize for the absence of new blogs but what can we say... we have been busier this year than last (READ: WORK!!) and, besides, we think there are only three of you out there who actually read this stuff! But for you three, we will try to do a better job of keeping up with it. Check out past blogs beginning in December as we have added some stuff. We know the pictures tell a great stort about this great part of the world.

We received great news last week that Hartford friends, Ted and Jane Carroll, will visit us this summer and we are hoping that the rest of you plan to visit us as well.

We are very excited that our niece Jenna (it's still on, right, Russell??!!) will be getting married next month and we will be back in CT for her wedding and have a chance to visit with family and friends...until next time...thanks to the 3 who read this!!!!


And ask me to tell you about Susan's training to do a triathalon this summer... really!!!!!

One Year and Counting... February 2008

February 1 marked our first anniversary in Oregon...about six months at the cabin and six months at our new home in Portland. It has been an awesome year!!!!

Year two is a little different as we have had to "apply" ourselves (don't you remember getting in trouble in grade school for not "applying" yourself?!!!!) That means "work" which Stephen says is over-rated!!! Both of us have returned to paid employment but we are definitely working to live and not living to work... by the way, for those of you who don't know, ask Susan what she is doing for work these days.

Stephen has been enjoying his consulting work with Libraries for the Future (http://www.lifelonglibraries.org/) and with the California State Library http://www.library.ca.gov/lds/tlaf.html, and continues to volunteer and do spiritual direction, a nice mix for him. And along the way, we return to the mountain, take hikes in Forest Park and get to a few basketball games. Check this out... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenristau/YearTwoInOregonBegins

A Visit from the Boys...and their Girls... Christmas 2007- New Years 2008

We were thrilled that Ben and Aris and their girlfriends, Cheyenne and Stacie, came to spend the holidays with us. We had a great time with them all and especially appreciated meeting Cheyenne for the first time in person.

We had our fill of eating and drinking and even exercizing throughout Portland, at the cabin, and on Mt. Hood. Check out these pics... http://picasaweb.google.com/stephenristau/ChristmasVisit