Abigail Visits Oregon- July 2011

Our niece Abigail made her second trip (first alone!) to Oregon and we have been going non-stop. Here are a couple videos from the past two days- the first from her hike with aunt Soo in the Gorge (Angel's Rest) and the second at the coast (Cascade Head) where the hills were alive when we "got that puss off our face." You had to be there ...but it started with the two teens at the ice cream shop who had pusses on their faces!

Here are some additional pics from Cascade Head...

Another NW Natural Landmark- Mt. St. Helens- July 2011

On the 30th year after the historic eruption of 1981, we visited Mt. St. Helens in Washington. The active volcano has been preserved as a national monument so that nature can continue to do its thing. Although it blew its top off, it still is 8600' with a crater in the center and steady glacial activity raising the mountain everyday. The heavy snowfalls this year mean that the snow melt is about a month behind schedule. Up and up we climbed...

and the views were spectacular.... Mt. Hood to the south...

Mt. Adams in a cloud to the east...

More Mt. Adams across the lava fields...

Wild heather growing in the lava rock...

And check out this video of Tess "glissading" down the mountain slopes. It's a ball and cuts the time of the return trip significantly!

DIY- Risty Builds a Wall- July 2011

With lots of forethought and planning, and a little help from my friends, phase 1 of the front yard retaining wall project was begun this weekend. Here's a BEFORE look at the front...

the beginning foundation...

done for the day...

and relaxing with my neighborhood helper.

Stay tuned for further updates and phase 2 next year!

Red Sox Nation in Pittsburgh- June 2011

It doesn't happen very often although when the Red Sox play the Pirates, it's usually important like when they played in the first-ever World Series (guess who won? Yep, Sox!)

We came from all parts- Alex and Adam from Massachusetts, Jason drove down from NE with Aris and Ray, and we joined Pittsburgh-native friend Paul Nussbaum and his family for some of the national past-time. The Bucs didn't disappoint the locals in gorgeous PNC Park as they won 2 out of 3 keeping hope eternal that they will finally finish above .500, maybe even compete for the division title.

We had some male bonding at Ben and Chey's place, enjoyed lots of laughs...

and even did some yard beautification, like this new pathway in their front yard.