Cape Cod Sunset

Christmas Cactus Blooms

Turkey day helper

Here is a picture of Orin's first lesson

on rolling pigs in a blanket.

Already a pro.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Castle building at Baba's

3 and 1/2!

Might as well make a fuss about it.

Exactly the same

Today I took Paley to the vet 

where we weighed her on the big scale in the 

waiting room. Then we weighed Orin. The result:

32.4 pounds of both puppy and boy.

I have a feeling that this will be a fleeting period,

yielding, of course, to the years where Paley will outweigh Orin.

Eventually, however, they will likely weigh the same again

for the short time before Ori passes Paley.

Soaking up the last of fall

Red and Green at the Cranberry Bog

Up, up, up

It's a bird.... it's a plane...

Beans for breakfast

Ever since Candace made me a delicious bean breakfast

in Oregon I have been hooked.

Here is our Sunday breakfast:

eggs, black beans, scallions, yellow squash, and sweet potato.

No more mid-day energy slumps.

Yummy!

The fattest squirrel in the universe

This squirrel takes the concept of storing food for the winter

to a whole new level.

Notice that he is actually wider than our "squirrel-proof" bird feeder.

Where she likes to be

Paley has gotten into the habit of parking herself

right underneath the kitchen sink

every time I am cooking.

Although it is terribly annoying and I end up tripping over

her multiple times per meal prep,

it is cute that she has decided she wants to be near her people,

so I have yet to try to discourage her.

Hidden Egg

The other day we walked past a rhododendron

and Rowan noticed this nest

and perfect egg-shaped rock nestled at the base.

King Tree

First day back home

and we are already up to new adventures.

Today Colleen and I went to see the King Tree,

a 100 year old weeping beech tree in Yarmouth.

I couldn't get close to accurately capturing this tree

in the picture...

its huge branches hang down to the ground 

and then run horizontally

forming a web around you when you stand beneath it. 

The most beautiful day ever

Guess Oregon saved its best for last...

on our hike in the Gorge today

the weather was pristine...

bright sun contrasted with a beautiful blue haze hanging

over the Columbia and an orange sunset.

After the hike we all met up for dinner at Por Que No

(best Mexican food ever)

and then went to Mississippi studios

to see a local band play.

I couldn't have asked for more.

Tomorrow I hop on a plane

and again have to say goodbye to this place I love so much...

goodbye for now.

Oregon City!

Today I went to Oregon City to meet up with the family

over a delicious dinner at Sheree's house.

Of course, I got so caught up in catching up 

that I forgot to take pictures,

so instead here is Candace and I on a hike in the gorge.

It was great to see everyone in Oregon City,

Orin is going to be so happy to get to hang out with his cousin

Dorian in August

who has long left the baby stage and is a ton of fun.

Not to mention I got to see Steven and Sarah 

who recently tied the knot.

Congrats guys!

Ms Jess and the Other Redhead

Today Jess and I met up for an afternoon

of coffee, catch-up, and Cosmos.

(Jess is so obsessed with Cos she would have it no other way)

Despite the fact that he is clearly miserable in this picture

he cheered up quickly and we had a great time.

Wahkeena Waterfalls

Muddy in Ecola State Park

Today we went on a hike on the coast. 

It poured almost the whole time (in typical Oregon fashion)

but it hardly mattered.

With good company and amazing views of the Pacific,

it is not hard to ignore the rain.

Leaves!

Today Candace, Sarah Lee, and I went to Hood River

for lunch and coffee before back-tracking to the gorge for a hike.

The fall leaves were beautiful and the hike we went on brought us

all the way up the side of the gorge for a great view.

Smiles in the morning

This morning I woke up to Cosmos in all his glory.

Because he was not interested in sleep anymore at 6am

(but, it should go without saying, his parents were)

and I was already awake, my body telling me it was 9am,

Cos and I walked about the city together and watched the sun come up.

It was a lovely start to a great day.

Off to Portland!

Today I headed back to Portland for a week long visit with friends

(I have had just a touch of home-sickness since moving to the Cape).

I arrived at the Portland airport with a small suitcase of my clothes in 

one hand and a large suitcase containing my mother's foldable bike in the other. 

At Logan, I was probably the only person with a foldable bike,

but a sign on the wall let me know that here in Portland

I was just part of the crowd.

Oh it feels good to be back!

Winter preparations

Just some last minute trim work.

Have I mentioned how awesome it is to have a husband who knows

how to do everything?

Love you Case!

Orin-in-a-box

Stranger

You might think this is Trouble

and that I already posted this picture

but, no, this is some other neighborhood cat

drawn to our house by the alluring catnip.

I have visions of the future when this plant is more mature

luring cats from miles away...

swarms of cats bumbling around our yard high

asking for Meow Mix and milk.

Maybe this plant wasn't such a good idea after all.

Insulating the Coop!

Growing like a weed

An unusual napping place

Boston Smiles

Fall trails

This afternoon we headed out to explore a new trail,

one that weaved through the woods,

passed a couple ponds covered in fall leaves,

and then ran along a slice made by the powerlines.

Despite the fact that it was right next to the powerlines

the trail was beautiful and the day even better.

Yeah 60 degrees and sunny!