It Won't Fit

A Fly-in BBQ sponsored by T.J. Beck Insurance (Canby) last night.

Our first beautiful 80' day filled with sunshine, no wind, no humidity.

The host's little airstrip is just south of us about 5 miles (air) back towards Molalla.

A fantastic BBQ evening spent amongst neighbors, friends, local yokels.

We even won a prize. (for our noseart! lol)

Warbird Best in Show

The above was in lieu of packing - for the trip - on Saturday -leaving at 6:15am!

Thankfully, most of the gifts will get delivered at our second stop in Goteberg (Gothenberg) Sweden. The checked bag contains most of my gifts along with my emergency food.
The suitcase that gets checked is not closing easily. But I will prevail.
My other carry-on and gigantic 'purse' are not communicating either.
We've got less than 36 hours to make these bags close easily.

Doing two loads of wash - some of which also needs to be contained.

Tuesday, I did a vitamin push. B vitamins as well as C, magnesium, & some others were shot into my arm via I-V. I am hoping this helps me navigate the stress of traveling, of not being on my regular schedule, remembering to eat and what time is it anyway.
We start our trip in St. Paul (2 hrs ahead), then proceed to Gothenberg (9 hrs from Oregon which makes it 7 from MN?). Helsinki is another hour ahead and is it any wonder I am confused already?

I am totally enamored of my new smart phone. It knows the time.

My Galaxy Skyrocket talked to my travel e-mails and put together a calender of airplane tickets, times, gates, conf. #'s under the TripIt app. At one glance, I can see all the seat assignments, & travel info.
They say you can load all the e-tickets onto the smart phone and the gate-checker at the airport just scans the barcode showing on your smart phone.
For me, pressure makes my fingers fatter and I would never be able to find the right bar-coded screen in a timely manner (let alone for two people). We are bringing along the file folder of e-tickets.

I forget what the purple flowers are - some bulbs I planted years ago that bloom purple right in time for the 4th.
The orangy-red are Lychnis which sky rockets up. I cut it back and it does it again.

Norseman

So Much To Do, So Little Time

Leaving in about a week for the big trip through Sweden & Finland.
So much to do, so little time.

Most of my day is spent communing with my new Smart Phone. Somehow by osmosis, I will become smarter. So far the phone is winning. Actually, I get most of the mini-computer-ness of it all - it's the phone function that defeats me.

The garden is planted - tomatoes, peas, nasturtiums, little tiny pumpkins, butternut squash, cukes - all things that can survive whatever life throws at them. Things that don't need to be babied while we are gone. Glorious red and orange Poppies that will re-seed for another blazing year.

A quick plane ride on a hot & humid afternoon- escaping to the clear coolness at 1000 feet above.

I've been sewing, going to garage sales, working the day job, as per usual -with no photo documentation. Thus - no blogging.

Working on;  My luggage isn't big enough. I still need a semi-dressy outfit, another pair of comfy but dressier shoes. I'd like a hoodie with a zipper down the front- for weather predicaments but haven't found them in the stores I have checked. I have a great blue flowered one but it's gotten a little snug. Is it too much to hope for to find something beyond athletic black or grey?
One of the most useful apps on my new Smart Phone is the 'Memo'.
I am busy making lists. I love it.

Rusty

 
I'm down to one dog now, Rusty is his name.
For over  ten years now, he's been an energetic puppy.
He's got some arthritis in his right shoulder that gives him trouble.

Fetching - his main thought (some may say his only thought) in his brain - puts strain on that shoulder when he reaches or pounces for his ball. We've had to put him on a fetching diet. Three slow rolls of less than 10 feet and that's it.

In the  morning, I let him out to do his business and then we have a quiet-time routine.
He comes back into the garage and I cover him with an old quilt, give him a treat and he sleeps for another hour.

This is a dog who was too hyper to dress-up and would eat any clothes we tried to put him in.
By comparison, his buddy, Rocket, adored dressing up.

So odd to see him snuggling under the covers now.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

June.     Oregon.     Hood Strawberries.

Because I couldn't resist.


My second child is graduating college tomorrow.
We're having a tailgate party prior to the pat-downs and the looks-like-it-might-take-awhile graduation ceremony.
First Lady Michelle Obama is speaking.

My son is graduating.
Both my children have earned college degrees. I am unbelievably proud.
This was my hope.
To have it realized brings me to tears.


I am bringing Strawberry Shortcake. The Hood Strawberries are cut and sugared. The chocolate covered strawberries have their beautiful coats on. I still need to make the shortcakes. It's all coming together.

Naked Bike Riding

Proudly stolen from random internet site

This Saturday, June 16th, is the Portland Naked Bike Ride.
By chance I saw this a few years back, purely by accident.

Holy Tamale!

Hope they have insurance for important body parts.

My Kids Have Grown Up

My beautiful daughter with her fairy godmother.

Off to Ketchikan to work for the summer.