Cannon Beach

Saturday afternoon stroll on the beach.

Enjoying the view together.

Sunday morning walk.

Hiking from Indian Beach to Tillamook Head.

After going up and up and up, this is the view we got.

The fog broke a little, so we could tell we were on the edge of a cliff.

Some good views on the way down.

Sea creatures at low tide.

Tides coming in.

Daniel and I had a very nice trip to the Oregon Coast this weekend. We stayed at a hotel right on the beach and had a view of the ocean. We took a few long walks on the beach, sat in the hot tub and sauna, ate a great dinner and a delicious crab lunch, had a few rounds of clam chowder, went on a hike, and explored haystack rock at low tide. On the drive to the coast, I got a text message that Kennedy was born. Exciting, another niece!

Kennedy Lindsey Nuttbrock

Big Sister Chloe

Kennedy - Looks huge to me.

Chloe and Kennedy

CELEBRATE!!!

Yeah! Daniel has had several interviews in the last week and a half. The word started to be passed around that he was looking for a job and he got a few calls for jobs he didn't even apply for. He had been interviewing for a couple long term substitute positions, while teachers were off for a semester or a quarter, and part time positions. He interviewed for a couple positions in the Portland School District, which is great, less of a commute then those jobs in the suburbs. Yesterday he got a call about a full time high school position in Portland as a literacy coach. He interviewed this morning and got a job offer this afternoon. No papers are signed yet, but it looks like he got a job. If all works out, it looks like it was a perfect plan...he got unemployment for the summer and then a job in a high school (which he prefers to middle school) and close to home (which of course he also prefers). He says it's a bike ride away. Yippee!!

We are also celebrating our 4th anniversary this weekend in Cannon Beach. We are staying Saturday night at a nice place right on the ocean, with a pool, hot tub, and sauna. Yippee for that too!!

Good times....

Some pictures from the BBQ and party Daniel put together on Saturday. We went to the Portland Adult Box Car Derby on Mt. Tabor in the morning and early afternoon and then started cooking the beef heart and jerk pork about 1:30pm. It was nice to see old friends from Seattle and meet new friends in Portland. We danced and stayed up until 2:00am.

The Harvest

Daniel and I opened a jar of the beets I pickled. They were good, even though they were a little heavy on the cloves. Next time I will use a mix of whole all spice and whole clove, instead of all clove. So far, I think I am figuring out this pickling thing. We also ate some of the corn that we have been growing, it was very tasty.

Delicious

The bread and butter pickles I made are delicious. Daniel and I opened a jar last night to snack on.

The Garden

My garden doesn't look as good after the 107 degree weather a few weeks ago, but it is still chuggin' along and starting to recover from such hot weather. It is still providing lots of pickling cucumbers to pickle and zucchini to eat. The tomatoes are starting to get ripe and we have been able to eat several from the plants. There is lots of corn on the stalks, although I am not sure how to tell when it is ready to pick. The sage remains strong, but the cilantro didn't make it through the hot weather, it started to bolt, as did the several kinds of lettuce we have. Even, the new blueberry bushes produced a small handful of berries. Not only do we get produce from our garden, but our neighbor often brings a box of goods by from their garden as well. Last night I cooked a whole box of beets from the neighbor and I'm going to work on pickling them today.

85 Years!!!

My grandma is oh so special to me. Always showering me with love and warmth for as long as I can remember. She turned 85 years old on Saturday. Can you image living 85 whole years, all the experiences, memories, and stories to share. All the ways the world changes around you. On Saturday we had a birthday party for her...a tea party. I think it went well.

Fern, Linda, Violet (Grandma)

Sarah (not me), Donna, and Ted with Uncle Wayne and Mom in Background


Grandma looking out her old bedroom window (now my office).

Trouble keeping up

It's hard to find the time to blog. I meant to blog during our vacation in June and found the time once to start a post, but then had computer difficulties and was unable to finish it. We had a great trip to Minnesota to visit with Daniel's family. We got to celebrate Leslie's high school graduation and say good-bye to the Aaker Family Farm.

Lucy and Beckett (with his summer haircut)

And then we drove back home through Canada and visited Banf and Jasper National Parks, which are gorgeous.

Calgary

Calgary Tower

Two Jacks Lake in Banf


Beckett got cold in the mountains.

Since we returned home, we have been busy. Busy with visitors and entertaining friends. Both of which we love. An old friend of Daniels from his childhood years came out to stay with us the day after our return from vacation. It was great to meet Jody and his girlfriend, and listen to stories from the past. Then my mom stayed with us for a few days and made the cutest curtains for our front door, downstairs bathroom, and my office upstairs. I love them. At that time we also had friend's from the East coast visit and stay with us for a few days. It was good to catch up with them, but I wish I hadn't had to work so I could have gone out to play with them around Portland. Mike came back a few weeks later and stayed with us another week. He helped Daniel finish the fence on the side of the house, with a trellis or arbor above. It looks awesome!!

Daniel and Jody

Mom sewing

Daniel has made some beautiful and delicious meals for dinner parties lately. He made the most beautiful and tasty enchiladas, perfectly presented and garnished with zucchini blossoms. Then for another meal recently did his first try at Indian food. It was very good, but really, really, really spicy in true Daniel style. Plus we have had friends over several times for BBQ's.

I told him this was dangerous, but he doesn't believe me.

I have been busy learning how to pickle the cucumbers from the garden and making tons of baked zucchini goods (lots of zucchini in the garden). Daniel continues to work like crazy around here doing project after project. I keep waiting for him to get tired of it, but he hasn't yet.