More around Frankfurt and on to Bamberg (days 2&3)

(Frankfurt area Apple Cider/Beer Garden)












Frankfurt Skyline























Bamberg, Oktoberfest here Bob comes, look at that service! (This is the area where Bob and I took German classes back in 2000)






















Monestary










Old City Hall

Images from Frankfurt and around (days 1 & 2)

Crazy Mall Design






















Top of a building in Frankfurt

Where to begin...(traveling and day 1)

7 flights, 3 countries, countless castles, a couple distilleries, 3 beer gardens, 8 bed and breakfasts, 2 homes, 2 hotels, 4 cameras later = over 1000 pictures and lots of memories.
We (Bob and I along with my parents and sister) left on May 23rd for Germany, Ireland, and Scotland and returned on June 10th. It might take me forever to post the pictures, 5 at a time! This first group is with Britta and Tobi in Wiesbadden.





























The City is known for its hot water springs!

Vacation

I am vacationing from my blog, check back later, sorry!

another lame update

My apologies once again for not blogging. Bob is in California taking his exams (whatever you like to call them, QEs, orals, the big test before you defend your prospectus, which is a proposal for your dissertation). So I am holding down the homestead while studying for my LEED exam. We are not very exciting this week, not that we are otherwise!

Cinco

A little late, but here are pictures from the 10th Annual Cinco de Softball.

Dream Big

Sometimes it is hard to dream big, it is hard to be creative and think outside the box. It is hard to picture your ideal job, yet you know your current one does not meet your expectations. My time at the convention was great, it was inspiring and hopeful, but I have lacked the time to reorganize my thoughts and reflect on what I learned and what I can do with what I learned. Maybe it isn't so hard to dream, but to figure out how to make the dreams real.

Updates

We have been busy, sorry I haven't blogged, but here is the gist. Built a patio, took a small trip to California, currently studying for exams (both of us),planting seeds in the greenhouse and small plants in the garden, still working, met my legislators today and talked about green building. Next week: Project due for permit, Convention in San Francisco and Cinco de Softball.

Ah Finally...

...The sun found its way to Oregon! For the first time sine October 17th, we hit 70 degrees and like a true Oregonian, I am sunburned.

Greenhousing

The seeds are started and the house is ready for plants! (without a heat source it is 4 degrees above the outside temp) Now it is time to get the raised beds prepared.

Biking in Wine Country (California Style)

The beginning of March we spent a weekend in Davis and I went biking in wine country with girlfriends for a bridal shower. The weather was great, the companionship was awesome, but the ride kicked my ass. This weekend Diana is getting married in Santa Barbara!

Silver Creek Falls

Last weekend two of our dear friends (and their dog) came to visit us for the weekend. So while Bob was reading, I played local tour guide. (I grew up 20 minutes from this state park.)
























View from behind the fall













The dogs after playing all day
(yes I know I still have a pumpkin, I've been meaning to cook with it)

Happy 150th Valentine's Day!

Today is not only Valentine's day but Oregon's 150th birthday. We celebrated proper Oregon style, outside!





















Shannon and me










Lulu outside the window while we eat lunch


Bob and Chuck standing on the frozen lake

I've been tagged to blog about 10 things I love that start with the letter 'P' and I've been thinking about it for a while now.
So in no particular order:
Portland! Love it, lived there twice, visit often.
Public Radio - I listen to it daily and when I commuted it was my best friend.
Planting. I love gardening and planting flowers and vegetables and then nurturing them until they reach my kitchen.
Parties :) You name it birthdays, weddings, I just love to get together and have a reason to celebrate.
Pools, the kind you swim in. I loved teaching swim lessons and the smell of chlorine to this day is a bit nostalgic.
Planning. I drive Bob crazy planning for trips and events.
Performing Arts, not me, but going to them. From concerts to plays I really enjoy live performances!
Pottery. I love wheel throwing and our house is cluttered with it!
Puppies! Ok just about any baby animal.
Parks. National ones, State ones, sno ones. What an amazing system we have that preserves and maintains these amazing places for us to visit.

Things I considered,the Pacific Ocean, phones, planes, people, pictures, peaches, pilates, pampering, painting, playing games and posting to my blog.
Thanks to Roo for assigning me a letter, although I am curious how you picked it! Anyone else want one?

My Late b-day

It snowed on my birthday back in December, so I celebrated this weekend with some girlfriends. Thanks ladies!











I took the train










To Portland, on a beautiful day


























Katie made a Pink Lady Cake
Thanks again girls!

Hippie at Heart

Yep, that is me and for most of you, it isn't news. Here is a site I stumbled on that I am day dreaming about. I could live on a commune and build a straw bale house!

Jeanne's B-day

My good friend Jeanne turned 30 last week and some girls headed to the coast to celebrate.

Ski Trip

This last weekend, Hunter and Cait took skiing lessons and then after we went sledding. I think we all had a lot of fun and I can't wait to see the rest of the photos! Check out Sheila's blog for more.

Inaugural week!!!

Today I watched the inaugural concert (online) and it was so incredible to see and hear the crowd and think of the change that is possible. I listened as the celebrity speakers mentioned Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.; as they talked about being one. I very much look forward to January 20th and the change I hope is coming. It was easy for the 2 hours to forget how much Americans are hated, how many steps backwards were taken int he last 8 years, and how much of a recession we are in now. Thanks, I needed to forget more than I realized.

New Year's Week

This NYE, Bob wanted to snowshoe and have a fire and toast under that stars and we tried. The fire didn't really get going and it was COLD! We did enjoy the long weekend playing games and Wii though.