New Yarn

Today we went to the yarn shop in Newport.  Allen read his magazine while I looked at yarns.  Then I showed him the ones that might be right for the Stage Door Cardigan.  Of all of them, he liked the one best called Cobblestone.  I have taken some pictures of it and think that the color approximates the one in the pictures.  So here goes.

The trees are gone

Hi Guys, As we were driving up Neptune Ave in Gleneden beach last Friday, this is what we saw!

Sorry it has been so long. The most recent peril is more in the nature of a nuclear disaster. Although it doesn't contain any radiation, the amount of dust and mud that have resulted are almost as far reaching. Last week, on Tuesday, I was very happily completing the tasks of the day. One of the items read "call Rescue Rooter". Our bathroom shower drain was really slow. The "rescuers" arrived about eleven o'clock. They explained that they didn't want to do anything until they ran a camera through our system to learn about the blockage. So they took the downstairs toilet off and started their little magic trick from there. But what did it show? The pipes were cracked and there was regular old mud in them. The further that it went the worse it was until they came to one joint in the sewer pipe under the house that was completely apart. There was washing water running around the outsides of the pipe. The result of their inspection was that they had to call in their manager for a second opinion and to help them figure out the best solution.
Allen talked to the manager that evening and the next morning a crew came to start dismantling our sewer system. That was Wednesday. That was the day we learned the full extent of the plan and the cost. That was also the day that they learned that our house isn't all that easy to destroy. The jackhammer just wouldn't break the cement in the basement. When the King of Diamonds came with his concrete saw, they learned that it isn't just cement but cement with rebar. Yesterday was the worst of all. There was a backhoe working in our back yard. There was a jackhammer pounding away on the side walk by the air conditioner. And there was a cement saw screaming in the basement. What a racket! All in all, by the end of this stint, we will have a new sewer pipe from the storage room across the basement that will exit the house from the bathroom, run under the sidewalk, go along the sidewalk to the slope, go down under the slope and into the street sewer. There will be new grass on the slope and upper lawn, a section of new cement in the basement and a nonleaking sewer. We are spending a fortune and will have nothing to show for it except the dust. Ah, life really throws curve balls. Just when you think that things might lighten up!

We woke up to the hushed rustle of rain falling outside. It has a unique sound, a quiet murmuring of drops settling on the earth, the streets, the roof and all the other surfaces of the land. Sometimes it is hard to believe that anything is happening, and one has to look to see if it really is raining. I think it is so pleasant to awaken to that sound especially if it is warm enough to have open windows in the bedroom. Lying in bed while the whole outside receives a refreshing shower, is a languid pleasure.
Later I went to the Farmers' Market. The rain still fell and there were canopy-coverings to the piles of produce. There were still peaches at our favorite place. This time they were called "August Lady". We have had so many kinds, some very sweet, some sweet and spicy; but all juicy and delicious. Soon they will all be gone and there will be no more fresh peaches for another year.
Today there was a tasting table for about fifteen varieties of tomatoes. The one new one that I tasted this year for the first time was called the pineapple tomato. It was startling to be eating a tomato and tasting pineapple. It would probably be very good on pizza.
Allen went to the Preparedness Fair held by the Clackamas Fire Department in the Danielson's parking lot. He was involved in a communications demonstration. He was able to connect with a station in Reno, NV using only five watts and an NVIS antennae. That is the antennae like the one in our back yard stretched in a low loop. It was strung through three trees. It impressed those who witnessed it.
Jason had a bus trip to Dallas, OR for a volleyball tournament. He was gone over thirteen hours and saw a lot of volleyball games. Elizabeth went into Portland for the "Day of Dance" She participated in about eight hours of dancing lessons including the "salsa". Then she stayed for the dance afterwards. She said she got a leg spasm and dancing the Vienese waltz with a man who invited her, made the spasm go away. Fun way to stretch it out.
All of that happened yesterday. Today we went to church. For Sunday School, I attended the Family History Class. It was a thought I had during the announcements in Sacrament Meeting. It was interesting although way over my head. But I learned a website to start learning more. You probably already know it but I didn't, familysearch.org. Perhaps by following some of the tutorials, I can learn more.

Hi, I decided to try using this machine more by sending out little observations from time to time. It will probably take some time before I get comfortable with it, but I was so impressed with Dorothy"s story of their camping trip through Idaho and eastern Oregon, that I thought it might be worthwhile trying it myself. (not the camping part, but the blogging part). Marie is trying to help me over the phone. I think we are succeeding because she received the first part. Now she is trying to send it out to you. This harder than I think it should be.