tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68122251893502459552024-03-13T01:14:39.593-07:00The Adventures of Pam & FrankGleefully invading the Pacific Northwest.Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12104557126187051303noreply@blogger.comBlogger448125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-46113118346126615992015-12-27T11:21:00.003-08:002015-12-27T11:22:31.412-08:00The EndAs Chauser wrote in his poem, Troilus and Criseyde, "All good things must come to an end."<br />
<br />
This is also true for the Adventures of Pam & Frank.<br />
<br />
I have not stopped blogging, but there is no more to say in this particular blog. If you enjoyed this blog, thank you for reading.<br />
<br />
Please be well, and take care.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Pam</div>
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</a></div>Pam Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996084966890955359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-83080202472970237152013-07-24T01:11:00.001-07:002013-07-24T01:11:42.109-07:00No Ma, I don't need a towelWe spent the afternoon on the coast with the dog. Before getting into the car for the ride home, we gave him a towel but he didn't want it.<br />
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Bleh. So happy to be living in Oregon this morning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-SJP9SjmIs5HlLn2hhC1d57yXVoQ5iU6qMkpR0EvTh8Iz-loTQEALr5Xz7EBBlzhjB60c9IyUEcvvTokzffUycqJGydoQEOgETK4RNJoU-eLIuBckDVzNb_tvAWgoN0v5xcxykjA4WE/s1600/01082013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-SJP9SjmIs5HlLn2hhC1d57yXVoQ5iU6qMkpR0EvTh8Iz-loTQEALr5Xz7EBBlzhjB60c9IyUEcvvTokzffUycqJGydoQEOgETK4RNJoU-eLIuBckDVzNb_tvAWgoN0v5xcxykjA4WE/s320/01082013.JPG" width="123" /></a></div>
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(My winter coat is a pea coat styled sweatshirt.)</div>
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</a></div>Pam Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996084966890955359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-23110029803983924622012-10-23T17:21:00.001-07:002012-10-23T17:21:25.463-07:00Trees in the Mist<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveellaway/5961639289/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6017/5961639289_3685529833.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveellaway/5961639289/">Trees in the Mist-Portrait, Northumberland</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/steveellaway/">welshio</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> Eight more days until Halloween!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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</a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12104557126187051303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-14671248234077876662012-10-14T00:24:00.001-07:002012-10-14T00:24:25.535-07:00The Sleeper - Edgar Allan Poe<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmybrown/5201947293/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5045/5201947293_4ca59b108a.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmybrown/5201947293/">The Sleeper - Edgar Allan Poe </a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmybrown/">jumpinjimmyjava</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> So creepy. I don't even want to know what's on the other side of these doors.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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</a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12104557126187051303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-91655272747995728792012-09-20T21:14:00.001-07:002012-09-20T22:49:03.208-07:00Girls are on sale this week at the mall<div>
Time to stock up!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkr6Q52rNuNVIbOrZNlGI9O0Zdw-YfdqNWHp8oN4F-ijdevWv45cCEOyojN8GkFVTpkgG8jMfIlGkfJRLwJGFhNT3olIxPLwxhxkiMWkpo0jl7R9dE-ikY1jdG8ZfOfXNv28q8ad5Hik/w373-h504-p-k/2012-09-15_18-55-10_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkr6Q52rNuNVIbOrZNlGI9O0Zdw-YfdqNWHp8oN4F-ijdevWv45cCEOyojN8GkFVTpkgG8jMfIlGkfJRLwJGFhNT3olIxPLwxhxkiMWkpo0jl7R9dE-ikY1jdG8ZfOfXNv28q8ad5Hik/w373-h504-p-k/2012-09-15_18-55-10_HDR.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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</a></div>Pam Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996084966890955359noreply@blogger.com0Salem, Salem44.942898 -123.035095tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-63665225209312174362012-09-17T23:43:00.000-07:002014-01-18T13:10:39.232-08:00So here’s what really happened<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z1fHKZxRH3I/UFQju8NsGYI/AAAAAAAAA2k/Jc84FiP4G0E/s1600-h/240783_4052228058445_556916128_o%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="whoops!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUakXzn4RVgUyKfm4qddE9HbuO-qBY3TNfqmgunJpMU1tBdUJ-0e44mS8UfLutEcBhF2qagy3O3nYDAadDRGIvtqFDjRBXwqwZ-cBFV7lb8V2NII2hm-HBbkWerWyLl6FqR70NH54wVY/?imgmax=800" height="486" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="whoops!" width="365" /></a>Last week I teased my Facebook friends with this picture of my left foot in a walking cast, asking them to come up with a story about what happened here. “Can your crazy story top what actually happened?” I asked.<br />
Almost all thhe replies were fantastic stories and I wish they were ALL true. it certainly would make for an interesting Christmas newsletter at the end of the year.<br />
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The real story may not involve shitkickers, mermaids, chewing gum, ducks, cats, Norwegian fjords, or a left leg that has gone to the dark side… <br />
You recall last Sunday I posted about our trip to Cape Perpetua? There’s a video of Rachel standing next to the big tide pool while the wave comes in, swamping her on the sand. When it was my turn to hop off the big rock and run to the beach, I watched the waves come in then recede. Finally there was that one little moment when the sand was above water, so I jumped and ran. <br />
I landed wrong.<br />
My left foot hurt.<br />
For two weeks.<br />
The cast is a diagnostic test to see if I either strained or ruptured a tendon in my foot. Nice, eh? Yes, this is the foot that recently had surgery for an unrelated problem. Yes, I am still in PT for the torn ACL on my right knee… I’m a klutzy dork and you love me for it. <br />
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<span style="color: #e01a03; font-family: Pristina; font-size: large;">~ pam </span></div>
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PS: Here are the other stories, from Facebook:<br />
<ul>
<li>Saw a mother duck and her ducklings cross the road but the ducklings were unable to hop up the curb. I stopped and went to help, stepped on the grating w/my high heals, caught my heal in one of the holes as mamma duck flew at my head. I ducked (get it?) and twisted and forgot about my stuck shoe. Broke both tib and fib? How'd I do??? </li>
<li>I think kicking a cat is a bad idea. </li>
<li>You went exploring the majestic fjords, and ended up meeting a nord who immediately pushed you off a cliff because he's a gigantic jerk. </li>
<li>Ummm you went line dancing and slipped on a marble causing a cascade of dominoing shitkickers, with one unfortunately landing RIGHT on your ankle causing it to shatter and when you went down, as you were screaming about missing your river dancing class which was up next, you landed on top of a random thought-she-was-famous-but-really-wasn't country singer who used her guitar to smack your calf causing more injuries, not only to your leg, but to your ego. Am I close? </li>
<li>You were swimming in the North Santiam River and slipped on a rock while wading to the middle. You slipped under the water and got your foot stuck between two rocks. Just as you were about out of air, a mermaid came along and got your foot out and carried you back to shore. Am I close? </li>
<li>Walking and chewing gum at the same time would be my guess...lol </li>
<li>Left leg turned to the dark side. Apparently the force is not strong with you. Lol </li>
<li>Pam,,what did I say the last time you walked, signed and texted???. its gonna cause you to end up in the hospital!!!!!</li>
</ul>
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</a></div>Pam Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996084966890955359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-59923157652796999772012-09-16T22:43:00.000-07:002012-09-16T22:43:00.679-07:00SFFD to Cape PerpetuaOur family has been taking lots of road trips around the Pacific Northwest over the last month. On one weekend, we decided to drive out to the coast and spend some time exploring Cape Perpetua. Sandwiches, dog, kid, cameras were loaded into the car and off we went, down highways 22 and 18 to Lincoln City, then south on Hwy 101 until we arrived. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QZEPkOkVogg/UFQcDW0bLvI/AAAAAAAAAzM/I01O2RA42cE/s1600-h/IMG_20120825_172000%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="The weather was calm; the trees grow this way." border="0" height="486" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-owu18LSvnMk/UFQcDtq5RTI/AAAAAAAAAzU/Q22U4eQN21M/IMG_20120825_172000_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The weather was calm; the trees grow this way." width="646" /></a> <br />
The kid, being a teenager and all, was a little grumpy about having to tag along with mom and dad. The dog, who usually whines every 15 minutes for a long sniff out an open window, was surprisingly quiet. Things changed once we got there, however.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-96tGvPcsCbw/UFQcEEbPmpI/AAAAAAAAAzc/IkAn2WGu8p4/s1600-h/2012-08-25_17-03-57_HDR%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhRZFl8poV6RVJPF-tn9BpzIjQ-SKLGpMp7qyiURscIvqohs2CjKxxAtHbetks5bzOazSlFIQTx31k28t4t1l6RUW_xaDBxGZQlHZ7KCS_ZiEcMa1mHLk2kif1jOvwmYFK9EutEr9B-M/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="" width="183" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Qq7okTxEnxQ/UFQcE1OkmGI/AAAAAAAAAzs/w2XqpX8GHjw/s1600-h/2012-08-25_18-07-53_HDR%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCV05I1M_2MxslDrn3aXp-zCknTgJ4r0-zswkVz5N1YS72UYqx8aMSsoHMqlKZx7iPu6PmKICP5KAEshwZfEt4KGyAeOxp6eAtJYrpPyDBwd6Fc6QtZJbciGCUqtTAGRZ-1k-z551h6Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="" width="180" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pUsXU3iwjEPVejQ3kdvR-h3_RrtiDrhImJuxeFkwEwhgAJiDz7aQzmi5N9LTx-sE1dqy94SEzCf5xK0mR2RqNSu1OpqziWaLMNUAOALw55agiFjG0J3VhmpMSe9RXAgcpLvimXgWU6A/s1600-h/2012-08-25_18-09-12_HDR%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqFbut-y6GA_IzvrjUwpHpLJhVad65g58e_KRu5XrCgY-tHBiu_czUY2CgAkWLzhyw44F2N0JACi5BaVdwh2n5PWOXm7JL1BJGVNhg-u-ui76JF3X0TtkyQ_wrsi1YgkqG73yy6WKM4Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="" width="179" /></a> </div>
There are easy hiking trails on the beach side of the highway, and we trotted down the trail to the beach. Until we could see the beach, that is. The end of the trail was blocked by a huge logjam of driftwood. There was no option but to turn back or climb over. So we climbed. <br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yBIZYXPcDrg/UFQcGT0f_ZI/AAAAAAAAA0M/aRhA_Y4fW24/s1600-h/2012-08-25_17-06-03_HDR%25255B12%25255D.jpg"><img alt="I lovingly call this "Driftwood Trail." It was a challenge to climb over." border="0" height="306" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-y8irWxYRVqw/UFQcG5r7OVI/AAAAAAAAA0U/3m5W-n_uhBk/2012-08-25_17-06-03_HDR_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="I lovingly call this "Driftwood Trail." It was a challenge to climb over." width="230" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gqx-Z2d1ZgM/UFQcHGjNEiI/AAAAAAAAA0c/ZdKcX6pRG-s/s1600-h/2012-08-25_17-14-03_HDR%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img alt="This beach is a driftwood picking beachcomber's dream come true." border="0" height="306" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Rq35pP47XyM/UFQcHlJCgzI/AAAAAAAAA0k/4I1VCWG2gMA/2012-08-25_17-14-03_HDR_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="This beach is a driftwood picking beachcomber's dream come true." width="402" /></a> </div>
The beach was deserted. Someone with a sense of humor built a teepee out of driftwood. <br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qwh5fTsq7XE/UFQcH1PFzzI/AAAAAAAAA0s/PkqKHNtAtcE/s1600-h/2012-08-25_17-18-24_HDR%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2012-08-25_17-18-24_HDR" border="0" height="486" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7iiIW1UrPUA/UFQcIRdJ9eI/AAAAAAAAA00/EC3vZggXlyg/2012-08-25_17-18-24_HDR_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2012-08-25_17-18-24_HDR" width="356" /></a> <br />
We heard a Tarzan yell and looked up to see an old lady on the cliff above, waving at us. We waved back and she giggled.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjTxmNFHY8q0fF-xMQux7F_Kbkdok0DhtxHegcsZw4wMrPlYYjWbX_7SqLpujal6oMT3rHydxj-kY_EzT3AgpUYN_15aqQdiO6F4UTyVW_v1y5c6uVhtbkaXsoNfhyphenhyphenrkL4bqGsBjVaGQ/s1600-h/2012-08-25_17-22-11_HDR%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="2012-08-25_17-22-11_HDR" border="0" height="486" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UwYw4ZrNoko/UFQcJYxThII/AAAAAAAAA1E/OCIPnEWFC7E/2012-08-25_17-22-11_HDR_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="2012-08-25_17-22-11_HDR" width="369" /></a> <br />
Since surviving cancer and recovering from all his surgeries, Frank has started to Live. With a capital L. He no longer sits around the house on weekends but gets up and out, explores the Northwest, sees new things, and enjoys life. He is a different person today, compared to the old Frank from three years ago. Heck, he is a different Frank from the guy we all knew from two months ago. He looks truly happy now, too.<br />
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Did I mention I was wearing a knee brace through all of this hiking and driftwood climbing? I’m nursing a torn ACL (which happened on another exciting adventure here in the Northwest.) I’m sure my right knee would prefer I sit on the couch, but visiting the beach is much more fun. Besides, it’s a great excuse to not let the kid talk me into standing thigh deep in icy cold water on a dare. Ankle deep was cold enough, thank you very much.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1HRv1pK_8rQ9I4a99IWVS1UdDaDOCD0H28sGkZa-pTkvYxGybloQu6vB7lXH5A0CxGDbi3VIZWxODQKSti8h9RrcgEhxQ6JlRUS31vvBF-yNby-ZhZrVZzRsp6IloqZoQJ7JzcJztgI/s1600-h/2012-08-25_17-07-26_HDR%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Ironically, this brace didn't protect me from another "Adventure Injury." Oh well." border="0" height="246" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LJDrSNUrQsA/UFQcKBLj1sI/AAAAAAAAA1U/K03YrsIV9v8/2012-08-25_17-07-26_HDR_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="Ironically, this brace didn't protect me from another "Adventure Injury." Oh well." width="180" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dTvdsl8N_uY/UFQcKUxgtSI/AAAAAAAAA1c/kgMlBR9p4TU/s1600-h/IMG_20120825_175339%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="How did I let the kid talk me into getting wet? This is COLD!!" border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJWyU_HJmjEzfqPHEvOKHdJi1PcW1pNz0iPXGyn97kwwd-mfJI7TVHW-Nc-Rp-JRTepAV35pT8bCUAzvPflXoFCGFIjzSc1nx2L-hQBLvUUlmBHMhmZy7HCx_SF_YGFEtkv5M-5tEaBQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="How did I let the kid talk me into getting wet? This is COLD!!" width="246" /></a> </div>
The dog hunted leaves and other unseen things that flowed from the nearby creek into the ocean.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sBgscygdLic/UFQcL4ErubI/AAAAAAAAA1s/90j-qiAotjU/s1600-h/IMG_20120825_172720%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhDUqbvgIQSr2d4SHfzCeAw6yLYQtuOsT3Ck7R-9MFi-NPO1MzwUhX4oxEkx7EtyQLI54NAM3Vy_PeDPUDFIotg5432jrlFJz7ViTPmD9TGXw67tGN3cL4Vv2MyIBAmhc4irBxycR5V8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="" width="326" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2f7LWYhkE5p0lzmOJ-eL1A1GetnMojtkuMIUgoe0noo-eqJXAmyzWuN0N8KSFRSf8_KAwmi2TKAk5Yt7TYpan6C6MTXp7bsF1ryuF2RtrfWQgO64FyCgQX0VmHZ6zDsT4P42g5s_kzY/s1600-h/IMG_20120825_172614%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="246" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UDiYuLLL16o/UFQcM6CAslI/AAAAAAAAA2E/YlOaoR5Habo/IMG_20120825_172614_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="" width="186" /></a></div>
A sign at the top of the cliff suggested tide pools. The huge rocky tide pools here were the biggest ones I had ever climbed on. The tide was out too far for any critters to be swimming in the holes, but they were fun to climb on. Rachel was the first to climb up on the tide pool. The brave kid stood near the leading edge, trying to get soaked with a particularly large wave crashed up against the rocks. “Is the what they call the “Spouting Horn?’” I asked her. “No, that’s around the other side of the cliff,” she replied. I’m not sure how she knew this, but I took her word for it. The dog was leashed and wearing his harness (our lift-the-dog-out-of-the-water handle) but she still was nervous about him being washed away.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6lDGbVcJDUY/UFQcNvTnaaI/AAAAAAAAA2M/p88Awc2E7NI/s1600-h/IMG_20120825_173918%25255B40%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Splash!" border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NouSXIzhc78f9Uf2BKHR-g45NDj32y7dgBjAvfFV07cug0_N2Syaeb38opS8UvwcThzhBCpafQLx7gBLaMGjfJuosaFAPKqKqDNLKzFslIJdJ-1QleGOoy5Ti9xWETZ_U8Lic-33lDA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Splash!" width="646" /></a> <br />
The trick to getting onto the rocks was all in the timing. Wave after wave would surge up onto the sand around the rock and we’d have to wait until the water had receded before running across the wet sand to clamber onto the rock. Getting off the rock involved the same careful timing. Too soon and we would jump into forty degree water. Too late and the oncoming wave would swamp us as we crossed the sand, freezing our shin bones to the marrow. <br />
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It was at this point that the kid smiled. </div>
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She excitedly stated “This is a great beach!” and we all agreed it is one of our top 10 favorite beaches on the planet.</div>
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<span style="color: #e01a03; font-family: Pristina; font-size: large;">~ pam </span></div>
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</a></div>Pam Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996084966890955359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-25982312153207756922012-06-30T09:16:00.001-07:002012-09-15T00:18:05.626-07:00Mergansers on Suttle Lake<div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:8a3909a3-84f9-44e1-b1f7-2b53f7e9266e" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
It’s stupid to have lived in Oregon for almost 10 years without really exploring beyond the Willamette Valley. Before yesterday, I had made only two trips over the Santiam Pass. Over the past few months, I have started to come alive and am rapidly expanding my world, which includes discovering Oregon.</div>
Yesterday, when plans to meet up with a friend for a hike and photo shoot in the Jefferson Wilderness fell through, I grabbed Rachel and we headed east. Lunch was made and the car was ready for a road trip, so why not?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31536204@N00/5851457529/" title="Santiam Pass, Hwy 20 Oregon by A. S. Photography, on Flickr"><img alt="Santiam Pass, Hwy 20 Oregon" height="425" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5234/5851457529_906f642cc6.jpg" style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" width="640" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo of the Santiam Pass burn area courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31536204@N00/" target="_blank">A.S. Photography</a></span></div>
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When we first moved here for the upper midwest, I was dying to go swimming in a lake. Local friends recommended Suttle Lake, and while I knew where it was, I had never gone. Yesterday I pointed the car in that direction and drove… over the pass, through the insanely surreal B & B Complex burn area, and to the lake. Yes, it’s a lake all right, but a Midwesterner (aka me) would be hesitant to swim at the gravel beach and steep grade to the bottom. </div>
Rachel stayed in the car (party pooper) while I walked down the Suttle Lake Smoke Trail, along the north side of the lake. I don’t know why I didn’t take my camera. What was I thinking? Darn, I’ll have to go back. Early. With camera and tripod.<br />
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Walking back down the trail to the car, I nearly passed a mother and her 10 children without seeing them. I froze in my tracks for a moment, staring at them, then hurried down the rest of the trail to grab a camera. I just grabbed the digital one, which is great for snapshots, but not for family portraits like this one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnQ8qbifzVN0dX3GY0vBRgVT3wPKYjrlZIb8nAiVIWcQEvQlP8OR-6MQMNNgbnQekIl8DdKfgpFFxWF_aCOmfrtUy1IiGY8TKCgpCOCXVw_EK4w2SUI0rJGaRnoYSFybQ1Xh4HZohZDs/s1600-h/Merganser%252520Family%252520on%252520Suttle%252520Lake%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Merganser Family on Suttle Lake" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80sIE1F4-NmL_KYTKICF1MzpVP_21nZepPy1ZbYDSPeSlnnmxXlLxbr331MtZd5AAQ3KmymM5fDEevpdxsFda8eG5ifZY7-j3nSW1heEe2w7L8sxaw2NXPuIhcqSM0xi8uOUqown1Uc4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Merganser Family on Suttle Lake" width="639" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Common Mergansers</span></div>
I have got to get back there soon! <div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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</a></div>Pam Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996084966890955359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-18892275554634272832012-04-19T08:50:00.000-07:002012-09-14T23:15:30.004-07:00It’s a Meat Pie, not Tassels<div align="center">
Of course, if it was tassels, Whooooo! Go Sue!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3sCUi500sxw/T4GylSm1xxI/AAAAAAAAACk/vKvQudlF6RY/s1600/DSCN00613" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pasties and Pie" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3sCUi500sxw/T4GylSm1xxI/AAAAAAAAACk/vKvQudlF6RY/s1600/DSCN00613" title="Sue's Cafe" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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</a></div>Pam Noblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996084966890955359noreply@blogger.com0Iron River, WI, USA46.5645775 -91.40821146.215252 -92.039925 46.913903 -90.776496999999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-70832244414923374112012-04-16T08:50:00.000-07:002012-09-15T00:02:27.645-07:00Mpls Misc<div align="center">
After arriving at at the MSP airport, I made a quick trip to the Mall of America (half hour!) and then started to head north through the city. My 200 mile drive would take me up I-35 through Duluth and then east for an hour or so to Washburn, Wisconsin. By the time I hit the road, rush hour was getting into full swing. </div>
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Boy, I had forgotten how icky rush hour is in the Twin Cities. I thought Seattle-Tacoma was bad, (and it is) but after being away for so many years, I had underestimated the Twin Cities’ “slow and go” freeway crawl. I was on the south end of town and had to head north across the entire metro. Because of rush hour, and since I had a rental car and was not at the mercy of anyone else’s transportation, I stayed off the freeways as much as possible. My route took some nostalgic turns through old neighborhoods where Frank and I lived. </div>
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Here are some miscellaneous pictures of my journey through town:</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TlgWlByjLmg/T4GtLo116eI/AAAAAAAAChE/Px50gIAF0qw/s1600-h/DSCN00433.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0043" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YF8tpVtIGuA/T4GtMKK4ocI/AAAAAAAAChM/mNBeFlQbO2M/DSCN0043_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0043" width="644" /></a><br />This is the first apartment that Frank and I rented together. </div>
<a name='more'></a>Our unit had French doors, wall sconces in the living room, a built in china cabinet, and the teeniest kitchen you have ever seen. We loved its charm, but it was pretty small. I really miss the location, just a few blocks from Uptown, where we could find groceries, foreign movies, and all kinds of shopping and dining. For the most part, we didn’t need a car, either. I would love to repeat that kind of living experience some day.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_pGumz2MzFE/T4GtMgDii9I/AAAAAAAAChU/ZnX3tVC5Cgk/s1600-h/DSCN00443.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0044" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6Yat72zQA-0/T4GtNMBzhxI/AAAAAAAAChc/5M65pw9vqak/DSCN0044_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0044" width="644" /></a></div>
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This is a disappointment, but it is to be expected after so many years. This intersection was 40 steps from the back door of our charming Uptown apartment. GVP used to be a Vietnamese restaurant that made the most addictive Mock Duck with noodles I have ever eaten. We dined there at least twice a month. Calhoun Pet Supply used to be Sam’s Market, where we did our convenience store shopping and rented movies. There is something comforting about being regulars at a few local establishments, whether they are restaurants or general stores. Times have changed, but just seeing this intersection brings back good memories.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3sDBGtlbskY/T4GtN_ZN0gI/AAAAAAAAChk/G4RYIByJJcI/s1600-h/DSCN00463.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0046" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ebPHwXAhqkU/T4GtOVnJd2I/AAAAAAAAChs/vGKIeJ_Fjp8/DSCN0046_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0046" width="644" /></a></div>
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At the corner of Bryant and Lake. You know, it’s funny; Minneapolis was settled by Scandinavians about 120 years ago, and there is still a strong northern European influence on the city. On the other hand, many of our favorite places to eat out happened to be Middle Eastern. Nearly every home we lived in was just a few blocks from a place serving fantastic Hummus, Gyros, Falafel, Kibbe, and Shawirma. Each of these restaurants featured a different country: Lebanon, Jerusalem, Turkey, Egypt, Syria… I don’t recall Falafel King in Uptown at the time we lived there, but it just seems to confirm our lasting love for this eclectic neighborhood.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QSOOTm0q0nk/T4GtOxnlHKI/AAAAAAAACh0/IbB76Lj7pug/s1600-h/DSCN004710.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0047" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tt7kFKF65tY/T4GtPcPvoCI/AAAAAAAACh8/F7uRUo8sbzM/DSCN0047_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0047" width="644" /></a></div>
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Of course, I can’t take a trip through Uptown without looking up at the spire for the Uptown Theatre. It was undergoing remodel at the time, but I have great memories of losing my Rocky Horror Picture Show virginity here one winter midnight, (I did not understand the plot the first time, but now I holler Asshole! Slut! and dance the Time Warp with the best of them.) I also fondly remember sitting through a jaw-dropping short film fest where I got my first look at Bill Plimpton’s work, getting my fill of everything David Lynch, and looking for excuses to see whatever else was on the big screen.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lYutVd6q5ZI/T4GtPutvuzI/AAAAAAAACiE/vUZQ8iWkStw/s1600-h/DSCN00482.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0048" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9TtLVDT_5QE/T4GtQuExREI/AAAAAAAACiM/Icb8rNcbzAw/DSCN0048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0048" width="244" /></a><br />Hennepin Avenue looks the same at 35mph. Don’t tell Avis that I did this with their car.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VRglILwv-0A/T4GtRMUG6xI/AAAAAAAACiU/S8eJ88S3BmI/s1600-h/DSCN00493.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0049" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KveIzVkPahk/T4GtRf5QoFI/AAAAAAAACic/SGUm2SIlEhM/DSCN0049_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0049" width="644" /></a></div>
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Ok so I misunderstood this sign. After getting on the freeway for just a little bit, this sign came up and I thought the bridge was still out. So I exited on the West Bank at Washington Avenue. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9IBvU3yZafk/T4GtR1XCy9I/AAAAAAAACik/rYtGrFA__GA/s1600-h/DSCN00533.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0053" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qAxNQgiSH2Q/T4GtYV1-AlI/AAAAAAAACis/PLsyCVxFJNc/DSCN0053_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0053" width="644" /></a></div>
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‘Tis all right, though. I got to drive past downtown, across the Hennepin Ave Bridge, was delighted to see that Kramarczyk’s Deli, Nye’s Polonaise Room, and Surdyk’s Liquor were still in business. <br />Man, how old is Nye’s? It was ancient when I moved there in 1989.</div>
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I had fallen out of touch with two very good friends on the north side of town, and swung by the house where they used to live. It was dark out by the time I walked up their sidewalk and knocked on the front door, unannounced. K answered the door, recognized me right away, and ushered me in. Then P saw me and knew who I was. It was a pretty warm and fuzzy feeling to realize that I’m not only remembered, but we were able to pick up on conversations as if we had just seen each other last week. <br />It was too short of a visit but I had to hit the road.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2F-DaoZNOvA/T4GtY6iEt1I/AAAAAAAACi0/u6tTwQ1ZnHw/s1600-h/DSCN00552.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0055" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RxVmHjhIyCQ/T4GtZPQPR4I/AAAAAAAACi8/sJwv6j6OxgI/DSCN0055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0055" width="244" /></a> </div>
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Now I’ve got to figure out a way for all 3 of us to get back to The Cities more regularly. One way or another, we need to visit more often.</div>
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</a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12104557126187051303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-45514822936724491122012-04-09T08:48:00.000-07:002012-09-15T00:01:56.212-07:00Odd Socks<div align="center">
At the Mall of America, there is an odd little sock store called Little Miss Matched. They sell mismatched socks by the trio – yes, you get three per package – with the idea that you should not have matching socks. </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZLoyh3Q_AC4/T4GqGb_RNUI/AAAAAAAACgU/kmzX4O6EhxI/s1600-h/DSCN004112.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0041" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f35Jw0M0DEI/T4GqGmy3wJI/AAAAAAAACgc/PxEYU7sYiCg/DSCN0041_thumb10.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0041" width="364" /></a></div>
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Personally, while I’m not interested in shelling out up to $3.11 plus tax per sock, I absolutely love this idea.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4zXjN-C3Yak/T4GqHMm_BYI/AAAAAAAACgk/ZQrC7SBaIXM/s1600-h/DSCN004119.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0041" border="0" height="772" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KM5o3a-Hlt4/T4GqIJzSXXI/AAAAAAAACgs/lOuFfZ4WcnI/DSCN0041_thumb19.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0041" width="618" /></a> </div>
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Who made up the rule that socks have to match, anyway?<br />I’m going to experiment and make up my own mismatched collection.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r7eDWGgBsnI/T4GqI8IeyWI/AAAAAAAACg0/PSqPL-8bfrk/s1600-h/DSCN004035.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0040" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KhT9ty1aynM/T4GqJVRpKKI/AAAAAAAACg8/AFchzmRHeuE/DSCN0040_thumb33.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN0040" width="364" /></a></div>
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If you see me wearing mismatched socks around town, be sure to wink at me!</div>
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</a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12104557126187051303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-41652861472879744522012-04-08T04:21:00.000-07:002012-09-15T00:01:24.823-07:00The Hunger Games at the Mall of America<div align="center">
About a month ago, I made an impromptu visit to my old stomping grounds in Northern Wisconsin and the Twin Cities. After landing at the airport, I drove my rental car across the freeway to the Mall of America. I wanted to stop in for a just few minutes before heading north to Wisconsin. </div>
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Yes, it is possible to stop in for just a few minutes. </div>
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If you have willpower.</div>
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I was there for a half hour, tops, and that includes walking to and from parking. The visit would have been even faster if not for the day’s scheduled event and me with my camera.</div>
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I guess I’m getting old. I hadn’t heard of The Hunger Games before stopping at the Mall of America. Maybe I led a sheltered life, too, since I had never been part of a screaming frenzy of teenagers. </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yHWy0m6BUzM/T4GpiFtur6I/AAAAAAAACe0/7XYcXd74v-w/s1600-h/DSCN00286.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0028" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YKv0jExFxMQ/T4GpjYNGGzI/AAAAAAAACe8/kWe7H32DpmE/DSCN0028_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DSCN0028" width="660" /></a></div>
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Both book-turned-movie and screaming teenagers filled the south end of the MOA (Mall of America) when </div>
<a name='more'></a>I stopped in at the mall for a few minutes to get my own teenager a t-shirt. Standing on the second floor, this picture shows the balconies for levels 3 and 4, packed with teenagers. Some rode the escalators up and down to get a look at the excitement on stage, below.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gyIfJlluwIE/T4Gpj75n5UI/AAAAAAAACfE/3EDfHaUXK6c/s1600-h/DSCN00273.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0027" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nJP6MCtgfTo/T4GpkWB2ArI/AAAAAAAACfI/D0tryzKf3xs/DSCN0027_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DSCN0027" width="660" /></a> The cast of the upcoming movie based on the book The Hunger Games was going a huge meet and greet, and signing posters for the mob. At one point, all the girls started chanting Josh Josh Josh… An announcer said something into the microphone and a roar went up from the crowd, not unlike Beatlemania. The energy in the rotunda was high.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LWh5rIC4pCI/T4GpkxazFOI/AAAAAAAACfU/P2svILlD6yA/s1600-h/DSCN00297.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0029" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_VgnqaOonwM/T4GplseaaUI/AAAAAAAACfc/_9HgxLkohP0/DSCN0029_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DSCN0029" width="660" /></a></div>
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I’m another balcony back from the stage. So many people. I’m not big on huge crowds, and avoid them whenever possible, so this fascinated me. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYJFb3tAbx7t9uDFzgtvJvWaVHM8xj-KJ9NuvBNGlgru0g93oxAOXYqf7Q4w3soR422GEhAr5Tpt3SYGWe49p4_JLDFZYHTzhMq3j3njTBV8UiOwEs_i6WAxk8yBMTVddlx6dC9eY6A/s1600-h/DSCN00304.jpg"><img alt="DSCN0030" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bWbTRdYLCE4/T4Gpm2VnDRI/AAAAAAAACfs/43jEK1x_tv0/DSCN0030_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DSCN0030" width="380" /></a>Ok, that’s enough of the screaming teenagers. I bought my shirt, checked out an odd socks store (I’ll show you tomorrow), and took a couple more pictures. Next time I’m back in The Cities, I’m going to have to plan on a full day here. Since we moved away, they have added three more roller coasters. (Yippee!) </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kp8mdG2G6eI/T4GpnUEOtBI/AAAAAAAACf0/Pfkj8BaaG-k/s1600-h/DSCN00313.jpg"><img alt="Rides at The MOA" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-m_r2wDDF-zs/T4GpnwPUMWI/AAAAAAAACf8/k4RXt0efj_g/DSCN0031_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Rides at The MOA" width="660" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jtsLnEwmhv4/T4GpoEarDFI/AAAAAAAACgE/qGMuE4ZL0MA/s1600-h/DSCN00365.jpg"><img alt="Proof. I was here." border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-c-B7GEi9kIc/T4GpoqokRSI/AAAAAAAACgM/WP7nbHfE04w/DSCN0036_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Proof. I was here." width="260" /></a></div>
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This past summer, Frank had an assortment of potted herbs on our south-facing steps. </div>
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Near the end of the season, when Frank was in the hospital, I chopped off the seed heads and dried them in our dehydrator. Since we love basil, I also managed to buy a full stem at a farm market in Jefferson. Those seed heads also went into the dehydrator.</div>
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The rest of the stem became fresh pesto. Mmmmmmmmm.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AKDVMVapa2c/Ttvh7MIH0dI/AAAAAAAACOY/OpfUnEafWQ4/s1600-h/DSCN98299.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9829" border="0" height="660" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xRBgCflAyE4/Ttvh7u1AxuI/AAAAAAAACOg/Wua4KwF8pBw/DSCN9829_thumb7.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9829" width="500" /></a></div>
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Here’s everything in the dehydrator. The rosemary plant also got a trim and those stems were also dried.<br />
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The herbs sat on the fruit leather sheet so the seeds and herbs didn’t fall into the heating element.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d21OlFJj4n8/Ttvh7x4xCoI/AAAAAAAACOo/IJCvL7Zvpjc/s1600-h/DSCN96564.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9656" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wd7baooPvBM/Ttvh8PmOSfI/AAAAAAAACOw/ALtT16m8uas/DSCN9656_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9656" width="660" /></a></div>
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And here’s the dried basil. A little crush of the seed pods opened them up to reveal tiny black seeds. </div>
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Next summer we’ll plant the seeds and see how well the new basil grows. I’ve got my fingers crossed for an abundance of pesto!</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YszhROmK0c4/Ttvh8swc_OI/AAAAAAAACO4/-N1goaF9QjU/s1600-h/DSCN98304.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9830" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-tzEt366Xb9c/Ttvh8xSNV1I/AAAAAAAACPA/szoYg0kdrHg/DSCN9830_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9830" width="660" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventurespf/3274677733/" title="Adventures of Pam & Frank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="Adventures of Pam & Frank" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3474/3274677733_38c44cf842.jpg" style="border-bottom: #000000 2px solid; border-left: #000000 2px solid; border-right: #000000 2px solid; border-top: #000000 2px solid;" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventurespf/3274677733/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Salt, salt, salt, and salt</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, originally uploaded by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/adventurespf/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adventures of Pam & Frank</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We always have a variety of salts in our kitchen. My least favorite is the metallic-flavored table salt. I think my favorites are the Baleine and Kosher. <br />
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=theafran-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0142001619&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At the Hawthorne Fred Meyer up on Portland, they've got a huge variety of salt available in their deli. We've been trying to get Frank up there for months, to look at the salt. Red salt, grey salt, black salt, pink salt... I've never seen so many varieties. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have you ever read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Salt-World-History-Mark-Kurlansky/dp/0142001619?ie=UTF8&tag=theafran-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Salt: A World History</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theafran-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0142001619" style="border-bottom-style: none !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-style: none !important; border-right-style: none !important; border-top-style: none !important; border-width: initial !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by Mark Kurlansky? I read it a while ago and it was one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Anyway, after reading the book, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">seeing the salt in person boggled my mind.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/128/C0B2D9190C687E66EC38572106FAA53D.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/128/C0B2D9190C687E66EC38572106FAA53D.png" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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I don’t believe I ever shared a picture of Rachel’s birthday cake from her 16th birthday.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uBWsUU4ZtGI/TtviwXi5-pI/AAAAAAAACS4/E7yxb7DnzPI/s1600-h/DSCN985615.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9856" border="0" height="361" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TdNoybTHYrU/TtviwnKa98I/AAAAAAAACTA/zYp9bUXyVdU/DSCN9856_thumb27.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9856" width="313" /></a></div>
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She wanted number candles instead of 16 burning sticks melting wax all over the frosting, so I rummaged through the birthday candles and came up with 16.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AX52CWwvRfI/Ttviw_pINGI/AAAAAAAACTI/KGbrjgWosck/s1600-h/DSCN985414.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9854" border="0" height="662" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TAaVg1HyEBU/TtvixELrqRI/AAAAAAAACTQ/ysBq9isZi-s/DSCN9854_thumb19.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9854" width="556" /></a> </div>
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When the cake came out, she looked at it, smirked, and said, “Yup, that’s 16 all right.”</div>
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When we got Ollie from the Animal Shelter, they were having a buy one get one free deal. Two cats are better than one, so we wandered through the place, trying to decide who to adopt. Violet picked us first, and after a lot of searching, Ollie picked Rachel.</div>
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You’ve heard the old adage “You always get what you pay for,” and this couldn’t be more true for sweet dumb-dumb Ollie. He was the free one. He is the goofiest, silliest, most loveable dork of a cat we have ever known. </div>
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World, meet Ollie.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xhegx1SwoGk/TtvgHfFuGeI/AAAAAAAACHI/aEpRLRyXGOQ/s1600-h/DSCN98643.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9864" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ttC_l5QvqD4/TtvgHzUpKQI/AAAAAAAACHQ/pHikja7PwJs/DSCN9864_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9864" width="644" /></a><br />Can I jump to the house roof?</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bB0pNAKFs6M/TtvgIdY4XfI/AAAAAAAACHY/C3EEnMqX9ys/s1600-h/DSCN98653.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9865" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IHZHvmsoa4k/TtvgJIb1DrI/AAAAAAAACHg/KMh3IEOaqwA/DSCN9865_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9865" width="644" /></a><br />Maybe I can get on the roof this way?</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7TlhTkT9O2k/TtvgJ4uma8I/AAAAAAAACHo/QIiFu_9lDVE/s1600-h/DSCN98997.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9899" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GKKiSUTdstE/TtvgKW8OF3I/AAAAAAAACHw/fHsekpw9rzk/DSCN9899_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9899" width="644" /></a><br />I’m just gonna wait here.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mISNtunIAp4/TtvgK0_Be8I/AAAAAAAACH4/H9b4lOHHP2g/s1600-h/DSCN95843.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9584" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aLIXrV8MXvM/TtvgLdMaY2I/AAAAAAAACIA/GLiCCC5yXUg/DSCN9584_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9584" width="644" /></a><br />I can haz tequila?</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tiDILkEX0os/TtvgMYyyinI/AAAAAAAACII/sYQKlwaqyWo/s1600-h/DSCN96113.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9611" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-COsQJ5pXpbI/TtvgM7coHNI/AAAAAAAACIQ/9M0VCkbRP1A/DSCN9611_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9611" width="644" /></a><br />Gardening makes me pooped out.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QbZj9GBt_nE/TtvgNeOwMbI/AAAAAAAACIY/6tW-zTLGfaw/s1600-h/RSCN94804.jpg"><img alt="RSCN9480" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AmX4G6heLec/TtvgNwRF5KI/AAAAAAAACIg/_lHyCsP9C-I/RSCN9480_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="RSCN9480" width="364" /></a><br />Hold me like dis. My back likes the stretch.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VhT2Nsy20GY/TtvgORqWVpI/AAAAAAAACIo/HNXTDTHVako/s1600-h/DSCN94703.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9470" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-C0oEYBJHbH4/TtvgOxpyQNI/AAAAAAAACIw/1gmpLMc2Jyg/DSCN9470_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9470" width="644" /></a><br />Why you wake me up?</div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D0UEaIdjQO0/TtvgPYb4tTI/AAAAAAAACI4/Y2vPtsoyJwU/s1600-h/DSCN98444.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9844" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DhSoxUbaNkI/TtvgP5SryXI/AAAAAAAACJA/SdZAWKHsSJ0/DSCN9844_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9844" width="364" /></a><br />Dad’s leg is cuddly for nap time.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-CWLRxbXBus8/TtvgQi6-IRI/AAAAAAAACJI/RH-C5Cxfq0E/s1600-h/DSCN86863.jpg"><img alt="DSCN8686" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qVGEwxzwij8/TtvgRFTbt3I/AAAAAAAACJQ/gUOvGckosG4/DSCN8686_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN8686" width="644" /></a><br />Why are you pointing that box at me?</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PVKi64gRc5g/TtvgRanVYXI/AAAAAAAACJY/QTPgkmx6j_w/s1600-h/DSCN87914.jpg"><img alt="DSCN8791" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ulO4HtfjRYs/TtvgRs2WoLI/AAAAAAAACJg/o8-4_8KhhRo/DSCN8791_thumb13.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN8791" width="485" /></a><br />My comfy chair.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SUcEo_3etV4/TtvgSO-pP3I/AAAAAAAACJo/ELQJpcRWjhQ/s1600-h/201106160013.jpg"><img alt="2011-06-16 001" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f3d3tDjWhjA/TtvgSk82G4I/AAAAAAAACJw/zfGRG8pK7CQ/20110616001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="2011-06-16 001" width="644" /></a><br />Nap time.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j8cIrkBGh-M/TtvgTDxAdhI/AAAAAAAACJ4/BhYyVmdnkGQ/s1600-h/DSCN59515.jpg"><img alt="DSCN5951" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HAXe5IK582s/TtvgTkaxYWI/AAAAAAAACKA/zMfgovDZyRA/DSCN5951_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN5951" width="644" /></a><br />Caesar, you watch out for mom while I look for my presents.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jcv5kwxWdns/TtvgUEt7vmI/AAAAAAAACKI/jG3DToZvBio/s1600-h/DSCN59615.jpg"><img alt="DSCN5961" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--D7S5_vPRxE/TtvgUdQuxKI/AAAAAAAACKQ/lfUuz-Gqd7Q/DSCN5961_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN5961" width="644" /></a><br />This water tastes like dog drool.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xOz9dlT6PQo/TtvgU28dyHI/AAAAAAAACKY/CCZYhAmimnc/s1600-h/DSCN86653.jpg"><img alt="DSCN8665" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rKBPGw4hHqs/TtvgVYEwa_I/AAAAAAAACKg/F910nliGz2c/DSCN8665_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN8665" width="644" /></a><br />Bugs are cuddly for napping.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RDspuhY02Xw/TtvgVnmhwPI/AAAAAAAACKo/cfItfGunUo4/s1600-h/RSCN98193.jpg"><img alt="RSCN9819" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0M-_MfA2jtk/TtvgWDQbdkI/AAAAAAAACKw/6UnLo-mfIdU/RSCN9819_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="RSCN9819" width="644" /></a><br />I see you, Mr. Squirrel.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR3OviujVX4AoLNATSWKkcPYKFW9p8gMRUulnG7VEYI0MntntUkfKvknutmUjUQf-axMNNN-M86gJVobABIqaSdW8akn5eJ5N5XijxDaKgAbOM6HQoAU1IKuGTounS0P49QP_8UOxFQ/s1600-h/DSCN97053.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9705" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wA_Oz5j4gSE/TtvgXLYjcaI/AAAAAAAACLA/DhfF5iXBRak/DSCN9705_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9705" width="644" /></a><br />Halp. My claws are stuck in the rug.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AbtIZ3TTlbY/TtvgXV8fS-I/AAAAAAAACLI/t2md9UI1lxI/s1600-h/DSCN97712.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9771" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jqpmNLIT1nY/TtvgXqezFXI/AAAAAAAACLQ/5Hdrzu63Xeg/DSCN9771_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9771" width="244" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qi5Uf_zpxWA/TtvgYHavpbI/AAAAAAAACLY/_MR_sNzLKCw/s1600-h/DSCN97672.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9767" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cWY_vK3oj1U/TtvgYfr5fEI/AAAAAAAACLg/0kNMyK3jZ5Q/DSCN9767_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9767" width="244" /></a><br />No, I don’t know how that tomato ended up on the floor.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-AbtIZ3TTlbY/TtvgXV8fS-I/AAAAAAAACLI/t2md9UI1lxI/s1600-h/DSCN97712.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZOA1yG4mP8A/TtvgYroBaMI/AAAAAAAACLo/EEQuSVoLO0E/s1600-h/DSCN97783.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9778" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jWpArTyHu-E/TtvgYzVeo1I/AAAAAAAACLw/ij-bEHEzP7E/DSCN9778_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9778" width="644" /></a><br />I like jalapeno peppers. They are fun to play with.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QkAwXUjgILo/TtvgZbU8o6I/AAAAAAAACL4/OMr3H6XQpFg/s1600-h/DSCN98123.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9812" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X-qdiKEyYDo/TtvgZ_MFB-I/AAAAAAAACME/DZn1kyuRNd8/DSCN9812_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9812" width="644" /></a><br />Go away, he’s <em>my</em> daddy.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qpkqPhso_d0/TtvgaqXvKnI/AAAAAAAACMM/aCrOo-Jw39E/s1600-h/DSCN98163.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9816" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xLRRow_ESxqrmHnvLxOnf96DhzJLgUbeWAOwP2jN7T-CziGAL52mMtjlZVsFRzQ6vtgvNWzUCrsrt4P0_I3XbZHs1YDifgfT7IZo_7nDp-HEVP3HtuXQ6Jw9IoLaSV6iGkFbdZMXEA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9816" width="644" /></a><br />So if I fall outta the tree again, you catch this time, ok?<br />(Ollie has a habit of falling out of this tree and landing on people’s heads.)</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6sX6PbY9Cxo/TtvgbXbn0pI/AAAAAAAACMc/iHgTOA7nUlM/s1600-h/DSCN96553.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9655" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SoqxxyTZPhk/TtvgbvaJ_pI/AAAAAAAACMk/xNO1jC_7HxI/DSCN9655_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9655" width="644" /></a><br />I can has dog cookie?</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MvyMRF-7edc/TtvgcO6PeyI/AAAAAAAACMs/iG1Y1I06W7E/s1600-h/RSCN84663.jpg"><img alt="RSCN8466" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XVLZd0DvA0U/TtvgcQ0xsLI/AAAAAAAACM0/Xbrqn9RfHFM/RSCN8466_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="RSCN8466" width="644" /></a><br />Zzzzzzzz…</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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</a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12104557126187051303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-53726166099003984322012-01-09T17:18:00.000-08:002012-01-09T17:18:00.952-08:00Hot Peppers and Not-So-Hot Peppers<p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vzr7JNRDB54/TtvhENwXywI/AAAAAAAACNE/fAJBqhlRwWs/s1600-h/DSCN981514.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCN9815" border="0" alt="DSCN9815" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-V7FY-LhVgWM/TtvhETsaYpI/AAAAAAAACNM/cdNBy1YqEa4/DSCN9815_thumb12.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" height="484"></a></p> <p align="center">Last summer, Frank planted several varieties of peppers. The two most prolific varieties were Mariachi (gorgeous colors as they turn red) and Thai peppers (the skinny red ones.)</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E3cV4sA_7-k/TtvhEnAnbDI/AAAAAAAACNU/6k1UsktVr3s/s1600-h/DSCN98273.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN9827" border="0" alt="DSCN9827" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--oE7dGKh-cw/TtvhFI7w7rI/AAAAAAAACNc/xkpNxXc0ZOQ/DSCN9827_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p align="center">Once they were ready, Frank put on some gloves and prepared for a little taste test. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MbBdjy4yLqw/TtvhFTjdZwI/AAAAAAAACNk/jDIGdXT7CtI/s1600-h/DSCN98325.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN9832" border="0" alt="DSCN9832" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0L_meC2_sJM/TtvhF_8mY0I/AAAAAAAACNs/t1IjEH2IGeU/DSCN9832_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p align="center">The Mariachi peppers were nice and sweet with just a little kick. <br>Even the wimpy, Scandinavian members of our household were able to eat them.<br>The Thai peppers, on the other hand, were left to the expert for tasting.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bK_LkcS8kuI/TtvhGI41uXI/AAAAAAAACN0/TLzCS2tkm7s/s1600-h/DSCN98333.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN9833" border="0" alt="DSCN9833" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QqYV3WPVVfY/TtvhGjIeYUI/AAAAAAAACN8/yrmPkY2ePb0/DSCN9833_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484"></a></p> <p align="center">Frank made two kinds of hot sauce with these peppers: Sambal and Piri Piri<br>You can get the recipes off his food blog, DeafChefAtLarge.com</p> <p align="center">Meanwhile, I did my part by saving the seeds to plant next year.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TFKomC18no0/TtvhG4F1EmI/AAAAAAAACOE/xRlEUwPjYBM/s1600-h/DSCN983411.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCN9834" border="0" alt="DSCN9834" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yJVW1D8KwgA/TtvhHGXsj7I/AAAAAAAACOM/qGyC9bh1Ek0/DSCN9834_thumb28.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="484"></a></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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Every now and then, Rachel and I need to just get away and relax. Our favorite direction to head is west, toward the Oregon coast, which is only about an hour from home. We usually take the dog, and the plan is to do some beachcombing and just walk in the wet hard-packed sand, breathing in the briny air and watching the seagulls.</div>
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Getting there is half the fun. Highways 22 and 18 from Salem to Lincoln City first pass through farmland, wineries and vineyards, logging operations, and a casino. Following the casino is our favorite stretch of road: The Van Duzer Corridor. We love the winding highway, passing lanes, moss covered trees, Salmon Creek, and the summit over Murphy Hill.<br />Sure, it’s one of the more dangerous stretches of road due to high traffic volume, limited passing, tight curves, sharp drop-offs (guardrails are a luxury item,) and roadbed undermining, but there’s something magical about it.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E5QodDDf8DY/TtvihUrEwpI/AAAAAAAACPw/BL8MLYWxl48/s1600-h/DSCN987815.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9878" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Na98f_7XNpg/TtvihxBFsxI/AAAAAAAACP4/zTqYDUmTdFA/DSCN9878_thumb13.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9878" width="644" /></a></div>
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On one particular trip, we didn’t have time to go all the way to the coast and back, so we stopped at the rest area at the west end of Van Duzer, just before Rose Lodge. All of these pictures were taken at the rest area in October, but the lush moss and vibrant greenery stay this way all winter long.</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K-UoM9Rz0bU/TtviiMgrUFI/AAAAAAAACQA/VWk1bIJrBP0/s1600-h/DSCN987211.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9872" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-W2Zct0_xNgw/TtviiTDeBRI/AAAAAAAACQI/2ZmrOBuIbDc/DSCN9872_thumb9.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9872" width="644" /></a></div>
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That’s the beauty of Western Oregon – when winter arrives, everything turns all green and beautiful.<br />Our winter climate is like a wet refrigerator; cool and damp.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6LtYh01lydI/TtviiqhfZ4I/AAAAAAAACQQ/bCIpMMgDZbg/s1600-h/DSCN98755.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9875" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QAGrLtX3UHE/Ttvii-x6KpI/AAAAAAAACQY/51WDFk186fY/DSCN9875_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9875" width="644" /></a></div>
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Caesar took a break at the rest area and explored a little. Here he is, King of the Tree Stump. This was either a Douglas Fir or Redwood, with a cut diameter of about 4 feet. It was quite a jump for Caesar to get up onto the stump, too, since it’s about 4 feet high. </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c3wjczHuvbc/TtvijPPZCuI/AAAAAAAACQg/xvvAWMV7AU8/s1600-h/DSCN98743.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9874" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gAvvKCWXZut0Z0pGsn9H4z3W7s-DQUq8vGEY8KKjrED3tKXVMRt2UcHL7svROWNAdsrJxLJvP6XGg40HWMV2IYaxkWT4OHfEvib6KZw3ZMO09sdzwvfq13cqTuOqVc4RYMY_XEcyEw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9874" width="644" /></a></div>
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I can never get enough of the moss. It comes alive in the fall and coats the trees in its various forms: thick dark moss, minty green lichen, chartreuse velvet… I don’t know any of the moss names, so I refer to them based on how they look. Some moss clings tightly to trees, some looks like a fur coat, other forms drip from the branches.</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uTuAWk1eddA/Ttvij6rWjoI/AAAAAAAACQw/Iq178-DbKPQ/s1600-h/DSCN987915.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9879" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-51264x2yNi8/TtvikENxy8I/AAAAAAAACQ4/HePU8USKNME/DSCN9879_thumb13.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9879" width="644" /></a></div>
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Either way, it’s breathtaking.<br />The Van Duzer Corridor may be a dangerous stretch of road, but it’s like a magical fairyland.<br />We love it.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gQNGAeyhaGc/TtvikeHL76I/AAAAAAAACRA/XxM484v3ZaQ/s1600-h/DSCN987615.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9876" border="0" height="484" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wMd4OYfJwB8/Ttvikh4PNAI/AAAAAAAACRI/U2dUmgSR9n0/DSCN9876_thumb13.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9876" width="644" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H_sLZL8ASeA/TtvilCd5yDI/AAAAAAAACRQ/9sb_bgv8B2A/s1600-h/DSCN98804.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9880" border="0" height="184" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SyV0SUAuoUQ/Ttvila_6osI/AAAAAAAACRY/joqcX0p7xqU/DSCN9880_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9880" width="244" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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</a></div>Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12104557126187051303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812225189350245955.post-68866176932156517882011-12-25T11:03:00.000-08:002011-12-25T11:03:00.606-08:00Have a Holly Jolly Christmas<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-x5OR9WTZsLI/TuuWMSSbk9I/AAAAAAAACWM/zLeHU_G_avs/s1600-h/Purple%252520Camera%252520Memory%252520Card%252520016%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Purple Camera Memory Card 016" border="0" alt="Purple Camera Memory Card 016" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6tdq7KcSC3I/TuuWMl6PI_I/AAAAAAAACWU/gduVGRsm0yU/Purple%252520Camera%252520Memory%252520Card%252520016_thumb%25255B11%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="640"></a>It’s the best time of the year.</p> <p align="center">I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer.</p> <p align="center">Oh by golly, have a holly jolly Christmas this year! </p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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A couple weeks ago, I was taking pictures of Ollie on the roof of our carriage house. He was more interested than usual in the jasmine bush, which he is sniffing here in this photo. Later that night we realized there was something good to be sniffed in that spot. <br />See the suet feeder cage hanging from the eaves, just behind and under Ollie?</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qz_G4cNSMp4/Ttvint2tNeI/AAAAAAAACRg/hTNwCHe_9Co/s1600-h/DSCN98984.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9898" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fUpC2GeSQtQ/TtvinwutKuI/AAAAAAAACRo/d8FHczNPe0c/DSCN9898_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9898" width="660" /></a></div>
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That evening, when the pooch was let out to go check his pee-mail, that suet feeder was swinging back and forth wildly. <br />No wind. Huh, that’s odd.</div>
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After posting my curiosity on Facebook, my Midwestern friends suggested a raccoon or a nocturnal squirrel.<br />(I thought it might be a possum. Surely nutria can’t climb, right?)<br />I grabbed the camera and watched. Here’s the carriage house at night. <br />What’s that on the suet feeder?</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AV5MtKFHTtM/TtvioPcmuOI/AAAAAAAACRw/pqgFsImYad8/s1600-h/DSCN99114.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9911" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dZZln9pvTpU/TtvioXStO4I/AAAAAAAACR4/MuOO0hHKtBs/DSCN9911_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9911" width="660" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Oh my goodness, it’s a rat!</span></div>
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<img alt="DSCN9914" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-T1656g61qEs/TtviokMN8wI/AAAAAAAACSA/w1iYv7F8fKI/DSCN9914_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9914" width="660" /></div>
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This is the best I could do with the camera, being nighttime, and I couldn’t get very close. <br />After our little fiasco with getting a hamster (in 2006) our household is now very familiar with rodent gender identification, and this suet- eating rat is a girl.</div>
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We names her <strong>Ratilda</strong>.</div>
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She will <strong>not</strong> become an indoor pet. I promise.<br />Sorry, Frank and Rachel, but you cannot change my mind on this one.</div>
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Our lease prohibits feeding stray animals, and if we are caught placing food outside, it will be considered a pet and we will have to pay a deposit for it. On the other hand, bird feeders are allowed, and I love having bird feeders outside my kitchen windows. The birds haven’t been too interested in either of the suet feeders this year, and the suet cakes are about a year old, so I really don’t care who eats it at this point. But I suppose since we are feeding a rat, it would be amusing to consider Ratilda our pet.<br />Just until I can get some D-Con into Ratilda’s suet, anyway. </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RdtvyPKZmb0/Ttvio1WCn8I/AAAAAAAACSI/84XJUfpuPJ0/s1600-h/DSCN990520.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9905" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-q5vNRUaVwWc/TtvipNig3BI/AAAAAAAACSQ/zhdCA1RUIoc/DSCN9905_thumb22.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9905" width="485" /></a></div>
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So what’s the dealio with the swinging suet? I stepped to the the edge of the deck steps to get a better picture and she jumped from the suet to the jasmine.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wmQSwH2gKIk/TtvipaWpNxI/AAAAAAAACSY/t2QjTVAeIsU/s1600-h/DSCN99066.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9906" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U0GJyrj7eoY/TtvipVc8tgI/AAAAAAAACSg/GnMxcl6Az84/DSCN9906_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9906" width="260" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E9WrR8Y_z4s/Ttviph_zJ7I/AAAAAAAACSo/wYYH5eV3wL0/s1600-h/DSCN99076.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9907" border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_7DDI-cfFWc/Ttvip9RRh6I/AAAAAAAACSw/oXku_oJsrEQ/DSCN9907_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline;" title="DSCN9907" width="260" /></a> </div>
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Then she scampered up the trellis into the rain gutter, ran to the downspout, and disappeared.<br />Aha! She lives in the city storm drains. </div>
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Ratilda came back every night and ate the suet until it was down to a thin wafer at the bottom of the cage. Her acrobatics on the suet feeder amused us, but she gave up on hanging upside down, fighting to eat the last little bit, and hasn’t come back. <br />Time to untangle the feeder from the jasmine and move it to a more bird-friendly spot. With a fresh (and D-Con free) suet cake.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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Last weekend I started the winter yard cleanup. There are still shrubs to be trimmed, rose bushes to cut back, and more leaves to vacuum up (lawn mower with bagging attachment.)</div>
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Last weekend’s project included vacuuming the yard and picking the last of the tomatoes and peppers. I’m not sure if it will work, but we’re saving the seeds from our favorite vegetables and herbs for planting next spring.</div>
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So this past spring when we were buying veggie plants, we saw artichoke plants selling for 75c each. They’re a perennial plant, so we gave it a try, not knowing what to expect. All summer long we watched this big leafy plant grow and grow, but no artichoke. Now that it’s fall, the plant is about 30” tall and I have kind of given up on it for this year. Maybe it needs a year to establish and will produce next year. </div>
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To my surprise, when I walked around to the north side of the yard to get the last of the tomatoes off the monster sized tomato plant, our long-ignored artichoke was there, ready to be picked.</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-71zkdxYT24w/TtvieZa3t3I/AAAAAAAACPg/EuympUX0k-s/s1600-h/DSCN98674.jpg"><img alt="DSCN9867" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6UhSlndpS1E/TtviegV6aBI/AAAAAAAACPo/n-yvGvS1fxM/DSCN9867_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="DSCN9867" width="640" /></a></div>
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Can’t wait to see what it produces next year! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://www.digg.com">
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