Enoying life

We got here a bit later than we had planned last night, so we didn't get much more done than unpacking the truck...and loading it all back up the "hill". Now that I only have a splint on my foot I can walk and pack up a little bit more - Jamie is still watching me all the time tho. Just a couple more weeks and I should be all healed! It sure seems like it's been forever!

Rick arrived around 8am and Jamie brought Franklin over. You can literally see a smile on Moxie's face the minute she sees Franklin coming in the boat. Then they run and run and run. They are now both basking in the sun - after drinking bowls of water. Jamie and Rick were off to Seattle by 8:30am - Jamie bought a backhoe so they went to pick it up. (Unfortunately the thing is going to have to sit in my driveway until we can get everything needed to float it over to the property. And, it's not a little thing!) Yes, Jamie likes to buy things...ALL kinds of things...I knew that when I met him. : )

So now I'm sitting outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine and listening to the birds. I can see a couple of boats and wave runners out on the lake - I'll have to wait my turn. I moved a few things around this morning and then cleaned up inside the shed a bit. Since the guys will be gone another 3 hours or so, I thought I'd get on the computer for a bit and then do some reading...maybe throw in a nap there somewhere.

Hopefully we'll get the toilet in today or tomorrow as well as finish the wall inside of the bathroom. We've already made another design change in there (more on that later)...the "fun" of building.

OH - couldn't believe it yesterday when we were on our way out. I realized that I had forgotten my camera!! I wanted Jamie to turn around and go back, but apparently that was not an option. So...I called Rick and asked him if he'd bring his for me to borrow for a couple of days. I don't know what I was thinking!?!

"Why I smiled today" - I woke up at 3am to an amazing sky full of stars! We don't have any window coverings yet so it was just like sleeping under the stars.

Goin to the lake

Our composting toilet came in yesterday, so Jamie & I are heading up to the lake today to install it in the shed. We don't have water running to the property yet, it doesn't have to use electricty and composting toilets are a huge benefit to the envorinment, so I can't wait to see how well is does! After much research, we purchased a Sun-Mar Excel self-contained unit from a local dealer. The toilets are then built back East and shipped out. You can find info at http://www.sun-mar.com/.

WHAT is a composting toilet you ask??? A composting toilet is any system that converts human waste into an organic compost and usable soil, through the natural breakdown of organic matter into its essential minerals. Toilet waste is over 90% water content. The Sun-Mar evaporates this liquid and carries it back to the atmosphere via the vent system. A Sun-Mar can evaporate up to 2 gallons per day. That’s a lot, when you consider there is no flushing water to bother with. By evaporating liquids, your Sun-Mar is ensuring that no pathogens or nutrients escape to pollute your lake, river, stream or groundwater. Zero output means zero pollution. We will probably use the same type of thing in the house once we get it built...years from now. : )

"Why I smiled today" - because it's Friday and the weather is beautiful! You can't beat a nice, sunny day in Oregon! (Okay...well...maybe a beautiful day in Washington on Silver Lake is just as good!)

The "Crew"

One of our neighbors on the island sent a few photos from July 4th. After we went tubing, we visited them and then later watched fireworks from their boat dock.

It's Tuesday!

Another beautiful day in Oregon! It's been above 90 degrees all day, but with the breeze it's been nice enough to just sit outside and enjoy...yep...and cold beer!

"Why I smiled today" - because Makena & I were hanging around the house all day in our pj's. I actually took a shower at 4pm and had to run some errands - Makena is still in her jammies! (It's not all that unusual for her in the Summer tho!)

Walden Island - Day 17 & 18

It was still cloudy on Saturday morning and ended up raining that afternoon. Jamie did get a chance to get drywall up on the upstairs wall - TeaLee helped him do that. He then took TeaLee and a couple of neighbor kids out on the wave runner. Makena wanted to swim a bit in the rain, but that didn't last long.

Nikki and TeaLee had to go home, so Jamie, Makena, Carol and I spent the rest of the day watching movies inside the house.

On Sunday we cleaned up around the house and headed back home. We aren't sure if we'll be up again sometime during the week, or if we are going to have to wait for a bit. Jamie bought some machinery to dig at the property, so we'll pick that up as soon as we can. We have to wait for our floating dock to come in (more stuff being shipped from the East Coast) before we can haul that over.

Walden Island - more Day 16

July 4 was Day 16 at the lake. Nikki & TeaLee arrived before Dylona & Jason had to leave, so the girls all got to swim and play together for a while.

After taking Makena, TeaLee and Sydney out on the tube, we went back to the house to dry off and get ready for fireworks. Makena was too tired and just couldn't stay up to see any. The rest of us walked down to a neighbors to watch fireworks from their dock.

Walden Island - Day 15, 16

Thursday, July 3 was Day 15 up at the lake. The Flaherty's came up to visit for the first time - Kylah couldn't wait to visit "Auntie Amber's Island" and ride in Uncle Jamie's boat. She also wanted to drive a 'motor home' - which I finally figured out was the wave runner. : )

Jason helped Jamie put the door in and drywall up for the bathroom. We still need to close in the wall under the stairs and get the actual compost toilet in (it's being shipped from the East Coast) and then we'll actually have a bathroom!

We rode the wave runners and took the boat out - Jamie showed Jason how to drive the boat. (I know I'm back tracking a little here...) We were out on the lake for most of the day. Then we went back to the house to make dinner and watch some pre-4th fireworks.

Dylona & Jason had family plans for the 4th, so they left that afternoon. We are all planning to go up again soon so that we can spend more time playing on the lake.

"Why I smiled today" - Kylah was so excited that she could drive me around on the wave runner.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th! We can't wait to see the fireworks from out on the lake - we got a sneak peak from some of the neighbors yesterday. Here is one of the many flags proudly displayed on Walden Island.

We played in the lake yesterday with Kylah, Kallie, Dylona & Jason. Kylah went out in the wave runner with me for her first time and drove like a pro. She loved it and got to go even faster on them with her mom and dad...she didn't want to get off! She went out with Jamie again today. Sydney also got to go out on the wave runner and drive herself - she passed her boating test and couldn't wait to get out on the water.

The weather was a bit cooler today, but we still went out to play for a bit. Nikki came this morning with TeaLee and Makena, but Dylona, Jason and the girls had to leave. Makena and TeaLee went out on the tube - it was Makena's first time. They laughed and laughed! Then...we hit a wave from passing boat...and they flew off. They were both pretty shocked at first, but say that they will get on the tube again some day. Hopefully they will.

"Why I smiled today" - I have pictures that explain it all...actually, I have hundreds (literally) from today and just can't post all of them.

We're heading out again.

We are off to the lake again this morning. Carol is on her last few days of her visit. Dylona, Jason, Kylah & Kallie will be joining us today. And then Nikki & TeaLee will be coming up on Friday and bringing Makena up with them. Sydney is also going to be spending the weekend with us - we're gonna put her to work!

"Why I smiled today" - because Jamie decided he HAD to load up the trailer last night, we had to run out at 2am this morning to put tarps (a couple very small ones) over the drywall and door. We had a beautiful thunder storm last night...and there were some pretty big rain drops!

Proud to be an Oregonian!

For those of you that don't live in Oregon & don't drink beer (what is wrong with you??) - July is one of the best months to be an Oregonian! That is because July is Oregon Craft Beer Month!! Oregon is the only state to have an entire month devoted to celebrating the craft brewing industry. How great is that!?! Oregon has SO many wonderful breweries & beers!! And, if you haven't been to a McMenamins and tried one of their many beers, you're missing out on a great thing in life!

My personal favorite from Deschutes Brewery:

I am going to have a "Why I smiled today" on each day that I post on my blog. Feel free to add yours in the comment section!

"Why I smiled today" - because I enjoyed a cold Mirror Pond while Jamie mowed the yard!

Time for dessert!

As Carol was picking out a dessert for herself; Makena and TeaLee were drooling over other items in the bakery. Carol let them pick out whatever they wanted...

Don't worry Nikki, I did make her eat dinner first! : )

The Dog-Days of Summer

It cooled down a bit tonight - and there was a nice breeze - so we spent time outside enjoying it! Makena played a new game on her Gameboy, Carol read a book, Jamie made us some burgers and I finally got my garden planted. The garden is looking a bit sad with only 4 little plants in it, but it usually does pretty well.

Kallie & Kallie

I pointed out Kallie to herself in the mirror...too cute!

Happy 2nd Birthday Ivie Rose!

We went to Ivie's 2nd Birthday party tonight. Her birthday was actually on the 22nd but Tracie is wonderful enough to plan Ivie's parties so that we can attend and not miss Relay. Thanks Twadie!

Happy Birthday Roses!

Farmer's Market...finally!

This is the first Saturday that we've been able to get to the Hillsboro Farmer's Market this year. I gave up on the idea of having a garden (and was not too happy about that) but I did want to get a few herbs. Well...the lady I was buying some herbs from talked me in to some tomato plants too - she said they'd do fine. I only bought one (Black Cherry) tomato and then a zucchini and a cucumber - she threw in another tomato plant. I also picked up a basil and parsley to make some yummy sandwiches. Much less than I normally plant.

We tried to get Moxie to go in the fountain, but she didn't want to - she was a bit thirsty tho. She doesn't enjoy the heat...

Wheewww...it was already hot out by 9am! I'm not complaining tho, I love the heat! Of course I'd rather be on a tropical beach somewhere...my backyard and a cold beer will have to do!

Walden Island Day 13 & 14

Day 13 - Jamie built the stairs going up to the loft. We had to make a few changes along the way; things just don't always go as planned! They turned out great tho, and we will be sleeping up on the loft very soon.

Nikki came to pick up TeaLee on Wednesday night. This was the first time for her to see the island too.

On Day 14, Jamie got the floor of the loft finished as well as built a half wall. He then framed in the walls for the bathroom downstairs (under the stairs). We hope to have that finished on our next trip up.

Walden Island Day 11 & 12

Day 11 (Monday, June 23) on Walden Island was mostly just us traveling up there and getting things ready inside the shed. We were still unpacking from Relay and had things to do before leaving for the island that afternoon. TeaLee came up with us to spend some time playing. We spent our first night inside the shed - it was much warmer than being in the tent! This was also the first time that Carol (Jamie's mom) had gotten to visit the property. She flew out last Wednesday and is here until the 7th.

Day 12 was more playing. Jamie had to drive to Seattle to look at equipment - that took most of the day for him. The girls spent most of the morning asking to swim, so Carol & I finally took them. When Jamie got back, we took them out on the wave runners and to swim a bit more. It was a beautiful day!

Jamie did have time to get the front step built. It's now much easier to get in/out of the shed.

Back up to Silver Lake

We are heading back up to the lake this morning. Jamie is still asleep...it's been a really long week for him. He flew out of town on business last Monday and returned on Saturday - and went straight to Relay. It's a good thing he's sleeping tho...I haven't packed up anything yet for our week at the lake. Actually, I haven't even gone to the grocery store yet!

Relay!!

Whewww...Relay For Life of Hillsboro 2008 has come and gone. What a GREAT event!! I was up at 4:30am on Saturday morning - we had a lot of things to do before the event. Relay started at 10am with the Opening Ceremony and then the Survivor Lap to start off the celebration!

I did get about a 30 min 'power nap' in around 5:00am on Sunday morning...otherwise it was a full 24+ hours! My team (Tami's Reading Railroad) raised around $9200.00 - and are still going!! We have a few weeks left to turn in money...good thing, because I keep finding envelopes in my bag! I love that I get to spend this time with my family and friends - and with My Reason to Relay; my Aunt Tami.

After loading and unloading all of our stuff from Relay - we were all asleep by noon on Sunday. Happy Panda (yummy Chinese) was delivered at 5:30pm. We had dinner, watched some tv and were back to bed!