Happy Father's Day to all the Dads, Grandpas, Uncles etc out there!

 

Our preparations for Father's day were a bit of an adventure. I asked my husband for gift ideas, of which he said he had many and gave me none. So I had to think and figure something out for myself.

 

My Dad's shopping is what took us on the adventure. My Dad like the driving cap style hats. It started when I brought him back one from Edinburgh Scotland (from the woolen mills of course). That one wore out and I found one in a really nice shop in Vail Village in Colorado. That one too is wearing out (It has been over 20 years since I went to Scotland and 10-15 since I bought the Vail hat.) Two or three years ago, I remember stopping at an old store near the Saturday Market and seeing these driving caps. I couldn't remember the name or EXACTLY where it was, but I knew sort of where it was. So Carl and I set off to downtown Portland on Friday afternoon (nothing like cutting it close!)

 

I parked in a garage that I thought was close, and we set out walking. There was a new Barnes and Noble that looked like it was in the building I was thinking of, which had me dissapointed. I then realized (after walking a few more blocks) that we were too far south, so I had to walk north. After some more walking and hearing "I'm tired, can we rest?" many times, we found the store. It's name is Portland Outdoor Store. It is a very old store that specializes in western wear and tack, but they also carry menswear. I loved the store! It was very warm and the people were helpful without being pushy. It has a bygone era's elegance. I really enjoyed shopping there.

 

They don't have a website, but google had information:

 

They are located at:

(503) 222-1051‎

 

There is a store in Portland called US Outdoor.  While I am sure it is really cool too, it is more of a outdoor sports store, not this old western store.

 

Ok, so after we found the hat, I asked Carl if he wanted to go to any other stores. First he said Toys R US (of which there are none downtown) and then Ross. So We went shopping at Ross. Carl found a discounted Mater Megablocks set and a few of Cars items that were needed in our house. We looked some more and Carl found a DVD of Pink Panther cartoons. He wanted to get that for Daddy. So we paid for our purchases and headed for the door, only to realize there was a major sudden downpour. This was not the normal soft Oregon rain, this is the hard stuff that really soaks you and hurts when it hits you.

 

We then discovered that Ross didn't have a good selection of umbrellas (they sold out in the first two minutes of the storm) or raingear. We were only three blocks from the car, so Carl and I headed out into the mess. The eaves didn't provide much protection, but they were better that walking uncovered. Carl was really pulling away from me, I looked to discover he was trying walk purposely in the water draining off the eaves. Crazy kid.

 

About halfway back was Nordtrom Rack. We stopped in and I bought an umbrella. Carl wanted me to buy the full size houndstooth umbrella, I wanted the compact brown with polka dots. I got my way on that one. We then set off to the car.

 

Thinking that traffic might be bad on the highway, we took Burnside home. Once out of the city center proper, there area has a lot more trees. A large branch dropped in front the of the car! Thank goodness for good brakes on my car and the cars behind me!

 

We then went to Home Depot. Rich had mentioned that he needed new batteries for his cordless tools. The rechargables weren't holding a charge anymore. I found them quickly and went home. I was so beat I needed a nap. Carl didn't cooperate....

______

 

Baby Sam's dad won father of the year at the Oregon Zoo!

http://www.oregonzoo.org/Newsroom/2009releases/2009June.htm#foy

 

Vote for Sam for cutest zoo baby:

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-srv/zoobabies2009/vote.html

He is the baby elephant that is swimming. (not the one that is nursing).

 

 

I uploaded a video of Carl from 2005, he is laughing and playing in the snow. What a great laugh!

 

We went winetasting in Yamhill County over Memorial Day this year.

 

The first day we focused on Wineries west of Newberg, down highway 240.

 

We went to Penner Ash, Patricia Green, Beaux Freres, Shea and JK Carriere. While at Penner Ash, someone told us of a party concept - a Shea party, everyone bring a bottle of wine with Shea grapes in it. It is possible as many wineries have bottlings of Shea. We bought some of their Shea futures.

 

We picked up futures at Beaux Freres and ordered futures from Penner Ash, Patricia Green, Beaux Freres and Shea. At JK Carriere we bought some of their wonderful white Pinot Noir - Glass.

 

For the next tasting day we focused on the Red Hills south of Dundee. We had been to a few of the wineries there before and wanted to go to some that we had not been to. We went to Stoller, Vista Hills, Winter's Hill, White Rose and Durant (Cottonwood was also tasting there). We really liked Stoller and White Rose - they are some of our favorites. Vista Hill had some tasty wines too, plus I love their tasting room. Winter's Hill specialty seems to be more in the sweet wines. The location was charming. Durant is at Red Ridge Farms, whick is a really cool nursery featuring herbs and their own Olive Oil.

 

We have in the past visited Wine Country Farms, Domaine Serene, Domaine Drouhin and Archery Summit. We still have never visited DePonte or Sokol Blosser.  Next time maybe...

Carl played t-ball this spring. It was fun. It took a while to hear what was happening, and I ended up being assistant coach.

 

It was a very fun season - most of the time I was saying "quit playing in the dirt" or "quit watching the ducks."

 

Some of the kids really started to get the skills - there was one little guy who got 4 people "out" at first, two unassisted. It was really hard moving him off the base, but I had to give everyone a turn.

 

 

 

 

Here is a link to photos from a wine tasting trip.

 

Carl and Rich are in Dancing with the dads. Here is the link:

 

 

Friday was the last day of school. I went to pick up Carl. Since I volunteered at the school this year, I wanted to say goodbye to the kids in Carl's class, especially one that was moving.

 

I made up photo packs for the teacher, teaching assistant and each kid for pictures I took over the year. I started printing them on the printer, but that did not go too smoothly. I then discovered Costco photo. That went really well. I picked them up two hours later and got them all seperated. I also burned a CD for everyone, since I took some videos too.

 

Here is the kids singing the goodbye song they sang everyday.

 

 

The last day was very special. Since the fifth graders would be moving on to middle school next year, the school has a "clap out" tradition. The other classes line the hallway as the fifth graders leave and cheer, clap and high five them. It was pretty cool to watch. I only had met a few of the fifth graders and I still teared up. What a mom I am...

Carl has finally got the hang of tying his shoes. Yesterday morning we were going through the normal morning routine of watching the video then tying the shoes, and Carl decided to try the second way listed in the video. It clicked and he can now tie his little Ironman Reeboks. The look of pride in himself was priceless!

 

He came home yesterday with his Five Star General certificate. He then called Daddy and Grandpa and Grandma. We took him to Chuck E Cheeses that night.

 

Here is a link to the first Shoe Tying entry:

 

 

Here is the link to the video:

 

I have uploaded new videos to YouTube:

 

 

Enjoy!

We are really blessed with a bed of volunteer garlic. Many years ago we discovered the scape, which is the stalk of the plant.

 

We usually prepare them by lightly coating with olive oil and spinkling with salt and grilling them. It isn't for very long, just a few minutes until they are a little brown and heated through.

 

They have been a great change for the meal.

I recently heard that Choice Ramen has been discontinued. I am so sad.

 

I went to Fred Meyer and did a major stock up, which should last a while. It is so sad that the healthy version is going away.

 

There are a few other choices out there see old entry:

 

 

Baby Samudra (Baby Sam) the elephant from the Oregon Zoo is up for cutest Zoo Baby for 2009.

 

Vote for Sam!

 

 

A wonderful teacher and puppeteer, Penny Walter, is up for a Nickelodeon award! This is a plug to vote for her!

 

 

 

We are working on teaching Carl to tie his shoes. This skill is not coming quickly to him.

 

I found a YouTube video that is helping:

 

For the end of the year, there were five things the teacher wants the kids to learn. They are:

1. First and Last Name

2. Address including city and state

3. Phone number

4. Birthday day and month

5. Tying your shoes

 

The list came home two weeks ago. The first four were no problem, but we didn't have tie shoes for Carl. He hadn't had a pair of tied shoes in a few years. They all had velcro. So with a very lucky trip to Ross Dress for Less, we came home with a pair of tied shoes that are cool. Cool to my son is white with red Ironman hightops.

 

So now we practice. And practice and practice. It will happen.