Cam & Betsy surprised us on Saturday night. What a happy surprise for us!
And today was a beautiful day to see the Chinese Garden.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday Afternoon at the Chinese Garden
Cam & Betsy surprised us on Saturday night. What a happy surprise for us!
And today was a beautiful day to see the Chinese Garden.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Lucy's Big Day
Claire & TJ had a little party for their 1-year old's birthday.
Singing along with the Happy Birthday Song.
Diving In.
YUM!
***The cake was from a dog bakery****
Isn't she cute?
Singing along with the Happy Birthday Song.
Diving In.
YUM!
***The cake was from a dog bakery****
Isn't she cute?
Monday, February 18, 2008
K & K's Wedding
We rented a Hummer for the rough drive up the mountain. There have been lots of news stories about the treacherous conditions getting to the mountain and it's been a very snowy year. The girlfriends were concerned about putting on chains (they went up the day before - without the men) and having a wedding on Mt. Hood in the middle of February seemed like it might be a bit tricky for the guests.
But it was a glorious drive to Mt. Hood yesterday. Portland had sun and 60 degrees so we knew it would be gorgeous at Timberline Lodge. The drive was quick and easy, and I snapped a few shots of the mountain on the way. There's 10 feet of snow along the road side and over 15 feet at Mt. Hood.
The snow was dirty and deep, but the roads were clear and dry.
Finally, we approached the lodge, and the parking lot was full by 10am. We were fortunate enough to be offered hotel parking, since we were clearly dressed for a wedding, and not for skiing!
Remember the movie "The Shining?" They used this lodge for the exterior of the hotel in the movie and it's fun to imagine what it would be like to be stranded here. REDRUM! If Jack Nicholson weren't chasing me around, I'd be fine in the bar on the top floor waiting for my rescue.
The hotel is just lovely, and the wedding was in a softly-lit room on a lower level, and the reception was at the very top. The view to the South was beautiful yesterday, and you could see Mt. Jefferson and the Sisters all the way south to Bend.
The bride was stunning, and her handsome groom was practically melting as he watched her recite her vows. The girlfriends were suffering from too much fun the night before, but we still had a wonderful day filled with love & laughter!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
My Valentine
gave me oodles of tulips.
and
a new coffeemaker, just like Kim's!
We had chocolates and coffee for breakfast.
Muah!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Will I ever move?
In 10+ years of looking at some of Portland's most beautiful neighborhoods and enjoying the luxury of seeing people's most intimate spaces, their homes, I am often drawn to the question of whether or not I would give up my home for theirs. Certainly, and without doubt, I have seen houses worth a heck of a lot more money and way more beautiful than mine. And without the quirks of mine.
Next door to an elementary school? The kids arrive and start playing in the yard at around 8. I never realize how much sound is generated until summer vacation begins.
But it's a happy sound that I love. I can look at them from my kitchen window. From there I can also see the trees planted in memory of two dear friends whose children attended the school. It's where my little kids were whisked in the winter of 1993, and where they found that it's OK to transfer cross-country to a new school when your mom is right next door. There is more of an emotional tie to that place than I've ever really put into words. And the sunsets over the fields and the wetlands are spectacular.
5600 square feet? For two people and a dog? There are four bedrooms upstairs, and two bathrooms. That leaves three bedrooms that are only used on holidays. They are still shrines to the kids' school years, and Cam's room holds the large bookcase that contains ALL of their children's books. Am I ready to get rid of those? Nope. Where would they keep all their precious junk if we had a smaller house? Should I decorate one as "the sewing room" and the others as "dens or guest rooms?" For now I want them to remain Claire, Whit & Cam's rooms. Easy.
The main floor is perfect. A medium sized living room, with two pianos that hardly get played, and a nice wood-burning fireplace. It's the perfect room for the perfect Christmas tree. And everything is about the Christmas tree, so forget about a living room with a lower ceiling. The dining room could be much larger and I'd be happy, but we can swing the table all the way into the living room and we served 18 at Thanksgiving, so it works. Now the kitchen - here's a room that needs some attention. 1991 tile counters and oak cabinets are so not glamorous. I'd like a sleek, sexy kitchen. We're working on ideas for that and Norris would like to pull the trigger, but wait until you finish reading and you'll see where the money is going. There's a large, square family room with a huge wall of bookshelves, a big picture window and another fireplace. We live in this space and it's very comfortable. One utility room, a guest room and bathroom and my home office complete the first floor. Can't improve on this layout.
There's a great big finished basement for the kids' parties and there's a little kitchen, a bedroom and another bathroom. We could really rent this whole part out, if we could stand having another person in the house. Which we can't. Too bad, because that could pay for the kitchen remodel, LOL.
Now here's the expensive part. The outside. It seems like acres of siding that is dirty, old and desperately needs replacement, or to tide us over for the next 8 years, a really good paint job. The deck was poorly constructed out of inferior materials, and needs replacement. The landscape in the back yard has to go. First, we don't need a yard, and second, we would like some taller evergreen trees that block the view of the school building. That's priority one, and the deck is priority two. Painting - priority three. (Because the deck can be put on in the rain so we can get it done before dry weather arrives)
Last, but not least, we are working on plans for a courtyard in the front. There is too much garden for me to handle in spite of my love of flowers - I hate to weed! So we're hoping for large cement squares, with wild thyme or some dense grass in between the squares, a beautiful palm tree, and lots of soft, easy care plants and grasses, and a cutting garden. And a big fence to keep the neighbors from getting a shot of me in my pajamas on the laptop.
So that's a little tour of our house, and I think it's pretty clear that we're here to stay. I'm not ready to go! Maybe if I get energetic (or do some spring cleaning) I'll post a few pics.
Next door to an elementary school? The kids arrive and start playing in the yard at around 8. I never realize how much sound is generated until summer vacation begins.
But it's a happy sound that I love. I can look at them from my kitchen window. From there I can also see the trees planted in memory of two dear friends whose children attended the school. It's where my little kids were whisked in the winter of 1993, and where they found that it's OK to transfer cross-country to a new school when your mom is right next door. There is more of an emotional tie to that place than I've ever really put into words. And the sunsets over the fields and the wetlands are spectacular.
5600 square feet? For two people and a dog? There are four bedrooms upstairs, and two bathrooms. That leaves three bedrooms that are only used on holidays. They are still shrines to the kids' school years, and Cam's room holds the large bookcase that contains ALL of their children's books. Am I ready to get rid of those? Nope. Where would they keep all their precious junk if we had a smaller house? Should I decorate one as "the sewing room" and the others as "dens or guest rooms?" For now I want them to remain Claire, Whit & Cam's rooms. Easy.
The main floor is perfect. A medium sized living room, with two pianos that hardly get played, and a nice wood-burning fireplace. It's the perfect room for the perfect Christmas tree. And everything is about the Christmas tree, so forget about a living room with a lower ceiling. The dining room could be much larger and I'd be happy, but we can swing the table all the way into the living room and we served 18 at Thanksgiving, so it works. Now the kitchen - here's a room that needs some attention. 1991 tile counters and oak cabinets are so not glamorous. I'd like a sleek, sexy kitchen. We're working on ideas for that and Norris would like to pull the trigger, but wait until you finish reading and you'll see where the money is going. There's a large, square family room with a huge wall of bookshelves, a big picture window and another fireplace. We live in this space and it's very comfortable. One utility room, a guest room and bathroom and my home office complete the first floor. Can't improve on this layout.
There's a great big finished basement for the kids' parties and there's a little kitchen, a bedroom and another bathroom. We could really rent this whole part out, if we could stand having another person in the house. Which we can't. Too bad, because that could pay for the kitchen remodel, LOL.
Now here's the expensive part. The outside. It seems like acres of siding that is dirty, old and desperately needs replacement, or to tide us over for the next 8 years, a really good paint job. The deck was poorly constructed out of inferior materials, and needs replacement. The landscape in the back yard has to go. First, we don't need a yard, and second, we would like some taller evergreen trees that block the view of the school building. That's priority one, and the deck is priority two. Painting - priority three. (Because the deck can be put on in the rain so we can get it done before dry weather arrives)
Last, but not least, we are working on plans for a courtyard in the front. There is too much garden for me to handle in spite of my love of flowers - I hate to weed! So we're hoping for large cement squares, with wild thyme or some dense grass in between the squares, a beautiful palm tree, and lots of soft, easy care plants and grasses, and a cutting garden. And a big fence to keep the neighbors from getting a shot of me in my pajamas on the laptop.
So that's a little tour of our house, and I think it's pretty clear that we're here to stay. I'm not ready to go! Maybe if I get energetic (or do some spring cleaning) I'll post a few pics.
Isn't it Fun?
Whenever I see clients, or even in conversations with friends, they all love to hear about the houses I've been through. It's a fun job to look at houses every day! And I've been loving a lot of houses lately! Here are two gorgeous ones that my clients are currently in the process of buying...
The first is on one of the best streets in town, as far as I'm concerned, because it has huge trees and privacy in back and a striking city & mountain view out the front. This house will have it's 100'th birthday in 2014 and I can't wait for the party!
This next one is in my neighborhood and is a classic. The street is named after the house's original owners, and their torn and tattered 1940's landscape blueprint is framed in the hallway. I'm heartened to know the buyers will revert to the original landscape once the house is theirs! It has amazing windows and light and an enormous kitchen! And the most amazing fir trees.
The first is on one of the best streets in town, as far as I'm concerned, because it has huge trees and privacy in back and a striking city & mountain view out the front. This house will have it's 100'th birthday in 2014 and I can't wait for the party!
This next one is in my neighborhood and is a classic. The street is named after the house's original owners, and their torn and tattered 1940's landscape blueprint is framed in the hallway. I'm heartened to know the buyers will revert to the original landscape once the house is theirs! It has amazing windows and light and an enormous kitchen! And the most amazing fir trees.
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