Coming Home

The Visitor

I was washing windows yesterday and heard a rustle around the house. I came across this deer walking around eating all of the nice landscaping. He could care less that I was around, but eventually just turned his back and walked off.

putting away my grain train

The water is just fine!

What great timing. We set up our pool on Monday and we are having the hottest week of the year so far... Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good!



Even Rachel got in on the action.



The next Bruce Lee? Maybe some day!!!

Pics From The Weekend

Here are a few pictures from the holiday weekend. We originally planned to go to Rowena and hike, ride bikes and shoot off a few firearms but ended up changing plans Saturday morning. Instead of heading up the gorge and frolicking in the sun we ended up staying home, planting the garden, putting up the pool, hiking Powell Butte, working on my truck, and eating! BBQ chicken one night, burgers another and spaghetti yet another.

It was the first full weekend Lori and I have had together with the family in several months and it was wonderful. No baseball, no trains to get to Seattle, and no hassles. It was a weekend of catch up and getting things ready for summer... which is right around the corner by the way.

I hope you had a great weekend. Leave me a comment and let me know how you spent your weekend...

Memorial Day

Today we remember the lives of you, the soldier who died to defend our freedom. The young men and women who gave of themselves the ultimate sacrifice of life to see to it that the rest of us can remain secure, protected, and free. Selflessly you spent many an hour battling enemies we will never have to face ourselves in conditions we can't imagine here in our comfortable living spaces we have come to enjoy. You fought for people you've never met and many times for causes you never fully understood.

Today we honor you, the fallen soldier. Your dedication to a cause that ultimately cost you your life. Your sacrifice can not be measured and your bravery can not be duplicated. Thank you for your sacrifice for me. Jesus says the ultimate form of love is to lay one's life down for his friends. The love of humanity, fellow citizen, and country is exemplified in your sacrifice. Today we honor you and say Thank You!

I hope that there is a special place in heaven for the one's who have laid their lives down for our country and our freedom.

A Visit From Caitlin

We were in the yard working yesterday and my bright smiling niece came walking by with her friend... You look just like your mom :) Only younger!

BTW... Your hair looks great.

Putting Up The Pool :-)

We put up the pool this afternoon. It is a nice indication that summer has almost arrived.

Flowers

Here are a couple of shots from our front yard I took today. I love this time of year! Sunny and 74 degrees.

It's Melon Time

It looks as if the melons have arrived in full force. My favorite is honeydew... What is yours?

You make the call!

Being the Umpire In Chief for Portland Little League I am compelled to watch hours of extensive film to get familiar with particular styles of pitching, umpire techniques, and other aspects of being a quality umpire. I came across this film recently and thought I would share it. I understand that to an untrained eye the call would be quite difficult, but I am here to tell you that a professional such as myself can and should be able to make the right call...

Enjoy the film



And by the way... this is not a strike.

Outstanding Student

Austin received the Outstanding Student award for Finance this evening at school. He is graduating with a 3.92 GPA and is really excited about finishing up the year and moving on to college this fall.

Great job Austin!

Our New Brown Belt

Grayson earned his brown belt today. Next is his poom belt and then his black... This is a reward to his very hard work and dedication.

Great Job Grayson!!!

We pulled into the train yard and discovered our drawbar was broke. Good thing it didnt fall out!

Another rained out game!

Oh, what to do?

OK, I am stumped today. I didn't take a picture, I am out of town sitting in a hotel, and I am kind of lazy and in a funk. So, what am I to do?

I thought about going through my pic's folder and just selecting one. I also thought I would just snap any old shot from my phone and send it in. But finally I just decided to give you a mental picture today. You know, paint one with words... So here goes.

The old grumpy railroad conductor is sitting on his hard wooden chair in his dimly lit hotel room typing gently on his laptop computer. The mini fridge in his room is whirling like a noisy machine in a small factory as he struggles to create a mental picture for his daily blog. The covers of his bed are messy and his hair is disheveled as he contemplates the words that come forth from his fingers. Suddenly he stops... "enough said" he thinks as he hits the enter button on his computer and sends his blog post instantly into cyberspace...

Did you get the picture? :)

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day



Proverbs 31:10-31 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

Rachel

A couple of Pictures of Rachel today. She hung out with the family and learned how to climb a tree...



Getting up was easy... coming down was a bit more challenging.

Bridger Spring 2009 Musical

Grayson had a concert Thursday night. Here are a couple of videos. I hope you enjoy them...

90 Years and counting

Grayson wanted to help celebrate the 90th anniversary of A&W by partaking in a 90 cent rootbeer float.





Yummy!!!

Arlington, OR Sunrise

Delivering the garbage.

Our Other Sun Bathing Beauty

We had some sun a couple weeks ago and Austin was sure to take advantage of it...

Another night shift

Sammy!

Alpenrose Portland LL 2009

After all of the rain yesterday the field was quite wet. Here I am out inspecting the work of the coaches on the pitcher's mound. It was a little sloshy for the first couple of innings but improved once the sun came out.











Grayson had a game at Alpenrose this morning and they lost 15-4. Gray got on base twice and scored once... Pretty good game for him.

I still hate cats

I am sitting here this evening reading and Orange decided it was time to give him my undivided attention.



I guess he forgot that I hate cats :)

What a Rain Storm

If you live in the Pacific Northwest you are frequently blessed with "scattered showers." Today was a day of many showers and unfortunately for Austin, he was caught outside right in the middle of one that I haven't seen the likes of in a very long time.

Here are a couple of pictures of his misfortune. He was walking Champ this afternoon and right in the middle of the walk the sky opened up and unleashed it's fury.

Austin tried to find shelter under a tree and allowed Champ to be off of his leash for a moment. Champ decided that this was a bit too much of a rain storm for his liking, so he took off running and ran 3 blocks to the house and waited for a very frustrated dog owner to return.

The Cross