Thursday, October 4, 2007

new glass roof

well, we'll start small and work our way up.....of all the big events of the last month, believe it or not getting the glass replaced on our roof was actually one of the smaller things. of course it cost an arm and a leg, and required a boom lift, and involved some broken glass in our bathtub--but compared to a birth and a wedding, it was minor....



so here is the reason we called the glass guys in the first place--this wasn't going ot make it another winter. unfortunately NO ONE would touch it, either glass places said it wasn't something they could do, and roof places said they didn't want to even attempt to climb up our steep a-frame to look at it esp in the rainy weather. we got shuffled around a lot until we found THE GUYS--glass roof specialists, used to building those huge all glass highrises. they looked at it and said that the existing glass was single pane glass that would break into 1000's of pieces in the event of an earth quake or a tree branch hitting it in high winds. the framing wasn't looking too great either. we knew eventually it had to be done, but we weren't planning on shelling out the dough now! but knowing winter would come, and a new roof would improve heat efficiency and be safer, we took a big gulp and scheduled it.


i came home from c's birth to see this. here is the boom to lift off the one panels and bring up the new ones. serious stuff! they had broken two of the old panes while removing them, one shattered in our jetted tub (Grrrrr!!!) and the other in the living room (which luckily blake had protected by laying down a tarp)

look--no glass! good thing the weather was perfect

the new stuff

the old stuff

you go, buddy!


sketchy! (hey, they only broke one of the new panes...)


ahhhhh, the finished product:

that is one sexy roof ;-)

All-in-all it only took about three days then some button-up work. Total cost.......? Not sure if I should divulge that...Any guesses??

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Oh, blog readers.......

I lost my camera cord to upload pictures. I want to blog!!! I am a hardcore picture blogger--must have pictures....

I guess I will finally have to admit defeat and get a new one. So when I do, I promise...the emotional and eventful labor and birth of Chemynne and Michael's baby girl, Athena...my brother's wedding ...our last sail...and lots of cuteness in between.


Don't give up on me!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

closet remodel

we have a REAL closet now, a BIG WALK-THROUGH closet...and its soooooo prettyyyyyyy!


BEFORE:
barf-peach walls, moldy patch, gross synthetic carpet

more barf-peach, plus (already gone) a saggy wooden rod (i hate me a saggy rod--lol)

AFTER:
sexy modern dresser, cool green walls

new light fixture, steel clothing rod with Ikea organizers, and best of all cork floor! (thanks to B for all of his hard work;-)

Fertile soil, bountiful harvest, rainbow table

Tomatoes, pumpkin, carrots, beets, purple cabbage, corn, blackberries, and flowers.

Isa-Day

9 am: Breakfast, Mayan gives the last pancake to her sister "since she's the birthday girl!"

9:30 am: Isadore gets her birthday request, a kitty costume (that i stayed up 'til the wee hours making)

Its a kitty-hoodie!

With cute pink kitty paws!
9:35 am: Cat nap

Noon: (after a visit to Finnegans Toy Store) Lunch at Jamison Square

1 pm: Walk around Jamison Sqaure

2 pm: Join our friend Kylin who is turning 6 at her Puppy Paw-ty

the coolest baby ever, Kiran, with the coolest mom ever

4:30 pm: Time to pick our kitty noses

and to open presents! a puzzle...

and soccer ball (and Gumby and Pokey) from D and G

and a beautiful dress from Walter and Bruce!

5:30 pm: Play with pirate gear!

7:30 pm: (after chicken and sweet potato dinner) Open cards from family (yay a kitty card from NaNa and Noah!)

8 pm: Finally, cake time!

8:01 pm: Make a wish!
Thank you everyone for you calls, cards, gifts, and most of all LOVE.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

simple celebration

in an effort to simply this year, we had one party between Mayan and Isadore's birthday's......handful of friends, ice cream sundaes, party hats, confetti, balloons, and sack races. it was perfection.


isadore, birthdate aug 28 2004


mayan, birthdate july 21 2002


the uber-talented rick


so when does this party start?


the party crew: kaden, madeline, mayan, olivia, isadore, kylin, rosie (elanore had not yet arrived)


makin' sundaes


well i can tell you that stain won't come out


neck and neck sack race


kylin has her mama's smile!


i *heart* this shot so much (thanks for taking it Cath!)


blake explaining the egg-in-spoon race to an attentive yet eager audience



and the added bonus, most of the gifts people brought were handmade! amanda made the girls a bitchin' puppet theatre with sock puppets that hangs in the doorway, breana made adorable tutus, and danielle made all of us (blake and i included!) fabric bags that are made just like plastic sacks from the grocery store. we sure know some crafty people!

Friday, July 27, 2007

garden suprise

so Grandma came to town to give us each a massage and help in the yard. we were admiring the garden beds one evening after sushi and contemplating cutting back some blackberry vines, when grandma says "are those blueberries....?"


sure enough, after we cleared out this:

we found these! big fat, bug-free SWEET blueberries:

we got about three pounds and there are plently more yet to ripen....

did i mention, how amazingly fertile our soil is....



i *heart* portland gardening

xoxo