A coop for our 6 ladies!

Day 1 -
Mike and I were joined by 8 of our friends to help us build the chicken coop - and thank goodness they all wanted to help!!

Brian - master engineer
Marion - master chicken expert
Doug and Michael - master craftsmen
Becky - artistic expert
Ollie, Derek and Derek's friend - apprentice builders
Zhi and Lei - expert poultry wire staplers

Saturday included framing all the walls, stapling the poultry wire, adding the outer siding for the brooding box with egg gathering hatch and making the door. This took a total of about 12 hours!

Day 2 -
Brian was so excited about the 12 hours on Saturday that he voluntarily came back on Sunday!! Awesome! I don't think Mike and I could have finished on our own. Sunday included making and attaching the gables, framing the brooding box and placing the floor and the roof of the brooding box (the roof is the piece with CHKN cut into it for venting), making the nesting box and perches, putting on the roof of the coop, adding the trim on the brooding box, moving the coop to its final resting place and finally, bringing in the chickens...total of 10 hours (22 hours total)!

Here's a short video of how we moved it...kinda funny...I had the easy job, so I decided to try to look my best!! : )

Wedding #3: Kevin and Linsey

Our second gorgeous Tahoe wedding! - this time on the north side of the lake. We met Kevin, the groom, as well as the others present in this photo during our first year in the Bay Area. We played ultimate together for 2 seasons. After the team broke up we all remained close friends, Kevin met Linsey and we enjoyed many evenings of BBQs, playing cards and playing disc golf. Of course, our weekend in Tahoe therefore would not have been complete without a game or two of Doppelkopf and disc golf!

Mt. Lassen

One more stop before Tahoe! We needed to get out and stretch our legs - so we detoured through Mt. Lassen Park and decided to head to the top! The views were gorgeous...


The hike to the top was 2.5 miles and about 2,500 feet of elevation. It took us about 2.5 hours to go up and less than 30 minutes to go down! After the hike we rinsed our face and legs in a glacial lake - it was quite chilly! Mike tested the water with his toes - I didn't hesitate!!

If you click on the slideshow you can view it in a new window and the pictures will be larger.

River rafting the Upper Klamath

After our visit with Mike's family we were headed south. En route to Tahoe for wedding #3 we joined my parents and my aunt and uncle on a river rafting trip along the Upper Klamath. We didn't get a water camera, so no pictures - but lots of commentary! We had a great guide who aligned us with every wave, spun us down the rapids and even high-sided us (intentionally) on a rock in a big rapid. We learned very quickly that dad was along for the ride. I am not sure his paddle hit the water (other than for splashing purposes) more than 10 times on a 4 hour trip! Since he was our raft's token clown he also got to "ride the bull" down one of the rapids - this amounted to him seated at the very front of the raft, feet hanging over into the water, one hand holding onto a raft handle in between his legs and the other hand waving in the air. We hit a large wave perfectly and he was thrown backwards into the raft all smiles and laughter! It was great!!

That evening we had a nice dinner in downtown Ashland and left my parents to enjoy some plays at the Shakespearian Festival.

At the Beach!

Carol and Gene rented a beach house in Gearhart, on the Oregon coast, for all of us to spend some time together. The house was right on a golf course and a short walk to the beach.

On our first day we headed up to a State Park and explored an outpost of Lewis and Clarke's and went on a little nature walk. During our walk we found a slug - Mike dared me to kiss it to gross out Caleb and Andy...we were successful. And after some coaxing we got both of them to "pet" it!

Later that day we went on a walk at the beach with Carol, Gene, Clark and Lorne. Lorne and I had a great time sneaking up on seagulls and scaring them into flight.

Day 2 brought everyone to the beach, including Baby Zachary. We built castles and played wiffle ball with Caleb and Andy.

I waded in the water with Clark, Lorne and Carol. Lorne was the most brave of us all and was the only one to get entirely wet! I guess I am too much of a "California girl" - it was definitely not warm enough to go in past my knees!!

Disc Golf

One afternoon we decided to teach Clark and Lorne how to play disc golf. Gene came along and directed us to a local 9-hole course. Clark and Lorne became pretty good putters by the end of the course and Gene had some great drives!

Speed Boat on the Wilamette

Mike and I had a fantastic time with Clark, Lorne, Christine, Carol and Gene on a speed boat ride on the Wilamette River. In between 360s and massive waves soaking us, we saw many Portland sites from the river. It was a fun ride and interesting to see so much of the waterfront.

We went all the way up the river to Oregon City where we could see the old papermills, a waterfall and old locks used to move ships and other water vessels up the river.

I'm not quite sure these pictures capture how soaked we were, particularly Michael. Mike was seated on the side, which was favored by the driver, for taking the most water on his 360 spins. I think there was only a small strip of dryness under his left arm!

Tummy time

After a long morning and hot afternoon it was tummy time... I thought it was pretty adorable to have all four of them down at the same time!

Fourth of July in Beaverton!

Mike and I headed up to Beaverton in time for the annual 4th of July Parade and a family trip to the beach with Carol's sister, Christine and brother's, Clark and Lorne - they were visiting from Canada. Although we didn't ride unicycles this year we did walk the parade, offering our hand for riders to mount their cycles and for photography support. Paul G. rode a tall unicycle (not the tallest, which I think was 9 feet), Paul W sported his fancy hat, Peggy rode while pushing Baby Zachary in his first parade and Gene rode while juggling pins. As soon as Peggy sends along some photos I'll post them so you can see everyone.

That afternoon we had a teaser fireworks session with pop-its and sparklers. Caleb learned quickly to throw the pop-its at your feet and command you to "Dance!!" Caleb, Andy, Clark and Lorne had a great time!

That evening we had a much bigger fireworks display in Paul and Anna's cul de sac with their neighbors. Paul put on a good show and the boys were wide-eyed with the showering of colors, whistles and pops!!