Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Riding the Aerial Tram

P1100929Sami and I went to take the birthing class at the OHSU Center for Women's Health yesterday. The class was good, but my favorite part - we got to ride the aerial tram from OHSU Kohler Pavillion to OHSU Center for Health & Healing so we could go to the cafe for lunch.

I have a few more pictures of the tram and Kohler pavilion back on my August 26th post.


P1100932Me waiting to get on the tram.

(I wasn't ready for the photo)

Another pic of me and my ginormous belly.


P1100930South Waterfront, the Willamette River, and Mt. Hood.


P1100936Sami riding on the tram.


P1100933Downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and Mt. St. Helens.


P1100946"Landing" at the OHSU Center for Health & Healing.


P1100947Another view of downtown Portland.


P1100949Going back to our class in Kohler Pavillion.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

After Weeks of Rain

walking_route_13_nov_08My walking route for today - 3.2 mi.

We've had so much rain during the past two weeks and on the few sunny afternoons I've managed to be at work or busy with home improvement projects. I hadn't been on my neighborhood walk for two whole weeks! I was really missing it.

P1100798Strawberries in our front yard.

It's hard to believe that we still have strawberries growing in November. When they say "day neutral variety" they really mean it!

I thought they were killed off by the frosts we had a few weeks back, but I guess it didn't stay cold enough for long enough.


P1100804Acidanthera - Acidanthera bicolor AKA Gladiolus callianthus

I planted these bulbs in our front yard last spring. The foliage came up in the summer like it was supposed to, but they didn't bloom. I was really surprised to see them blooming now. I guess they liked all the rain.


P1100807I really should know what this round leaved tree is... but I don't.

Anyway, it's a few doors down the street from us on Wilson Ave, so I'm sure I can figure it out later.



P1100815Pink rosebud on Wilson Ave.


P1100823Unidentified Mushroom on Wilson Ave

There is a small forested area just across from Hyland Park Middle School I found lots of mushrooms growing in the grass between the forest and the road.


P1100825More unidentified mushrooms on Wilson Ave.

We've had so much rain that all the mushrooms are quite mushy. I still find them fascinating though.




P1100833Cute little mushrooms on Wilson Ave.


P1100836Interesting and colorful shrub on SW 27th St.


P1100843cPink capped mushroom on on SW 27th St.

Another view of the pink capped mushroom.


P1100852Still more unidentified mushrooms on SW 27th St.


P1100858Pretty leaf "glowing" in Hyland Forest Park


P1100859Wild Hazelnut - Corylus cornuta in Hyland Forest Park.

More Hazelnut leaves.


P1100864Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) Leaf in Hazelnut tree - Hyland Forest Park.


P1100867


P1100871Snowberry - Symphoricarpos albus in Hyland Forest Park


P1100880Interesting Seahorse birdbath on SW 133rd Ave.


P1100882Stolen apple from SW Davies Rd.

I got really hungry during my walk, so when I saw a house with dozens of beautiful apples lying on the ground under a tree, I had to steal one and eat it. It was really tasty.


P1100883Yellow daisy on on SW Stirrup St.


P1100890Unidentified pink flowers on on SW Stirrup St.

I bet the hummingbirds like these.


P1100900Pink Dahlia on SW Stirrup St.

I know I've taken loads of Dahlia pictures already - but this one has raindrops!


P1100903Pink Dahlia on SW Stirrup St.

Many of the Dahlias were losing their petals, but I thought that made for an interesting view of the center of the flower.

P1100908Bluebird house on SW Tennessee Ln.


P1100912Big Mushroom on SW Secretariat Terrace


P1100913eMoose sculpture on SW Secretariat Terrace


P1100920Unidentified Mushroom in Hyland Forest Park


P1100871


P1100921Unidentified Mushrooms in Hyland Forest Park


P1100927Yellow Rose on SW Wilson Ave.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Baseboard is In ... No more remodeling for Sara

P1100778Sami decided to make all the track lights point at certain spots in the room.

... and I guess my title is not entirely accurate. There is one piece of trim on the ceiling (behind Sami) that I still need to replace. We haven't bought it yet though, so I couldn't do it today.

Here's another picture of Sami adjusting the lights.




P1100788After we installed the baseboard and quarter round, Sami put in the speakers.

The screen is made of a special material, so the sound from these three will come through it.

The bottom part of the wall is built out further than the top part. This is because of the concrete foundation wall behind it. It makes attaching the screen tricky, but it's a nice place for the speakers to sit.






P1100794Here you can see the size of the screen and how it will cover the speakers.

We still need to add the black trim to the bottom (we stretched the screen ourselves) and hang it at the proper height. The top will be near that blue piece of tape.