New Tile for the NEW YEAR

Bob removed the old carpet in the hall and laid down tile. At the front entry the house had white tile so he created a design to blend the two colors. If you walk straight down this hall you end up in my office.This is the door to the office looking at the garage door. You notice he put wood transitions in each of the bedroom doorways.

View from the garage looking straight to the master bedroom.

View from the master bedroom looking down the hall to the garage door.

The White Meal

To commemorate our travels to the Pacific Northwest last winter and this winter, Bob has created the perfect white meal. It is in remembrance of the snowy passes with zero visibility, chains required, freezing rain, fog, and icy roads. It is also in tribute to the poor souls who live in this bleak and snowy environment.

Baked Chicken Breast, Steamed White Rice and Cauliflower.

#1: Make up a sauce of concentrated mushroom soup, inexpensive (yet tasty) white wine, season to taste with garlic, scallops, salt and pepper. Place chicken breast in the sauce in a casserole dish. Cover and cook for 1 1/2 - 2 hours at 325*.
#2: Use a high quality of organic, Himalayan, white rice. Steam up a large quantity.
#3: Well done, steamed cauliflower buds with grated white, Tillomook cheese.
Serve while steaming hot; using the chicken sauce as gravy for the rice.

For dessert it is suggested that you consider snickerdoodles or sugar cookies with vanilla milkshake. Dessert can be served immediately after completion of the meal or later while watching the home movie: Day After Tomorrow.

Enjoy and stay below the snow level.

The Gorge

"The Gorge" is a little known area near Lake Chelan, Washington. It basically constitutes what is the shortest river in North America. It begins at a small dam that creates Lake Chelan, then runs for 11 miles down to the Columbia River. Most of this distance is composed of extremely rugged canyon walls between 200-500 feet high; and it takes a better part of a day to hike down to the river unless you come in to it from either end. This is an area where Bob grew up, and now that I have seen it, his stories of "rock rolling" take on a whole new meaning. As Bob puts it, it makes the mountains of Afghanistan look like Kansas. We got some excellent photographs and Andrew was also able to get some and he will make a professional quality photo essay of the gorge.

This is the same bridge you see in the other photos, but we are on the road below it, looking up the gorge.

Thanksgiving in Oregon

When you go home there is always great food, and LOTS of it. Mom and dad even treated us to pizza.

Unfortuanetly my sister was ill and we didn't get to see her or her husband.

Sissy loved looking at the wildlife. It is clear how Oregon got its name as the Beaver state.

Thanksgiving

Bob and I were able to travel to up to the Pacific Northwest to enjoy Thanksgiving with our families. We started driving in snow as soon as we drove into Oregon. This is where we started to wonder why we come into this beautiful state in the WINTER!

NEW Car

Bob got me a new car for my birthday. I am talking BRAND new!! It is a 2009 Honda Civic Si

Front seat are bucket, contoured like racing seats. The back seat is a bench seat although Sissy hasn't been allowed to ride in the car yet.

Bob is impressed with the VTEC 2.0 liter engine.

We even put on new tires and wheels. Notice the red pinstripe around the outside.

Birthday Quilt

My mom and dad made this beautiful quilt for me. It is extra special because all of the fabrics come from family members. My dad also made the great wooden hanger.

Kate Kinsella: The Literary Goddess

This is Gustavo and Beth, before the presentation begain.

This is Kate Kinsella, she took a minute to have a picture taken with me before her presentation.

With my new dark hair color I'm going to have to quit buying and wearing beige!

The Assistant Superintendent, Debra Gonzales, introduced Kate.

Kate gave a 3 hour presentation to over 300 people.

Standing Man

Landmark called "Standing Man."




Bob got a boat for us on his day off. Isn't he looking great? He has lost weight this summer. Must be the heat...



We went to a place called Gypsum Cove. It may not look like much, but the water is 200 feet deep right off of the shore and if you step into the mud it is like quicksand. Course the "rocks" are all sharp like glass, so it was not Sissy's favorite spot.

We joined Melody and Wayne for lunch at "Wedding Cove." It is a large cove with beautiful, white sandy beach and shallow water. Wayne and Melody are getting married here on Oct. 2.

Of course all good things must come to an end. The next day Bob was back to work.

This is a typical picture...Bob working, his co-workers Lenny and Terry looking on.

Birthday Boy

Melody and Wayne

Bob works with a guy named Wayne. While I was working in Vegas, I got to stay at Temple Bar with Bob. Wayne had a birthday during that week, so I brought him an ice cream cake. YUMMY!

A Week in Vegas

Most people go to Vegas to play in the sun or the casinos. I went to work with my new boss, Jen.

I find myself BACK in Clark County.

Like the song says, "you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave."

My Wonderful Boss

This is my "big" boss. She lives in Burbank but this was one of those rare weekend in July where she got to see her husband. (they met in San Fran) When I met her she said, " Hi, I'm Tasia, "glad ta see ya." Great way to remember how to say her name.