So Our Oregon Journey Begins

We've been in Oregon for a couple of weeks now. I thought I'd finally download some pictures and give a little insight into what we've been up to. There are no pictures of our road trip here because it is basically 5 hours of nothing and then Boise. Another 6 hours of nothing and then Bend. Finally 2 hours of mountain roads and then Eugene. If you like scenery of all kinds, you should definitely hop in your car and come to Oregon.

When we arrived at our home, we were immediately greeted by a terrible smell emanating from the fridge. Although brand new, and loaded with groceries by Plantboy the day it arrived, it actually never worked. It took a week and a half to get a replacement.

The picture just above is a dozen pints of homemade freezer jam, which Plantboy also picked the berries for. It was more like raspberry wine when we found it--runny and fermented. This was the main source of the smell. If you have ever had Plantboy's jam, you'll understand why we were so disappointed by this turn of events. The second raspberry crop is due in early September.

This is a before shot. This front wall will eventually be green. The ceiling in our main room as large skylights which we really love.

This is a picture of one of the back bedrooms showing the paint color. This back bedroom has toys and our computer. We are actually putting all three boys to sleep in the same room. So far, so good. The baby is even sleeping through the night. Jeff calls their bedroom "the dormitory." I'm just grateful they don't smell like teenage boys yet.

Isn't Captain Tootypants adorable?

Plantboy MADE this shelf last week. I was so impressed. His project came in UNDER budget and he finished in a single day. This is a huge leap forward for us. He is going to put in another one next week. Our realtor said Oregonians don't need basements because there aren't any tornados. I said, "Where do you put all your stuff?" "In the garage." Uh, okay, "where do you put your cars." "In the driveway." The shelves may allow us to keep ONE car in the garage anyway. Sounds like Texas, hey? Except in Texas they throw in an old sofa, a junky TV and a rebel flag on the wall to complete the man-room. Anyway, a job well done, Plantboy. If the girls can't call you handsome, at least they can call you handy. (Or handsy in Plantboy's case.)

These last six are from the beach today. It was really marvelous. The beach here isn't warm, but I'm actually glad of that. It keeps the crowds down and there seems to be less muck growing in the tide pools. People also tend to cover themselves a little better when it is cold! The wind blew sea spray and the sky was flawlessly blue. Just to the north of where we stopped, you can see Haceta Head Lighthouse on a small bluff overlooking the ocean. There is something about the ocean that fills my veins with excitement. Despite the sand and the driving and the sunburns, I feel quite rejuvinated. The sense of so much life teeming just below the surface is exciting to me. I'm reminded that my first true ambition was to be a marine biologist. There was something wonderful in the air that makes me want to write again. I hope too much doesn't pass before I can get back.