well-aged pictures from our Grand Adventure!

So, in the two years that we’ve been back, I’ve finally managed to sort through the 10,384 pictures we took on our big trip. 

nursery rhyme Jack

Behind the scenes, we are quietly making lists of potential baby names.  Jack’s parents did a great job choosing his name.  They managed to pick a familiar classic at the absolute nadir of it’s popularity, in the 1980’s. 

hiking report 3

previous hiking reports: 1, 2

5-7 July 2013 -  Lake Ozette and Cape Alava, Olympic Peninsula

• We hiked in and out by ourselves but camped and walked the beach with Tiffany, Johnny, Kendall, Scott and Kristina
•  http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lake-ozette
• 9.4 miles out and back plus lots of beach walking

W.A.C = We Acquired Clearance/ Water Availability Certificate

We got a special early Christmas present form Seattle Public Utilities, which boils down to the right to build (sanely) on the land we already own.  What a relief!

2013 in review

The themes that carried us through 2013 were pregnancy and house-design, so if I had to pick one word to described the year, it would be anticipation.

anticipating the view

We’re still working with Seattle Public Utilities on a realistic solution to the water main/access issue (it’s a long, and still-changing story…). 

current house design, with no explanation

why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday

I love Thanksgiving.   It is so simple.   People + food + a festive attitude = Thanksgiving.  Religion, gift giving and expectations do not factor into the equation. Because it’s so close to Christmas and people are likely to save cross country travel for the end of the year, there’s a love-the-one-you’re with and the-more-the-merrier sensibility to Thanksgiving.  Also it is always a much-needed four-day weekend.

Thursday lunchtime jaunt

Today at the last minute, Jack and I decided to meet at the market.  We bought some flowers for a gift and then took advantage of the rare combination of being together during business hours on a day with clear weather by going to the roof deck of a skyscraper a few blocks from the market.

thank you, William Pollack

I've learned a lot about pregnancy, birth and human development in the last few months of reading, but the thing that has surprised me most is the severity of Rh disease.  I had heard of this blood type incompatibility before, but now have a very personal motivation to understand it better.

house design teaser

land anniversary

It’s now been about a year since we bought our little piece of land in the Central District (we are landed) and though our last post, building permit: first pass, had a bit of a cliff hanger ending, we’re feeling optimistic and excited about the house.

Portland lessons

We spent a nice weekend in Portland, like we did last October (escape-to-portland).  

Happy Birthday to Grandpa O

Look! We're moving, like a photograph out of Harry Potter's world. 

building permit: first pass

We recently started the process of applying for building permits for our house and we learned about some significant issues related to building there.  There are two major issues and the solution to them both requires the cooperation of our future neighbors. 

backyard wedding: love party

In August we attended the wedding of an old friend.  It was a gorgeous lakeside wedding, complete with a dance floor and sweet, funny and touching toasts by the two brides’ friends and families.  It is a good year to live in Washington.

30 for my 30th: goals are great

Five or six months ago, my friend in Boston mentioned some goals she had before her 30th birthday.  I was inspired and on the plane ride home I came up with 30 personal goals. 

picking out charitie$

Recently we decided to take a more organized approach to charitable donations.

baby pictures – because we scanned them

In honor of my upcoming milestone birthday and the fact that we’ve scanned a lot of old pictures, I thought I’d share some old ones here.

cake time

My friend from Vienna introduced us to the deliciousness of the famous Viennese chocolate cake called a Sachertorte.