1840 SE Taylor: The Blog

02 February 2012: Coming up roses

2012-02-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

It's 60 and sunny. On the 2nd day of February. We went out to trim the rose bushes and already had enough in bloom to fill a vase. Needless to say, we've left the patio door open all day and I'm working in the sunlight at the kitchen table....

Arabella takes a breather after doing her neighborhood rounds.

This is what I came home to after my doc's appointment Tuesday. Five hours later, when I finished piano and opened the sliding door, they were still in this exact same position.

30 January 2012: Planning the garden

2012-01-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we plotted out our 2012 veggie garden and started three varieties of tomatoes, two types of hot peppers, and several butter lettuces. It's been warm for January, so we'll direct-sow peas and radishes next week.

We set up our final addition a lá GME--a gorgeous Oriental rug.

27 January 2012: Sunshine at last

2012-01-27T15:27:00.000-08:00

Of course the moment Mom and Dad left the sun came out.

Sabine appears to have missed her calling as a furniture model.

The nursery rocking chair is so cute and comfy!

The guest bedroom is starting to come together now, too.

26 January 2012: Furniture galore!

2012-01-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

We waited until Mom and Dad visited to take down our tree.

Perfect timing; the movers arrived this morning with a new living room.

Anyone who's been to our house knows it suffers from a bit of a furniture deficit. Thanks to some "hand-me-downs" from GME, it suffers no longer!

Sabine has done lots of sniffing but fortunately no scratching.

These two reading chairs are divine. And they recline! Which rhymes.

Arabella made herself right at home on our new dining room chairs.

11 December 2011: Anniversary time!

2011-12-12T17:00:00.001-08:00

For our 14-year anniversary (7 years married), we did our first ever staycation. Here, Austin plays with his new Bucky Balls magnets. Justin and Shoshonna's beautiful flowers for us are in the foreground.

We also bought our first ever Squiggly supplies: an owl onesie for newborns, a bike onesie for three-month-olds, and a little owl toy. It was a very fun little shopping trip.

01 December 2011

2011-12-01T11:09:00.000-08:00

Um, are we in Portland? This is spectacular. SUNSHINE!!!!

23 November 2011: Tomatoes galore

2011-11-23T12:16:00.001-08:00

It's been dark and rainy of late, so when the sun came out last Sunday I took advantage and cleaned out both veggie beds, sowing lettuce and radish seeds and gathering our final batch of tomatoes. I slow-roasted the ripe, red ones, and have spread the greenies out to ripen. I've never tried this before so it's certainly an experiment. Happy Thanksgiving!

19 November 2011: Solar array

2011-11-19T09:48:00.001-08:00

With the sun setting around 5:30 p.m., the days are far shorter and our panels are buzzing far less. But we still get use, and have enough credit kwhs from the summer to = net zero electricity usage since May.

10 November 2011: Yellows

2011-11-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

I love autumn, especially in Portland, and especially this year.

So do Sabine and Arabella, who hunt down sun patches daily.

Even the tomatoes are still going strong, and today it hit 63 F.

We found "Miracle Sun" yellow paint with zero VOCs. It's serious.

See? Serious. But we think we like it. Seems perfect for Little Squiggly.

04 November 2011: Murmuration

2011-11-04T09:17:00.001-07:00

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

This short video simply astounds me.

26 October 2011: Late harvest

2011-10-31T18:51:00.001-07:00

In late October I harvested several pounds of red and green tomatoes.

I poached the green ones in butter and sauteed with shallots first.

It took more than an hour just to chop and mash the harvest.

Two hours in and I'm still having to add scoops of tomato in batches.

After freezing two pints I added the rest and reduced another hour.

Next it was time to add cream and spices and keep reducing.

Four hours in: our best pasta sauce yet. Definitely an ordeal!

26 September 2011: Autumn

2011-09-26T12:29:00.001-07:00

September and October are my favorite months in Portland. Occasional rain and lots of shine = fast growth for all the greens.

Tomatoes are still doing their thing. More gigantic heirlooms.

And we have a fig!

10 September 2011: Birthday terrarium

2011-09-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

On my 32nd birthday, I made a terrarium. Also note the mini 'timber.'

Succulents love sand, and this little guy, at two inches, has lots of room to grow. I added two shells and hung our dried garlic flowers (called scapes) from a deep brown twig. I wanted to focus on three unlikely colors: purple, white, and green.

I burnt our jade with fertilizer, but it's trying to stage a comeback.

Matthew and Lindsay got me these for my birthday last year, which I added (with shells + dried berries) to our Russian crystal vodka glasses.

A week and a day after sowing seeds, they've all germinated.

The pak choi (top) and radish (bottom) look almost identical.

Somehow a zucchini seed got in the mix. I love those surprises.

Our black pearl tomatoes are cascading over the tomato cage.

We harvested 6 cups (3 pounds) of tomatoes and made vodka sauce.

07 September 2011: New things

2011-09-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

Last night's salad was decadent. I harvested a couple dozen of our Black Pearl tomatoes and mixed them with mozarella, salami, avocado, peas, and a garlic olive oil dressing. Not a nightly undertaking if we want maximum heart health, but damn tasty.

I just cut the tomato plants way back. Hadn't pruned in weeks.

Holy seedlings! These guys are popping up in less than a week.

Peas (at left) and pok choi (at right) are so far the busiest.

It appears that tomatoes, too, can produce conjoined twins.

Go, basil, go! Good thing it's our hottest week of the year. 96 today.

After saving from my cash allowance for a couple months for a cruiser bike, I decided to redirect my funds to a more immediate need: good running gear. Sally re-inspired me with our four-mile run in Seattle this weekend. The best new things: my shoes (feel like air) and my sports bra (perfectly snug), but I also love those shorts, the light but cushy socks, and the water bottle hand holder dealybob. The pedometer was just $10 and is very basic (steps, miles, calories) but better than nothing. Kudos to Portland Running Company. The guy spent 30 minutes finding the perfect shoe for me, and I think he got it just right.

Mapmyrun.com is a great way to track runs and stay motivated.

06 September 2011: Labor Day harvest

2011-09-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

We return from Seattle, touch the giant twin tomato to see if it's getting soft, and it promptly falls off the vine. Pasta night!

The harvest included all six varieties: Big Rainbow (the giant), Beefsteak (largest red in the bowl), Red Lightning (stripes), Black Pearl (darkest small ones), Yellow Pear, and Cherry Red. We did a blind tasting and liked the Red Lightning and Black Pearl the best. That's handy, given they're by far the most prolific.

Time to sauteé with our own garden shallots and garlic.

Time to add good red wine and reduce for a half hour.

Still reducing, now with salt, pepper, and our own thyme and rosemary.

Add parmesan é voilá! Absolutely excellent.

02 September 2011: Upkeep

2011-09-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

This veggie bed was sparse, soil level was low, and lettuce had bolted.

Good thing our compost bin was ready, with worms in every scoop!

É voilá! I sowed: peas, radishes, radicchio, spinach, pak choi, beets.

01 September 2011: Really? September??

2011-09-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

The tomatoes are in various shades of green, orange, and red.

And the big ones keep getting bigger.

The twin tomato shall be a feast unto itself.

Lots of black pearls doing their thing.

Mm, our backyard makes me hungry.

The black pearl variety is about 10 feet tall, climbing the deck.

Cilantro!

And when cilantro goes to seed, coriander, mm.

Do we believe in using city water to keep grass green? Nope.

26 August 2011: Moving things about

2011-08-26T12:34:00.001-07:00

Some will notice we've rearranged the living room. Our goal is to eventually put two reading chairs by the window.

I switched the window plants around as well. This one helps to block the bright church light at night.

25 August 2011: Tomato time

2011-08-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

The Big Rainbow variety fruits are trying to outdo the size of my head.

This one has gotten so big it's now almost fully split in two.

The medium-sized Red Lightning variety is turning a deep red.

We've been harvesting the prolific Black Pearl variety every day.

And our very belated zucchini start has produced its first fruit!

Our barely-more-than-the-size-of-a-stick fig tree is producing, too.

23 August 2011: Portland flag

2011-08-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

We first learned of our city flag watching the Timbers; Saturday the Army waved 100s of them when we hosted our favorite Cascadia rivals.

22 August 2011: Dog days of summer

2011-08-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

We ate our one surviving peach. It was a helluva thing.

Happy jade.

I love this purple plant, though I have no idea what it is.

The tomato plants are now climbing along the top edge of our deck.

Austin's owl collection overlooks his desk.

19 August 2011: Gathering power

2011-08-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

Our own version of P-flag pride. Rain chain hasn't been busy in weeks.

Our favorite-smelling rose. As soft and sweet as it looks.

And the mushroom has yet to be stolen!

I had no idea little cucumbers are so pokey.

Austin spent his first morning off all week just weeding.

Our net meter bill shows our net use as -113 kWh. Saving up!

Wednesday night was movie night in the park. Back to the Future!!!

Followed by an impromptu string performance this morning.

17 August 2011: More star power

2011-08-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

We have a peach bandit. Likely a squirrel. It ran off with all but this one, which we decided to pull slightly early given the fate of its brethren. Letting a peach ripen this far into its life on the tree makes a significant difference in fragrance. It is complex, sweet and savory, so rich. We'll be eating this guy in the next day or two.

It hasn't hit 90 in Portland this year, but at 88, it was time to line dry.

I've never done this before. It only took 3 hours to totally dry.

16 August 2011: Color

2011-08-16T11:04:00.001-07:00

Roses can be so pretty they sometimes don't even look real.

This pales as it blooms, but starts off a deep pink.

The red in the back is by far the biggest producer.

A wee little cucumber begins to emerge.

A little fertilizer on the eucalyptus and the ground erupts with babies.

Big Rainbow is pushing out many new fruits, none perfectly-shaped.

And Arabella makes sure the visiting Cedar feels fully welcomed.

13 August 2011: Holy tomatoes

2011-08-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Shout-out to Lindsay, who taught me the value of fertilizer this year.

Since using two types of Fox Farm weekly, every tomato plant has...

Pretty much erupted. It's a jungle out there. A tasty, tasty jungle.

Beautiful sunset photo of Jadon playing the piano.

And he gets the chance to play on the Portland Timbers pitch!

08 August 2011: The great escape

2011-08-08T14:01:00.000-07:00

We escaped to Opal Creek Saturday morning for a seven-mile hike in.

It was a great weekend of camping and swimming with friends.

And we returned to our biggest tomato harvest yet!

02 August 2011: Star power

2011-08-02T11:51:00.001-07:00

Sun and sun and sun. What a powerful star.

Our most recent electric bill shows we've pushed more energy into the grid than we've pulled from it since late April. We still pay $10/month for the base charge and taxes. We've had our 11 modules on since late August 2010, and our inverter shows they have converted 2,490 kwh of power in these past 11 months.

And the tomatoes keep swelling. I love growing big varieties.

Our peaches are getting close. They are now sun-kissed orange.

Those tiny flowers are turning into tiny olives on our two-foot tree.

Our zucchini may be 1/20th what most are now, but it's growing.

Last night's harvest: peas, basil, garlic, shallot, tomatoes, carrots.

01 August 2011: Garlic, how we love thee

2011-08-01T16:16:00.001-07:00

These are prettier than flowers to me. I realize this makes me strange.

We pulled the second half to cure in the sun. These are ready to use.

The rest of the first half, uncut and not yet wiped clean, is in the cellar.

29 July 2011: 84 + sunny

2011-07-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

This succulent brightens our walk-in closet. I just love these colors.

The red roses just keep coming. The music room smells so fresh.

I picked up this baby maple tree on Sauvie Island after berry-picking.

It's not hardy so I'll have to take it indoors come late autumn.

This baby is pushing up from the root ball.

It's 84 and sunny so I treated the succulents to a day on the patio.

These look like fists rising up toward the sun.

This guy is so powdery. I'm not sure if this is natural or problematic.

We've had such little humidity that the garlic is already about cured.

Ditto the penny shallots. I love that one clove turns into 10.

The tomatoes are seriously taking off. Every day more fruit appears.

We are currently picking about two vine-ripened tomatoes a day.

The Big Rainbow variety is looking good! How big will it get?...

25 July 2011: Indoor growth

2011-07-25T10:25:00.001-07:00

Between the sunshine and fertilizer, I've had to transplant several indoor plants into larger pots. The money tree (so called because its five leaves represent a perfect harmony of the five feng shui elements--wood, fire, earth, metal, and water--although one of our sets actually has six leaves) seems very happy. It's supposed to eventually reach six feet.

24 July 2011: It's been a month...

2011-07-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since GMD passed, and I miss her every day.

I had to replace the mushroom (it was stolen) and snip off a major branch of the silver dollar eucalyptus, but the plants appear to be thriving and we haven't had to pull any weeds in GMD's plot.

I put little clumps of succulent ground cover around the red leaf maple.

Our weather has been so spring-like I'm only now pulling carrots.

When life brings you more basil than you can snip off in a day...

Make fresh pesto! Yummy, yummy pesto. And we have leftovers.

The garlic/shallots seemed ready to pull, so as a test we took half out.

They are now curing on our back porch. Cloves turned into bulbs!

And I planted butter lettuce starts as a rotation crop.

Meanwhile, the tomatoes are really taking off. We've eaten about six.

I've only ever had success with little, prolific tomato varieties such as yellow pears, black pearls (above this pic), and red cherries. So I'm very excited to see that the Beefsteak variety, which is supposed to produce full-pound tomatoes, is actually producing its first fruit!

And the peaches continue to swell. We went berry picking Saturday and the Sauvie Island farmers say they should be ready in three weeks.

15 July 2011: Pretty things

2011-07-15T17:25:00.001-07:00

Our neighbor brought us orchids when GMD passed. Beautiful.

GMD's "Shark-tooth Jade" is thriving. I love this plant.

The barley on the city side is now flowering. I love summer.

The rock crawler succulents are now flowering.

These rock crawlers have been flowering for months.

12 July 2011: Cucumbers

2011-07-12T16:37:00.001-07:00

I spent hours digging up the clover and rye, folding it back into the soil, adding a top layer of compost, and transplanting our cucumber starts.

We sowed these a month ago but they've outgrown the tomato section.

The native rock climbers are doing well....

07 July 2011: Pegboard

2011-07-07T15:01:00.000-07:00

We put up pegboard today in our continued quest to organize things.

I dig the modern metal version. Hanging tools makes so much sense!

We are now hanging our garden tools as well.

01 July 2011: 10-day forecast of sun

2011-07-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

It sprinkles in small but frequent amounts here in the Pacific Northwest. So a 10-day forecast of just plain ol' sunshine is quite unusual and welcome. Expecting considerable growth in the tomato, basil, zucchini, carrot, cucumber, and pepper plants.

Between the two women's World Cup matches early this morning I pulled all the lettuce, which was starting to bolt, and sowed more seeds.

Lettuce doesn't like too much light/heat, so the peas provide much-needed shade. I sowed frisee, bok choi, bibb, beet, dill, and cilantro.

A few smaller "summer heat" lettuce plants stayed in. Radishes I sowed two weeks ago in the background are starting to shoot up as well.

30 June 2011: Clean-up time

2011-06-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

Time to clean up the peas, which are almost done, and (pretty) weeds.

Also time to clip off the flowers (scapes) budding on the garlic leaves.

The olive tree is in full bloom; I'm unfamiliar with its life stages.

We're ready to do a big lettuce harvest and re-sow more rows.

And the tomatoes are just now forming, with the first almost ripe!

The jalapeños are making an appearance as well.

Our basil-by-seed experiment has taken off. Pinching bits every day.

A view of today's farmers' market from behind our lettuce basket.

27 June 2011: Fresh air

2011-06-27T17:37:00.001-07:00

We bought an electric weed eater and discovered a tree in our front yard.

After a sad day of soccer (Timbers + national team) it was time to camp.

Getting right to business with the second book of The Dark Tower.

Austin likes to read as far out into the river as he can get.

And then ... the Js arrive with Micah Dog!

A future mountain biker.

How old is this giant? It could pass for an ent.

What a great weekend along the Old Salmon River near Mt. Hood.

25 June 2011: One-year anniversary

2011-06-25T10:33:00.001-07:00

Exactly one year ago, the city posted the certificate of occupancy.

Today there are old cars on display--dating back to 1910!

Last night I planted a little plot of life in GMD's honor in the front.

This jade variety is called "Shark's Tooth." Jadon loved the spikes.

This one really made me think of GMD; it is called Hopewell.

I'm not one for garden "features" but I loved this little mushroom.

The neighbor's daughter Sarah helped me prune the eucalyptus.

The clover and fuchsia seem to get along quite well. Time to trim!

Jadon and Sara helped with GMD's little plot last night.

We transplanted the silver dollar eucalyptus from the side yard.

The stones that line the edge give it a more complete feel.

And this morning, on mom and dad's anniversary, we baked bread.

Jadon had a great piano lesson before gardening. His new friends Beethoven Bear (who likes the low, bass clef notes) and Mozart Mouse (who prefers the high, treble clef notes) guided him through several new bits of information, including how to sit at the piano. I also taught him the symbols for sharps and flats--words I only told him once. When we reviewed four hours later before he went home, I doubted he'd remember, but when I showed him a flat he said "flat" right away. The sharp was harder. He thought about it for several seconds, wrinkling his nose in concentration, and then said, "Well that one's a pokey!" He also loves to play with buttons and levers, as is evidenced in the chair adjustment exercise here. Go Jadon!

24 June 2011: GMD

2011-06-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Today is a day I will never forget. At around dawn this morning, Grandma Dorothy let go and passed away, her son by her side. It is a day I will take to honor her every year to come. So it seems fitting that it is also the first, and almost certainly only, day on which Austin and I appear front and center in an article on the cover of the NYT. The world works in mysterious ways. I love you, GMD. I miss you already.

I love this Timbers art by Diskin; makes me think of GMD's era, too.

22 June 2011: The start of summer

2011-06-22T09:52:00.001-07:00

I took this at 21:28. The shortest night of the year is very short here.

Thinking of Grandma Dorothy as the light disappeared.

The plants love the light. In the morning, I picked our first strawberry!

21 June 2011: Happy Summer Solstice!

2011-06-21T15:03:00.000-07:00

The front yard is overgrown, but it's all for a good cause.

I had no idea clover flowers are so pretty.

The first strawberry is almost ready! Loving today's 85 degrees.

Fresh clippings. Mm, how they smell so good.

Little tomatoes are suddenly popping up everywhere.

We finally got a second compost bin! The city sells them at half price.

I moved the zuch to a sunnier location in the hopes it takes off.

Been giving the roses lots of fish emulsion. This is a new shoot.

This is the silver eucalyptus I got Austin for our silver anniversary.

Those carrots are really shooting up now. I give 'em two weeks.

The basil couldn't be happier in the direct heat. Go babies!

17 June 2011: The Daily Harvest

2011-06-17T10:02:00.001-07:00

Current harvest: lettuce, radish, peas. (Tomatoes are store-bought.)

Seems like we are rolling in the peas. Jadon helped harvest last night.

We'll try Jamie Oliver's pea recipe with fresh mint.

The peaches continue to grow. Wonder when they'll be ready.

The first tomato to make an appearance is just starting to turn red.

Radishes are almost gone; carrots (at right) still have a ways to go.

My little helper Jadon, in his little piano chair, making his own tune.

Austin took this as we sipped wine with Rhino + Alecia.

It was fun to host them from L.A. for the Timbers match.

16 June 2011: The Power of the Pea

2011-06-16T10:09:00.001-07:00

Why, oh why, do I eat frozen peas? These are out of this world.

They taste like a different vegetable altogether when fresh.

We sauteed them up with our radishes and radish leaves, mm.

15 June 2011: The Ides of June

2011-06-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

The weather continues to vacillate between rain and shine every day.

Another fun comparison photo to exactly one year ago, 15 June 2010.

We are working with the city to lower this light; it's blinding at night.

Pretty soon we'll turn the city side clover back into the soil.

Neat close-up of the water droplets weighing it down slightly.

Strawberry row is loving the rain and shine.

A few plants have full berries already! Just have to redden now.

It's a sweet pea jungle out there....

When the light is just right, you can see the little pea shadows.

The garlic is almost taller than I am. Wonder when it'll be ready.

We let the lettuce grow all week without harvesting; big salad tonight!

The tomatoes continue their steady climb toward the sun.

14 June 2011: The Garage

2011-06-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

Austin wanted a work bench, and we don't like clutter, so ...

It was time to tackle both. We spent four hours building and cleaning.

É voilá! Next up: Sell extras on CraigsList and install wall bike rack.

We still have clutter (sports + camping fun), but at least it's organized.

Austin will build a lower shelf to organize extra wood/paint/carpet.

Fingers crossed we can save enough over two years for an electric car!

13 June 2011: On Privacy

2011-06-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

We live next to a great family, but privacy in close quarters is important.

Jim helped us install this sun shade, which adds a nice dimension.

The dill isn't tall enough to qualify as a hedge. ;-)

The garlic worked! No more aphids on the front yard roses.

The clover and barley have grown quickly on the city side.

How did a pea get in the mix? Cool! I'll take it.

Time to trim the front yard. Meanwhile, the succulents are flowering.

09 June 2011: More planting

2011-06-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

I just put this rose in our bedroom and had to photograph it.

Letting the succulents take on as much heat and sun as possible.

Oh no! Our front yard roses have aphids. I smeared garlic all over them.

I broke down and bought $20 of strawberry starts (12). Strawberry row!

And just for fun, this is what our house looked like exactly a year ago.

07 June 2011: Sunny weekend

2011-06-07T16:38:00.001-07:00

All sorts of things shot up after our super sunny weekend.

Holy pea pods! They're still flat but I'll be keeping a close eye to harvest.

Wowza, I really think we'll have some peaches this year.

I never used to like roses. What a crazy person I was.

I picked up a jalapeño start on Sunday. Should be fun.

Thanks to Lindsay for watching our baby basil while we traveled.

It's a salad in a basket! Put here because lettuce doesn't like direct light.

Roses in every room.... The pink one is from our front yard.

The mailman thought we had grass woes, but tall clover is intentional.

Mom says fuchsia looks like ballerinas in bouffant skirts. :)

The clover and barley I sowed on the city side is trucking along.

31 May 2011: Happy Memorial Day

2011-05-30T13:21:00.001-07:00

I cleaned up the city side of our front yard and sowed clover and barley.

Three hipsters and a grill.

Tomatoes are still alive in spite of the hail Friday.

I put those I'd given up on in the ground since they're still kicking.

27 May 2011: Rose City 'Til I Die

2011-05-27T18:33:00.001-07:00

First rose clippings of the year on a day that rained, shone, rained.

The kitchen smells like ... umm ... roses.

I clipped these just after it hailed. It's sunny out there again.

"We are the Rose City ... You Cannot Stop Us!"

22 May 2011: Back from Europe

2011-05-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

How fun to see two weeks of growth upon our return.

The combo of lots of rain and then sun did wonders to the dill.

Even the lettuce finally took off; I'd almost given up on it.

We have our first tomato! This is the start I moved outside first.

The peas shot up a full foot in just two weeks. Excited to harvest.

We sauteed a few radishes and their leaves with breakfast.

Are we actually going to get peaches on such a young tree?

The fig tree is no longer a stick. It even has a little fig on it!

Another week and we'll have dozens of red roses in the backyard.

And that little native plant is now flowering like crazy....

4 May 2011: Hello 70s

2011-05-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Last electric bill reading: 1103kw used. Today: 1088. Energy credited!

All tomatoes are outside and loving the heat.

Will have to set up the trellis for the peas before we leave country.

The lettuce is slow-going. Might have planted too close together.

Evenings are almost warm enough to put basil starts in the ground.

The dill got off to a slow start but is super happy now.

Man I love clover. Way better than grass.

24 April 2011: Spring cleaning

2011-04-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

Making apple pie, cleaning, gardening, listening to soccer podcasts, reading in the sun. To me, this is the perfect Sunday.

On my walk to the market, just one glimpse into why we live here.

Listening to Car Talk while I mop. Sun, then rain, then sun.

I don't know why I like to clean, but I do know it's strange.

Hardening off the tomatoes so I can transplant them next weekend.

So far my test with this little Black Pearl start is going well.

It's downright hot inside this little red cozy. Hope it survives.

22 April 2011: Earth Day feels like summer

2011-04-22T13:55:00.001-07:00

Early morning sunshine hits the front yard. Lots of rye and clover now.

The rosemary bush is going crazy with purple flowers.

What? Our first tomato flower?! I hope it's not too early for that.

I've decided to take a risk and plant it, even though it hailed yesterday.

First step: clip off all the lower branches below 4 inches.

Next, dig a hole deep enough to almost bury the plant.

Now refill and water with fish emulsion. Hoping for deep roots here.

This year I'm using red plastic mulch and a tomato cage.

This is one of three black pearls, so if it dies, I still have two.

It's hard to imagine it ever getting that tall, but we'll see.

This is a little "cozy" of tubes of water I'll wrap around it overnight.

Arabella is so happy.

The peach blossoms are starting to drop off in place of leaves.

The apple tree went straight to leaf. Not sure it will blossom.

I planted our white perennial Bleeding Hearts on the east side.

Arrow pointing left means we're pushing our 775th kw into the grid.

The carrots at left are more shaded than the radishes, thus slower.

I'll put a trellis up when the peas are taller than the veggie bed.

This variety of lettuce is called "Heatwave." They're so cute.

The Auricula Primrose in the front west yard just blossomed.

A tiny flower is coming up out of the top of my favorite shade plant.

19 April 2011: Getting warmer

2011-04-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

As temps rise, it's time to harden off the tomatoes a few hours a day.

You know you're in a cool city when the breweries make Timbers beer.

18 April 2011: More sunshine!

2011-04-18T10:55:00.001-07:00

Our typically shady front yard is now getting direct sunlight.

The rye is tall and skinny; the clover ... well, that's everything else.

This native rock crawler is one of my favorite plants in our yard.

Hard to believe we got this Japanese Maple when it was 5 inches.

The row of peas continues to climb. Some rye is peeking up, too.

The radishes get bigger while the purple carrots poke out at right.

It's pretty incredible how well the sod took on the south side.

We finally composted all the dead stuff on the darker east side.

It's not even 9 a.m. and already the solar panels are hard at work.

Arabella found the cat grass, which I started exactly two weeks ago.

I'll probably sow these seeds every two weeks for a steady supply.

17 April 2011: Weekend madness

2011-04-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, we got to JW Field at 4 p.m. for the 8 p.m. home opener.

They let us tour the Axe Stand and the renovations are gorgeous.

107 minutes before kickoff Timber Joey lets the Army enter.

Team JAM is in the upper right. This will live here indefinitely.

We grabbed front row seats and Austin prepared to sing the anthem.

It was pretty incredible to be a part of that moment.

Austin and Chris both went to Kickapoo High with Jack Jewsbury.

James came out to support the Timbers, too! And made the news.

A quick sleep, battle with hangovers, and two flights later....

And we're visiting Mom, Dad, and GMD in Sioux Falls!

We took GMD to the Del Rapids Dairy Queen for a sundae.

Turns out it's an "aspiring member" of the local chamber of commerce.

And we caught glimpses of the beautiful Sioux River.

At the airport with GMD after six hours together. Worth every effort.

Celebrating (sort of) sprinting 30 gates in six minutes in Denver.

Next morning we're back at it, this time with Team JSJ!

Jadon embraced his inner Timber wholeheartedly, overalls and all.

Justin (aka Broken Cowbell) showing off his fat drum sticks.

Sunday was a great weather contrast to the rainy Thursday opener.

People were watching from a distant rooftop.

And we beat FC Dallas, one of the best teams in the league, 3-2!

12 April 2011: Go Timbers!

2011-04-12T16:27:00.001-07:00

The Timbers opening home match is Thursday. And we get to sing the National Anthem. We've been waiting for this day for three years. Needless to say, I'm now in full giddy mode, sewing badges to everything. NO PITY.

12 April 2011: Growing more things

2011-04-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, this little green stem began to unfurl.

Now it is a full leaf--a lighter, younger green than the others.

Eventually, in its, ahem, maturity, it will become variegated.

And I found a succulent bonsai that likes partial shade! It's called senecio oxyriifolius, and will showcase yellow flowers in late summer. I buried a fallen stem in a seed starting sandy mixture on the right.

I found a little Japanese figurine that I placed beneath the foliage.

And I transplanted some tiny succulent offshoots as ground cover.

Meanwhile, I had to tackle a tomato conundrum. The smaller plants were looking pretty bad, with all the lower leaves curling up and falling off. I also noticed tiny brown creepy crawlies in the soil.

Even the bigger starts had a few discolored low-lying leaves.

But the Portland Nursery helped me research and we found two things: the leaves indicate that the plants are overwatered, and the creepy crawlies are not on any tomato pest list and likely just coexisting, so I clipped off all lower branches and re-potted. So far so good.

I also started more basil seeds. Going to do at least two a week throughout the summer as they grow so easily and taste so good.

The thermometer reads 80+. The thermometer is wrong.

The dill seeds off the balcony are finally making an appearance.

Cat grass! Sown just a week ago. These are really just oats.

Hen and chicks, a staple of any Portland garden....

Who knew peach trees are so pretty?

The fig tree may be a wee stick, but it has new growth.

The row of radishes. Carrots are just popping up to the left.

Where the tomatoes will go. Plenty o' sunshine.

This is my first time starting peas. I think they're radiant.

Shallots! These (and garlic) have been in the ground since November.

The rye and clover are popping up in the front yard!

We sowed the second tier four days behind the first.

Our next project: the east side yard. We'll build stone steps.

10 April 2011: Patience

2011-04-10T12:05:00.001-07:00

Spring can sometimes get off to a slow start in Portland. We've had a lot of days of late that involve some combination of clouds, sun, rain, and wind. Much as we may want the heat, I like to hope this weather is simply preparation for all the goodness to come. Everything is blossoming, even the indoor plants (above), and the temps are already high enough for pleasant cycling, so we are off to a good, if slow, start.

3 April 2011: Almost done

2011-04-03T17:00:00.001-07:00

Before. Approximately 12. Big task: the second rock wall.

After. Approximately 17. Next up: the third tier moss garden.

Jim, Sara, and Jadon came to help. Jadon did most of the pebbles.

We'll see if they actually suffice in deterring dogs and small children.

I put even smaller pebbles in an oblong shape around the maple.

I love this little guy. Wonder how long 'til the rye and clover pop up.

Our mint in the back is looking good. But it's a weed. How could it not?

Our peas are just poking out of the soil. First year trying these guys.

And Arabella stretches after a long day of ... napping.

1 April 2011: Progress

2011-04-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Man it was a nice day. Time to get our hands dirty.

Perennials, almost all native, and we sprinkled rye and clover seeds.

Then we added a thin layer of top soil and watered it all.

Only partly done but we are just taking it one step at a time.

And we've come a long way from exactly a year ago....

I'm so glad our fruit trees all survived the autumn transplanting.

Our Japanese maple in the back already looks like autumn.

This succulent along the river rocks is supposed to be a climber.

We also got two kinds of mint but are keeping them in containers.

How better to finish an afternoon of gardening than with a glass of Burgundy straight from David's spring trip to France?

31 March 2011: Growing

2011-04-01T09:51:00.001-07:00

One step at a time. We added pumice, compost, and top soil.

Next up: planting shade-tolerant shrubs and ground covers.

Meanwhile in the backyard the peach tree is going crazy.

The radishes are popping up exactly 10 days after I sowed them.

One row of lettuce in the other bed is popping up as well.

And we got our Timbers season tickets! First home match: 14 April.

In the bedroom, what started as a sliver along a leaf ...

is now unfurling. We'll see how long it takes to fully expand.

Tomatoes are drinking way more water. Growing faster now.

Of the two basil starts, this one is growing taller much faster.

28 March 2011: Busy Monday

2011-03-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

We finished the wall! Now the fun part: gardening.

A couple tomatoes are wilting, but most are looking strong.

And my big accomplishment: I finished the Doctor Who Romana scarf!

It's roughly 14 feet long and took me about 18 months off and on.

I used size 6 needles 50 stitches across, so it was slow going.

25 March 2011: The wall

2011-03-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

Our first duty this morning was to buy more rocks--600 pounds more.

And still, it's not quite done. Meanwhile, it was a muddy mess.

I used all the extra soil around the maple tree. This is still very much a work in progress, but once we finish the walls we'll be able to put down some shade shrubs and ground covers to make it green again.

24 March 2011: Front yard

2011-03-24T17:15:00.001-07:00

The morning light peeks through further north each day.

The tomatoes continue their climb.

Arabella loves when the balcony door is open.

Austin and I decided to tear up the dead sod and build a stone wall.

Flattening the lower layer = lots of extra soil.

And 440 pounds of stone was simply not enough. Ah, tomorrow.

22 March 2011: Spring Break

2011-03-22T16:22:00.001-07:00

Spring Break = no piano = afternoons spring cleaning/gardening.

I planted a purple variegated clover around the Japanese maple.

The big leaf red maple in our front yard is really blooming.

The maple we bought at four inches is now almost as tall as I am.

This native plant really wants to crawl along the ground, not climb.

Our peach tree buds are just about to open.

I interspersed carrots with radishes in what will be the tomato bed.

The other got peas, beets, frisee, spinach, and four lettuce varieties.

Today's cleaning project was the entryway. This is before.

And after. The tree stand is salvaged wood from Indonesia.

17 March 2011: Weird weather

2011-03-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

The sun came out after a fairly wet day.

Our attempt to harvest moss is ... well ... an interesting start.

This jade is sporting two new little guys. The trick: no water.

Thyme and rosemary can handle any weather.

Roses should start flowering soon.

Arabella is very curious about the neighbor's dog.

A bit too curious. And camouflaged.

Finished work early; perfect chance to transplant 12 tomato starts.

Their roots are growing out of the bottoms, so it's time.

Snipping off the lowest branches helps encourage more root growth.

Looking good! But they don't quite fit under the fluorescent.

And then, all of a sudden, a downpour, then hail, and finally sun.

14 March 2011: Growing

2011-03-14T14:33:00.001-07:00

What a difference a week--and fluorescent lighting--makes.

Tomatoes are a few inches tall after being buried last week.

The basil is just showing its second set of true leaves.

11 March 2011: The cat days of spring

2011-03-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

Arabella has taken a liking to catnapping through piano lessons.

Prowling is fun, too.

And the old chin-scratch-with-hind-leg maneuver.

And rubbing up against stairs while purring loudly.

The peach tree branches are a rich red.

Ditto the rose "tree" in the backyard.

Time to mix the grass into the soil.

After.

How is this all gonna fit underneath?

I could use Uncle Hank and Ted's advice right about now.

6 March 2011: Transplanting tomato starts

2011-03-06T18:25:00.000-08:00

Man, fluorescent lighting seriously speeds up plant growth.

Just two weeks after sowing seeds, it was time to transplant. Ingredients: two-inch pots, fish emulsion in water, worm castings, seed-starting mix, a spoon, and the veggie gardener's bible.

The straight-edged leaves are false; it's about time to pinch them off.

If you almost bury the starts, they can root from the snippings.

The light is just two inches over the starts. Fingers crossed they'll be ready to transplant to four-inch pots in two weeks, at which point I'll harden them off at night and put out in beds by 1 April.

27 February 2011: Making pasta is ... easy!

2011-02-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

After discovering fresh pasta at PastaWorks, we are spoiled but dropping a bit too much money every week on a pound or two. We received a beautiful little pasta maker for Christmas and thought it was time to give it a try. Here Austin mixes two eggs into a little volcano of flour until it doesn't stick to the edges.

Now it's time to add salt and incorporate the semolina flour.

It takes about 2 minutes to mix in the rest of the flour so it isn't wet.

The hardest part: Fold in half and smash down again and again.

Let the dough sit for 5 minutes and spend 10 minutes rolling it.

We cut it in strips just wide enough to fit into our pasta maker.

Now we push it through from the fattest setting to the second-thinnest.

We add the attachment to cut the pasta using the tagliatelli setting.

It's so thin and tender yet isn't breaking at all. Success!

Add a little flour if the pasta is going to sit or it'll clump together.

We sautée shallot, 3 tomatoes, garlic, basil, and cream for sauce.

Cook pasta on medium heat for 4 minutes é voilá! Delicioso.

What a difference a day makes; almost a dozen starts popping up.

A tomato start's first false leaves are so brilliantly green....

26 February 2011: And there was light

2011-02-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning to a yellow pear tomato start.

And a cherry red. Time to sort out the grow light situation.

Austin's awesome idea involved no drilling or nailing.

C'mon little guys, you've got six weeks to do your thing!

24 February 2011: Snow! Wait, sun! Wait, snow!

2011-02-24T15:04:00.001-08:00

This morning I woke up to ... snow! Big, sticky flakes.

The sky was moody, in parts gray and in parts blue.

Unbelievably, Portland Public Schools closed.

I got to enjoy the bright flakes during my yoga session.

Sabine makes her morning rounds, checking everything out.

By noon it was skateboarding weather. Snow day, pshaw!

Our olive tree looks pretty unharmed. There's even an olive!

Not a speck of snow in sight.

The peach tree's buds are fuzzy white.

And now, just after 3, the snow is back!

It's fun to play Mozart while watching the flakes.

Last week we got some seeds started.

Six tomato varieties, hot yellow peppers, bell peppers, and basil.

Austin cuts back the grape vines casting shadows on the veggie bed.

9 February 2011: Cats discover roof

2011-02-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

A beautiful February day leads to open doors and windows and ...

Felines discovering the joy of hot sun on shingles.

One of these days we'll clean up the rose bush carnage.

Meanwhile, the rose bush remnants fight on.

Whadyaknow, a native plant, like, grows good in its native turf.

Wait, this house plant ... flowers?

2 February 2011: Storm in the Midwest?

2011-02-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

We always love February in PDX; our thermometer reads 63 F.

We cut back our giant, ancient rose bushes on Sunday....

Look at the carnage. This one went from 12 feet to 3.5.

Lots of sunshine of late is bringing the buds to bloom.

Austin hopes these select cuttings will grow into new bushes.

The south side of the house from behind the budding peach tree.

What's got Arabella on high alert?

Ah, the nosy neighborhood cat.

After two dark winter months, our succulents are happy again.

Direct light is a great way to see when dusting is required.

Lindsay and Matthew found a rabbit's foot fern!

Austin, on call, watching the Premier League = total bliss.

Portland Timbers in Japanese!

05 December 2010

2010-12-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

I winterized this veggie bed two weeks ago, and in spite of the cold the new growth is strong, but the lettuce I planted is far slower.

It's mostly rye and clover. Looking good in the sun.

Time to winterize the other one; the tomatoes and peppers are long gone.

It only took 5 minutes to pull it all out, compost, and re-seed.

The garlic I planted last month is already budding out.

I know, we have plenty of plants, but I had to get this variegated one.

I put it in a glass bowl with sand, moss, and a dried mushroom.

01 December 2010

2010-12-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

It snowed in Portland--two days before Thanksgiving.

We had limited solar conversion until it melted from the panels.

Anne in Forest Park. And oh yeah, we have a camera again!

8 October 2010

2010-10-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

No regular posting til we get a working camera, but here is a desktop pic (yes I love the mirror mode) of today's veggie bed harvest. Bell noir peppers, tomatoes, radishes, and lettuce. Salad time!

11 August 2010

2010-08-11T09:26:00.001-07:00

Our apologies for being MIA, as we have so many projects to report on, but as you can see here, our camera is experiencing technical difficulties, which we hope to remedy soon.

20 July 2010: Ladder to the loft!

2010-07-20T12:54:00.001-07:00

Our camera is on the fritz so I took video of Shiloh's amazing ladder. He made this out of reclaimed Oregon Douglas Fir and finished it with Osmo vegetable wax. He drilled it into the studs in the walls and used really cool old, industrial washers. The screws were practically an inch in diameter.

19 July 2010: Escape to the forest

2010-07-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

Camilla and I spent Saturday afternoon bouldering at Carver.

It was 80, sunny, and not a soul in sight.

This crack's for Esther.

I believe our 2004 Canon Digital Elph S500's days are numbered.

But maybe you can make out that Austin put our mirror up.

We organized our garage + got bocce ball, a basketball, and a kickball.

14 July 2010: Carpet in the loft

2010-07-14T11:24:00.001-07:00

Every day we try to knock something off the big To Do list.

It rained for an hour once last week, and is still watering our garden.

Sabine is not as excited about the great outdoors as Arabella.

Our big To Do today: carpet in the loft!

It is wool and we could get away with a lighter color than on our stairs.

The view from the loft; Shiloh is building a wall ladder for us.

The view of the park from the loft. Shades are installed in two weeks.

13 July 2010: Fun projects are fun

2010-07-13T16:10:00.000-07:00

Austin made a veggie bed! 2.5 feet wide, 6 feet long, 20 inches deep.

12 tomato plants, hot peppers, pinot noir bell peppers, zucchini, four lettuces, spinach, radishes, and carrots. We have enough cedar for another bed, though it will probably be 1.5 wide and 6 feet long.

We bought a basil start but sowed seeds, too; thyme at right.

We have hung a stemware holder and coffee mug holder under our shelves, and thanks to Andy and Justin have also been enjoying some very fine scotch. Also loving the rose bushes. And yes, the placement of the NYT cover story with Spain holding The Cup is no accident.

07 July 2010: The final draw

2010-07-07T20:18:00.001-07:00

We signed our final draw from the bank with Ethan today.

Thanks GME for the incredible housewarming plant gift!

6 July 2010: Earth Advantage

2010-07-06T10:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ethan, 1840 is certified Earth Advantage Gold.

The sod has mostly taken root! Even on the sloped side yard.

The back yard is really coming along. This week we build a veggie bed.

We've already grilled on our back deck three times.

Arabella has no fear, and loves to roam around the house's edges.

I am in love with the new music room. It is the perfect studio.

Our kitchen gets a lot of action. Just waiting on stemware holder.

Every morning we wake up in the treetops with this view.

Ethan and Gusty really made our week with this housewarming gift.

Every day we are thankful for all that helped make this happen.

I know I'm relying on too many exclamation points, but... yay!!!

30 June 2010: Let the unpacking begin!

2010-06-30T13:27:00.001-07:00

We moved on Saturday/Sunday and are unpacking while working.

Good riddance, Honey Bucket!

Ethan and Gusty, you've outdone yourselves! What a thoughtful gift.

Sweet Justin shed tears of joy for us--and sweat as we moved.

The lovely back deck, already the site of one grilling extravaganza.

Mother Nature doin' her thing.

Ah, Portland, where even the weeds are pretty.

I'll take the rainy springs for the kinds of summers we get.

Our first night in the house Austin rolled a Yahtzee in one throw.

The dining room.

The living room.

The kitchen.

Austin's play space.

The spare bedroom, already host to Shonna and Justin.

And our favorite space, the master bedroom with coffee nook!

25 June 2010: WE DID IT!!!! On Mom and Dad's anniversary!

2010-06-25T11:25:00.001-07:00

Ethan did it! Final approval this morning. Certificate is online.

We mounted our mailbox this morning. Austin picked it out!

The appliances are in! We've never had new ones. Wowza.

The Sue Moore washer/dryer. Also our first ever. We call it the SMWD.

The cleaners already did the bathroom and it is gorgeous!

The windows are starting to sparkle as well.

I drove over all our outdoor plants last night, coughing all the way.

Austin came by after work to water the new lawn.

24 June 2010: Inspection tomorrow

2010-06-24T14:51:00.000-07:00

They finish landscaping today; I love this Maple in the front.

The driveway flood light is in!

We'll water this twice a day for two weeks to encourage root growth.

We left the biggest rose bush in the back, southeast corner.

We put the second biggest behind the front deck stairs.

We put the smallest two just right of the concrete stairs in the front.

We have nursed this and two other Japanese Maples for three years.

23 June 2010: The eve of inspection

2010-06-23T20:28:00.001-07:00

Austin and Ethan toasting our house numbers with champagne.

We love those cabinet handles.

They've spread some great compost/manure/soil around the yard.

They dug out the concrete and transplanted the rose bushes up front.

Enjoying the French doors onto the finished back deck.

The reclaimed shelves really turned red with the Osmo wax.

I soothed my throat with the Icicle Tricycle's mango popsicle.

22 June 2010: Finishing floors, driveway

2010-06-22T17:11:00.001-07:00

Between the driveway, stairs, and floors, a lot went down today.

Ernie does beautiful work. He says it's because he has old-school tools.

Our stairs are so shallow they do not require a handrail.

The concrete lightens considerably as it dries, and will continue to.

Ethan's wife took this photo of their son with gramps. So cute!

I wish I could capture on camera how the floors are coming out.

This is after just one coat of Osmo finish being buffed directly in.

A close-up of three panels to show how many colors are involved.

They had to fill quite a bit of the floor to make cleaning easier.

A view from the stairs of the upstairs side bedroom. Wow.

The roses continue to bloom in spite of being in temporary pots.

A close-up of the "natural light" finish on the cedar decking.

Ernie even laid a platform for our rain barrel. Very nice!

21 June 2010: Driveway nearly finished

2010-06-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

21 June 2010: Summer solstice + driveway!

2010-06-21T15:17:00.001-07:00

The concrete and I arrived at the same time.

Ernie had four helpers: two guys, cigarettes, and a Coors Light.

View from the first-story balcony as the cedar is being finished.

View from the second-story balcony, which has already been finished.

It's called "Natural Light," so isn't much darker in color.

The sun sets at 21:03, giving concrete plenty of time to set and dry.

The view of 1840 from the church's parking lot to the south.

19 June 2010: One week from moving day!

2010-06-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

En route to watch the Timbers, Justin takes in the park views.

Yes, he was looking at the naked cyclists cut through Col Summers.

We got a light shower last night but the rain barrel is largely empty.

Justin kissing the Timbers crest outside the master bedroom.

View of the driveway just hours before it is paved.

18 June 2010: Almost done!

2010-06-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

Ernie is prepping to lay the driveway Monday.

Our front door has been installed, as well as all door hardware.

Airing out the upstairs to finish floors; solar panel piping on roof.

I love the rain chain. Oh, and the sunshine. Finally.

We're opting for this Osmo vegetable-based finish on the hardwoods.

Alex is almost done with our back deck! Cedar will be stained Monday.

17 June 2010: GREEN!!!!

2010-06-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, when I first arrived I was really worried about this green.

It could be a shade deeper, but with the trim it is really growing on me.

We had fun installing our rain barrel and 20-foot copper rain chain.

Overflow will travel down this pipe back into the downspout/dry well.

Ethan and his dad installed our reclaimed Douglas Fir island top!

As we left the sky started to clear, so it never rained on paint day.

16 June 2010: Finishing the finish work

2010-06-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

All plumbing, electric, and HVAC is done! Clean-up going on now.

The floors will start to be cleaned/sanded/finished tomorrow.

Our basement sink is concrete; an old-timey welder built the stand.

The basement is finished. Will see concrete floor tomorrow.

The pool table light is in! Note the tiny wine cellar door at left.
Our "wine cellar" light is a very simple, small fluorescent piece.

Our bedroom sconces can be rotated and turned on/off in two places.

Hooray for the master bedroom coffee nook! Plumbing in closet.

Our upstairs bath has a six-option timer for the fan. Oh boy.

The house's thermostat is in the main entryway/hallway.

15 June 2010: More light fixtures

2010-06-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

The weather is so crazy. Sunny here, thunderstorming as I post.

OK, we don't have a dining "room," but we do have an "area."

Our "dining room" light is low, but we'll have our table there.

Austin's favorite light fixture theme. Twin Peaks, anyone?

14 June 2010: Plumbing fixtures

2010-06-14T15:09:00.000-07:00

Painter, plumber, electrician, and carpenter all working away today.

Our lovely kitchen sink! Soap dispenser at right.

Bathroom sink. Apparently we like the masculine look.

Dual-flush toilets and bathroom fixtures are all in!

To afford other lights we spent $4.99 on these Ikea fixtures.

We have 4 recessed lights in the kitchen and 3 in the living room.

The light we chose to say, "Welcome to our mod-cab Pacific NW home."

The Ukrainian carpenter Alex does more finishing touches....

11 June 2010: Picked our siding

2010-06-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

The railing is totally done! They stain the cedar next week.

Gary demonstrating the cream-colored trim.

We are so happy with this green! Not drab, like so many....

Austin standing just outside our bedroom doorway.

Checking out the stairway from the back of the house.

Shiloh delivered our Douglas Fir kitchen island countertop.

It's made from reclaimed wood. We love it!