Dick and I are now into our regular routine at the coast. After a month in West Linn, I couldn't wait to settle back into things. The house is pretty dusty and the bathrooms are dingy but I am getting through them one at a time. One day it dawned on me that with this house and the condo in West Linn, I have 6 bathrooms to clean! Ugh!
Dick has been busy with the Planning Commission and some urban renewal processes going on in the Nelscott area of town. He has been assured that his filing information is all correctly turned in, including checking to make sure all his signatures on his petition were registered voters in our ward, so he is officially running for City Councilman this November. In the last election, the winner got a total of 400+ votes so this isn't like the Presidential bid but should be fun.
Today Dick is playing in his Friday men's league year end tournament at the golf course. He made the final foursome (top 4 in both the Tuesday and Friday leagues combined) so he is pretty happy. Of course, if he gets too excited, his score won't be as good. I am waiting to hear the outcome once he gets home.
I am just enjoying being back to my beach. We are putting up with all the inlanders for another week and then the beach will be empty again with lots of space for Lincoln to run. On Labor Day after 3pm, we will take Linc to the Community Center to swim in the pool. They let all the dogs swim the last day of summer before then drain them and do the maintenance. He loved it last year as he was a pup just getting to know his swimming abilities.
Last evening as we sat on the deck, each with a gin and tonic in hand, we had a whale right in front of our place and not far out. He was just at the breakers. A number of people on the beach saw it too and just stopped everything to watch. After several blowing spouts, he finally rolled his back up out of the water and flipped his tail at us. Beautiful way to end the day!

Mom (Allison) and the girls came over to the coast for a few days before Mom started her new job and Eliana and Sarina were back in school. It was rainy and dreary most of the time but we did get a walk on the beach and Grandpa Dick and Sarina flew the kite when it cleared up a little. Inside we found time for a tea party that Dena took very seriously since we used china cups and plates. We had oyster crackers and lemonade but it was still a tea party. Since we were a houseful of girls except for Dick and Lincoln, we did get to the outlet mall for some shopping and the girls are all set for school. They headed back to see Jason and get back into the flow of everyday life and Grandpa Dick and Grandma Sue got back to their beach coma.

After or during our walks we often stop at Grandma's community garden. There are about 150 plots where people grow organic vegetables and/or flowers. It is very strict on being organic so no pesticides/chemicals or deep digging allowed but the soil is fabulous and we are getting plenty of lettuce, spinach, green beans, onions, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and beets. Dena likes all the scarecrows that were constructed this year. The first photo on the left is the one near my garden and the other two are familiar ones we see as we walk down the path. There is even one carrying a Whole Foods grocery bag. The middle one is Hawaiian complete with flip flops and a grass skirt. The man on the right has a wide tape measure for suspenders and looks like a real farmer carrying a chicken.

Eliana and Sarina have been going to golf camp all week in the mornings. We decided ice cream and a trip to the park with cool fountain water in the afternoon was in order since it was a hot day. Dena doesn't seem to like to be splashed by the water but her sisters don't have a problem.

Dena does like going on our morning walks but it is so slow for Allison and for me if we can't talk her into doing part of the walk from the stroller. This picture is just from the start of the walk and not even to the first turn. It is about 1 1/3 mile trek for her little legs but she enjoys every step. Not sure the grown up girls get much of a cardio work out when Dena decides she has to walk but the fresh air is nice.

Casual Time

Now that my granson has arrived, things are pretty low key but busy here in West Linn. I have been running errands for Brett, Liz and St. John (Sinjin) and helping Allison and Jason with a little babysitting so they can get things done and of course I have to get my daily baby fix and see St. John but otherwise things are not too exciting around here...just busy. I am enjoying the Olympics! And I have baked a lot of banana bread, pineapple zucchini bread and peanut butter, banana, chocolate chip bread so there is never a spare moment.
I also have had Lincoln here with me while Dick has been back at the beach. Lincoln and I have a daily rountine of coffee (sometimes with friends or the Kaufman girls), a romp at the dog park to see Linc's friends and then a walk around the trail there that goes past my community garden. Dick has been over in Lincoln City collecting signatures for his run for City Council this fall. The petition is due shortly so he wants to make sure he is prepared. He did get appointed to the Planning Commission so had meetings there, also. He has played golf in the Friday League there, of course, just to keep up on his exercise.
Over here, Dick attended his class reunion but I begged off and watched Dena while all the other Kaufmans went to a wedding. Dick had a good time catching up with friends and again playing golf at the reunion and he agreed that I would have been bored. He saw that on the few faces of the spouses that did attend.
This week is golf camp for Eliana and Sarina so Grandpa Dick has volunteered to chauffeur the girls to and from the golf course. Then, then, and again, then, I will be able to go to the beach and see how it looks after being here for about a month! I miss the ocean but wouldn't have missed this time for anything. My garden is looking good after a little more attention than normal and I will have vegetables to take back to the coast with me.
Well, I am off to fix chicken for dinner for Brett and Liz and watch a little more Olympics. More soon after I get back to the beach.

He has arrived

Finally after a few days of labor at home and a long time in the hospital, Sinjin Fyfe Anderson has arrived. It's a boy! He has big hands and feet and at least on the first day and night he has been fairly quiet. Mom and Dad survived and are doing well too. Elizabeth had a C-section so I will stick around the West Linn condo a little longer to see what help I can be. Meanwhile, Grandpa Dick is on dog duty while they are in the hospital for 4 days. More soon.