Happy Birthday, Ashley !!! *** !!! *** !!!

I'm remembering July 4th pancake breakfasts at Lodi Lake when your Grandpa, Gary, would make you special Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes with a birthday candle and all the Kiwanis men would sing Happy Birthday to you.

Now, you're making your own memories as a successful young woman who has worked hard for an education and continues to have exciting goals for your future.

Enjoy the day with the knowledge that you are treasured and greatly loved.

Interesting Presidential Insults..............

http://thedailywedgie.blogspot.com/2011/07/halperin-calling-president-obama-dick.html

One of our neighbors writes this blog and he comes up with some very funny (and most often, true) insight to politics.

Whether you agree or disagree, it's a good read...............

July 2nd

Yep............ it's Farmer's Market day, again. 80 degrees, sunshine, the Blue's Festival at the river (we can hear the music from our condo) and lots of tourists in town. It's a party everywhere we look............

Busy Doing Nothing.............

The party continues.............

I had pleasant surprises when I got home Thursday night. While I was in California, Roger completely redecorated and planted the front patio so I was greeted with huge pots filled with greenery and flowers. The condo was clean and the laundry was done. I'm thinking that I should leave more often!

Chris flew in last evening from his teaching job in Georgia so we had Rachael, Carolyn and Brian for dinner before they went to the airport to pick him up.

We're enjoying lovely sunny weather and the Farmer's Market today was really great because fresh produce and fruit is starting to be available here in Oregon. The main things now are peas, strawberries and boysenberries, asparagus and a limited amount of cherries. In addition, we still have things left from the winter crops so I came home with a huge bag of goodies this morning. It's so different from California where many of these crops are already finished for this year. Tomorrow we're going to enjoy the outdoor pool and just be lazy.............. A perfect way to spend a weekend.

Tuesday, Wednesday with Ron & Rosanna and HOME..............

You may have noticed that food seems to be the theme of my visit so it continued Tuesday when I enjoyed being a guest of Lenis and John for lunch at a favorite Woodbridge restaurant. Then it was time to hit the road and head for San Francisco.

Weather in the valley on Tuesday was 103 degrees so it was a relief to see a fog bank hovering over San Francisco as I left the Berkeley Tunnel. Finally, I was able to enjoy "Portland weather" and I promise to never again complain about it not being sunny here. Given a choice of clouds and/or rain vs. 103 degree temperatures, I'll be happy with the cooler choice!

The last two nights I was a house guest at Ron and Rosanna's in San Francisco and we had a great time. Wednesday Rosanna and I enjoyed a Vietnamese lunch followed by the Balenciaga exhibit at the de Young Museum.

The angels in the photo were made by the combined efforts of Rosanna's daughter, Lori, son-in-law, Mark and herself. Mark does the wood working and hand carves the heads and face. Lori and Rosanna paint and decorate them (they even give them names).

It was a lovely trip "back home" to see family and friends and now........... it's very nice to be back to Portland.

Party time with Ed and Liz

Ed and Liz invited me to be their house guest for two nights so it was great to see them and relax.

Ed barbecued a delicious salmon steak for dinner Monday night and Liz served a gourmet dinner that was exceptional.

Weather tipped over 100 degrees so it was pleasant sitting around the pool (in the shade !)