Summer in Astoria

Summer is here...for the week end! After a July and August with highs in the 60's, we finally got a day of sunshine and warmth. This is one of the last standing canneries on the Columbia River.

A New Direction

Dear Friends,
Yesterday I turned down an excellent job offer. It was hard to do since I was looking for long term employment with excellent benefits. I would have tripled my current income...but what I have chosen is to leave my current job in April to work full time from home and pursue my art. The boys are leaving private school to learn at home. One night the idea came into my head that I should really try to make a go of it with my artwork. It wasn't just that moment, but a whole orchestra of people and events in my life that led me to this. I wanted a sign to tell me what to do, that I was making the right decision. Well, I feel that it is clear that this is the direction I should take our family. Our family being myself, Elijah, and Noah. My mom often gives me tidbits to feed on and one that always comes back to me is about some questions that were asked of some people in their 80's and 90's. If they could live their lives over again, what would they do differently? Overwhelmingly, they would have taken more risks in life. So that is where I am right now.
I tried to scan the above image to get a better shot, but I am still learning these things. It is my first piece of jewelry, a gift for a friend. A tiny painting of a pear tree on copper made to wear as a pin.

Sweet Sleep

Cathedral Tree Trail

We hiked up the Catherdral Tree Trail Saturday and Sunday this week end. The trailhead is only a few blocks from our house, and blocks from where I grew up, but only discovered it this summer. It became our Sunday tradition to hike up the trail to the Astor Column. It amazes me how sometimes we have a treasure right under our noses and it takes so long to see it. We were once blind, but now we see.

New Addition

This is our newest pet to join our family. He is a dwarf bunny and so adorable. The boys named him "Slip"... well, after the first one who slipped away.

Help Me Choose a Color

For those of you who have seen the before pictures, you know how much progress has been made. Although I have unfinished details in every room, I am mainly working on the dining room right now. And because I go about things in whatever way suits me best, I am working from the floor up. Now I need a paint color for the dining room. It has to have some depth to it, a little punch, I'm not afraid of color, but it can't be garish. Something unexpected perhaps. Picture 1 is the living room done in Divine Honey. Picture 2 is the dining room project. The wainscoting is done in White Dove and I plan on putting tin tile on the ceiling. Picture 3 is the kitchen done in Miller Paint Marrett Apple, which is a cool granny apple type green. Colors I am considering are a muted mulberry, clementine, or a greenish blue, all colors from the Miller Paint Company Historic Colors Of America. My first inclination was a red, but I want something a little different. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Joel and Jess

Joel and Jess were married on August 19th in Pennsylvania. Mom and KC were able to fly out and attend the wedding. We have never met Jess, but I love her already. Mom says she is quiet, serious, and sweet, and she loves my brother! I think she is beautiful, such an elegant and classic beauty. Jess' dream of saying their vows under a tree were shot when the outdoor wedding was spoiled by rain. Perhaps they will be able to renew their vows someday under that tree. We all look forward to meeting our new sister/aunt.