California visit

I had planned a trip down to visit my grandmother before the term started.  She is having some difficulties and I wanted to make sure and get some time in with her.  So, after the meeting with the expectant parents, we drove up to Portland, in Portland traffic, and made it to the airport 25 minutes before my plane was scheduled to depart.  Yeah, I ran.  But the plane was delayed, then delayed , then delayed some more.  See, it was so hot (the car measured 110 while sitting in the parking lot).  The little prop plane couldn't cool down.  I heard at one point it was 105 inside the plane.  Eventually they cancelled the flight.  They put us on another flight that evening.  So all the rushing and I just sat in the airport for 5 hours.  ha.  

Finally in Oakland, I changed plans to stay with Polly because she was closer.  That meant I got to spend a little time with Talullah.  She has grown a lot.

It was good to see Polly, even if it was only for a late night (too late, but worth it) and a little bit in the morning.  

Then I drove my rental car across the bay to spend time with Grandma.  We did a short visit and left her to nap while we had lunch with Corinne and Madison.  On the way there, I had a message on my phone.  First bit, they said yes and want to go through with the adoption with us and liked us as much as we liked them.  Then, surprise.  Katt's in labor. 

So, they didn't know much.  Eric and I called back and forth but at the moment they told us not to hurry, things could take a while.  So, I had lunch, not that I ate anything.  And it was lovely to see Corinne and Maddy was cute, but I don't really remember anything.  I was a little distracted you see.

I had promised to come back and visit Grandma.  So, I did. I got to tell her the new developments.   

After another short but lovely visit, I got back in the car and drove across the bay to Dave and Linda's house.  On the way, I got the order to move; so I got to the house, gave Linda and Katie a hug, handed Katie my credit card info and told her to get me a new flight, then I got back in the car and drove to the airport.  It's 4 pm in bay area traffic at this point. I made it just in time to drop off the car a day early, and get to the plane just in time.  hoo boy, I would not call this mellow.  

Exciting? 

Terrifying? 

Crazy? 

Yes all that.

Meeting expectant parents

Crazy day.  We woke up super early in the morning and drove to Eugene to meet the expectant parents.  It was a surreal experience, but they are amazing.  This was a meet and great and both couples could say no, though we are all in and I suspect they are too.  They are Eugene hippies.  Mom is a cook and has a feisty independent streak.  Dad is an arborist with the sweetest most loyal personality.  The baby is due sometime in September.  Only a month to prepare!!! So much to do and the term is starting in two weeks with next week being all the new faculty orientation.  Of course all this is happening at the beginning of my new job.  Of course.  I don't care though, I am so happy.  and terrified.  Sooooooo much to do.

No pictures yet since they could still say no and we respect their choice.  I adore them already though.  My favorite story is from the expectant mom's childhood.  She had a kid at elementary school who she thought was a huge jerk. One day she walked up, gave him a stick and then proceeded to beat the crap out of him.  He ran to to the playground attendant who happened to be his mom, and she said, well you were given a stick so... 

We've been picked!

We got the call!  A couple expecting a baby chose us to be its parents.  It is the craziest feeling ever.

Funny thing is, Eric didn't even  realize what the call was about.  He was volunteering at a community gleaning apple press event and when the counselor called and asked if it was a good time to talk, he answered truthfully and said no it wasn't.  Ha! 

I called her back and got the short version just before she left for work.  We find out more tomorrow!

Happenings at home

Raspberry gleaning party for slow foods

 EV being cute

 The girls helping with bees

Alaska fishing

Sportsman's Cove had an empty boat so we grabbed it for a fishing trip outside of Ketchikan.

John, Keith, and Nathan and his dad joined us to fill the boat.

 We got lucky and had Josh as our captan, he's been there the longest and found us fish when no other boat could.   

 Our deck hand Joey had been coming up for 7 years as a guest and finally was old enough to do the job legally.  The most practiced beginner ever.

 I caught a big Chinook the first day.

 The boys

 Keith catching a halibut, finally.

 This one fought John hard

 The second day was beautiful, but watch for sunburn

 Whale!

 What in the world is that?

 Fancy lounge chair

 This lingcod took the entire boats' concentrated effort.  He had lodged himself between rocks.

Josh cleaned fish like crazy on the way back to the lodge.  He wasn't the biggest fan of all the rockfish we caught, poor guy.

 Ketchikan for a short star before our plane the next morning.

Bend trip

We joined Eric's parents for a weekend in Bend.   

Fun to see the Deschutes further upstream 

 My attempt to get a rain shadow picture for class. storm spilling over the cascades with sunny skies following

Cherry bumper crop!

Cherry jam!

Strawberries and visits!

My strawberry plants are producing like crazy.

Just in time for Shawna and kids to come and visit. Satchel loved the battle bots and was more talkative than I've ever seen.

Juniper couldn't get enough of the berries.

I sure miss these guys

Later Josh joined them and we had a neighborhood reunion.

sigh

Raccoon in the hen house

Katherine and Tim's chickens hang out in our yard a lot.  One day when they were gone, I noticed an intruder being a little too curious...

Pops' pups

Dinner with Pops and his boys

His big big boys