A Summer So Far...In Photos

So, I thought I would have ALL this time this summer, but that hasn't exactly been the case. I've been so busy I haven't posted to my own blog in almost a month! I have been babysitter, traveler, and librarian over the last month and I was recently offered a temporary position as a full time librarian that should last 6 months to 1 year. I am thrilled to transition back into the working world, but unfortunately I have been a little slack in updating our adventures (or lack of). Please accept my apologies and these photos to chronicle how we have been spending the last month or so...

The 7th Annual Run for Congo Women Portland took place on July 23rd. It was a huge success with more than 400 runners and $25,000 raised for Women for Women International's Congo Program. This is the second year I have volunteered for the organization as a run organizer responsible for press releases and other  tasks that need to be done. Check out Run for Congo Women and learn about this important cause!

A couple days later I was off to Florida to see little grandma and spend a girls weekend with my mom and sisters. It was sweltering hot, but we went to the Riverhills Park for some family photos. Little grandma is 92 and I wanted to make sure that we mark this occasion since it's pretty rare that we are all together at the same time.

Stella wasn't too interested in posing for photos....

.....but she's so darn cute!

A few days after I got home the last two plantation shutters were installed. Finally! We have privacy and our "library" is finished....for the time being anyway!

A view from the outside on a summer night....

A few days later JSM made one of his dreams come true.....he had his tattoo colored in! When I first met JSM I was shocked to find the giant tattoo of the General Grant Sequoia covering the entire side of his calf. I mean, I wore pearls and cardigans and here this guy had a giant, and I mean giant, tattoo for everyone to see. I quickly warmed up to the idea and ultimately fell in love with it - it is, after all, a part of him. Since it was coming up on 20 years old the tattoo was beginning to resemble a stalk of cauliflower, not the giant tree he wanted. So, off we went to Altered Reality in Vancouver.  I had never stepped foot in a tattoo parlor so it was all new to me, except the black paint on the walls and the Alice in Chains and Primus playing on the stereo made me feel like I was in a club circa 1994. I love that JSM exposes me to new and different things and I'm glad I was there to keep him company! The tattoo artist did a phenomenal job!!

This week we started our first major project on the Little House on Brush Prairie! We are refacing our fireplace with Douglas Fir in a subway time pattern. My sweet friend SJ is doing the work for us and I can't wait to see the results! Stay tuned for pictures.....Now, hopefully, I will sit back and enjoy the last weeks of summer before I start my new job on September 1st.