Guess whose?

This was the first one:

Here’s a clue:

Party #5  (One candle is hiding.)

#6Time flies.

Happy, happy!

Today at St. P’s, I just had to snap a picture from my place in the choir.

This was what I got:

What I was actually trying to capture was this young acolyte’s (the one in the middle) red Vans, which matched his red cassock perfectly:

As Oregonians, we are pretty much committed to loving the rain, but, I tell you what, when the sun shines all day on a Saturday, the entire population moves outdoors.  You’d think it was 70 degrees instead of 50.

I went right out and started cleaning out the six birdhouses that line the alley fence posts.

I am generally a non-discriminating land lady, but I have my limits.  I was not happy to find that a nest of yellow jacket had apparently taken up residence in one of my rentals last season.

I do love my tiny, lightweight power screwdriver for removing the houses from their foundations for cleaning and then screwing them right back on.

I moved one of the feeders and the container of nesting material nearby.  Much of the nesting material this year is soft Kobe fur.  That will make for some very warm and snuggly nests.

Finished up pruning and spraying the roses before Roxie and I headed downtown for a walk in Riverside Park where we met up with most of the population of Salem.  I gave up counting little kids on tiny bikes wearing huge helmets and dogs on leashes.  The crowded preschool playground held no appeal for us, so I just zoomed in to get this shot.

Tiny soccer boys were out working on their skills.  Looked to me like today’s assignment was learning to keep your socks pulled up.

Roxie and I preferred the isolated path next to the river which is much higher than it should be.

On the way out, we admired this statue of Governor Tom McCall.  He is much revered in Oregon for being ahead of his time, fathering the first bottle recycling plan in the country and other environmental concerns.

Here he is in his waders, fly rod in one hand and a nice-sized salmon in the other, standing next to the Willamette, but I bet he mostly fished the McKenzie.  Sort of made me wish I hadn’t given my waders and fly rod to Elizabeth when she lived in Colorado, but I bet they are stored somewhere here at 1880 now. Maybe I should dig them out.

Drove up (actually I was very happy to be driven up) to Timberline yesterday to play in the snow and to enjoy the amazing Skiiers’ buffet at the lodge.

Almost white-out conditions on the way up.

That blue-looking stuff covering the second-story window in the lodge is actually snow.

The dining room was warm and cozy

even though there were icicles outside the window next to our table.

It was hard to sample all the delicious offerings on the buffet, but I made a valiant effort, just to be polite.

Back home today, we had a nice sun break, so I dashed out to weed the asparagus bed and to start pruning the roses, of which I like to do one each day starting on Presidents’ Day.  I discovered that the Handsome Man had resigned from his weatherman duties due to a foot of snow, three inches of rain and winds rivaling Santa Anas in the last ten days.   I propped him up and assured him that spring is just around the next corner (or maybe the corner after that).

I also discovered that my pruning tools need sharpening.  I’m not sure I can do that myself anymore since I am ashamed to admit that I sometimes use them to cut wires so they need some serious honing.   Came inside to check the sharpener-man’s schedule at ACE.  Got sidetracked watching a DVD of an English murder mystery that the postman just delivered.  I really need to write my to-do list in ink!

Life with its joys and sorrows is good here at 1880.

Almost two years ago, Mary-Margaret moved to Maui from Oregon.

It was decided that beautiful Kobe should come to 1880 to live out his retirement with Roxie and Rosie and me.  Here, we gave him the luxury senior treatment.  Daily walks and naps played their part.

Last summer, we went camping and stayed in a cabin where he chose this futon for his bed.

There was a fine field there to explore.  Silly Roxie dug up a mole.

This month his girl came home and spent his last three weeks giving him “the spoil-rotten protocol,” which was the right thing to do.

Auntie Kate came up for the weekend to spread the attention around.

And then today the time came when our boy had to go on ahead.

The paw print he left in the snow has gone now.

But the one he left on our hearts will be there forever.

I learned so many things from Kobe about how to be when you get old.  He was patient, kind, agreeable.  Never grumpy,  Never complained about his meals or the time he got them.  Took his meds.  Smelled nice. Was always affectionate. Loved to go for long slow walks in his warm coat, but didn’t mind when I was too busy.

Goodbye my beautiful boy. I won’t ever forget the things you taught me. Thanks for letting me be your Grandy.