Branches and Books

Here is a flower about to bloom outside our front door! Could spring be coming?Either this is an exceptionally windy year or this hill is a windy area.  Otto and Solomon wanted to take out some garbage bags to fly in the wind.  I try to say yes to these kinds of requests because they offer experience with the sciences.  Solomon tied some twine onto his bag. I think Otto originally had a stick on his, but took it off. I was watching from the house when Otto lost hold of his 'kite' and it flew into the tree. I thought, "Bummer, now everyone will have to look at that big white garbage bag in the beautiful branches."  But, then it blew out! Great! Otto thought it was great too and was confident it would always blow out. Unfortunately it didn't as you can see from the pictures.The sun shining on to top branches is a frequent view we all enjoy.  As you see, although a few days later, the bag is still there. I apologized to our manager, but she said there were 2 or 3 in the trees behind their house that their girls and friends lost. This seems to be a wonderfully understanding community. It helps that there are many other families here with young children, mostly girls. Our next door neighbor has a 3 year old boy and said there were all girls playing outside last summer. Olivia will certainly like that! She has already made friends with some of them.

One more inside picture of our living room bookshelves and Otto reading. We are indescribably thankful that all of our children love to read and this picture is one we see daily. You can interchange any of the children into this pose in numerous places around the house and outside when it is pleasant  weather. These are our nice bookshelves where we are working on placing our most loved and nicest books. We have five more bookshelves upstairs with very little room left on them. Does that slow us down in our book buying? Ha! Never! Actually, there are more than five, but I guess we don't need to count.

 

John Adams by David McCullough

Sometimes I'm not sure which blog is best suited for an entry I want to make.  This one could go on all because it will likely ramble, effects our home and our homeschool.  I finished my first book written by David McCullough.  I say my first because I am already started on my second and I told Greg I will likely be always reading a David McCullough book until I have read them all.  I cannot possible express all the reasons why I enjoy his writing and having only one book read so I can't say positively that I will feel the same about them all, but it is my expectation.  

The book I finished was John Adams and it was more than wonderful.  It was easy to read, but not simple.  It was full of quotes from actual letters and newspapers of the time, but it read like fiction.  While reading, I was transported to the days when John Adams lived, an invisible presence in his life and the happenings of his time.  I feel as if I know him and I cried when he died.  I feel strengthened by his integrity, his honesty, his uprightness.  I feel hopeful at his success in the struggle of this life.  I feel peaceful that politics then, at the beginning of politics for this country, was not so different from what it is now.  We are not sovereign, but there is One who is and He will not be swayed or negligent and we can trust in His direction for everything that effects our lives.  We must do all we can, but with confidence that doing all we can is all that is demanded and all that is needed and will be rewarded.  

This is a book that will be read by all of our children as they grow.  It has taught me more about this era of history than I can relate.  It has taught me with a joy in the learning that I know will be shared by our children.  Joy in the learning is a thing much sought after and not found as often as I would like.  The next book of David McCullough's that I have decided to read is The Path Between The Seas about the building of the Panama Canal.  We also have 1776, and Truman, but I wanted to read something completely different, not a president and  not the same time period.  We are getting the books on hardback because they are worth it, but we are getting them used at Powell's so they are less expensive.  

Make the next book you read a book written by David McCullough.  I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed.  

Workout Plan

I have a great workout routine going and I want to share it with you.  Start out by biking to the store, in fact, bike everywhere you can.  Then begin going to the library every week (by bike) until you and the children can't stand not to go.  Then sign the children up for classes during the week like swimming and gymnastics.  Also, begin drinking real milk and be sure to ride to pick it up.  All these things I was doing and it was not that big a deal.  The milk was the most difficult, the ride being 7 miles one way.  Then, once you are accustomed to this way of life, nay, dependent upon it, and with no vehicle but a bike when all these things must be done, move to the top of a hill.  It is amazing the workout I'm getting.  I used to be able to wear street clothes to the store and library at least, but now when I get home I am sweaty and gross even in the 30 degree weather.  I am also swimming with the children during the Family Swim after swimming lessons on Tuesday and swimming laps on Thursday during the lessons. I almost never ride up the hill without pulling Olivia on the Trail-a-Bike or a load of groceries.  So, assuming I can keep this up, I should be in the best shape of my life soon.  I'll let you know.

Snowy Walk

We have had a bit of snow.  First let me mention something about our move.  We had planned to begin moving on the 15th which was the first or second day of ice and snow.  However, since the townhouse was empty and available we decided to go ahead and pay another week of rent and move in a week earlier, beginning the 8th.  We were done on Friday the 12th (the last day Greg worked since

 they don't sweep streets in the snow).  The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.  We are ever grateful for his direction and for saving us the disappointment and struggle a move in these cold and ice conditions would have caused.

So, Greg has been going stir crazy being stuck at home.  He enjoys being home, but not like I do.  All my work is in the home, but not Greg.  He is relaxing at home and there is only so much relaxing Greg needs.

He has gone out into the snow almost everyday with me or one of the children.  We walk about 2 1/2 miles to a variety of stores, Powell's being our favorite, but also Winco (our least favorite), Borders, Best Buy, the Mac Store (where we bought a Mac that Greg carried home!), and always New Seasons.

  

A change of pace is always enjoyed for a change, but this change has gone on long enough and although we hope to maintain a joy throughout, we will be ever grateful to be able to drive and ride our bikes again.  

Merry Christmas!!

Back Online!!!

Wow, I was doing so well at updating this blog until... the computer went down. Talk about a halt to everything! I found out I don't know how to find out about anything without the internet and that the internet allows you to find out about anything. I am sooooo glad to be back online!

So much has happened. We moved into a townhouse; still renting, but we realized that is a better fit for us right now. It must be close to double the space and we have a garage. The only bikes in the house are in the bike room which is in the basement. We have always wanted a basement. The first floor is all hardwood except the kitchen which is linoleum. We have always wanted hardwood floors. We are a little farther from the library and swimming and the farmer's market (when it comes back), but only a couple of miles. Still within easy riding distance.

We had planned to move in on the 15th of December, but we decided to go ahead a pay a little more and move in a week earlier. The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. On Monday the 15th Portland was covered with ice and snow and way below freezing temperatures. Greg hasn't worked since the day we finished moving because they don't sweep streets in the snow. It was warm enough today that Greg took the van out, but another storm is expected this weekend. Monday, the 15th, we were scheduled to do a walk-through at our old apartment, but we were not going to drive. Greg and I bundled up and rode our mountain bikes. I was terrified at first, but began to figure out what was more grippy and what was less. Did I mention the wind? Strong and freezing, almost blowing us over. I was thankful I overcame my concern for my looks and bundled as I did.

Trail-a-Bike

It has taken me a week to write about last weekend. Though it was full of interesting things, they now seem long ago and unimportant, but we have some video and that is always fun. Greg wrote on his blog about his first ride with our trail-a-bike for Olivia. The next day we attached it to my single-speed, Bianchi SASS. I haven't ridden it much because the gearing is set up for trails and on the road I have to go really slowly or pedal really fast; it looks and feels ridiculous. We thought the trail-a-bike might be heavy enough to make the gearing more appropriate; it did. I'm sure it is heavier than the trailer because it was as difficult pull and the weight difference between my Milano and the SASS is huge; the SASS being much lighter. I was still able to make it up the hills without too much difficulty and that is more important to me than speed. Olivia has never ridden a bike as we don't have one small enough for her so she doesn't understand the balance involved and her wobbling pulls by bike inches from one side to the other which was a little disconcerting. Still we all had a wonderful ride and always enjoy being together as a family. Children are the greatest blessing I could imagine.

Around Town

Last Saturday, September 27th, Greg and I went on a ride around town. We had planned for weeks. Because we were going to be gone most of the day, we made arrangements for both grandfathers to take 2 and 3 children so they wouldn't be home alone for so long. We left about 6:00AM with lights. Unfortunately we were going to miss shopping at Farmer's Market, but it was a treat to see the venders unloading their trucks, talking, laughing, preparing for the morning under lights of their own. I was apprehensive about the first part of the trip; not because it was dark, but I knew there would be a lot of hills in the beginning and I don't like the warming up stage. Riding while the sky lightened with the rising sun was calming and encouraged me to endure the stage with patience. It is about 8 miles to the zoo (mostly up) and then we rode through Washington Park as the first rays of sun streaked through the trees. Coming in to downtown we rode by the Old Church and then to the Waterfront. It was a beautiful morning and the day and time made for light traffic. After riding along the water we crossed the Steele Bridge and began a trek north. We saw a bike light at a traffic stop. I don't mean a light that goes on a bike, but a traffic light in the shape of a bike telling us it was our turn to cross as our lane went from one corner of the intersection to the other. We felt so special. We had been hoping for a coffee shop, but hadn't planned exactly where we would be or what shops might be there. Greg decided to go down Killingsworth hoping to find something and find something we did. About 30th we passed a sign reading Extracto Coffeehouse. It was authentic and delicious. After that wonderful break we headed north again until we met up with the Columbia River and took a path that leads along it to the east. The sun hadn't been up long and the clouds rolled in and we were cold for a while, but nearing the river it warmed up surprisingly and we were comfortable. We did have to pull over to let a dump truck pass, but other than that it was probably my favorite part of the ride. At 148th we headed south again, cut over on Glissan to 122nd and a stop at Safeway for some juice and bananas. Continuing on 122nd we ran into the Springwater Corridor Trail after about 2 1/2 miles; about this time the sun came out and it was summer again. (As we began our journey we decided to count how many people we saw riding bikes. It was at this point in the journey when we reached 130 and stopped counting.) We headed toward Sellwood where we met up with the Willamette River and then north along the water until we again crossed the Steele Bridge and headed back the way we came, stopping once along the waterfront to enjoy the sun and take a break. (Counting bike riders in this area would have been a larger task than we could have accomplished, they were everywhere.) Actually, not exactly the way we came. We rode through the Portland Farmer's Market; what a test of patience that was! There were an unbelievable number of people and trying the walk through with a bike... We certainly didn't stop to look at or buy anything. We decided to ride back along Barber as the hills are lower, stopping at Fred Meyer for a candy bar for Greg; he needed it badly. Then we turned toward Multnomah Village and stopped for a slice or two of amazing pizza at the Lucky Lab. Greg was feeling great after getting some food, but my body was way done riding. Thankfully the path home was fairly level and relatively short and we reached the end of our journey, 65 miles, at about 3:00PM. A hot bath and quiet nap restored me quite well, but some arnica on my sore muscles before bed and a great night's sleep and I felt brand new. (I must confess that the next day Greg drove me to the stores to do all my grocery shopping.) I am looking forward to our next mega loop.