the day we leave

will be back to the blog late oct, see you then!

new hair cut and color!!!!

our first stop out of athens is Alexandria egypt, here's our excursion. . . .Day 1: Depart from the pier for a journey through desert scenery and reclaimed, cultivated land, reaching the outskirts of Africa's largest city, the legendary Al Qahira, internationally known as the teeming metropolis of Cairo. Sit back, relax and listen as your guide tells you about the history and culture of a timeless land on a journey lasting approximately three hours. Your first stop brings you to the Citadel of Saladin; where you'll see panoramic views of the city of Cairo. Driving through the 'City of the Dead' towards the Citadel, the architectural and the surreal surroundings will capture your imagination. Visit the spectacular Alabaster Mosque of Mohamed Ali and continue to Liberty Square, the heart of downtown, where the National Archaeological Museum is situated. Here acquaint yourself with Egypt's ancient history spanning a period of 50 centuries.The museum houses the richest collection of Egyptian Antiquities, including the magnificent Tutankhamun collection. Proceed to a leading hotel in Cairo for check-in formalities, lunch and a short siesta. In the early evening depart to the Papyrus Institute where the procedure of manufacturing the oldest paper in the world will be demonstrated for you. You'll have some time to shop for your favorite souvenirs before proceeding to the Giza Plateau to attend the English version of the 'Son et Lumiere'. Here seated in front of the Sphinx under a star studded sky, the Sound and Light performance brings the magnificent history and achievements of the ancient Egyptians to life as the illuminated Pyramids and the mysterious Sphinx dominate the surrounding darkness. To end the night, sail on the River Nile, the same timeless waterway traversed by Pharaohs, Queens and Nobles thousands of years ago. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet dinner in elaborate interiors as you glide past Cairo's waterfront landmarks, while a folkloric presentation and belly dancing take place for your entertainment. You'll then drive back to your hotel for a well-earned night's sleep. Day 2: After breakfast and check-out drive southto Egypt's first capital, Memphis. Here visit the ruins of the temple of Ptah, the fallen colossal statue of King Ramses the 2nd and the Alabaster Sphinx of King Amenophis the 2nd. Drive to the oldest, ancient cemetery of Sakkara and see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser. Continue to one of the Mastabas (tombs) built nearby, and visit ones such as those of Ptah-Hotep, Mereruca, Idut or Ti. Then proceed to the Giza Plateau, where the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World is found, the imposing Pyramids of Giza. You'll have some free time at the Pyramids to explore and enjoy this magnificent site as well as having unique photo opportunities. Continue down the valley where the Mighty Sphinx bears witness to the passage of time. Let your imagination reflect on the golden days of the Pharaohs as you gaze at this mighty monument. Lunch will be served afterwards at a leading hotel nearby the Pyramids before the return journey to port. Bring back with you wonderful memories to reflect upon for a very long time to come. Note: Shoulders and knees must be covered and shoes must be removed while visiting the Mosque. Visitors must go two security check points before visiting the Cairo Museum. During the Sound and Light show, use of video cameras requires a fee of approximately $6.00. All meals and overnight accommodations are included. The drive to Cairo takes approximately 3 hours each way. 


the day before the day before we leave.. .

Trying to get ready to change states is always difficult physically and emotionally. It's hard to leave family and friends and the house we have worked so hard on this summer. Pipe is mostly in, plants are in the ground, still have mulch to move and deck to finish, laundry and packing to do, but the rest of the house stuff will fall to our winter caretakers, David and MA. It will be in good hands, but it's still hard to go. Florida is so welcoming this time of year!!!




Todd, Dave and Blue have worked hard. A snarl of pipes going in over roots (we know the stumps are gone), a mess untangled graciously, and uncommonly heavy work. . .the excavator works great on the big stuff, but lots of hand shoveling!
The long ditch goes to the edge of the bluff where a really long pipe will go to the bottom to prevent water erosion. Glad I don't have to watch Todd hang by his toes next week to put that part on!!!

Cody, nephew, is leaving next week to go to San Diego to live with friends for awhile, didnt work out for Jon, but hopefully will for Cody. He's going to ride his (motor)cycle down the Pacific Coast Hwy, should be a great trip!



Louie and I went overseas (to the mainland) yesterday for a stack of errands and another battle at the apple store (they have been great, just don't know how to reinstall backed up data and don't want to lose it. Has been frustrating, but think finally I may be ok. Needed to get it all backed up before I take it in the i-lugger through the airport. If I lose pics one more time. . .they will stay lost!. Had dinner at pf chang's and it was great, but we ate too much. . .





Looking forward to seeing friends and family (and pets) in florida. Miss screamer, the cat and Yacqui the bird. Wonder if they remember who I am?

tree line dance

Difficult night with the photos on the blog, wouldn't upload. . .

Here is the tree crew!




Here is mom in Barbara's backpack!!!

so we go with daily pics, but weekly blogs?

It has been a hectic week. We filled up a 20' trailer with yard debris, had 6 trees cut down (they chipped those), birthdays (David, my brother), more yard work, Jon off for a job interview in San Diego, niece Barbara visiting which included a trip to the pottery place to do some artwork, nephew Cody getting ready to move to San Diego, a visit to Mike and Cindy to see all the work they have done to their house, the deck started (waterproofing) in hopes that it will last awhile longer, I even read a book, finished my gourd, did some beading and spent a ton of time on my computer and iphone.


Barbara is extremely creative and talented. She made a pattern and built this backpack (that mom is wearing). Wont show the other creation until next month!!


The tree stuff was fascinating to watch. Has opened up the north side of the house to lots more light, and I loved the stump grinder!!!!! It was radio controlled and to see something the size of a small tractor running around on its own was something else! Chipper ate those stumps like a champion sweet corn eater!!!


Mike and Cindy's house looks great, Mike finishing tile, Cindy and Susan working on the yard. They are ready to go back to florida so the house is up for sale.


Have been playing with the new sony camera. Love it!! Caught a rainbow on the wall 30' from the kitchen window where the light was coming in.

catch-up time

Jon, nephew, has been here working on the yard and living in my studio, so I havent gotten much computer time in, so I will endeavor to catch up by working backwards. . .



Today, Monday, louie and I went bean picking at a friend's house. They don't want to see another green been, so we got 4 plastic grocery bags full and another bag of beets. Louie will can some with dill. We saw cool puff balls and made them shot off spores, then they puffed back up! Check Louie's blog for pics also. I got a good movie clip, but not sure if I can get it on this site. From there, we met Dave and Russ and went out on the boat to pick up the last crab pots of the season. Last round got us lots of females (not keepers) and 2 good sized males, Will let you make your own joke from there. . .




Yesterday, Sunday Sept. 2, was a yard day. Marked irrigation system for the pipe guy, mowed the yard, loaded a 20' trailer 6' high with yard debris, took 21 plexi panels off the deck to get it ready to weather proof it, and. . . whew was tired out! Jon also got the concrete mixer put together and we went for turkey dinner at mom's. A week's worth of stuff in a day!



Saturday, Sept. 1, Worked in the yard. Cindy and Louie came over for dinner, crafting and talking. We did a lot of the latter and not much work on our gourds. The sunset was incredible and we just couldn't tear ourselves away. Jon came home and fixed us dinner plates from leftovers and Jonathan returned from his walk in time to join us. Louie and I were both practicing with our new cameras.


Friday, Aug 31, Jonathan and I met with the "pipe guy". His crew will be here next week sometime to put in the drain that goes off of the back bluff. It has taken a year to get engineering and approvals from neighborhood association up through the state. It involves trenching and maybe cutting the driveway concrete. The sweetgum tree on the corner will come out first, we think, but we were going to do that anyway because it has lifted the concrete in the driveway up about 1 1/2" and cracked the slab!. After the meeting we went to Oak Harbor. . .the big city. Got a Honda mower from home depot. Yay!!!! We even made it past the wonderful chinese buffet restaurant without stopping (no will power if I go in so best just to stay out!). Errands at office max, shoe store and walmart. home by 10:15p, had a late start. Jon didnt get home til saturday, his job interview in Portland went fine, he just didnt want the job!!!!

Spent some time learning my new camera. Macro works well. Also silly pic of Iphone taken with camera which is reflected in the glass front of the phone.





Aug 30, Thursday, we had the barbeque we were supposed to have had last week, before Woody took his tumble on the beach, David brought "brand new, 2 hrs fresh out of the water" salmon and we had steaks. Was quite a feast. Potatos and onions from the garden (and guessing the eggs from their chickens) came with Mom and Marjorie in the form of potato salad). Woody was up and moving, but still in a lot of pain from his fall. Eggplant would be the color of his bruise and size would be gigundous. David cooked steaks on the grill, Cory climbed the apple tree, and a good time was had by all. Too chilly to sit outside so we moved extra chairs to the dining room table.