Day 7

Today was all about hanging with my folks. And we had a really great day together...

Both my parents had some work to do earlier in the morning at the office which was fine since I slept in again. By the time I was up, my mom had come home to take me to lunch at The Country Rose Cottage & Bistro which is a really sweet little house on H Street where a lot of antique stores are located. It's been around for over 60 years boasting that nothing but a new bay window in the living room has changed since they've been open. It is a really quaint older building filled to the brim with knick knacks and tea sets. They sell specialized lotions and soaps, teddy bears and special teas. It's the kind of place that would serve as the perfect backdrop for a bridal shower or a birthday tea party for little girls.
My mom and I both had raspberry iced tea (delicious!), half a turkey croissant sandwich with cranberry sauce and cream cheese, and a cup of cheesy potato leek soup. It was the perfect lunch and very reasonably priced. We had a great time chatting and just spending quality time with each other...something we haven't been able to do in quite some time. Sometimes a gal just needs her mom and I've got a really great one.

After lunch we met my dad for another round of golf. We headed back out to Buena Vista Golf Course, this time with my mom who graciously agreed to tag along and drive the cart. We didn't get started until 1:15pm, so it was already a bit on the warm side (you all know what a wuss I am when it comes to heat) but there was a nice light breeze that blew through every once in awhile. I was able to hold my own a little bit more this round and tried my best not to mooch off of my dad's superior shots. I even got a couple of pars all by myself! About 3 holes into the front 9 we were joined by a couple who had caught up to us. Eric, the husband, is a really seasoned golfer who has done a fair share of golf lessons and was able to offer me some very valuable tips along the way. Christine came along for support, a new golfer who has yet to make it onto the course. We played with them for the remainder of the front 9 and then agreed to get together for another round on Friday for some more tips.
On the back 9, I finally started doing better...hitting my drives straighter and farther, chipping my ball onto the green rather than over the fence, and sinking some very impressive puts. That didn't last terribly long. I joked with my mom that it takes me 9 holes to warm up, then I'm really good for 2 holes and then I start to suck again. My dad blamed it on taking too many practice swings before I finally took my shot. I blamed it on the sun. Either way, by the time we finally eeked our way through the final 18th hole, you could stick a fork in me...I was done. In fact, the mere act of typing this blog entry makes me cringe with each keystroke. But we had a really good time together as a family, "enjoying" the sunshine, sharing some laughs, and making new friends.
What could top off a day like that? Chicken taquitos from Baja Fresh...mmm.

Can't wait til tomorrow!!

Day 6 (well, yesterday)

Yesterday was SO fun! I had a chance to hang out with Lorie & Henry for most of the afternoon and had the best time.

After sleeping in until 9-ish (YAY!), I headed out to the sticks where the Chamblesses live in their gorgeous and comfortable home just in time for Henry to wake up from his nap. He was a little shy at first (who isn't right after a long nap?) and wouldn't take his eyes off of me ("who is this chick? and what's she doing here?"). But after a little while he warmed up and was a total joy for the rest of the afternoon. Lorie says he was on his best behavior, and I think she was relieved to have such a content baby for the afternoon. We met David for lunch at Sequoia Sandwich Company for really yummy sandwiches (and a healthy heaping of carrot cake!). We even ate outside as the sun is still shining brightly, but the temperature has dropped considerably to be in the comfortable 70's. I love this brother/sister combo...they're so honest, so real, so funny, but with so much love. It was a real treat to spend time with both of them and see the truly amazing sibling bond they have developed together. It was also SO good to see David (who I'm pretty sure I haven't seen since M&M's wedding 4 years ago...and even then, only briefly). We were friends through church from elementary school through high school and even moved up to Seattle at the same time but lost touch. Yet, it feels as though little time has passed (don't you love it when that happens?).

After lunch, Lorie & the shrimp and I headed to Target (fun!) to have a look around. We managed somehow to leave the store without purchasing anything, which I consider a triumph...I don't know that I've ever left Target without getting something. By the way, Henry was a complete angel all the way through lunch and through the store. Being on his best behavior must've worn him out completely because on the way back to the Chambless home he passed out. That gave Lorie and I some time to just hang out and have a chit chat, getting caught up on each other's lives and just enjoying each other's company. I decided that Lorie is a truly amazing woman...managing a family and a household, participating actively in their church, maintaining close ties with her friends, and actually accomplishing a career that she is so passionate about. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little green with envy by the time I said goodbye.

I immediately hopped on the phone with my husband and told him that he was in big trouble.
He asked, with trepidation, "Uh, why? What'd I do?"
I replied, "Nothing. It's just that I caught the fever this afternoon."
"What fever?" he asked.
"Of the baby persuasion."
"Oh. Well, good luck with that."

I'm so excited that I'll have another opportunity to see this lovely family this week as I'll be crashing their weekly family dinner with Uncle Dave on Thursday where I'll also be able to meet Christie & Sam, and visit with old friends Mark, Sarah Jane & Ryan. Yay! It's about time for my 10 year high school reunion, and these are the folks I'd most want to see anyway.

It's times like these when I think I could really live in Bakersfield again, in a community filled with good friends from my past who knew me when I was younger (and still like me!) and love me today. But then I get in my car which is 95 degrees on a 75 degree day and remember why my body won't let me live here. I think I might be allergic to the sun...

Thanks, Lorie Henry & David for a really lovely afternoon! I love you guys!

Day 5

Day 5? Wow...I've been away from home for almost a whole week and while I am having a total blast visiting with family and friends, I am truly missing my husband. It occurs to me that in the 4 1/2 years that we've dated (and now married) this trip might mark the longest stretch that we've been apart. It sounds so lame to say but it really does feel like a part of me is missing (cue the cheesy music). Anyway, I just wanted to say that I appreciate with every passing moment the truly amazing man whom I feel so lucky to call my husband.

That being said, today started early with a round of golf with my dad at the Buena Vista golf course in Taft. We hit the road at 6am, made a quick stop at Starbucks (yum!) and made it just in time for a 6:45am tee time. For the first 3 holes we played separately, with my dad destroying me. After another 2 holes where neither one of us did very well we decided to switch to a scramble, or best ball. What it really is is cheating. We each tee off but play off whoever's ball is closest to the pin, or has a better lie. Once we started playing this way, our score started improving immensely (duh).

I forgot to bring my camera in my haste to leave the house on time which I immediately regretted as the morning was really beautiful. In true Bakersfield form, however, the temperature started climbing quickly by the time we finished the front 9. It was also really windy which makes a sometimes aggrevating sport even more difficult and frustrating, particularly for a new golfer like myself. Needless to say, my dad and I saw a lot of the course, probably some areas that most golfers there never know exist. By the time we finished all 18 holes, around 11:30, it was 87 degrees and I was exhausted. And that farmer's tan I got driving down here is even darker...so, that's awesome. Between the two of us we shot an 86, which my dad tells me is a pretty respectable score.

After coming back to the house to shower and change clothes I headed to my parent's office to have lunch with them and had a chance to visit with some of their co-workers, who are all so amazing. My dad's administrative assistant is a fellow blogger's mother. She is the largest ray of sunshine...so personable and sweet, so expressive and sweet, so energetic and sweet, and did I mention that she's sweet? She helped throw my Bakersfield bridal shower last summer in the midst of preparing for her own son's wedding. It's always such a joy to get to catch up with her.

But the highlight of my afternoon may have been taking my dirty, filthy, windshield-riddled-with-bugs car to the car wash (talkin 'bout the car wash, yeah). The location on White Lane has a "happy hour" from 2pm to close where a car wash is $7.99. They washed the car, hand dried it, vacuumed it, and added new car smell. Now I have a sparkling clean car that smells new. Is there anything better?

My dad is barbequeing a pork loin and roasting potatoes for dinner and we've rented Enchanted and Stranger Than Fiction for later...I'm looking forward to a quiet night at home with the 'rents.

I am REALLY excited to get to spend some time this week with my good friends Lorie, Scott & Henry; David; Mark, Christie & Sam (hopefully); Colleen (maybe); and maybe even Ryan & SJ, whom I've been friends with since the third grade.

More on that later (and hopefully lots of great pictures)!!!

*sorry today was so uneventful...I promise to have more interesting posts soon*

**also, I will post my observations on driving, but later when my dad isn't watching last night's Simpsons**

Day 4...*yawn*

I arrived in Bakersfield around 5pm today and spent a quiet evening with my folks...

I'll post tomorrow about my long drive here from Portland, but I would like to ask a question...

It is April, right? Not August? So can someone explain to me why it was 247 degrees today along the I-5 corridor? Great, I already have a farmer's tan and it's not even May yet...

Goodnight!

Day 3

So, today was a little less hectic, but we still managed to get a lot done. The three of us went to "The Original Pancake House" for breakfast which was good, but not as good as Dean's yesterday. And, if I may, I find it bothersome this restaurant is a chain with locations all over the United States. How are we, the consumers, supposed to feel not knowing whether the location we are eating at is THE Original Pancake House or not? I have to say, not knowing this made the whole breakfast experience less enjoyable. Well, that and the group 9 high schoolers who came in just after we got our food and started spilling coffee all over the table and floor. Punk kids...

After breakfast we took a leisurely drive along the Columbia River to the Vista House in the Columbia Gorge which is a really cool museum/gift shop/look out over the Columbia River. The day was simply beautiful with crystal clear blue skies dotted occassionally with whispy clouds. I was able to get a pretty good shot (below) which I'll submit for this week's PhotoPie Challenge.

Oh, did I mention that the wind was blowing 180,000 miles per hour?
Thorougly windblown, we returned home to work on more wedding-related craft projects. Today it was assembling gift boxes for close family and the wedding party with a fun surprise inside (I won't ruin it for those who will be receiving them at the wedding, and who might be reading this blog). Monique is ridiculously crafty and SO creative, so each item is meticulously thought through and executed beautifully.

While we were working on the boxes, we had a visitor. His name is Larry and he's the closest thing to a pet that Thomas has. He is a 3-legged squirrel whom Thomas feeds on his back patio, and he's pretty stinkin cute. I think he was apprehensive to come too close since I'm a stranger, but I definitely noticed him perk his ears up when Thomas called out his name (too funny). The leg he's missing is his front left leg (which is hidden behind the branch in this picture), but he's very able and surprisingly fast when scrambling from branch to branch.
After all the excitement of the past couple of days, the three of us are pretty exhausted. I think the three of us will put on our pjs and watch Across the Universe till we all pass out.

Then tomorrow morning, hopefully no later than 4am, I'll say goodbye to my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law and head to Bakersfield...a scant 837 mile drive, which, according to Google maps, should take me approximately 13 hours and 15 minutes. I don't know how much picture taking I'll do along the way, and I might be too tired to blog tomorrow night. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if anything really exciting happens along the way.

Bakersfield or Bust!

Day 2

*Whew*

Today was a long day...a very productive and fun day, but long nonetheless.

I woke up this morning, very well-rested, around 8am and came downstairs to make myself a cup of tea. Thomas was already awake and watching tv so we had a quiet, lovely moment to chat. We eventually woke Monique and got ourselves dressed, and made our way to the small town of Damascus, about 25 minutes outside of Portland, where we had a truly amazing breakfast at Dean's Homestyle Cafe. This place has the really kitchy, country diner feel with customers ranging from Hell's Angels, to older gentlemen who are clearly regulars, to a foursome looking like they were on their way to tee time. I had a perfectly portioned breakfast of two eggs (overeasy), with 2 slices of bacon, and two slices of sourdough toast, complete with homemade raspberry jam and a great cup 'o joe.
Thomas and Monique had equally delicious and satisfying breakfasts (although mine was the only plate that ended up totally clean). We pushed our plates aside and got out their big box of wedding invitations...which, Monique and Thomas lovingly hand-made. Between the three of us we added additional invites to the rehearsal dinner to those family and close friends who will be included in their big day and sealed them all...155 of 'em! A sweet woman at the table next to ours warned us to beware that we could all end up dead from licking the envelopes...obviously a Seinfeld fan!
After we left Dean's we took a scenic trip to Aurora to drive by the location of their wedding ceremony and reception at the well-manicured Heritage House Garden. The garden itself is really beautiful and will serve as the perfect backdrop to their summer wedding and the entire estate is surrounded by a hazelnut orchard (mmm...hazelnuts...). I learned today that outside of Greece, Oregon is the largest exporter of hazelnuts in the world! You learn something new every day...

We dropped the invitations off at the post-office and headed home to work on the wedding favors. These are the sweetest little envelopes that Monique painstakingly stamped (198 of 'em!) which we filled with Leucanthemum x superbum seeds (aka. shasta daisies). Monique then sewed a little card to each envelope which reads...
She (cleverly) sewed the favors in long strands so that she didn't have to keep cutting them off the sewing machine each time, leaving us with long strands of these adorable favors. I volunteered to cut them apart while watching the new The Office and 30 Rock...I know David wasn't a fan, but I was so happy to have new episodes on that I'd have watched 30 minutes of either Steve Carrell or Tina Fey farting and been plenty entertained...
After we finished up the wedding favors, we headed to the other side of Portland to visit Monique's sister (Colette) and brother-in-law (Fletcher) and their newborn identical twin boys, Eli & Dane who will both be a month old on April 18th. This is (obviously) my brother-in-law Thomas holding both the twins (Dane is on the left and Eli is on the right). The boys are a pretty healthy size for newborns, but in Thomas's big arms look like tiny dolls. Adorable.We finally made it to dinner at Ruby Tuesdays at 8pm for a really delicious dinner...but all three of us were wiped (Monique looked like she could probably fall asleep face first into her chicken pot pie if she stopped moving for too long), so we headed home to crawl into pjs and get some good rest (of course, I had to blog about the day first).

But now I'm off to bed to rest up for more fun, wedding-related craft projects tomorrow! Stay tuned for an update of my adventure!

Road Trip!!!

It's road trip time, ladies and gentlemen! I decided since I'm not currently employed that I'd treat myself to a little driving adventure. So I headed out today (after a long goodbye with my husband) and made the short jaunt to Portland to spend a couple of days with my brother-in-law Thomas and his fiance Monique. I've been told that I'll be put to work helping them do little crafty wedding-related projects (get invitations ready to mail out & assemble wedding favors) but I'm really just looking forward to spending time with them, drinking lots of tea and definitely laughing...a lot.
I'm planning on crashing here until Saturday and then making the long drive down to Bakersfield to visit with my folks and some great friends.

I've packed my iPod, huge book of cds, a sack full of snacks and a tank full of gas...

Stay tuned for more updates!