Nevermore

The Oregon Crusaders, which is a fairly new drum corp performed tonight at Pioneer Courthouse Square and they sounded great. I love drums. I love live music. These kids (yes, I say kids) between 15 and 21 yrs old performed in 97 degree heat in a brick square, after moving all their equipment AND while wearing long black pants, long sleeved (probably polyester) uniforms all with mostly smiles on their faces. They did great and I was glad I was is the shade and in a skirt.

They played several pieces and then performed their show for the 2014 DCI season. The show was titled Nevermore based on Poe's The Raven and it seemed to fit the style of the poem.

 Love Portland and "Portland's Living Room" as the square is referred too....

 Setting up and warming up....

Drum majors....

These two smiled the whole time (minus the male who wasn't at the exact moment I took this picture). They looked like they were having such fun, which is fun for me to see when someone is performing.

And just a couple quick videos...

Cute Cars!

A month or so ago Dave posted on Facebook that Josie wanted some Cars shirts, but Disney doesn't make Cars themed girls clothing. I had a crazy idea...I could make her a few shirts. So, I went to town on getting Cars fabric and t-shirts and did a crafting adventure in cutting out Cars characters, fray checking them and then stitch witchery (iron on fusing) them to the shirts. I decided they needed a bit more girly something added so I got fabric glitter paint and finished them off. 

They turned out cute! I can't guarantee how long they'll last, but they sure make Josie happy. Stasia informed me that in the first week and a half she had them (two if them anyway-I needed to add glitter to the third) she wore each of them 2 or 3 times-laundry schedule dependent. She now has all three...

Mater and Lightening McQueen! I later added glitter outline to them.

McQueen with glitter!

 And more McQueen with glitter outline.

 I wrapped each up in some colorful tissue paper and Josie got to open each of them. She tried them all on and loved them.

The purple one is my least favorite of the three, but don't tell Josie!

Such a cutie and now with three new Cars (Cars Cars as she calls them) shirts to wear!

Rose turned another year older!

Rose turned another year older and we celebrated by eating, laughing, eating, laughing and then starting a fire in her new firepit and then eating some more and laughing some more. Grand night! Happy Birthday, Rose!

The birthday girl...

Rachel...and her wine!

Zach...getting his marshmallow roasting stick ready.

Lee and Rose and sleeping Xander!

Me....with a yummy marshmallow....also I learned this night that nutella spread on a roasted marshmallow is  like heaven in my mouth!

And Lee, who joined us after he got off work, but also the guy who made it possible for us to roast marshmallows over a fire!

"Nothing left but the core" ... Beacon Rock, Washington

Beacon Rock is a large monolith that is situated on the north bank of the Columbia River on the WA State side of the Gorge. It's always been a place I wanted to hike, but never had and I didn't really know if I could hike it with a bad knee and bad hip. Especially since I'd been told it pretty much vertical. WA State Parks hosted a free day today and I decided to take advantage of a free day on the trail. I ventured to the WA side of the river and made my way East to Beacon Rock State Park. I was going to climb what was left of the inside of a volcano!

 At the trailhead!

 On of the views!

 In order for Beacon Rock to be climbable, one of the original owners had created a switchback ramp system...with railings, thank goodness. This is a picture looking up with the zigzagging railings.

 Another great view!

 Chipmunk at the top of the 848 ft monolith.

 Looking down...

 After the hike up and down (which my knee and hip did very well with) I made my way over to the water and for a view if Beacon Rock from the river.

Click on the below picture and look closely...you can see the railings.

What a lovely hike, wonderful views and a great escape for the day!