The University of Washington was a wonderful experience. It reminded me of how much I love learning. I am sure that I got as much, if not more, than the students. The drive home was slow, as it was the beginning of the 4th of July weekend. It was my fault. I took time to stop down at Pioneer Square and check out the art galleries. I found a couple of pieces for my new office.
It was nice to be home in my own little bed. Saturday morning I headed out to the Beaverton Market to get the fixings for brunch with Katie and Ray who came to see the new house, as they are in Portland for the weekend. We had crab omelets with fresh peas, heirloom tomatoes and walla walla sweet onions. We had a fresh fruit plate with red and yellow raspberries, Rainier and Bing cherries, marionberries, blueberries and strawberries. Then there were these lovely French almond cakes. And while Ray shelled peas and I got the eggs going, we nibbled on locally made pork sausage and Willamette Creamery Jalapeno Jack Cheese. It was thoroughly delicious, made all the better by such nice company.
Fourth of July was filled with fun. Drove down to Carole and David Biskar's house in Canby to see their new home and watch the parade. I love small town parades...filled with patriotism, marching bands, kids and horses, campaigning politicians. My favorite float was a forklift driven by an elderly man, carrying an elderly woman on the front in a recliner waving! Carole and David's friends were all interesting conversationalists. One of the couples that I met and their three children are on a sad and bittersweet journey. Rich has cancer and has less than two months to live. There are no treatment options left. They have had to sell their home. He will not likely live to see their oldest daughter married in August. But there he was, soaking up the laughter, watching his family with pride, quietly struggling to maintain his dignity. Both of them honest about the challenges...tax liens, fear, planning for a future without each other. It puts life in perspective.
That evening Carole and David joined Sandy, Margaret, Don Voeks and I for dinner at the riverhouse. Christopher grilled the flank steak and chicken for fajitas and sauted the onions and peppers to perfection. Others brought vegi's, and we had lots of watermelon sprinkled with fresh mint. All of this great food was washed down with lemonade.
We found that to have an unobstructed view of the fireworks we had to move west a couple of blocks. My pine trees are like a great big green screen. It was a really nice day.
It was nice to be home in my own little bed. Saturday morning I headed out to the Beaverton Market to get the fixings for brunch with Katie and Ray who came to see the new house, as they are in Portland for the weekend. We had crab omelets with fresh peas, heirloom tomatoes and walla walla sweet onions. We had a fresh fruit plate with red and yellow raspberries, Rainier and Bing cherries, marionberries, blueberries and strawberries. Then there were these lovely French almond cakes. And while Ray shelled peas and I got the eggs going, we nibbled on locally made pork sausage and Willamette Creamery Jalapeno Jack Cheese. It was thoroughly delicious, made all the better by such nice company.
Fourth of July was filled with fun. Drove down to Carole and David Biskar's house in Canby to see their new home and watch the parade. I love small town parades...filled with patriotism, marching bands, kids and horses, campaigning politicians. My favorite float was a forklift driven by an elderly man, carrying an elderly woman on the front in a recliner waving! Carole and David's friends were all interesting conversationalists. One of the couples that I met and their three children are on a sad and bittersweet journey. Rich has cancer and has less than two months to live. There are no treatment options left. They have had to sell their home. He will not likely live to see their oldest daughter married in August. But there he was, soaking up the laughter, watching his family with pride, quietly struggling to maintain his dignity. Both of them honest about the challenges...tax liens, fear, planning for a future without each other. It puts life in perspective.
That evening Carole and David joined Sandy, Margaret, Don Voeks and I for dinner at the riverhouse. Christopher grilled the flank steak and chicken for fajitas and sauted the onions and peppers to perfection. Others brought vegi's, and we had lots of watermelon sprinkled with fresh mint. All of this great food was washed down with lemonade.
We found that to have an unobstructed view of the fireworks we had to move west a couple of blocks. My pine trees are like a great big green screen. It was a really nice day.
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