September 12, 2011 - Sabra

Luxuriousness in a bottle.




- Posted by DWNTWN

September 9, 2012

Camping with my kids!


It's AMAZING!
I love this!
I wish you all could be here!
Turning my phone off and will check in later, MUCH later!


- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:Silver Falls Hwy SE,Silverton,United States

Homemade Pizza is a treat

When I was little, before 4th grade, I remember having pizza nearly every Friday night. Most often, homemade pizza, and on occasion Pizza Hut.
(Pizza Hut originated in my hometown of Wichita.)
I remember the wonderful smell, getting to eat in front of the TV, watching the Brady Bunch followed by the Partridge family, and having my own bottle of Coca Cola.
Mom and dad bought 1-6 pack of Coke a week, on Fridays.
Pizza night must have been pay day as well.
And we all knew that pizza & pop was a real treat.
Tonight, I treated myself to

homemade pizza, made MY way, thin crust, Italian Sausage, ground beef, onions, and Of course, GREEN olives.
It was delicious. The only problem is I made enough pizza for our family of 10 and we are a small group of 3.
Some day I might learn to scale down the volume of food I cook.
Maybe!

- Posted by DWNTWN

Mowing, trimming & getting dirty!

I bought a mower today!
We've had an old fashioned 5 bladed push mower since we moved here.
Do You know the kind?
The kind of mowers' they used in 1947!

Well that's what we had.
It's just getting too tough to push that darn thing up our steep hill fast enough to cut the grass.
Add to that we don't have as many kids living here which leaves less kids to delegate to mowing...
meaning I have to mow more often!
I thought it was time to break down and buy a real mower.

So I spent the morning, first trying to FIND a push mower.
My second criteria was to find one that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg.
Third, I thought I wanted an electric one. (It's better for the environment, and all.)
However, it seems I am trying to do the impossible, find a small inexpensive push mower, either gas or electric, at the end of the summer mowing season.

Finally!

I found one.
Top Shelf in fact!

No, by Top Shelf, I don't mean expensive....
I mean Literally on the Top Shelf!

The guys at home depot were awesome and helped me get it down, wheel it out, and load it in the car. Not that I am not capable, but the extra customer service was nice.

After a quick 10 minutes of assembly, and 10 minutes of mowing, my new Briggs and Straten Mower has completed it's maiden mowing venture!

Next up... Manicuring the yard.
I grabbed the edger/trimmer to make it all look pretty.

Even though it's been hot and dry for the past week, that damn trimmer still flung mud on me from head to toe. Caroline thought it was funny!

After all that yard work,
I need a manicure.
No wait,
I think it's about time for a beer.
Or better yet,
something cold and refreshing from my Top Shelf!








- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:Debra Ct NW,Salem,United States

Unlikely Friendship

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Location:Coho Ave NW,Salem,United States

Willamette Canoe Adventure

I love canoeing. My first canoe experience was 4 decades ago. I went to camp the summer after my 4th grade year, wait...
Maybe it was after 5th grade.
Anyway, we took canoe lessens in the pool first.
Learned how to tip a canoe over,
How to utilize the air pockets in an overturned canoe,
Learned to upright a canoe in deep water,
As well as how to climb back in without re-tipping it.

Those lessens have stuck with me for decades, I think because I was so afraid of water then.
But along with learning how to canoe, I also had my first experience with learning to overcome my fears.

I suppose that is why I also HAD to learn to skydive.
But that is another story.

Last Saturday, after a long day of cleaning, sorting, and re-organizing the garage we headed across the Willamette River to run errands and I noticed all the water toys out playing. I mentioned to my husband, "another summer is nearly gone and once again I have yet to canoe the river."
He commented on how busy we had been and how much yard & house work we had accomplished this summer; leveling the yard, building the rock retaining wall, and putting up a fence.

While those are things we desperately needed to accomplish, at that moment my thoughts were of spending a relaxing day floating down the river.

DWNTWNimages.me
I asked, "so what do you have going tomorrow?"
He said, "nothing."
I followed up with, "why don't we go canoeing tomorrow?"
He said, "sure."
"My one stipulation...,
I want to be in back."
He agreed.
And the rest is history!

Time: past, present, and future

I left work today in desperate need of an escape.
Since escaping wasn't in my plan for the day,
(let alone something I had scheduled with my husband or children)
I opted for a shady place to enjoy a bit of 'Happy Hour' before heading home and facing my other job.
I have been meaning to do some yearly calendaring for the family since the beginning of the fiscal year.
Okay, to be honest,
I have been wanting to do this since the beginning of 2011.
The idea of yearly planning might sound like an odd thing to do for a household, but with a family as large as ours I find it necessary.
I have learned over the past 31 years,
if I don't schedule 'It',
and plan for 'It',
most likely 'It' won't happen.
As I opened up my folder containing my paper calendar,


(I'm 'old school' that way)

Random photos cascaded out.
And there was my dad smiling up at me.
So here I sit...
thinking about him...
Not getting a bit of planning, scheduling, or calendering done.
But I don't mind one bit.

Miss you daddy!





- Posted by DWNTWN

Monday Snap of the Day

Waiting or resting?


- Posted by DWNTWN

Snap of the Day

Ahhh... Johnny Walker Green.
I do love a good Scotch especially when shared with good friends.
I am blessed to have Torp here to share life and laughter.
Unfortunately time goes by too fast.


- Posted by DWNTWN

Location:SW 49th St,Lincoln City,United States

Snap of the Day

 Its been another great day at the coast. 

      We've been blessed to have so many friends
and family members come visit this summer.
We tend to make more time for exploring when we have visitors.
Tonight it seems we have intruded on a doe's dinner.  Under her careful watch she continued to dine on the greens right outside our front door.



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Snap of the Day

I've been struggling to find time for photography,
time for blogging,
time for quilting, gardening, or even cleaning.
There just hasn't been time for me.

I get cranky when I there isn't time for me.
I need to time to create, recreation, and to re-create.
I don't need a LOT of time, just some time.
I have decided it is time to adjust and adapt to this current pace of life.

I don't like feeling cranky and I am pretty sure the kids don't like me
when I am cranky.

So I intend to modify my blog,
at least for a while until I can make more time for re-creating.
I am thinking about posting just a simple photo a day.
Nothing too fancy, just a quick snapshot with my iphone.
Perhaps with a short caption.
Or maybe no caption.
Or even better, let anyone who sees the snapshot give the photo a caption.
It could be interesting and
it might just be enough to feed my soul until I have more time.
So here is today's snapshot....

I am already looking forward to tomorrow.







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Don't Worry. Be Happy

The thought for the day yesterday was,

“Be happy for this moment.
This moment is your life.”

~ Omar Khayyám
It kind of reminds me of the lyrics to the song,
Don't Worry. Be Happy.

While I have many reasons to worry
(and I can worry with the best of worry-ers)
I am trying to be happy.

I have lots to be happy about...

My 3rd grandson,
8 healthy children,
a visit from my youngest brother,
time at the coast,
cars that run,
a cold can of Diet Coke
a warm summer sun,
food on the table,
a loving family,
vodka Martinis at Tad's,
a hot shower in the morning,
abundant berries and veggies,
the smell of fresh cut grass,
kids that help around the house,
Pandora and new music,
Green Olives,
my Nikon even if it is getting old,
a cool looking compass,
and good friends.

So tomorrow I will try to Be Happy for each moment,
because each moment is my life.
Even if some of the moments might remind me more of the book
"Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."
I will try not to worry, and
Be Happy!




Steppin' out with DWNTWN
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Alex turns 20!

Alex.
His birthday was last Thursday.
I gathered some old pictures of when he was young and had hoped to add them to this blog.
But it seems that there just isn't enough time for such things lately.

We did manage to have a small celebration for Alex on the 4th of August.  And I snapped a quick picture of him and Baby Gabe.

He is a good Uncle and I enjoy watching him interact with a newborn.
It doesn't seem possible that 20 years have passed since Alex was a newborn.

Some of the things I appreciate about Alex are
he is a sensitive soul.
He is self assured.
and he is insightful when it comes to people and situations.

He is a free spirit and will be himself regardless of what people think and without regard to ridicule.

Papo gave him a Kansas Food Bank Trucker style hat.
Alex was honored to wear it regardless of fashion or style and he did so even during Tennis matches.

I heard the opposing teams comments and jeers, but he continued to wear it proudly.

I don't think many other teens would do so.

I have traveled with Alex on a number of occasions.
He is a great traveling companion.
One of the more fun trips was to Chicago.
But who wouldn't have fun sitting front row, right field side, having a soda/beer and a dog at Wrigley Field.

Alex certainly knows how to have fun and he can liven things up for most any event; family, friends, and even team sports.

Sometimes he struggles with knowing when to settle down and be more serious, but when push comes to shove I know I can count on him to be there.

For example...
The four months we were in Nebraska before moving to Oregon while I was acting as single parents, working full time, doing household repairs, sorting and tossing, prior to packing...

Alex was there for me.
He was only 15 years old, but he stepped up and was a great source of support.

And when I had to drive to Kansas when my dad was sick, Alex went with me.  His love, care, support, and humor made a very difficult time bearable. 

He takes instruction and criticism well.

And he is patient with me as I guide him in taking pictures of me,
working to get just the right composition.

And while as any teen or young adult might,
he has his moments when he is absent,
doesn't let me know where he is,
or makes minor mistakes that take us to court.

But in the end he is a terrific brother,
uncle, cousin, grandson, and friend.

And I think he is an awesome son!


I love you, Big Al!









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Awards & Recognition

Do you recall the last time you were awarded a trophy?
What about a bright shiny ribbon?
Have you ever received an engraved crystal goblet, or a silver platter?

I must have been in Elementary School the last time I got a trophy.
Not because I wasn't on a winning team,
but because softball league moved away from giving individual trophies to giving team trophies.
Perhaps it was the expense.
Perhaps it was because of people's attitude.

I distinctly recall a change in societies attitude from one of
recognizing the highest achievement to,
recognizing everyone regardless of their achievement.

When that shift was made, it became too expensive to give every player a trophy.
The players all got a ribbon instead.
But when you grow up getting a bright shiny new trophy to add to the trophy shelf,
some how a ribbon doesn't quite seem the same.

Growing up in a big family made for a big trophy shelf.
My dad had trophies for drag racing, bowling and softball.
All us kids had trophies from softball, baseball, basketball and such.
There were so many medals and ribbons awarded to my siblings for swimming that I couldn't begin to tell you how many they had.

I am probably the LEAST competitive member of my family.
And being recognized and awarded for doing well isn't something I seek.
I don't need much praise, nor am I one to look for a lot of 'pats on the back'.
But I do like to feel valued.

I like to feel as though I am appreciated for what I do.
I know I have blogged in the past about the lack of appreciation and value I receive as a mother.  Clearly there are no trophies, medals, or ribbons for making sure there is food on the table, clean clothes to wear, or for paying the bills.  And to be fair, I don't praise my kids often enough.  Mostly I get on to them to do their chores, clean their rooms, or pick up their shoes.
And I'm not necessarily advocating for more trophies, medals or ribbons for doing what one is supposed to do in their day to day life.

But as I found myself in Bardy Trophy & Supplies in Portland today,
I couldn't help but think back to the last time I received recognition,
appreciation or an award of any sort.

And then I remembered....

It was many years ago, at least 20 years because I recall I only had 4 children then.

We went to a party,
a "Support Wild Life" party, over Christmas break where they held a leg-wrestling competition.
And I won!
It was in the Heavy Weight Womens' division, but I won.
And it came with a nice sized trophy too.

The trophy sat on a shelf for a few years collecting its fair share of dust and dirt.
I don't know if it is still around in a left over box from our move 5 years ago,
in a Goodwill store,
or on someone else's shelf collecting dust.
But I do remember winning the trophy and how proud the kids were of it, even though they had no idea  what leg-wrestling competitions even were.

Maybe what I like about Awards and Recognition is the feeling that comes with working hard, achieving something, and having others appreciate your effort.

I guess I just have to learn to get that feeling without the trophy.
Because I hate dusting and would never win an award for cleanliness.

Right Matt!

















- Posted by DWNTWN

Living up to my Blog; turning 50 & the OBF

July 31st! ? !  

Already?

Going..., 

         Going..., 

                   and almost Gone

are my summer months.

I haven't even had time to blog about the activities and fun we've been having.

So tonight I sat down to try to live up to what I intended my blog to be about...

Exploring new places, 

meeting new people, 

and discovering a few brew pubs along the way.

I have been trying to decide where to begin and how to share the adventures and mis-adventures of the past 13 days.

Do I begin with Juan and Jenelle's visit from North Carolina?

Or do I begin with our adventure of volunteering for the Oregon Brew Festival in Portland? 

Maybe I should begin with  

Baby Gabe, 

Juan & Jenelle's first visit to 

Silver Falls State Park

 and

Discovering, and tasting our 1st Salmon Berries.

Perhaps I begin with Jeff's 50th birthday. 

After all it was Jeff's approaching birthday that led me to invite family and friends to join us for the Oregon Brew Festival. 

Months ago as Jeff's birthday approached I thought, "what better way to commemorate 50 years of life than with good friends, good food, and good beer?" 

I was hoping a number of friends and/or family might be able to join us.

Having Juan & Jenelle come from North Carolina was terrific.

I especially enjoyed our dinner at sunset on the coast.

Having Aimee & Mike move to Oregon and be able to join us was BONUS.

Add in Chris and Dan, along with our new friends Theresa and Jamie from North Carolina....

And we had ourselves a grand celebration!

Oregon is a great place to visit, 

and an even better place to live.  

Within 50 miles in any direction there are wonderful sights, 

and cities, 

and brew pubs to explore.

I am glad we had an opportunity to do so with family and friends this past week.

If you want to check out the photos of all the adventures, mis-adventures and Oregon Explorations from the past week or two, 

you can find them on my mobile me gallery:

 http://gallery.me.com/jbrownflash#100610&bgcolor=black&view=grid

http://gallery.me.com/jbrownflash#100601&bgcolor=black&view=grid

http://gallery.me.com/jbrownflash#100634&bgcolor=black&view=grid

I can't wait to see what adventures are ahead for August.

Steppin' out with DWNTWN

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Friendships & Rocks

I have loved rocks since I was a kid.

I don't know why I am fascinated with rocks.

I just am.

I feel honored when someone brings me a rock.

Matt brought me a rock from Florida.

Jack gave me a rock from Camp Norwesca.

Robert has given me several rocks;

a unique rock found on a build site when we were working for Habitat for Humanity,

a nice size piece of quartz,

and most recently an obsidian rock from Utah.

And Jeff and I have certainly picked at, shoveled, hauled, moved, and re-stacked tons of rock!

Maybe I am not alone in this quirky fascination with rocks and stones.

Or maybe its because they are always under foot and can be an inexpensive souvenir.

Whatever the case,

I like finding rocks,

and I like getting rocks. 

My most favorite rock find of all time is a rock that I can't put in my pocket and bring home.

I don't get to look at it when I want,

put it in a bowl,

or give it to someone else who might like it.

But I do like to go back and re-find it when I can.

It is a heart shaped rock I can only see at low tide.

It has been weathered and worn and has taken it's shape

just below the crashing waves off the coast of Pacific City.

I hope to get back there sometime this month for another visit.

And I hope I can show each of you exactly where it is ... someday.

Here are the links to just a few of my past blogs about sticks, stones, rocks and such.

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2009/12/hearts-of-stone.html

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2010/05/rocks-from-rockaway.html

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2008/03/weekend-at-beach.html

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2010/02/friday-coastal-escape.html

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2008/04/simple-pleasures.html

http://steppinoutwithdwntwn.blogspot.com/2011/02/families-in-transition.html

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Living in the Middle

Today, July 14, 2011.
I am Halfway through this month,
Halfway through my summer,
Halfway through the year,
And, Hopefully, only halfway through my life.

I haven't had much time for steppin out lately.
I have missed time to explore, time for photography, and time to blog.
I seem to be right smack in the middle of everything.
Its not a bad place to be, in fact its been quite good.
But being right in the middle is a very busy place.

Our summer has been filled with lots of living in the middle of family life;
yard work, graduations, babies, beer brewing, building retaining walls,
vistors & vacations, backyard barbeques', beer bottling, and more kids moving,


The best part of living in the middle this year has been my new grandson, Gabe.

I am so thankful he is right here,
in the middle of my lap,
living here in the middle of the Pacific Northwest.

It is a luxury I didn't have with my first two grandsons, Cale & Zack.

I am also excited to spend more time in the middle of Portland where my sister has a new garden plot in the middle of a neighborhood community garden.

I like being in the middle of a garden.



On occasion I look back on my old blogs just to remember, reflect, and recall what I was in the middle of back when.


I found an old blog from 2007 when I was halfway through July,
halfway through the year,
feeling quite similar to the way I am feeling today.

http://jbrownflash.blogspot.com/2007/07/mid-year-already.html

While a lot has happened in the past 4 years,
a lot remains the same.

I don't mind being halfway.
I don't mind being in the middle of.
Especially when it means I can be in the middle of this very busy,
often times hectic,
and generally quite chaotic life of mine.

I wouldn't know what to do if my life was calm and I was out of the loop*.

So for now I will have to get by on less time for exploring,
less time for photography,
less time for blogging,
and less time for 'steppin out' because I am living in the middle.

* Kids,  that was for you!




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