tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32884766553755916632024-02-02T05:00:10.690-08:00A New BeginningCarol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-34861842657784008712016-03-13T12:27:00.001-07:002016-05-02T09:13:13.790-07:00The Southwest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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A little less than a month ago we started out on an open-ended camping/road trip. The goal was to make a big circle through southern California, over to Nevada, then up to Utah and back home to Oregon.<br />
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I made a <a href="https://vimeo.com/164905514">video</a> of it. One month of travelling/camping condensed into 20 minutes. Watch it if you dare. : )<br />
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Our first stop was Sequoia National Park. We have a special fondness for sequoias, especially as we have about 15 of them around our house. This park boasts not only the largest sequoia alive today, but it also happens to be the largest tree in the whole world! I didn't get a great photo of it, but I did get this picture of David, on a hike, posing next to this great slab of rock with a face. Can you see it?<br />
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A friend of ours had recommended we stop at Red Rock Canyon, so I plugged it into our GPS and away we went. It wasn't until the second day there that we discovered we were actually at the wrong one! Who knew there were two Red Rock Canyons!?<br />
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This first one was actually Red Rock Canyon State Park, in California. The campground was quite lovely, and we enjoyed exploring the area on foot.<br />
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Here is Jacob in a little creek bed near the main red rock feature.<br />
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After the mixup with the first Red Rocks, we decided to take a drive through Death Valley, which is a LOT more interesting than it sounds! We managed to catch the tail end of a rare superbloom (which was terribly difficult to get good photos of).<br />
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We considered camping there, but everyone else was out to see the flowers too, and the campgrounds were full, even in the middle of the week. It was also about 80 degrees, and we had our little doggie with us, who wasn't allowed on trails. So we moved on.<br />
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Red Rock Canyon number 2 was next. This place is right outside of Las Vegas, and so QUITE popular. Despite that and the fact that we arrived at night (since we spent all day driving through Death Valley), we found decent camping.<br />
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We spent a few days there, during which time we explored the ancient, petrified sand dunes. From afar they look like giant piles of multi-colored poop. : )<br />
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Since we were so close to a big city, we drove in occasionally and took advantage of wifi at Starbucks to get some work done. We also (for grins) drove down "the strip" in Vegas. No we didn't stop. And no, I never want to go to Vegas ever again. Sorry if you love it.<br />
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One day at Red Rock 2 we took a hike up into Ice Box Canyon. It was shorts weather in the sun, and jacket weather in the canyon. Jacob got a bit cold, despite bounding constantly up and down the trail and over big rocks.<br />
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Our adventure dog, Lucy, is representing our next stop, Valley of Fire. We had THE most amazing campsite EVER here (will show this in the video).<br />
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I also got to paint some, for the first time on the trip. The boys were ready for some down-time, and I could literally walk about 50 feet to find good views. I'm not sure yet what's post worthy. But I had fun.<br />
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Zion was next, which was absolutely stunning, but also quite mobbed! Also dogs weren't allowed on trails or left in campers, so we moved on. Just outside of Zion we found some lovely cabins and decided to chill there for a couple of days. We were able to leave Lucy there and head back to explore a bit. The best hikes we found were off the beaten trail.<br />
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We were lucky to have the cabin, because on the last day it rained and rained and then snowed so hard it was horizontal.<br />
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At this point we decided to go home. We were all tired and ready to sleep in our own beds. But on the drive north we saw signs for Bryce Canyon and decided to stop and look around (wow!). And since we were so close to Grand Staircase Escalante (one of our planned stops) we decided to spend one day there to look around.<br />
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But this area turned out to be so cool, we decided to stay longer. We camped down a tiny dirt road, which was off another dirt road, which was about 26 miles down <i>another </i>dirt road, in the middle of absolutely nowhere! The views were spectacular.<br />
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We got to see a couple of VERY cool slot canyons. After climbing out of one, I saw what I'm fairly sure was a bobcat, slinking away. It was cool but also a little scary, especially for Jacob.<br />
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This was the road to the slot canyons, and our trusty Jeep that pulled us (in total) over 3,000 miles on this trip! We are happy to be home and to have these memories!<br />
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Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-66295289940269097682016-01-27T18:55:00.001-08:002016-01-28T11:12:11.366-08:00Winter Wonderland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We recently decided to pull our son, Jacob, out of his school and home school for a while. Since David and I are both self-employed, we decided to take advantage of our un-rooted-ness and travel too! Our first stop? Lake Tahoe. We have some friends who have a second house there, and they graciously allowed us to stay for a week (thank you Randi & Mark!).<br />
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Here are a few of the "classes" we had in Tahoe:</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Language Arts in Batman Pajamas</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Measuring Snow Depth in Lengths of Boy</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Study of Gravity and Friction</span><br />
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(Thanks for the sleds, mom!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.E. with a View</span><br />
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We recently invested in our own snowshoes. What a great way to get exercise and see some very cool things. (thank you, Carol J., for introducing us to this!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Identifying Animal Tracks </span><br />
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Before we left home I printed out a ton of info about the winter animals in Tahoe, what they do to survive, and what their footprints looked like. Sadly, we only saw a few in person, and besides these snowshoe hare prints (which we were very excited about!), mostly only saw dog prints.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Reading like a Pro</span><br />
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Jacob read "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry - historical fiction about WWII<br />
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Meanwhile I read "Want Not" by Jonathon Miles, which was long but very interesting, and a book about crocheting.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Art</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How to Move Stubborn Animals</span><br />
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This is Lucy, our little 10 lb. westiepoo. Her little legs sunk too deep in the snow to really get around by walking. So we devised other methods.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How to Pick Yourself Up After a Major Face Plant</span><br />
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There were a few of these. And it wasn't just Jacob doing them, though I'm not naming names.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How to Look Really Cool Next to the Inside Out Rainbow Unicorn</span><br />
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On the way home from Tahoe we stopped by PIXAR and got a tour from a friend of mine (thank you, Tia!) We got to see a bit of behind the scenes animation and learned a few secrets. But we were told, in no uncertain terms, that if we divulged any information we would be hunted down by the unicorn. Do you see how long her horn is? And you can't see it, but the end is rather pointy.<br />
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We like this world-schooling so far!<br />
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Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-31983822586578254892015-10-23T15:55:00.000-07:002015-10-23T15:55:49.905-07:00Fall in OregonYesterday I spent the morning on a photo shoot with 2 friends, Pat and Lyle. We drove from Eugene toward the Cascade mountains, to an area called Westfir. We were drawn by the fall colors. We had a lovely time, and afterwards had a wonderful lunch at a little burger joint in Oakridge. Here are some of the photos I took simply for the sake of taking pictures:<br />
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Thanks for looking. : )</div>
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<br />Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-26361172012208794542015-05-12T09:23:00.002-07:002015-05-12T09:23:57.922-07:00Paradise in a Raptear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEksS5L7y58joIGWgvPJssP-ZxhoKDfV_7ngS8DQZodT8TAdIqK0w56MIV0J-oodDfBmMfOJHIRwCx4TwLzOgGHYQ3wIkquvX0Cgi2YiMuicfAfuzvgfScq7V7_zLFoOrr811NG8la9Qov/s1600/28_teardrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEksS5L7y58joIGWgvPJssP-ZxhoKDfV_7ngS8DQZodT8TAdIqK0w56MIV0J-oodDfBmMfOJHIRwCx4TwLzOgGHYQ3wIkquvX0Cgi2YiMuicfAfuzvgfScq7V7_zLFoOrr811NG8la9Qov/s400/28_teardrop.jpg" width="400" /></a>Recently we've been thinking that our giant (24ft) camper is just too much to haul around (seeing as how we haven't done anything with it except use it as a guest room for over a year!). So we bought ourselves a cute little teardrop trailer. --></div>
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We got it from a local (Eugene) guy who has a <a href="http://www.oregontrailer.net/">company</a> making them. This particular one was a prototype for his little family and includes a bunk bed inside for one small kid (which we happen to have, for a little while longer). The back opens up to form a galley kitchen. I forgot to get a picture of the extra shelf that attaches to the side. And you can't see the sink or double burner stove that pulls out, and all the storage for kitchen stuff.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnS_IOpo3GJQhZv_IlV35Nf601nmJ4n3Yb6o4QVtF1IQJPvDacnUI_aj-vIDo3zyjDKipeW0Jx4PcPDTcvDz2mKgVT41MUXYljGTqieHdGLf29UcNMFlpwZEpkP9eQPzxfUComZIrcxlv/s1600/29_jacob_lucy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnS_IOpo3GJQhZv_IlV35Nf601nmJ4n3Yb6o4QVtF1IQJPvDacnUI_aj-vIDo3zyjDKipeW0Jx4PcPDTcvDz2mKgVT41MUXYljGTqieHdGLf29UcNMFlpwZEpkP9eQPzxfUComZIrcxlv/s320/29_jacob_lucy.jpg" width="233" /></a>Our maiden voyage with the "Raptear" as the seller called it, was to Paradise campground about an hour from Eugene, up in the mountains. We were camped right beside the McKenzie river, and these two cuties were my adventuring companions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7YP2oYPfoJG2S6rny1raKWtcvNk7REGhPasbgOcKjaMF5c3hvpxP9hyttEOD6MNBOBG-WOsmZN73wNo22zUQ8ZoJsLp7aTL1HaS18J9TcVJI9be4XrqEQ0CHD9o8fZE5dMh4BHsB1MPw/s1600/27_family_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW7YP2oYPfoJG2S6rny1raKWtcvNk7REGhPasbgOcKjaMF5c3hvpxP9hyttEOD6MNBOBG-WOsmZN73wNo22zUQ8ZoJsLp7aTL1HaS18J9TcVJI9be4XrqEQ0CHD9o8fZE5dMh4BHsB1MPw/s400/27_family_pic.jpg" width="400" /></a>Sunday was Mother's Day, and my son and step-daughter had given me some very nice earrings shaped like bacon and eggs (because bacon and eggs are wonderful!). Right after we took this family pic, while on a hike, I realized they had both fallen out. So we all searched the ground as we walked back to camp. Jacob found one on the trail, and I found the other in camp. They were pretty small, so it was nothing short of a miracle!</div>
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At any rate, it was a short but lovely trip - just one night. The trailer worked great! It was cold outside but cozy inside. Unfortunately <i>someone </i>(I won't mention names) had to get out and pee in the middle of the night and inadvertently let out all the warm air, which made the rest of us very cold!! Lesson learned. We are looking forward to a longer trip in the summer when Jacob is out of school.</div>
Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-70530989326731747722013-05-26T17:35:00.000-07:002013-05-26T17:35:01.775-07:00Bandon by the Sea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We spent the weekend camping near Bandon, a little town on the southern coast of Oregon. Since having <i>lived</i> in our camper for a whole month after the fire, we've regressed to tent camping. 13 years ago we spent our honeymoon in a tent and since then camping has been a big part of our life. It was like going home. Except we were in Oregon, not Texas, which is arguably friendlier for camping! No fire ants, no 100 degrees, no cactus, no scorpions ... shall I go on?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8Zh2MUR4TKj3zT_jlikUZx_aVfJERG9CyPwI6b0pThl1-5Ga9VuAifGIhu7k0sIGGbjB4s-Jf23m9aFm4oLaW-iPxsRGYNc3mewZjMtO5wTGiKv3ws7MC-f3xd3f0Adsda659CfunMlu/s1600/19_cairns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8Zh2MUR4TKj3zT_jlikUZx_aVfJERG9CyPwI6b0pThl1-5Ga9VuAifGIhu7k0sIGGbjB4s-Jf23m9aFm4oLaW-iPxsRGYNc3mewZjMtO5wTGiKv3ws7MC-f3xd3f0Adsda659CfunMlu/s400/19_cairns.jpg" width="400" /></a>We spent a good part of the first day wandering the beach near the campground looking for rocks. I seem to have infected Jacob with my love for them, which warms the cockles of my heart. : ) Here are just a few from my new installment:</div>
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There is a magnificent display of haystacks (great big rocks in/near the ocean) in Bandon. We were still a ways from them when I took this picture, so you might not get a feel for their true size. Believe me when I say they are the size of buildings!<br />
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Here are a few fun shaped ones with a little rivulet running between.<br />
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And here's Jacob among some of the smaller rocks. Fortunately he ran into some boys about his age at the campground, so his social calender was set. Unfortunately, together they became a wild pack. Alone Jacob is a good kid. The pack pushed limits constantly, including trying to burn every single inappropriate thing (in the campfire) they could get their grubby little hands on. I'm so glad I have just one!<br />
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On the second day we got up early and went down to the beach for a super-duper low tide event that only happens once or twice a year during waking hours. We were able to get really close to this hole where the day before it was a tiny speck.<br />
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We also saw lots and lots of starfish, sea anemones, mussels, barnacles and other various sea creatures in the tide pools and clinging to the sides of the haystacks.<br />
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These 4 here looked to be doing some kind of crazy dance before they were exposed by the low tide. They seemed frozen in embarrassment.<br />
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The best part of the whole day (we all agreed) were the sea caves! It was so cool to see what the water can do to rock over time, and especially to see what most of the time is underwater.<br />
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We feel very fortunate that all this is only a 3 hour drive from where we live in Eugene. What lucky duckies we are!Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-34574561733640065052013-01-23T19:33:00.001-08:002013-01-23T19:33:23.889-08:00The Finished Quilt<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6QdiSwwSqjqBtm2CjqOGFt6f-4buvaIcjrlhx_eaUfJgYxZRiUdantLxSILq7mH9RE-d2-nlM8D3dRtQ8emlLZLUlO9guw8am7U2qpW0SOh_a8YSgeZeS31t5Pw_GWwCI3ZDZCDD5k7T/s1600/17_quilt_folded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6QdiSwwSqjqBtm2CjqOGFt6f-4buvaIcjrlhx_eaUfJgYxZRiUdantLxSILq7mH9RE-d2-nlM8D3dRtQ8emlLZLUlO9guw8am7U2qpW0SOh_a8YSgeZeS31t5Pw_GWwCI3ZDZCDD5k7T/s320/17_quilt_folded.jpg" width="320" /></a>It's done! Yay! I stiched in the ditch for the quilting part (my husband thought I made up that term but it's real). And I learned the most common way to finish the edge (binding) from a couple of Youtube videos, and it magically turned out perfect. The hardest part was figuring out how to get a good picture of it. If I could have laid it down outside I would have, but it was too wet.<br />
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Here it is laid out on the floor inside so you can see the whole design and a little of the purple back (no my squares did NOT all line up ... didn't know that was important until the end). As soon as I finished, Jacob said, "Can you make one for me?" So that is my next project. What I like about quilting is I can have it all out and do a little bit at a time - whenever I'm bored with everything else.</div>
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<br />Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-68621102982356089812013-01-23T19:16:00.002-08:002013-01-23T19:16:28.687-08:00FrozenFor the past couple of weeks Eugene has been frozen. The temperatures have been hovering just below freezing, day and night. And we've had lots of fog but no rain. Consequently we've had lots of moisture collecting up in the trees, among other places, and then freezing. It's been very cool to look at, so yesterday I spent about 2 hours outside taking pictures. It was fun but I nearly lost my fingers to frostbite. I guess I shouldn't joke when there are places suffering negative numbers right now! Anyway, here are a few of my pictures.<br />
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Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-63774471499873750422013-01-18T13:24:00.001-08:002013-01-18T13:24:41.742-08:00The Endless Quilt ProjectI have been going through a major block with my painting these last couple of months, so after the busy-ness of the holidays I decided to get back to a quilt project I started last summer. I have also decided to only paint when I feel like it, going forward, so I'll probably be able to actually finish the quilt soon!<br />
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This is my first quilt, so I started by flipping through some books on the subject. I have to admit I didn't read a whole bunch, but rather just looked at pictures, and am now (halfway through) realizing some mistakes that could have been prevented. (sheepish grin)<br />
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I decided on a simple design (so it wouldn't <i>take</i> months & months - ha!) based loosely on one I liked in a book and jumped right in. We have a fabulous fabric store here in Eugene - every fabric is one I want! I had a hard time narrowing it down, but I finally chose this as my general theme.<br />
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I made a bunch of these squares, all with slightly different layouts. This one (above) is not completely stitched.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQba9aLjlfP4O6lml-RzbbyxBvzHaiQDn-lr2YHxdbxwuMYsC36dszPEk9tWJBLp5YgSXj4-y_7Uxk6qH50q1sWqaKxq27v8mfsJekXZGSYO98ZNKQ7wTgFrPJHN3Z1-NHcDul97j3-QR/s1600/quilt_pieces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQba9aLjlfP4O6lml-RzbbyxBvzHaiQDn-lr2YHxdbxwuMYsC36dszPEk9tWJBLp5YgSXj4-y_7Uxk6qH50q1sWqaKxq27v8mfsJekXZGSYO98ZNKQ7wTgFrPJHN3Z1-NHcDul97j3-QR/s400/quilt_pieces.jpg" width="300" /></a>Just the other day I started laying them all out on the studio floor (much to the annoyance of my family who now have to avoid stepping on it). Next I will stitch all these parts together, and then put on a border.<br />
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I just bought the back piece, which is going to match the purples. Next I will put my quilt "sandwich" together and do the quilting itself. I went back and forth about whether I should do it myself or pay to have it done, but I decided to go for it.<br />
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After that I'll bind the edge, which I have dutifully watched several videos about (thank god for Youtube!!!).<br />
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When it's done I'll use this quilt for travelling. The blankets in hotels are never to the liking of my knees. My husband says my knees are crazy, but whatever. <br />: )Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-69501931530375145392012-08-05T19:52:00.000-07:002012-08-05T20:49:58.121-07:00Death Hike Around the Three Sisters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is going to be quite a long post, but mostly just long in terms of pictures (23), so please bear with me. Last Wednesday David and I started out on what we thought would be a 5-day, 50 mile hike around Oregon's Three Sister mountains, the third, fourth and fifth highest peaks in Oregon. We bought packs, a tent, sleeping mats and bags, a water purifier, etc. When all loaded down my pack weighed in at about 28 lbs, and David carried about 35. Not minimal by any means, but we met a guy on the trail with at least 50 lbs!! Here's David, loaded down:</div>
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Unfortunately when we finally caught sight of the first mountain, they weren't quite as big as we expected. David touched the top without even breaking a sweat.</div>
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At first I was really worried about running across a bear. Fortunately, that never happened, but we did see quite a few of these in the mud, which looked suspiciously like bear footprints.</div>
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After a while we did run into snow. At first it was just cute, little patches. I especially liked where they created little bridges across streams. So cute!</div>
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But when the patches started getting bigger - so big the obscured the trail, we were really, REALLY glad we had a GPS. We lost the trail on many occasions, but were always able to find it again with GPS.
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On day two we turned a corner and suddenly ran into this spectacular view:</div>
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This a series of lakes called Green Lakes. We were curious about the name, since they are so clearly blue, until we got closer. The water was very green, and so clear you could see down to the bottom all the way in the middle of the lake.</div>
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At some point on day two I decided there were already plenty of pictures of David, so I mugged with the mountain:</div>
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Creeks and waterfalls were very common along the trail. Oregon is supremely breathtaking. I feel incredibly lucky to live here.</div>
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On day three we wound around to the west side of the mountains and our trail met up with the PCT for a while. For those of you who aren't familiar with this, the Pacific Crest Trail runs from Mexico to Canada all along the west coast. I recently read a FABULOUS book (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Found-Pacific-Crest-Oprahs/dp/0307592731/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344219766&sr=8-1&keywords=wild">"Wild"</a>) about a girl who walks most of it.<br />
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Halfway through day three we were feeling some pain. When you are carrying that much weight, going up and down over sloshy snow, miles of sand and everything from tiny marble sized rocks to boulders, your muscles can get a little cranky, and your toes get downright mad. By this point, David could barely muster a smile.<br />
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We stopped at this scenic spot to filter more water and rest our feet:<br />
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We even soaked our feet a bit, but since this was pure snow melt, we couldn't keep them in for more than about 5 seconds at a time.<br />
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Day 3 was a long one. We ended up hiking quite a bit further than expected, mostly because we couldn't find a flat enough spot without snow to pitch our tent. By my estimates we hiked 15 miles that day. At the end, when my feet felt like bloody stumps inside my boots, I said, "I don't care where we stop, but we're stopping NOW!" So we pitched our tent right beside the snow. When we weren't hiking we spent all our time in the tent, because as soon as we stopped walking, especially in the evening, we were swarmed by mosquitoes. This next picture shows just how small our tent is. It's amazing we still love each other.<br />
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On the fourth day we decided to try and make it back to the car, since there were only about 16 miles left, even though we had originally planned to be out one more day, and even though we had two passes to traverse before we were done. The first pass, called Opie Dilldock Pass (what a name!) was absolutely the toughest part of the trip. We marched up a looooong series of switchbacks over bits and pieces of volcanic rock. Honestly I just looked right down at the ground and trudged until it was over.<br />
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But the view from the top made it all worthwhile!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jqrJdsMsnLBCJoSJZMJwa3MaqZPJaqTkpdt2EXwMwsAx3rIEVnNjViGnmhXYF_URr2rXmEJ4CRVEaGPm1Y8Bw7AsxbC_5AMNJfGiIFJ2OUIdm3d-8o1SzAPNSuTkz_LOyCnL5uyjvhMM/s1600/18_top_of_world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jqrJdsMsnLBCJoSJZMJwa3MaqZPJaqTkpdt2EXwMwsAx3rIEVnNjViGnmhXYF_URr2rXmEJ4CRVEaGPm1Y8Bw7AsxbC_5AMNJfGiIFJ2OUIdm3d-8o1SzAPNSuTkz_LOyCnL5uyjvhMM/s640/18_top_of_world.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Later we came to a treacherous bit of trail where we were expected to skirt along near the top of this snow bank. Every step brought us closer to sliding, so we did the only rational thing - we sat down and slid on purpose. It was the highlight of our whole trip!!! Here's David starting his slide:<br />
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And here he is again near the bottom. Our butts eventually dried.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBEdzxcbZIKUf6jPTcJB1vqHeNXtO9X500uMAJy-Zv8_gIdGJwTNz3kFymIIf7-nqtvpXgwVVGJ-n-MHHtiqA47-Xe3X9euSy_YX4VicbT4kfUxRh2B4H5krrxD_oOcrYUHaWaE1tUFXG/s1600/20_snow_slide_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBEdzxcbZIKUf6jPTcJB1vqHeNXtO9X500uMAJy-Zv8_gIdGJwTNz3kFymIIf7-nqtvpXgwVVGJ-n-MHHtiqA47-Xe3X9euSy_YX4VicbT4kfUxRh2B4H5krrxD_oOcrYUHaWaE1tUFXG/s640/20_snow_slide_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I didn't get a lot of pictures after this because I was too busy hurting! I had one thing on my mind and that was getting out early enough to drive to Sisters and eat a burger!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_SYhm1tiuhNDpW918aGUeEWlF0Ib2CeXnyXBnXHRkrfh0VNHSgKlph7OXRhGg47HawB8zHhXZrsTtZUgzP8lO56cfs9-9fOnraiCJdNRnrneTqCzg5LhZE16F0419siQfuSGFYNzP6vQ/s1600/21_last_day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_SYhm1tiuhNDpW918aGUeEWlF0Ib2CeXnyXBnXHRkrfh0VNHSgKlph7OXRhGg47HawB8zHhXZrsTtZUgzP8lO56cfs9-9fOnraiCJdNRnrneTqCzg5LhZE16F0419siQfuSGFYNzP6vQ/s400/21_last_day.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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David took this last picture of us with his iphone, right before we reached the car. You can see we're not doing too well. Right now we can't imagine ever doing this again!!! But, we will eventually forget the pain. And we learned some things that we'll do differently next time. One, be in better shape before we go. Two, don't go so fast. Because as hard as it was, it was a great trip, and we hope to go on a death march every year from now on, and maybe, someday, bring Jacob.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRWcXZEMnvZShgk6TOUgIgRbi08CehxhwQvHymK9VXV45UvfD-ImhuCTjWTsD5cx6NOsey0Qs83u0zQDra8J4k083_Vx8qz3o6qnFNgk3hNvY4jj-ePfIxsCgd-AzWGElRrA_oiXZ4NpR/s1600/22_us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRWcXZEMnvZShgk6TOUgIgRbi08CehxhwQvHymK9VXV45UvfD-ImhuCTjWTsD5cx6NOsey0Qs83u0zQDra8J4k083_Vx8qz3o6qnFNgk3hNvY4jj-ePfIxsCgd-AzWGElRrA_oiXZ4NpR/s400/22_us.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-49903169549028121442012-05-03T21:06:00.000-07:002012-05-03T21:06:03.138-07:00Cannon BeachThe teensy weensy rock you see to the left of my head (well, the bigger of the two) is the big haystack rock at Cannon Beach, arguably one of the most beautiful beaches along the Oregon coast. Though the rock looks teensy in the picture, up close it's like a mountain!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fZMGBZ1STUdTkzsGHWj4BGACfCXNkNfgkt2c8MZ1_E78qyOogBHd_NUKnBs4VNd_YpJjuc60ZZd7gPiExZXaTbkyq24rMzbLgYOtL1zILmYasuU69JxsrrmsV9FMBBkjITvNpD41Zw_E/s1600/9_cannon_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fZMGBZ1STUdTkzsGHWj4BGACfCXNkNfgkt2c8MZ1_E78qyOogBHd_NUKnBs4VNd_YpJjuc60ZZd7gPiExZXaTbkyq24rMzbLgYOtL1zILmYasuU69JxsrrmsV9FMBBkjITvNpD41Zw_E/s400/9_cannon_beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had a lovely time, even though it rained off and on. We had a lovely adventure this morning at Cape Lookout. We drove up to a cliff and spent an hour zig-zagging our way down to a pristine, little stretch of beach with gazillions of beautiful, round rocks. Two very curious seals eyed us the whole time we perused, from the safety of the water. Then I had to haul my new rocks back up the cliff. Ugh.Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-63596851729778617912012-04-30T21:31:00.000-07:002012-04-30T21:42:53.800-07:00Eugene HalfThis past Sunday I ran the Eugene half marathon with my buddy Sarah, along with about 6,000 others! We trained for 3 months ahead of time, and are probably now in the best shape of our lives. Unfortunately there weren't a lot of pictures taken, but here is a kind of silly one while we're running and waving to Sarah's 2-yr-old daughter, Ellie, who's father took the picture:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh109QUXekHusYmG2UlV1TSirf0hyqYJrQ2Hl5xIWeyM_7uWL5Jqnm_EEomw6pUo8Rw4d7RnbHNM-dmJOv5Hjmoxw1nVFw8n_CNnn2a0GR-gzLDh06ldxi3gyfCmfxw37JQ3m9NHegeQYfR/s1600/8_running.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh109QUXekHusYmG2UlV1TSirf0hyqYJrQ2Hl5xIWeyM_7uWL5Jqnm_EEomw6pUo8Rw4d7RnbHNM-dmJOv5Hjmoxw1nVFw8n_CNnn2a0GR-gzLDh06ldxi3gyfCmfxw37JQ3m9NHegeQYfR/s400/8_running.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here we are after the race, wearing our "finisher" medals. We weren't in it to win - some crazy person ran this (that's 13.1 miles) in just over 1 hour!!! - but we did manage to beat our goal. Sarah left me in the dust halfway through and was still in good spirits at the end - what a trooper! I fell apart a little toward the end with various hurts. But I finished AND managed it under two hours, so I'm happy with that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa076VrTUtd9y9U2UwgrM_JWeXmcHSFPuLONeJjin8MQBRx1VFwsH9W29IFtpTCf7QOLgkwEkDJ_b-v9xoOx3_2xlYb-RN2j9QshlZ1X5NqxeiwWofo1D-rKaTPPYs9ALVdVcjeOxjjjZ/s1600/7_half_marathon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAa076VrTUtd9y9U2UwgrM_JWeXmcHSFPuLONeJjin8MQBRx1VFwsH9W29IFtpTCf7QOLgkwEkDJ_b-v9xoOx3_2xlYb-RN2j9QshlZ1X5NqxeiwWofo1D-rKaTPPYs9ALVdVcjeOxjjjZ/s400/7_half_marathon.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-32634841219012468042012-04-01T11:55:00.001-07:002012-04-01T11:55:40.497-07:00Taking a Break<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In my efforts to revive my joy for painting I have been pursuing other creative endeavors. These are things I've always wanted to do but could never make time for. Now I realize I HAVE to make time for these other things to retain my sanity.</div>
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Of course I am rather practical in what I make, so my first thought was - <i>who</i> can I make <i>what</i> for? So my first project was a stuffed "monster" for my son. This was my second try. The first was awkward. Apparently there is a learning curve for all new things. Duh. This was a good thing for me to realize. It humbled me a bit and refocused me on <i>why</i> I am taking this break.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q54C0xxk2aocMMk7goapUAdOlz-D-i1nh7PHPbSeB_HIJjak2rI4wt_qMpDaRgvuKIjbUN_MomFjIBwWGGmqLCeVvP4MzRIiJhrGAGcb7i8xk95VHQZdH95VrrObGHnF-0f4WUDk20vb/s1600/1_stuffed_monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8q54C0xxk2aocMMk7goapUAdOlz-D-i1nh7PHPbSeB_HIJjak2rI4wt_qMpDaRgvuKIjbUN_MomFjIBwWGGmqLCeVvP4MzRIiJhrGAGcb7i8xk95VHQZdH95VrrObGHnF-0f4WUDk20vb/s400/1_stuffed_monster.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>
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My stepdaughter, Maddie, found a very cool fabric store here in Eugene (<a href="http://www.piecebypiecefabrics.com/">Piece by Piece</a>) with all kinds of to-die-for fabrics. It is generally for quilting, which is something I am looking into. I wanted to practice first with some easier piecing projects, and so for my second project I put together this bag for carrying groceries (or whatever). It is a gift (shhh). I used a very thin kind of foam (made just for this) to stiffen the sides and bottom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3USmGHCkRn8ZHxmRtQ9PjsukyLi2JyBrhxG2dKgSKmoQm8L0n7kC3ulziJTLGrfh_DbPDnP21sTglxrVwIWwH_cLD3Yv14B-u7a-W7qbdtKDnfeMI2rFNisjnknMd9r8ddb7yB-ivGl7/s1600/2_bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3USmGHCkRn8ZHxmRtQ9PjsukyLi2JyBrhxG2dKgSKmoQm8L0n7kC3ulziJTLGrfh_DbPDnP21sTglxrVwIWwH_cLD3Yv14B-u7a-W7qbdtKDnfeMI2rFNisjnknMd9r8ddb7yB-ivGl7/s400/2_bag.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
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This next one is also a gift (shhh - it's a good thing these 2 don't check my blog). I found a general pattern online for this one that is modeled after a plastic grocery bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkumane4etatN6WQU04RcShO6mdVCHc8ZujcdLydpqHVhtBQ_lG_OjhKuP44GHYhRBJ3rx_zJ2bnKDtbqIgwKFrg42G4GHTbQ1N8IpcO3kN-4Httl-PeUGzd2vtmuqLFUQDyyV_hrOjvU/s1600/3_bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkumane4etatN6WQU04RcShO6mdVCHc8ZujcdLydpqHVhtBQ_lG_OjhKuP44GHYhRBJ3rx_zJ2bnKDtbqIgwKFrg42G4GHTbQ1N8IpcO3kN-4Httl-PeUGzd2vtmuqLFUQDyyV_hrOjvU/s400/3_bag.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
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Next I wanted to practice stitching over my pieced together squares, so I figured potholders would be a good way to go. I am finding the fabrics to be like a kind of palette of colors. And I need so much more. Screw that limited palette!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvorraBX2iJv8159-W5SnafCoTqIuop2Nolx_5TJKoQqby8KDYnGBvhvRCXYEYi5Ez5awgTQGQzyEk5DSEhBUYgGcMe9O5W-xAJhtOR0iyP5ctA1QhYgEJ5Knh2rEyp_aR2bTWQOsL6Zr/s1600/4_potholders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvorraBX2iJv8159-W5SnafCoTqIuop2Nolx_5TJKoQqby8KDYnGBvhvRCXYEYi5Ez5awgTQGQzyEk5DSEhBUYgGcMe9O5W-xAJhtOR0iyP5ctA1QhYgEJ5Knh2rEyp_aR2bTWQOsL6Zr/s400/4_potholders.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile I am also putting together some earrings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_rmp6izmTJvX_qgL1wocAAGAex9rjx-dTw3qu4qJAHUiLNyTB2dESZwIdjaAHU-2Hq99kmKKENuG8yFabCHryRjqT4-2vs2Fsv2wJfCYGxkp1jWZZFm722ToJILYaQTRsNGCSRVlRMTw/s1600/5_earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_rmp6izmTJvX_qgL1wocAAGAex9rjx-dTw3qu4qJAHUiLNyTB2dESZwIdjaAHU-2Hq99kmKKENuG8yFabCHryRjqT4-2vs2Fsv2wJfCYGxkp1jWZZFm722ToJILYaQTRsNGCSRVlRMTw/s320/5_earrings.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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And in my spare time I made a few pillows.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NRNPWWSmj7inRp9KmOBvrRe8kxppU0hGn5sLBAclyh9z9J7FKhOtrAWcy0CO13tZmZRSODAgPDr348h38dn_MIILLxJuJNfV5_PcOCEtIUItvbVjuz9wZOy7y7iRiKar3mzjgDJWBQUe/s1600/6_pillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NRNPWWSmj7inRp9KmOBvrRe8kxppU0hGn5sLBAclyh9z9J7FKhOtrAWcy0CO13tZmZRSODAgPDr348h38dn_MIILLxJuJNfV5_PcOCEtIUItvbVjuz9wZOy7y7iRiKar3mzjgDJWBQUe/s400/6_pillows.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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April Fools! Well, all but the pillows I really made. Thanks for taking the time to look. : )Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-29440308343011691162012-03-21T20:25:00.000-07:002012-03-21T20:25:13.470-07:00Spring ... Winter Wonderland?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This morning we woke up to 8 inches of snow here in Eugene!! I flew in from Texas just in time (any later and I wouldn't have been able to get home). Below was our view down the street.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywqzex3k0Yq5d_B6dmRQBzoQ4lSRDs1HBrjWyx-mD5N-BcsU2p-2TWmD835XeldN93Ur8jYQj7u4TSdyjT4Ys0QsdYpn1WTmdczAMgyLzVye0zya7ui0bjlFRRxrZeiynkVO8zFRKpJ-L/s1600/real_snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywqzex3k0Yq5d_B6dmRQBzoQ4lSRDs1HBrjWyx-mD5N-BcsU2p-2TWmD835XeldN93Ur8jYQj7u4TSdyjT4Ys0QsdYpn1WTmdczAMgyLzVye0zya7ui0bjlFRRxrZeiynkVO8zFRKpJ-L/s400/real_snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was a good excuse to stay home all day, not that we could help it. We lounged in the hot tub, took a walk around the neighborhood in our Muk boots (fabulous!), saw lots of downed trees and branches, but generally took it easy and laid off of work. What a fabulous day!Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-42171652634901910332012-03-04T19:53:00.000-08:002012-03-04T19:53:35.841-08:00Creative Endeavors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After we released ArtBytes on Wednesday I decided to take a little break and do some things I've been dying to do but couldn't justify before. This stuff is just for me. Or rather, will serve as gifts at some point, probably, but for now I am simply having fun and enjoying a nice break.</div>
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A couple of nice folks sent me a whole slew of beading stuff after the fire - to help replace all that I lost. There's some great stuff in here - thanks you guys!! To start I made two simple pairs of earrings for myself. Can you see a pattern? Is someone obsessed with green and polka-dots?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbGIVoS5IxYeuA4JWD9SRWzvkII7VWRIC_ewf5foRm-7lAxKQsq7NezalWux5EKJap4vd192I_Q-wrKfSILqggyE_WtOJ3DRcZf_Cyex290AppQhWbBathme_VbMAOb3Cw2XYwW9HrO8Z/s1600/earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbGIVoS5IxYeuA4JWD9SRWzvkII7VWRIC_ewf5foRm-7lAxKQsq7NezalWux5EKJap4vd192I_Q-wrKfSILqggyE_WtOJ3DRcZf_Cyex290AppQhWbBathme_VbMAOb3Cw2XYwW9HrO8Z/s320/earrings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next I made some little monsters from FIMO clay, which can be baked. My son is my primary motivation here. I can see him having a whole collection eventually. I have included a view of the backs, where you can again see my obsession with polka-dots coming out.</div>
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I've also made some necklace charms that I'm very happy with, but I am waiting to string them on chord before I photograph them. Thanks for letting me share!Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-11431766903911222352012-01-03T21:19:00.000-08:002012-01-20T10:46:48.641-08:00Another tripod option<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 18px;">My buddy <a href="http://jamesmcoulter.blogspot.com/">James Coulter</a> posted today about <a href="http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_669145_669145?cm_mmc=Housefile-_-RECD-_-707-_-CONF">a still life stand he got recently that is much cheaper than my tripod</a>. He says he spent $80 on it. So if you're looking for a cheaper alternative to what I posted the other night, this could be it. I'll post a link on my other blog too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-52740571356794051062012-01-01T22:44:00.000-08:002012-01-01T23:06:56.015-08:00Shadow Box & Tripod<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've been meaning and promising to do this for a LONG time. After the fire I had to figure out a replacement for my tripod and shadowbox. I couldn't find the same tripod I had so I researched a new one that was possibly even MORE hefty and stable than the one I had before, but also had the same range of height (I want to be able to look at my stuff from above or straight on - eye level, and anything in between). I found this fabulous, beautiful tripod (below).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniWlFgzHqeYl-rf0Mgy158LpfE7TgGgsrtSBRk0Wr0yWbzMaq8QZYkKX7A0u2Tg8CW0LBhm4unFiiHgqqPKzGimWhNS54D0PkvkMomJfp3TYhQVjuGY-nkIZtHz_N9JNrvbicJJ-A8_1n/s1600/tripod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniWlFgzHqeYl-rf0Mgy158LpfE7TgGgsrtSBRk0Wr0yWbzMaq8QZYkKX7A0u2Tg8CW0LBhm4unFiiHgqqPKzGimWhNS54D0PkvkMomJfp3TYhQVjuGY-nkIZtHz_N9JNrvbicJJ-A8_1n/s400/tripod.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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I ordered it from Stakemill online, <a href="http://www.stakemill.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4062">here</a>. It is made in Germany so you know it's well-built. The only downside is - it's expensive! $339, and that doesn't include shipping. But it works like a champ. It's easier to raise and lower than my old one - it has a nifty little crank. Here is all the pertinent info.<br />
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Ok, so onto the shadow box. Many have asked if my husband (the mastermind behind the box) is willing to make and sell these. I have asked many times and his answer is always no. Sorry. I figured pictures and instructions were the next best thing, so here ya go!<br />
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The idea behind the shadowbox is to control the light on my subject, and mounting it on a tripod gives me the ability to get any angle easily. The first step is to buy the parts. We used mostly PVC because it is lightweight. The diameter of the longer parts is 3/4". You'll want to buy these first corner pieces to fit 3/4". Get 8 of each of these first two pieces - you'll then screw them together to make 8 of what's in the second picture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZJdQwKMn7OhSNwrpuu1fj5BQ6bLrZGB7d7Zi5fZeQ2VmBXyqAm_HCyK90rB2n9OAXuQOq_E_6igN1gRGOVdWWLdnBxRBN000-x4tk-3624GhJrZS0w51tXOJgyEKTIk8upmXcPTUVsDE/s1600/put_together_corners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZJdQwKMn7OhSNwrpuu1fj5BQ6bLrZGB7d7Zi5fZeQ2VmBXyqAm_HCyK90rB2n9OAXuQOq_E_6igN1gRGOVdWWLdnBxRBN000-x4tk-3624GhJrZS0w51tXOJgyEKTIk8upmXcPTUVsDE/s400/put_together_corners.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The eight assembled corner pieces are shown in this next picture on the left, along with the other two lengths of 3/4" PVC you'll need. Cut eight 20" pieces and four 24" pieces.<br />
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Next you'll want to fit all 8 corner pieces to each end of the longer pieces (as shown below). You don't need to use glue. It holds together just fine with friction.<br />
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Then fit all the pieces together to form a cube with the 4 longer pieces forming the width of the cube. Then let your 6-yr-old pretend the cube is solid and he is trapped inside (this is a very important step).<br />
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This is where my new shadowbox is better than the one I had before. This is a platform that sits under my box, that keeps the thin bottom piece from bending - it basically keeps everything stable without adding a lot of weight. Take my word for it. The bottom part is 1/8" thick and 18" square. The placement of the 10" lengths aren't super important. There are a couple of inches wide. The hole in the middle fits the metal threaded piece that sticks out from the top of my tripod.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfQxLYHMKmpu-QKESwqnpEneWSxkBbDZM3sZZaaMmPsiJ1IWpLU3dJr_FhMrubXtroUcg9f5MaVGQd11_58YZ-Zsdw0U2HcXMX5cJHKW9VIKWus87e_rVbnTTXBPAJ8OT0FqdS5MClrrF/s1600/platform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfQxLYHMKmpu-QKESwqnpEneWSxkBbDZM3sZZaaMmPsiJ1IWpLU3dJr_FhMrubXtroUcg9f5MaVGQd11_58YZ-Zsdw0U2HcXMX5cJHKW9VIKWus87e_rVbnTTXBPAJ8OT0FqdS5MClrrF/s400/platform.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So then you sent this whole thing on top of the tripod and screw a big nut on so it stays.<br />
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This is what it looks like on top of the tripod.<br />
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Next you're going to need four little screws ... what's that, about an inch long?<br />
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You're going to use these screws to attach this next piece (1/8") of plywood to the platform you just attached to the top of the tripod. It is 23 7/8" by 20 2/8". The location of the screws isn't terribly important, as long as they go through the 10" lenths. You are going to want to drill two little holes (about 1/4" in diameter) in each corner and one along each side. The exact location doesn't matter.<br />
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This is what this piece looks like attached, from below (below).<br />
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Next you'll need a bunch of these 8 (or so) inch cable ties, aka quick locks. They don't have to be white.<br />
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You'll want to thread a quick lock through each of the little holes on the edges of the plywood, then around the PVC, and lock. It's easier if you get someone to help you with this part since you'll have to hold the PVC cube in mid-air for just a little while until you get enough of the quick locks in. HINT: don't tighten any of them all the way at first. You are going to end up kind of suspending the cube around the wood, and you want all the ties to be evenly tight/loose.</div>
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Next comes the back piece, which I suppose isn't entirely necessary. I like it because I often use smaller sheets of paper as backgrounds and I can lean this against the back. This piece is going to be 23 7/8" by 22 7/8" - same 1/8" plywood, with 2 little holes at each corner and one along each side. Do the same routine with the quick locks. You may note I didn't do the quick locks at the bottom, middle of the back piece and back, middle of the bottom piece. I had them before and they got in the way, and I decided I had enough stability with all the others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOaDlVH3tKKA5Paq3hkUhzUF9U7gVaxjBMlb-sk4CwXuqM2O_eTtvA6Q43wEswdFSR4GCNsmGoyK1K3nA0bHiEbx5bZ_-YcJ0pLpvzxAzR3rrTjrC3SqpbHdJQmAER-wAmfRYn0vhlQIY/s1600/back_piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSOaDlVH3tKKA5Paq3hkUhzUF9U7gVaxjBMlb-sk4CwXuqM2O_eTtvA6Q43wEswdFSR4GCNsmGoyK1K3nA0bHiEbx5bZ_-YcJ0pLpvzxAzR3rrTjrC3SqpbHdJQmAER-wAmfRYn0vhlQIY/s400/back_piece.jpg" width="347" /></a></div>
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I went ahead and cut off all the ends of the quick locks to make it neater.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBQdUP9rakyJNVYRsssmKi-NuucaBiUov2OhuT-JdIZLjeHlen7KbiXNJJOEUcOUJwnrl_5eKR8TpsxRay6t3EDGlRN6CxL2XiHMbR0i5zF0Opvy7pL4rZEwsf80j0hTAW0Nd8rXo_khT/s1600/cut_off_ties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBQdUP9rakyJNVYRsssmKi-NuucaBiUov2OhuT-JdIZLjeHlen7KbiXNJJOEUcOUJwnrl_5eKR8TpsxRay6t3EDGlRN6CxL2XiHMbR0i5zF0Opvy7pL4rZEwsf80j0hTAW0Nd8rXo_khT/s320/cut_off_ties.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lastly, in order to control that light like we talked about, I drape fabric over the whole thing. I like to use white first so my shadows come alive (try black to see what I mean). Then black over that because my overhead light would come right through only white.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEi2-SSCwZNm-skPAZmXFozI3kJvV2liBh9pdTDvG4JMquRAIF2jkdaUiXXJAJlsx6sn942Ed2WrXJon1yrHC1PmaXA7FaCwEpB-2cngc4gFPo9k2WmLGb_tlPB_Au1mNYV4J3vKeB-8v/s1600/drape_fabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEi2-SSCwZNm-skPAZmXFozI3kJvV2liBh9pdTDvG4JMquRAIF2jkdaUiXXJAJlsx6sn942Ed2WrXJon1yrHC1PmaXA7FaCwEpB-2cngc4gFPo9k2WmLGb_tlPB_Au1mNYV4J3vKeB-8v/s320/drape_fabric.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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I clamp the corners so the fabric stays on. And I pull down the fabric on the front if I need less of my overhead light shining in there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrKIDreHfRL5wWtjAWVf9wWeFMfann0I4TIZb0SLk92fh_BygqLnLYIak0LsSRhJHOCQHXTYfgzu9PqxxzY43VPgKvGsQbBDah-B9cR1eJK1rR5Egbi_uiT1SN94uqwsCulFH49sNvpBJ/s1600/clamp_corners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrKIDreHfRL5wWtjAWVf9wWeFMfann0I4TIZb0SLk92fh_BygqLnLYIak0LsSRhJHOCQHXTYfgzu9PqxxzY43VPgKvGsQbBDah-B9cR1eJK1rR5Egbi_uiT1SN94uqwsCulFH49sNvpBJ/s320/clamp_corners.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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This is all sturdy enough to clamp a light directly to the PVC, and this is what I've been doing for months. However, I had it attached to a tripod before and I found it was more flexible. I admit I bought an extra long goose neck (from B&H photo) and a special little clamp dealy to attach that to the tripod. I got the lamp head from Wal-Mart.<br />
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I'm very happy with this setup. If you have any questions please ask them as a comment to this post. I'm sure I've left some things out and everyone would like to hear the questions. I will leave my answers also as comments. Thanks!Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-50368527090347166732011-11-19T21:13:00.001-08:002011-11-19T21:28:10.453-08:00New Couch and New Weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After waiting about 7 weeks, we finally got our couch! It is green and has a round ottoman. We love it! It's nice to have furniture again.</div>
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And, it snowed the other day. It only lasted about 30 minutes, and melted almost immediately, but being from Texas this was very exciting for us. I tried to get some pictures of it actually falling, but my camera refused to pick it up. Here's a little on the ground.<br />
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<br />Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-50895281787936626612011-11-14T21:27:00.001-08:002011-11-14T21:46:59.732-08:00Running in Eugene<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A little over a year ago I read an incredibly inspiring book - <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/0307266303">Born to Run</a></i>. It convinced to me start running again, without shoes. I know, pretty crazy, but the book made a convincing argument that my knees wouldn't hurt like they did before. And they don't. I've been running just about every other day ever since and have never felt better.</div>
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The basic idea is that if you run without shoes you will naturally land on your mid-foot rather than on your heel (as we tend to with cushioned running shoes). Your arch then acts kind of like a spring. Apparently there are tribes in Mexico and Africa (and who knows where else) that run this way and have an extremely low incidence of injuries from running.</div>
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The book also suggests that primitive man, before we started making tools, actually ran animals to death! And that our bodies were made for running.</div>
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If you decide to try this, do some research. The book suggests that you can run 5 miles tomorrow, barefoot, but you actually have to start off very slow and work your way up to longer distances. I started with 100 yards the first day. 110 the second, and so on. It took me about 6 months to do 3 miles. I now have <a href="http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/22877W/0/Womens/Barefoot-Run-Pace-Glove?dimensions=0">running shoes</a> that consist of a thin layer of rubber on the bottom to protect my feet from rocks/glass/etc., but no other kind of support.</div>
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So I was very excited to hear running is very popular in Eugene, and that my new art friend, <a href="http://sedwickpaints.blogspot.com/">Sarah</a>, is a runner too! So we signed up for a 6 mile run this last Sunday. Here we are at the start and taking off.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM2C4Zc_cennT4tutkYymM67-BWIkjwyITtkZKYM2HVLRaOvYqcKhq-s3ME6ijsLz84uIXKDA1uTPG-Hi_-hL4M2n0ai4SuvpYHUOJ6GfKHkjho-RZ4fSK7NpOCyJ_CmkikVWdlo-c68d/s1600/sarah_carol_first_race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM2C4Zc_cennT4tutkYymM67-BWIkjwyITtkZKYM2HVLRaOvYqcKhq-s3ME6ijsLz84uIXKDA1uTPG-Hi_-hL4M2n0ai4SuvpYHUOJ6GfKHkjho-RZ4fSK7NpOCyJ_CmkikVWdlo-c68d/s400/sarah_carol_first_race.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mmCTl2K8zjlU_3_zXB5iYosrdVu2LiDtHpmSCOQboiiDP3jsy6_FTBFUJXlyw-WkLKeQFEtp49zoaySvs9TecJLTM1doHlYY_KsH_qs_OJoP6Vg0rYZcpkfjnIak0nIwJJTRqlVw_q6E/s1600/first_race_in_eugene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mmCTl2K8zjlU_3_zXB5iYosrdVu2LiDtHpmSCOQboiiDP3jsy6_FTBFUJXlyw-WkLKeQFEtp49zoaySvs9TecJLTM1doHlYY_KsH_qs_OJoP6Vg0rYZcpkfjnIak0nIwJJTRqlVw_q6E/s400/first_race_in_eugene.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first third of the 6 miles was uphill most of the way, on trails. The last third was back down the same hill. I think I made it in half the time. : ) It was a hard run but exhillerating, and I will definitely do more. Sarah and I are already looking at a 4-miler on Thanksgiving day.Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-2425306380489311832011-10-07T20:41:00.000-07:002011-10-07T20:41:07.326-07:00Closed and Moving In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Carol Here: I know we haven't posted in quite a few days. We've been running around like crazy this last week, closing on the house, switching over electric, water, trash, etc., ordering furniture and new appliances, and all the other stuff that goes along with moving to a new house in a new state and basically starting over from scratch. Whew. Below is a view of the living room in our house, which opens to the kitchen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcfilFEPT_Io6_z_XAHeUeyoTkVeDFqQNcenpGMm2vtLxhexh6Da2OJiNRDpF0mnUkRNexXngiuKfocMBLGndXebEW7_EIzhhM5zDBlF5e5fefuwmHno1ijliOG8I0pN91BsuovBN-3Ot/s1600/living_room_kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcfilFEPT_Io6_z_XAHeUeyoTkVeDFqQNcenpGMm2vtLxhexh6Da2OJiNRDpF0mnUkRNexXngiuKfocMBLGndXebEW7_EIzhhM5zDBlF5e5fefuwmHno1ijliOG8I0pN91BsuovBN-3Ot/s400/living_room_kitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since David works at home all day on his computer, a comfy chair for him was a priority. I am still using a camp chair. Our plan is to rip up all the carpet (you can't see it in this photo but it is horribly stained) and reveal the beautiful oak floor underneath (all through the house). The floor will need some work, but it is old and thick and we love it!<br />
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Below is what we see from the living room looking out to the backyard. Beyond the deck is a really spectacular yard. The whole property is 3/4 acre, and is completely surrounded by huge trees. We live in the city but have a lot of privacy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPqYtO4swCYkLeXXOUaxLxyojdEBKcIINE8apB4_qPlngXAn8QP5KQDGa8rL_f-VPRECRVgMmxNnJpAHDT5h97EIvIFXzi_eebycupnSdVsjjEGrSNLwnDA51EJZ9DB7DWwNi-NT1-cuq/s1600/view_of_backyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPqYtO4swCYkLeXXOUaxLxyojdEBKcIINE8apB4_qPlngXAn8QP5KQDGa8rL_f-VPRECRVgMmxNnJpAHDT5h97EIvIFXzi_eebycupnSdVsjjEGrSNLwnDA51EJZ9DB7DWwNi-NT1-cuq/s400/view_of_backyard.jpg" width="367" /></a></div>
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Below is what will be my studio. Yes, that is a pool table. It was left by the former occupant, and it would take an army to move. We thought about hiring someone but I've decided for now to leave it. I don't think it will be in the way, and I can cover it and use it as a work table (the plan). The fireplace is holding all my stuff while I wait for shelves. There are windows at both ends (directly to the left and right of this photo).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnMaX7KuNp6TnT_E-O-8afzcBOSpjimQQE_RLzSABWATGQ9HHcmmR8c4_XC0PMmCMgULVV9zLl39WevrvcOx2yGiqet-6nSuVPVkQM-xHWa5Pum5ujR59x4cH5nyL_p_98byhj8Jb1y9q/s1600/studio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnMaX7KuNp6TnT_E-O-8afzcBOSpjimQQE_RLzSABWATGQ9HHcmmR8c4_XC0PMmCMgULVV9zLl39WevrvcOx2yGiqet-6nSuVPVkQM-xHWa5Pum5ujR59x4cH5nyL_p_98byhj8Jb1y9q/s400/studio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And a little update about my rock collection...<br />
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Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-66912211509515992922011-10-02T20:48:00.000-07:002011-10-02T20:48:49.336-07:00Waiting to Close<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
David here: We have been biding our time until we close on the house and can move in. It may be as soon as Tuesday but no later than Wednesday. It all depends on when the final insurance payment shows up in our account.</div>
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Here's a photo of the house from the front with Carol's studio on the other side of the wall of almost north facing windows. We'll have more photos of the place soon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKpq82JwJD9pJlToA_UamKYNqnx7mPsLtpCxpb8USH-nB8WOqFw-vbUVqNnE50VeObDMD9QMosQAE-7XY6vbH0Zu45ECOtCeRe8vbhxHsX_7feRPz8p_JarCHipzEPbQVPAN_JhTFL0ME/s1600/our_house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKpq82JwJD9pJlToA_UamKYNqnx7mPsLtpCxpb8USH-nB8WOqFw-vbUVqNnE50VeObDMD9QMosQAE-7XY6vbH0Zu45ECOtCeRe8vbhxHsX_7feRPz8p_JarCHipzEPbQVPAN_JhTFL0ME/s400/our_house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's Carol and her mini-me on our first trip to the coast. Carol was like a dog with a steak with all the rounded and smooth stones lying about completely undefended.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLhgoTJRv_itY2LW8zS9m2b2q8KFY1KpSWc4RP5kJmvHLod3rV4OOG7kJbnMQX_oCWkRTt2ig8TcRdK0YisMHpFtug9toePveenFxmqc4n9NX4CKObHy0xfvWigSU15U9WfpW7EGxYSAQ/s1600/oregon_coast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLhgoTJRv_itY2LW8zS9m2b2q8KFY1KpSWc4RP5kJmvHLod3rV4OOG7kJbnMQX_oCWkRTt2ig8TcRdK0YisMHpFtug9toePveenFxmqc4n9NX4CKObHy0xfvWigSU15U9WfpW7EGxYSAQ/s400/oregon_coast1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is Carol teaching Jacob the love of the rocks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufZEOicSLakxBtenpaagPGkHWEAb3uCJelz-IBkDoV8igYkpB2PPcpcYAXhQ_k8RadkJ3FVvIXOOo79Zi48ts6VNUuL37GStL-CvTL9t8M6S6lAYjTiXnTDkMwVnGvDtaRqj-vP6wLxt-/s1600/cave_rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufZEOicSLakxBtenpaagPGkHWEAb3uCJelz-IBkDoV8igYkpB2PPcpcYAXhQ_k8RadkJ3FVvIXOOo79Zi48ts6VNUuL37GStL-CvTL9t8M6S6lAYjTiXnTDkMwVnGvDtaRqj-vP6wLxt-/s320/cave_rocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is nothing slower than walking with Carol on a rock strewn beach!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ib1pjet5949uH1ze-gABdkogFdoYP6craAjl-9TSwX3kPg0sQxuRJwAKQqiZsjzUtKCjZARaFp1Xz-6P3NgoLUzXOSLOBdGXQSL8J-oeK5oIB_f-l9pVK5Io5fYfBqcyIIkfot6h7ebq/s1600/rocks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ib1pjet5949uH1ze-gABdkogFdoYP6craAjl-9TSwX3kPg0sQxuRJwAKQqiZsjzUtKCjZARaFp1Xz-6P3NgoLUzXOSLOBdGXQSL8J-oeK5oIB_f-l9pVK5Io5fYfBqcyIIkfot6h7ebq/s320/rocks2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was cool and cloudy and rained all day long - we absolutely loved it!</div>
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<br />Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-37332110151210225072011-09-30T21:27:00.000-07:002011-09-30T21:27:33.593-07:00Finally in Oregon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Carol Here: After driving for 5 straight days we finally have something to look at - TREEEEES!!! Like real trees, trees over 10 feet high. Add to that, or rather, take away about 20 degrees in temperature, and you have Oregon. Well, the pretty stuff started in Northern California (on I-5) but got going good in Oregon. Here we are stopped at a rest area:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJa3EXzb7n_N8YCt8M1RyXck_e1jgq4EPU-pldD8NcJm_kLMupZ-C-1aar0FUaXYe4DTQaGnPtgb1LvbMG3LP1jEsyqaduxbrckQYnAU1bVGchgGfzFs0nNLmBhzGCxd7x9si8etZzM3Cx/s1600/camper_oregon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJa3EXzb7n_N8YCt8M1RyXck_e1jgq4EPU-pldD8NcJm_kLMupZ-C-1aar0FUaXYe4DTQaGnPtgb1LvbMG3LP1jEsyqaduxbrckQYnAU1bVGchgGfzFs0nNLmBhzGCxd7x9si8etZzM3Cx/s400/camper_oregon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And though it's still summer back in Texas, here in Oregon the trees are already dropping their leaves.<br />
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One thing I am very happy about is restarting my rock collection. I had hundreds of rocks collected over many years and many parts of the country. They were all buried in the rubble. So here are the first 3 rocks of my new collection!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39OAqJ6S8pCzfv84eyJHA-7LItM0VmgUxdp2D81bgNAicydkPZqWw4B1DmXOGTdhamGSLXv5g1ZCd4Buo2bQ3MqQcUMWSMTSnq_8SoJ80mNJxQSllSBFGDiI3li-masc1Jp7MsgomePg6/s1600/rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39OAqJ6S8pCzfv84eyJHA-7LItM0VmgUxdp2D81bgNAicydkPZqWw4B1DmXOGTdhamGSLXv5g1ZCd4Buo2bQ3MqQcUMWSMTSnq_8SoJ80mNJxQSllSBFGDiI3li-masc1Jp7MsgomePg6/s400/rocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And Jacob is proud to start his new blackberry collection. If you eat your whole collection does it still count as a collection?<br />
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<br />Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-65966922243273733212011-09-28T20:15:00.000-07:002011-09-28T20:15:30.082-07:00Tired of Driving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2SqAxjA57-CuiGknWWmW6fJkF1KumOb5WHltqODrJLcTURIaE7L7ik2th5euiBUaKEJbTv6DdNOGEzHzm8vKS7t3a69qk1v-E2U7DyVJcIuSELhVsa1I60-li5_FmpTP7ca7IXCRC9hs/s1600/carol_sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2SqAxjA57-CuiGknWWmW6fJkF1KumOb5WHltqODrJLcTURIaE7L7ik2th5euiBUaKEJbTv6DdNOGEzHzm8vKS7t3a69qk1v-E2U7DyVJcIuSELhVsa1I60-li5_FmpTP7ca7IXCRC9hs/s400/carol_sleep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Carol Here: This picture really sums up today. I am TIRED of driving. Tonight we are at a KOA outside of Sacramento. We got here around 4pm, which is an earlier day than usual. Still, it's been a lot of driving, and I'm excited that tomorrow we will finally see some different scenery. Our plan is to do just a little driving in the morning and then relax the rest of the day. That will put us in Oregon by Friday afternoon.<br />
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This picture was taken at the pool here at the KOA. There were signs saying no alcohol, and I will NOT admit to having wine in my cup. ; )Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-88463533951523769482011-09-28T09:04:00.000-07:002011-09-28T20:15:30.092-07:00White Knuckles!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
David Here: After two days of barren desolation, through west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and the state of severe boredom, our drive positively enlivened as we skirted not quite far enough around LA through rush hour traffic. The traffic was worse in the other direction, though, where I measured over 20 miles of bumper to bumper. I imagine folks in LA get home after work each day with just about enough time to turn around and drive back in.</div>
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The lovely combination of too many Red Bulls, 14 lanes of rush hour traffic in both directions, the 6 some odd inches of clearance between the camper and the semi's roaring past, and 100 miles of the worst washboard highways on which I have ever driven, has rendered the permanent grimace you see below on my stricken face.</div>
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Then finally, the pinnacle of the day was the adventure the GPS led us on, down an ever narrowing dirt road, which <i>precisely </i>did not lead to the RV Park. Luckily, the kind gentleman who lived behind the locked gate, which ended our misdirected journey, with the "Trespassers will be Shot" sign, let us in to turn the camper around over his yard. </div>
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Jacob has been a champ through it all and even revived sufficiently once we corrected our error of forgetting to feed him. Poor boy, you can almost see his bones.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fapd_QtjLLYohdceR7glyCdsAgGFxS2ATD2dn5eIbGd7v72ujZAHSwzmATc6qff5m2Em9XrNdAl3jL_mPRkBpTlXSg8bvXI5dz8vwHnWf1nrQHiMQAiXt9YIHX8SdLXQ-q0fdHVUhj-_/s1600/jacob_skeleton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fapd_QtjLLYohdceR7glyCdsAgGFxS2ATD2dn5eIbGd7v72ujZAHSwzmATc6qff5m2Em9XrNdAl3jL_mPRkBpTlXSg8bvXI5dz8vwHnWf1nrQHiMQAiXt9YIHX8SdLXQ-q0fdHVUhj-_/s320/jacob_skeleton.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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We ended up in an RV park in the Angeles Forest. It'd be beautiful if there were any trees.</div>
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Tonight we are going to set up camp in Northern California where tomorrow we have planned a day of stress free frolicking among the redwoods and sequoias.</div>
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<br />Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-19363130599702234352011-09-25T18:37:00.000-07:002011-09-25T18:39:14.462-07:00Almost Out of Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sVw2Z7RtRhuOpomlLNglTuEaT3Z79dZHoTlIekYFFJ9W__Z_7-dgxfxOJQ_NwCaHUT6X-WWB13QsmWtQozc_w-P9laM479l2-cNQE3CkXQVeiTHbUiCLykIkij-6Y8ZXZf8K7k8NRsLd/s1600/camp_harper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sVw2Z7RtRhuOpomlLNglTuEaT3Z79dZHoTlIekYFFJ9W__Z_7-dgxfxOJQ_NwCaHUT6X-WWB13QsmWtQozc_w-P9laM479l2-cNQE3CkXQVeiTHbUiCLykIkij-6Y8ZXZf8K7k8NRsLd/s400/camp_harper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Carol again (David promises he'll post soon): Yesterday and this morning I said goodbye to my grandparents, sister, nephews, brother-in-law, and parents. This has been the hardest of all for me - moving so far away from my family. Luckily I travel a lot so you can bet I'll be scheduling more workshops in TX in the future!<br />
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Above is where we camped in Harper, next to my parents' shop. At night we realized it was tilted a little to one side. I almost fell off the bed a few times.<br />
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Today we drove West through Texas all day, and finally stopped just before El Paso, completely exhausted. Who ever knew sitting would be so much work! I drove the little car behind the camper on a highway where even though the speed limit was 80! we had to go about 65 for the sake of the camper. Above is us parked at a little rest stop in the desolate West Texas landscape. We passed a gazzilion dead trees, cinching our concept of Texas as a tinderbox.<br />
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And here's Jacob, not fazed a bit by us moving halfway across the country, showing off some moves. So you know, you HAVE to make that face to do the move right.Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3288476655375591663.post-29134319065044213802011-09-23T08:24:00.000-07:002011-09-23T08:24:28.294-07:00The Beginning of the Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6D1BeHu060ol-q-qtFZYTWT5NFndqY1n__wJ5ZAZJJ7VdrUkXjnAuLLt6CamCJQYx3l4SbhWGS-_jgKYQ7YpyHjjS_dxtAHRILOV6cYcC6Tov84q1OQth_J5rEt6xEswJnJySxxnU5XS/s1600/camp_texas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6D1BeHu060ol-q-qtFZYTWT5NFndqY1n__wJ5ZAZJJ7VdrUkXjnAuLLt6CamCJQYx3l4SbhWGS-_jgKYQ7YpyHjjS_dxtAHRILOV6cYcC6Tov84q1OQth_J5rEt6xEswJnJySxxnU5XS/s400/camp_texas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Carol here: Today we are camped in Texas with everything we now own, at an RV park near Lake Travis, where we have been since the fire. Thankfully we got both vehicles and the camper out. The camper is now full of donated clothes, food, toys, art supplies, etc. Thank you all sooo much!!<br />
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Today we will drive to Harper, TX to visit my folks and extended family for a couple of days. We have spent the last few days tying up loose ends here and saying goodbye. We got the cars checked out before the drive across country, handed our land over to our neighbor who is staying to rebuild, and purchased everything we will need to survive for 5 days in the car (books on tape & caffeine!).<br />
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David and I will both be posting here. We'll shoot for once a day, but in reality it will be as much as we have time for. Here's hoping for smooth sailing. Oregon or bust!!Carol, David & Jacob Marinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07157572900423704252noreply@blogger.com40