Sure sign of Spring

Sign of Spring or what's left of the sign. Thought I'd get a picture of the crocus before the rabbits got to them.

I was too late. The white one was fine a few hours ago. It may just be closed for the evening but it ain't looking too good.

The purple crocus is a goner.

At least the squill? squibb? ... blue flower ... is still intact.

They're all pretty anyway.

Fireplace Insert

The fireplace gas insert is in, inspected and turned on.

It was professionally installed. The installation went fairly smoothly until the facing was to be attached. The facing is the ornate metal surround you see in the picture to the right.

There is a framing piece that attaches to the actual gas insert and the facing is to attach to the frame. However, my fireplace opening is very very small and the framing would not fit inside the existing firebox.

Rather than have the brick chipped away which I figured would end up breaking more than intended and the installer said there was additional charge for that, I had him screw the facing directly to the outside of the fireplace.

It only screws in one place (at the top) but is very secure.

The installation took a couple of hours on Monday. The city inspector came this morning to check the gas line and the placement of the unit.

An installer followed up the inspector to attach the gas, turn the unit on, and instruct me on the operation.

I think it looks fantastic. And it provides a good deal of heat.

Oregon Coast Trip Pictures

Redwood Forest - Stout Grove. Alicia and Jeff

The redwood forest looking up.

Feeding the sea gulls from the room balcony at the hotel at Brookings.

The beach at Brookings hotel. In the center of the picture is a sea otter. He's eating a fish.

Jill's favorite beach a few miles north of Brookings.

Cape Blanco lighthouse. The furthest west and windiest spot in lower 48 states.

Petting zoo.

Lighthouse in Bandon.

Face Rock in Brookings.

Sea lions at Simpson Cove at Cape Arago. Picture taken through coin operated monocular

Shore Acres Garden tulips.

Back in Ashland

We drove from Brookings to Bandon on Tuesday.  We stopped at Cape Blanco, the furthest west point in the lower 48 states.  Also, the sight of the oldest light house in Oregon.  Also, the windiest location in Oregon and it lived up to that name.  Cape Blanco history click here

Constant winds blowing across this very high bluff looking out over the Pacific Ocean make it hard to hear and difficult to keep your breath.  It was another beautiful sunny day.

We continued up Highway 101 and stopped in the little town of Langlois with a one room diner called "The Greasy Spoon."  I had a "Wayne's World" sandwich which was toasted cheese and ham.  It was very good.

We stopped at the Pacific Coast Petting Zoo outside of Bandon.  There was a baby snow leopard that you were allowed to pet.  Also, lots of little goats, deer, a burro and horned sheep.  An Australean wallowbee had a baby joey which was totally adorable.

There were several large cats including a lion, black panther and a pair of Indian tigers.  It was interesting to see all the animals but some were in very small enclosures which was kind of upsetting.

We drove on into Bandon not really knowing where our hotel was.  It is a small coastal touris town and we spotted a hotel on the top of the hill overlooking the old town.  We headed there and sure enough that was it.

Yesterday, Wednesday, we wandered around the area.  There is a famous rock formation off the coast called "face rock."  Legend says that an Indian maiden was trapped by an evil spirit and her face can be seen in the rock.  It is quite stunning.

We walked down to the beach here as the tide retreated hundreds of yards from the shore.  It was quite dramatic.  We then drove over to state park on the other side of Bandon port.  It is where the Bandon light house is which is the last light house built in Oregon.  The amount drift wood on the beach is in incredible.

Wednesday night we had a marvelous dinner at the Wild Rose in Bandon. It had been reccommended by Jill's neighbor, Pam.  The food was fantastic.

Today, Thursday, we continued north on 101 and went to Cape Arago.  The weather was turning bad but when we stopped at Simpson's Cove we were greeted by the barks of sea lions out on the rocks.  There were hundreds probably and the park had binoculars set up so you could see them.  This was such a treat to see and hear them.

Cape Arago is also the site of Shore's Garden, an incredibly beautiful garden that had been created by in the early 1900's to accompany a private residence.  The home is long gone but the state maintains the gardens.  A real oasis in this rain forest...which it had started to do...rain.

Also here was some of the most amazing waves crashing against huge rocks just below the cliff where we were standing.  This was true Oregon coast with rain whipping at us and these enormous crashes of water and foam.

I head home really really early tomorrow.

Oregon coast - Monday

Had a great breakfast at Mattie's Pancake House on Highway 101.  I had buckwheat.  Jill had oatmeal and Alicia had blueberry.

Back at the seaside hotel, we ventured out onto the beach.  Right away we saw a sea otter on a rock eating a fish.  Jill had never seen a sea otter before.  It was very close.

The tide was heading out so we were able to climb on some of the rocks and see purple star fish and green barnacles.  Walking back toward the hotel, we saw the sea otter again now swimming around.  Ya'll know how much I like nature and the sea otter sighting was fantastic.

Oregon coast - Sunday

Jill, Alicia and I drove from Ashland to Brookings, Oregon today.  The drive took us through Grants Pass on Highway 199.  Spectacular views and stopped at the burl shop on the way.

We drove through the Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park and walked through the Stout Grove of redwood trees.  I have pictures which I'll add later though pictures hardly do it justice.  Amazing trees, ferns and other fauna.

We drove the rest of the way through the park on a very narrow dirt road.  We ended up in Crescent City, California and drove up coastal 101 to Brookings...stopping at the liquor store on the California side of the border with Oregon.  Alcohol is a lot cheaper in CA.

Tonight and tomorrow night in Brookings at the Best Western RIGHT on the ocean.  Jill and Alicia risked life and limb...especially fingers...feeding wild seagulls from the room balcony.  I do not like seagulls.

Oregon - day 1

Made it to Ashland yesterday after a very long day of flying.

Flight out of Minneapolis was delayed for a short time but nothing major.  Flight from Dallas to Portland was delayed for hours.  First a mechanical problem with the captain's chair.  Then once we were on a mechanical problem with the in-flight communication system.

Ended up having to take the plane out of service and getting another one.  Needless to say I missed my connection in Portland to take me to Medford.  The next available flight was at 7:55pm local time.  I ended up with about 2 hours to kill in Portland airport.  Ate way too much garbage food but the local beer was good.

Made it to Medford about 9pm and got my rental car.  I had it charged to the wrong credit card and neither the desk agent nor the 1-800 agent located in India could fix it.  I'm going to try on Monday.

Beautiful day here in Ashland today.  Spring has sprung with daffodils and hyacith blooming.

Going to see Jill's show this afternoon and dinner with her parents who are celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Lowered Expectations

I finished the Old Chicago St. Pat's mini-Beer Tour!

For those of you (two, may be three) that don't know about the Beer Tour....drink beer...count beer....get prizes.

Old Chicago has these mini-tours where you can win additional prizes.  I got a t-shirt.

That's my biggest accomplishment this week...so far....it is only Wednesday.

Hammacher Schlemmer

This is for Bunny, Brian Crow, Jenny B. and my brother, Spade.

Check out the price!

This one's for my sister, Carol, and Mom.
Someone already came up with my idea of the picture frame with photo scanner.

Fireplace Hearth Replacement Project

Not to give it away but I ordered a gas fireplace insert. A couple of years ago I had my fireplace cleaned and inspected. The gentleman who cleaned it said that the firebox itself was not safe to burn a wood fire in.

He then gave me an estimate for a $5,000 repair! Since he marked on the cleaning/inspection form that a fire was not recommended, I thought it best not to have a wood fire. But $5,000 to repair the firebox tuck pointing was awfully high for something I only use very occasionally.

But I like having a fireplace and it is the living room focal point. So I've ordered a gas fireplace insert with remote control..hehehe. Ya'll know how much I like remote control.

The fireplace hearth has been cracked since I moved in. It is made of small red brick like tiles. I took the following picture after I already started demolition but you can see the tiles.

The new hearth design is taken from the kitchen backsplash. The backsplash tiles were no longer available but very similar ones were. However, there were no green tiles which were my planned dash of color.

Turns out I had three spare green tiles from the kitchen project which I was able to use. I also still had tile adhesive and grout available. The new hearth only took three days to complete and I think it looks fantastic.

That was fast

I electronically filed my Minnesota State Tax Return on Saturday, March 6. My refund was electronically deposited to my checking account on Monday, March 9.

Wow! Now that's efficient government.

I am home!

I hinted, or may be even stated, last week that I would be working from home this week. And it has so far come to pass.

I say "so far" because you never know if/when you could be asked to go somewhere. But it is looking pretty good for this week and next to be non-travel work days.

This will give me a chance to see if Frankie is okay. He has been going up to bed around 7pm for the past few weeks. That is about 2 or 3 hours early for him. And he sleeps through the night. May be he is just getting old but I'll be watching him this week.

Moron to the right of me...Rita had too much wine

Home with no issues or problems. The guy sitting next to me was kind of moron though. He was watching some video on his iTouch while everyone was boarding. The flight attendant announced to turn off electronics. He was wearing a sound-deadening headset and just kept watching.

Several announcements and he's still watching his video. Doors are closed and the plane is backing away from the gate. It is quite obvious we are MOVING and he's still watching his video. I point to it and gesture to turn it off. He removes his headset and looks at me like he's never flown before. He's in first class for crying out loud.

I remind him we're moving so turn off the electronics! He mumbles something and not another peep out of him for the rest of the trip.

Rita, my Dallas to Minneapolis frequent flyer, was sitting two rows back. I can hear her having an animated conversation with her row mate. I'm jealous.

I wait for her in the terminal after we land so we can catch up on the long walk up to the concourse. She is giggly and readily admits she had too much red wine. Her row mate agrees. We all laugh.

Rita takes a commuter bus to Rochester where her husband picks her up for the ride hoem to northern Iowa. She doesn't have to drive anywhere so she's fine.

Hilton Anatole art part 3 - outdoors

The Anatole has a large interior park, sculpture garden, running track, grassy knole.

This large sundial is in the center of the park. I've never had the chance to notice if it is correct.

There is a section of the Berlin Wall tucked away on one side.

The exterior of the building has these incredible murals of brick. There are all intricate and really beautiful.

Goodbye dinner

It is official. I am not coming back to Dallas for the project I have been working on for over 2 1/2 years. It is kind of low-key. Relations with the client are not the best though I don't think anyone is upset with me.

I convinced Asha and Lisa to go to Ali Baba's, a Mediterreanean restaurant.  The food is delicious and healthy.

We had a fantastic time.

Hilton Anatole art part 2

More art pieces at the hotel.

This piece is in the Wedgewood Ballroom and is highlighted as the largest known piece of Wedgewood ceramic. It is probably five feet tall.

This lying woman is an amazing white. I assume it is marble but not sure. She is taller than I am.

This picture does not do justice to the the "three ladies" as I like to call them. I like their whimsy.

Hilton Anatole art

The Hilton Anatole where I've been staying in Dallas for the last 2+ years is full of art work. Most of the art is Asian in nature but there are also other interesting pieces.

Here are just three.

Man painting picture is located in lobby of the large convention hall. It is a kind of odd piece.

Asian woman's bust located near elevator lobby of Tower. There are several pieces in niches along both sides of the walls

Marble horses similar to the Mustangs of Las Colinas. This piece is located on side table at entrance to large convention hall.

I know I've said it before but...

On the way to Dallas....AGAIN.

I've said it before but unless the client signs another contract, this could be my next to last trip to Dallas...for this client.

Keep your fingers crossed.