Pellet Ice

This requires few words. It's awesome and a new member of our family.

Steam Oven: Just like New

My mom popped in for a visit and she was able to stay the night.  She was so helpful in figuring out my steam oven.  I had saved this loaf of bread in the freezer, unwrapped and stale for 7mths. Supposedly, you can reheat stale bread in the steamer and it will be just like new.  The steam oven works with steam to make your food new again.  The bread was chewy, but definitely better than it had been. I tried to make hard boiled eggs the next day and they turned out perfect in 8mins and they gave me the option of easy, medium or hard boiled. That will be handy!



It's a smaller oven which is nice when you don't want to warm up a full oven. We cooked some fish and heated up some leftover pasta from lunch.



We were cooking up a storm.  I just need my mom back to finish reading the directions to me while I figure out other stuff.

Starting to Feel like Home

I told my kids that our challenge today was to fill up the fridge.  We had no food upon returning home from our trip.  Becket was really in on the game.  When we got home and put away our groceries there was plenty of room to spare in the fridge and freezer. Becket and I had a good laugh.



From our entry way-



We still need to put the walnut trim and the finishing touches on the desk area.

Trim around the window complete.



Walnut finished by the ovens



Paper pulled up and vacuumed






AND the barstools put in place.  They are rainbow, happy, and comfortable.  I love them!





Happy day! We are feeling more normal (if there ever was a normal).

Home Again- Jiggety Jig

We were excited to see the progress on the home, but first we had to get Micah's tooth out.  Here is Mat working on that said tooth on the side of the road on our way to Crater Lake.

And again at home

Finally, after lots of man hours and bribing the tooth comes out.

And guess who didn't come after all that effort, the Tooth Fairy! I can't believe she forgot.

In house news, we came home to some progress, although not all had been finished, like I hoped.  I was thinking after 10 days that it would be pretty much done, but there was a mess up on our drawer fronts. They rushed them from the factory in CA and when they put the protectant plastic over them to ship, they were discolored to a off white and they had to start over. Surprised? It's all good though, because I am getting really good at my deep breaths. As for the trim,  I don't know why that couldn't have be done. I was super frustrated, ask my rock Mat.  What I did know was that I would be painting trim all week if it was going to get done in time for my cousins shower.

Andrea was nice enough to stop by and send some pictures of the lovely progress. We were excited to see them working on the house. 

Walnut getting installed

Walnut wood panels on the fridge.  Way easy to clean! Even easier if my kids washed their hands more

Stairs got a natural coat. Beautiful!

And the trim was getting finished up.  Around our front window was tricky.

Bend, Oregon

It was nice to finally get to Bend.  I just knew I would love it.

Before we got there, we needed to see this wonder of the world they call crater lake.





We were meeting our friends the Weeds there and due to no cell service we were going to have to use our hunting and gathering skills to gps them.  We pretty much graduated to government spy levels when we spotted their white mini van at the entrance.



We took a mini little hike to this watchman's tower.





Kids were actively playing and picked up right where they left off.





Mat enjoying himself which makes me happy to see him so happy.



Beautiful place.



Here's our $10 not worth it sandwiches from the lodge.  Note to self, pack a lunch to take to crater lake so you don't have to fork over millions for subpar sandwiches.



The next morning, we hit Bend with a get up and go force.  Little hike by Mt. Bachelor.







Free Slurpee Day



That evening, we got us a babysitter and strolled downtown for what ever fit our fancy.





Becket the inch worm in his sleeping bag.  He inched all around the Weed's house striking up a conversation as he normally would, except you're talking to an inchworm.

c

Down with the Chacos in Oregon



The next day Mat and I went to a neighboring town called Sisters to check out the quilt festival. Quilts were hung all along the main street and people come from everywhere to see them. Lots of middle aged women wearing polyester and straw hats.











This dude almost sliced my cheek with his mustache.  I had to ask him if I could take his picture.




This is how I found Mat when I came out of the bathroom.




The kids had a better time fishing than quilting.  Looks like they were successful.



Thanks Weeds for showing us your fabulous mountain town.  We love seeing you guys.

Bonus to living in Various Places

Med school can move you around a bit, but the upside is running into friends you used to live by.

The Brooksby live on a big ranch in Oregon, with cattle, horses, and a dog named Cub.  They have 6 kids and Mama Windy never slows down.  Always going a hundred miles per hour, she runs the farm, kids, and runs mega miles each day.





Oakland is a small town and one of the favorite past times is to float down the Umpqua river.









We found a rope swing to explore too! You had to watch out scraping your toes and you had to avoid the big rock under water.  Other than that, you were good.

Thought I'd try my hand at it (I mean my toes at it, because that is what took the hit)



Luckily, I missed the rock.



Backyard BBQ to top it off watching a beautiful sunset.