Dogs, Ears, Bikes

The kids came to visit! And they brought the dogs. It was so fun.

Amy and Corey drove to Iowa arriving last Friday Friday at 3 a.m. Paul and I were sound asleep. When they drove up, they came in through the garage. Doggos Franklin and Eros trotted around yet Paul and I didn't hear a thing! Had they been murderers, we'd be dead. We're lucky they were kindly and simply went to bed.

I seriously didn't know they were here at 5 a.m. when Paul got up to go work. I thought perhaps they'd pulled over to snooze at a rest area. Then I heard Franks bark! Later he raced up the stairs for a proper greeting. Have I mentioned how much dogs like me? I like them too. So I've got that going for me. I worked on my laptop and he hung out with me. Franklin is a wiener dog. He wedged his tubular body next to me in my big chair and I missed Odie. Still, it felt good.

Franklin

Eros

Amy, Corey and Eros got up a little later. A short night for them. Soon Amy was off to do girl stuff for Jenna's wedding. Corey and I did lunch at Taco Hangover. Paul and I dropped Corey off for the rehearsal dinner. We went out to eat. Fancy date at Jason's Deli.

Corey and dogs swim time

Paul and I visited the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. It was a gorgeous day. Later, Paul and Corey took the kayaks out at Raccoon River Park. I had the bright idea to take the puppies for a walk while the guys paddled. The dogs got freaked out when their daddy (Corey) took off on the Titanic (my kayak). We ended up sitting in the truck for a few minutes while they calmed down. They did enjoy the water after poppa got back. It was cute to see Franklin padding his little legs. The pups were wiped out and took long naps later. I felt like a good grandparent.

For lunch, Paul grilled burger sliders with sweet corn snagged from the Farmer's Market. Paul Dad-In-Law pressured Corey into eating more than one ear of corn. Our son-in-law had never heard of this before. It seems South Carolina has a one per person limit. Paul G. claims that as a kid he'd eat 3 or 4 ears. We are the tall corn state after all. Welcome to Iowa Corey! Bring your corn-eating A-game. 

Amy and Jenna

That night Corey and Amy had a fab time at the wedding. They said the view from the Hyperion Club was fabulous! Even after they got back to our house, our little buddy - Franklin decided to sleep with us. On Sunday Corey flew off to Philly. Amy got to make the drive back to Denver with the pups. She tweeted that they were good boys. I missed them all week. (Amy and Corey too). I'm glad we get to see all four kids at Alex and Lisa's wedding soon.

Paul had made plans to meet up with his co-worker Dana and wife Mary at Peace Tree in the East Village on Sunday to bike. It was a glorious day! Our first stop was across the river and Gray's Lake to Confluence Brewery. Who appeared right behind us? Former Creston teachers John and Lois Rose! We laughed that it was One Degree of Separation from our pals Don and Diana McKim - hometown pals of Don. We all sat together on the outside deck and had beers. It was lovely! Later we rode west, backtracking to Mullets for a bite. It was a great day.

I thought back on the weekend Sunday night. We feel very fortunate to be surrounded by loving family and friends. Even when our family lives far away. 

Lois, John, Dana, Mary and us

Looking south

Coasting

It's been beastly hot (what does that actually mean??) in Iowa this summer. 2018 lurched drunkenly from winter straight to summer. No polite chill in the morn, warmer by day spring. May sported temps in the 90's and plenty of rain. June seemed to like that and copied.

Then we had wacko 4th of July. You working folk know what I mean. Wednesday on the 4th is the worst! I love Independence Day, but I hate to admit it. This one was a dud. The Des Moines area sites didn't quite know when to hold festivities.

Yankee Doodle Pops, the big event complete with symphony and fireworks in the shadow of Iowa's gorgeous State Capitol, was on Monday night, July 2nd. What? That event ran late. Some of us had to work Tuesday. Paul and I had a quiet good time in Valley Junction Tuesday evening and kayaked on the 4th. Our neighbors entertained with fireworks in a nearby park. I kept thinking that at least this year there was no Odie to be scared. I missed that.

Yeah, I know. I sound a little bitchy. I like to sit on my deck. It's been too hot - even for me. Paul and I were more than ready to fly out July 7th for our bi-annual Bullock Girls family reunion in chilly, refreshing Cannon Beach, Oregon. We love the place our sis Betso and husband Wayne discovered - some five hours away from their home in SE Washington State.

By Saturday evening all the "adults" had arrived. It's hard for me to accept the fact that all of our children (even Baby David) are technically considered adults. So I am using that label for my generation. We sat at Betsy and Wayne's condo, one block from the beach and enjoyed each other's company - catching up! Susi and Jim had driven in from Grand Junction with a night in Idaho. Cindy, Paul and I flew into Portland.

On Sunday morning we started our beach walks. By my calculations, we walked about 27 miles that week - Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, The longest day was Monday, coming in just under 8 miles as we walked in the afternoon too. The weather was fab (around 60 degrees partly sunny) and if you've never experienced the NW beach, consider it. The surf makes a delightful noise and fellow beachgoers bring dogs. I love watching them!

Kohan men minus Eric 

S'mores night

The Kohan clan (we'll call them kids) started arriving Sunday. Baby David will be a junior in college this year. Eldest of the fam (by scant minutes) Alex and wife-to-be Lisa joined us for supper that night. It was our first chance to make an impression on Lisa, and Betsy reports she was not frightened away - even by my off-color stories, which made Susi giggle all night.

I was glad to relieve Susi's stress. She and Jim were awaiting the birth of their 4th grandchild the next day. My niece Leslie was scheduled to be induced Monday morning. We spent Monday getting text updates on progress. Les looked amazingly lovely in labor. They do things prettier than in my day! A healthy baby girl was born by mid-afternoon. Then we were on name watch! Lillian Elise Lopez - the name is just as gorgeous as this little girl, beloved by her brother James, mommy, daddy Jordan and many more. Can't wait to watch her grow.

I stole this pic off Facebook. Aren't they adorable?? 

The rest of the Kohan kids arrived Monday. Paul (the younger twin) with girlfriend Christine, and Sarah - new college grad and soon to be law school student. We missed Eric, studying for the bar exam. I've so enjoyed getting to know these young people during our times together at CB.

When some people go on vacation, they can check off a bunch of activities - places they visited, sites seen. Nope! On Tuesday we (Paul, Cindy, Betsy, son Paul and daughter Sarah and me) did venture south to order Dungeness crab at Jetty Fishery Marina in Rockaway Beach. The shopkeeper was very friendly, helping us decide how many crabs to order (1 per person). We made plans to stop back to pick the crab up after it had been steamed and put on ice.

Then we headed onward, through Tillamook. We did not stop to see the cheese factory but it was tempting. We had wine on our minds. It was about an hour's drive inland to the Risdall Ranch Winery, a beautiful location that boasts a large Christmas store. It was a fun trip. That night, the crab was so very delicious!

On Wednesday, Paul Kohan made us Bloody Marys and we watch the World Cup soccer match. On Thursday, our cousin Leslie Morehead and her husband Bob came in from Portland/Astoria for a visit. Christine cooked up lumpia, a Filipino treat similar to egg rolls. Paul and Wayne grilled salmon. It was another culinary success. Kudos to both Betsy for her superior large-scale meal planning skills when it comes to meals. Raising five children prepped her magnificently!

With our cuz Leslie Morehead

Besides a few trips into Cannon Beach "the city" and stops at Warren House, Bolder's favorite bar, that was about it.

• Coffee, muffin
• Walk on beach
• Rest
• Lunch - sandwiches or at our fave, The Driftwood in Cannon Beach
• Shop a bit
• Rest, read
• Cocktails with conversations - priceless
• Eat
• Early bedtime. It stays light late on the West Coast

Saturday came too quickly once again. The good news was we would see each other again soon in the Tri-Cities, Washington for Alex and Lisa's wedding. Our children will join us nearly a year after Amy and Corey's wedding. It will be fun!

Cindy Paul and I drove back to our fave funky town, Portland for the evening. We had a super early flight, so we kept it simple, hitting Henry's Tavern and Powell's City of Books. I just love the vibe in that city. I'd put Oregon in my top four states:
Iowa
Colorado
Oregon
Florida

Probably because I've spent quite a bit of time in each of them.
Which states do you like?

Time with our family is priceless. When our father passed away after Christmas 2006, we vowed to continue to "group up". At events like weddings, we're always so busy that we don't get to share the details about health, life changes, friends, and jobs. Our bi-annual sister reunion allows time to just be together. That's the best!

Walking together through life

Old Woman

Old Woman - Traditional Folk Song

VERSE 1
Old Woman, ole woman are you fond of courting
Old woman, ole woman are you fond of courting
Speak a little louder, sir, I'm rather hard-of-hearing
Speak a little louder sir, I'm rather hard-of-hearing

VERSE 2
Old woman, old woman, are you fond of smoking
Old woman, old woman, are you fond of smoking
Speak a little louder sir, I've just begin to hear you
Speak a little louder sir, I've just begin to hear you

VERSE 3
Old woman, ole woman do you think you'd marry me
Old woman, ole woman do you think you'd marry me
O, my goodness, gracious me, I do believe I hear you
O, my goodness, gracious me, I do believe I hear you

I remember singing this song at Washington Elementary in Atlantic. Don't remember the smoking verse...
Of course, back then I never thought about the time when I'd be the old woman. It happened so fast. AND I'm not quite clear on just when the "old" descriptor kicks in.

I'm okay with being an old woman. Sometime. I guess it depends on just who is calling me an old woman. When I'm with my peers - no problem. We joke about being old women. It's almost a source of pride. Look how nicely we've growed up! I've explained how I forget how old I am - until I look in the mirror. Or when I get out of the car after riding a long distance. "Walk young" our pal Don McKim recommends. My joints don't always obey.

Photo of a project partially funded by the Derelict Building program - will be new City Hall

My nose got a little out of joint this week on a work trip through Eastern and NE Iowa. A younger woman riding with me on a work trip called me an old woman because of the way I parallel parked on a busy street. I'm afraid I briefly saw red and told her she could drive if she wasn't happy with my parking. (she's my boss - oops!) The old girl (me) still has some spunk. So call me Old Woman - if you dare! I may laugh or snap.

Paul and I took a quick trip to Saint Louis Saturday (overnight) to deliver the bookshelf he built and stained for Jud and Kara. Oak with a black finish. It turned out super. It matches the desk he built for them last year. Kara uses the office when she works from home. She has big plans on how to fill all those shelves. It was good to see the kids - and get that big unit out of our garage! 

A night out after delivery - at the Shaved Duck, a family favorite

Des Moines was hit by a huge rainstorm while we were gone - over 10 inches in some areas. A local sports personality was swept away by flood waters after his van was stranded on a city street. Prayers to his family.

We had under five inches at our house and were very pleased to find our basement unfazed. Sump pumps rule! On to one of my favorite holidays - Independence Day. It's tough when it falls on Wednesday. I think a lot of people are taking vaca. Not me! That's next week when we head to Cannon Beach for our Bullock Girl fam reunion. I'm looking forward to it! If you've never been to the Oregon coast, consider checking it out.

Have a great and safe 4th of July all! Remember - sparkler can be HOT!