Two Birds...One Stone House

For those of you who really wanted to see the inside of my bosses home, the wait is over.  This afternoon she decided to shut the office down early and she invited us to her home for some vino.  It's been a while since I've been inside her home; last time I was there some work was still in progress.  I was impressed with this place the first time I saw it...and now, even more so.  Some people just have really good taste, you know.  And an eye for details.

I was the first to arrive, having left the office an hour before everyone to take care of some banking tasks.  Yesterday Wanda told me she was off to buy some chicks...chuckar and pheasant chicks.  I mean, doesn't everybody go off and buy chicks?  So, I got a major baby chick fix this afternoon.  And yes, they are soooooo tiny and sooooo cute.  The first one I picked up was a chuckar.  The chick prompty fell asleep in my hand, but peeped the entire time.  There's just something about holding a creature so tiny and helpless and having it fall asleep, in your hands.  The trust factor...it soothes the soul.  It was so simple and yet so satisfying.

Okay, so enough about the cute chicks...the fuzzy kind anyway.  Somewhere in this entry is a joke about having chicks (Playboy) and chicks (feathered) in this house within a two week time period.

 

 

Time for more photos of the house.  This is the living room with the front door open just outside the right side of the photo.

 

The atrium, not finished.  Beneath the rugs is a falsefloor.  At some future date, the false floor and rugs will be removed, and giant plants will be brought into thebasement and flourish within this space.  

Now, that's what I call a kitchen!

Inside the cupola (not finished).  What a view!  L-R:  My boss Wanda, admin asst. Julie, loan asst. Shanna, Lewis-Clark Bicentennial coordinator Jenni, and Shanna's daughter (sorry, can't remember her name).

Guest wing bath.  Playboy used this room and the bedroom as a backdrop for the Pac-10 pictorial.

Considering that Wanda and her husband did most of the work themselves...yes...I'd say they should both be quite pleased with the end result.  And now, last but not least, the driveway and front elevation.  That's the master suite balcony right over the front door.  To the right of the suite is the upstairs deck, where we had just been sitting, drinking wine as a gentle breeze blew.  Bliss!

Before we left, we all decided Wanda needs to have these Friday afternoon vino breaks more frequently.

 

~~May your beauty sprout like a garden for all to see.~~

Windows

 

Through many windows in my life

Simple moments became significant.

Time just stood still.

Briefly.

For me.

 

I have fallen

In love

With clouds.

 

I have laughed

In jest

With friends.

 

I have dreamed

In time

With hope.

 

I have waited

In seclusion

With courage.

 

I have gazed

In awe

With wonder.

 

I have cried

In pain

With fear.

 

I have prayed

In silence

With faith.

 

I have stood

In defiance

With conviction.

 

I have loved

In spirit

With soul.

 

Always on the inside

Always looking out

Searching for an answer

Yet finding what I need

Within.

(c) DLC 2005

I almost forgot...

After my lunch time adventure yesterday, I returned to the office for some birthday cheer.  Yes, it was two days late...have to coordinate these things around everyone's hectic schedules and sometimes that's just the way it works.  So we had my favorite cake, Angel food (of course!) with blueberry's and whipped cream on top.  YUMMY!  :)

Naturally, I received the token 'office' birthday card.

Card front:  Hey, Birthday girl - Dont' throw away these candles!

Inside: You've got enough wax there to keep your legs hair free for years!  Ha Ha Ha    Happy Birthday

You know, for someone who hates buying birthday cards, the administrative assistant Julie really excells at selecting the appropriate birthday card.  It's comforting to know she puts so much thought into this part of her job.  That card had me snickering all day.  :)

Easy #3

Here's Kelly's question of the week.  Tell me......

"Do you have a favorite show on TV?"

Current?  Or all-time favorite? Currently, if there is one show I watch faithfully, it is CSI.  I catch the original on Thursdays (set in Vegas) and CSI: Miami on Monday nights.  I've only seen a couple of the CSI: New York shows.  Funny thing is, during CSI's first season, I did not watch the show at all.  The first time I watched Crime Scene Investigation, it was an intensely graphic episode, and it really bothered me.  At the time, it was too graphic.  Then two years ago, when the Miami version premiered, for some reason I got hooked.  I liked the story lines, the depth of the main characters, and the setting...sunny Miami.  I've always like detective type shows: Quincy, Columbo, McMillian & Wife, Magnum, etc.  CSI just fit right in.  Jerry Bruckheimer is a gripping writer.  I don't watch the other CBS show, NCIS; just don't care for it.  But I do like to watch Monk (A&E).  He cracks me up.

However, my all-time favorite is The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.  Is any explanation why really necessary? 

Right Here In River City

Today at lunch I was drawn to the river.  Having procured something to eat, I headed over to the levee to eat my lunch in the warm sun  and watch the river flow by.  When I arrived I noticed a train waiting to travel across the old, rusty railroad bridge that spans the Clearwater River.  The bridge span is kept elevated at all times to allow barges and other vessels to travel up and down the river.  But, once a day, the bridge is lowered for the trains that travel west to numerous cities.

Armed with only my lunch, keys, and camera, I headed up a hill to have a seat and enjoy my lunch.  The only available bench was taken by an elderly couple enjoying their lunch so I walked a few more yards toward the bridge and set my stuff down on the ground.  Since I was wearing a cotton skirt, sitting on the weedy gravel was not an option.  Besides, I sit all day at work; for once, standing would be a treat.

Basking in the warmth of the sun, I dined on my lunch and waited for the bridge to lower, thinking of how cool it would be to get some photos of the train crossing this bridge.  In all my life in this valley, I have never seen this bridge lowered, or a train crossing it.  Yes, I've sat many times at the railroad crossing just down the road, so I know this bridge works.  It's the only way for trains to enter and leave Lewiston.  Several times I heard the blast of a warning horn coming from the massive bridge.  Ten minutes pass, the blasts have sounded half a dozen times, but the span remains elevated.

Soon, I see a figure walking the tracks.  No doubt someone from the bridge control room going to have a looksee at the problem.  He reaches the bridge and begins the task of solving the problem.

 

By this time I have finished my lunch, and I noticed two pairs of Canadian geese gliding on the water, looking for handouts.  They provided a bit of entertainment and one of them even tried a little 'hocus pocus' to get the bridge down, to no avail.  ;)  

I waited...and waited...and waited.  But, lunch time was over and I needed to return to the office.  Somewhat disappointed, I gathered my stuff and walked toward the trail leading down to the parking lot.  On the way I saw a woman and young girl now seated at the bench, enjoying this beautiful day.  While walking down the trail, I stopped and captured a moment shared between mother and child.

  

All in all, a wonderful lunchtime treat, even if I didn't get to see the bridge lowered or the train cross it.  Another day, perhaps.

 

~~May you live every day as if it were made just for you.~~

The Show Continues

^ Shirley, day 8, the petals begin to change color, again.  :)  v Close-up shot.

It gets better, I promise.  :D

Thank you, thank you...

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to wish me a Happy Birthday during the past few days.  :)

BTW, no baby yet.  Amy was here earlier, swollen ankles and all; boy she is puffy, and miserable.  Her next appointment is on Wednesday, which is her due date.  Hopefully Baby D will be here before that so they don't have to induce Amy.