Mount Hood in August

Hey everyone,  
Andy, LaResa, Scott and I went to Mount Hood today.  We've been looking at it from Andy's backyard so it was nice to see it up close.  It was about an hour drive to get there.  We drove to the top and took 200 pictures!  I only posted twelve.  
Scott and Andy are hysterically funny when they are together! 
Andy has been playing his guitar for me during the day.  I am trying to soak it all in as we don't see each other much.
Our flight leaves at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon (Portland time).
The week has gone by so fast!
Enjoy the pictures!!!

I'm checking to see if this works better than the last post.  This is for the Saturday that I couldn't get to work.

We went driving around for several hours on the Saturday after we arrived.  I took a lot of inside the car while driving pictures and they didn't turn out too well.

Portland, OR

Hey Everyone,
We had a great flight out to Portland, OR.  I actually had fun flying!  We are now thinking about what we can do with our new found freedom.  


Scott is not in class on the weekend, so we went driving around to see some sights on Saturday and Sunday.  These pictures are from Sunday's driving.  I am having fun posting on my blog so Saturday's pictures didn't come through.


We are having a great visit.  Andy is a fantastic cook so we are enjoying all the special foods he's been making.  Andy's dog Rylie is huge!  I have never seen such a huge dog.  She is so sweet though.  I can't believe how sweet she is.  


We are getting to know Selea and Donovan, which is a real treat.  It's been hard being so far away and not knowing my nieces and nephew.


Keep watching as I will continue to post more pictures!

Logan Returns

 

 

I got a frantic call from Julia.

When she got home, there was

Blood and cat litter strewn everywhere!

I guess Logan and the Pit Bull had a

Run in!  Logan didn’t have a scratch on

Him, so I guess he won!

Her roommates had forgotten to

Cage him.

Needless to say, she was terrified

About what could have happened.

 

Logan had come for the weekend

As Julia was pet sitting for Derek’s

Parents.  It took most of the time for

The cats to adjust to each other.  So

It was an easier time since he had

Just been here.  Liam is still hissing but

Duncan is doing okay with him.

 

Her lease is up in four months and Julia

And Joel are going to move in together.

If she can find someone to take the rest

Of her lease, she will move out sooner.

 

 

Hey everyone,
I'm trying out a site for displaying my pictures.    You've seen the pictures before, just a new way to post them

2012.January 14 - Elaine McNeill - Picasa Web Albums

I forgot to post this picture with our Christmas family pictures.  Julia and Derek were talking while I was getting the camera set up.  Not sure who suggested it, but it was said how about an old-fashioned picture.  They both stood straight, cleared their faces of all expression and stood there.  I was laughing so hard, but I did manage to get their pictures before they burst out laughing.  Hope you enjoy this too.

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Ray!

https://picasaweb.google.com/109050809722676032556/2012January14

2012-01-12 - Topsail Beach

 

I’m still at Topsail Beach, so still posting pictures.  Not sure what day it was, but the blackbirds lined up in front of me on the wire.  I couldn’t believe that I didn’t have my camera with me.  There were at least 20 of them and they were all looking at me.  It was so awesome.  I tried to sneak and get my camera, but they all left.  Later I saw them on the wires in the back of the house, so I figured I’d go ahead and get them from there.  It wasn’t as close, but it gives you the idea of what I saw anyway.

I’m enjoying being able to read from my Kindle Fire.  I started a book and then finished it, then I went onto the next book.  No one here to say “haven’t you been reading enough?”  or worrying about stuff that needs to get done.  The place is all clean and I can do as I please, I guess you call that “vacation”! 

The ocean looks like it comes right up to the houses in front of us at high tide.  I decided to go see what it looked like from the public access stairs and also take a walk.  When I got to the end of the access before it goes down the stairs, I saw that the ocean is almost right against the houses.  There is not much beach to walk on!  The water kept coming to the stairs, so I didn’t want to risk getting wet to take a walk.  I stood for about half an hour looking at the beach and the waves (and taking pictures).  I will go ahead and go for a walk later and may have more pictures to post. 

I take my “baby Canon” camera with me on walks.  I don’t want to take my new Nikon out yet.  My canon pretty well goes with me everywhere I go now.  I can’t stand to not get a picture, if I see the opportunity. 

Scott is supposed to come tonight.  I was talking to him earlier though and he still sounds like he has way too much to do.  The first guitar is ready to be shipped.  Scott has to take it to a special place in Durham so that he can insure it.  I will post the finished pictures of it when I get a chance.  It is a real beauty.  The second one is in the finishing stages and it should go to its new home this weekend.  The couple that ordered it for their daughter live in Raleigh so Scott can take that one to its new home.  It is gorgeous too.  Scott only makes “beautiful” guitars.  His course that he took from Irvin Somage (not sure of the spelling) has helped him with making the guitars sound even better than they have. 

Enjoy the pictures!

https://picasaweb.google.com/109050809722676032556/20120112#

Elaine - tried for an hour to update my profile picture, it didn't work, so here it is

January8.2012

I woke up at 6:30 this morning and peaked out my window.  What I saw was amazing.  Yesterday the sea gulls were flocking and this morning the pelicans were flocking!  It was so amazing to watch.  I took about a 100 pictures so I had to just pick a few of them to post.  The kids left about 11:00 this morning and I’ve had the place to myself.  It is a rare treat to say the least.  I went out for a walk this afternoon.  The beach was pretty much deserted.  It was a little chilly out, but not too bad.  I had gotten a few extra salads from Wendy’s and McDonald’s so a salad was for supper.  Rachel had left a piece of apple pie, so that messed up the salad! 

https://picasaweb.google.com/109050809722676032556/20120108

2012-01-07 - Elaine McNeill - Picasa Web Albums

https://picasaweb.google.com/109050809722676032556/20120107#

January7.2012

 

Hey everyone!

The long awaited family pictures from Christmas are here.  Included is Rachel, Joel and I with our Christmas baking day.  Also, many pictures from Topsail Beach.  I got a new camera today.  It’s a Nikon D3100.  I will be playing with it this week while I’m at the beach.  Scott is hoping to join me soon.  He has two guitars to finish.  I am actually looking forward to having a few days to myself with the beach. 

https://picasaweb.google.com/109050809722676032556/20120107#