PDX Pix - November 2012

November is apparently when the rains come in full-force here in Portland (although my parents might argue that started during their visit in October).  Fortunately, we had plenty to keep us busy, between trips, family visits, holidays, friends, and a lot of inside house work.

We did a ton of door sanding and painting.  I think Kate's expression basically sums up how we feel about sanding and painting doors now (and we still have 2 more to do!  arghghg!), but they certainly look a lot nicer now.

Banjo is of course always alert to occasions that might result in him getting a bit of something yummy...

Speaking of yummy, we had a chance to make fresh apple cider at a friend's house, using this cider press contraption!  Fresh cider is amazingly sweet.  Yum.

Around my birthday we took our first trip back to the Bay Area and had a wonderful time visiting good friends and old colleagues.  Kate even got a "Banjo" tattoo!  See?  Photographic evidence.  Thanks for hosting us, friends.

Some shenanigans happened

I don't think about it that often up here in the NW, but I really did enjoy the sunny CA weather down there.  Here's Central Park in Santa Clara on Veteran's Day.

Back at home we had a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving with friends.  Kate wrestles with the turkey.

Back to work!  We found out we primed latex over this old oil-based paint and it was peeling off.  Lesson learned.  So we had to sand/scrape off all the primer in this room area.  Blargh.

In Seattle for actual Thanksgiving, we went to the amazing Chihuly installation at Seattle Center.  There is some very mesmerizing art there, here are some of my favorites:

Kate's sister and Dad pondering one giant piece

"Persian Ceiling"

Kate and one of the nieclings

Outside in the garden

As is kind of our tradition now, we went out to cut ourselves this particular Grand Fir to imbue our house with the scent of the most pungent tree we could find post-Thanksgiving.  Kate had to get up close and personal with the tree in order to liberate it.

And the lights are on!

Painting the master bedroom upstairs

And we're exhausted!  Time to relax after all that sanding and painting and eating and traveling!  Although something tells me December will include a lot of the same...

Merry Christmas, everyone - see you in 2013!