http://mikenpat.com/index.php/site/index/ en popop55@gmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-01-02T01:23:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/ending_2008_with_amber/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/ending_2008_with_amber/#When:00:23:00Z We had Amber overnight to see the New Year in - not literally but we had a great time.  We watched a movie about Tinker Bell while munching on popcorn. In the morning, she helped grandma make pancakes for breakfast.  We had a blast with her! Our Trips 2009-01-02T00:23:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/kim_andrew_bookins/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/kim_andrew_bookins/#When:23:57:00Z Well, despite the heavy snow storm hitting Portland all day Kim and Andrew’s wedding came off very well. A cozy group of 35-40 braved the elements and met at The Wedding House in SE Portland for the nuptials.  The whole event was nicely done.  It was a strange but happy feeling walking my youngest daughter down the “aisle” .... er, stairs! Really!  I was happy about it!  Really! Andrew is a welcome addition to the family! CONGRATULATIONS Mr. and Mrs. Bookins!! News 2008-12-20T23:57:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/heading_to_portland/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/heading_to_portland/#When:23:48:01Z Such drama leading up to Kim and Andrew’s wedding in Portland tomorrow! Sarah’s girls are sick, a winter snow storm is hitting Portland and predicted to be a big one!................... Finally decided to head on up with Sarah and the girls.  The roads were fairly decent today and didn’t need chains.  Things are supposed to be VERY different tomorrow! Arrived at motel and got everyone settled in late afternoon.  We ordered take-out gluten-free fish-n-chips from the Hawthorne Fish House - enjoyed it in the comfort of our motel rooms. Big day tomorrow!! Our Trips 2008-12-19T23:48:01-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/cape_blanco_photo_shoot/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/cape_blanco_photo_shoot/#When:23:31:00Z Pat and I got up real early and drove to Cape Blanco before daybreak so Pat could get some sunrise pictures of the Cape Blanco Lighthouse. We had a partly cloudy sky and cold temperatures along with a bit of wind to contend with but she got some good shots. Drove down to Gold Beach afterwards and picked up a couple of geocaches then headed home.  Fun day! Personal 2008-12-06T23:31:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/we_discover_twittering/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/we_discover_twittering/#When:23:19:00Z Pat and I started playing around with a popular “mini-blog” phenomenon called ”Twitter”.  It’s fun so far.  Of course, there is one question about this business of posting short snippets from our daily activities....... Does anyone out there really care?  LOL News 2008-12-04T23:19:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/thanksgiving_in_california/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/thanksgiving_in_california/#When:19:06:00Z This year we celebrated Thanksgiving in Concord, CA with Pat’s Dad.  We traveled down Highway 101 spending one night in Eureka, CA before arriving at Earl and Sheila’s on the 25th. Thanksgiving dinner was hosted at Sheila’s son Randy’s home.  We had a great time visiting with everyone. Pat and her Dad Our Trips, 2008 2008-11-27T19:06:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/wedding_planning_in_p_town/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/wedding_planning_in_p_town/#When:03:16:00Z In Portland this weekend so that Pat, Kim and Nicole could accomplish some shopping and planning for Kim and Andrew’s December wedding. We brought the trailer to a really nice RV park in the Wilsonville area - Pheasant Ridge RV Park.  This put us about 20 minutes from downtown Portland. While the girls did their thing most of the day, Andrew and I went geocaching/hiking out on Sauvie Island and in Forest Park. We all went to dinner at the Hawthorne Fish House in SE - very good.  Pat had great gluten-free options including clam chowder and fish-n-chips! Handsome Foursome outside Hawthorne Fish House in SE The Happy Couple!! Our Trips, 2008 2008-10-12T03:16:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/checking_out_lighthouses/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/checking_out_lighthouses/#When:02:59:00Z Before breaking camp we drove up to Heceta Head Lighthouse again and Pat got some great shots.  One I liked showed the lighthouse just visible above the sea of morning fog...... Here is Pat’s favorite photo of the day................. Our Trips, 2008 2008-09-15T02:59:00-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/hike_to_kentucky_falls_with_friends/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/hike_to_kentucky_falls_with_friends/#When:02:39:01Z Pat and I joined Brother Tim, Jean and Anita on this nice fall saturday for a great hike into Kentucky Falls. Our plan was to hike the 2 miles to the falls then hop on the North Fork Smith River Trail south another 6.5 miles to it’s lower trail head where we would leave one of the vehicles. This is great time of the year to make this hike. The mornings are beginning to get cool and crisp but the afternoon is warm. The vine maple is starting to turn it’s fall colors. The large mature conifer trees are shedding their older needles making for an occasional “shower” of brown needles whenever the wind kicks up. The volume of water coming over the falls isn’t quite as much as earlier in the year but it was impressive nonetheless. After taking in the falls we made our way down the North Fork Smith River trail stopping for a bite to eat at a huge Douglas-fir tree that was 11 feet in diameter! I took a few minutes to replace a geocache at this location that had come up missing recently. Shortly after getting back on the trail we came to a short section of the trail that had slipped about four feet down the hill. We carefully traversed this section without loosing anyone!! Didn’t see a lot of wildlife unless you count the big ole’ spiders Anita kept meeting up close and personal!! Or the mosquitos! Nearing the end of the hike we did catch a glimpse of a small family of river otter crossing their little pool as we observed from a bridge. Pat took quite a few pictures with her newfangled camera and if you want to see a slide show of the hike, click on THIS LINK. After the hike we returned to Old Town Florence for dinner at Bay Street Grill again!  Drove up to Heceta Head Lighthouse to see if Pat could get some good shots - too foggy! Our Trips, 2008 2008-09-14T02:39:01-08:00 http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/honeyman_state_park/ http://www.mikenpat.com/index.php/site/honeyman_state_park/#When:01:56:00Z Pat and I worked half a day then hooked the trailer up and headed for a weekend in the Florence area - unsure where we’d stay.  We decided to stop in at Honeyman State Park to see how crowded they might be and were pleasantly surprised to find some electrical sites available (usually tough to do at this popular campground). After setting up, we went into Florence for some dinner.  Had a great meal at Bay Street Grill.  Walked around Old Town afterward looking at all the old cars in town for the Hot Rod show. Tomorrow we rise early and meet the Ellison’s and Anita Blackwell for a day long hike to Kentucky Falls and beyond. Rods N Rhodies Car Show Our Trips, 2008 2008-09-13T01:56:00-08:00