chicken coop done… check

So now we have three chickens. Actually we have had them for more than two weeks and they have been living in my office. For various reasons I was impelled to get them out of my office which required me to build a chicken coop and run. In my typical fashion I plunged ahead without plans and made it up as I went along. This, and the heat we had the last few days, meant it took me far longer than I expected to complete my not-so-masterpiece. Anyway, it’s done and I’m glad. The kids are happy. The dog is somewhat perplexed. The chickens are doing better. And in about six months we should start getting a few eggs.

just a box on stilts

door on, egg laying boxes in, roost in place

interior

coop in place, chicken run coming together

coop and run completed

bike path moments…

the caravan

the boy

she takes off

pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again

saying hi to all passersby

In the Wallowa mountains . . .

beach, cousins, and plastic bullet camera

Wine Country Run

This spring one of our local wineries (King Estates) hosted a Wine Country Run (5K). This was the inaugural event and a friend of ours ran it. So we tagged along, brought the kids, and I brought my little Canon G11 camera and shot some video. I hope this video expresses the great, laid back atmosphere and beautiful country. We had a great time. Maybe we’ll run it ourselves next year.

Eleanor Coppola reads and discusses Notes on a Life

http://fora.tv/embedded_player

Click on the “Watch full program” to see the entire 65 minute interview.

Two Coppolas…

…and one Letterman, 22 years apart.

Francis Ford Coppola promoting One from the Heart:

Sofia Coppola promoting Lost in Translation:

As a father of three kids, two daughters and a son, I am curious, maybe a little frightened by the realities of my influence, intended and unintended, upon them. I am fascinated by the relationship of Francis and Sofia Coppola. There is something really great there. I realize that their relationship is mostly unknown by me and everyone else. But the public image, and what we can infer, suggests that they have a good relationship, that Francis has been a good father, and that Sofia has been willing to be influenced and guided by her father while also forging her own, unique life.

Finally, I love this image:

>art show

>Last night I took my girls to an art gallery opening for our friend Wes Hurd and his long time friend and fellow artist Rafael Perea de la Cabada. The show is called “Surface and Silence.” Here are a few pictures from our visit:

Sunday ride to Hayward Field and Delta Ponds

Today the weather cooperated and we mounted the bicycles and rode over to Historic Hayward Field. Once there we did some stair climbing. On the way home we took the longer route and saw lots of wildlife. This was also Wilder’s first time on the tag-along. A great family ride.

Wilder looks cool on the tag-along.

Beautiful skies of sun and clouds. Riding the west bank trail.

Waiting for the light. Wilder and Lily having a good time.

Our bike train parked at Hayward Field.

Ah, nature. The Delta Ponds.

A Great Blue Heron rules the pond.

Stopping to watch the heron.

Across the Owosso bridge, heading towards home.

>new years

>On new year’s eve day we sent to a park just to get out of the house and enjoy the nice weather – though it was a bit cold.

On new year’s day we went for a bike ride to start the year off right. it was very cold, but we had a great ride. We also surprised ourselves by getting home at deepening dusk.