HAPPY TURKEY TIME!
Friday, November 22:
Baker City to Salem
We originally intended to head over to Salem tomorrow, but the weather window looked better for today, so... pack up and hit the road! We probably gave Jed a start as he has a full day planned and intended to CLEAN tomorrow morning before we arrived! Ah well!
We are driving over in the Prius this year with the intention to visit Wilsonville Toyota and hopefully trade in the Prius for a new RAV4 Hybrid. Fingers crossed! So, with the recent snows in the Cascade, we will take the interstate!
It is wet at times, but overall a fairly smooth drive, especially over Meacham. The first rain came after I started driving in Stanfield. Not bad, but Rick hit some more rain in the gorge and Portland. The gorge was beautiful with some many trees still golden colored. And Multnomah Falls had PLENTY of water! Once we neared Portland traffic picked up and it took us 2 hours to go from Troutdale to Jed's in Salem. I-5 around Wilsonville was a mess!
Jed had given me the code to get into the house, as we don't expect him home until after 8 at the earliest! And...yes, it is in a rather bachelor pad chaotic mess! I cleaned up the kitchen, did dishes, and in general we did the best we could! Got settled into the guest room! But first? Two lap walk of the loop just west of Jed's house - time to stretch the legs after the drive.
Jed home around 8:45 and we enjoyed some visit time before I took a phone call surprise from nephew Thom up in Alaska! That was fun!
In bed to get a good sleep in prep for Saturday's appointment in Wilsonville!
Multnomah Falls 
A quick picture of the golden trees in the gorge
SATURDAY, November 23
CAR BUYING DAY!!
It is a rather lazy, laid back morning. Jed is 'on vacation' so he doesn't arise until 10:30. In the meantime we read, putter, etc. Our appointment with the car dealership is around 3, so a good visit with Jed before we leave. I have brought some frozen squash soup for dinner, so get it cooking in the crock pot.
I can honestly say since I writing this AFTER returning to Baker I don't remember WHAT we did that morning! I think I took another walk around the block and saw a neighbor putting up his Christmas lights!
I did call Liz early afternoon to see if it would be possible to stop and pay them a visit Sunday afternoon BEFORE the concert, as we have tickets to the evening show this time. She thinks that will work out!
Car purchase is successful, but a long process. Wilsonville advertises NO BULL pricing, which is good. We did get a fair price on the Prius ($20,000), and a RAV4 SE Hybrid (without a moon roof and other fancier options we didn't need!) was available. A test drive for both of us, and then the deliberations. Mostly it took forever for us to TURN DOWN the accessory package and the extended service contract. They really push to get you to take that (for an extra $3100!). We'll take our chances - yes, there is alot of electronics on these cars now that can go wrong. We have faith in Toyota! Then wait to have the car washed, etc. All in all is was nearly 8pm when we got back to Salem and HUNGRY!! Quickly sat down to our soup and homemade bread and salad!
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| I snap a picture of the Prius as it awaits 'evaluation' for trade in value. A goodbye shot? |
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| It was too dark to get a picture of the RAV, so this is Sunday morning parked in Jed's driveway. A pretty metallic gray in color. |
SUNDAY, November 24
Trans Siberian Orchestra (and Simmons visit!)
Another quiet morning. I took another walk at some point, and began work looking ahead to December devotion prep, etc.
Left for West Linn around 1:15 and enjoyed a soup/bread meal with Liz, Dave, Gretchen and Shawn. Tucker and Doug were working, and Tyler was at a birthday party! But a nice time around the table visiting. Wish I had taken more pictures! Did get a quick one of Gretchen hugging her cousin Jed before they had to leave. We stayed and talked for another hour and then left at 5 for the concert.
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| Gretchen and Jed |
Then we head on up to Moda Center for the concert! Sure glad Jed is driving and somewhat familiar with where he wants to park, etc. But the afternoon concert is still dispersing while the evening crowd arriving, so it is a little hectic. We did locate a free spot (no charge on Sundays!) not TOO far away for Rick to walk (closer than last years parking spot!)
Into the center and find our seats without problem. We are a little lower down this time and not quite so far off to the side. Good seats (nice job Jed!) Time to grab a coffee and restroom break before the show starts!
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| The stage curtain prior to the show |
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| Our crew all ready to rock and roll! |
The story is the LOST CHRISTMAS and I think it is a story we haven't heard in concert before. It meant I missed my favorite song, but new songs were heard! As usual, not a show for one susceptible to eye problems (it would drive Liz crazy!) So many flickering lights, but so awesome!
So glad again that Jed was driving as we left the Moda center in the rain and the freeways were wet and slick heading back down to Salem. A late night, but a great day!
MONDAY, November 25
???
I'm not sure what we did Monday! I think Rick and I went to the grocery store and Ace to pick up some things needed for home chores and meals! I didn't take ANY pictures! Jed was in his office for a bit of the afternoon conducting interviews of potential instructors for next year. I cooked butternut squash for dinner, and we had teriyaki tuna as well. I walked around the neighborhood!
TUESDAY, November 26
PIE BAKING and more!
Rick worked today in the bathroom removing the old metal framework for a glass door that had shattered before Jed bought the house. It was unsightly and unnecessary since a cloth shower curtain is now in place. Plus he and Jed tackled the electric outlet problems in the kitchen - 2 plugs were unusable due to a faulty GFI plug. A trip to Ace (and another visit to Safeway for me!) and they managed to get it fixed!
In the meantime, I baked two pumpkin pies and an apple pie. I had forgotten to put the two crust packages I pre-made in Baker into the ice chest, so part of the shopping earlier was to buy some crusts! I had a mix (just add water!) for the apple pie and it was horrible to roll out. I managed to get a bottom crust, and then just crumbled the top with the dough. It worked...sorta!
Jed's japanese maple tree, which was so beautiful this summer, has lost all its leaves, but the carpet of dark red below it was pretty! (Rick later raked them up!)
Dinner tonight was eating some of Jed's 2023 Christmas ham still in his freezer!
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| Just for the record...this is Jed's office 'station'. He also spent time last Saturday while we were car buying putting together a whole new server unit which takes up his closet space! I am in love with his colorful keyboard! |
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| The two 'electricians' at work with the GFI plug in kitchen. |
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| Red leafy carpet under the maple tree, plus a good looking car in the driveway! |
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| Rick scraping the caulk off the shower stall after removing the metal frame. |
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| Rick found a station on Jed's TV that had a LARGE fireplace with cool Christmas music. |
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| Two pumpkin pies done. I forgot to take a picture of the apple! |
A Visit from Luke!
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