Meet Chica or love at first sight!

While at the Frankfurt airport waiting for plane #2 to get back home, let me introduce Chica the newest addition to our family... well kinda....

Late August, my best friend and I took a week off at a fabulous spa Rancho La Puerta located in Tecate, Mexico. Upon arrival we were greeted by this lovely kitty and she and I bonded immediately. She became my little shadow and we slept together.

Chica at the Ranch

Long story short, Chica was very thin and very pregnant. After a couple days of tribulations and the help of some wonderful folks at Rancho La Puerta ~ especially Yoreme ~ Chica had a passport, went thru immigration and became a full fledged American Citizen. After a lond day of travel - thankfully in the cabin - she reached Portland where a surprised Bill discovered the family had a new member. He immediately fell in love with her ~ even upon learning the next day ~ that we would shortly become grand parents.

Chica at home

A week later Chica gave birth to 5 beautiful black and white kittens. They were one week old when I left and turned 4 this week. They are now running around like crazy and very curious. Chica is a wonderful mother. She's about 1 year old and this is her second litter and of course, last litter.

One week old
12 cats in the house

Time to board!

Las Vegas, Part 1

Remember back in June we took a couple of day off? It was prompted by the fact that Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood were in concert in Las Vegas.
It was FANTASTIC!!
but excuse my French... for the moron that stood up and danced during 90% of the show and blocked the view of many. He was drunk and rude... redundant?

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Sorry, this is not the best video since I tried to avoid "shooting" this guy and told to turn off the camera by security... but it will give you a feel of the concert.

The MGM Grand Arena... it is BIG!!!

Eric Clapton

Steve Winwood

Flying Like a Bird

Last Friday we took the day off and went Skydiving in Shelton located near the Olympic Rain Forest in WA. The folks at Skydive Kapowsin were very nice. I jumped in tandem with Scott. Gorgeous location to jump. You get to see Mt Rainier from a way cool perspective! This was my first jump and I loved it!

13,000 Ft... straight out of the plane!

8,000 ft freefall last about 60 seconds at 120 mph.
The "wind" is so strong... I feared my braces were going to come off while smiling. LOL.
Look at that view!

Parachute will open at about 5,000 ft... still freefalling in this shot! Once the parachute open all become quiet and peaceful and you get to enjoy it for about 6-8 mn.

St Helens, Oregon - checking out the Antique Stores!

Don't you love the texture and color of this old peelin' wall? The row of chairs were reminescent of an exhibit seen long ago at Musee d'Orsay in Paris that displayed a bunch of chairs on a wall!

The photos were taken at Grace's Rivertown Antiques in St Helens, OR. The store is located in the old district near the Columbia River

Need a haircut! Check out those old barber's chairs!

Sauvie Island: Peregrine Falcon & Merlin Release

The Peregrine Falcon has the ability to reach speeds over 322 km/h (200 mph), making it the fastest animal in the world.

After a stay in the Care Center, this rehabilitated Merlin was released on Sauvie Island by The Portland Audubon Society

Valentine's Day!

Celebrated the day with a mini cruise on the Spirit of Portland.

The Willamette River on a typical Oregon overcast day! Sunshine greeted us upon docking.

Houseboats

The Captain's Binoculars

One of two dining rooms

Your stamp makers - on a well-deserved break
Catherine ~ wearing faux suede and faux fur ~ and Bill.

Sauvie Island Trip: Raven

I fell heel over head for this beautiful nine months old Raven. The photos will do him more justice than my words. Click on the photos to see a larger version.

Bird Watching on Sauvie Island, OR

Sauvie Island

Cold Bird Watchers in the Mist

Moon and Flight of Canadian Geese

Snow Geese

The Portland Audubon Society organized a Raptor Road Trip on Sauvie Island. Took Saturday off to go on this adventure. Saw 2 beautiful Bald Eagles, countless Hawks and a huge number of cranes and Geese flights. Unfortunately the hand held camera was not able to capture sharply the birds in flight or the raptors that were in trees far away. But, I did get some interesting shots that will be added along the next few days. If you like Ravens... keep an eye out for upcoming photos of a very special fellow!

Long Beach Peninsula, WA

Cleared the cache and used a different browser solved the uploading problem

Stills from the slideshow uploaded earlier today.... Can you tell I REALLY love  living here!!!

Sea, Sex and Sun... Almost!!

Oh! no! that's the title of a Serge Gainsbourg's song. This video was shot around Thanksgiving '08 at Long Beach Peninsula, WA .... Sea, Sunset and Seagulls... lots of seagulls but sorry NO sex!!

Grab a cup, breathe and enjoy the sunset.
If you don't have the patience, above are 4 stills.

Set it to play in HQ mode... otherwise its even more fuzzy and if you do not like Vivaldi... you can turn off the sound by clicking and sliding the little speaker bottom right.

Now THAT's the Real "Sea, Sex and Sun" by Gainsbourg!
A very popular song when I was a teenager