Old Photo Friday: Easter Egg Time!

WHO: Pop
WHAT: Easter egg coloring
WHERE: E Street in Springfield, OR
WHEN: 1988-1992

Nothing says Easter like drinking a Hams beer and coloring eggs!

Happy Easter Sunday!

Stacy

12/52: March Madness

Another successful March Madness is in the books!

My Pop came to visit for a week and we ate and drank like Rock Stars.

Brian arrived on Friday and Chick's best friend, Terry came up on Saturday and we had a raucous party (we stayed up until 11 PM).

Great games, buzzer beaters and upsets.

Enjoy!
Stacy 

Old Photo Friday: Happy Birthday, Pop

WHO: Pop and Stacy
WHERE: Sea Lion Caves, Florence, Oregon
WHEN: 1977

This picture brings me such joy and such sadness.  It was taken shortly after my parents separated when my father was first tackling the challenges of raising a daughter as a single parent in the late 70's.  He did an amazing job and for that I am eternally grateful.

Happy 75th Birthday, Pop!

Much Love, 
Stacy

47/52: Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful family Thanksgiving long weekend last week.

Great food, conversation, fun and games.

Enjoy!
Stacy

33/52: Seattle Sports Weekend with Pop and Rosemary

We had an amazing long weekend in Seattle with my parents. 

It began on Thursday night in West Seattle where we enjoyed wine on our backyard patio and a wonderful home cooked meal courtesy of Brian.

Friday we explored Alki and had breakfast at the Alki Cafe and then took the water taxi from West Seattle to the Waterfront and had Happy Hour at Anthony's.  

We made our way to Key Arena to see the Seattle Storm (WNBA) take on the NY Liberty Friday night...and to see Mercedes Russell who grew up in Springfield, OR.  My Dad and Rosemary have been watching her play all her life and this past spring she was drafted out of the University of Tennessee to play in the women's professional league.  As a rookie, she isn't getting much playing time (she played 53 seconds on Friday night) but it was still a great game and a nice way to support her.

We had an amazing brunch at Cactus on Saturday morning and made our way to Safeco Field to see the Mariners take on the Dodgers Saturday night.  It was a tough night for me.  I love my Mariners, but grew up a lifelong Dodgers fan.  I took a lot of grief from my family, but still decked all out in my Dodger gear!  The Dodgers lost on Saturday night (still won the series 2-1), and we all had a really good time!

Sunday we headed back to Portland and my parents went back to Springfield.

Great memories this weekend!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Tomato Man

WHO: Diamond Jim Brady
WHAT: Showing off 
WHERE: Backyard at E Street in Springfield, OR
WHEN: Late 1980's

Every year my Dad and I used to have a tomato growing contest and of course, he always won.  To this day, he still grows some great tomatoes (with Rosemary's help).

How is your garden growing?

Enjoy!
Stacy

24/52: Father's Day Weekend

Our family is always up for an adventure Father's Day Weekend and this year Pop's choice was a visit to the Oregon Vortex just outside of Gold Hill.

This roadside attraction has been open to the public since 1930 and takes you on a strange glimpse into the strange world of gravity hill/optical illusions.  Local legend according to Native Americans refer to the site as "forbidden" land and travelers would often times have trouble with horses passing through the area.  Most in our party, believe that the effect is due to a distorted background that induces a forced perspective and not anything paranormal.  At any rate, it was a fun adventure and we all enjoyed the visit.

We then drove just down the road to Del Rio Vineyards, which was established in 1997 and was once home to the Rock Point Hotel built in 1864.

We had a 5 wine flight, which included a Pinot Gris, Viogner, Grenache Rose, Claret and a Cabernet Savignon.  Absolutely beautiful tasting room and grounds.  It would be a great place to pack a picnic lunch, play a round of cornhole and drink a bottle of wine in the sunshine!

Finally, we headed down old highway 99 past Rogue River and ate lunch at River's Edge outside in the beautiful sunshine along the river.  My shrimp scampi with spaghetti squash was amazing and I know Brian, Sandra and Steve enjoyed their Halibut Fish and Chips.

Our Father's Day adventures are always a fun time for our family.  Now on to planning next year!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Blogmas 2017 - 25 Days of Christmas/Day Twenty-Two

Welcome to BLOGMAS 2017 an added bonus to the weekly VLOGMAS on my YouTube channel!

These December posts are going to be all about Christmas.  I'll answer a questions, post a picture and discuss something "Christmasy".   Please feel free to leave your answer in the comments below.

Today is day twenty two and today's question is:

A special birthday dedication!

Do you guys remember Kasey Kasum's weekly radio special and his birthday dedications?  Well, today is my Pop's 74th birthday and that deserves a great birthday dedication.

Happy Birthday, Pop!  I love you!

Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Happy Birthday, Pop and Candy

WHO: James Y. Brady and Family Friend, Candy Etheredge (Dahl)
WHERE: Ralph and Virginia's on Hilyard Street in Eugene, OR
WHEN 1976-77

Happy Birthday to my Pop who celebrates #74 today and to our dear sweet family friend, Candy, who celebrated a birthday yesterday.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Blogmas 2017 - 25 Day of Christmas/Day Fourteen

Welcome to BLOGMAS 2017 an added bonus to the weekly VLOGMAS on my YouTube channel!

These December posts are going to be all about Christmas.  I'll answer a questions, post a picture and discuss something "Christmasy".   Please feel free to leave your answer in the comments below.

Today is day fourteen and today's question is:

Favorite childhood Christmas memory

This story is pretty legendary in our house.  

One of the first years after my parent's divorce,  my Pop and I went out to get a Christmas Tree.  I wanted at least a 6 foot tall tree and when we got to the Christmas Tree lot on Main Street and I picked out a tree, Pop said no...it was too tall.  He claimed that when you put it in the Christmas Tree stand, that the stand adds another foot...foot and a half to the tree size, so he grabbed a smaller tree, loaded it into the back of the pick up and off for home we went.

The rest is history and the tree tells the tale.

Enjoy!
Stacy

47/52: A Long Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving is a time for family and our family sure does know how to have a good time!

Wednesday night is kinda like Christmas Eve to me.  Family gathers together to cook, celebrate, listen to music and give thanks.  Brian prepared a wonderful Italian dinner and we all had a wonderful evening together.

Our Thanksgiving Day is typically laid back with the parade and football on TV, everyone devouring the Black Friday ads in the newspaper and preparing to feast.  We were treated to an Oregon Ducks Men's basketball game in the evening which was a perfect way to wrap up a great day. 

Friday was spent out in Oregon Wine Country and a visit to 4 wonderful wineries for some unique tastings.  This year the weather was amazing and we all enjoyed a wonderful drive through Yamhill County under white puffy clouds and sunshine.

I can't believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone.  The weekend flew by.  The parents are gone.  Brian went home Saturday and Uncle Steve leaves Thursday.  Our house is full of Christmas now...lights and trees and a different kind of holiday feeling.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Fall Fishing

WHO: Diamond Jim Brady
WHAT: Fishing
WHERE: McKenzie River - Springfield, OR
WHEN: Mid 1980's

Fall always reminds me of hunting and fishing, two hobbies that most of my family members were avid participants of.

Enjoy!
Stacy

24/52: Father's Day Weekend in Eugene/Springfield

Father's Day Weekend is becoming quite an event.  The last few years, it's been centered around some sort of road trip and this year we started off with a beautiful drive on Friday to King Estate Winery for a wonderful lunch.  It's a beautiful area and our lunch was spectacular.  We stopped off to pay a quick visit to my Aunt and Uncle (Mom's side) and it was nice to spend a bit more time with them having just seen them again for the family reunion at the beginning of May.

Friday night we hit PK Park in Eugene to see the Emeralds take on the Vancouver Canadians in minor league baseball action.  The park is great (just a few years old), very imitate and a nice place to see baseball (it's still not Civic Stadium).

Saturday we headed up the McKenzie River Highway on our way to Sister's, OR.  It was a spectacular drive with stops for waterfalls and panoramic views of Cascade peaks.  For me, it wasn't about the destination, although Sisters has a lot going for it...it was about the journey and spending quality time with my Pop over Father's Day Weekend.

The weekend went by all too soon and before we turned the rental "beast" van back into the rental car company, we were already planning next year's adventure.

Enjoy!
Stacy