Notes About Outdoor Weddings

1) Make sure there's a level spot for the drums.
2) The band needs water, so remember to bring some.
3) Bring flashlights for packing up after dark.
4) It gets cold after dark, so bring a shawl.
5)

Music Man

Professor Harold Hill and Marion the Librarian have headed off into the sunset. It was fun playing in the orchestra pit with my friend directing, and other friends playing. Now we're looking forward to the community orchestra's next concert. Rehearsals start Sept 13. The last one didn't use any trombones, and only 1 trumpet, which was played by a guy who also played trombone in the pit of Music Man on the nights I had other things to do, and who generally plays French horn. They had a pianist who was the choirmaster for Music Man playing a Mozart piano concerto. A lovely concert, but no trombones.

I added a link. it's to the Vintagent blog, and very worth looking at. See it down there at the bottom?

Himself bought another motorcycle. It's a 100 cc little full size Honda called a Suitcase Honda. It is not a Motocompo. It is pretty cute. Pilots like them because they fit in their little airplanes. The Goldwing is still broken, but he has acquired some of the neccessary parts, I think.

Confused and Slow

This photo was taken by Himself of Someone Else on a club ride called "The Longest Day Ride". It was cold. The subject is warming his hands with the heat from his BMW's engine. Himself was happy to get soup and tea when he came home.

They aren't the Confused or the Slow. I'm that. I'm so confused. I think it's July, but it's not. I've been thinking that for weeks. I wonder what will happen to me when it really is July. Will I think it's June? I went to my doctor and she said getting off the gabapentin (for shingles damage to nerves) will probably help me be myself, so I'm getting off.

Yesterday Himself took me on the Gold Wing to Newport, where we saw the Pacific, watched a huge fishing boat dock at the cannery, drank coffee and wandered around, then took the river road to Toledo where we got gas and dinner. Poor old 1984 Gold Thing, it has 269,000 miles on it (we bought it new) and now a wheel bearing is making clicking noises. It's just now getting needy. Last month he replaced some fancy power transferring gear, but mostly the Wing just runs and runs with no complaint and no interference from humans except to ride it and gas it up. He says he thought he heard it before, but wasn't sure. He always wears earplugs when he rides. This time, even I heard it, after he pointed it out to me.

Birthday, and Gardens

Daughter, on her 19th birthday, given a ride to Thompsons Mill and Brownsville by Himself; our front porch with Heidi and sidewalk decorations; Himself and I on a garden walk through Schreiners Iris Garden yesterday.

Saturday Motorcycle Club Ride

The bottom photo was the first stop, Brownsville, on the Saturday ride. They left soon after I got there. Daughter and I had the follow car, which half way through picked up a really cute Bultaco with the trailer, because it was fouling plugs faster and faster, and from there took highways back to the fairgrounds. Someone counted 85 participants in this year's May ride. Everyone admired the route, the curves, the roads, the scenery and the ride which Himself put together and lead, until a Norvin broke down and only Himself would do to advise, so Friendly Neighbor from down the street who'd gone on one of the recon missions with us lead the rest of the way back even though he was on a 2000 W650 so had been riding in the rear, while Himself, plus the club president who was riding the

Lightning because his Speed Twin wasn't running, went back to check out the Norvin, which limped back home with the headlight off. Old battery, mostly. The top photo is Himself on his B31 leading the pack. My hero.

I've got to figure out how to show you what the Norvin guy drove to our house after dropping that bike at home. Here it is!

Nothing in Particular

I've been looking through old photos for pictures of MIL because she's Resident of the Month at the care center, and I found this 15 or 16 year old photo of the Gold Wing. It's currently out of commission. Himself has spent the morning looking for parts. I think he said something about a differential. I've seen pictures. Words are eluding me lately. I think my brain is full, and if I put in any more, something will spill out.

Bye 1967, Hello 1969

Another picture here of the beautiful newest bike, 1969 TR6. Himself had a mist green 1967 TR6, which he bought in 1967 because as soon as he saw it in the dealership's showroom, his white 1963 650 Bonneville, which was his first Triumph, suddenly didn't cut the mustard anymore, but he had to sell it when he went into the Navy. His dad was the Navy recruiter, and wanted his son to get an education, Navy electrician school. He learned he does not like to be shocked. When he got out of the Navy he went to school again to learn a different trade.

Now he has this bike, plus one similar to the 45 flathead his Dad had when he left home in the 30's. His 3rd Triumph was the '59 Speed Twin, so the '69 is his 4th, oh, I'm not counting a possibly '74 that is not very nice and hides under a sheet in the corner, which makes the TR6 his 5th. Right?

Gone, Darn It

I was looking for a picture of the red car for Mrs. Staggs, and getting scanning lessons from himself. OK. Here it is.



That was a fun car, and nice for squiring guests around, but I'm glad we don't have it any more. Now this bike is another story. For some reason, it got sold. Himself was just now kicking himself, again.



Here's another picture of it, along with a nice little truck we no longer have, but there is a good reason for that--it was only a two seater, and there were three of us. It was a nice truck, though.

Suckers are Gone

If you've seen this photo before it's because I like it a lot, and I can't figure out how to work Scanner, or I've forgotten how, and I can't find the camera, and this is cuter anyway, but it was fun going to the sucker recycling plant in the old truck and helping Himself drag the suckers, which we call twigs, out of the bed and into the pile for grinding into compost at the recycling plant. Oh! And I nearly forgot how the twigs were laying around on the ground under the apple trees on Sunday, and the boy across the street and a couple friends were playing guitar drums and bass and singing, when Boys paused long enough for our neighbor to enlist them to pile up the twigs in neat piles. Heidi and I were in and out emptying the truck bed in preparation. Such nice boys, and their band sounded pretty good, too. The neighbor boy is the drummer. Drums are a popular instrument on this street. I get to go to the dentist soon. Oh, boy.

Spring

And the darn tree still has suckers.

Tiger Rag

Here it is, our newest bike--newest to us, just picked up today, is a very nice 1969 Triumph Tiger TR6R. Himself loved the 1967 he had in high school, and he says this one has improvements over that one. It needs original handlebars and a coil. It's too exciting not to talk about.

We are celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary. Himself says he is exercising his heart. I asked how, and he said "Deep relaxation." Heidi (the miniature long hair dachshund) is helping him, by sitting on his chest and looking cute and alert.

Later...Himself is so keen and eager I don't think he wants to go away for our anticipated night at the coast, because the bike is not there. (He is checking it out thoroughly before driving it, so no bad things happen, like acid dripping onto the tailpipes.) I can hear it running now. Vroom vroom vroom.

Love is in the Air

Isn't this a nice photo? Himself has been tidying up. It is nearly Valentine's Day. I like Valentine's Day. I mean to get some little envelopes going to tuck tiny Valentines into. The trick is figuring out what to do first. Make a template? I think that's what I'll do first. Maybe talking about it is what to do first. I'd like to send a pile of them in a big envelope to the goat brother's family. His household is very large right now, with daughter and family living at home while their house is being built. Brother has a dog, brother's wife has a cat, son-in-law has 2 or 3 dogs, daughter has 2 or 3 cats, and they have 3 young children. My heavens! Chaos reigns. They need Valentines. Himself needs a valentine, too. OK. Time to get started.

I am not supposed to do anything but tidy up for incoming guests, but I can't not make these valentines. Have a cute little valentine stuffed toy dog for MIL, which real dog and I must take to her today, since we didn't get there yesterday. Bye. Valentines first.

Gosh! Friend across country is having 60th birthday THIS FRIDAY! Valentines first, though.

Sunning

Clear and cold. Lucky lucky us.

Old Moon Old Bikes

HH, who I now refer to as Himself, because it rolls off the tongue more easily, bought a couple new motorcycles last weekend. A 1984 Nighthawk, which was already beautiful when he bought it, but he shined it up anyway. He is a bit sad that the once nice tires are old and hard, but mainly he's absolutely delighted with this. Buying it involved a lovely drive through the country to Pleasant Hill farm country. If you peer under the engine you see some bits lying on the floor behind it. Those are from the second bike he bought last weekend. AMENDMENT: The tires are still good, but they work better when they have more than 20lbs of air in them.



It's an early 1960's 125 Ducati Bronco/Aerea (depending on where you live). Or was. It is so sad what happened to this bike--neglect and abuse. Himself thinks he got it from a family member of the original owner. It has very low miles. It's about all there, not all there in the photo, but bits of it are scattered around on the floor, and it is evident that it was once a very nice bike.



Next is a photo showing the cute little bags he put on the back of the B31. OK, the photo is only of the left bag, but there is a corresponding bag on the right side. There are room for tools and gloves, but not much room for lunch.


I was trying to get a nice moon through the branches photo, but came out with this. In person the moon looked much bigger, and there were wisps of cloud around. After this photo the camera battery died but I put it on the charger and Himself took some photos of his latest additions, which you see above. Click on images to enlarge.

Oh, Dear

Here it is, the ninth day of the year 2009, and not off to an auspicious start. Yesterday the cat decided I was annoying and scratched the back of my hand, I put too many potatoes in the curry, the fun and happy "face" bracelet that Boggywoggy gave me broke and most of the beads rolled to hidden crevasses, and the diamond mysteriously disappeared from my engagement ring, which was also HH's mother's engagement ring, and a very pretty diamond it was, too. It was really shocking to look down and see a huge gaping hole where I was accustomed to seeing a brilliant sparkler. Alas.

Independence

Yesterday we took a drive through the countryside to Independence, where we saw the movie Benjamin Button, partly because it was the only one that had an old Triumph, and old Indian, and an old Royal Enfield, but besides the cool motorcycles, it was a very well done movie. I am quite wondering if I'd like the book at all.

After the movie we went to visit Independence friends at their house to drop off cotter pins. A couple of their children were still there after visiting for the holidays, and the youngest son had a pal stop by, and the two young men began a fire dance while we watched. We were told the son learned this technic in New Zealand, and taught it to the friend. Now they do it for parties and events. They finished without injury, but both have burn scars.

The photo is of a motorcycle shop in Independence where HH buys parts and oil for the little BSA and clothes advertising the shop. Besides selling parts the shop tinkers with motorcycles, and the other BSA in front of the shop in the photo is one he customized. He has clients that take his bikes to the Bonneville Salt Flats. If we can't find a movie we haven't seen at the Darkside Theater, it's always nice to go to Independence.

Colder Weather

Most of the leaves have crisply fallen and, looking for warmth, the wool throw is enlisted, while pets are drawn to laps.

Autumn Leaves

Beautiful Autumn.
Leaves dry and crackling under foot.
Crisp cool air.
Sun warmed paths.
Golds and reds, oranges and purples.
Grapes and apples, pumpkins and squash.
Foolish joy abounds.

Trombones and Motorcycles

This weekend was the Northwest Car Collectors show at the Expo Center in Portland. The owner of the first 3 motorcycles in the photo is the bass player for the Bridgetown Big Band, shown in the other photo, and they played Sunday at the show. Everyone was brilliant, but I was particularly delighted by the trombone section sound. Mostly I can say I had a wonderful weekend. Cool people, cool motorcycles, cool band, cool cars, and HH turned another year over.

Quilt Baby with Dog

One cousin, Cousin M made this beautiful quilt for her Great Niece, while another cousin, Cousin J, stepped into the shot just the second before HH or I snapped the photo. This was so frustrating, because we'd missed many many many perfect shots before we finally got the idea that maybe we should take a photo. Cousin J was as slow as us, because she suddenly thought, "Hey, maybe that dog could bite my granddaughter!" So we were both slow. What got cropped was cousin bending over in front of her beautiful photogenic daughter, mother of the baby. But baby and dog sure did like each other. Another shot missed a bit before this one was the one of the quilt being held up for display. This was in Ashland at our family reunion in Lithia Park.

Next time I go to the baby jazz band rehearsal I'm going to take a camera and see if I can get a photo of the hostess' sewing room. It would be the envy of all who saw it and ever thought about a quilt. I've been filling in for someone on a European Garden Tour with her Hardy Perennial Club, and BJB People are a compelling and delightful bunch. Rehearsals moved from a garage to a basement. The garage home was very interesting, too, because in back were lovely boats made by the garage owner himself.