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.

Smith Lightning

Do you know that if you click on the photos they get bigger? This one is from this weekend. HH and Lightning went to Smith Rock. It's so beautiful!

DD and I played in the same orchestra together last night, and it wasn't in a pit for a musical. I'm thrilled. It's the local community orchestra, and we're playing suites from American in Paris and South Pacific, some movie music, some Oregon Trail music, what else? It's fun stuff.

Thunder and Lightning

Photo is of BSA Lightning along Columbia River. One of my favorite photos by HH taken just last week. Speaking of lightning, we've been having lots of it here. Unusual for this area. At least there's been some rain with it, so when it hits forests they won't be total tinderboxes. I don't understand why lightning rods aren't more popular. The night before last, I threw open the window shade, tossed my pillow to the foot of the bed, and lay backwards in it so I could watch the lighting out the window. I was disappointed only to see the window light up, and no actual bolts. The rain was very loud on the patio cover, and I wondered if there was a bit of hail mixed in, but it was too dark to see, and I wasn't about to go wandering outside to check, mainly because I hate to get out of bed unless the morning alarm has gone off. It is now completely pouring outside.

Have been reading a brilliant book HH bought. He leaves it lying around here and there, and whenever I come across it, and have a minute or two, I read some. I think I'm on page 21, but it might be 31. I've been trying to remember, because since he's reading it, I try not to move his bookmark, or confuse him by adding a second. I don't know where it is right now, but it's a great autobiographical account of a young possibly lunatic woman seeking adventure who also loves motorcycles, and she quit her job with the BBC to ride a motorcycle the whole length of North and South America, starting in Alaska in May. The title is Lois on the Loose.

Other biographies I'm reading now are A Girl Named Zippy, by Haven Kimmel, and The Egg and I, by Betty MacDonald. Then I'm also reading a couple mysteries, Under Orders by Dick Francis, and Coyote Waits, by Tony Hillerman. I don't mean to read them all at once. It just happens. I wonder if it happens to other people, too.

Hot Lazy Day

Twilight, gibbous moon, narrow twisty road, bicyclist just visible, no reflectors, no lights, peddling along side of road. Must have been caught out by the ever shortening, dark increasing days of August Cyclist was not me, but I passed him in car. That was last night. Today I rode with helmet and reflectors and slow moving vehicle triangle, reflective and neon orange. I want to get a flag on a stick, too, to help me be visible in my low-slung bicycle to the huge 4-door, 4-wheel drive pickup trucks.

Confusion Reigns Here

I'm reading a book about this guy, Justinian I, of the new Roman Empire, and his wife Theadosia, and his Lord Chamberlain, John. Justinian is the ruler of Roman Empire, such as it is. Mostly it's about John, who has mysteries to solve. I have a mystery to solve. Where does my checkbook keep going? Every time I want to pay bills, or figure I'd better in order to avoid penalties, I can't find my checkbook. So where is it this time? It's always wherever I put it last, but I can never remember. Our big swing jazz band is playing tonight. I hope I can find my trombone. I have the other one in a shop 90 miles away. That makes me nervous. At least I know where it is.

It Must be Wednesday

This isn't the prettiest photo, but it tells a story, doesn't it? HH has been having a string of unfortunate events with his BSA's. This photo was taken by HH on a club trip to Goldendale. His bike broke down and he couldn't get hold of me, because I was with the band, playing in the park, so he kept staying outside of things (observatories, Dairy Queens, cafe's, gas stations) trying to get satellite coverage so his phone would work, and there I was incommunicado. He got me eventually, and I was able to meet him at LM's house in Oregon City, and was there in plenty of time for a lovely house and garden tour with Mrs. LM before he showed up riding on the back of LM's Bonneville. The very next day, we drove up to The Dalles, scenically situated on the eastern Columbia River, pulling the bike Trailer in a Bag (not in the bag) and got the bike, and I got another lovely house and garden tour. Did you figure that the bike went to one town, and HH went to another? It took two trips to get them both. And they were both fun, well maybe I had more fun than HH. He was going to take the other BSA, but its clutch started giving him trouble and he couldn't fix it before time to go, then the clutch on the little one went screwy while he was out on the ride. There's another weekend my bathroom didn't get it's walls scraped. La de da da hum de dum, I'm so slow.

Noon for Her

Her said to look up at noon and take a picture of what you see, and I looked up, but had to wait a while for the camera, (everyone likes to use the camera) so here's the photo, 2 weeks later. But I see this every day at noon, because dog and I go for a walk around 11:30 (not a long walk) and when we get back, we go over to the cherry tree for a treat. Dog just thinks this corner of the yard is fun. Lots of bugs and birds.