Slacker Lisa Is Back!!!

Hi Emily! I just had to start with that greeting because last week my good friend Emily told me that I must blog more. Sorry to be such a slacker Em :)

Anyway, no excuse but being busy and uninspired. But today is a BEAUTIFUL day here in Portland and I feel that we have stepped out of winter and feel nothing but greatness with the months ahead. Translation: Inspiration!!

Today was my first day working in my community garden plot! I spent a little over three hours hoeing weeds, weeds, and more weeds...it's so much hard work! I think I got most the uninvited garden guests out and if I'm diligent in visiting my plot then today's work should pay off BIG TIME and there will only be small amounts of weeding to do! Now I need to prepare my soil and plant in the next couple of weeks...yahoo!! Any suggestions on what to plant? Also, one of the fellow gardeners gave me a hoe. Not let me borrow, but gave it to me! How cool is that!! I think I am going to meet some nice people through gardening...that and my beloved zucchini make it worth the effort :)

So, since it's been awhile since I've posted (bad Lisa!) I will share some pics of a few things that have been keeping me busy outside of work. After all, these fun times with friends and family are what I live for!!In early March I went to a conference in Boston (brrrrrrr, so cold!) and had a GREAT time hanging out with friends Sarah, Dave, and Rodney! I spent every free moment out and about Beantown and also enjoyed seeing many colleagues I have worked with these past 12 years in Higher Education. So fun!Seeing my vote for our country's next President! I have never been too interested in Politics but I really feel that our country is in desperate need of a change and hearing Obama and his passion for the needs of this country was nothing but uplifting and inspiring! I felt honored to be in the crowd of 12,000 and loved feeling the positive energy that swept over us because of this agent of change!
Pretty in Pink! I just ADORE when all the trees put on their Spring Fashion Show for us, simply lovely!
Spending time with the bestest little boy and girl in the world! Here they are dressed in their adorable Easter duds :)
Seeing some pretty big dinosaurs over spring break!
Playtime at OMSI. Check out Lily's adorable smile...she melts her aunties heart!
Spring Break SNOW?????? Ya, we were quite shocked by it but I think it is safe that snow will not be in our future anytime soon!
Clam Chowder at Mo's...a must do for any trip to the Oregon Coast!
Yurt camping...it's the best way to camp!!
Last weekend was a fun girls trip to Newport where we made sure to visit park with the best view of the bridge!

I promise to update soon...can't have Emily lose faith in one of her favorite bloggers :)

Hello Blog World!

Dear Blogworld,

Long time no see!! Sorry for being absent these past few weeks. It's not you, it's me :) I've had quite the busy month which was started out with a fun trip to Seattle
followed by work, work, work

then trying to find time to enjoy the amazing Spring weather in Oregon
and more work work work

then seeing my favorite bunnies
and yet more work work work, and work work work! Phew, starting a new academic term is absolute craziness!!!

But, after this week of work work work I will be spending 5 days in Boston where I will finally be doing fun work (a conference) but more importantly tearing up Beantown with these two crazy friends!So, after the good times to be had in Boston I should be more of a frequent visitor to you, my lovely Blogworld, and cannot wait to share with you my spring adventure that is ahead, starting my very first garden (I think I am in for a new kind of work load!) at a local community garden...should be fun!See you soon Blogworld!

Your long lost friend, Lisa

*Oh, and thanks to Mr. federal tax return I think these babies will finally be coming home with me!!

Holy Chicken Poop

I just saw this story and couldn't help but have a flood of memories come back of when I was a Residence Hall Director and got woke up in the middle of the night to a frantic Eastern European student holding back tears as she tried to tell me that there were 36 chickens let loose in the dorm! OH MY GOSH...not fun to deal with!!! It takes me about 30 minutes to tell the complete story but too this day I cannot see a chicken without remembering the horror of cleaning up chicken poop, feathers, eggs, and 7 dead chickens (rip my feathery visitors) from all corners of the three story building. Yuck Yuck Yuck!!! Here are a few pics that were taken about 3 hours after the ordeal started when our facilities department finally came to my rescue!!

50 chickens found loose in Philly school: PHILADELPHIA - Monday mornings are hard enough. Imagine finding 50 chickens running loose in your high school. Workers arriving about 5:30 a.m. to open Northeast High School in Philadelphia found dozens of hens and roosters wandering around the hallways. The birds were apparently brought to the school sometime over the weekend, said school district spokesman Fernando Gallard. "We don't know where the chickens came from or who they belong to," Gallard said. "I'm pretty sure there is a very upset poultry farmer somewhere who wants them back." The floors were covered with droppings and chicken feed. Most of the school's 3,600 students were sent home for the day because the school required extensive cleanup, he said. A farmer was called to round up the birds and bring them to Fox Chase Farm, the district's agricultural school, Gallard said. Police are checking surveillance tapes to see if they can determine the perpetrator of the fowl prank. The culprit will have to pay a hefty fine, said Gallard. "It's not going to be chicken scratch," he said.

Saturday we drove up into the Cascade Mountains to see some of the beautiful snow that has been falling all week. We knew we wouldn't be out in the snow for long but were happy to have our cute boots to keep us dry!

After taking a few pics of the snow we drove back towards home but stopped for lunch and a very delicious hot bailey's at Silver Creek Falls.
How is it already February??? The year is going so fast and I haven't even bought myself a pair of spring shoes yet...I better get on that :)

Hibernating

Sorry for lack of posts lately, you could say that my posts are hibernating for this session of winter. These last few weeks have been cold, wet, and pretty blah here in the NW which in one way has been good as it has kept me inside to work on my knitting...how do you like my first real project?? I decided to tackle cables and am glad that I did because I have loved making this scarf! I'm excited for spring and hope that it comes quickly!! Spring is so refreshing and I love how everything comes to life again after winter dreariness! In the meantime, I will try to embrace moments of winters beauty, like this moment last week when our mountain shined for us!! Looking forward to coming out of hibernation soon and when I do I have my favorite shoes back from the Dansko Doctor to embark on new exciting journey's with!

Le Happy

As I walked past this cute little creperie by my office today I thought I would share a few of the things that are making me happy!

1. It's Friday, my favorite day of the week! Let the weekend begin!

2. My friend Joey is coming into town for the weekend! It will be great to catch up with her and go find something fun to be a part of as we always do when she visits :)3. Spring Flowers! I had to get some mini-daffodils this week at Trader Joes as they are just too cute to pass up plus my apartment needed a little spring life added to it!4. Murphy! Queen of the apartment, me simply her servant.5. Sex And The City Movie! Ya I know, it won't be released for awhile but I am sooooooo thrilled that they are making it and I cannot wait to reacquaint myself with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha, and of course Mr. Big!!!
6. Last but not least I think I am finally getting into a groove with my first knitting project! Still have much to approve on but I am quite happy to be learning this new craft and cannot wait to improve my skill!

Philippa, Purl, and Play

Here it is again with another few week passed and no posts from me. What in the world is keeping me away from the blog? Well, I can think of three things and they all start with a P!

1. Philippa! Philippa Gregory that is! My mom and I have been scouring thrift shops for her amazing books and we have almost all of them and let me tell you something, they are worth the hunt! I've loved reading her accounts of the England's Tudor Family and cannot wait for the movie, The Other Boleyn Girl to come out in February!! If you have a chance you should pick up one of her books and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!

2. Purling! I'm LOVING learning to knit but had a hard time getting the purl down but with a week of practice I think I am good to go. Now just have to get the correct tension then it is off to start my scarf with my oh-so-soft organic soft wool...so comfy!3. Playing! I took a Friday off of work (love when I can do that!) and went snow showing with some friends up on Mt Hood. I've been wanting to try snowshoeing for awhile and I was so excited to give it a go! The trail was uphill the whole time (not so fun!) and it was raining most the time so it wasn't the best picture taking trip but I still had fun. It looks like there is a trek planned in a few weeks with my mom and some of her friends so of course I will go and plan to bring something warm (and maybe spiked, he he) to enjoy at the end of our trek :)
Hope you all are having a great start to this new week! Promise of a week of sun is in our forecast so lets hope those meteorologist are correct!!!