Timbers and the Fire, Chicago

   We took in our first Timbers game last night. An auntie was very gracious to share two tickets, and we were able to pick up two more cheaply through StubHub.

   Unfortunately, we didn't make it to Portland in time to eat at Kenny and Zukes. Maybe next time. I also missed seeing the sawing off of one round of the Douglas Fir log they keep behind their home goal. This, after their first, and only goal. However, the sound of the Timbers chain saw kept the game humming along. FYI, the game ended with a 1:1 tie.

   It felt like the Timbers did a lot of standing around last night, but it was a pre-season game. We learned where to sit, and where not to sit, for future games, i.e., behind the goals. Ear plugs came in handy, but I sense things were pretty sedate last night. Thankfully, we didn't hear much inappropriate language. It's amazing how a little beer in the mix makes people messy. 

   The stadium was a homogeneous green. Amusing. Portland is known for its eclectic individuality, but one didn't see that within the environs of Providence Park last night. I bet it's a riot of green when there's a St. Paddy's Day game.

   While it was great to finally watch a Timbers game, we love the quiet sportsman like Oregon State games. OSU has some highly competitive players, the game pace is very fast, and the environment in Corvallis is a bit more kid friendly. Oh, and the games are free!

   The Timbers may have headed home as pictured above. Thankfully, we did not! Where's brother? He doesn't make an appearance here because his head was in the game. He didn't want to be disturbed and mostly kept his eyes on the futbol. Here's to the beginning of a great futbol season!

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

   I have read my first Jules Verne book. Dare I declare such information? Shame or pride? Suffice to say, I wasn't introduced to classical books as a youngster, unless you count National Velvet in that lot, but as I'm re-living 6th grade with my daughter, I'm acquiring education anew. 

Around the World in 80 Days Middle School Study Guide Google Docs

Only love can be divided endlessly and still not diminish. 

Don't wish me happiness

I don't expect to be happy all the time...

It's gotten beyond that somehow. 

Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor. 

I will need them all.

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, 

too greedy, or too impatient. 

 To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, 

but lack of faith. 

 

Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches.

Patience and faith. 

One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach

—waiting for a gift from the sea. 

All quotes & poems are from Anne Morrow Lindbergh's,

 Gift from the Sea 

Beachy Kid Books

The Sea of Sleep

Utterly Otterly Day

The Sea Fairies

 

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Oregon Beach To-Do's Near Newport

Hatfield Marine Science Center (free)!

Oregon Coast Aquarium

Beaver Creek Kayak Tours

iconic Sylvia Beach Hotel

Rovering and Writing, Adventures

 Thrilled to be in the Winter 2015 Rovers North.

How quickly the seasons fly by. 

More adventures draw nigh. 

 * There's a few typos (not mine), including my name and web address, but isn't that life? When you are adventuring, stuff happens, and you roll with it!

An Oregon Valley Valentines

 February sheds tears, both joyful and sad.
Release the burden, burst into bloom.

 Hike. Wander. Wonder.

Steel grey ponds
Great Blue Heron

American Coot

Scrub Jay

Canadian Geese

Dabbling Ducks

Deer

Red-tailed Hawk

Wood Peckers

Lambs in fields of grassy green

 A new friend for new adventures.
Sharing, and sharing a birthday.
How amazing is that?

 Come soon spring, so soon.

 Pie for Papa

Happy Valentines!

On Valentine's Eve: Oregon's Birthday and Kitzhaber

Sadly, Salem has seen better days. 

We worked our way to Salem today. 

In order to see the Oregon State Constitution, rarely on display.

Oregon's birthday is tomorrow.

We wondered what we would see.

 

Knowing, all has not been well.

It was a sad day for Oregon, its citizens, and its leaders. 

 We watched this news outside the Oregon Senate Chambers.

Thirty feet from the Governor's door.

   We had some interesting conversations last night about what we might see today, but in the moment, they were not at all concerned with the state troopers and camera crews literally camped out behind their heads. They were focused on seeing the Oregon State Seal.

   Here's to spring in the capitol. 

May the new year bring citizen leadership and healing.

 May Oregon's citizens learn, act, pray, vote, and give back.

Let us live intentionally within the communities we call home. 

What we plant, will bloom.

For the Love of Learning, on Monday

 There must be a limit you put on P.G. Wodehouse.

   Wow, it's really been a Monday. If only it would pour patience. In a home filled with book nuts, it's not easy to put down pleasure books on Monday and hit the text books intentionally. Yet hit the books we must, as we skipped school last Friday, venturing to Seattle to see a doctor. So very thankful for good reports and continued healing. We came home bearing goodies and Mee Sum Pastry for the boys.

Reading for Pleasure

The Secret of the Key, & all the Sixty Eight Rooms Adventure books.
Sixty Eight Rooms is based upon the Thorne Rooms.

Elizabeth Blackwell, First Woman Doctor

Sis has really enjoyed the Great Tales of English History series.

Jeeves and the Wedding Bells, an Homage to P.G. Wodehouse

Keepers of the School series

Life in Motion, Misty Copeland

 Learning, Loving, Living
AIA Portland

Finding David Douglass, Starker Lecture Series

Biology Lecture by Kelly Benoit-Bird, an OSU scientist. She discussed the use of sound/sonar/acoustics to study species abundance in the ocean based upon prey density vs. prey abundance.

Paddington

Indoor winter soccer

Ceili dancing 

Archery, when we don't have to skip because of homework. 

Science Saturdays at the University

 Pondering These Great Articles/Sites

Judy Woodruff: Care About Your World 

Teacher Expectations Influence Student Performance (NPR),
True for parents too, whether we home school or not.

How Teacher Bias Can Discourage Girls from Math and Science

   This NY Times article is really important for our girls. While, we don't feel sis has been limited in any way by her teachers (except me some days :-), we are already seeing how hard it is to help girls grow in their love of science, technology, and math. STEM is often a lonely world, lacking females. I don't know the root of it, but sis is already learning that if she wants to get involved with technology, math, or science, she'll be in the minority. Boys and men still dominate, especially in engineering. Every opportunity she's offered to work with other women and girls in STEM is so appreciated. She's learning how to forge ahead with a forehead like flint (with the boys), while yet exhibiting manners. What a dichotomy! Programs such as Discovering the Scientist Within are truly important for our girls.

To My Daughter, At Halftime (HuffPost)

The Adaptors

How to Talk to Boys