Glass Blowing Birthday!

My birthday was on Saturday, the 10th, and James asked me what I wanted to do. We had always seen a guy at festivals and markets that has a glass blowing business right on the outskirts of Astoria, and it just so happen that a few weeks ago we saw a laddie at our local Sunday Market advertising and selling blown glass. We got the information and I told James that is what I wanted to do. So he set it up and on Friday we went out there for a little over 2 hours, while my friend Kelli, watched Teagan. Ya, date night, no baby! We had a great time, and are thinking about going back there for James' birthday, in November, to better master our skills, make glass balls, and eventually make mugs. This was a lot harder then you think. it is a many step process, and we didn't actually "blow" any glass. We made 8 egg shape paper weights, 4 each.

Clyde and Chris own Fernhill Glass.

Chris was a great instructor, who was very patient with us.

This is the small studio that we worked in.

Safety First!
(I think this is such a funny picture of James!)

This is James with the rod with glass gathered at the end. You can see a small orange ball at the end of the rod.

From the picture above we would take the glass and stick it into that orange hole to melt the gathered glass, while tuning the rod, always tuning! you have to always be turning the rod so that you don't loose your shape.

Then we would bring it to this table to shape the glass and cool it.

We would do that many times, heat and shape. We would also add color to this process and then melt in the color.

From that station above, we would come sit down, while turning the rod, to twist the glass.

Here Chris is assisting James while he takes these huge tweezers and twists the glass.

Close up of the twisting.

After the twisting, Chris would gather more glass to go over it. Then we would have to shape it with wet newspaper into a nice smooth shape.

Once you have shaped it, we would take these Jacks and start our line for the bottom of our egg.

The last station is to bring our egg over to Chris so that she can knock it off the rod.

My turn!

This is the first station. It is soooo hot that you have to wear sunglasses for protection. It was challenging to have to gather the glass, you wouldn't really know if you had any on the end of the rod 'til you brought it out. Then figuring out the right amount, too much or not enough to get you started.

Next.

Shaping and cooling.

The orange show you how hot the glass is!

It was hard to multitask, with remembering to constantly be turning the rod, using the jacks with just the right amount of pressure and not burning yourself!

Posed picture, but remembering to still be turning the rod.

Time for Chris to knock off my egg.

The next day we had to go back out there to sand the bottom of our eggs and to engrave them. Here are our eggs!

You can click on the pictures to see them closer up!

We had a great time out there, and we are happy with how they turned out!

Thanks babe!

We Made It Across!

Today was the day, Sunday the 11th, that I did the Great Columbia Crossing. Over 3,000 people participated! I was joined by my high school friend, Kelli, and our friend Bonnie. It was freezing! We were told to catch the bus no later than 7:00am to go over to Washington, which we did. It was the first bus that left Astoria, and it dropped us off at Dismal Nitch Rest Area, in Washington. Below is a picture of me in front of the sign, shivering. It was still dark out that you can only see my outline. Kelli checked the current temperature and it said it was 42 degrees but felt like 38! Yes, I was the only person wearing a tank top, and Capri jogging pants with no coat! Next year I'll know better! I have to say it was fun, and always much more fun with a group of your friends. It was great to have Bonnie and Kelli as support, and we supported each other. There was a 2 hour time limit to do the race, and I am happy to report that we did it in 1hr 20 minutes! It was a total of 6.2 miles.

Brrrrr!

It was a beautiful sunrise!
Here we are. I stole Bonnie's coat for a while.
Kelli, me, and Bonnie.

This clown was so strange. He was disgruntled, walking around smoking and leaving his iced (why, I don't know) drink cup in a spot other than the garbage.

In the distance you can see the bridge that is crossing to Astoria, Oregon!

We are off!
You can see the runners in front leading the way.

Bonnie and Kelli.
"You Go Girls!"

Here is a directional sign.

Mental note: Turn left and go across the bridge!

We are on the bridge, starting across the 4.1 mile journey to Astoria.

No we are not walking the wrong direction, we are just keeping the pace, just backwards.

Just note I'm the only one in a tank top and Capri's.

Kelli and I in front of the "Welcome to Oregon" sign.

Yay, Go Girls!

Happy that the sun did came out, so that I could warm up!

Here I am, number 3032!

Looking South to Astoria, and seeing the steep incline that rises 200ft!

Made it to the top!

I like how the sun in shinning down on the structure.

Up we go!

You can see Kelli and Bonnie making their way up to the top too!

Yay, the top!

Looking over the side to see the finish line below. You can see how the bridge curves around with people all the way around.

Looking back on what we've done so far.

On the downward curve!

We are so happy, almost there!

Here are the welcoming signs: "Welcome to Clatsop County," and the other one says," Welcome to Astoria".

Welcome to Oregon!Kelli and Bonnie.

Astoria!

Me and Bonnie!

Great Columbia Crossing 2009

Great Columbia Crossing 2009

I don't know why I got this crazy idea, I signed up for my very first 10K race. I will NOT be running, I will be walking, with my girlfriend Kelli, I roped her into it as well. We've been walking together before I became pregnant, and we go walking several times a week. We walk along the Columbia River, on the River Walk, which is nice and flat. The Great Columbia Crossing is going to be over the 4.1 mile Meglar Bridge, from SW Washington to Astoria, Oregon. The total miles will be 6.2 due to the fact that we are starting at a near by rest area. You only have 2 hours to finish the walk! For the most part the bridge is flat, except for the part where it inclines to 200ft for the ship channel! Yikes! Below is a photo of the bridge I will be walking over. The land you see in the far in Washington, where we will be starting from, then walking towards you, up, up, and up to the top and on to Astoria, Oregon! I am doing this on Sunday, the 11th, the day after my birthday! Nice way to start off my 28th year of life! I'm excited though, I even bought new socks and a water bottle holder to go around my waist. Hopefully I'll get some pictures to post up of the event.

Wish me luck!

Starbucks Moment

Last Thursday Teagan and I met my dad and Sheryl at Starbucks, inside Safeway, in Astoria. It was nice to spend a few moments with them, before I had to leave to go meet my girlfriend, Kelli, for walking. Since my dad lives in Bend, which is about 5 1/2 hours away, it is hard for him to get here to the coast to visit us. We were lucky to have had Sheryl capture some nice moments.

Teagan holding my dad's car keys.

Teagan holding onto my dad's favorite hat.

Yum!

Don't ask when the last time my dad's hat was washed!

Up he goes!

Happy baby and happy Grandpa Lee!

Fun at G.T.'s House

Last week we had a couple of really nice days. So I decided to walk down the hill to downtown Astoria. While Teagan and I were down there, we decided to stop by to see Grandma Tapir, or G.T. for short, or as I know her, Sheryl. Teagan had fun playing in her shred room at her Animal Store and was happy playing with some of her plastic animals that she sells.

Due to teething, Teagan has been drooling more some days than others. On this day he was drooling a lot, so I put a bib on him, otherwise, he'll soak through his shirt and onesie down to his chest.

What's more fun than sitting on a box lid?

Teagan was playing with two plastic animals, a Small-Spotted Genet Cat and a Spotted Skunk.

Here he comes, with the drool on his chin!