Founder's Day Fun!

We spent this past weekend out at Seabrook for Founder's Day. This is likely our last overnight for several weeks as the house is completely booked for August. We have mixed feelings about it as we have really grown to cherish our time out there and have all met friends we enjoy seeing. Our next trip will likely be the 17th of August with my parents. After that, some time in September. I am planning at least a few Fall fishing trips as the big salmon will be heading into the coastal rivers in the September/October.

We had a great time, the kids especially. They worked for hours at "The Stump" with the next door neighbor kids (also from Olympia). Evan and Ian are both seven and have really hit it off and spend most waking time riding bikes or this weekend, working on "The Stump".

I've updated the July Photos with a bunch of new ones. Added a video of Alec counting the stairs. You may remember a previous entry.

Enjoy!

Alt Style Ale - Part Deux

Cracked open a bottle this afternoon of the Alt. I've previously discussed the first batch which was very good. I had bottled 5 gallons and kegged another 5. This second batch consisted of 10 gallons and I had bottled the entire batch. One of the benefits of brewing a lot of beer in a short period of time is you are not inclined (at least I'm not) to rush drinking it. So, it fermented in the primary for over 10 days, sat in the secondary for almost two weeks and has been bottled for almost a month. Thus, the beer is very clear and very good.

I did switch up the recipe from the first batch in that I used whole hops vs. pellets which has resulted in a less hoppy beer (I happen to like hops) and has increased the clarity. Although, I'm sure time has more to do with that.

I have a second batch of Belgian Wit still in the secondary which I will bottle this week. With the remaining Alt in the keg and several cases of Alt and some Belgian Wit...my guess is this second batch of Wit will get plenty of time to sit undisturbed prior to drinking.

Oh, what to brew next?

Breakfast Anyone?

So the kids are really enjoying doing things more and more on their own. Our energy is now not some much spent doing stuff for them but guiding and requiring the clean up afterward. It takes different attention and energy and is not necessarily easier.

Right now they are "cooking" a very special breakfast. Last night they made salad from spinach from Grandma's garden, cherries from Grandma's, Nasturtium flowers from our yard, carrots and sugar snap peas.

The salad was wonderful, the cleanup for Julie, not so much. I'm on breakfast this morning and they won't let me in the kitchen. We'll see what they come up with. :)

The Artist

Ian has been very excited about music and painting. In fact, we assembled the easel and he's worked on artwork in the basement. He asked to work on outside art to be like Mr. Arthur, an artist friend we met at Seabrook, not to mention his Great Grandmother. :)

So we set the easel up and away he went.

His next pursuit, music and cooking he says.

Lazy Sunday

So we had a pretty low key day today. Got up, went to Mass, ran some errands so Julie could get some stuff for raspberry jam, I took a nap, planted some plants, made sure the sprinklers were working, tested some stain samples, and sampled the Belgian Wit from a bottle (very good).

I've attached a video of Alec playing with Charlotte's Chinese yo-yo, while not taken today it pretty much summed up a lazy Sunday.

The coming week will be busy, I have several meetings and proposals due and will be in La Jolla on Wednesday and Thursday pitching our products, so the calm before the storm is definitely fine by me.

July 4th at Seabrook and More...

We spent a great last weekend out at Seabrook for Fourth of July. We went out Wednesday evening and I returned Monday night after some fishing on the Quinault and Queets Rivers (Thanks to Rob for joining me fishing).

There are some pictures now finally in the July Gallery as I've just now got them uploaded. A few highlights from around here from the past week include:

• Trip to Seabrook
• New Hot Water Heater (Thank goodness I noticed it leaking right before we left Wednesday evening or Julie's return Sunday would've been even more hectic)
• Tall Ships Festival in Tacoma with Grandma
• Overnight with Golf and a Movie with Grandma and Grandpa Omar (Ian and Charlotte)
• Lots of work for Mommy and Daddy
• A wagon ride and walk last night with Alec

Below is a video of Alec counting as he climbs the 45 steps from the beach to the trail...Enjoy!

The New Wiggles - BONUS VIDEO

As a bonus...The New Wiggles Sing!

"Walk Like a Bear"

The animals for reference are:

Bear
Kangaroo
Snake
Wombat
Bear

I Love it When it Rains

Rockabye A Bear

"Even Steven" - The Tao of Steve

For as long as I can remember he's been here. While it has been several years since I've seen him, it is not hard to picture what he has been doing since we last talked. He has been quietly and consistently providing love and support to his family. Whether his children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, Uncle Steve Champ has been there.

We didn't live very far from Aunt Francie and Uncle Steve, a few blocks via bike across Chandler. It was in their pool that I first learned to swim, and around their pool that 13 years ago we gathered to celebrate Julie and my marriage. The groomsman, Mike, Jeff, Jim and Scott still talk to this day about the days following where they played with family and friends. Our family is like that, guests become part of the family and continue to feel welcome even years after. There isn't a time that I see those guys that they don't talk about the pool party after our wedding.

Growing up there were pools parties at the Champs and eventually at our house and others. Uncle Steve and Aunt Francie were fixtures at those parties and would be quick with a joke or a smile. While I don't specifically recall ever telling either how much I love them or their presence. I always knew they loved me.

These past few weeks I've been thinking a lot about our family and about Uncle Steve and Aunt Francie. I have been left with many impressions and memories that fly through my head. Some will make sense to others, some not so much. Most of these have exceeded the statute of limitations in most states, so since I'm not certain which data center is serving this, we're likely safe. :)

• The Skull Club - Dawn was the leader - who was to know Skull and Bones was already a secret society. An early rule: Don't kick the skull.
• Margie Winchell - She survived not only the Champs, but the Forths and many many more
• Dragonflies don't bite, and I caught all Aunt Francie had in the yard one day.
• Arnold Boy - Proudly delivering prescriptions to the most/least desireable apartments in North Hollywood - I learned a lot those years...by the way, the seatbelt was a rope that we tied across ourselves.
• I got sick one night while staying the night at the Champs when I was about 12. I still won't try Tasters Choice International Coffee again to this day.
  
• Playing Toss with Timothy...Quick John, let's see if he can touch the tree branches.
  
• The quiet, consistent, even temperament of Uncle Steve. From where I sit, he lived a life dedicated to his family, consistently doing all he needed to do to provide.
• Riding in the camper with the older cousins
• The RV
  

As I mentioned earlier, it's been a while since we last spoke and for that I am sorry. He left an impression on me and on all of us. We are all better off having had the privilige of knowing him and being touched by his life.