This weekend, the furniture we ordered from Made in Pescadero was delivered. This was our first joint purchase, creating a lovely addition to the home.
The bedroom used to look like this:
So we cleared the bed away:
And had the new one put in, along with a dresser and a great bench:
Arne particularly loved the bench's figured redwood:
The dogs continue to get along, although I think some days are longer then others for them.
Arne has also been trying out a number of the features of his new MacBook Pro and the take a picture from the computer created some fun results.
This year Arne joined us for Camp Blue. After several years of writing about Camp Blue (2009, 2008, 2007) it was nice to have Arne's perspective on the Lair experience.
Saturday: Arrival
Saturday morning, Mom met us in Palo Alto, and we headed up to the Lair. It was a quick 3 hours up 108 to Camp Blue Road, where we turned off and headed down to our welcome home from Mike White and the Camp Blue Staff.
We set up our tent - number 13 - and were ready for the week.
Sunday: Pool Party and Sunset Hike
Sunday morning Arne and I played some volleyball, and then headed down to the pool party. Arne was not very skilled at inter tube water polo, but still had fun in the water.
After dinner we went on the sunset hike. Unfortunately about 15 miles away there was a fire, but this made for great sunlight and a beautiful sunset.
Monday: Hike
Monday morning, we met up with Ellen Green and headed out to Camp and Bear Lakes. The wildflowers were in bloom on the hike.
Camp Lake was lovely, but we pressed on to the next lake.
Bear Lake was perfect for hanging out and enjoying lunch and a little swim.
We returned to rest and enjoy the Lair.
Tuesday: Paddle Boating and Softball
After breakfast we headed out to Pinecrest with Ken, Julia and Caleb. Mom's friend Marcie joined us on Monday, and she was ready for our paddleboating adventure. The lake was lovely.
And we all had fun swimming in the water.
The boats paddled around the dam and then headed back to the dock.
On the way back, Arne enjoyed hanging with Caleb and Ken in the men's boat!
After paddle boating, it was time for the Staff softball game. I got a home run, a double and a triple!
Then, to top it all off, that night was the 6 person volleyball tournament. Mom and Marcie watched as we won 4 game to win the night!
Go Team! Following Volleyball, we headed up to Pinecrest again to see UP! under the stars. It was a great outdoor movie experience, and a very long day.
Wednesday: Tie Dye and Tournaments
Wednesday was tie-dye day. I got to make lots of fun tie-dye's!
We also spent time in the hammocks...a great addition Arne brought up to the lair.
At dinner, we always tried to eat outside with our friends...it was just so nice out.
Then, at night, there was the burger shack, games, and even puzzles.
Thursday: Volleyball and Softball
Thursday was volleyball versus Gold in the morning. Arne was a real hero for the men and they dominated, crushing Gold.
Then, in the afternoon, it was the staff softball game. It was Arne's first softball game, ever! He got hits and even caught a fly ball for an out at his catcher position.
The team was happy to have him.
Friday: Kayaking and Softball
Friday morning, we got up early and wet out kayaking and swimming on the lake. It was a great morning.
Then Arne stuck around to watch them seed the lake with fish...the whole process was really cool.
I headed back to camp for the Blue vs Gold women's softball team. We crushed Gold 26 - 3, one inning going through our lineup 3 times. I got 2 singles, 2 doubles, and a triple!
That night was the final show and a lot of goodbyes.
Saturday: Returning Home
It was a wonderful week at the lair. Everyone said I made a good choice on my gentle giant Arne. I think it was not just a good choice, but I was lucky to find someone who can love the Lair as much as I do.
Arne and I finally did our spring cleaning (it was more like mid-summer cleaning) and created an enormous pile of stuff to donate - 12 boxes of books, 8 bags of clothes, 4 boxes of kitchen stuff, 3 bookshelves and a lamp. I really liked seeing the pile all organized.
This also inspired us to finally fill the bookcases we bought in April. Now Arne and my books are all intermingled. Sometime later we will need to organize them.
One nice thing about Forest House is the back yard. We have been eating yummy meals outside, to better enjoy it and the fresh tomatoes from our garden!
Arne has also been working hard inside on his computers.
As Summer began, so did travel. It seemed liked everyone had an event we just had to be at, and none of them were local. We traveled to the four corners of the US - West Coast to East Coast, Mexican Boarder to Canadian Border, visiting friends and family for two weddings, a birthday and then a christening!
First Wedding in Malibu
The summer began with a trip down to Mailbu for the June 20th wedding of Melissa and Saul.
I was one of the bridesmaids, my first time as a bridesmaid! It was a lovely ceremony in the hills of Malibu with a view of the Pacific Ocean.
We had a great trip to southern California, taking some time to visit the Getty Villa and hang out at the beach with my friends Tracy and Gary.
Second Wedding in DC
The next weekend we headed out to DC for the wedding of my college advisee Kathryn and Greg.
Yes, it was a vegetable bouquet! It was great to see her and her old roommate Grace Maa and go to a large traditional church wedding that did a great job of reflecting the spirit and faith of the couple.
We were also able to hang out in Tacoma Park, MD with Erik, Arne's brother. It was great to see his house and a bit of DC.
We visited the Air and Space Museum and saw my great-granddad on the wall.
Then we took a pedicab ride around the mall to the portrait gallery.
It was fun hanging out at the gallery, one of Erik's favorite after work spots.
Birthday in Tucson
Fourth of July weekend, after some local berry picking, shopping for furniture, and volleyball, found us heading down to Tucson, AZ for Arne's Aunt Kate's surprise birthday party.
We hung out at Hacienda del Sol and enjoyed the hot Tucson weather, before surprising Kate with our presence in Arizona.
It was a lovely party and a great chance to meet Arne's extended family.
Christening
On July 10th, we headed out to Lake Michigan for a Stockstad family holiday. We flew into Muskegon, MI and Arne's parent picked us up and took us to the Lake House near Benona, MI.
We spent 4 days at the beach, watching sunsets,
diverting water to form oxbow lakes,
having campfires,
and generally enjoying the region.
On Monday morning, we had a christening for Sonja Stokstad.
Arne and I are now godparents for Sonja. It was very special to be asked. Arne's dad took lots of pictures of the event.
Tuesday we returned home to California and to our two dogs who were missing us. It has been a long month of weekend trips - and while wonderful events, it is so nice to be home, enjoying Palo Alto and life in CA.
