June 26, 2009

OK, are you sitting down? We've kept a tight lid on our baby news since her delivery on May 18th. We actually got her when she was only 3 days old (65 hours to be exact). She's beautiful! Born in Lucerne, Switzerland. Proud parents Sue and Mike are sleepless with excitement but very, very happy.

Vital statistics, you ask? She's 10,450 lb. and 2 oz. and 567" long.

There's a very good general public description of the Pilatus at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilatus_PC-12

Or if you really want to geek out AND see photos of the interior, http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/html/en/products/index_203.asp?NavL1ID=31&NavL2ID=194&NavL3ID=202&NavL4ID=0&NavL5ID=0&NavL6ID=0&L=3

Ours is a 2009 Pilatus PC-12 NG

Labels: 2009 Highlights, Las Vegas

       posted by Sue @ b>8:10 AM
   Print Page       (2) comments

During the negotiation process, our Western Aircraft dealer, Ron Smith, expressed a desire for Mike's old, greasy Eclipse hat. (Eclipse was the plane we'd been waiting for, but they filed bankruptcy.) So we have spiffy new hats for plane rides, and Ron can hang the Eclipse hat in his office. Like a scalp!

Labels: Las Vegas

       posted by Sue @ b>7:55 AM
   Print Page       (0) comments

   June 24, 2009

My stepdad, Stan, turned 85 this June. He's a WWII veteran, and believe it or not his first car was a Model A Ford. He was born in 1924: the year IBM was founded and Wheaties was introduced.

In lieu of Wheaties, we had Mom's stellar poached wild salmon (it looks green because it's covered ever so carefully in cucumber "fish scales". Martha Stewart eat your heart out...

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ b>8:41 AM
   Print Page       (0) comments

A uniquely Northwest "yech". What to do when there is a slug in the way of your golf shot? Can I get a ruling here?!

Labels: Washington

       posted by Sue @ b>8:36 AM
   Print Page       (1) comments

We called this trip an eating vacation with a sailing problem! Here's Mike with a double dinner order of stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbages (just like his Croatian Mom used to make :) Lunch on the sailboat - we didn't do too badly rustling up the grub! Typical meal ANY time of the day was gelato (italian ice cream). P.S. Check out Mike's Croatian head shave, I mean haircut. The gal who cut his hair spoke NO English.

Labels: Croatia

       posted by Sue @ b>7:54 AM
   Print Page       (0) comments

   June 17, 2009

The marsh frogs were in the mood for mating, and put on quite a show with their loud croaking. Do you know how a frog croaks? Much like humans, they fill up their lungs with air and then blow it across their larynx. The hollow chamber on the side that they fill up with air acts as a resonator, much like the hollow wood of the guitar amplifies the sound of the strings. That allows the frog to make the sound audible over long distances, sometimes a mile or more. This has got to be one of the coolest places for a frog to live, ever.

Labels: Croatia

       posted by Sue @ b>12:14 PM
   Print Page       (0) comments

Not too many national parks let you swim in their waterfalls - this one had designated areas where you were invited to take a dip. Lots of cascading waterfalls with lengthy boardwalk trails. Look at the trout holding their own against the current about to rush over the waterfall.

Labels: 2009 Highlights, Croatia

       posted by Sue @ b>12:04 PM
   Print Page       (0) comments

The sun is back and all is forgiven...we saw a pod of dolphins who followed us for a while, some swans with their babies (cygnets?), and went hiking with some burros!

Labels: Croatia

       posted by Sue @ b>11:41 AM
   Print Page       (0) comments

We ran into a big storm with gale force winds that sidetracked us for a day on Vis, one of the outermost islands. We were docked in a harbor, but we had buckets inside the cabin to catch dripping rain sneaking it's way in. When we ventured out the next day, it was still nasty, with winds in the 35 to 45 knot range. Our fearless captain, Uncle Larry kept us safe on our (gulp) 6 hour sail. Mike was the official "naviguesser" in charge of the GPS to plot our course. I traded between staying up on top in the driving rain, swallowing ginger pills and watching the horizon or going below and staying dry in the rocking and rolling cabin. We were all glad when this one was over.

Labels: Croatia

       posted by Sue @ b>11:30 AM
   Print Page       (0) comments

Isn't it lovely? There are 1,185 islands in Croatia and about 47 of them are inhabited. We visited more of the southern islands: Hvar, Milna, Vis, Rogoznica, Skradin, Piskera, Telascica, Vodice. (I'm sure we butchered the pronunciation on a regular basis.)

Labels: Croatia

       posted by Sue @ b>11:21 AM
   Print Page       (1) comments