Finally after a week of packing and cleaning we are out of Baker and on our trip! 31 hours of driving has put us in St. Louis! Google Map of our route.
Continental divide in Wyoming.
The workout!
Stop at little America.
Preparing for leg stretching exercises upon arrival!
Several years ago, I planted blueberries with the anticipation that my kids would be able to pick them. I planted figs with the same hope. Today was the fulfillment of that hope
Blueberries and currants are both ripe in our garden. So this is our Fourth of July cake chocolate lava cake, whip cream, and fresh berries.
We had to do some blackberry removal today. It was encroaching on our fence. We took to the offense by cutting it on the outside of our fence line. It was 7-8 foot tall and some stalks were 1.5″ thick.
We also weeded in the front yard by pulling weeds and cutting down the flowers. 
Time got short and we just cut the yellow flowers off
I took my kids climbing today. It was an early morning with a 7:15 am departure. Becky was there to cheer us on. Managing two active kids and setting top ropes is just beyond my current capacity. This was Hugh’s first time climbing with ropes. Katja, much more experienced has moved from being satisfied with half an assent to cheering when toping a route.
We did it. We went to our first concert! Katja’s violin teachers were in the orchestra. So Katja and I went for the full effect of seeing the violin in use.
This weekend three of us were knocked out sick. Hugh V was as bright as could be. He was sick two days prior. So we did lots of snuggling and outside walks.
I can see Capitol Hill from my house. As a matter of personal preference I would not like my view of Capitol Hill to change.
However,
What if:
* The Capital hill PUD was capped at 14 new houses? What if the tree cut count was amended and lowered?
* One of those properties was used to buy out a Fairmont neighbor?
* Assume that the bought out Fairmont neighbor’s property was contiguous to the university?
* Then the University and Fairmont both donated 50% of the land needed to build a parking garage.
* A trust was set up to be jointly owned by the University and Fairmont Neighbors Association, and the trust owned the parking garage.
* Parking would be free for students, and would charge for events. Feeded parking would be used to offset maintenance cost of the garage.
* Other parking on the streets of Fairmont would be reduced to residents and their guests.
* Ask the architecture school at the U of O to submit designs - pro bono. As for designs that would integrate form and function and be within the character of the fairmont neighborhood estetic.
* Ask the Knight Foundation and the U of O alumni association to sponsor it.
* What size parking garage would be needed? 500 spaces? More?
* How many duplexes are in the planned PUD? How many ADUs?
I think our challenge as neighbors is not to simply oppose the Capital Hill PUD, but rather to come up with alternative economic options which preserve our ecological values and also help the current land owner realize the most from his economic investments. Rather than just “no” what alternatives have been proposed?