Back to Sun Valley

I returned to Sun Valley, Idaho for Silver Auctions annual labor day auction again this year. With some of the restrictions easing up, it was the first large even held at the Sun Valley lodge this year. Social distancing and masks were required and because it was held in large open tent there was plenty of room for everyone to spread out. Around 90 cars were consigned with 75% of them going to new buyers. The top sale was a 2020 Corvette selling for $127,000.

The only color for a Corvette.

7BB504F3-5C32-454E-897A-B0EC1234A45C_1_105_c.jpeg

Rare Z! 900 sold for $10,500.

D44E3894-5394-4C6C-B8D9-B728111ACA2D_1_105_c.jpeg

This 1987 Honda Prelude was an one owner car, it looked new and sold for $4100.00

Planting something new

I’ve always planted a backyard garden, its so easy to grow your own food here in the PNW . The weather conditions are perfect for growing your favorite vegetables. This year I planted potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, beans, peas, tomatoes and beets. Plus a bunch of my favorite herbs.

One of my old friends started a small batch microbrew a couple of years ago, so I thought I would try my hand at growing hops for his latest brew. Almost all hops used in beer production are grown in either western or central Washington.

I choose the Cascade and Nugget variety. I ordered them online from a local grower, and planted them in some of my best soil. It took awhile but in a short time they had grow to a height of fifteen feet in a matter of months, and in the last 30 days my first hops have appeared.

Looking forward to see how they’ll taste when they’re added to the new brew.

5BC3353A-F82C-4D33-AC4E-E2AC34A87CB5_1_201_a.jpeg

Cascade Hops

Fourth of July

The holiday gods blessed Oregon with perfect weather for the 4th of July weekend. I decided to get out to town for few hours, and headed east for the open roads of central Oregon. I was surprised with the amount traffic, I guess everyone felt like getting out of town too.

This time I took hwy 26, which takes you around the base of Mt. Hood. While the sun was out, the mountain air was cool and crisp, but as I drop elevation and headed closer to central Oregon it started warming up. While, it would have been nice to be enjoying a big celebration like in years past, getting out alone on the open road is a great way to celebrate too.

9A06BD64-1B02-4864-A290-DFD8171A2B5C_1_201_a.jpeg

Ride around Mt. Hood was a shot of the mountain looking to the north.

AD5474AE-2D25-4259-97A8-96170B140B26_1_201_a.jpeg

Social distancing shadow.

Getting out

The dry weather has arrived in Portland just days after the summer solstice, hopefully our rainy June will be replaced with sunny days in July.

I did manage to squeeze one bike ride at the beginning of the month, I headed out of Portland in search of nicer weather in central Oregon. I was optimistic, so I headed east and managed to out run the rain. My luck held out the whole day until I was ready to cross back into Oregon at the Bridge of Gods. I got caught in one of the biggest, wettest rainstorm I’ve ever been in.

I got soaked! It was raining so hard the cars were pulling off the highway. I pressed on for the next thirty miles and was almost dried out when about ten blocks from my house, the Oregon weather gods emptied their clouds on me again.

I’m hoping to get out of town for another trip after the fourth of July, wish me luck!

B7369CB6-0839-4FBC-91CC-AA73B59F9A2D_1_201_a.jpeg

A weekend off

What did you do this Memorial Day weekend?

It is rare for me to have a day-off. A day-off without auctions, fundraisers, kids. But I found myself in that exact position this past Memorial Day weekend. So what does a free weekend in the life of an auctioneer look like?

Oregon wine. Pinot noirs and roses especially. The local coffeehouse and bakery. I specifically favor the Mexican pour-over at Extracto Coffee here in NE PDX. Then conveniently next door is the berry scone that Jeffrey at Ville Velo Bake Shop bakes fresh and sells out daily. We picked up a loaf of brioche bread this week too. That'll be tomorrow's Memorial Day French toast brunch.

I like to cook. Huckleberry pancakes and crisp smokey bacon was this morn's breakfast. Yesterday were bacon egg bagel breakfast sandwiches. ABC Seafood Market in SE Portland fed us dinner the past two nights. Fresh in-season spot prawns in garlic butter starters both times. I've never seen prawns quite like it. 6 inches long and 1 inch around in diameter. Steamed Manila clams in a rose wine broth last night. Fresh whole Dungeness crab the night before. 3 entire pounds worth.

I love to walk. I do once or twice every day that I can. Had a chance to get on my Schwinn bicycle yesterday too. Strolling or biking my neighborhood is one of my favorite past-times. I never tire of it. It's a great little neighborhood that's growing fast and furiously. New houses, new families. It reminds me of where I was at a decade ago.

My son Spencer graduates next month. He's secured a summer job and starting college in the fall. We're looking at getting him his first car. It's pretty incredible how quickly the time has passed. It's not looking to slow down anytime soon. Enjoy those diapers and report cards, scraped knees and family vacations. Pretty soon you'll be looking on from a distance, at other people's young little families, maybe even as a grandparent!