We Put Out the Welcome Mat - Inga & Sean

Welcome mat gift from Grant & Kaileen sits on the gneiss foyer entry ready for Inga and Sean's arrival

We literally rolled out the welcome mat, awaiting the arrival of our daughter and her steadfast boyfriend, Sean at The Pilchuck. Inga had plans to come up and greet her mother on Christmas Day, but I waived her off, saying I'd like a few days with her mother all to myself before the kids came along. 

But once the kids got here on December 30th, it was grand!

Mom bakes for the kids

We used the kitchen as a kitchen should be used; cooking for a family, cooking for visitors, visiting while cooking for family. It is all good. We ate, we slept, we talked, we lounged by the wood fire. We enjoyed the holiday and one another before they returned to Portland on New Year's Day. 

Texas Pecan Pie - One of Sue's Greatest Recipes

In early December, Inga's Subaru had been stolen for the second time this year in the lawless city of Portland. It had been recovered and reported by a citizen's group who helps victims of auto theft find their stolen vehicles. Under trying circumstances, Inga and Sean cleaned out the dirty drug needles and dope paraphernalia strewn around the slashed upholstery. They dumped the stolen clothing and electronics that were of no interest to the Police. Then Inga had Suby Suneson towed to the repair shop and let them and her insurance settle on the course of action.  While being repaired, they drove the four hours north in Sean's car for a relaxing few days on the Pilchuck.  *Post Script: Once repaired and street legal, Inga, tired of hyper vigilance while leaving her car parked on a public street sold it for a modest price and uses public transportation. 

Sean and Inga rolled through the gate in mid-afternoon and proceeded to make themselves at home in the sparse, but functional house. They had the guest bedroom upstairs, her parents took the downstairs bedroom and bath. No doors until March 1, 2023, but we four made it work quite well.

Inga & Sean arrive at the Pilchuck, a 4 hour drive north of Portland.

They demand a tour, and their wish is my enjoyable command. Off we go to check on the building progress of the house. 

We tour the loft/sunrise tearoom/studio - sewing room, above the office. This will be the last portion of the house to get finished. It has a granite exterior façade that faces east and catches the morning sun. Great for a quite loft above the rest of the house to start the day with a warm cup between your palms. I have painted it in warm, ombre colors at the top to invoke the sunrise. The lower part is in lightening shade of ombre blues to invoke the lifting of the Pacific Northwest morning fog. 

Downstairs large, forest glade bedroom

Next stop, we descend into the basement bedroom, the largest of the three bedrooms in the house. I am working to make this room a thematic one that brings to mind the peaceful ambiance of a green, forest glade. 

The downstairs bedroom also has a luxurious bathroom with a large soaking tub, tiled walls, double vanity and a pebbled floor that swirls around the tub and into the shower and also branches off and flows into the private water closet.

Tour complete, let's eat. 

Mom does mangoes

Inga loves her red meat. As do I. Her visit is a wonderful occasion to buy a rib roast and cook it medium rare. Open a bottle of wine and enjoy life and family. And so it was done. Phil, my general contractor is kind of sweet on my wife. He wanted to make sure that I didn't mess up my chance when Sue came up for the holidays. He brought a couple of bottles of wine for us to celebrate. I thanked him and told him that the Moscato was a favorite of Sue's. He noticed that I had some mangoes in the fridge, and then returned with a bottle of mango Moscato. She does like the bubbly sweetness and can handle maybe two glasses before she gets into giggly drinking bubbles. She can be fun. 

A bottle of Mango Moscato, a gift from Phil Jubie, our General Contractor

Fine dining on the Pilchuck

Sean works on scripting a YouTube gamer's presentation for his channel. Mother and daughter talk.