La Odisea: Part 1

Media Alert! This blog is back "on the air" and reporting from beautiful Asheville, North Carolina, after a long hiatus and cross-country odyssey. Here is an update on what we've been up to. Links to photos throughout.

After 12 years, it was tougher than we imagined to leave Portland and our wonderful friends and family there. The last couple of months were a series of dinners and gatherings as our "peeps" came out to help us move and wish us well. We felt very fortunate and very loved :)

Our dear friend Kenji flew all the way from Osaka, Japan, to accompany Keenan on the "great American road trip," from Portland, OR, to Miami, FL, carrying with them very special canine cargo, our boxer Mona. Kenji, an excellent documentarian, took many photos of their trek across 16 states in 12 days with "layovers" in Asheville and New Orleans.

Then I got to be a tourist in the city I grew up in and show Kenji around Miami, which was a blast. We'll have more photos to share soon, but these should keep you busy for a while! :)

MUCH LOVE,
Team Bartscher

Feliz Cumple, Papi!

You're still my hero. Te quiero mucho y lo voy a cantar de las montanas :)

"Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone, 

But in my mind, 

I know they will still live on and on, 

But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume? 

It isn't easy, but I'll try,

If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters, 

That would soar a thousand feet high, 

To Sir, with Love..."

Feelin' the Love in Florida

Team Bartscher together again. Everglades National Park, 11/11/11.

Howdy, partner

Lucky 13

Feliz aniversario, mi amor. Here's to our next adventure!

"I'm four yeeuhs ode"

Mia was very, very excited about her birthday party this year which we celebrated at the Portland Children's Museum. [I think it finally hit me that she was turning four, and I couldn't stop thinking (and laughing) about the Bill Cosby "Jeffrey" bit.]

Thank you kindly to Mimi and Breanne for taking such great pictures. Check out the slideshow here.

Maui Memories (videos)

We had a wonderful time in Maui with the family a few weeks ago. It was a very special and fun trip, and Mia had a lot of quality time with her cousin/hero Adam.

Every morning we rose to the sweet song of the island birds.

One day we went on a catamaran excursion to see wild dolphins. Mia (well-trained after watching many episodes of "Go, Diego, Go!") decided it was her duty to summon the dolphins with a high pitched squeal, which she proceeded to do the ENTIRE boat trip.

We all shared our photos in an online album here.

Aloha!