Rainbow Update

Things are really moving along on the Rainbow house. We are pretty excited about the way the back yard and the river approach are coming out. During the winter the water will for sure cover these steps, so it will be interesting to see what we have come next spring.
Jenna has decided that we could use even more rocks, but I really like the way she has a fire pit surrounded out on the crest of the hill next to the river. When the shrubs are in it will soften this up significantly.

The cabinets look great. Click on the photo to see the hardware that Paula picked out. It looks great. We will have 3cm granite on the coutertops and island. To the left of the island will be the dining table which is a 14 foot length of reclaimed bowling alley!
The fireplace is actually for a wood stove. We have ordered a soapstone Vermont Castings wood stove. To the left of where the stove will sit is a wood box which will be on a electric motor from the basement.

At the last minute, I decided that another retro door was in order, so we replaced the master bedroom door. I am hoping that the "employees only" will be a signal to the grandkids to stay clear!

This is an expensive project, but Paula and I are having a blast doing it. We are now hoping to be in by Thanksgiving, and looking forward to having a lot of family home at that time!

Storm Before the Calm

How do you build a house, commute coast to coast by plane and by car, and do the birth of a grandbaby? Family of course! Having Vial Pham acting as general contractor has been the best decision we ever made. Besides it's actually fun to be working with the kids.
A virtual army of guys showed up this morning for example and began cleaning the bank down to the river. The view of the river is a big part of this house and this will be a beautiful feature.
Chuong is really happy working on the house, and we are equally happy to know his attention will be enjoyed for years.
I don't think Paula really feels this way. Hoa seems to recognize that. He too is having fun with this project.
Everything seems to be happening at once. Apparently the cabinets will be done in the next few days.

I am sure the county will be glad to get the parking lot back for Eagle's Nest Park.

Home at Last!

After 8 days Paula and I finally arrived home about 7 pm on Saturday evening. What a trip. We stopped at courthouses in Mass, NH, Vermont, New York, Penn, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon. Nearly 150 courthouses, from beautiful domed buildings from the 1800 to gleaming glass and steel structures with frankly much more functionality than charm.



Along the way we visited Paula's mother and daughter Alicia in Utah, and my brother Jeff and his family in Montana. Even got to watch his boy's Phil, Jake and Clark play football!


A fun trip in a fun car for a fun reason. Because I forgot to take the bill of sale with me, we came all the way without any documents for the car. I did have proof of insurance but it expired before we left. We were stopped a couple of times, but no problem when I explained! Made me proud of our system, and anxious to get back into the courtroom.


Most of all I am finding it more and more that spending time with Paula is better than spending time with anyone else. I have great friends and have been lucky to travel and experience a great deal, but frankly, without Paula, nothing is really complete. I can't wait for more adventures together.

Almost All the Way!

This is a report at the end of day 5 in the cross country road trip with the documenting of America's county courthouse as the objective. Paula has been a good sport as we get up at dawn and hustle ever west in seach of the next courthouse. Often the last one of the day is taken in very little light, but it makes for some interesting shots.


Most of the courthouses across the midwest are beautiful and surrounded by a central square. Many can be seen for miles as the bell tower becomes visible. It is really dissapointing when you come across one that has been torn down and rebuilt with a modern box.


If you are interested, take a look at www.hoalawman.wordpress.com. That is the American Courthouse site where I am planning to put at least one good picture of every courthouse in the country!Paula is my navigator and is in charge of making sure I eat!




At this courthouse in Nebraska, we caught the local version of a demonstration. They were protesting the continued service of a county commissioner, and at least one who lived on a dirt road was not too hopeful!
Occasionally we come across something particularly curious. Many courthouses have famous people like Lincoln or Washington busts on the courthouse, and a lot of the scales of justice. Some have a famous local person, but this was the first one with a Rams Bust on the side. Wyoming of course.
Sometimes the destruction of the old Historic Courthouse is really sad. Here in Nebraska we saw the courthouse that so far gets the UGLY award.
I try to get at least one shot with the car in it at every stop so that I can prove that the photo's are really mine.

Sometimes I just can't resist the car!

Then there is the occasional shot where Paula catches me taking a picture of her taking a picture of me.

Bottom line, this is an amazing country. We are seeing the country in a whole new way!

Every courthouse has it's stories, and I am really ready to get back into the courthouse as a participant! I am jealous as I see the lawyers coming and going!

The Great Courthouse Adventure

Where in the world are Rich, Paula and the Car?
How about Kirtland, Ohio
Paula and I are at the end of day three of the cross country trip from Vermont to Oregon where our goal is to take pictures of at least 100 County Courthouses. It has really been fun to drive the back roads and see the historic courthouses in many of the little towns along the way. We have also done some of the big cities and really enjoyed the energy. The drill is that Paula loads the next address in to the GPS while I hop out and take the pictures. Often she is sitting accrros the street in front of the Post Office!


Or in front of the park such as here in Cleveland.
We ended the day last night in Macomb Illinois. Watch here for more posts as we make our way across the US!

What a Week!

Got to have dinner at Pham's on Friday night. Also had dinner at Nic and Hailey's on Tuesday night! I am well taken care of. Dillon showed how great he is at riding a bike! Notice no training wheels. In fact see the next picture where he is doing tricks!

Awsome huh! So the week went like this. Leave Windsor Vermont at 9 am Sunday morning, where Paula dropped me off at the Manchester Airport. 17 hours later, after layovers in Washington DC. and San Francisco, I made it home. Monday I participated in a golf tournament for the bank, Tuesday we had a hearing at the Oregon Court of Appeals on Tanglewood, Wednesday flew to Utah for a CLE and and dinner with Alicia. (Saw the fun and great Doug and Jen Shumways!). Stayed with Grandma Wright. Thursday met with members of the Utah Senate about the Utah Common Interest Ownership Act. Friday hearing with the Presiding Judge in Clackamas County to talk about our upcoming 6 week trial on Sept. 29, and today (Sat.) picked up over 900 pounds of meat and managed to get it stuffed in the freezers. In the meantime, have been trying to pay attention to the farm and the new house. See the pictures below. Can't wait to get back to Paula on Wednesday and come home for a while. Will be driving the new car back from Vermont starting next week.
The grapes are bearing fruit in only the second year. These were nothing but tiny twigs in the ground last spring and we are already getting fruit.
The Rainbow house is really coming along. The view from the loft balcony is going to be great!
They finished staining the wood on the deck and I really like the warmth!
They have started landscaping, and Jenna Bayer, our neighbor, friend and world renowned landscape designer has found a great use for some boulders that came out of the hole when they built our new office building last year. It is going to be beautiful!
I am really liking the trim finishes. The dark green really sets off the doors and the roof trim.
The fireplace rock will be up next week, and this room is really coming along. The door into the Master Bedroom say's employee's only on it! I love the truss over the balcony rail. I designed that one at church!
With these big gllass doors up, we will really feel like we are living outside!

As usual, we seem to have plenty going on in our lives. Rich

The Newest Grandbaby

On Tuesday the whole Larson clan came to Chelle's house for Mike Cammocks birthday. We gave the kids camera's and this is Chelle with Eddie still not quite ready. About midnight, Chelle had not felt Eddie move for several hours, and got concerned. She and Brig left for the hospital while Paula and I stayed with the kids. About 6 am, Chelle called, and we had Chris Cammock (a Larson sister) come stay with the kids while we went to the hospital.
By 7:30 am, Eddie had arrived. We were all amazed at the miracle of one minute invisible in the womb and the next minute greeting us with all the gusto of a newborn. 9 lbs, 1 oz. 2o inches long. And he is named Edmund Richard!
A few hours later we went home and got the kids who were thrilled to see both Mom and Ed. Both (actually everybody) was glowing!
So here is the new Brig and Chelle Larson Family. And it really is just as bucolic as it looks!