Condo in Lake Oswego!

Since Quin starts grad school at Lewis and Clark in Portland, we decided to try to save money by just buying a condo for them to live in. Rent prices are absurd and buying this condo was relatively inexpensive compared to other cities. We just spent a couple weeks packing, driving the SUPER long drive there, and getting the place all set up for Quin and our family when we visit. The area is so beautiful with huge trees and flowers everywhere. Let's start with this ridiculous selfie just because we had to have a picture with our new place. Too bad Mason and Dylan couldn't be with us. 

The windows in this place are amazing and let in so much light, especially considering that we bought a corner unit. This is the main bedroom--the windows almost go to the floor!

Jekyll likes to look at squirrels out of the bathroom window.

Here is the kitchen before any decorating. The decorating is still in progress but getting there.

The second bedroom has a big loft that will function as a third bedroom once the furniture gets up there. Quin ordered a futon bed that folds into a sofa for that space, but it arrived after we left and it is too heavy for Quin to drag up all those stairs.

I can't get over all the trees! This is a view from the small back deck.

Jekyll and Otis like the steps up to the loft.

Otis likes to look out of the window and see the birds.

I should have taken more pictures of us out and about in Portland but didn't remember until the last evening when we had dinner at this cute food truck park. One of the best nights was meeting up with my first best friend from pre-school and through the years, Susannah, and her daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law. I wish we had gotten a picture. We also had a lovely lunch with our fabulous realtor, Robin. The rest of the time was spent looking for picture frames at various Good Wills and visiting our new best friends at Lowe's daily, sometimes more than daily as we looked for flooring, paint colors, plants, etc. We got the painting done, but poor Andy was stuck writing a brief for work while we were there, so he didn't have time to put wood floors down to replace the carpet on the steps. There are three levels coming up from the garage so lots of stairs. We'll get to that on another trip! I can't fully describe what a great place I think Portland is. Every single person we came across was friendly and chatty. We saw a bike parade in Sellwood and there was a parallel parking competition which we missed unfortunately, but those Portlanders showed up for it! There was also a huge community concert on a soccer field just down the road from the condo. It makes me laugh to think that there are those who think of Portland as a "war zone".

Oh, look! Quin just sent me some pictures AFTER decorating so here they are! Yay!