The first fight of Christmas

The girls get into a good natured tug-of-war over their new Wii video game console on Christmas morning 2010.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Chris and family

Willie the rabbit

Delaney pointed out to me that I had not put a picture of her and her, not so new, rabbit on the blog. So, here to make amends is a picture of Willie the Polish Rabbit and his Mistress.

The bunny came up for adoption late this summer from family friends and Delaney started a lobbying campaign that included hanging posters around the house asking to "Free Willie." He joined the family in early October.

Thanks to the Nipping family for Willie and his accessories and to Meg Whipp for donation of the 2 story bunny cage.

Grandpa Gary engaged!

My Dad Gary Pietsch and his fiance Marge Butts came for a visit to Oregon this weekend.

They have known each other for years through church and supporting each other through the illnesses of their spouses. Last summer Dad asked Marge to go to a fund raiser for the respite program at the Life Care Center in Sandpoint and they have been dating ever since.

We had a very nice visit over 3 days. Marge is a wonderful person and they make a beautiful couple. The Oregon Pietschs are extremely supportive. They plan to be married New Years Day in Sandpoint.

Chris

State Cross Country

Congratulations to Delaney and her Creswell Middle School Cross Country team who showoff their 3rd place team trophy at the Oregon Middle School State Championships last weekend. That is Delaney on the left.

Other members of the team who qualified to compete at the state level were Maddy O'Connor, Tauschia Arneson, Cece Holst, Olivia Powell, Shea O'Connor and Hope Powell. The squad was lead by three top 25 finisher including Maddy O'Connor who finished the 3K run in 16th place with a time of 12:23. Olivia Powell finished 18 with sister Hope Powell at close 19th place finisher.

Delaney was a trooper. She PR'd the hilly 3k despite the muddy conditions and driving rain, finishing in 42nd place with a time of 13:32. Nearly 100 girls lined up to competed in the Saturday event which was held at Fernhill Park in Portland.

Here is a link to the Creswell Chronicle story

Cross Country

Tiernan and Delaney competed in their 3rd cross country meet of the season this week, this time in Florence, Ore. Running in a large field that included over 100 middle school girls, on a challenging course, Delaney placed 18th and Tiernan 67th. Delaney carded the 6th fastest time among girls on the Creswell Middle School team and Tiernan used her kick to pass several competitors on the last climb to the finish. Way to go girls!

Doodle 4 Google

We just learned Delaney was one of only 2 state finalists in the Doodle 4 Google art contest. She created a piece of artwork using the word "Google" to answer the question "If I Could Do Anything I Would…"? She was one of only 400 winners picked from over 33,000 entries across the United States.

Click here to see the other winners. Ya Delaney!

Shama Lama Ding Dong at Dexter Lake

Our friends the Sprague family hosted us to a fun night boating on Dexter Lake last weekend.

(The Dexter Lake Club next to where we put the boat in was the setting for bar scene in the 1978 comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House" where Otis Day and the Knights play Shama Lama Ding Dong.)

Ron on the helm drug everybody who wanted to go behind the boat on a cool high tech inner tube. I have never heard the kids scream that load before. "A LITTLE BIT LOUDER NOW, a little bit softer now . . . . "

Have a look.

Chris

Fireworks in Creswell!

Had a fun 4th of July in Creswell this year. Here is a glimpse of the end of the day as friends and family enjoyed the fireworks behind our house.

Chris

A visit to the Skinner Butte Eagles

Delaney had the school day off last week, so we drove up to the butte in Eugene to have a look at the Bald Eagle family that live on the north side of the downtown vista. Be sure and check out a video I did for the Register-Guard that also published on the web this week.

ChrisPietschMedia.com

I am excited to announce the launch of my new website: ChrisPietschMedia.com. It took a little doing but with the help of ModX expert and colleague Ian Doremus I was able to create a site capable of hosting all of my eclectic multimedia interests.

Please click the link here or the image above and come have a look.

Chris

Spring Piano Recital

Tiernan and Delaney performed at the studio of their piano teacher Mary Ellen Yost to end the spring term this year. Both girls passed their respective syllabus challenges and will be advancing to the next level in the fall.

Delaney turns 11

Delaney Pietsch turned 11years old May 2nd. She celebrated in grand style with a party Saturday and culminating with a trip to the garden plant nursery on Sunday. Here is a photo gallery of some of the highlights.

Track Record

Tiernan's 6th grade record in the girls 100M Dash was posted in the gym recently, so of course we had to run over and get a photo of it. She is laying the groundwork for beating the 7th grade record this spring. Stand by for further updates.

Zags 2010

I put together a short highlight video of the Creswell Zags basketball teams for use on their website. Delaney makes a couple of appearances, so why not get some more bang for the buck?

Chris

Wesley A. “Pat” Rojan 1915-2010

Wesley A. “Pat” Rojan, 94, of Hope, Idaho entered into rest on Thursday, February 25, 2010, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Pat was born on March 17, 1915 in Hope, Idaho, the son of August and Anna Rojan. He lived almost his entire life in the Hope area.

Pat went into the US Navy “Seabees” on July 16, 1942. He was stationed on a small island in the Pacific, the Nanumea Islands, Southwest of the Hawaiian Islands. He was attached to the 16th Naval Construction Battalion; it was in the Seabees where he perfected his carpentry skills. This began his lifelong profession and he spent the rest of his working days building homes in Hope, Idaho. He built as many as 25 custom homes in the area, including his own home. He also built a boat marina in what was known, to the locals, as “Pat’s Bay.”

He married Margaret Blair on July 22, 1970, in Sandpoint and they were married for 32 years.

Pat is survived by his sister Meryl (Janie) VanStone of Hope, Idaho and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Margaret, 3 brothers Chester, Carl, and Hardy, and his 3 sisters Gladys, Marie, and Blanche.

The family would like to thank the Life Care Center for the wonderful care they gave him. He remarked to family members that they were all “Angels” to him. We will miss you “Uncle Pat.”

Tiernan earns 4.0

Tiernan poses with Creswell Middle School Leadership Advisor Ken Donner after receiving a Superintendent's Award for earning a 4.0 grade point average so far this school year.

JJ Pietsch in Haiti

Cousin J.J. Pietsch is in Haiti covering the earthquake aftermath for AFP. She is based out of France and is following French rescue workers helping the survivors. See her latest video here.

The Art of the SuperHero

The Art of the Superhero from Chris Pietsch on Vimeo.

A short video of Delaney at her art opening at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art Museum. See our previous entry for more info.