A snow day, just when it is needed

Portland doesn't do well in the snow. Sometimes this makes me laugh and shake my head. Sometimes it makes me thankful when I am ready for and in need of an unplanned day off from work. That was how this day was way back in February.

This is where Ezme spent most of her time...sleeping, on or in between my legs. She was a good source of heat. We cuddled, I crocheted and she slept.

This was the view of outside.

Such a pretty snow.

Late in the morning I decided to take a nap. When I woke up this was the view out my back windows. Where'd the snow go? Don't worry, it snowed again later in the afternoon.

Thanks for a quiet day inside, snow day.

Attention

It has been brought to my attention (from a few people) that I have been neglecting the blog. It is true. I can't deny it. The last post was on April 1st. Well over a month ago, and that was even a scheduled blog, so I don't count it, really. I don't really have an excuse, or a good one anyway. Life has just been moving briskly along.

Anyhow, I just downloaded a load of pictures from my camera and will make it my goal in the next week to update. Look for more posts, mostly, really back-dated...to February, eh em. Actually, I cringe to say, venture all the way back to January if you dare...I am more behind than I had though...Sorry about that. Please forgive!

"The Earth Laughs in Flowers." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Hood River Valley is a gorgeous area. I love to make the drive and drive the "Fruit Loop" normally this would be done in the fall at harvest time. This year, I ventured into the gorge to head to the Fruit Loop to see the blooming fruit trees in all their glory. It was a stunning day to go. Sunny the whole time. I packed a lunch and headed to Panorama Point Park for a nice picnic lunch among the sunshine and blossoms.

Row upon row and blooming trees...

Looking out over the valley.

The valley, blooming trees and Mt Hood.

A gorgeous day~

Thirty Floors Up

At our March Girls Group we decided we needed to do something special for our April group. An outing. Downtown. 30 stories up. Home of Portland City Grill. Host to a lovely evening. Only one of the four of us had ever been. Away we went.

Looking North from out window seating.

It has been a cloudy, rainy week, but the sun came out for us.

You can see the Willamette River and the Broadway Bridge.

Looking NW.


Me & Jamie

Rachel and Rose

The sign in the lobby.

Few of the exterior of the building from the street.

Such a pretty building on such a pretty evening.

Our group!

We all had amazing dinners and desserts. Rachel had a martini and I had a glass of wine. It was all delicious. What a treat and special evening with friends!

March Poem of the Month

The River
sung by Garth Brooks

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores...

And, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide...

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all...

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
'Til the river runs dry

No time like the present...

I've always enjoyed watching movies. I've always wanted to watch all the Academy Award Nomination films before the annual award ceremony. I never have. I still aspire to that. I had a friend who did that this year and she is currently my hero. To branch off of that hope, I decided that I would start at the first Academy Award Best Picture Winner and work my way through the LIST! I rented the first winner, Wings, on my way home from church today. And so it begins--I am all settled with the VHS (yes, VHS) in the tape player and am ready to dive into the 1927 world of black and white, epic war film and love story and the beginning of many great movies to come. Thank you Movie Madness for aiding in this indulgence!

Cheers! :)

*post-film viewing critic from a very unqualified movie critic: I thought that the film was well done, especially for the time it was made. There are some pretty impressive aerial shots. I do remember now that silent films are hard for me, as I love to multi-task and needing to pay close attention to a movie, whether silent or foreign and subtitled, is a bit more challenging to me.

Poem of the Month

Unofficial Taps Lyrics
attributed to Robert Ellicombe

Day is done,
gone the sun,
from the lakes
from the hills from the sky,
all is well,
safely, rest,
God is near.

Fading light,
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky
Gleaming bright,
From afar,
Drawing, near,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This, we, know,
God is near.

Baptism and Llamas

You may ask...really?! What do Llamas have to do with Baptism?! Don't worry, I asked the same thing.

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Crazy that I would even think to ask...duh, Stephanie!

I've met these Llamas...pretty reputable fellows if I do say so.

Crazy days call for Crazy Hair

We do crazy things at work. We even do crazy hair! :)

Me and my co-worker Donna. Watch out...I did that to her and could do it to you if necessary.

Come join us sometime!

2 down, 11 to go

When I was in college I learned how to crochet. It was always something that facinated me. My Aunt Jonna taught me. I was home in Casper on Christmas break. We were sitting on the floor of her living room with the sun graciously streaming in, all while it was brisk and cold outside. I challenged myself to make a scarf. Fairly simple. I did complete it. I still wear it. You can definitely tell it is beginner though. My stitches were inconsistent, waxing and waining, tight then loose and back to tight.

In the years that passed I always kept yarn on hand and would pick up the crochet hook and yarn every now and then-just to make sure I didn't forget to fingering for crochet. So my hands would remember. They always did.

Then a couple weeks ago when I was at Stasia's she was showing me her upcoming project. I found an afghan in her book that I loved. I couldn't get it out of my mind so I decided I would attempt to make it. NOTE: It's been probably six or seven years since I learned this craft and only ever completed one project. Makes this daughting. Also a good challenge.

So, without further adieu, I'd like to introduce you to my next crafting challenge....(minus the baby)...It is called "Twisted Pinwheel" and will most likely accompany me on any journeys for the next 12-24 months.

This is the completion of 2 of the "motifs" out of 52 that the pattern calls for and the 72 that I actually hope to complete. I'd like it to be a bit larger than planned via pattern.

This is the yarn. I'm really disappointed that the picture doesn't do the color justice at all. It is a deep, beautiful purple and has quickly become a color I love.

It's been fun to remember crochet, reminisce about my Aunt teaching me and other family crocheting in my presence and I even learned that my dad was taught to crochet and enjoyed it in his younger days. Stay tuned for project updates...who knows, maybe I'll surprise us all and have it done sooner than later!

January Poem of the Month

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!



by William Arthur Ward

A Minute to Win it?

I am lucky to have friends that make me laugh so hard. Add into that playing a crazy game and then there are even more laughs to be had. I was feeling pretty miserable with a cold, but had a great time with this great group playing our version of "Minute To Win It." I had never watched the show, but had fun playing the versions of the tasks that Rose, Rachel and Jamie came up with.

Some of the "events" included: balancing three golf balls on top of each other.

I failed. Jamie did great!

Fishing pennies out of panty hose without touching your hands together in less than one minute.

We all had good form. I dominated this event!

Then came balancing marbles on chopsticks and moving them across the room.

Woohoo Jamie!

Rachel and Rose strapped a pedometer to their heads and bounced enough to get a certain amount of "steps" registered onthe pedometer. I passed on this one, or I may have passed out.

Crazy girls!

We balanced dominoes on tongue depressors. Lots of crossed eye goodness going on.

There was a popcan balancing act. Rachel measures up the task at hand.

Such a lovely group!

Here Comes the Bride...

One of my dear friends, Danielle and her fiance Garret are getting married in October. I am in the wedding, and have yet to contribute anything of use to them and the wedding plans, with the exception of accompanying Danielle to the January Portland Bridal Show. Danielle had tickets for Sunday morning. Fewer people, ideally. Not so much. When we arrived we started following the line to the end. And I swear, it was a mile long. Probably not really, but it sure felt that way to us at the time. In the picture below you can see the line in front of us AND the line the next level down. Going to a bridal show you definetly see all kinds of brides, mother and soon-to-be-mother-in-laws. Even a few grooms. Very few.

Welcome to the Portland Bridal Show
Danielle and me after the 5 hour adventure. Lots of good ideas and cake tasting and fashion show watching later...do we look tired?!

Look for actual wedding photos and details in the fall!

Strolling through a garden on a cold winter day

Even though this post is dated in accordance to when the event actually occurred, I beckon from months later to capture the moments...

Every January the Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown Portland hosts a free day. January in Portland usually herolds rain and cold, and rain. This beautiful January day, however, didn't bring the rain, only the cold. But cold is managable if you aren't wet at the same time. I joined Megan and Corina for a jaunt downtown to lay eyes on the the one city block, 'most authentic Chinese garden outside of China,' which was primarily constructed by Chinese workers that came from Portland's sister city, Suzhou.

Even though it was January, there is a growing season year round at the garden and these are some of the beautiful sites we saw...

Above: Lake Zither

Loved the rock walkways.

And the tiled roofs.

I really love the above picture. Shows how in the midst of the city the garden really is.

Megan captured this shot of me at one of the circular walk throughs of the garden.

It as a beautiful day for a stroll in the garden, and I vow to return in warmer weather to experience it at that time also.