"Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose." ~Gertrude Stein

Portland Taiko is celebrating their 20th anniversary this season and were playing to celebrate that at Washington Park's Summer Festival, which is always a great venue at the Rose Garden Amphitheater. I made my way up late in the afternoon so I could get a good spot. Took dinner, a book, my crochet, but only ended up really people watching. 

There was an South Indian dance group that performed one dance solo and one dance with the Taiko group...Japan meets South India. Not something that makes sense in my mind, but fun to see in person.

It was a lovely evening and afterward I stopped to smell the roses-literally.

It was also the Super Moon Full Moon night and this is the glimpse I got of it. Pictures don't do it justice. It looked amazingly large and wonderful.

I can't believe it's almost mid-August. Summer is flying.

National Night Out!

Portland celebrates National Night Out right! There are all sorts of family friendly events at Portland Parks all over the city. Churches also host events and this year the church that Dave pastors at was hosting such a party! BBQ, lawn games, crafts for the kids, oldies station DJ and other fun. Since it was a Tuesday night I joined them since that is my usual night to spend time with this lovely family. We had a great time!

Josie and I spent time dancing, which has been "our thing" the last several months. Stasia video taped a bit of it. It was sweet.

Ella and me! Isn't she sweet?!

Croquet time! Toddler version, anyway!

Limbo...how low can you go?

Ahhhh, what a lovely way to spend a summer evening. Oh, and the police came to say hi as well as a fire truck after we'd left.

Obon Fest 2014

I ventured to Obon Fest this year again after a several year hiatus. Listening to two taiko (Japanese drum) groups and people watching.

This group is called En-Taiko and is a group of youth taiko performers and they were awesome. I'd never seen them before.

I tried to upload my favorite of two videos of them, but it wouldn't load...so you get my #2 pick for now...

 

Then came Portland Taiko...a group I've seen a number of times and enjoy each time.

 And a video of them....

A lovely, yet hot Portland summer early evening!

Unphotographable: Love in a Room

In the past I had read somewhere of someone capturing in words the moments of their day that were unphotographable. I experience many of these such moments and have decided I need to be better about recording them in the written word. So, my Unphotographable moment for tonight is about the unseen, but felt love in a room.

As I often write, I am beyond blessed with the wonderful friends in my life and as we age, I've become blessed with the children of these friends being a part of my life. I am writing this tonight (7/29), but will wait to post it until I've filled in a few more posts that I am behind on chronologically.

This evening I made my usual Tuesday trek to Stasia and Dave's home for my ritual weekly visit. I am blessed by this family of five that embrace me as one of their own. This Tuesday was different as Dave wasn't leaving for his usual Tuesday meetings, so Stasia and I would sneak out once the kids were in bed. There was the usual wind down to bedtime routine. Snack time, reading time, teeth brushing time, dancing time. I started dancing with Josie and Myles months ago and my heart is happy each time I pick Josie up and she triumphantly says "hand" with her hand up as that is how I taught her way back when so we could "dance" in a slow dance position. Stasia got a video once I think-I should inquire. We always sing our own song, either "Jesus Loves Me" or "The ABC Song" with varying volumes and lengths of squeals of delight and looks of pure joy...from Miss Stephanie and whichever child is in my arms. As I struggle with keeping Myles in my arms and on my hip I can't help but wonder when the wee little one that he was grew into the lanky-almost-Kindergartener that he is now. That I suppose is one unphotographable moment, but not necessarily the one that touched me most that evening...

Because this was an out of the ordinary evening with Dad being home, we all (kids as airplanes in my arms) made our way to their room for the in-the-room bedtime routine. Three adults to two kids. There were hugs, and evening prayers and kisses and then there was one or two 'just one more hug' requests. As Myles and Josie got love from Mom and Dad and Miss Stephanie I couldn't help but reflect on the love in the room. I pray that these kids recognize the love that surrounds them in their life. The love that surrounds them when hugged by any important person in their life. They've got Mom and Dad and grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and cousins and they've got me and we all love them. I hope that they always feel that. I also pray that all children would know this love that these kids are blessed with because it is amazing how much love is in a room at a time and how immeasurable it truly is. Love in a room is so tangible, so amazing and so unphotographable in its entirety and essence.

An old, but priceless, poor quality camera phone picture during bedtime routine one night months and months and months ago.

She turns 1!!

Happy Birthday, Ella! 

This ever precious Goddaughter of mine turned one today and her big party was Sunday! Here she is in all her birthday girl glory!

 She knew how to attack that cake!

Momma and the birthday girl!

Miss Stephie and the birthday girl!

 I love these pictures!

Miss Stephie and the birthday girl's (very wet) big sister, Josie! This picture cracks me up!

 Present opening time!

 I picked out this motion sensored, moving, talking cat that was a big hit (for more than just the birthday girl)!!

 Happy day to you, Miss Ella! I can't wait to see how you grow and change in the coming years and all the ones after that! Lots of love!

La Luna

One of my favorite short films. Could watch it over and over and over. And over again. Love!

Childhood Rememberances

One of my favorite cartoons when I was young, and I very vividly remember today was a Disney silent show about living trees. I particularly remember the part where the lady tree is getting ready and "powders" her face with dandelion seeds. Posting for easy watching and nostalgic purposes.

BBQ and cupcakes!

Jenny and Sara and I indulged in amazing BBQ tonight. When I left I didn't think I'd need to eat for 24 hours because I was that full and taking leftovers home. Mmmmm....

We had a lovely time on this warm Portland afternoon/evening.

In January or February I had seen a kit for a needlepoint cupcake wreath and bought is at Jenny's encouragement as Sara had inadvertently become nicknames "Cupcake" at work and she is still reminded of this. SO...I finally got her cupcake wreath done and was able to gift it to her. She loved it, which I was glad about.

Happy sunny weekend!

Welcome to this world little one!

Holly, Brian and Isaiah welcomed baby girl Bethany Paige to the world on July 24th. I was glad to visit and meet her and hold her. Such a sweet bundle of little girl goodness. 

Big brother, baby sister and me! 

I'm so blessed in my life to have all these lovely children around!

A little bit of Island time: Island Cafe Time!

I love having dear friends from so many phases and chapters in my life. I got to spend a lovely afternoon on the water over lunch with two of these lovely people that grace my life with their love and presence. My friends, Diane and John and I ate lunch at a favorite little spot, which coincidently is not actually so little now as it was when I first started going. The Island Cafe. Heaven, especially on a beautiful, sunny Portland day!

Post lunch photo-op!

Sail boat masts.

Us! In the Portland sunshine!

More sailboats!

After lunch Diane and I got to get caught up on life in between her comings and goings this summer. I am in constant awe and often reminded of the amazing blessing of truly caring people in my life. Where would I be without them?! I hate to think of it. Until next summer, Island Cafe!

"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling." ~Edna Ferber

It's that time again! Time to say, "Merry Christmas in July!" My lovely girls group has been celebrating Christmas in July and this is our 3rd celebration of it. "The Hat" came back, as tradition now mandates. I've had it for the past year and it has now cycled through the whole group (starting before we actually were celebrating Christmas in July). I added the pink rhinestones and some glitter paint (hard to see) in between the rhinestones for my addition, which is a requirement of whomever has it for the year! 

 Now that that is done, let's get the party started. Rachel and Zach have done some major work to their backyard and in the past few summers have created a patio and now have part of it covered with an amazing wood/galvanized steel covering. They'd celebrated their 10 year anniversary last weekend in this space with a BBQ and potluck so we extended that party with the four of us and grilled and ate and laughed and enjoyed time and being.

We had a fire in the firepit, roasted marshmallows....

 ...and did out book gifting (we do this each year as we used to do an ornament exchange, but that is hard in July unless we plan ahead) and our white elephant gift exchange. Rachel ended up with the pleasure of having "The Hat" back for the next year!

It was a late but lovely night! Until next Christmas in July, may you all be merry!