107 Degrees Today

If you are here in Portland you're hearing a lot of whining and moaning because it is way too hot. Yesterday it was 105 and today we're breaking a record with 107 degrees. Tomorrow will be "cooler" about 102 and the rest of the week the temperatures will reduce slowly to about 90 by the weekend.

The only thing saving us here at Lincoln Tower is using the swimming pool but I'm waiting for shade this evening.

My 35 year old AC is having a tough time so the average temperature inside is in the low 80s. I won't complain, however, because those without an AC are dealing with much more heat.

We're actually looking forward to a rainy day but there's none in sight.

A Hot Portland Weekend ++++++

Yesterday afternoon Bella and I took a walk along the river and we ended up at the Portland Beer Fest. I had never gone to one so we peeked in to find a huge crowd of thousands of people (mostly under the age of 40) having a great time tasting artisan beer made in Oregon and Washington.

This morning I found four estate sales that looked interesting so I got my GPS programmed and took off for unknown places. Not only is it fun shopping for "treasures" but it takes me into Portland neighborhoods that I would not normally see. I spent about three hours trekking through the area and I managed to find several items to purchase.

Now I have some eBay work to do and then it's time to cool off in the outdoor pool.

Ready For 100 Degree Weather in Portland

Roger came to my rescue and convinced my mommy to let me get my hair cut very short because it's really hot here in Portland. I've had my face trimmed so my hair does not hang into my food dish and I have a "butch" haircut all over.

Starting today we will have at least six days of temperatures between 95 and 102 so we will try to stay cool.

Seaside And Ecola State Park

The morning started with us in a fully packed vehicle filled with folding chairs, a small charcoal barbecue and two picnic bags filled with food - plus, of course, Bella.

It is surprising how quickly one can go from a metropolitan city to the countryside where summer vegetables and fruit are grown and sold. It was tempting to stop at some of the farms but we already had more food than we needed.

In only about 20 minutes we started on an upgrade into the mountains that remind me of the drive between Cloverdale and Mendocino with dense tall trees and ferns and wild flowers growing everywhere.

The drive to Seaside takes about 1.5 hours but this morning traffic was light so we made it more quickly.

Our first stop was a huge restaurant named "Camp 18", about 24 miles before we got to the coast. It has a lumberjack theme and the building is made from massive pieces of timber and they feature a logging museum. They serve very hearty food so our late breakfast prepared us well for a busy day.

Seaside was busy but we found a parking place (not generally an easy thing to do) and we took Bella with us onto the beach for a long walk. We decided that she could get as dirty as needed but after the walk I had to find a faucet to rinse all the sand and mud off of her. The beach is unusually large at Seaside with extremely gentle waves so it's really fun just walking through the damp sand and surf. Think of how it would feel to walk through ice water and that will give you a good idea of the water temperature.

After Seaside we drove to the Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach. It was our first time there and we had no idea that it has the most breathtaking and exquisite views to be found on the Oregon Coast. The three last scenes are the views that we had from our picnic table.

Today started out cool and cloudy but we were extremely lucky to encounter some sun and warm temperatures in the afternoon. Worried about it getting cold, we decided to eat early so we would be finished by 5 p.m.

We barbecued chicken legs and ground beef patties and had grilled tomatoes and Iranian potato salad (Roger makes a traditional American salad but adds pickles, peas and small pieces of baked chicken.)

We're back in Portland now and, even though it's still early, our eyes are at half mast. (Bella looks like she's in a coma). Trudging through the sand earlier in the day and then hauling all our picnic gear up a bluff really wore us out but it was a fabulous day and one that will live on in our memories.

Another Wednesday Free Concert in Downtown

Tonight was another free concert in downtown Portland and it featured a group of seven cello players who mix Bach with contemporary pieces including songs that members of the orchestra have written and arranged.

Roger and I were invited to join Mari and Stewart, neighbors at Lincoln Tower, so we walked to the streetcar and walked another few blocks to the street that was closed to accommodate the stage and tables and chairs.

This concert was so well attended that there had to be well over one thousand people attending. We got the very last table and chairs (because we were in the sun and directly in front of some massive speakers). We didn't complain, however, it is better than standing for two hours.

The music and the ambiance was perfect with temperatures in the high 70s so it was a lovely way to spend the early evening.

Tomorrow we're preparing for a trip to the beach and this time Bella gets to go along.

A Busy Monday

Today the water was shut off in the building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. so I decided that it would be a good day to run errands. The morning started with a trip to the pet store, Costco, Safeway and Trader Joe's. Since I was in Tigard I had to have a late breakfast at my favorite cafe, Davidsons. It reminds me a lot of the old Felton's in Lodi and it's family owned so their food is delicious and affordable.

Tonight Pat and I walked Bella back to VQ for their happy hour. It's about a ten block walk each way so we're pretending that we walked off all the calories.....................

It's close to 90 degrees right now so the AC is cranking and Bella and I are going to be lazy the rest of the evening. The forecast is for temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees for the remainder of the week so for Portland, this is truly hot.

Veritable Quandary

Bella, Callie and I walked to a nearby restaurant for brunch at noon. We haven't talked much this week so it was time to catch up. Veritable Quandary is known as "VQ" (for obvious reasons) and they have a large outdoor patio that is covered with huge trees. Almost everyone had a small dog at the table with them so Bella got lots of attention from people and puppies. She's sound asleep now from all the excitement and it's time for me to quit my eBay work and watch a movie.

Tony Starlight's

Last night my friend, Cheryl, invited me to join her at a supper club that features live music. Last night they featured a group "The Bureau of Standards Big Band" which consisted of ten musicians and two singers. They played swing music from the 1930s / '40s with some Jazz renditions and the music was really great. They have different bands almost every night during the month so now I know where to go if I would like to enjoy live music.

Another Farmer's Market Day

It's another perfect sunny and warm day in Portland so a visit to the Farmer's Market was first on my list. The heat during the past two weeks must have grown the Marionberry crop too quickly because this farmer was selling pint baskets for only $1.

I remember that the cherry season in California was short (about two weeks). Here it goes on for about 6 weeks so today's crop was Lamberts. I love to snack on them but I have to remember that each cherry is 10 calories so I need to be careful.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of tarts from my favorite pastry shop in Hood River.

Now the refrigerator is full and ready for cooking during the coming week.

Weekend Hodge-Podge

The fountain photos are in the walkway between my condo and the Keller Theater where they feature performances of ballet and light opera. This is the Pettigrove fountain that somewhat has the look of a dolphin's tail.

Tonight after the Friday night cocktail party here at the American Plaza Condos, Bella and I walked to "Carafe" a nearby French cafe that has outdoor seating so dogs are allowed. Needless to say, Bella got lots of attention and I had a delicious dinner with leftovers to also take care of tomorrow night.

The cocktail party photo features Alan, a new resident, Merry and Nita. The photo of Lori and Pam was taken when we had lunch at Kenny and Zukes so I wanted to include that, as well. The girls and I had a great time while they were here and we look forward to many more times together.

The Party Has Ended............

The Smiths and the girls are safely back in California and this has been somewhat of a "catch-up" week with lots of errands, laundry and cleaning. After entertaining guests, I learned that I need a few extra kitchen and barbecue items so we spent a day shopping and I filled the spare propane tank for the barbecue. Roger and I planted some vegetables in pots on the rear deck and we went shopping for a portable charcoal barbecue and all the accessories so we can go on picnics. If the weather permits we'll drive to Seaside on the Coast next Thursday and barbecue on the beach. We're at the beginning of a three day "heat wave" (that means about 90 degrees here) so we're enjoying the outdoor swimming pool.

Roger is completing his first week of physical therapy this week so he'll return to Springfield tomorrow. I'm already "booking" the weekend with my women friends so I'm sure we'll find something fun to do.

Yesterday the Oasis Learning Center called to tell me that they got a group rate on tickets to Fiddler on The Roof and the performance is on my birthday so I grabbed two tickets. The play is at the Keller Theater so we can walk from here.

A Busy Weekend.................

Sunday started out with gray skies but we didn't care because we had pedicure and manicure appointments at 11. Afterwards we went to Kenny & Zukes for a New York deli lunch. We were lucky because we only waited about one half hour for a table. On weekends you can wait as long as a hour and a half. We used the streetcar for transportation and it was fun having "girl time". Last night Roger cooked our dinner and we invited a friend of his to join us so we all had a great time getting acquainted with Mo. It was an authentic Iranian meal and the food was delicious.

Today we took the car to Les Schwab to get the tire replaced and ensure that the spare tire is properly installed. I got lucky since the vehicle is an "all wheel drive". Often when you replace one tire, you have to replace all four. The spare matched the other three so I'm good at least until I blow another tire.

Today we enjoyed a Mexican lunch on Hawthorne and this evening Roger is again cooking dinner. Lori and Pam are thoroughly enjoying the interesting cuisine (and I love it, too).

Tomorrow the girls leave for California so the week will be somewhat quiet after all the activities.

Portland With The Girls

The girls arrived at the airport on time but the limo service (me) messed up so on the way home I took the wrong exit and suddenly we found ourselves in the opposite direction headed for the Columbia Gorge. As soon as I realized the error we turned around to head back and within a mile or so we heard a loud noise. We thought that I had hit something on the road but it turned out that one of the rear tires had blown so then we were on the side of the freeway without a clue as to where we were located.

After several calls to the AAA they finally found us resulting in the trip home taking two hours instead of the normal ten minutes. I was feeling like a dunce for taking the wrong exit but even the AAA dispatcher laughed when she told me that she gets lost coming out of the airport all the time. Next time I'll let Betty (my GPS) guide me back home.

This morning the girls and I walked to the Farmer's Market to pick up ingredients for breakfast and dinner. Roger is here so we're all taking turns cooking meaning that we'll be eating very well for the next few days.

Earlier in the week we were told that it would be in the 80s this weekend but it's much cooler so Lori and Pam are happy that they have escaped the Sacramento heat.

Gir's Night In Portland

What do single women seniors do on a sunny warm evening? Well - Happy Hour - that's what...............

Tonight Alfie, Bella, Allison, Elsa, Anne and Gina joined me for a walk to a close French Cafe "Carafe" that features an inexpensive food and drink menu between 4 and 6 p.m. For us oldsters this is called "dinner time".

We enjoyed steamed mussels, croquettes and bruschetta and had a great time laughing and talking about "girl stuff". Everyone is interested in my Internet dating experiences so they all want to check things out on the dating sites.

MUSIC ON MAIN STREET

Portland continues to amaze me. This afternoon I learned about a free concert by a Blues Band called "Woodbrain". Between the Newmark and Schnitz Theaters there is a brick paved street that is closed for special events so tonight they set up tables and chairs on the street and we enjoyed a two hour concert for no charge. They offered drinks and food with volunteers who waited the tables and handed out programs.

A friend and I earlier spent some time in the Pearl and then ended up at the Heathman Hotel for "happy hour" - hamburgers are $4.75 and my mussels with sausage and bread was $5.50 so we skipped the snacks and just enjoyed the great music.

The concerts with different bands will be offered each Wednesday through August 26th so there's no doubt that I'll return for more of them.

California - Here Come The Smiths..............

After an early breakfast together at Zells, Vicki and Steve bid farewell and hit I-5 South back to California. The plan is to make it a one day trip so they have a long day ahead of them.

Today it is cool and cloudy with a forecast of showers so it will be a good day to stay close to home.

Monday In Portland With The Smiths

It's the day after the July 4th weekend and the city has quieted down and people are back to their normal routines. The streetcars no longer are crushed with people even though there are a lot of tourists in town.

The afternoon culminated with the three of us at Cypress Restaurant where we had a cocktail before walking next door to dinner. It was "Happy Hour" so drinks and appetizers are half price.

We had a fabulous dinner with fresh seafood served with a view of the Marina.

Earlier in the day Steve spent several hours at Powell's Book Store and Vicki and I and Bella went to 23rd Street to shop the small boutiques and shops. Yes, we managed to find things to buy so it was a great day for us all.

Before returning home, Vicki and I stopped at the Elephant Deli where she bought things to munch on while they drive back home to Chico.

The weather changed from the 90's to the high 60's today so we are back to "normal" Portland temperatures which is lovely for walking and definitely easier for sleeping at night. It truly has been a fabulous holiday weekend. Tomorrow the Smiths will drive home after breakfast at my favorite restaurant, Zells.

I included a photo of the back of my RAV 4 with the bumper finally repaired. I've been driving it with a badly dented bumper for about 5 months so it's a real treat to have it looking like new again. Yes, I was responsible for the damage - somehow a metal fence and my car had an unexpected meeting in December and it took me this long to have it fixed.

JULY 4th

The weather was in the 90s so Portland was sizzling all day and night.

We decided to spend the 4th barbecuing so early in the morning Steve was in the kitchen getting the baby back ribs seasoned and marinated.

We took the streetcar to the Farmer's Market and found wonderful Spring produce and fruit. Cherries are just beginning to come into season and we had our choice of fabulous berries. Fresh peas, baby squash (about one day old) corn on the cob and fresh tomatoes and Spring onions finished off the shopping and we were ready for the evening's barbecue.

We spent a couple of hours at the outdoor pool to cool off in the afternoon and after dinner we walked down to the river to watch the fireworks. We were extremely lucky to snag an outdoor table at McCormick and Schmicks so we sat directly across from the fireworks barge that was anchored in the middle of the river. It was a spectacular event and even Bella enjoyed all the excitement.

The Party Begins........................

Vicki and Steve came in early this afternoon so we're having a great time catching up with the past year.

Tonight Roger returns from Vancouver in another hour or so and then it's time to heat up the barbecue and have a summer dinner.

It's in the low 90s here which is about as hot as it gets in Portland so we're thinking that it's time to get in the pool to cool off.

A HOT Thursday in Portland

This morning, after coffee, Callie and I ran some errands and picked up groceries at Trader Joes, finished with a visit to my favorite deli, Eidelweiss Sausage Co.

We decided to get ready for the 4th early and beat the crowds but there were many others with the same idea.

It is truly hot here in Portland with a forecast today of about 92 degrees. At 4:45 pm I finally turned on the AC and it's already comfortable in the condo.

Shopping at Eidelweiss is an exciting experience because there are so many wonderful choices. On weekends and holidays they bake hams and prepare fresh made lunch meats so if you shop early, the items are still warm when they are wrapped. I had only one goal today, however, and that was to buy weiners and big buns that fit their length (almost). I couldn't resist having one for lunch so I popped one on the barbecue and it was a great lunch! I'll save the rest for this weekend when the Smiths and Roger will be here.

It is going to be a fabulous weekend with enough heat to force us into the pool(s) and jacuzzi so being lazy is on the agenda.

I had some things to do this afternoon but I made the mistake of turning on the TV where I found the Wimbledon Tennis Matches. If you saw the match between Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva, then you turned into a "couch potato" like me because it was a spectacular contest. I was hoping that Elena would win (just because the Williams sisters have been in control for so long) but it wasn't her time yet.

SO, now it's time for the news and then I may just sneak out to the pool for a quick swim. It's right next door to my unit so it's like having a pool in the back yard except that others take care of it instead of me.

Tomorrow is the start of a great weekend with friends to share good times with. I hope that all of you reading this have a great time with those that you love.

The best thing about the weekend is that Ashley is celebrating her 22nd birthday. HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOU DARLING GIRL.