Last night we had a dinner party for 14 people and we all had a wonderful time. Roger cooked a full beef shank with Bayberry Rice and we served it with a medley of Fall vegetables. Cheesecake finished off the meal and there was lots of interesting conversation.
Pictured here are some of the guest; (2) Garys, Doyle, Mo, Cheryl, Ann, Allison, Merry, Mari, Stewart, Pat, Roger and me. Alicia was our kitchen help and she made the party a success by serving and cleaning up. Today the condo is clean and back to normal so it will be a relaxing weekend. Roger is back in Springfield and I'll be busy listing new merchandise on eBay. We attended a local auction this past weekend so the cupboards are full of things to sell.
Roger, Bella and I were going to drive to California early in November to visit family and friends but we've made a decision to come later so we can be there on Thanksgiving Day.
We'll leave Portland on Friday the 20th and head for S.F. to spend the weekend. Then we'll go inland to Lodi and Sacramento to visit with Lori, Pam, Mike, Teresa, Tony, Jessica and Ryan, as well as my Lodi friends. Thanksgiving will be at Mike and Teresa's home in the country and we're looking forward to our first family gathering with the new and special people who have joined our family.
Yesterday at noon we headed to the O'Gallerie Auction House to preview the merchandise that will be auctioned Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights next week. It is one of the best that I've seen in awhile so we'll be at the auction all three nights.
Last night was a different kind of auction. The Downtown Portland Lion's Club had their annual banquet and auction to raise money for their eyeglass projects. The evening started with a "Silent Auction" with tables crowded full with things to bid for. There's a notepad next to each item so all you have to do is put a price that you're willing to pay. Whoever bids the highest amount gets to buy the item. Roger and I tried to be conservative but we still ended up buying four lots. The back of the car was loaded with four baskets of "goodies". They also have a "Live Auction" where they sell more "big ticket" items like trips to the Caribbean and Lake Tahoe, dinners with local celebrities and more . The Lion's Club had a successful evening and they were able to raise a substantial amount of money - plus we all had a great time!
This is a view of the walkway outside my condo with a beautiful carpet of golden leaves. It has been raining hard most of the day and, along with some wind, the leaves are rapidly falling from the trees. In the park area where we walk to catch the streetcar, the trees are completely bare.
We're using the weather as an excuse to stay indoors so this afternoon it's time to start the fireplace, turn up the heat and watch a movie.
It's almost time to say goodbye to the Coast Inn and the Innkeeper, Rosie. In the photo we're just starting to enjoy one of her delicious breakfasts; Cinnamon Bread French Toast with warm Berry Sauce, Bacon, Fresh Fruit and Juice. The Inn is decorated with bright colorful furniture and paintings. Rosie is a fused glass artist with a studio downstairs so it's a delight just walking through the Inn to see all of her beautiful creations. In a short while we'll start driving up the Coast and then cross over to Portland.
It has been a beautiful Fall week in Portland with sprinkles intermingled with blue skies and sunshine - plus it has been balmy and comfortable so we are enjoying the change of color to the trees and the cooler weather. Roger and I have been cooking all weekend so now we have homemade apple pie, fresh vegetable soup, chicken and pasta and tonight an exotic Iranian dish that is taking three hours to cook (Roger is in the kitchen today).
Yesterday I received a shipment of sterling from Oakland so I have been on the computer most of the day. Today I won more items from the S.F. auction but they are bigger in size so I will pick them up when we drive to California the first week in November.
Tomorrow we head for Lincoln City but we'll make a slow get-a-way since we won't pack or plan anything until tomorrow morning. Bella gets to go along but we haven't told her yet.
The machine you see in the photo is a Raclette that we used for today's lunch. We learned about this while in Paris and we enjoyed it so much we went to a gourmet kitchen shop and bought one. It has a heat coil much like an oven or broiler under the top flat plate. Underneath are sections for eight little "cups" with handles. Many people just put Raclette cheese in the cups and stick it under the element until the cheese melts and gets gooey. We learned another way in Paris where they start with tiny steamed potatoes that have been cooked soft. We put a platter out with raw thin sliced onions, bell pepper, prosciutto, thin sliced tomatoes and Raclette cheese. The pepper and onion can be grilled on the top or put raw into the cups. The fun thing is that each person can prepare the cup with just the ingredients that they like. Then you cook it until it bubbles and dump it over the cooked potatoes or a piece of bread. Of course, a French Baguette is requisite. Raclette is popular in many French cafes but it actually originated in Sweden. If you visit us in Portland you'll be guaranteed at least one Raclette lunch and one breakfast. Quail eggs cook perfectly in the cups.
I just spoke to Rosie at the B&B in Lincoln City and she says that they are having sunshine and warm weather in the afternoons. Tomorrow night they have friends who have a Jazz quartet who are coming to the house to play music so we even get live entertainment.
Today Roger and I checked out the Oregon Culinary Institute where they serve a four course lunch each day for $12.00. We had choices of either two or three different dishes for each course and it was a hard decision as everything sounded and looked so delicious. There were choices like Fig and Prosciutto Salad with Arugula, Radicchio, Gorgonzola and Walnuts with Fig Vinaigrette or Marinated Chicken Sandwich with Romaine, Tapenade Dressing and Gruyere Cheese with Grilled Corn Salad. Dessert choices were a fabulous cheesecake or an "OCI Chocolate Dream Torte". We ordered one of each and found that they taste really great together! A four course dinner is served 7 p.m. weekday evenings for only $18 per person. I suspect that we'll return there soon............
It has been a lazy week because Roger is still in a recovery mode - each day gets a little better but he's still having some symptoms from the ear virus.
For me it has been a marathon medical week (nothing serious) just general check-ups except for two skin cancers that will be removed on Friday.
Fall is in the air and we're enjoying watching the leaves change color and the crisp cool nights.
Saturday was a busy day in the kitchen with Roger being the top Chef while he prepared several fabulous Iranian dishes. I was busy trying to keep up with the dishes and some of the food prep. Our guests were Roger's son, Brian, his wife Carolyn and daughter Rachel. It was my first time meeting Carolyn and Rachel so we had a lot to talk about. (We were so busy I forgot photos so I'll make up for that at a later time).
We just returned from the Pops Concert and an early dinner at South Park Cafe so now it's time to crash and get some rest.
Where did the week go? A couple of medical appointments, an instructor's training class at Oasis, grocery shopping and a hair appointment - plus a couple of nights out with the girls and "poof" the time passed quickly. Roger is back in Portland and today the sun is shining and we're looking forward to a pleasant day. It will start with a walk to the Farmer's Market and then we're preparing food for a dinner party tonight. Tomorrow is a Gershwin performance by the Symphony so the days continue to be filled with enjoyable activities.
It has taken us a couple days to turn our sleep clock to the correct time and we think today is the turning point. Fall is definitely in the air here in Portland but most of the leaves still have not turned color. Next week we have a forecast for more warm weather so we are enjoying every minute before cold and rain gain control.
Roger is feeling a little better each day so he'll return to Springfield tomorrow.
So - - my blog isn't as exciting as when we were in Paris but we are happy to be home and now we look forward to the upcoming holidays. The symphony starts this month and a trip to the coast at Lincoln City is in the planning so it will be a pleasant month.
