HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Duncan Sprague sent a Scottish saying that I will share with you:

"May your troubles be less,
May your blessings be more.
May nothing but happiness come through your door"

Happy 2010 !!

More Snow.....................

The snow continues and the forecast is for three inches. For downtown Portland that is enough to cause walking and traffic problems so we're glad that we have no place that we need to be tonight. It's fun just watching it through the windows while we try to stay warm.

SNOW in Portland

It just started to snow and it's coming down very steadily so it will be fun to see how much we get. I don't remember hearing about this in a weather forecast so we're happy that we weren't out on the streets this afternoon.

Christmas Family Dinner

Today started and ended in the kitchen. Roger planned the menu which included beef and chicken dishes, three vegetables, potatoes and Iranian rice so it was an eating marathon.

The first photo is Roger's grandson, Chris and daughter-in-law Carolyn.

The third photo is his granddaughter, Rachael and her friend Jason.

Santa Remembered BELLA ********

Bella found a package under the tree for her and she had a great time checking it out and then ripping it open. Tissue and ribbon flew in every direction and when she found her new toy she ran around the room shaking it and making happy growling noises.

It's said that Christmas is for children but in our case, it's for little dogs, too.

Merry Christmas !

The cookies are decorated, the kitchen is clean (for now), the sky is bright blue and the sun is glowing. Santa came last night so it's a wonderful Christmas morning here in Portland. Roger and I hope that YOU are also having a beautiful day. Merry Christmas !!

Mike and Teresa

In today's mail I found a Christmas card and photo from Mike and Teresa that I want to share with you. They are still newlyweds with a first Anniversary coming up on January 31st.

I remember that this photo was taken at Jessica and Ryan's elegant wedding last August.

Merry Christmas, Mike and Teresa !

Jazz at Arrivederci in Milwaukee

My plan tonight was to have some great photos of our evening out at a darling cafe, Arrivederci in Milwaukee - a town about eight miles from Portland. Unfortunately the batteries wore out and I didn't have a spare so - no pictures.............

But - I have to tell you about the great music - Christmas songs played in a jazz style by some very talented musicians plus a blues singer.

Our friend, Ann, invited us to go with her and we hope to repeat the visit. The cafe serves Italian food with a wine bar and they feature different music groups in the evenings. It was another great way to get into the "Christmas spirit".

This afternoon Bella and I took the MAX on their newest route that leaves from Portland State University and goes directly into the downtown area. We had a little last minute Christmas gift shopping to do and the day was dry so she got a long walk and lots of attention while we were shopping.

Tomorrow I've reserved for baking Christmas cookies so it will be a fun day. Roger and I will be alone for Christmas but we're looking forward to being lazy and just enjoying our first Christmas together.

Kira and Dennis

Kira is my great-neice and today I want to share the darling Christmas card that she and her special friend, Dennis sent.

Kira lives and works in Wenatchee Washington.

Orlan and Sheila are her proud grandparents and the entire family is proud of Kira's accomplishments and her bravery for transplanting herself from California to the Northwest.

Merry Christmas Kira and Dennis !!

A Great Holiday Weekend

Nita and Bill invited Roger and me as guests to their Christmas Lion's Club Event at noon, Friday. It featured a choral of about 32 high school girls and boys as entertainment.

The meetings are held at the Multnomah Athletic Club in downtown Portland and we started the meeting in the downstairs bar - then had lunch and entertainment upstairs.

The teens are an amazing group - all of them excellent singers and active in community and school affairs. It was a joy listening to them sing and tell us about their accomplishments and goals.

This afternoon, we took the streetcar downtown to hear the 1980s group, Mannheim Steamroller. They presented a Christmas special featuring music from their new Christmas CDs. It was entertaining and exciting to hear music presented in a completely different way with a light show and amazing sound and percussion.

Yesterday, Harvey Clars (the Oakland auction house) shipped a huge container of sterling so now I have lots of eBay work ahead of me. Tomorrow we're staying home so I can bid by telephone at the Bonham's Auction in S.F.

So - that catches us up for this week. Christmas and the New Year are close so we wish you all a happy holiday and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Shopping

Roger and I put off our Christmas gift shopping until today and it was quite a surprise. The Macy's parking lot was so full we had to drive through it for at least five minutes before we located a spot. It was pouring rain so we thought today would be a good day to shop - wrong.............. There were people everywhere with long lines at each cashier station. (HINT - go to the luggage department to check out because hardly anyone is buying luggage right now). Anyway, it was still fun seeing all the activity and Christmas decorations and the good thing is that almost everything has been purchased and wrapped.

Yesterday Cheryl treated me to a delicious lunch at Le Bouchon and we had a long lunch with lots of "girl talk". Tomorrow Bella and I both get some TLC - she gets a haircut and bath and I get my nails manicured.

I'm still very busy on eBay but I'll slow down a bit since Christmas Day is just a little over a week away.

Merry Christmas to you ALL !!!

Sunday in the Kitchen

Roger's son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Carolyn came to Portland from Springfield yesterday to attend a Christmas party and then they came to our place last evening for dinner. The dinner entree was center cuts of a leg of lamb and the food was amazing. We were having so much fun that I forgot to take more photos so I'll catch up with them when they return for Christmas.

The icy rain and snow did not materialize this weekend so today we're back to a blue sky with cold temperatures.

I'm busy selling sterling on eBay. I just received a small portion of a set of 376 pieces of Grande Baroque sterling flatware. (The remainder is being shipped by a professional packing company so it should arrive later in the week). The former owners must have owned every single design created from this popular pattern. If you know of anyone who collects this pattern, please give them my web site at: www.goldturtle.com

Raclette and Viridian Oregon Pinot Noir

Last night our friend Ann hosted an Oregon Pinot Noir tasting. Each guest brought a bottle of Pinot that costs under $20 and we enjoyed a "blind" tasting. It turned out to be a lot of fun and also it was a great learning experience. Wine ranged from $20 down to $6 and it was interesting to find that the $6 bottle was scored at the 3rd best out of the five. (Trader Joes). Ann, with her sons, own a winery and they bottle using the name VIRIDIAN.

After the wine tasting we sat down to a Raclette supper. Ann has spent a lot of time in France during the past few years so she fell in love with Raclette, just like Roger and I.

Freezing Rain and Snow - On its Way Tonight.......

Tonight may be another new weather experience. I'm told that freezing rain hits Portland about once a year but in the two plus years that I've lived here I've not experienced it.

Today was still sunny and clear - but extremely cold- so I and everyone else was on the road picking up groceries and running errands. Our refrigerator has enough food to feed us for at least three weeks so our plan is to stay close to home and not venture out unless it is absolutely necessary.

The freezing rain and snow is forecast to hit downtown Portland about 9 p.m. tonight so we'll see if we wake up to snow in the morning.

Portland Will Have a High of 28 Degrees Today !

This condo wasn't made for high or low temperatures because of the huge windows everywhere so today there's no way to keep every room warm and cozy.

The forecast is for 28 degrees high and 16 degrees tonight but the sky is bright blue and the sun is sparkling.

Yes, that is Bella inside her bed wrapped in her favorite blankie.

Finally

Yes, I know that a tree this small shouldn't be a major decorating event but this year things didn't go smoothly. Anyway, it is officially decorated and there are touches of Christmas in every room so we're ready for Christmas. Oops....... I guess we still have to buy Christmas cards.

After talking to Mike and Lori today I learned that California is expecting snow - thankfully, it's your turn since we had ours in Portland last year. The big problem is that cities that don't normally get snow aren't prepared so streets don't get plowed and traffic turns into "bumper cars".

We're not exempt - the weather forecast is for "possible" snow mid week when a storm is arriving. Today has been bitterly cold with a high wind so every crack on every window has been letting in some cold air. The (0ld) heaters are cranked up and we have our woolies on so we'll be OK. Thankfully, the electric blanket helps at night.

Today I made some absentee bids at an estate auction in Oakland and I won all my bids except one. One purchase is 350 pieces of Grand Baroque sterling housed in a silver chest that is bigger than a bed night stand - SO - we'll be driving back to California whenever we can get through the snow over the Cascades.

It may be early to wish you all a Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas but I'm "feeling the spirit" now that the decorating is finished - so make every day special this month !!!

Happy Birthday, Dear Kathleen...............

I find that when I tell my friends how old my children, neices and nephew are - they immediately calculate MY age - SO, dearest Kathleen, I am wishing you a Happy 39th birthday.

I hope that it is a special day for you because you are truly a special lady.

Enjoy........................

Portland's Singing Christmas Tree

You've met Alicia before in my blog - she's Bella's sitter and my assistant for helping me clean, change light bulbs, work on a new recipe and so forth. She's my "Portland daughter" so when Roger said that his cold was worse today, I invited Alicia to join me for a performance of the Singing Christmas Tree at Keller Theater. She had never seen it so she was especially excited when she saw how professional and beautiful it was. The singers gathered on a tree shaped stage but there were as many standing on the stage and all had beautiful voices. There was a live orchestra, ballet dancers and a children's choir so there was something for everyone. It truly is a perfect way to get into the mood of the Christmas season.

Happy Birthday, ORLAN

Happy Birthday, Orlan. I hope that you enjoy every moment of this special day.

Montmartre Brasserie & Champagne Seminar

Tonight started early with Ann and I taking the streetcar downtown for "happy hour" at a new Portland restaurant Brasserie Montmartre. This place was famous in the earlier years and it was the "hot spot" for dining and jazz. Several years ago it closed and new owners have now renovated it. It opened about one month ago so we decided it was the perfect place to get something to eat before going to a wine class at the Culinary Institute.

Ann and I enjoyed a cocktail and salad and we shared two appetizers and it was great fun. The restaurant is comfy but elegant and the service was perfect.

After our snacks we headed across the street to attend a two hour seminar on French champagne. The speaker was Peter Gibson, owner of the wine consulting firm Gibson Consulting.

Ann just finished a semester of wine classes and she invited me to attend the last class as her guest. It was a great opportunity to learn about quality champagne and the different characteristics of each region where the grapes are grown and bottled. We tasted seven champagnes so after class we went back to the Brasserie for coffee and dessert and to listen to the live jazz music. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday night !!!

Something About Nothing..............

Since returning to Portland it seems that the days are flying by. Roger is still having ear therapy (yes, there is such a thing), I have a hair and nail appointment this week as well as a mammogram and we're slowly decorating the house for Christmas. The weather this week is sunny - but very cold - so it's nice to stay inside where we can keep warm.

Tonight Roger barbecued steak kabobs and fixed saffron rice and an apple / cranberry dish so we had a fabulous dinner. Meanwhile, I was busy working on the computer and starting to list some of the beautiful sterling that we packed and brought with us from San Francisco. We're still talking about the enjoyable time that we spent with family and friends.