** Early NEW YEAR's CELEBRATION **

Last night Ann invited us to join her at El Gaucho for dinner and we were treated like Royalty.

Dinner started with a Caesar salad made and served table side (delicious!).

The restaurant is next to the Benson Hotel in downtown Portland and it was an exceptional dining experience.

The menu has a huge amount of choices; mostly featuring exceptional beef and seafood dishes.

This is the extent of our New Year celebrating so tonight will be a quiet evening at home.

Happy New Year, everyone !!

Family...............

This afternoon we had an enjoyable visit and dinner with Roger's son and family, Rachael, Chris, his wife Caroline and Brian aka "Sleepy" (I'm told that all photos of him show him with closed eyes and, out of the four that I took of him, it's true).

Roger fixed a special rice that he calls "jewelry rice" and it was delicious. It's filled with several different nuts, homemade orange marmalade, raisins, bayberries and shredded carrots, along with spun sugar.

It was a wonderful Christmas and we thank you for the cards and telephone calls.

Now I'm going to contemplate my new diet and exercise program - it's not a promise - but I'll think about it......................

For Kids................ and Dogs......................

Christmas is always more fun when there are children in the house (even the grown-up kind) but it was almost as much fun watching Bella unwrap her present. There was no hesitation - as soon as the package hit the floor she was on top of it - enjoying eating the paper as much as finding the toy. The Santa toy got chewed on so much that a seam opened so it had to be repaired to keep the stuffing from escaping. We're enjoying a quiet day but also starting to prepare a special Christmas dinner tomorrow for Brian and his family from Springfield.

Merry Christmas to friends and family!

If Life Begins At 40 - What Happens at 70 ?

Today I was offered a free diabetes testing kit. Yesterday I got an advertisement from a book club that only prints books in large print and for the last six months I've received calls encouraging me to get a hearing test to see if I need a hearing aid.

To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Another Great Day With Friends............

My friend, Cheryl, will be leaving soon for a two month stay in Palm Desert so we wanted to spend some time together before she leaves. The morning started with a walk to the Streetcar and Downtown where we had an early lunch at Pazzo, a fabulous Italian Restaurant. Their specialty is fresh made pasta dishes and fresh baked bread so we enjoyed a delicious lunch.

After lunch we took a walk past Moonstruck Chocolates where we stopped to get something decadent - then we headed for Macys as they were having one of their many sales. We really hit paydirt there with 85% off some of the prices plus some additional coupons that I had in my purse. I bought four items that started out at a total of $150 and I paid $20. That's always a great feeling and now I have something new to smash into my already overcrowded closet - sigh.

Cheryl took me to a shop that I've not been to before named XXI (she calls it Forever 21). The merchandise is geared more to younger women but we still found some really cute things and the prices are low. I definitely will go back.

Last night Roger and I went to Kolbeh Restaurant where we enjoyed some delicious chicken kabob and celebrated "Yalda" the shortest day of the year when winter begins. The place is huge and it was packed with Iranians celebrating the event. The music was provided by University students who play on authentic old instruments. Afterward there was dancing and the place really got crazy. It reminded me of the discos in Mexico with really loud music and lots of noise. We old folks finally left around 11 pm but we think the party went on through the entire night.

Good news - Ed's surgery went well and he's home recovering - I know that he's getting lots of TLC from Liz. Ron and Rosanna are on their way to New Jersey to celebrate Christmas with Susan and her family and we're tucked in out of the cold enjoying the holiday spirit. Roger and I wish all of you a happy and joyful Christmas!

Good Luck - Doctor ED !!!

Ed is undergoing surgery today for a recent ski injury so prayers are going his way for a fast and safe recovery.

Most of us in his age range are complaining about aches and pains and body parts giving out -

BUT, here is a man who is still snow skiing. GO, Ed................ With a little luck, you can still hit the slopes in 2011.

No Snow - No Storm - ??

I thought that today I would have a good excuse to stay in my jammies all day - you know, with the snow and stormy high gale winds..............BUT none of that happened. It was cold but that's about all - we even had sunshine for short periods during the day. It doesn't matter - I stayed in my jammies anyway until about 3 p.m. when I decided that a shower and dressing in real clothes for dinner would be a good thing.

Mike and Teresa saw my comments about Cabezon Restaurant so today we got a gift certificate in the mail. We're really excited to go back for another fabulous dinner.

Thanks to all of you for the beautiful cards and photos to celebrate Christmas - we enjoy and appreciate them all.

Another Week.................

Today Allison and I drove to Tigard to have lunch and do some shopping so we spent several hours - where else? - Well, Costco, of course. It's lucky we didn't buy anything more because we wouldn't have found room in the Toyota for ourselves.

Tonight Roger and I went to a Sadeh - a mid-winter festival to celebrate the Winter Solstice which will occur December 21st. It was conducted in both English and Persian with beautiful Persian live music and poetry - plus food, of course.

Tonight the forecast is for freezing temperatures and we're told that by morning we'll either experience freezing rain or snow so we've decided that it will be a good day to stay inside where it's warm and cozy.

CABEZON A FABULOUS New Portland Restaurant

Tonight we were the guests of our friend, Pat, at a restaurant in a building that she owns in the Hollywood District. The Restaurant, Cabezon, specializes in seafood but tonight they also offered Grilled Quail (one of my favorites) so it was hard to choose.

After a basil wrapped shrimp with curry marinated eggplant and toasted almonds, I ordered the Cioppino and I wasn't disappointed. Roger had Hawaiian Walu with Napa cabbage, trumpet mushrooms and Chinese black bean sauce and Pat had the Cod with gnocchi, cipollinis and a calamari, tomato, olive, caper sauce.

Pat and I shared a Migration Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley and we all agree that it was one of the best meals we've ever encountered in Portland.

The restaurant is new so we're hoping to advertise it to our friends to help them build up their business. Our tummies are full and happy so now we're thinking that we need to stay home the rest of the week and get back to "normal".

I've managed to watch the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire during the last two days so this week is a little like being on vacation.

This afternoon a huge box of merchandise purchased from an auction in Pennsylvania arrived so tomorrow morning I'll start unpacking to see all the goodies. (And clean and catalog and research so it will be a busy few days.)

Dinner Cruise and Boat Parade

Last night we boarded the Portland Spirit for a dinner cruise that coincides with the decorated boat parade which occurs every night for about two weeks in December. We enjoyed good music and food while watching beautifully decorated boats sailing by the window. They ranged from small fishing boats to a couple of huge yachts so it was a nice holiday experience and a pleasant way to spend a Tuesday evening.

A REALLY Rainy Week...........

The drive to the airport yesterday afternoon was very slow because of extremely heavy rain. Even the freeway had flooding and some city streets had enough water to float a boat. It was one time when we were happy that the plane was late because, otherwise, the girls may not have made it in time. The last two days of their visit went quickly with many little activities and a lot of laziness and relaxation. Ashley returned to Powell's and she did some exploring downtown by herself so it was great to see that she has already oriented herself to the map and public transportation.

It was Ashley's first time to take almost a week off from work and we could see that she has fallen under the spell of Portland - already talking about returning - and, maybe staying............... The University and colleges here are excellent for medical studies so we'll see what progresses.

Bella's having an adjustment from 24/7 attention from Ashley to a quiet condo so last night she unzipped her bed, probably to see if Ashley came back to sleep. She was wandering around looking sad when I got up this morning.

Now it's time for us old folks to get back in our usual routine with a slower (much slower) pace. Rain is forecast for today and tomorrow so we've decided to stay home and just watch.

For those of you who enjoy watching DVD's - we watched "Mambo Kings" last night and it was a really good story with some great music. Today I'm going to tackle "Angels and Demons" while I catch up with ironing.

Wishing you all a happy weekend....................

Little Big Burger and Other Stuff

After home made scones for breakfast we ventured down to Powells Book Store and spent about an hour shopping for books. A short walk down the street is Big Little Burger so Ashley and I ate the greasy ones and Cindie had the veggie burger. When we finished it was raining really hard with high winds and cold temps so we stopped at Penzie's Spice Shop and then Anthropology before we found a taxi to take us back to the warm condo.

Tonight Ashley is meeting a friend for drinks and we "old folks" are settling down in front of the TV.

Tuesday Morning................

The first thing that Bella does when Ashley is here is run to her room, scratch on the door and hope that she'll be put up on the bed. After covering Ashley's face with "kisses" she generally ends up under the comforter for her first morning nap. This morning she opted for a pillow instead.

We're still being lazy but soon we'll head over to the Pearl for a shopping expedition and to another "Big Little Burger" for lunch.

The Friedli Girls Visit Santa

Today after Raclette for breakfast we took the streetcar to the new Max station on 6th Avenue and went to the indoor downtown shopping mall to check out some Christmas shopping. We didn't bring any gifts home but we couldn't resist visiting Santa and acting like kids. He even gave each of us a coloring book so we got some laughs out of the experience.

Happy Birthdays and "Catch-up Time"

It's said that time goes faster when one is having fun so that's my excuse for forgetting to post some Happy Birthday wishes; first to Orlan, my brother-in-law - December 4th, Christopher (Roger's grandson) on the 5th and to my Niece, Kathleen whose birthday is today.

Saturday evening we picked up Ashley and her mom from PDX and we've been on the move every minute.

Yesterday, after breakfast, the girls and I went to a boutique that featured local artists who had an open house with holiday gifts - followed by a visit to an upscale Estate sale in the hills near Tigard. In the afternoon we watched the DVD, Entrapment and last night we had a small dinner party. We pan fried a whole fresh salmon and Roger made Iranian Vegetable Rice so dinner was fabulous. One guest brought a Jordon Cabernet which made a perfect accompaniment. Now it's time to head to the bakery for a baguette so we can enjoy a Raclette breakfast.

This afternoon we're taking MAX to head downtown to check out a new department store that opened about two weeks ago.

Bulletin..................

The decorating is STILL not finished but the condo is clean, groceries are purchased and we're ready for a visit from Ashley and Cindie. They'll arrive tomorrow evening so that may give me an incentive to finish getting things ready for Christmas.............. or, not ....................

Ashley loves to decorate so I may have to put her in charge of the finishing touches.

Weather is lovely - cold but sunny - so we're enjoying the Holiday spirit.

What's Happening ???

Only a few years ago it was nothing to set up and decorate two to three full sized Christmas trees, decorate every wall, room and more........... Now, just putting up something on the mantle and decorating one tree feels like a major task. Today it took three trips from my storage unit and now all the boxes, etc. are in the entry. The tree is in place but not decorated. The garland is on the front patio balcony railing (lights don't work, though) and the mantle actually looks quite lovely. I figure another six hours should do it (let me think - that's about two hours for the next three days......).

One good thing about being older is that we can always put a task off until tomorrow but I'll feel much better when this decorating task is completed.

Last Day !

This is a typical scene here where the girls have thoroughly enjoyed being lazy, catching up with reading and movies and just hanging out............ Bella makes sure that she's on someone's lap at all times.

It has been a wonderful five days with lots of good food and relaxation.

Tonight they fly home at 7:30 so there's still one more day of fun.

Little BIG Burger - Portland's Newest ----

Sunday we ventured out on the Streetcar to the Pearl District where we checked out the latest burger joint - this one serving a very limited menu of your choice of a regular burger, cheese burger or veggie burger. Truffle fries and drinks round out the menu and that's all............... We compare it to an upscale In-And-Out and the prices are great - $3.75 for a cheese burger and $2.75 for fries that feed at least two people. It was great and I'm looking forward to introducing it to Ashley and Cindie next weekend.

Following lunch we had to stop at Powell's Book Store, Sur la Table, Whole Foods and Anthropology. The girls treated themselves to dinner out last night at Pok Pok which is now their favorite Portland restaurant. Roger and I raided the refrigerator that is still filled with an immense amount of left overs so we had a "buffet supper" last night.

Oh............. My..................

Cooking and eating has been the primary activity this weekend and we have finally reached the point of no return.................. no more cooking.......... and no more eating - I'm kidding about the eating. Anyway, the plan is to take a walk in the morning and find a place for breakfast. Tomorrow night the girls are going to dinner at Pok Pok and Roger and I get to choose from a huge amount of leftovers in the 'fridge.

Tonight was Mexican night - Lori took charge and cooked dinner using some of the left-over turkey. It was a fabulous meal but I'm guessing that Pam didn't care much for the kitchen clean up.

Turkey Day

This is the turkey on its way into the oven. You'll notice that the little girl had to have surgery before she could be cooked.

When Roger opened the wrapping he found that about a third of the turkey had a huge cut into it so he had to reattach the cut part to the body.

He spent over a half hour stitching but it was worth the effort because she cooked up beautifully. The turkey was glazed with orange juice, honey, lemon zest and parsley and it was served with a caramelized fruit and pasta dressing decorated with baked apples and prunes. The combination of flavors was amazing.

Pam and Lori's flight went smoothly - they made it through security with no problem and the flight was on time.

We have the usual Thanksgiving Day problem - a huge amount of leftovers but no one is complaining. There's pecan and pumpkin pies still waiting to be cut into so we'll go to bed with very full tummies tonight.......................

Chayote...............

Am I the only one who didn't have a clue what this spiny thing is? Roger is an adventuress shopper so when he found this in a market he talked to the produce man and learned that it is a squash.

First you have to navigate through the spines - very sharp - which need to be removed before you can cut into it. The shell is hard - somewhat like an acorn squash. The meat is a cream color and fairly firm (nothing like a summer squash).

I checked the Internet to find some cooking ideas and finally decided to do something very basic and simple. After getting rid of the spines and cutting into the squash, I discarded the skin and core and just sliced it into random shaped pieces. Tonight I sauteed some green onions and red bell pepper in olive oil, added the chayote and a little water. With a lid on the pan it took about 20 minutes to cook into a simi crunchy squash. It has a mild flavor but it's very delicious. We served it with rice and pan fried fresh salmon. We've decided to add this vegetable to our future shopping list.

Ready for TURKEY DAY !

It has been an eventful week - a couple of unexpected blips like Tuesday when I looked forward to a "Me" Day and had an appointment for a pedicure and manicure. It appears that the girl who made the appointment, didn't understand and made the appointment for Dec. 23 instead of Nov. 23.

Yesterday was our last minute grocery shopping day for fresh vegetables and fruit and to pick up our order for a natural free-range 12 pound turkey (ordered two weeks prior). Oopps - they gave my turkey away and offered a 15 pound Norbest to take its place. To avoid an embarrassing melt-down, Roger assured me that he would find the turkey that I wanted if he had to go to every market in Portland as he led me out before I started foaming at the mouth.............

Well, within an hour he did just that so we have this cute little 11 pound fresh, natural, probably virgin turkey in the 'fridge just waiting to sacrifice for our Thanksgiving.

Lori and Pam will land at PDX about 3 p.m. so my goal is to have the turkey in the oven and everything else prepared or prepped so we can relax and enjoy being together. Bellas had a bath today and she's already excited because I mentioned the word "airport" which she understands.

It has been a busy week of preparation for their visit and our only regret is that Mike and Teresa aren't able to join us. We spent Thanksgiving at their house last year and we have wonderful memories of a fabulous day and dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving to our friends and family. As we reflect on the past year I'm certain that each of us has a long list of things to be grateful for.

Roger and I wish you a wonderful day with those that you love...............

WAITING - - - - - - - - - -

I was sure that I could send a photo of SNOW tonight but we keep waiting - the city vehicles are chained and prepared - the news says it's coming - but........................

Something to do when it snows.................

If you want to spend a little time "bowling", copy the following to your web browser. It's guaranteed to frustrate you but it's also fun...................

http://ak.imgag.com/imgag/product/full/ap/3040935/graphic1.swf

Did you say SNOW ???

The latest weather bulletin is that we're likely going to see snow in downtown Portland starting later this afternoon.

The day started with sunshine but now the sky is a steel gray color and it's really cold outside.

At the party last night we met a couple who live near Mt Hood and they had to trek through a lot of snow to make it for the evening.

Dinner and Cararet For OUR HOUSE Charity

Allison learned about a local organization that provides services for people with advanced HIV.

One of their fund raising programs is a series of parties and dinners that are hosted by local people in their homes.

Last night was the first one that we attended and it was an enjoyable experience.

The house is a "party house" with a large wet bar upstairs (bigger than my kitchen) where we were offered hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and wine of our choice. Live piano music was offered in the living room (In the photo Allison is enjoying the music played by one of the hosts before dinner).

Dinner was served downstairs where they have another bar, room to seat 35 dinner guests and a stage equipped with a sound system and baby grand (yes there's one piano in the living room and another in the party room).

After dinner we were entertained by six talented cabaret singers (all with fabulous voices) and sometimes a few naughty lyrics. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and it is always a good feeling to know that part of the donation is going to help people in need. We have more evenings planned in the coming months so we're looking forward to the next experience.

More Stuff.............

Fall is the favorite time of the year for both Roger and me so each day we enjoy the smell of cool clean air and the sight of colorful leaves (mostly on the ground now).

Anything exciting or new happening? Well......... no............. but for us that's not a bad thing. I don't suppose that you would think that our trip to Costco today was news-worthy - but we had a really great time! All that food - books - Christmas stuff - more food - well, you know what I mean. The refrigerator is cleaned out, organized and loaded.

A FROG Test

If you copy this web site to your browser you'll get a game that tests your skill in moving three frogs to opposite sides. Roger and I had a lot of laughs because at the beginning we goofed up every attempt. When we finally figured it out, it turned out to be really easy!

http://www.sonnyradio.com/leapfrog.htm

Heat and SNOW...............

The "Heat" is inside with both heat pumps sending out warm air with the help of a couple of space heaters in the bedroom............... Yes, it's really that cold - plus it's raining - SO - that means snow, already starting to come down to lower elevations. Here in Portland? No - we're at sea level but we'll likely see snow on the surrounding hills.

Our week is busy; Roger is fine tuning his research notes in preparation of starting to write his book and he's looking into some Community College courses in English while I'm busy selling vintage pens and watches for David. Keeping busy keeps us out of trouble (most of the time).

We're proud of ourselves - already purchasing some Christmas gifts and preparing for Thanksgiving and visits from our "girls"............ Pam and Lori for a long Thanksgiving weekend, and the following week, Cindie and Ashley. We're planning menus and activities and we're excited to have all of them visit. It's a great start to the holidays!

Life in a highrise condo............

After making coffee and getting the day started, Roger came into the kitchen to tell me that we had no water. Having no water on a Sunday means trouble. The tower is divided into three sections so if someone is having some construction in regard to plumbing, eight floors of condos lose their water, generally for about one hour. This is scheduled and only happens on weekdays.

As we discovered shortly, our friends Stewart and Mari and Lynne and Gary both has sewage overflowing into their condos. They are on the ground floor so what comes down.......... ends up there.

It has been a nightmare for both couples with a lot of work that needs to be done during the holidays. Mari has already canceled a trip to Texas to visit her daughter and they are presently staying at the Marriott until work can be done to put things back in order. It surely calls to attention our dependence on things that we take for granted.

We didn't get our showers until late afternoon but we are grateful to have the water restored.

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

Here it is.... another week already gone... and it seems like I should have some accomplishments to show for it - let me think ----------------

I've actually been very busy listing items on eBay for my friend, David. He goes to the most amazing estate sales, waits in line for hours and manages to buy the most premium items. I don't have the patience so he does the work, buys the things and I sell them for him on eBay. He pays a commission that takes care of my eBay expenses and a reasonable hourly wage and we have developed a partnership and friendship. This week I've been working with some gorgeous watches and some very interesting fountain pens and other writing instruments. It's been a learning experience for both of us as I do a lot of research before describing each one.

Roger has finished his research so next week he's going to start writing a book about his exciting (and often difficult) life experiences focusing on the Iran Revolution that changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in their country.

Wednesday we enjoyed a leisurely lunch this week at Le Bouchon, the French restaurant where we had our first date but that was the extent of our social activities.

SO, we continue to be busy and content - loving the gentle warmth of Fall in Portland and looking forward to the holiday season.

Roger and I wish you all a peaceful and happy weekend..........................

Expensive WATCHES & FOUNTAIN PENS - ANYONE???

Mont Blanc? Omega? What's your dream?

I'm presently selling an amazing collection of previously owned high end men's wrist watches and fabulous fountain pens and ballpoints. The photo here is a MontBlanc ballpoint.

I'm selling them for a client who purchased them at an estate sale. Apparently the former owner was a collector (who didn't know when to stop). I haven't counted the items but the box is full and I'm working a minimum of six hours each day to research, photograph and list the items. To see the items for sale, go to: www.goldturtle.com

Elections...............

What an Election ! I know that we're not supposed to "talk" about religion or politics but I like to break the rules............

I'm curious to know how my California friends think about all the money that Meg spent to be elected and then went down the tube. I've met her several times at eBay conventions and I found her to be a very intelligent and savvy business woman but I keep thinking about all the good that money could have done for others.

I remember Jerry Brown well. He was governor when I was a very young DMV employee and I remember the angst when he froze wages and made the state agencies cut back to the "bone". Now that I'm old, I'm thinking that maybe he has the right idea - but who knows??? If I still voted in California I would have had a hard time deciding.

In Oregon, our Governor race is presently 3,400 votes apart between another "oldster", Kitzhaber (Democrat), who was a former Governor of Oregon. His opponent is Dudley (Republican), a former sports star. It may be awhile before the results become final and there's already talk about a recount, lawsuit, etc. (Life is very complicated in the political world).

I Wish I Was In S.F.

What a game and how nice to see San Francisco win the World Series !

7 p.m. PST and the GIANTS Are AHEAD

This is too good to believe........................

GO San Francisco....................

Tomorrow night......................

A PERFECT Evening - So Far...............

We started watching the game before going to dinner at an amazing Spanish Restaurant, Tribol, that serves food that you would never see on a typical menu. We're home now at the bottom of the 9th Inning and........................ hey, the Giants are AHEAD 4-0 !

Life is good...................

Well, Golly.... Those Texas Boys Finally Won A Game

Well, it's only right that S.F. gives one game to the Texas boys.

We started watching the game at home and finished at Cheryl's house where we were invited for dinner.

We enjoyed meeting Dave and Barbara, neighbors in the Grant Building. They spent several years working in Saudi Arabia so they had some interesting stories to tell.

Roger baked a carrot pineapple cake and decorated it so he furnished dessert.

Happy Spooky Birthday, Vicki !

You're the Birthday Girl today so live it up and have a fabulous birthday weekend!

I was happy with 3-0 but 9-0 ????

Those Texas boys must be feeling kind of busted right now..................... GO Giants !!!

Bottom of Eighth -3 - 0 Giants

Who can ask for anything more????????

GO - San Francisco

It's the bottom of the 5th and S.F. is making toast out of Texas. Hopefully it will continue!

Finally - A New Computer..................

I'm back in business with a new HP that has all the "bells and whistles", including Windows 7. The computer tech was finally able to transfer my old files which is a big relief since I had all my business and tax records on Excel. Yes, I learned my lesson. I now have a flash drive that is plugged into the CPU that will update my files, daily.

The only bad thing is that I lost all of my e-mail addresses so, please help me out by sending a "howdy" so I can start recording all of your addresses in a new file.

The past two nights we attended the local O'Gallerie Auction so now it's time to get back to business and sell some silver.

Life Without a COMPUTER !!

I've been sitting back listening to many of my friends telling me that their computer "crashed" or stopped working or got infected with a bug - thinking, well, that won't happen to me - I'm careful about downloads and my computer is only three years old so I'm good for awhile.

Not true. About a week ago my desktop simply died - no symptoms - no moans or groans - just gone...............

At the moment the bad news is that the computer tech still has not been able to retrieve any data and the last time I did a backup was about a year ago. OK.......... don't yell at me - I won't do that ever again.

Fortunately, I have a good laptop so it's getting me by for the moment. We found a new HP for a good price so I'll be brave and upgrade to Windows 7 and, with some luck, I'll be back in business in a couple of days.

Meanwhile, I'm sharing a photo taken from our back balcony of some Fall colors. It's probably the last because we've had a storm with some pounding rain and wind that is starting to denude the trees. It has been snowing at Timberline for a full 24 hours so everyone is excited about early snow activities at Mt Hood.

New Experiences.................

The day started early with a wake-up call at 7 a.m. (that's early for us........). By 8:45 we were at the harbor waiting in line to pass through Customs and wait to drive onto the ferry to Port Angeles. The ferry ride was smooth and the day was sunny and warm so it was a nice ride. When we boarded the boat our car was the lead so when we left the ferry we were the first car off - it really saved us a lot of time because we didn't have to wait behind others to clear Customs again.

We typically drive I-5 but from Port Angeles, 101 is better (and we discovered - much more beautiful). It was a gorgeous drive and we rarely encountered other vehicles so we had the road to ourselves. At Olympia we merged into I-5 so the last part of our drive went quickly. We ended up back at the Monticello Hotel for an early dinner and now we're unpacked and ready to enjoy being home. Bella had a great time on the trip but she was double excited to get back home.

Victoria City Tour

Since this is Roger's first visit to Victoria we decided to take a Grayline City Tour so this afternoon we hopped onto a double decker bus that gave us an 1.5 hour overview of the city and harbor. The tour was actually a first for me, also. In past visits I had enjoyed a horse carriage ride and a pedi-cab tour but they don't cover the area that the bus does.

The weather is glorious again today with sunshine and mild temps so it was a beautiful day to be out. We did some shopping at Roger's Chocolate Shop and walked the entire Government Street. Bella was able to join us so now she's already napping and we're crashing in our room.

Tomorrow is another new experience when we take a ferry from the harbor (about 9 blocks from the hotel) to Port Angeles Washington.

Vancouver and Victoria BC..................

Early Friday we loaded up the Toyota pretty much like the Beverly Hillbillies (well, we needed the French Press, tea pot, Bella's clothes and various stuff, snacks, wine and a whole bunch more) and we finally got on our way in time to stop for lunch at the Montecello Hotel in Longview. We stopped for the night in Lynnwood WA where we went to a family style Italian restaurant (my Lodi friends will remember the Cosmopolitan and Croces where we over indulged in some fabulous food for many years.) This didn't match the restaurants of my memories but it was still fun to see all the platters of really good food being served. (We saw meatballs the size of a man's fist).

Saturday we arrived in Vancouver where we made a stop at a popular kabob restaurant and then went to Iraj's cousin's place for the weekend. Iraj and Amhed have been close friends for all their lives so they had a great time reconnecting.

This morning we headed for the Ferry port to come over to Vancouver Island. We're staying at a downtown hotel that is close to everything but also a little off the edge of the really busy downtown area. Bella was welcomed with open arms and she's already the "princess" of the place. Tonight we walked to Bon Rouge for a fabulous dinner. A gorgeous place with a table in front of a fireplace and romantic music. It couldn't have been any better.

Happy Birthday, ROSANNA !!

Happy Birthday wishes from Portland. We hope your day is as special as you are !

SO, where has Friedli been all week???????

It has been a long time since a book has taken over all of my leisure time - this week it turned out to be three books..............

I'm a little late - most of you have likely read the trilogy written by Stifg Larsson starting with the "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo".

Other than taking care of household duties and some eBay sales, I have been focused on reading this series of books. Today I made a trip to Costco to pick up the third "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest". I'm just starting to read it so that's probably all I'll accomplish this weekend.

Otherwise, there's nothing new so that's all for now........................

Happy Birthday, BELLA..............

Today is Bella's Day - She's 4 years old !

I never would have believed that a little dog could bring so much joy to my life !

Saturday.....................

With good wishes to all of you - Enjoy today.....

Portland City Grill

It's Friday and that means it's the Weekend ! And what do Portlanders do on the weekend? Party.......... (Well, we old retired people party any time that we can find the energy....) So, tonight Cheryl and I went to the Portland City Grill for Happy Hour.

We walked a short block, took the streetcar to the new Max connection that took us to a stop directly in front of the building. For those of you who have visited Portland it's the tall pink building near the waterfront.

The first photo is a view from our table in the cocktail lounge.

Besides a cocktail we ordered snacks (AKA dinner) so we each had a salad and fish and chips ($8 each for both). Cocktails are regular price but this is still a genuine bargain plus we enjoyed a gorgeous view.

Coming home was as easy - we walked outside the other side of the tower, got on the Max - transferred to the streetcar and we were home by 7 p.m.

Roger had a busy day with appointments and errands so he decided to let us "girls" go out without him.

We're enjoying warm weather so I'm already looking forward to a visit to the Farmer's Market tomorrow morning.

An Unexpected SURPRISE !!

When the phone rang yesterday morning I expected a UPS delivery or something similar - then Ernie's voice said "We're here....". Yes, they were in the lobby so it was exciting to see they were in Portland.

After visiting for awhile we decided to meet again for dinner at Jake's Crawfish Restaurant since they were both longing for fresh fish. Here, in the photo, we're ready to walk out the door.

We took the streetcar down to Stark and after a two block walk we found Jake's absolutely packed. Fortunately I have a membership card that guarantees a table within 15 minutes and it really paid off. On top of getting a great table we had a free appetizer of crab cakes (a nice way to start dinner). All of our meals were excellent and it was a great opportunity to catch up on each other's lives.

I tried to get them to stay one more day but today they're on their way to Mt. Hood to have lunch at Timberline and then they're going to drive over to the Coast.

Meanwhile, the Lutzs are staying in touch so their first stop was Newport where they stayed at an Ocean Front Hotel. Last night they made it to Coos Bay so they are having a nice trip back to S.F.

The Party is OVER....................

Ron and Rosanna left this morning for a drive to the Oregon Coast on their way back home to San Francisco so we're already missing their company. It was great spending time with them and now we have to get back to the "old routine".

We're promised sunny weather for the rest of the week so I'm thinking a drive to Mt. Hood is in order before the snows start falling.

Raclette and Rain..................

After 80 degrees and sunshine yesterday we were sorry to wake up to a gloomy and wet day.

SO, there was no choice except to eat a big breakfast, drink champagne and just stay indoors. Rosanna and I ventured out to a bakery but that's all for today.

We're enjoying a relaxing afternoon with candles lit and classical music on the stereo. It's great to spend time and visit with our special friends.

Life doesn't get much better than this.

A Beautiful Saturday in Portland

After breakfast Rosanna, Bella and I ventured out to the Portland Saturday Market. No, this isn't the Farmer's Market - it is a craft, music and food festival that is held every Saturday and Sunday except for the winter months.

We were amazed at the high caliber of items for sale - all by talented artisans who specialize in metal work, ceramics, glass, fabric art, jewelry and everything else that you can imagine. We took the MAX train the entire way and it turned out to be a perfect day to be out - 80 degrees and sunshine. Bella got to go along so she had so much attention that she crashed the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Roger bought a whole Coho Salmon and he cut steaks and made his famous Iranian potato salad so dinner was extra special. Tomorrow we're looking forward to a Raclette breakfast and a tour of either the Chinese or Japanese Gardens.

Oregon Garden

This morning we've just finished breakfast and, after checking out of our rooms, we're heading for the tram to take a ride through the Oregon Gardens with Ron and Rosanna. The rain left during the night so we have sunshine and temps about 70 degrees so it will be a perfect Fall day.

Back To Moonstone at the Oregon Gardens

It was a comfortable drive through farm land to Silverton to once again visit the Moonstone Resort. This time is special because we met our friends, Ron and Rosanna from S.F. Coincidentally, we both drove into the complex at the same time. We're in the "dog" building with Bella and they are down the street from us. (The complex has streets with buildings that each hold six rooms).

We met for snacks and champagne and now we're resting up for a big dinner in the restaurant.

As usual, the skies were drippy today but the good news is that sunshine is expected tomorrow for when we tour the Oregon Gardens together. The weather report just promised seven days of sunshine so the Lutzs brought us some California weather.

This is the hotel that is offering a room, dinner for two, one bottle of wine and a full breakfast for $79. The rooms are beautiful with a gas fireplace and patio. It's a great place to visit and relax.

Happy Birthday, SHEILA !

Today is a special day and we wish you a fabulous birthday! Try to do something crazy..........................!

Sunset Boulevard

The birthday treats were extended to last night when Ann treated me to a front row seat to Sunset Boulevard at the Gerding Theater in the Pearl. It turned out to be a wonderful experience - Andrew Lloyd Webber music, an accomplished small orchestra and some of the best singing that I've heard on stage! The two hours went so quickly because the show was fully packed with action and music.

Before the show, Ann joined us for dinner so it was a great evening (even nicer when I got home to a clean kitchen and dining room that Roger took care of while we were away).

Happy, Happy Birthday RON

It is a special day for a very exceptional person so Roger and I are wishing you the very best birthday ever. We hope your day is as fabulous as you are !!

We're looking forward to celebrating it with you next week.

This and That............

In the absence of anything interesting in our personal lives I decided to share a front page news story this morning about Moses, a camel who lives on a ranch outside of Portland. Poor Moses got caught in a muddy sinkhole and he was buried all the way to his neck when his owners tried to rescue him. They finally had to telephone 911 and 7 firefighters came to the rescue and got him out of the mud hole - taking over six hours of labor. He's OK with no broken bones or serious injury.

I'm excited to have found two businesses in Portland; one that repairs and polishes sterling and another that tests unmarked silver and also buys what we call "scrap". I'm going to keep them both busy from now on.

Today was an interesting eBay day with five items sold; three going to Amsterdam and two going to Russian Federation. Shipments outside the U.S. are becoming at least 1/3 of my sales so it's truly a Global experience.

Fall is definitely upon us so it's time to pack away the summer things (gosh - we must have worn them at least three or four times !).

Bella got a haircut today so she's clean and ready for an overnight drive to Silverton to meet up with Ron and Rosanna next Thursday at the Moonstone Resort. We're excited about their visit so it will be "party" time here next weekend.

Well, that's about all for now......................

Happy Birthday, SARAH !

I'm wishing you a special and very Happy Birthday, Sarah! It has been about a year since you visited Portland and I remember the fun we had. Perhaps it's time to return!!

Hugs from your Aunt Janice.............