Saturday in Portland

Fresh Oregon fruit comes a bit later than in California but it also lasts longer so we'll have berries and cherries for about the next 6 to 8 weeks.  The Farmer's Market was jammed today, possibly because people are visiting for the July 4th holiday.  

The coming week will be warm in the 70s and 80s so it will be a nice opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

Our complex has a big July 4th barbecue and potluck each year so we're looking forward to good food and a chance to see our neighbors and get acquainted with new residents.

Sheila recently sent a very helpful suggestion on how to keep fresh strawberries and raspberries from developing mold.  As soon as you get them home, put into 9 parts water to 1 part white vinegar and rinse.  The vinegar will kill the mold spores without leaving flavor on the berries.  I only had white balsamic but it worked fine.

Fresh basil has finally appeared so my first batch of pesto for the season is in the freezer and ready for some tasty summer dishes. 

Roger's First Painting

During the spring school break, Roger spent his time painting a picture for our friend, Ann.  

I learned a new appreciation for the talent and time that it takes to create a piece of art.

Roger is back in school, taking another art class and an art history class.  Today he's in the art class for four hours so it will be interesting to see what he comes home with.

Paleolithic and Neolithic Art

The PSU Ancient Art History class is exceptional.  The professor is George Armantrout and, even though, there are four 2 1/2 hour classes each week,  he keeps us involved and excited and eager for more.

We've finished the Paleolithic period (between 30,000 BCE and 12,000 BCE.  We learned about cave art that has been found in France and Germany.  Yesterday we started learning about the Neolithic Era (10,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE).  We're learning that the "hunters and gatherers" are now able to settle in one area due to the melting of glaciers and warming of the earth.  During this time, people can grow grains, grasses, nuts, etc. and they don't have to depend solely on eating meat.  Art changes, becoming more detailed and larger in size because people no longer have to carry their carvings and figures as they move to find food.

Pictured here is a small carving that has been named "Venus of Willendorf", found in Austria.  She has been dated to about 25,000 BCE.  She is one of many figures of voluptuous females that have been named Stone Age "Venus Figures".

The PSU Art Building is just a short two block walk and I've already met some fascinating young people who are either art majors or interested in anthropology.

Summer Begins............

Ahh, the first week of summer............ Ours started with 80 degrees and sunshine so we thoroughly enjoyed a couple of warm days.  We're back to clouds and showers but there are promises that sunshine will return early next week.

The week passed quickly; Roger has a ten day break before school starts next Monday but he has spent most of his time working on a painting for our friend, Ann.  Now that he has changed his major to Art, the "studio" will be busy - yes, the office, with two sets of computers and desks, now has two easels with all the accompanying art supplies.  It's crowded but we love being in the same room, especially with the kitchen nearby.

This week we've enjoyed two lunches at the same restaurant, Shiraz, in the Pearl District.  It's owned by an Iranian friend of Rogers (shown in the photo with Roger) and they specialize in kabob and rice (that Roger loves) and they make a dynamite Persian burger in fresh made pita with sauteed mushrooms, onions, cheese and pickles for me - plus I can get it with French fries and salad so we're both happy.................

After lunch we went to an art gallery where they are featuring calligraphy art for the next month.  Roger's teacher has two items in the show and we saw some very intricate and beautiful calligraphy art pieces, including hand made booklets with decorative covers and calligraphy poems with drawings inside.  Roger and I are both inspired but we agree that we need more training.

Next Monday, I'm also starting a new class at PSU.  I'm taking Ancient Art History.  The class is four days a week from 2 p.m. until 4:20 p.m. but it's only for five weeks.  I have my textbooks so while Roger paints I've started to read the books.  We'll be studying art from about 5000 B.C. to about 320 A.D.

Construction for the new MAX train line continues outside our windows so we think of it as "entertainment".  Regretfully, we had a few sad moments this morning while watching even more trees being cut down.  Before, the trees were so lush that they camouflaged the nearby buildings.  Now we truly feel like we live in the inner city.  You may remember the Counting Crows lyrics  "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone, They paved paradise and put up a parkin' lot".............  Oh, well, life goes on ............

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

Another week has ended with a dinner last night at the Cordon Bleu Cooking School to celebrate Roger's successful Spring term.  Three delicious courses with many choices for $16 each.  Clearly, the school is losing money on their restaurant but the students get valuable training.  Best of all, the streetcar dropped us off in front of the restaurant and it was only a two block walk to take the one back home.

This morning Ann and I enjoyed shopping at the Farmer's Market where we have some favorite farms.  Today I bought sheep cheese from Ancient Heritage Dairy where they name their cheese after the sheep the cheese is made from (I bought "Adelle" and we're having it for a snack tonight with fresh harvested honey comb, mint from our balcony and a fresh baked baguette).

Roger's son, Brian, drove up from Springfield to pay a visit so Roger fixed a "simple" lunch and we had a nice visit.

Currently it's about 80 degrees so the windows are open and we are enjoying the comfortable weather.  It's a good thing that it's warm, considering that tonight at 10 p.m. Portland is hosting the "Portland Naked Bike Ride" which has become very popular.   Rules are that you must not drive a car to the ride - so you have to ride your bicycle to the starting site and be clothed until you get there - then you take off your clothes and you can get body paint and get ready for the ride.  In 2010, there were over 10,000 participants so this is really a big deal.  (Hmmmm, I wonder if there were any over the age of 70).  I'm going to check the route just in case they come by our condo..............

Tomorrow is Father's Day - a very special day to celebrate the men who have committed their lives to their families.  Truly a day for celebration and remembrance.

The End of Spring Term

Roger is acting like a little kid today because his last class ended this morning with a "show and tell" of his final art piece for drawing class.  Tomorrow morning he has to return to his calligraphy class, but just to pick up the last calligraphy project which was a Japanese style hand made album with one of his favorite poems and some sketches that he made to decorate the writing.  Now he has ten days to be lazy before summer term starts.  


We're finally enjoying perfect weather between low 70s and mid 80s for the next five days so it might be a good excuse to take a short driving trip.

Cheryl's Birthday - Continued....

Today Cheryl and I walked to VQ for her birthday lunch.  It was an enjoyable experience finished off with a banana cream cookie crusted tart.  Good?  Oh, yes.......... (I had a fork so she had to share).

A Walk At The River

This noon Bella and I walked down to the river front to take one of Roger's drawings to a frame shop.  It was also a good excuse to enjoy lunch outside at McCormick & Schmicks.  They're under new ownership now and the menu was really excellent.  I

On the way we encountered a man walking three dogs; this little girl walks every day with a huge and heavy tree limb and no leash.  At the stoplight she would put it on the ground and when it was time to walk she stuck it back in her mouth and led the way across the street.

I had a fleeting encounter with a protective bluebird who unexpectedly "bombed" me while we were walking.  She actually touched my hair with her feet (or beak) and the noise of her wings next to my ears was loud enough to give me a scare.  I wasn't as surprised the second time she passed by my head again but I made a point not to walk back home on the same street.

The photo of Bella was taken at the restaurant where she has developed a taste for French fries (no, I only gave her one small one - I know they aren't good for her - or for me!).

Rose Parade Floats

 After cheering on the team at the dragon boat races, Bella and I headed back to the streetcar and went downtown for brunch at Brasserie Montmartre.  They have outdoor seating and the weather is a perfect sunny 70 degrees so it was a nice way to relax and enjoy great food.  Then it was time to hop on the MAX and go back down to a different area of the Waterfront where flower covered floats from yesterday's parade are on display.

The engineering isn't as sophisticated as the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade but the floral covered floats have amazing detail and design.  Similar rules apply so the floats must all be covered with natural materials such as seeds, grasses, flowers and even spices.  It's always fun to be able to see them up close so, instead of fighting the crowd of over 100,000 people at the parade, I enjoy just waiting until Sunday to see them.

Roger is busy cramming for two final tests on Tuesday so now that I'm back home, it's time to pamper him with some food and tea.

Dragon Boat Races Celebrating Portland's Rose Festival

The float at the left is a floral covered depiction of a dragon boat. 

Several of my friends are members of the "Paddle Me Hard" dragon boat team.  The members have been practicing for over two months, building stamina and synchronizing their rowing so they could complete in this weekend's dragon boat races.

Bella and I joined them at the River Front to cheer them on.  Allison is one of the team's members.  The shirts were created by a graphic artist who was chosen by the team's sponsor, "VQ" (Veritable Quandary) Restaurant and they are really cute.

Happy Birthday, Cheryl..............

Cheryl's birthday was yesterday and last night she hosted a cocktail party at her condo that was great fun.  Pictured here are Ann, Cheryl and Judy. 

Thanks for the wonderful evening, Cheryl !

"The Only Time You Really Live Fully Is From Thirty To Sixty"

Did you read the heading?  What?  The quote is by Hervey Allen, "The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty.  The young are slaves to dreams, the old, servants of regrets.  Only the middle aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits."

OK, give us a break, "Hervey".  Obviously you are very young, or you haven't experienced the joy of life, because, believe me, life really begins at 60 - that's when we finally know who we are, what we want and how to get it.  It doesn't stop there - just getting better year after year..............

Happy Birthday, PAM.............

Today we're celebrating PAM, who has enriched our lives in so many ways.  Happy Birthday........... Enjoy the day !

Friday Is Always Good.............

I love Fridays because school is over until Tuesday and it's time to relax.  It's chicken kabob time tonight so the barbecue will get a workout with Roger at the helm.

Roger has changed his major from English to Studio Art - I'm thrilled and eager to see what he'll create next.

Weather is weird again - today with high temps, clouds and high humidity so it will be interesting to see what happens tonight. No matter........... tomorrow is Farmer's Market and bad weather won't keep us away !

Construction outside the condo has been going at a fast pace to prepare for the new MAX line.  New water pipes were installed during the past few months so tonight water will be shut down from midnight to 7:00 a.m.  I'll have to put "Do not flush" signs on the toilets because I'm sure we won't remember when we're sleep walking.

OK - this is boring so I'll stop