Monday is "Girl's Day"

 Allison and I decided to declare today as "girl's day" so we started it out with breakfast at Zells.  It was Allison's first time there so she ordered the German pancake with blueberries.  (Now she belongs to the "clean plate club")




 
Breakfast was my birthday treat and also a chance for me to tell her all about our wedding weekend.  Roger is out having the car serviced so now it's Bella's turn to get some special attention. 

A Weekend That Will Be Remembered............

 Click on the URL below for a view of the Canyon Suite at Salishan

http://www.salishan.com/accommodations/suites/canyon-suite.htm

This is where we took our vows to become husband and wife on Friday, August 28th.  The minister with two witnesses met us at the suite and we had a short ceremony on an outside deck.

It was time to declare our commitment to each other and a perfect setting to do so.  Salishan at Glenenden Beach is located between Lincoln City and Newport on the Oregon coast so it will now have a special place in our hearts.

To make the weekend, perfect - we celebrated my 75th birthday on August 29th so I felt like a princess the entire weekend. 

After a lovely day driving to Seaside, we're home and still basking in the glow of our new relationship as husband and wife.

Thanks to the many people who have wished us well !

Jacob's Creamery - Oregon

http://www.jacobscreamery.com/

Above is the web site where you can view the amazing products from a small dairy in Washington State,Jacob's Creamery.  Today at the Farmer's Market in the PSU park blocks, I bought their "bloomy", an oozy cheese that I'll enjoy with my Pearl Bakery baguette for today's lunch.  I also couldn't resist the freshly churned butter.

Tomatoes are at their very best right now so we eat tomatoes with almost every meal.  This morning Roger sauteed some onion and tomato, then poached quail eggs into the mixture.  (He has trouble pronouncing "quail" so often he calls them crow eggs so I can tease him).

Today's bounty includes farm fresh eggs, also from Jacob's Creamery, assorted cherry tomatoes, corn on the cob, fresh Oregon blackberries, tomatoes and fresh basil that I keep in a pitcher of water on the kitchen counter.  Saturday is always a special day because of the fabulous Farmer's Market so close to our condo!

DNA Test Through the Internet

Have you ever thought how useful a DNA test would be?  I have - but I didn't decide to actually do it until Dr. Sabour encouraged me.  He had his done and he said that it was informative and helpful by verifying his ancestry and also his possible predestined illnesses or diseases that he might be susceptible to in the future.  The test makes it clear that this is NOT a diagnosis of what we will actually suffer from - BUT - what our bodies might have a propensity for.  The benefit is that, once we know, we can work with our physician to come up with some proactive remedies that will either slow down the process or eliminate it.

It costs $99 and yesterday I got a kit in the mail so I could provide saliva for the test.  Today I'm mailing it back to the laboratory and results will be known in about 6 to 8 weeks.

If any of you are curious, send me an email at:
goldturtle@comcast.net

and I'll send you a link to all of the information.

Ann and Allison are already on board with the DNA tests so we're investing some time in proactive health care.  Next week Allison has invited me to be her "study pal" at an Oregon Health & Science University three year study of the benefits of taking fish oil.  I have no idea of what my role will be but I'm willing to give it a try.

Also next week, Ann and I have appointments with a spa that specializes in foot care and reflexology so that's our next step in our quest for better health.

ZOEY is 4 Months old August 1st...........

Silly and Sweet little ZOEY.






















Truly a blessing....................

 

Who's SMART ?

Yesterday we decided to get a larger flat screen TV for our kitchen/office and we chose a "smart TV" so we can watch Netflix movies by streaming from our I-Phones.

I guess the assumption is that the owner of the TV is also "smart".  We talked about hiring a youngster to install it - but both Iraj and Parvis just couldn't stand waiting so this afternoon they unpacked everything and set to work.  It only took two trips; one to Home Depot for the screws that connect it to the wall arm and another trip to Pearl Hardware for an electrical connection.  Between the two and my attempts to set things up with my phone, we actually got this big guy installed.

I guess we're smart enough to own it !!

Dr Sabour is visiting Portland

Dr. Sabour just finished a genetics conference in Olympia so he arrived by Amtrak yesterday afternoon.

So far, if not sleeping, these two friends are talking non-stop.  They share a lifetime of memories going all the way back to their teen years.

We always enjoy Parvis's visits because he provides updates on all the medical breakthroughs that he currently studies and lectures.  He's given me some "homework" so I'm busy reading "The World of Probiotics" (understanding different strains of bacteria and symbiosis).  One of the most interesting things that I'm learning from Parvis is that a healthy, balanced, organic and sensible diet is the KEY to a long life and sound mind

Last night we enjoyed an authentic Persian meal at Pasha and tonight we're going to enjoy the purchases from this morning's shopping trip at the Farmer's Market.  He was like a little kid, checking out all the beautiful produce and we came home with fresh Oregon artichokes, farm tomatoes, corn on the cob, fresh caught Chinook salmon, fresh basil and mint, melons, berries and much more.  

Today at the market, Dave's Killer Bread had a huge truck parked at the entrance where they were giving a free loaf of their "21 Multigrain" sliced bread ($5.00 at the market)

So - tonight's menu is slow roasted baked organic chicken, Iranian saffron rice, and fresh artichokes.  Now I'm thinking that fresh sliced heirloom tomatoes with fresh basil, Katz olive oil and vinegar may also be on the table.  (Lori provides me with these wonderful products and she brings a supply every time she visits).

Well, the boys are still talking so it's time for me to settle down with my latest book.

Just HOP on the MAX...............

Today 100 residents at the American Plaza were invited to ride the new MAX line that will open on September 12th.  We rode on a new train for the nine mile trip to Milwaukee, a suburb of Portland.  The best part of the trip is the first mile or so when the train crosses the Willamette River over the new Tillikum Bridge.  The bridge is only for the train, emergency vehicles, bikes and walkers so it will be a popular place for outdoor enthusiasts.  The bridge is beautiful and at night it will be lit with lights that change colors according to the tide and water depth.  It was a perfect day for an outing with temps back to the low 80s which will continue for the next ten days or so.  Now we can get back to walking down to the river and to nearby restaurants.

There are numerous sculptures along the route and they all are beautiful and impressive.  One is across the street from out condo.  The round one, shown here, was closer to Milwaukee.

I took the next photo through the train's window while we were on the bridge, because our building is in the far background.  We're the shortest of the three buildings (on the left side of the photo)..

Roger's Latest Painting...........

Roger named this "Gypsy Dancer" - Acrylic on Canvas