A PARABLE OF SATAN AND THE DONKEY

A farmer rode his donkey to the field where he worked and, after leaving water, he tied the donkey to a tree to rest while he worked the field.

Satan came by and untied the donkey who ran into a nearby field where a woman grew a garden.  Because he was hungry, he ate most of the produce in the garden so, when the woman saw what had happened, she killed the donkey.

When the farmer found the dead donkey, he shot and killed the woman.

When the woman's husband found her body, he stormed off and shot the donkey's owner.

The sons of the donkey's owner avenged the death of their father and they set fire to the house of the man who killed their father.

Suddenly struck by remorse, the sons asked Satan why all those terrible things had happened.  Satan replied, "Why, I did nothing - except release the donkey.  It was you who reacted and released your inner devil."

Please listen to this parable.  Pause........... and think...............................

BEING 80 YEARS OLD

  

An 80th birthday is a milestone and my children made sure that it was special.  They sent us to Cannon Beach for two nights at the WAVES Hotel and treated me to a birthday dinner at a special restaurant.

To stay safe, we made a menu and took food to cook in our room, except for our one special dinner at the Wayfarer.

My personal chef, Roger, prepared a Persian recipe for eggplant omelet the first morning and we enjoyed a very lazy day.  We wanted to be very careful about covid exposure so we just took a short walk through downtown. and spent time on the patio overlooking the beach.

Today we slowly made our way back home to Portland.  Unfortunately, the smoke here is very thick but we are thankful that we're safe from the wild fires.

There is so much to be thankful for - long life - good health - love and companionship - fabulous children, family and friends.

Being 80 is GREAT!

TODAY I JOINED THE 80+ CLUB

My friends, Allison and Ann treated me to a birthday lunch today at McCormick and Schmicks Harborside restaurant, with delicious food and a beautiful outside table overlooking the Marina.  Both of them have been looking forward to my joining them in being 80, still healthy and slightly  feisty.  

We haven't socialized for months so there was a lot to talk about.  Ann is busy writing her memoir and Allison is presently working with the Census Bureau.  I'm still working to rent an apartment here at American Plaza, with a showing this afternoon, so we all manage to stay active.

POWELL'S BOOKS OPENS FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

Roger likes Powell's, too

 HAPPY DAYS, AGAIN

Powell's Book Store will open soon and we are excited.  Now we have lots of time to read and Powell's is the "go to" place for a huge selection.

The streetcar stops outside the store - I'll see you there!

Little Chicks Peeking Out of the Eggshell ...............

Ann and I were like two newborn chicks venturing out into the world today when we got brave enough to have lunch in a restaurant.

Portland has the perfect venue at the Marina where McCormick & Schmicks Restaurant serves food at outdoor tables overlooking the harbor.

The restaurant has done everything necessary to keep customers and employees safe and the food was delicious and beautifully served.







The Portland Streetcar line is nearby so we also used public transportation wearing gloves, wiping things down with disinfectant wipes and acting paranoid - but we feel brave and we feel confident that we did what was necessary to stay safe.


CHEERS !!

Married FIVE YEARS August 28th

As they say "Time goes fast when you're having fun".  

Five years ago, on August 28th, Roger and I got married and this year Roger gave me a beautiful anniversary gift, filled with hard work and love.  Using a photograph from our marriage ceremony, he painted our portrait.

What makes this unique is that the center is a raised plaque.  The flowers are hand sculptured and three dimensional and my pearls are composed of dozens of tiny "pearls" that Roger made by hand.

Double click on the photo to see the sculptures.

Mucca Osteria Takeout In Downtown Portland

After cooking three meals, most days for the last three months, I decided that I needed a restaurant dinner, so last night I used Grubhub to order dinner from my favorite Portland restaurant, Mucca Osteria.

I ordered an Antipasti, Prosciutto e Barrata (Parma ham, Burrata Mozzarella, with pickled red onion.



I had some fresh cooked black eyed peas in the refrigerator so I added them to the dish and it turned out to be my dinner.  The bread in the photo is house made and it was warm when the food was delivered.  There are no words to describe the bliss that I felt when I broke into the "marshmallow soft" cheese and the accompaniments.

Tonight I'll enjoy the remainder of last night's order, Tortelli ai Funghi.

If you're in Portland, this restaurant is one that you don't want to miss.  Please help them stay in business while they are only able to offer take-out.

A Portland Pretend Vacation Day

Today felt like a vacation day, with Roger and I being even more lazy than usual.  We watched two spectacular movies; the first "The Girl With A Pearl Earring", painted by  Vermeer.

Excellent acting, beautiful photography and an interesting look at a painter in the 1600s.






After snacking out of the refrigerator (no cooking when on vacation)  we decided to continue our leisurely day by watching Frida, the story of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.  Another interesting look at two creative artists with fascinating personal stories.  

Another EBB & FLOW Acrylic Painting

Roger has a unique talent for giving water a sparkling vitality and movement so this painting is one of my favorites and it's presently hanging in my dining room.  When I turn on the spotlight that is nearby, it becomes "alive".



















The third painting meant for his gallery debut is one that he did about two years ago of a marsh in the Iranian desert.  It's the biggest of the three so it really commands the wall where it's hung.

Here it's a work in progress and I'm including a close-up view of the high relief of the weeds in the foreground. 

 



I never tire of watching him create art.  He has been blessed with a unique gift!

An Art Exhibit That Almost Happened

Two weeks before the pandemic closed down our state, Roger had been accepted to show three of his paintings in a Cannon Beach Gallery.  He had them ready to go so it was a disappointment when he found that the show had been cancelled.  

The subject of the show was "Ebb And Flow".  Here is one of his paintings.  What's unusual about the art is the rock formation that is a sculpture that creates a high relief dimensional effect.

"DIRT", a substitute culinary experience when we can't dine in fine restaurants

Yes, we're all missing the experience of dining out, linens, candlelight, sumptuous wine choices and multi-course menu choices.  SO, instead, I just finished reading "DIRT', written by Bill Buford who lived in Lyon, France for five years, learning how to cook authentic French recipes under the tutelage of famous chefs, such as Paul Bocuse and Michel Richard.

I learned much about Lyon and I regret that I never visited there but just reading about the food and recipes was almost like being there to enjoy the food.  Fortunately, the imagination is alive and well during our isolation.

I recently learned that my favorite Portland restaurant, Mucca Osteria, is delivering their fabulous Italian food using Grubhub so sometime this week, I plan on an indulgent dining experience.  I'll just do a "pretend" restaurant by using linens, candles, smooth jazz on the stereo and a Navarro Pinot Noir.  Now I have something special to look forward to!

Stuck At Home Without A BURGER .............

A thick juicy burger on a soft roll with pickles, mustard and lots of other good stuff was one of my favorite restaurant lunches, however, my favorite burger places in downtown Portland are still closed.  

I've never before mastered cooking a burger at home but desperation brings out new talents.

SO, here's my version of a "smashed" 80% lean/20% fat burger with a thick slice of Tillamook sharp cheddar on a Grand Central Bakery potato bun.



Good?  Oh, yes ................................

Creating Art During A Pandemic

Having a hobby during this time when we are isolated in our homes is a great gift.  Roger continues to paint at least several hours a day.  His latest projects have been for personal reasons.  He has been painting portraits as a gift to the physicians who have provided him with life-saving procedures.  Actually they are more than just a portrait.  He has added hand made sculptured enhancements to each such as a dove for Dr. Dave, a flower for Dr. Rockove and carved scrolls for Dr. Lufkin's wife.  Each is unique and now, Roger is working on my birthday present, incorporating a portrait of the two of us with - - well, I don't know yet what sculpture he'll add to it as it is a "work in progress".  


Thankfully, his art and my homemaking and cooking keeps us busy enough and....... there's always a movie on TV.  Yes, that's our life now.

DOWNTOWN PORTLAND DURING A PANDEMIC

It has been three months since I talked about the pleasure of living in the Portland inner city area, even during a crisis.  Now it's time to tell you how well our city and state officials have been keeping us safe.  

The polite attitude of most people has made personal safety easy because neighbors and shoppers are wearing masks and other protection while maintaining a good attitude.  Grocery stores are ultra clean and organized to make shoppers feel safe and those of us over age 60 are given special accommodations by shopping for an hour before the stores open to the public.

Life has become somewhat stressful but Roger and I are daily thankful for being healthy and safe in our home.

Yes, we miss our social activities that included  theater, symphony, restaurant dinners, trips to Hood River and the waterfalls, a wedding, a graduation and my cancelled 80th birthday celebration but we have health - our most precious gift.  Living in beautiful downtown Portland makes our isolation even easier because we can walk to the nearby river area and take short road trips to soak in the beauty of nature.

PERSIAN NOWRUZ - Welcome to Spring

Persians celebrate New Year at the moment that Spring arrives.  Today it will occur at 8:49 p.m. PST.  This custom goes back at least 3,000 years and there are rituals that accompany the new year.

Many symbols are used to celebrate rebirth, fertility, sweetness of life, health, beauty, love, patience and age.

WE WISH YOU A HAPPY NOWRUZ AND WE WELCOME THE BEAUTY OF SPRING

MT HOOD - A FABULOUS VIEW FROM PORTLAND

 

I was having a "blue" day until my friend, Ann, sent this gorgeous photo that she took while out on a walk this afternoon.  I find myself worrying about the Corona Virus but seeing how nature brings us everlasting beauty, I'm reminded that we'll be fine!

COSTCO And The Corona Virus

Friday I took the leap and ventured out to Tigard to visit Costco.  The plan was to get a few cleaning supplies, some chicken and fish that could be cut and rewrapped for the freezer and get some fruit and produce.  Well, friends - don't make any plans because you're likely not going to get what you came for................

The first challenge is getting into the parking lot.  Prepare to be in a very long line of cars that end up blocking cross traffic and end up in horns blaring and fist shaking.  OK - several minutes will go by and then, YES, you're on your way to parking.  Now you have a new challenge - I won't scare you with the details - suffice it to say that if you manage to park without someone hitting your car, running over a shopper or any other mayhem - CONGRATULATIONS.  You are now ready to get a shopping cart and enter the store.

Did I say "shopping cart" ?  OK, at a distance I see about 20 carts left standing and about 30 people running to get one.  Perhaps this is an advantage to being "old" because a nice young man got two and gave me one.

OK ............... it's time to shop!

Costco employees are doing a great job.  As I entered a girl wiped my cart handle with a disinfectant and everywhere I looked, the employees were hard at work.  It was disconcerting, however, to see the lines waiting to cash out - with the end of the lines approximately 3/4 of the way to the back of the warehouse.

ONWARD - now it's my turn to grab and go ......... OK, there are three packages of fresh salmon so I make a running leap, grab one successfully and go to check out the fresh chicken (organic, please).  Sorry - there isn't even one package of chicken anywhere in the store except for the cooked ones (oops, only about 8 left so, another running leap for this old lady.)

Toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, cleaning supplies??? Well, No, not today ..........  Navigation through the aisles is another challenge but finally, it's my turn to wait in one of the 30 cart long lines.  It's said that "patience is a virtue".

The checkers are amazingly efficient and they have me checked out before I barely finish loading my items on the belt.  So, all is good.

Only one more challenge left - loading the car and leaving the parking place and heading for the street.  It's a last chance to be patient - just allow about 20 minutes to a half hour to get out and ........... SUCCESS - you are on your way home.

Costco is now a half day project so plan ahead and good luck!!!

A Tuesday Dinner at Mucca Osteria Featuring PECCHENINO Wine from Piemonte

SO - What do Portlanders do on a Tuesday night?














This week Ann and I joined a small group at the upstairs dining room at Mucca to learn about Italian wines from the region of Piemonte from the winemaker, Orlando Pecchenino.

Accompanying the wine was a five course dinner that featured sea scallops, charcuterie, rigatoni with venison, port glazed sous vide pork cheeks and semifreddo for dessert.  The highlight of the evening was a 2015 Barolo San Giuseppe.

If you are planning a visit to Portland, Ann and I highly recommend dining at Mucca.  It is an exceptional restaurant with chef-owner Simone Savaiano at the helm.  Once inside, you'll likely think that you're at a plaza in Rome or a small cafe in Venice.


.

The WAVES in Cannon Beach - FABULOUS !

Tuesday, Roger and I ran away for one night and two days to Cannon Beach.  It's only about a 1.5 hour drive through beautiful hills with forests and creeks.  This was our first stay at Waves and it was a wonderful experience.  The rooms are ocean front and downtown is a half block away.  (the first photo is our view from the balcony).







We walked the entire downtown that is lined with art galleries, cafes and boutiques. 


Haystack Rock is one of the famous landmarks and we were very lucky to choose the only two days of sunshine this week at the coast.

We made a friend while we were in the room.  This big guy visited us at least a dozen different times.  He wanted attention so badly, he started pecking on our window so Roger has to discourage him with a "shoo shoo".

Friday, Roger is undergoing surgery on his foot so this is our last chance to play for awhile.

thewavescannonbeach.com

Dungeness Crab From Oceanside Oregon

One day from the ocean to Portland.  My friend, Lois, just delivered two crab and I've already shelled them for crab cakes tonight and a crab salad tomorrow.

This is a special treat because they are only one day old from the ocean - they can't get much fresher than that!

Oceanside is a small oceanfront community in the Tillamook area and it's known for its beautiful rock formations.  

Triangle Productions ACCORDING TO MORTY AND RUTH

Tonight Allison and I started with pizza and beer at Old Town Pizza in downtown Portland.  If you go, we suggest that you try the house special, regular crust.  It's a combination of pepperoni, house made sausage, olives, mushrooms, bell pepper (and probably more stuff that I forgot about).  It's made with red sauce and if you have enough to take home, it will be perfect for Sunday lunch.


Afterwards, we had tickets for the Triangle Theater to see the last night performance of "According to Morty and Ruth".  They portray a Jewish couple, married for 50 years and the laughs never stopped.  The two stars are Jay Randall Horenstein as Morty and Wendy Westerwelle has Ruth.  The owner, director and producer, Donald Horn wrote the script and it was truly a hilarious story and performance.

Check the Triangle Theater website to see upcoming productions for this season.  This local theater is fabulous and Don is the perfect host.

"AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER"

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Valentine's Day is a lovely reminder to express our love. Ours started with kisses and hugs and an exchange of Valentines - Mine from Roger, being handprinted with his poetry.  

For me, preparing delicious food is my way of showing affection so Roger got one of his favorite breakfasts; German Pancakes.

The weather here in Portland has cooperated with blue sky and puffy white clouds and, YES, Sunshine !

Enjoy the day, everyone !

 

WHITE BIRD Contemporary Dance in Portland

Last night was another unique Portland experience.  I went with a friend to the Schnitzer to see WHITE BIRD, a contemporary dance company that is known for its choreography, costuming, lighting and music.  The dancers last night are from Brazil.  There are two new and different performances coming soon so check out their website for information and tickets.

JENNESS FARM GOAT MILK SOAPS

Today I received a shipment of Jenness Farm Soaps and I realized that I haven't told you about this delightful company located in New Hampshire.

My first purchase from them was about 15 years ago when I found this family who started with a 4-H project showing goats at the local fair and eventually expanded to making a line of soap and body care products.  After ordering several bars of their goat milk soap I became a life long fan.  

Some soaps have fragrance oils and others contain 100% pure essential oils or are left unscented and are colored naturally.  

My new shipment includes two that I've not used before; "Citrus Scrub" and "Cherry".  The other part of the shipment is a variety of summer berries.

Each morning, as I shower, I savor the fragrance and texture of these beautiful soaps.

www.jennesfarm.com

FREE Tax Preparation in Portland OR - sponsored by IRS & AARP

Roger and I learned about this tax preparation service for people over age 65 here in Portland so today we paid a visit to Lloyd Center where they have an office.  

The address is:
Lloyd Center Mall (3rd Floor)
2027 Lloyd Center
Portland OR 97232
(503) 243-7765
www.cashoregon.org

The tax preparers are volunteers so each completed tax document is carefully reviewed by a certified tax accountant before it's submitted to the IRS.


The service is available for households earning less than $66,000.

If you have rental property, a beach house and a yacht, this won't work for you - however, if you are like us with a social security and pension income, it is a wonderful service.  

Right now is a perfect time to talk to them before the last minute rush starts.

SAY IT WITH HEART Boutique at JUDE MOONBEAM STUDIO

Today is a day that I look forward to each year - Jude's Valentine boutique at her cottage in Portland's Hollywood District.  My friend, Allison, accompanied me to see original crafts and art that feature a Valentine theme.  

If you're in Portland this weekend, you need to visit this unique experience.

To finish off the morning, a visit to "Lovely Rita's" for lunch at the Hoxton Hotel in Chinatown made it a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning in downtown Portland.

Can You IMAGINE? A Restaurant named "FULL BELLY" ?

Okay, I'll admit that I am a (very) old woman who has (very) old fashioned ideas but I can't avoid stating my opinion that "FULL BELLY' would be my last choice for a restaurant name.  The positive thing about this cafe is that it just next door to American Plaza so what is more wonderful than just walking next door to the University Hotel to have breakfast, brunch, happy hour or dinner?

Last night we were invited to an introduction party (happy hour) and about 50 people showed up so it didn't take us long to get "happy".  Between 4 and 6 pm they feature a bistro menu and a slight reduction on drink prices (my Manhattan still cost $12 though).  The best thing about the party was a chance to reacquaint myself with old friends and an opportunity to meet new neighbors.

SO, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and give them a try.  This part of downtown greatly needs a cafe / pub / restaurant so we'll wish them well ..................