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!