July 2008

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Exploring Portland

July 30, 2008 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring by Colleen | 1 comment

My Uncle Chris was in town this past weekend, therefore affording us the opportunity to explore the city in ways we don’t normally. Chris is very fond of views, so we went to every spot we hadn’t taken him before, like the rooftop restaurant Rocket on East Burnside where we enjoyed some tantalizing cocktails. Mine was The High Ball, a perfect combination of bourbon, tea concentrate, and tamarind syrup, topped with a delicious cherry!

As Portlanders will be able to surmise from the photos, we also went for a short hike in Forest Park to show Chris the very cool ruins of a stone house built by the WPA in the 1930′s. It always looks so beautiful! We also made a stop at the Mount Calvary cemetery for the stunning Mt Saint Helen and Mt Hood vistas. Though they didn’t photograph as nicely as they looked in person, sigh.

Surprisingly, we had never taken him to Washington Park, so that was our next stop. It was a perfect day to be out among the myriad roses, and while not in their full glory, they were still quite impressive. After the Rose Garden, we visited the Holocaust Memorial – a very sad place that reminds me of the importance of kindness and forgiveness. Hating people for having beliefs different than my own can lead me down a very dark path.

After all that hiking, walking, and driving, we took a bit of a siesta at The Matador in Northwest, an uber-velvety place with stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon (hello decadence) and the best margarita I’ve ever had. Wouldn’t you know, it had tamarind juice in it? I think I am becoming a little predictable!

After more decadent dining that evening at The Berlin Inn and a good night of sleep, we spent Sunday looking at real estate. Our most interesting stop was at The Benson, where we got to see our fair city from the 24th floor. I wish I hadn’t been a ninny and forgotten to take photos. It was really quite nice to see my home from a new angle, and one so flattering as well. Portland, you look mahvelous! Thanks for being such a great place to live.

The Mile High City

July 25, 2008 in Remembering, Traveling by Colleen | Permalink

Though, I don’t care to live there again – snow, traffic, sprawl, and housing prices, returning to Denver is always a treat for me. I love roaming around, looking for the new, and finding myself happy to see places that have not changed. Look, there’s the Wonder Bread factory! I can see the School of Mines “M!” Oh my goodness, there’s the castle! All of it brings back a flood of welcome memories and new ideas about the place that was once home.

This is Paris on the Platte, my absolute favorite coffee shop in Denver. I first went with friends on my sixteenth birthday – what a joyous discovery. I spent many a late night – chatting, laughing, playing cards. There are some changes, but it’s heart remains the same - the checkerboard ceiling, the useless smokeeter, bread boards piled with savory goodness. I am sipping a regular-old iced coffee here, but back in those early days, it was a Cafe Jacques with cinnamon and a slice of orange on top (no longer on the menu), with an occasional clove cigarette on the side. I will say, no matter the drink, the company’s always been divine.

Back when the Wynkoop was one of the few “civilized” outposts in lower downtown (LoDo), I loved wandering the abandoned streets, particularly when I came upon Union Station and beautifully tiled buildings like these. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore!

In college, The Market was my favorite hangout. I could cross Auraria Parkway, and mosey down Larimer to grab a slice of quiche, a sweet, and an occasional coffee. It really looks exactly the same. The striped awning, the faded sign, the old-fashioned cases filled with cakes and deli selections, right down to the bright young faces behind the counters. I’ll bet some of them are just as surly, too!

Sunset over the Flatirons. In our restless teenage years, my friend Dionne and I used to drive this road in her Dodge Colt, at this very time of day. We’d listen to KBCO on the AM dial, the signal fading with the light. When it went silent, the sound of our voices and the soft rumble of the engine filled the air in the most pleasant fashion.

Memories – all of them good.

Before Fear

July 24, 2008 in Being, Thinking, Writing by Colleen | Permalink

Before fear, I rode headlong into life,

Full of joy and wonder,

Summer blonde hair whipping wildly in the breeze.

Before fear, my feet were bare,

Burning on the hot summer pavement,

Brown with dirt and sun.

Before fear, I leaped and jumped,

Legs straining, stretching to make my mark,

With vitality and energy.

Before fear, my laughter was everywhere,

Ringing in the air,

Singing in my heart.

Before fear, I was always myself,

Not wondering who or what to be.

What will this crowd think of me?

Before fear, I did not think of it,

I just was,

Every moment of every day.

Now as I return, I move with hope as I pray.

Colleen Sohn

Tags: Poetry

Land of Enchantment III

July 23, 2008 in Making, Traveling by Colleen | 1 comment

I believe one of the greatest privileges I have been given as a consumer is to meet with the people who have made or grown what I am purchasing. I love talking with tradespeople of all kinds: farmers, designers, painters, potters, and jewelers. They all have such interesting lives and passions, and it is a pleasure to share a moment with them, speaking earnestly about what it is they do. It gives the purchase a certain weight and reverence.

I feel particularly lucky to have met with the artisans responsible for the creation of jewelry and pottery purchased on our trip. This is Marie Moquino, of the Santo Domingo Pueblo. She and her husband Tom, set out their wares at Ojo Caliente. I bought the bracelet she is stringing in the photo and a beautiful gaspeite and onyx necklace. I asked her if I could take a picture of her working, and thankfully, she agreed. We learned that she and her husband have lived in New Mexico, as she says, “For life.” Kind and peaceful, we talked about their travels to various Pow-Wows around the west, relatives in Oregon, and the fact that they’ve been married for forty-nine years. I hope to make this milestone with the joy they possessed.

We also got lucky and ran into the man responsible for making the summer owl we purchased on our last visit, and then bought its counterpart, the winter owl. He explained that there are only two owls, despite there being four seasons. This is representative of his people and the union of opposites. What is even more interesting is that we bought the summer owl on the opposite side of the plaza – talk about balance and union!

Here is some of the adobe architecture I love so much, but please don’t ask me why. I really can’t say. I just like it. This and the above photo are the Church of San Felipe in Albuquerque. This building was constructed in 1793 and is still going strong. I wonder how long our little house will last?

Finally, the return to Denver. This was my eastern view of New Mexico. Goodbye gorgeous!

Branches on the Tree

July 22, 2008 in Loving, Remembering by Colleen | 1 comment

As part of our trip east, we drove (rather Gregory did) my grandparents to New Mexico so they could visit with my grandpa’s older sister Shirley. They spent three days together in Albuquerque while we were gallivanting around Santa Fe and Ojo Caliente. We met up on the final leg of their Albuquerque journey, and got to see Shirley, too. I had only met her once when I was very little, and actually have no recollection of her, just her house. It was far from the hotel where we stayed and had a lot of wood paneling. Aren’t memories funny?

I think my grandma jinxed this picture. They were both smiling nicely and looking at the camera, when she exclaimed, “I never take a good picture!” Well, whaddya know, it is a little blurry, and neither one of them is looking in the same direction. They both look happy, though. That is what really counts.

Look at this handsome couple: my Mom and Daddy, high school sweehearts that will be married for forty years in September!

Here we are, all together – the infamous Sohn family. We all look so happy because we ate dinner together for the first time since, jeez, I don’t know. It didn’t hurt that our bellies were filled with Daddy’s yummy green chile. Food IS love sometimes, especially when it is Mexican. Left to right, Aaron (the baby), Colleen (number two daughter), Mom, Daddy, Lara (number one daughter), and Chris (right after me). It is a good picture. I’ll bet my mom gets misty when she looks at it.

My adorable nephews – they are Lara’s boys, though not for much longer. Chaz, on the left, is sixteen! Jett is nine! That makes me feel much older than I look, I hope.

A little background – this is the yard where I grew up. It is rather large, and full of fun places for hiding and adventure. The boys are sitting on and we are standing in front of one of a series of rocks that divide the upper and lower parts. When we were little, we used to have so much fun racing, jumping from rock to rock. I tried it again this time, but, even with longer legs, I’m not as fast as I once was. I think a fear of falling has something to do with it. I find it amazing to think of all I was capable of doing before fear came into the picture. I think I’ll post more about that later…

Handsome Birthday

July 21, 2008 in Celebrating, Loving by Colleen | 2 comments

Gregory is another year sweeter, stronger, wiser, and greater.

“For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.”

Dag Hammarskjold

Happy, happy day mon amour…

Pottery Shards!

July 19, 2008 in Watching by Colleen | 1 comment

Do you ever get that feeling after watching a movie, like you’ve just witnessed something so wonderful that it fills you with giddiness?

That’s precisely how I am feeling right now, after viewing King of California. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood star as Charlie and Miranda in this kooky film about a bi-polar father and his daughter. Upon being released from a mental institution, Charlie purchases a GPS system and follows what he believes to be the trail of a treasure lost in 1624.

After having a rather unconventional childhood, Miranda is none too pleased to have him home again and with a new obsession to boot. In his absence, she enjoyed a degree of calm and normalcy previously unknown to her. Though she is only a teenager, she’s purchased a car and kept up with the bills, all while working at McDonald’s.

In the beginning, Miranda struggles to keep the family afloat with Charlie’s spending and lack of a job, constantly battling him in his quest, and wishing for better days, until, there is that shift, where the impossible seems possible.

It is a thoughtful, sweet, and hilarious film about forgiveness, love, and finding a purpose in life.

Jam and Chowder

July 18, 2008 in Cooking and Baking, Eating by Colleen | 1 comment

I’ve spent a lot of time in the kitchen over the past few days. With such an abundance of delicious produce available at New Seasons, I went a little gonzo and made two kinds of jam: mixed berry and nectarine-apricot. I saw the No Sugar Necessary version of Ball’s Pectin and the old reliable Sure Jell and tried one of each. I definitely preferred the former, as it actually allows you to choose exactly how much sugar you use. I used 1 1/3 cups in addition to some apple juice, and the end product was perfection. The Sure Jell made a great jam, but it is really sweet in comparison, using a whopping three cups of sugar for the same amount of fruit.

As for the chowder, we had something like this while staying at Ojo Caliente. They have a nice restaurant at the hotel with some great local cuisine as well as some odd choices, like Northwestern Salmon, hmmm…

I don’t really use recipes, making it up as I go along, so here is the approximate version.

2 poblano peppers

2 ears corn, kernels cut away from the cob

1/2 dried pasilla chile, soaked in warm water until soft, then diced fine

1/2 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, pressed

4 T flour

1 t chile powder

1/2 t salt

1 c chicken broth

1 c milk

1/2 c whipping cream

Roast peppers and corn at 400 degrees until golden brown, stirring and turning, so everything browns evenly, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, saute the pasilla, onion, and garlic in olive oil until browned. Peel and chop peppers when they are cool enough to handle. Add to onion and garlic mixture. Stir in chicken broth.

Mix dry ingredients together, then whisk into milk and whipping cream. Pour over corn and pepper mixture, stirring vigorously to avoid lumps. Bring to gentle boil, then simmer for 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

This tastes great with corn bread. I have tried and failed at many recipes, so I recommend using the Jiffy corn bread mix. Even though it isn’t organic (something I usually strive for), I’ve found nothing beats it, and it is super cheap. Add some grated pepper jack cheese, freshly ground black pepper or chile powder, and you are good to go. Muy delicioso!

Curling Up With Kitties and Books

July 17, 2008 in Reading by Colleen | 1 comment

Boy, do I love a good read, and sometimes, little man Milo loves helping me enjoy them. Thanks to Nancy Pearl, I no longer suffer any guilt when considering not finishing a book, which is good, because I’ve started a lot of books this year! Life is too short to suffer through a story, no matter how much praise it has received.

Here, in no particular order, are some that I’ve liked this year, and rather oddly, all of them are non-fiction! It’s not as though I haven’t tried. I’ve read quite a few works of fiction, but, frankly, they haven’t done much for me, well, except for The Little House on the Prairie series, which I am half-way through for the first time in over twenty-five years.

Being Caribou – Karsten Heuer

Just after being married, Karsten and his wife set off in the Alaskan Wilderness to follow the caribou across the trackless tundra – flying, skiing, walking, and paddling, all in hopes of keeping up with the herd and learning about their migration patterns. During their adventure, they witness births, deaths, and the incredible stamina of these beautiful creatures, while also learning about the beauty, tenacity and grace they possess themselves. A terrific book that, for me, reiterates the importance of keeping the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge a wild place.

The Last American Man – Elizabeth Gilbert

This fascinating book describes the life of Eustace Conway, possibly the last of the breed of man who can live completely off the land - growing food, killing his dinner, making an outfit out of its hide, all while living in a tee-pee. This guy is really the most self-sufficient and efficient modern man I’ve ever heard of. He certainly doesn’t know how to do anything halfway, which is highly admirable, but there is a dark side to all of this, too. He doesn’t know how to sustain a relationship, particularly with women. Perhaps he’s like superheros, you can’t have both?

A Thousand Names for Joy – Byron Katie

I’m actually rather surprised that I haven’t gushed to you about Byron Katie before, because, my friends, she is just amazing. After years and years of being stuck in a serious depression, she woke up to The Work, a system of four basic questions that brought her back to life (www.thework.com). In this book, she goes through the ancient Tao, putting it into her words, so to speak. It is a simple and practical way of looking at the world, all in keeping with the Truth.

Grayson - Lynne Cox

A short and sweet story of a teenage girl who helps a baby whale find it’s mother. Oh my goodness! I love how people and animals can come together and create something beautiful and magical. We really are one world. This would be a terrific story to read with kids.

Audition - Barbara Walters

My, what a fascinating life she’s had. It is really interesting, too, how after seeing her father lose everything, twice, she remained, for most of her life, terrified of meeting the same fate. She is ballsy, insecure, smart, and believe it or not, very funny!

Freakonomics - Steven Leavitt and Steven Dubner

A surprising and sometimes shocking look at our world via the minds of economists. Funny and riveting!

Land of Enchantment II

July 16, 2008 in Traveling by Colleen | Permalink

Gregory and I are on the road now, on higway 285, north of Santa Fe. You’ll find this lovely rock formation just outside of Ojo Caliente, a neat little resort and spa that is the only place in the world with four different mineral springs bubbling to the surface: iron, lithia, arsenic, and soda. We first went over twelve years ago and liked it so much that no visit to New Mexico is complete without a stop here. We relax, soak, slather ourselves in mud, bake in the sun, and feel ever so grateful to be alive.

Like the rest of New Mexico, it is a magical place that is rich in history. The springs and spa are situated between a beautiful mesa and the Ojo Caliente River. The Tewa Indians lived in the Posi-Ouinge Pueblo on the mesa just above the springs over five hundred years ago, taking in the waters and living quite well. Everything changed with the arrival of the Spanish, but there are still traces of their life. Gregory is holding a piece of pottery left by them (don’t worry, he put it back – we’re not those kind of travelers). Seeing all of the shards lying around really makes me understand why archaeologists get jazzed by their work. By holding this pottery in my hand, I am making a connection to someone who lived hundreds of years ago! Though it is awfully exciting, we can’t stop here. There’s so much more to see.

After walking for a bit, we come to the edge and see this gorgeous view of the small river valley. I get giddy at the color combination. The springs are to the left of the photo.

While out walking, we found another reason to feel giddy. Despite the dry climate, the mesa is teeming with life! There are scores of birds, rodents, snakes, lizards, coyotes, bunnies, and insects. It is impossible to walk here without being inspired by all of these marvelous creatures. This is one of many, many lizards that we saw out on our walk.

Unfortunately we didn’t see as many of these cute little bunnies, which is probably good, actually, because there were many birds of prey out looking for them. Not to mention tourists, Gregory creeped closer and closer, wondering how close he could get, but that bunny said, no, no, no, and hopped away.

Looking northwest on the mesa. I know I am a broken record, but isn’t it beautiful?

How fortuitous! This is the first time we’ve seen the cactus in bloom while we were here. I was absolutely amazed at all the color, especially the pink. Isn’t it lovely? To top it off, we saw hummingbirds drinking the cactus nectar, too. To me, these are some of the best reminders of the true wonders of creation. Even in the driest place, there is abundant life and beauty. Gosh, I’m getting all weepy thinking how lucky I am to be a part of it, no matter where I am!

We’re at the end of the trail, taking respite under the ramada to enjoy all we’ve seen and experienced here. Thank you Ojo Caliente!

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July 2008

Exploring Portland

The Mile High City

Before Fear

Land of Enchantment III

Branches on the Tree

Handsome Birthday

Pottery Shards!

Jam and Chowder

Curling Up With Kitties and Books

Land of Enchantment II

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