Loving

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Oregon State Fair

September 8, 2010 in Exploring, Loving by Colleen | No comments

1955 Buick:

Chevrolet:

1957

1968 Camaro

I’m pretty sure the Walton’s drove this truck -

Ford:

1955

I can’t remember the year (1940-ish?), but how about the beautiful chrome?

1962 Falcon.  A friend of mine drove one in high school.  Complete with backfires and a muffler that occasionally dragged and threw up wild sparks, hers was much less glam.

Packard:

1932

Ostentatious

Yet, utterly and completely perfect.

1940 Pontiac

Tractors!

Sweet Bunny Love:

Baby Goat

Are you talking to me?

A wee family of mice made from potatoes, carrots, chives, cloves, and beans.

Mark with Segovia the Llama

Ahh, the State Fair.  I would love to kiss the person who invented the institution, for there are few activities that I enjoy more.  It’s a magical combination of earth, animals, food, and gaiety, all that is important and essential in life in one place.  My spirits cannot help but be buoyed and soothed, despite the crowds and lively organized chaos of it all.

Though Willie didn’t make an appearance this year, it was no less splendid for these two urbanites, as there was so much to occupy the hours.  First on the list, food, and more specifically deep fried.  For it isn’t a true fair experience without the hiss and splatter of hot oil, indeed.  We had corn dogs and a giant elephant ear, though it wasn’t THE giant.  How people manage that one, I cannot fathom.  Then there was a heavenly smoked barbecued sandwich, accompanied by sweet spicy beans and tangy slaw.  We topped it all off with cheesy kettle corn and the soothing quiet necessary from over stimulation.  People! Cars!  Rides! Food! People! Quilts! Crafts! Animals! People!

As usual, 4-H was the highlight for us.  There is something very special about these kids.  Fearless, patient, proud, and so down to earth, I could talk to them about living on a farm, raising animals, and life in general all day (though I know better – they have work to do!).  Which brings me to this last photo.  Mark and his sister Suzie (I wish I had a photo of her – she’s got lashes to rival any llama!) are the children of friends we’ve known since first moving to Oregon.  They epitomize everything I love about 4-H.  They are whip smart, highly interested and educated, and never seem to tire of ignorant city slickers like me asking all kinds of questions, smiling and laughing even, taking everything in stride.  Like when Segovia decided during the middle of the obstacle course that it was time to take care of business, number one and two, Mark patiently waited, never ruffling – calm, cool, collected until the job was done.  Gotta love that – and the fair!

A Start

July 5, 2010 in Celebrating, Inspiring, Learning, Loving, Writing by Colleen | 7 comments

Well hello there friends -

I am not about to beat around the bush on this one, no way, no how.  What do you think?  Do you like it? I hope so, because I really, really do.

After all of that writing about it, I decided that if I am a Writer (notice me embracing that capital W), I better start acting like one.  Step one, business cards.  Super duper lovely and ever-so-Colleen style business cards.  Many, many thanks to Marty of Bartleby’s Letterpress Emporium (how perfect that the shop shares the name, though certainly not the demeanor of one of my favorite literary figures, too).  Ever so kind, patient (if you hadn’t noticed, I am a bit fussy), and supportive, not to mention her phenomenal talent with a letterpress brought this girl to tears, even though I promised her I wouldn’t.  Not a bad promise to break, if one must, after all.  They turned out exactly how I imagined they would:  the heavy cotton, that beautiful texture, our our humble red roofed abode (drawn by me).  They are perfect.  By the by, if you live here in Stumptown and love fine paper goods, do pay her a visit.  Her printed cards are exquisite, really.  The shop is just a charming place to wander, too.

Okay, getting to the second step now, full speed ahead.  I will also be attending the Willamette Writers Conference in August where I hope to wow someone into representing me.  So, for the next month, I will be polishing  my manuscript, honing my elevator speech, typing up dazzling query letters, and generally believing that I can do this.  You know what the wonderful part is?  I am not afraid.  I am ready.  I am worthy.  I am talented.  I am a good writer and a terrific person.  Why wouldn’t someone want to represent me?  Okay, I just ventured into Jack Handey territory, but that’s okay too.  I am among friends!

So, a start.  I hope you will join me on my journey.

Stripes and Bamboo

June 29, 2010 in Loving by Colleen | 3 comments

Hot enough for dresses (thanks Martha), cool enough for sleep, summer has finally arrived in Portland!  I love my perch on the porch.  I bird watch, read, sometimes sleep, swoon at the flowers and the achingly beautiful sky.  By daylight or candlelight, life is fine by me.

I hope you have a marvelous day, dear readers!

Daring

May 20, 2010 in Loving, Quoting by Colleen | No comments

I will dare to just do what I do.  Be just what I am.  And Dance whenever I want to.

Beverly Williams

Early Garden

May 12, 2010 in Gardening and Nature, Loving by Colleen | 3 comments

This past Sunday, I got up early and roamed the garden while the hubster slept.  I love doing this.  I love looking at all that is growing, and sometimes dying, and admiring the work of nearly twelve years.  I love that there is birdsong and the buzz of insects and hummingbirds, and evidence of things unseen, like snail trails, and paw prints, and empty spider webs.  While there remains much to do, as I have such grand plans, I am always energized by my work in the garden.  I love the meditative quality of pulling weeds, mowing grass, watering, planting, the ceaseless cycles.  They remind me of my own body, mind, and spirit, and how there is always more to do, see, and grow, and that the effort is always worthwhile and beautiful, no matter how challenging.

Atlantic Poppy

Symbiosis: No Ants, No Peonies.

Armeria – like miniature garden pompoms cheering grow,grow, grow!

Verbascum

Caramel Coral Bells

Sunlight through the birch.  I am looking forward to when it is TALL.

A mason bee has set up house!

Yellow Iris smells so very good.

Deer fern

Cozy

May 3, 2010 in Loving by Colleen | 1 comment

Our sweet boy Milo loves to sleep under the covers when it is cold.  Normally, he gets up when I do, but that day, last Wednesday, was particularly chilly, rainy, and blustery, so he hunkered down and enjoyed some extra time on his own while I got ready for the day.  Cutie pie.

Aloha!

April 21, 2010 in Exploring, Loving, Traveling by Colleen | 5 comments

Here is the utterly divine reason for my absence from the blog.  Hawaii!  We went for just under a week and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.  We’d been meaning to go for quite some time, but didn’t actually decide on it until after my surgery.  I was at one of my check-ups when my sweet specialist Liz poked her head out the door and asked an assistant to grab her prescription pad.  My heart sank.  I thought I was doing so well and was already chock full of drugs, so I had no desire to add another to the list.  Much to my delight, she handed me a prescription that read:  Tropical Vacation.  You’ve earned it!

I got home, showed it to the hubster, and we cried a little thinking about how hard a life with endometriosis can be.  We also thought about the summer we missed post-surgery.  We didn’t get to ride bikes together, garden, play in the sun, go to the fair, or even feel normal until we were well into fall.  So began our plans.  We’d have our summer in spring!  Oh what a summer it was!

These are all pictures taken from where we stayed on Maili Point.  We rented a small cottage that was steps from the beach and firmly rooted in paradise.  From this spot we watched boats of all kinds, surfers, paddlers, snorkelers, spear fishermen, whales, and sea turtles (Oh my!).  I really don’t think it could have been better.  The funny bit about it is that when we told the woman who inspected our rental car where we were staying, she could not have been more worried.  Waianae (Why-Nigh), you’re going to Waianae?  Yes.  She frowned, shook her head, took out a map, circled the area, followed that with a giant X, and the word NO.  Well sheesh lady, it’s too late now.  We’re going.  And so we went.  Aside from the heart palpitations I had from her fear, we had absolutely no problems, though we did have warmer, drier weather than the rest of the island and all the aforementioned delights.  We did see some homeless camps, and a couple of them were really big and quite permanent, but mostly the area reminded us of Southeast Portland: a good mix of  people, some with money, some with none, but all living Aloha.

We were treated to glorious sunsets every single day.  As our friend Kelly would say, “That’s why it’s paradise!”  We had a brilliantly beautiful night sky, too, with Venus just above the horizon, and stars, so many stars!

The cute cottage.  The flowers are plumeria and smell like paradise.

Our sleeping quarters – I put a vase of plumeria flowers next to the bed for sweet slumber.

The living room.  We moved the coffee table and practiced yoga in the morning.  Nothing like stretching to the sound of crashing surf.

Eat here.

Staring at the Sea.  Also a great album by The Cure.

We made a concerted effort to buy everything from locals and look goofy while preparing them.  Aside from the milk, yogurt (Nancy’s from Oregon!), cereal, and peanuts, we ate Hawaiian.  I’m making Kalua pork (bought in a package – I didn’t have the time or inclination to roast an entire pig underground) with cabbage and pineapple.  It was yummy.  We also liked the Pipi Kaula.

A view from our hammock.  Hammocks are good.

Another view from the hammock.  Palm leaves blowing in the breeze sound like rain falling and home.

I saw so many ladies with flowers tucked behind their ears that I could not help but join the crowd and squint happily!

The handsome hubster.  My favorite haolie boy.

Land’s End

March 24, 2010 in Loving, Shopping by Colleen | 7 comments

Hi everyone -

Thanks so much for your kind words over the past few days.  I am feeling better.  Sometimes meltdowns are necessary, yes, totally.

Now, as the Monty Python boys would say, “For something completely different,” or, maybe “No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!”

I was visiting the Angry Chicken blog the other day and she mentioned Land’s End and how, now that she’s old enough not to care, she can say how much she likes their Canvas line.  It’s funny, because I had been contemplating a post about my love for all things Land’s End for quite some time, but didn’t have the balls to put it out in public like that.  With all the positive words I read in her comments, I decided to declare myself.  Here’s why: I am a classic preppy girl at heart, and they really deliver in this department, and at  fantastic prices.  Sign up for their deals online and you get free shipping (not all the time, but I haven’t had to pay for it in quite a while) and some pretty sweet discounts (25% off sometimes – hard to beat).  Men’s TALL sizes – the hubster need not expose his belly to the world!  I also love that you can buy through the catalog and return items through your local Sears – no return shipping!  Their customer service is awesome, via phone or chat online.  They also truly believe in their products, don’t have those awful final sales, and will take items back any time, like forever. I’m sold.  Here’s a few photos to show you.

As well, any time you decide to watch America’s Next Top Model and want to laugh at some of the awful looks the ladies give, know that this standing in front of the camera business is hard.  Oh goodness, did I ever take a lot of pictures and resorted to goofy faces out of a singular desire to get it done before the sun went down.  Sheesh.

I’m wearing the Canvas line Cotton Lawn Shirt.  I love it so much that I have it in Navy, too.  The pants are Women’s Heritage Chinos in Navy.  The button detail is fantastic.  I also adore the fact that they will hem the pants to the length you want at no extra charge.  I love short pants, and I cannot lie!  I opted for a 26″ inseam.

The cute anchor necklace.  I am also a rather big fan of nautical themes.

I’m wearing my worst inquisitive look, but whatever, the shirt is Canvas Gingham Poplin in Navy.  Navy cardigan from J. Crew last year.  Bag is the Garment Washed Ragtop Tote.  Shoes Cole Haan.

I’m screaming in horror at what I’m doing!  Short Sleeve Aqua-Terra Rash Guard Shirt.

All the skin is so bright!  Beach Living Mini Dots Bikini.  It makes me feel like a 50’s bombshell…

Sleeveless Jersey Cover-Up in Navy.  It has pockets!  The sandals are from last year.

Enough already!  Shirred Front Dress.  More pockets!

The Same Wavelength

February 24, 2010 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Loving, Remembering by Colleen | 3 comments

Have I ever told you about how the hubster and I share a preternatural ability for wanting the same thing at the very same time?  And not just once in a blue moon, either.  It is a rather regular occurrence and doesn’t stem from nineteen years of being a couple – it’s happened all along.  The most memorable and thrilling example occurred rather early in our relationship.  We’d been dating for a few months, and I knew, deep in my heart of hearts, that this man was IT, I-T, IT, so, as we were lying in bed one morning, I asked him to marry me.  Never one to lose his temper, and much to my surprise, he slammed his fist on the bedside table and said, “I was just going to ask YOU!”  We laughed, kissed, and hugged, and knew we were off to a great start.  The same goes for moving to Oregon.  I got it in my mind that we should leave Colorado.  Lo and behold, on the very afternoon I decided to tell the hubster, he came into our apartment and said, “I think we should move.”  Magic.

So, it should come as no surprise that we were both itching to go for a drive in the country this past weekend, to do a little something different, decide to eat at one restaurant, hear about another equally enticing one and (without mentioning a word so as not to disappoint the other) want to eat at said establishment rather than the first, only to discover that the first restaurant was closed for a private party, and we both got what we wanted again (insert giggles and smiles here).  Life really is grand, especially when you are on the same wavelength.

McMinnville, our delightful destination, is a neat town or maybe city?  It has a population of 32,762 (I am trusting the sign and my memory of it are both correct), with some great architecture and restaurants.  Being in Oregon wine country, there are lots and lots of places in town to sample the delicious fruits of their labor.  As serendipity would have it, we just so happened to be there on the monthly art walk and wine tasting, buying a bottle of Coelho Pinot Noir and some blackberry honey, too.

A clever and beautiful arrangement of flowers.

I think he liked it.

La Rambla – Tapas for dinner.

Our beautiful dining partner.

I prefer his company.

Time to go!

Home

January 28, 2010 in Loving, Quoting by Colleen | 2 comments

Of all modern notions, the worst is this:

Domesticity is dull.  Inside the home, they say, is dead decorum and routine; outside is adventure and variety.  The truth is that the home is the only place of liberty, the only spot on earth where a man (ahem, and a woman) can alter arrangements suddenly, make an experiment, or indulge in a whim.  The home is not the one tame place in a world of adventure; it is the one wild place in a world of rules and tasks.

G. K. Chesterton

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