Under a Red Roof

May Day and Mussels…

May 2, 2011 in Celebrating, Eating, Exploring by Colleen | 4 comments

Good morning all!

I hope today is the beginning of a bright and beautiful week for you. Yesterday was a glorious day of firsts around here, many of them captured in the above photo. It was sunny and warm enough to dry laundry outside! Sunny enough for a little happy hour of lemon bars and sparkling lemonade on the patio! Sunny enough to walk to dinner wearing sandals and a dress – no down vest required! Hallelujah – we’d waited so long that’s it’s truly worthy of all the exclamations! Seriously, this is the first time in my nearly thirteen years as a Stumptown girl that the wet weather has gotten me down. I spent many a recent day pining for warmth and light, so when two days in a row came, and on a weekend, no less, I was pretty jazzed.

On our way out the door to dinner, we found this bit of sweetness left by a neighbor. I don’t know which I love more, the act of kindness or lilacs! I have one in the back, just behind the clothesline, and its blossoms are just beginning to open. Happiness!

Now to the second bit of the title: mussels, my favorite gift from the sea. My love for them is pretty serious, so don’t go messing with the menu, people. I’ve made special trips to places to indulge only to have my spirit squashed like a bug at their absence. This place used to have mussels but now has only crap burgers and too loud Grateful Dead on the hi-fi. And I like the Grateful Dead! It’s just that everything is exaggerated when food disappointment is involved. The hubster will vouch for me on this. There’s a certain look in my once sweet eyes that means we gotta get outta here. I’m not happy. Thankfully, I have enough sources that I need not rely on one place and can get my fix in practically every area of town. Should you share my love for mussels here are the best PDX preparations:

Lauro Kitchen – served rather dramatically in a cataplana (a cool looking copper pot) with peppers, onions, and sausage.

St. Jack – A very French preparation with ultra crispy crusted baguette.

The Observatory – there’s Sake in there, and it’s damn good! (An aside – the whitefish spread is pretty spectacular, too.)

North 45 – This place takes mussels as seriously as I do, with a half dozen or more preparations on the menu at one time. Deciding is not easy.

Here’s hoping it’s a wonderful week for you and yours, one without the heartache and destruction of weather disasters. My thoughts and prayers to all who lost so very much.

Tags: Portland, Restaurants

For Buddy

April 26, 2011 in Admiring, Celebrating, Loving by Colleen | 3 comments

I love you, our relationship, and how special every day with you is. I love that we can get mad at each other without it hurting who we are together. I love that you are handsome with your sparkly blue eyes. I love that you are taller than me and can reach items on the high shelf without a ladder. I love that you take good care of yourself. I love that you work to make our lives better. I love that you are generous and give good hugs. I love that you are funny and make me laugh almost every day. I love that we have the same values and sense of the world. I love that you love computers and speak their language. I love your scent, that sweet spot, just there, on your cheek. I love that you’re learning to play the piano. I love that you wonder. I love that we cuddle every night in bed and in the mornings, too. I love you.

Expectations

April 12, 2011 in Admiring, Celebrating, Practicing, Traveling by Colleen | 3 comments

Last Thursday, I ventured north to Bellingham, Washington for my long anticipated class with Shiva Rea. I had never driven that far on my own before (about five hours), and the writer in me created all kinds of awful scenarios in which I did not return in one piece (the price for creativity!). I prepared for many eventualities, every last duck in a row, and left very dark (seriously Spring, no need to be so shy) and early. Thankfully, the drive went off without a hitch, a succession of NPR news stories, jazz, and rock and roll.

When I exited the highway hours later, my stiff legs itching for a stretch (yoga!), I had the first of many indications that none of my visions of doom would come to fruition. The sun started to peek through the clouds and a Bald Eagle swooped over my car. Talk about a warm welcome!

I arrived at the class after a picture perfect afternoon (more on that tomorrow), a warm, light-filled room, with equally warm and friendly strangers of all stripes. Then Shiva arrived and the magic began. With the beat of a drum, the raven spirit invocation (even more auspicious, considering my deep love of crows and ravens), curious, mischievous, dancing and spreading his wings, inviting us all to fly. This was followed by a truly amazing, heart liberating kirtan with Dave Stringer (like this). I sang at the top of my voice, every cell pulsing, full of joy, and ready for practice. The sadhana was kick-my-ass challenging with moments of silliness too (Shiva is funny!), everything I hoped for, infused with grooves from Dave and his cohort, and a final round of chanting to bring the magical practice to a close.

It’s pretty amazing when someone you’ve admired for a long time lives up to your expectations, live and in person, and a bit of a relief, too. I’ve been practicing with Shiva for the past six years, her work, and ours together, inspiring me more than I ever could have imagined. So when it came came time to thank her, for everything, that in the flesh, no going back, she’s standing right in front of me moment, rather than take my hand extended in gratitude, she embraced me, a hug between “old” friends. A perfect day, a perfect sadhana, made all the more sweet. Namaste.

p.s. I hope to get a picture with Shiva next time!

Tags: Shiva Rea, Yoga

Holy Sunshine, Batman!

April 4, 2011 in Celebrating by Colleen | 3 comments

After what seemed like an interminable amount of time without sun or warm temperatures, there was an extra special treat of nearly cloudless skies and sixty-eight degrees on Friday. We in Portlandia were dancing a proverbial jig, my friends. I celebrated by mowing the very long lawn, which was more than eight inches tall in some places. I kid you not. It was a fine workout, going over it three times, with our earth friendly, but very inefficient electric mower. To top it off, I took a leisurely stroll to the library (come along with the photos below…), camera in hand, sunglasses on, a warm weather rock star out for a good time. Ho ho!

Today we are back to the grey and cold, with ice cube toes to prove it and a mushy mind that is taking ages to write this post, but whatever. I am happy. The weekend was a ten. I’m meeting Shiva Rea this week (dancing another jig), seeing an old friend for the first time in more than twenty years (thanks Facebook!), and generally creating my own sunshine. I hope you are, too!

Somebody bottle this!

Delicate, but tough, this flower. A bit like me, maybe.

The truck in the background matches. They’re an outfit!

Bare Shade

A favorite house: a fantastic yard teeming with flora and fauna and the biggest rosebush known to man.

Sun + Shade = Heaven

Magnolia Sky

Tricksters: they smell like garlic!

The Gift of Friends

March 21, 2011 in Celebrating, Drinking, Eating, Friendship by Colleen | 1 comment

Happy Monday, gentle readers. It is gloriously grey here in Stumptown, and I’ve no complaints. Well, not any serious ones, anyway.

Here’s hoping you had a lovely weekend. Mine began in earnest on Thursday, with my friend and maker of the exquisite little beaded angel pictured above, Bebe. We met way back in college, and hadn’t seen each other in thirteen years. She called out of the blue, on the road in my neck of the woods, and we spent two fun filled days thrifting and eating around Portland (Broder and City State Diner – yum). It was a hoot and a holler to be sure.

Then Saturday was blessedly sunny enough to be in the car with the windows rolled down, doing all kinds of running around to purchase an odd assortment of items: delicious strawberry rhubarb jam (from my friend’s brother’s company), bread, my favorite Italian nougat, safety vests (for bicycling), metal straps and braces (for earthquake “proofing”), and something else that evades my memory at the moment.

We also spent a lovely evening with the jam maker’s sister, Lori (but sadly not her husband, as he was quite under the weather). She made the sweet (in scent and looks) sachet above from a thrifted quilt. Our chosen hangout was Circa 33, a newer place on Belmont with good service, delicious fare, and super drinks. Steamed mussels, a pulled pork sandwich, and a cocktail called La Louisiane (whiskey and absinthe make great partners) were the tops.

The highlight of the weekend (more like my life), was the company and conversation of truly wonderful friends and one sibling (Hey brother!). I am beyond blessed in this department, with so many kind hearted people near and far, giving of their time and hearts, cheering me up, willing to listen, share, and withstand my occasional and excited but no less annoying interruptions (noticing the problem is the first step to mending it). Thanks to you all.

Have a wonderful week!

Tags: Portland, Restaurants