Exploring

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One week ago today, gallivanting on Mississippi. Sunny and warm, the town ebullient and smiling and happy for a gentle breeze. Our bellies led us to Radar and were very, very pleased. It’s a delightful galley of a place, long and lean and filled with tip top service and lovely details, like cool decor (a painting of a ship!), eco-friendly towels in the loo, and flowers matching one of the owners names, Lily (super kind and lovely!), and wafting deliciously about. The food was mighty fine, too. Roasted radishes in brown butter (gasp!), deviled eggs done three ways, deep fried and glorious chick peas a whisper on the tongue, and knock out Manila clams. Wowie, not a complaint to be heard.

Best dining companion, ever. Who am I kidding? Best companion, ever!

Oh, and the drink is spectacular as well. That’s a Gin Botanical hard cider by Seattle Cider, with a scent so clean and apple-y that I had a hard time deciding whether I liked it or the flavor better, a very close call. My drink, the European Union, was a quite perfect one, if I do say so.

Hello kitty!

A plethora of cool architecture and one stellar mural, Mississippi is good and great and awesome.

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A Rambler American, circa 1964-1965. Isn’t it a beauty?

I love poppy season!

We watched the Winter Hawks beat Edmonton in the first game of the WHL Finals on Saturday. Good golly are they a terrific team! We parked far a way because we are cheap skates and love walking, a match made in heaven. It just so happened to be dry as we ambled and I got these terrific shots in the Lloyd District. As Ray Charles most brilliantly sang, “The night time is the right time…”

Detail of “Rendezvous” by Dane Eisenbart, one of many gorgeously meticulous and highly imaginative pieces currently on display at the Albina Press, where I enjoyed this week’s decaf latte. The hubster had a cappucino. All was right with the world.

Whatever you say, man.

Portland isn’t called the City of Roses for nothing.

One of the best garden borders, ever!

The hubster used the force to find this sign. It is strong in him.

Oh man, this city! Sometimes, when it is rainy, rainy, rainy, and the hubster’s underpants are sopping wet from the bike commute home, we contemplate other places. Dry and sunny, hot, hot, hot! But that’s only impetuous anger. We love this place. It is wildness and humor and the best damn food anywhere on earth, wrapped up in a blanket of green and grey. Everything I want is here, except for the sun for the occasional L O O O N G stretch, but that only makes it more beautiful and warm when it IS here, and sends my body out with infinite gratitude to meet it. Splendid!

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Almost

Happy Earth Day to you, gentle reader! I hope you treat her and yourself kindly today. Every day would be great, actually. I took this picture a few days ago, on my first foray into the yard, giving Martha a tour of our beloved patch of earth. I got tuckered out after snapping the photo and came in for a rest. Life post surgery sure makes a body grateful for strength.

The hubster went back to work at the office yesterday, after taking two days off and then working from home the rest of last week. I got spoiled with him here, but we made up for his first day away by meeting him for lunch. That’s his mom next to him (Hi Martha!), but I’ll bet you can see the resemblance. He said to her, “After a while, you get used to all the picture taking.”

Our trio did good work at Grassa. Have you tried it, yet? My stars, if you like kindly servers, pasta, fritto misto, and rockin’ tunes played on a turntable, they have your number and mine! They also have the Yonkers cocktail, which translates to whiskey at lunch. Yeah, I earned it after walking more blocks than a person in my condition really ought. Phew! Live and learn.

And to this morning, more savoring of our garden gifts. I feel like the poppy, almost ready to bloom, to be myself again, and stretch my sturdy yet delicate petals to sun and wind and rain.

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It’s amazing how much a person can see when really looking. I wonder how much I miss on a daily basis, how much I don’t spy with my little eye: drops of water, chimes on high, giggle worthy stickers, and creepy looking heads; all fun, all magic, that quotidian spark.

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Happy Friday! Apropos of nothing, indeed. Look at this crazy beautiful light in the living room. I am loving the long afternoons and genuine sunsets as of late.

A most impressive front yard display!

Goofing around…

…making apple crisps with my new Japanese Mandoline. Why didn’t I get one of these sooner?

Bird!

Goats!

Have a super weekend…

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