Under a Red Roof

Portland City Walks: No. 6

March 17, 2014 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring by Colleen | Permalink

Hi there! Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Happy Birthday to my Great Aunt Mary, the kindest woman I ever knew, who would have been 106 today! I am not wearing green, but I do have a bowl of cauliflower soup with roasted jalapeno happily swimming in my belly. Does that count?

And now, a step back in time, to Saturday. We had brunch at Olympic Provisions to fortify us for the walk ahead. This is not your typical brunch, not in the least. Everything impressed. Service with a smile, a wink, a nod, and a laugh. Then there were the consumables. The Edith Piaf cocktail was as tasty as it was beautiful. The badass plate of food is the Braised Short Rib, with laser potatoes and lardons, because that hunk of meat was clearly not enough. The hubster, beyond pleased with his choice, devoured it in no time. I had the biscuits and gravy, and they were the best I’ve ever tasted. Boom! To top it off, the chefs were very kindly to us, engaging in conversation while they worked their tails off to make every last belly full and happy. They even gave us a plate of fresh house smoked trout, just because. Oh my, my…

buttercup winter hazel

blossoming quince

Like all of Laura O. Foster’s walks, we learned a little more history and saw Portland in a new light, despite having walked and driven by these buildings a thousand times. Take Jantzen, for instance, did you know they were originally manufacturers of sweaters and hosiery? When a local rowing team asked them if they could make a lightweight suit for winter, the world of bathing suits was forever changed.

Hi!

This bulldog, originally from a Mack Truck, is now happily ensconced on a Volkswagen. Or maybe not. I don’t suppose anyone can ever truly know the feelings of a hood ornament.

We stopped for a sweet at Alma. The icons are chocolate!

Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery – Funny how the clouds came just in time for the photo…

Tags: Portland, Restaurants

3.14

March 14, 2014 in Eating, Exploring by Colleen | Permalink

Happy Pi Day, peeps! What’s shakin’? Oh, it’s a hodgepodge today, starting at the front door. If you’ve been here a while, you know that I made this fused glass piece to keep the prying eyes of strangers out of my house. At least through the front door, as I am a blinds open kind of person, so much of our life on the main floor is rather fishbowl-like.

The hubster does not like having his picture taken, but I make up for it with mad kitchen skills, copious cuddles, kisses, and such-like. He is sort of wearing my hat.

Cloud monster belching!

The Oregon Grape is blooming. It smells heavenly!

Thank you for your concern about Paris. She continues to be wobbly. The new state of affairs, I suppose, but is just as sweet, soft, and purr-y as ever. Good girl!

Milo in bright light. He is as cuddly and sweet as ever, too.

I normally find the work of taggers akin to dogs pissing on bushes, but this, I like.

Detail of White Fang, by Hickory Mertsching. Part of a series of paintings currently on display at the Stumptown on Division. Wowie-zowie are they gorgeous!

The magnolias are blooming!

A leisurely lunch at Fressen. Spaetzle with Kraut, a small salad, and almond cake. And the floors! Golly gee are they gorgeous!

Tags: cats, Restaurants

Rambler

March 9, 2014 in Exploring by Colleen | Permalink

Hullo Sunday, with a longer than expected walk in warmer than expected weather. Dare I say a tad humid? Most definitely, air fragrant with ripe, moist earth and delicate blossoming daphne, cherry, and plum.

Our walk went long because of Paul, whom we met while I was gaping and guffawing at his 1960 Two Door Rambler Wagon (keep scrolling to see the terrific details). He also had a pretty fabulous Chevelle Station Wagon, a gorgeous blue of the midnight sky variety. We chatted a bit, and he asked us if we were in a hurry because the garage held yet another treasure, this 1932 Chevrolet. It’s a dazzler.

The steering wheel is wood and hand made.

It has a glorious patina in a thousand shades of rust. When I asked him if he was going to paint it another color, he uttered, much to my delight, “Rust IS a color.”

It is a gem, truly, with parts gathered here, there, everywhere. And when I heard the pleasant rumble of the engine, I smiled and said, “That’s alright!”

It really was. How lucky we were to catch him at the right time!

The Rambler. Like driving the summer sky…

Tags: cars

Ice!

February 9, 2014 in Exploring, Friendship, Gardening + Nature, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

Happy Sunday! Yesterday was a lovely day, straight from my Colorado childhood, with fat flakes dancing and swirling and uttering hush. We walked to the park with our cardboard “sleds” to join the multitudes. It was a mellow ride compared to the toboggans and saucers, but no less fun. I laughed, loud and hearty, my heart full of joy at such a simple pleasure. We came home, my legs wobbly from so much running up the hill, and warmed with hot chocolate and a deliciously hot bath. We cuddled, humans and felines alike, and snacked with movies on the sofa. And this morning, I awoke to the magical Dr. Zhivago coating of ice. Lovely and crackly, with birds, squirrels, and this human skittering to feed and capture the splendor of it all.

Look at these sweet kids! Twenty-three years since our first date. Oh, how the time flies…

Tags: Gardening + Nature, Portland

Sunday Best

February 3, 2014 in Exploring, Friendship by Colleen | Permalink

Walked to the Tao of Tea for a late lunch yesterday and slowly sipped the afternoon, Frozen Summit and chai. Our wander home found us at the Bagdad with just enough time to see the 3:30 showing of Her. We loved the gorgeousness of it, the architecture and moving spaces, the well captured feeling of falling in love, of being in love, of friendship, of life at its best and brightest. Then a chilly twilight walk, ungloved hands too cold to hold, save at the end, near enough to home that it no longer mattered.

Rest in Peace, Philip Seymour Hoffman. You were one of the best.

Tags: Restaurants