Friendship

You are currently browsing the archive for the Friendship category.

 

Long day, as in the kind one wishes to  s t r e t c h, the body on tip-toe, to see, do, and be more, more, more. My dear friend Rob was in town on business and we had three hours at lunch time, our first stop at Broder and then Roman Candle, two very Portland places, as per his request. The Swedish meatballs and lefse as fabulous as ever, and our adorable server, with his playful winks the cherry on top.

The beautiful pastry is the Kouign Amann (the first word pronounced like queen) and the very last in the case. An elderly woman stepped in front of me in line for a moment to eye it, and I wondered if I could go Seinfeld on her like that episode with the marbled rye. Friends, I love this pastry, and I am glad I didn’t have to find out. It is buttery with a delicate crisp to it, topped with a crunchy layer of sweet and fleur de sel, happiness!

We had just enough time to wander and take photos, as is our nature when together, and so very much fun, too.

I had an hour in between my time with Rob and picking up the hubster for date night, and decided to stop in at Lone Fir Cemetery to pass the time. It is Portland’s oldest, with its first burial dating to 1846.

Picturesque and precisely what I imagine when daydreaming about cemeteries, towering trees and a gentle undulation of the land, with nary a sound to be heard. Squirrels hopped and scurried, lucky to live in this wondrous place of eternal sleep. I shed a tear over more than one stone; the pastor and his missionary wife, ceramic portrait in their Sunday best; the long-time companions taken by AIDS in the nineties, lighthouse showing the way; too many children who failed to live to double-digits; and WHITE, surname of one of my nearest and dearest friends, may his remaining time be  l o n g.

Happy Hour at Park Kitchen, the best salt cod fritters ever with a drink that tasted like chai, and more wandering in the Pearl. Then we headed to Powell’s to buy a book. The hubster made this face when I read a kind of creepy title to him. Of course I laughed until I nearly cried and made him do it again for the sake of the photo. That man is the B E S T.

 

Gratitude

F U N

Blue

Home

One Community is a monthly photo project in which participants photograph their homes and community with a theme in mind. The theme varies by month. The goal is to both showcase similarities and differences in our communities worldwide – and bring us all closer together in understanding through art.

Would you like to join us? All you need to do is post one or more photos for each of the theme words, gratutude, fun, blue, and home, and add your blog post to the link-up. Easy! It begins today, November 5th, and stays open for one week.

Snap happy!

Tags:

Plant:

a gift for a sweet friend – succulents in an Altoid Smalls tin

Bake:

homemade oreos

Orange

Activity:

Fifteen feet up a wild apple tree, picking, shaking, and laughing.

One Community is a monthly photo project in which participants photograph their homes and community with a theme in mind. The theme varies by month. The goal is to both showcase similarities and differences in our communities worldwide – and bring us all closer together in understanding through art.

Starting this month, anyone can participate! All you need to do is post one or more photos for each of the theme words, this month’s chosen by Kara of Sunshine Cupcakes, and add your blog post to the link-up. Please include a link back to the link-up post. The link-up begins today, October 5th, and stays open for one week.

Won’t you join us?


 

Tags:

You know how sometimes you procrastinate by doing other things? This is that post.

I really ought to be gathering my thoughts on a story that’s been furiously bubbling, one that a friend is reading for feedback SOON, but goll-ee, that is one heck of a pile of laundry, dirty table, and messy closet.

Then, wowie, that Jerry Seinfeld and his Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is one of the best things ever, cars! I really do need to watch all of the episodes twice, and then those with Ricky Gervais and Joel Hodgson three times; because it is hilarious to see caustic Ricky in terror and calling Jerry a young king (say what you will about Hitler…), and Joel is not only smart and funny, but reminds me of my friend Michael (Hey, miccha!), whom I miss.

I tried these sunglasses (Fendi FS5101L) as a joke and loved them. I also love turquoise. Watch out, Iris Apfel!

I really like the composition of this photo, despite my cave woman feet. They keep getting w i d e r . . .

Golden raisin and fennel seed scones. I love this combination, which is pretty European, I think, because most people look at me like I am nuts when I mention it. I AM nuts, but this is different.

Soak a lot of raisins (1/3 cup?) and seeds (two tablespoons?) in a few tablespoons of bourbon for a bit before folding them into your favorite recipe. They do not taste boozy, which may or may not be a problem. The hubster had this reaction:

“I’m making scones.”

Wide eyed, “Awesome!”

“With golden raisins and fennel seeds soaked in bourbon.”

“Oh, well, I guess that might be okay.”

Flash forward thirty minutes and he’d turned into Homer Simpson, “Nom, nom, nom!” You might be surprised, too.

When I am grumpy or sad, this is some of the best medicine around, my avian friends bathing and chirping and gobbling food at the feeder or from the sunflowers giving their last gasps, near-empty seed heads like flotsam on the ground.

Oh, and thinking about hockey. We just bought tickets to a game. Go Hawks!

My friend Susan and I went shopping the other day, and besides the pleasure of her lovely company, we found this bit of awesome on the back of a jumpsuit, maybe like Elvis in training.

Tags:

Lobster Mushrooms with Chorizo and Parmesan Foam

Pulpo

Churros with Hot Chocolate Dipping Sauce

Isn’t it wonderful to have friends?

Last night, I rode my bicycle downtown to meet the hubster for dinner, and, quite likely, our last warm evening ride of the year. We went to Ataula, our new favorite tapas place, which, as it happens, is exactly where our old favorite place used to be, so there was no real need to lament the change, even though I did a little when I saw the space in the midst of renovations.

It is fantastic, with a very knowledgeable and friendly staff, and especially the chef, who personally made sure I got a bathroom key and came to our table while we were eating the lobster mushrooms (from Mt. Hood!) and chorizo with parmesan foam. We were the first to taste it besides him, and he wanted to make sure it was all that.  It really was! And come on, a place with churros and hot chocolate dipping sauce? The height of splendor, peeps, the height! Plus, there was pink bubbly wine and that smile. Jeepers. I am one lucky gal.

More luck in the form of timing. We rode to Chapman just in time to watch the Swifts! It was amazing and awe inspiring. Nature, I am in love with you!

Our route home took us down the Esplanade, where a multitude of like minded runners, walkers, and cyclists in shirtsleeves basked in the warm evening glow, of the moon and buzzing fluorescents. There were photographers with tripods, film makers, one man deep in conversation with Vera, and the awesome hush of reverence that this glorious city inspires. Portland, you are a gem.

Tags: , ,

« Older entries § Newer entries »