Under a Red Roof

Fall Road Trip: Bend

December 1, 2013 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Traveling by Colleen | Permalink

Off for a long weekend retreat, planned when I thought a lack of sun would be weighing down on us. Happy to be wrong, we left sunny Portland for sunny Bend.

Mount Hood

Three Fingered Jack

Mount Jefferson

Fishermen on the Deschutes

Warm Springs

Railroad Bridge over the Crooked River at Peter Skene Ogden Viewpoint

Juniper Country

Gotta love a palindrome!

In Bend now, at the Old Mill District

The Hubster’s favorite.

Margarita and super fabulous Relleno at Hola!

We stayed at Brasada Ranch. Lovely and picturesque, it was everything we could have asked for. This was the awe-inspiring view from our room, with me waking early to watch the sun light the Sisters each morning.

South

I have never seen so many Robins! They are VERY keen on juniper berries.

gnarled old juniper

Fake smile and, quite possibly, the best pimento cheese ever at Drake. They have pretty snazzy cocktails, tip-top service, and a bad-ass roasted trout, too.

Homeward bound through fog-laden Prineville.

Mount Hood, again – jiggity-jig!

What it is…

November 22, 2013 in Admiring, Drinking, Eating, Friendship, Giving, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

How cute is our little Schmoo? I think that is nick name no. 100 for him, by the way. Funny how that goes.

My favorite four-year-old is now FIVE! It was a fun filled afternoon of picking him up from school (where he is rather handily learning and singing Chinese), choosing and reading books from the library, watching a movie, making pizza, puzzles, and colossal block towers. Squee!

We hosted a cocktail party with some of our best pals, with much imbibing, laughing, eating, and reminiscing after one GIGANTIC glitch. I went to the store to get ice and those last minute items one always seems to need, and on the way home the poor little Mini went kaput. On Powell Boulevard! During rush hour! Thankfully, I was rescued by Kate and Kimberly, two lovely ladies in a Volkswagen with Montana plates (Are you reading? Please let me buy you that beer!). They stopped to help while others zoomed and honked, even though my hazards were madly blinking. Then, the nice TriMet driver instructed a passel of burly teens to push my car to the safety of the Wendy’s parking lot. The cherry on top? Kate and Kimberly loaded the wagon of all my party goods without a second thought and whisked me home. Oh, fantastically marvelous helping hands of the universe, I LOVE YOU!

As for the Mini, it was the transmission, and it could not be salvaged. Apparently it was a problem particular to 2003, and one that we forestalled by babying it and only driving some 55,000 miles. So now, a bit ahead of schedule, we are getting a new Mini, and our mechanic is getting a gently used one in fine condition, save one minor (ahem) detail. It all works out in the end, doesn’t it?

Banana Cardamom Ginger Smoothie

We bought a Vitamix, and it is ON, peeps, ON!

Sometimes I forget what a looker the hubster is.

This photo reminded me in a BIG way.

Her tights had sparkles on them!

Last of Summer

September 13, 2013 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Friendship by Colleen | Permalink

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: Oregon, Portland, Restaurants

Summer Road Trip: Walla Walla

August 16, 2013 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Quoting, Traveling by Colleen | Permalink

One of the reasons I haven’t posted much, as of late, is this road trip we took last week, full-on sky and heat.

I have a thing for power lines, humble totems of our modern age, despite conducting work that borders on epic. Oh, how I love a pun, too!

This photo makes me think of a passage from the Upanishads:

Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart.

Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes, lives in the Self — the source of love.

Realize the Self hidden in the heart and cut asunder the knot of ignorance here and now.

We stayed at the Loma Loft in a historic neighborhood near downtown Walla Walla and were able to walk most of the time.

Like most places, I found scores of exquisite details everywhere I looked. The hubster is a big fan of the tin ceiling, and I am always a sucker for glorious light.

The Peach Basket Classic was in full swing. Three on three hoops, with young men and women dribbling for bragging rights. It is fun to stay at the YMCA!

Sweets and treats to be had everywhere, too, oh, and wine, lots and lots. We tasted our fair share and bought more than a few bottles.

We did not partake of any Hot Poop. Knowing it was available was adequate.

The sculptures and this building are part of Whitman College. It is a lovely campus, a fine mix of new and old.

The hubster makes himself at home.

Frosted

I think this is the best cupcake I’ve ever tasted. It’s definitely the most adorable, a perfect match to it’s name, too, the Shirley Temple. The hubster had a chocolate with coconut frosting, but there was only a bite left by the time I took my picture, so use your imagination for that one, or head to the shop yourself.

These last two were actually taken in Milton-Freewater, just across the border in Oregon. Where we filled up on wine in Walla Walla, we tasted fantastic hard ciders here, Blue Mountain to be precise, the last photo their namesake. I’ll bet I have a friend or two in Colorado chuckling about the “mountain” part.

Next up – The Methow Valley!

Portland City Walks: No. 19

April 29, 2013 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring by Colleen | Permalink

Hello Everyone! Are you ready for a looong one? Portland’s had truly Spring-like weather, the absolute best I can recall in my fifteen years as a citizen, excellent for gardening, with more digging, planting, and walking. This time we actually went beyond the city limits to where John McLoughlin, also known as the “Father of Oregon,” first laid claim to the territory in the name of the British.

In the back yard at the McLoughlin House, which was moved from its original location near the river. The cannon dates from 1789!

The tunnel under Singer Hill Road,

named for Singer Creek, which exits on the other side.

I love Art Deco, and the Clackamas County Courthouse is a dandy example.

A spectacularly fine roadster, a ’32-’34 Ford, I think. Hef?

Crossing the Oregon City Bridge to West Linn.

Apparently it was a great day for fishing, too. Dontigny, were you out there?

Yellow Awning

Red Ball

Tiny Vesicles

Cat Walk

Peeling Rust

Climbing the steps to Mt. Seleya.

Stopping for a lunch break at Mi Famiglia. We had a delicious spinach salad and mighty fine wood fired pizza, cremini and peperoncini, to be exact.

I spy…

The poor hubster, the one time he really wants to shop, the place is closed. He missed out on a slice of our childhood, with metal lunch boxes, Matchbox cars, Tonka trucks, action figures, McDonald’s glasses, and much, much more…

The tunnel to the Oregon City Municipal Elevator, the only one of its kind in the United States, and pretty darn cool, if you ask me.

It looks a bit like a space ship from the exterior.

The new Oregon City Bridge, boy is it a looker.

Oregon City is filled with charming houses. This one dates to 1877.

Willamette Falls

West Linn paper and vestiges of businesses past.

Nap interrupted.

My second favorite mural ever! The first is in this post.

The gorgeous Atkinson Memorial Church, circa 1924.

Waterboard Park bridges the second and third tiers of Oregon City. Hushed, save for the songs of robins, towhees, and one giggling human.

This is asphalt, slowly being consumed by earth and landslides. We felt as though we’d entered a portal into Logan’s Run, wondering if around the next bend we’d hear the howl and screech of cats and the moaning of “Sanctuary!”