Under a Red Roof

Portland Hill Walks: No. 16

October 4, 2010 in Exploring by Colleen | 3 comments

What a great way to begin. Do-si-do.

We actually completed this walk weeks ago, but this is the first I’ve gotten around to bringing the photos to you. We were rather excited about this one, as it is pretty much our stomping grounds, Mt. Tabor and the surrounding neighborhoods. What’s more, and I suppose, usual, is that we learned much that we didn’t know and walked streets we hadn’t seen. Sure, we knew they were there, houses sprinkled in the distance of more familiar routes, sometimes daily ones, but it was such a treat to actually walk among them and marvel that there could be so many gems so close yet so hidden to us for the past twelve years.

I think that’s what the hubster and I like most about these books. They give us the opportunity to take our blinders off. So much of our lives are lived up close and with great convenience, speed, and efficiency in mind. We don’t often give ourselves the time to take the long way home, make a “wrong” turn, or just plain wander. Yet the rewards of doing so are plentiful and fine – gorgeous flowers, great views, and new four legged friends among the few.

Tags: Oregon, Portland

The Many Jewels of Opal Creek

September 29, 2010 in Admiring, Eating, Exploring, Traveling by Colleen | 4 comments

Glittering diamonds of dew; emerald leaves, needles, and moss; ripe ruby huckleberries; opalescent water and stone under a brilliant lapis lazuli sky. These are the many jewels of Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, Mother Nature’s living, breathing cathedral of earth, water, sometimes fire, and air. Despite their glimmering and pristine character, they hardly encompass the magic and wonder of this truly special place.

As I am one who sees the beauty, power, and resilience of the natural world wherever I go, urban and rural settings alike, I thought I knew what to expect at the Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center – a grand place of primal waters and trees older than the nation I call home. After all, I’ve been to myriad forests and seen the majesty of trees towering above me. I’ve witnessed the scrappy plant proudly blossoming from a tiny crack in the sidewalk. I’ve seen water of such blindingly brilliant hues as to leave me speechless. Despite all of this, I was wholly unprepared for my experience at Opal Creek. The beauty and peace I felt was staggering and resonated deep in my bones. Every step, glance, and sound steeped in the sublime.

It all starts with the journey, literally and figuratively. We load the car here at home, drive south through the cacophony of morning rush hour before turning east. Already there is a shift. There are fewer cars, more trees, large stands of oaks peppered between farms, shopping centers, and even a prison. The landscape changes again as we make gains in elevation, and the grassy knolls turn into vast stands of evergreens. Their clean scent mingles with the dust of the dirt road under our wheels. We park the car, but we aren’t quite to the end of our journey. We walk three miles out of time. It could be the 1930’s of rustic wood cabins, gold panning, starlit skies, and cast iron. And in those places where there is no sound save the chirp of a camouflaged bird or the drip of of a watercourse borne of centuries, we might just be in America before it was, two nameless faces living off the land.

Tags: Oregon, Traveling

Oregon State Fair

September 8, 2010 in Exploring, Loving by Colleen | 3 comments

1955 Buick:

Chevrolet:

1957

1968 Camaro

I’m pretty sure the Walton’s drove this truck –

Ford:

1955

I can’t remember the year (1940-ish?), but how about the beautiful chrome?

1962 Falcon. A friend of mine drove one in high school. Complete with backfires and a muffler that occasionally dragged and threw up wild sparks, hers was much less glam.

Packard:

1932

Ostentatious

Yet, utterly and completely perfect.

1940 Pontiac

Tractors!

Sweet Bunny Love:

Baby Goat

Are you talking to me?

A wee family of mice made from potatoes, carrots, chives, cloves, and beans.

Mark with Segovia the Llama

Ahh, the State Fair. I would love to kiss the person who invented the institution, for there are few activities that I enjoy more. It’s a magical combination of earth, animals, food, and gaiety, all that is important and essential in life in one place. My spirits cannot help but be buoyed and soothed, despite the crowds and lively organized chaos of it all.

Though Willie didn’t make an appearance this year, it was no less splendid for these two urbanites, as there was so much to occupy the hours. First on the list, food, and more specifically deep fried. For it isn’t a true fair experience without the hiss and splatter of hot oil, indeed. We had corn dogs and a giant elephant ear, though it wasn’t THE giant. How people manage that one, I cannot fathom. Then there was a heavenly smoked barbecued sandwich, accompanied by sweet spicy beans and tangy slaw. We topped it all off with cheesy kettle corn and the soothing quiet necessary from over stimulation. People! Cars! Rides! Food! People! Quilts! Crafts! Animals! People!

As usual, 4-H was the highlight for us. There is something very special about these kids. Fearless, patient, proud, and so down to earth, I could talk to them about living on a farm, raising animals, and life in general all day (though I know better – they have work to do!). Which brings me to this last photo. Mark and his sister Suzie (I wish I had a photo of her – she’s got lashes to rival any llama!) are the children of friends we’ve known since first moving to Oregon. They epitomize everything I love about 4-H. They are whip smart, highly interested and educated, and never seem to tire of ignorant city slickers like me asking all kinds of questions, smiling and laughing even, taking everything in stride. Like when Segovia decided during the middle of the obstacle course that it was time to take care of business, number one and two, Mark patiently waited, never ruffling – calm, cool, collected until the job was done. Gotta love that – and the fair!

Tags: Oregon

The Oregon Garden

June 28, 2010 in Exploring, Friendship by Colleen | 2 comments

Hello friends – Welcome to The Oregon Garden! Located just outside the picture post card town of Silverton, it’s about an hour’s drive from our red roof, and a pleasant one, to boot. My friend Rob and I journeyed there a few weeks back while he was in town.

With eighty acres and a myriad of different gardens, there is a whole lot to see.

This photo and the yellow flowers in the one above are part of the eco-roof, a great way to filter rain water and keep a structure cool. I like the look of the plants, too.

This is the cottonwood forest. These trees are crazy tall, something like a hundred feet, and grew over a very short period of time – most impressive Obi Wan.

Funny that I should type that, for Rob, my fellow traveler, is a huge Star Wars fan, probably the biggest I know. He even has a super cool Jedi costume, complete with light saber.

These two pictures are from the conifer garden. The needles on both were surprisingly soft.

There is a tram at the garden, and though I would generally pooh-pooh something of this ilk, I was glad we took it. One, it is nice to get an overview of the garden before deciding on specific areas to explore. Two, the driver was a cute and friendly retiree with many funny anecdotes. He also highlighted the best places to get married, this series of pools being among them. I have to admit that the light was awfully romantic.

I think these are the seed pods of a sweet gum tree, but please don’t hold me to it. Whatever they are, I like the look of them.

Always stop to smell the roses.

This was my favorite part of the garden. It is an oak grove that dates back more than four hundred years. Can you imagine living that long? What a testament to the power of nature – so beautiful and inspiring.

Daisies are such happy flowers. Are you smiling yet? Go ahead, it feels good.

Oh deer. She tried to pretend she was a statue, but we knew better.

I love this whisper of a flower. I almost expect it to turn into a sweet fairy. May I have three wishes?

Pretty.

We’re almost at the end of our visit.

Calalilies are so beautiful.

And now, for a shout out to my traveling companion: Thanks for always being up for adventure, for your kind and generous spirit, for your marvelous humor and taste in music (Wilco!), your creativity, but mostly your friendship. You’re a keeper!

Tags: Oregon

Portland City Walks: No. 12

June 22, 2009 in Exploring, Learning, Reading by Colleen | 2 comments

Happy Monday Gentle Readers!

As I am having some technical difficulties (me being not as tech savvy as the hubster), the post I originally intended to publish today got put on the back burner, so here are the highlights from our first Portland City Walks adventure. It really showcases some of the marvelous diversity in landscape and architecture here in the City of Roses.

These wonderful sherbet colored Victorian row houses are not actually on the walking tour, but I have been wanting to photograph them for a long time. They’re on Everett, just west of I-405. Don’t you want a bowl of ice cream now or maybe a handful of Easter candies? Yum!

A rather stately home with a perfectly manicured front garden. Back when I was taking ages to decide on paint colors for our house, I considered this combination. Though I chose differently, I think it is quite handsome.

As I mentioned in this post, it is such a treat to learn something new about the city that is our home. We were delighted to walk through the densely packed residences without an actual street to separate them, just a fantastic collection of of shaded and sunny pathways.

This timber bamboo, probably fifty feet tall, is a wonderfully modern surprise, especially among all the grand 100 year old houses. It makes a subtle gonging in the breeze.

This is on the front door of a house with scarcely a sidewalk in front of it. With the close proximity, I can see how tempting it would be for a passerby to want to peek in and the reason for such an elaborate “peep hole” to discourage it. I think they may have used an old heat register, which is quite clever, don’t you think?

The Vista Avenue Bridge – lovely streetlamps illuminate it, ancient spikes decorate it, and grand trees shade the entrances.

Oh goodness, isn’t this straight out of The Secret Garden? One of my favorite books of childhood, I read it over and over again, along with Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. I loved imagining the beautiful worlds, their flower filled and candy coated goodness.

Can you imagine having such a grand entrance to your home? I think I’d want to dress up all the time and answer the door in gloves up to my elbows – so fancy!