Berry Bungalow

A Day On The Farm Is A Good Day Indeed!

2008-07-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

STRAWBERRIES!!!
I LOVE STRAWBERRIES!!!

Since moving back to Oregon I get really excited for June because not only is it the start of our gorgeous summers but it means berry season is arriving and that makes this girl who grew up on a berry farm really happy! I swear I would be in heaven if our bodies could handle a diet of just berries...I could eat them all day every day!
For the past two summers I've had fun little berry picking parties with friends at Krugers Farm on Sauvie Island, about 15 miles from downtown Portland. This year we had our picking party near the end of the season (we had a really short season this year) so the berries were smaller than normal but still packed with amazing taste! Some of the berries went to freezer jam, some into a baked goody with fresh rhubarb, some into the freezer for later, and many eaten fresh at each meal for the last few days! Next up is Raspberries and Blueberries...cannot wait!! Farmer Don, see you soon!
Farmer Don driving the tractor out to the "good" field of berries!
Look at this cute map of my favorite farm on Sauvie Island...it's such a perfect farm!

Catching Up With One Local Summer

2008-06-29T18:46:00.000-07:00

I was sooooo excited to join the One Local Summer Challenge but the first few weeks of it became a little more challenging than anticipated! Between traveling and trying to save all my nickels and dimes (ie. not buying anything more than necessities) for costs associated with buying my condo in mid-July I wanted to use up all the food I currently have. Up until week 4 of the challenge I hadn't been able to make a whole meal with local foods but I've tried to incorporate what I have from my community garden plot or what I've been given each week from my fellow gardners.

So, here is what I've done so far for One Local Summer:

Week One: I was given a bunch of delicious lettuce from a neighbor at my community garden (3 miles from my home). I also bought some local rhubard to freeze and mix with strawberries in some kind of yummy goodness once our Oregon strawberries are ready! Week Two: I'm on vacation this week with my mom and we had some DELICIOUS steamed shrimp at a cute beach restaurant on Tybee Island, Georgia. The shrimp was advertised as being caught right off the beach in a boat owned by the restaurant for catching all their seafood. That's pretty darn fresh and local :) I've also never had shrimp where I've had to take their little legs off...not a big fan of that as it felt a little too barbaric.
Week Three: Still traveling for part of the week and while in Charleston we had local fried green tomatoes. Again, delicious, especially with the fruit salsa! I should have planted some green tomatoes in my garden as I really liked the taste of them! Next year :)Week Four: WooHoo...ALL LOCAL MEAL!! We are in the middle of a heat wave here in Oregon so fresh raw food sounded great!! Earlier in the day some friends and I picked berries at Krugers Farm on Sauvie Island and at their farm stand I also picked up some local red peppers, cucumbers, and nectarines...YUM!!! I topped off my meal (actually, meal"s" as I prepared enough for lunch on Sunday!) with lettuce and spinach I have growing on my balcony, radishes from my garden, and a couple of slices of Oregon's Local Tillamook Cheddar Cheese from Tillamook Oregon. This was a PERFECT local meal for a hot day!!I'm hoping by Week 5 I will have some zucchini and yellow neck squash ready in my garden...yum yum!

To Do: Remember My Password!

2008-06-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I was going to be on top of blogging I go and take another month off...so sorry! I'll be a little honest with you and confess that part of the reason was I forgot my password for blogger...oops :) Anyway, the other reason is that life got a little hectic these past few weeks with things like finishing up an academic year, getting ready for an awesome vacation, and buying a home! Yes, in a matter of a 7 day time-frame I decided to see what it would take to stop renting and next thing I know I am submitting an offer on a condo and getting it accepted...crazy! That week of learning the in's-and-out's of being a first time homebuyer was A LOT of extra stress but luckily it was followed by a great week and a half of vacation with my momma to Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina! We had such a great time and now that I am faced with packing up my apartment I can only wish we were still on vacation!

Here are some pictures of the past month :) Updates on One Local Summer and my garden will be coming soon, I promise! I made sure to write down my password :)
My friend Wendy and I spent a lovely Saturday morning taking pictures of wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge...they were so beautiful!
Here is one of my best friends Emily getting married :) Her wedding was in TN and it was so cool to be able to be there to see her marry the man of her dreams! Emily, you are a BEAUTIFUL bride and I swear I have never seen you smile so much before!
While in TN we stayed with my friend Mandi and as always time with Mandi is time well spent :)
After Emily's wedding my Mom and I drove to Savannah...what an AMAZING CITY!!! The humidity was not so amazing but we still had a great time wandering all around it's gorgeous historic district! Our camera's needed a break at the end of each day with how many pictures we were taking!
Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah is really cool, sooooo much history there and the Spanish Moss is just gorgeous! They say Bonaventure is one of the nation's most haunted places and we could totally picture the spirits partying it up when night falls. Think of the fun they must have frolicking through all the moss!
Spanish Moss and my pretty momma! Avenue of Oaks at Boone Hall Plantation outside of Charleston South Carolina. Cannot help but think "Run Forest Run" when I see this picture :)Charleston was BEAUTIFUL! The houses are to die for and I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in them! This was a little house for the historic neighborhood we were wandering around in but doesn't it have great windows!! Just how I pictured beaches in South Carolina to look like :)
Sunset on the dock...what a perfect way to end vacation! Thanks for taking a look at my month in pictures!

Check Out My Etsy!

2008-05-21T00:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally bit the bullet and started an Etsy shop for selling my photos as either prints people can frame or as cards :) I've had it open for two days and already sold two prints...woohoo!! Go ahead and take a look!!!

One Local Summer Challenge

2008-05-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

This spring I checked out the book Plenty from my local library and I loved following the journey of a couple from the Pacific NW (Vancouver BC) dedicated to eating completely from a 100 radius for an entire year. Between their story, reading past blog entries from a flickr contact who did something similar, and knowing that I live in the middle of one of those most furtile farming valleys in the country I thought it would be fun to join the One Local Summer Challenge starting June 1st!

So far about 80 people are on the challenge to eat one meal a week with all ingredients except oil, salt, pepper, and spices being local from 100 miles of our homes or from wherever we are located that week. My main objectives for this challenge is to use my garden produce first, support local farmers for the remaining ingredients I need, adapt my meal planning to make conscience choices of what is in season and most readily available (products not creating a large carbon footprint to get to my kitchen), and try fresh recipes I have never had before! That last reason is why I planted eggplant in my garden. I've never tasted it but for some reason think I don't like it...that will change this summer as I'm determined to make eggplant a main ingredients for a few of my One Local Summer Meals!

It's not too late if you want to JOIN the challenge! And Mom, I fully expect you to participate in this challenge with me when we find ourselves on vacation to Savannah/Charleston in mid June! Maybe Paula Dean or her boys will make us a delicious local meal :)

Another Month, Another Post

2008-05-13T20:12:00.001-07:00

Ok, so it seems like this blog is only getting monthly updates lately. Sorry! I just don't feel the inspiration for writing on the blog like I used to :( Seems like Flickr is my best outlet but I promise to be better in the future with the blog. So much to look forward to...yummy fresh seasonal recipes, summer travel, and living life to the fullest in the bright summer sun! So, don't take BerryBungalow off your "favorites list" yet... I promise to be back on track soon! My academic year ends in a few weeks so I am sure I will be back to being a regular poster soon :)

But, for my monthly update here are a few things I've been up to lately!Our students are always coming up with creative events...like Braine Freeze, a fun slurpee drinking contest. They got even got two tenured faculty to compete! You woman are my hero's as there is no way you would catch me doing this! My friend Rodney is back in town for the week so we of course had a BUSY week but with his trip starting the last week of tulip season we had to go back to the tulip farm! So Lovely!
After tulips we went to Silver Creek Falls and got wet walking behind this fall! Silver Creek Falls State Park is in the area of Oregon I grew up in so it was fun showing it off to a friend! Then the next day we had an AMAZING day snowshoeing on Mount Hood! The Oregon Cascade Mountains has a record amount of snow this year. Check out Timberline Lodge and the snow banks that go up to the third story!! CRAZY!!! The weather was absolutely beautiful and set the bar pretty darn high for the next snowshoeing day!

On Rodney's last day we hit the beach and checked out Cape Disappointment in Southeast Washington. What a gorgeous state park and we enjoyed stumbling onto this gorgeous lighthouse! I'm hoping to go pack to the Cape later this summer to see more of it's beauty!
The last few weeks have been busy with work and me doing a lot of hoeing to get my community garden plot ready for planting! After many blisters from my workdays my dad came for the big day of planting...cannot wait to see Mother Nature do her thing and for the garden to grow!! I'll keep everyone updated on the progress :)

See you soon!

Spring TulipFields

2008-04-13T17:41:00.001-07:00

Check out my Flickr Page for pictures of this weekends visit to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm...over 40 acres of tulips all at the peak of their beauty!!

Slacker Lisa Is Back!!!

2008-04-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hi Emily! I just had to start with that greeting because last week my good friend Emily told me that I must blog more. Sorry to be such a slacker Em :)

Anyway, no excuse but being busy and uninspired. But today is a BEAUTIFUL day here in Portland and I feel that we have stepped out of winter and feel nothing but greatness with the months ahead. Translation: Inspiration!!

Today was my first day working in my community garden plot! I spent a little over three hours hoeing weeds, weeds, and more weeds...it's so much hard work! I think I got most the uninvited garden guests out and if I'm diligent in visiting my plot then today's work should pay off BIG TIME and there will only be small amounts of weeding to do! Now I need to prepare my soil and plant in the next couple of weeks...yahoo!! Any suggestions on what to plant? Also, one of the fellow gardeners gave me a hoe. Not let me borrow, but gave it to me! How cool is that!! I think I am going to meet some nice people through gardening...that and my beloved zucchini make it worth the effort :)

So, since it's been awhile since I've posted (bad Lisa!) I will share some pics of a few things that have been keeping me busy outside of work. After all, these fun times with friends and family are what I live for!!In early March I went to a conference in Boston (brrrrrrr, so cold!) and had a GREAT time hanging out with friends Sarah, Dave, and Rodney! I spent every free moment out and about Beantown and also enjoyed seeing many colleagues I have worked with these past 12 years in Higher Education. So fun!Seeing my vote for our country's next President! I have never been too interested in Politics but I really feel that our country is in desperate need of a change and hearing Obama and his passion for the needs of this country was nothing but uplifting and inspiring! I felt honored to be in the crowd of 12,000 and loved feeling the positive energy that swept over us because of this agent of change!
Pretty in Pink! I just ADORE when all the trees put on their Spring Fashion Show for us, simply lovely!
Spending time with the bestest little boy and girl in the world! Here they are dressed in their adorable Easter duds :)
Seeing some pretty big dinosaurs over spring break!
Playtime at OMSI. Check out Lily's adorable smile...she melts her aunties heart!
Spring Break SNOW?????? Ya, we were quite shocked by it but I think it is safe that snow will not be in our future anytime soon!
Clam Chowder at Mo's...a must do for any trip to the Oregon Coast!
Yurt camping...it's the best way to camp!!
Last weekend was a fun girls trip to Newport where we made sure to visit park with the best view of the bridge!

I promise to update soon...can't have Emily lose faith in one of her favorite bloggers :)

Hello Blog World!

2008-03-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Blogworld,

Long time no see!! Sorry for being absent these past few weeks. It's not you, it's me :) I've had quite the busy month which was started out with a fun trip to Seattle
followed by work, work, work

then trying to find time to enjoy the amazing Spring weather in Oregon
and more work work work

then seeing my favorite bunnies
and yet more work work work, and work work work! Phew, starting a new academic term is absolute craziness!!!

But, after this week of work work work I will be spending 5 days in Boston where I will finally be doing fun work (a conference) but more importantly tearing up Beantown with these two crazy friends!So, after the good times to be had in Boston I should be more of a frequent visitor to you, my lovely Blogworld, and cannot wait to share with you my spring adventure that is ahead, starting my very first garden (I think I am in for a new kind of work load!) at a local community garden...should be fun!See you soon Blogworld!

Your long lost friend, Lisa

*Oh, and thanks to Mr. federal tax return I think these babies will finally be coming home with me!!

Holy Chicken Poop

2008-02-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

I just saw this story and couldn't help but have a flood of memories come back of when I was a Residence Hall Director and got woke up in the middle of the night to a frantic Eastern European student holding back tears as she tried to tell me that there were 36 chickens let loose in the dorm! OH MY GOSH...not fun to deal with!!! It takes me about 30 minutes to tell the complete story but too this day I cannot see a chicken without remembering the horror of cleaning up chicken poop, feathers, eggs, and 7 dead chickens (rip my feathery visitors) from all corners of the three story building. Yuck Yuck Yuck!!! Here are a few pics that were taken about 3 hours after the ordeal started when our facilities department finally came to my rescue!!

50 chickens found loose in Philly school: PHILADELPHIA - Monday mornings are hard enough. Imagine finding 50 chickens running loose in your high school. Workers arriving about 5:30 a.m. to open Northeast High School in Philadelphia found dozens of hens and roosters wandering around the hallways. The birds were apparently brought to the school sometime over the weekend, said school district spokesman Fernando Gallard. "We don't know where the chickens came from or who they belong to," Gallard said. "I'm pretty sure there is a very upset poultry farmer somewhere who wants them back." The floors were covered with droppings and chicken feed. Most of the school's 3,600 students were sent home for the day because the school required extensive cleanup, he said. A farmer was called to round up the birds and bring them to Fox Chase Farm, the district's agricultural school, Gallard said. Police are checking surveillance tapes to see if they can determine the perpetrator of the fowl prank. The culprit will have to pay a hefty fine, said Gallard. "It's not going to be chicken scratch," he said.

2008-02-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

Saturday we drove up into the Cascade Mountains to see some of the beautiful snow that has been falling all week. We knew we wouldn't be out in the snow for long but were happy to have our cute boots to keep us dry!

After taking a few pics of the snow we drove back towards home but stopped for lunch and a very delicious hot bailey's at Silver Creek Falls.
How is it already February??? The year is going so fast and I haven't even bought myself a pair of spring shoes yet...I better get on that :)

Hibernating

2008-01-30T20:50:00.001-08:00

Sorry for lack of posts lately, you could say that my posts are hibernating for this session of winter. These last few weeks have been cold, wet, and pretty blah here in the NW which in one way has been good as it has kept me inside to work on my knitting...how do you like my first real project?? I decided to tackle cables and am glad that I did because I have loved making this scarf! I'm excited for spring and hope that it comes quickly!! Spring is so refreshing and I love how everything comes to life again after winter dreariness! In the meantime, I will try to embrace moments of winters beauty, like this moment last week when our mountain shined for us!! Looking forward to coming out of hibernation soon and when I do I have my favorite shoes back from the Dansko Doctor to embark on new exciting journey's with!

Le Happy

2008-01-18T11:34:00.001-08:00

As I walked past this cute little creperie by my office today I thought I would share a few of the things that are making me happy!

1. It's Friday, my favorite day of the week! Let the weekend begin!

2. My friend Joey is coming into town for the weekend! It will be great to catch up with her and go find something fun to be a part of as we always do when she visits :)3. Spring Flowers! I had to get some mini-daffodils this week at Trader Joes as they are just too cute to pass up plus my apartment needed a little spring life added to it!4. Murphy! Queen of the apartment, me simply her servant.5. Sex And The City Movie! Ya I know, it won't be released for awhile but I am sooooooo thrilled that they are making it and I cannot wait to reacquaint myself with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha, and of course Mr. Big!!!
6. Last but not least I think I am finally getting into a groove with my first knitting project! Still have much to approve on but I am quite happy to be learning this new craft and cannot wait to improve my skill!

Philippa, Purl, and Play

2008-01-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

Here it is again with another few week passed and no posts from me. What in the world is keeping me away from the blog? Well, I can think of three things and they all start with a P!

1. Philippa! Philippa Gregory that is! My mom and I have been scouring thrift shops for her amazing books and we have almost all of them and let me tell you something, they are worth the hunt! I've loved reading her accounts of the England's Tudor Family and cannot wait for the movie, The Other Boleyn Girl to come out in February!! If you have a chance you should pick up one of her books and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do!

2. Purling! I'm LOVING learning to knit but had a hard time getting the purl down but with a week of practice I think I am good to go. Now just have to get the correct tension then it is off to start my scarf with my oh-so-soft organic soft wool...so comfy!3. Playing! I took a Friday off of work (love when I can do that!) and went snow showing with some friends up on Mt Hood. I've been wanting to try snowshoeing for awhile and I was so excited to give it a go! The trail was uphill the whole time (not so fun!) and it was raining most the time so it wasn't the best picture taking trip but I still had fun. It looks like there is a trek planned in a few weeks with my mom and some of her friends so of course I will go and plan to bring something warm (and maybe spiked, he he) to enjoy at the end of our trek :)
Hope you all are having a great start to this new week! Promise of a week of sun is in our forecast so lets hope those meteorologist are correct!!!

Goal #1: Learn to Knit

2008-01-07T20:08:00.001-08:00

I'm not too good at keeping New Year Resolutions but I do pretty good in meeting goals I set for myself so goals are what I am attempting to create in the beginnings of 2008. The first goal that I wanted to meet was to learn to knit and tomorrow I start the first of my 3 nights of knitting classes. I hope that the thought of taking knitting classes doesn't make me sound like some little old lady in a rocking chair with her knitting needles and a cat on her lap but rather someone young chica who wants to learn a new craft! (Yes, I'm starting to become conscious of my age as I creep further and further into my 30's...yikes!) I'm excited to spend the next few Tuesday nights at the ever so cool Yarn Garden and hopefully will have a pretty cool scarf to show you when I'm down and have mastered the basics my new craft!!

Photo from Yarn Garden

Blink And It's Gone

2007-12-31T10:40:00.000-08:00

"Blink And It's Gone"...that is what happened to the holidays!!! I had a wonderful week filled with lots of time spent with my family, hugging and kissing my adorable niece and nephew, and even a rare Christmas morning snowfall here in my area of the Pacific Northwest!! And now here it is the last day of 2007, what a year it has been but I know that 2008 will be even greater! I hope your New Years Eve is spent with those you care about, maybe a glass or two of something sparkly to sip, and time filled with hope and excitement for what is ahead! What are my plans for the night, well I'm getting all dressed up and hitting the Schnitzer Concert Hall to be awed by the amazing Pink Martini!! What a spectacular way to end a truly spectacular year!!

Christmas Goody Time!!

2007-12-22T10:26:00.001-08:00

Oh boy have I been busy with all kinds of Christmas fun!!! All my shopping is done and the presents are wrapped and now it's time for fun in the kitchen! I'm making all kinds of goodies for the many upcoming family gatherings and here are just a few sneak peeks :) I hope you find yourselves doing things that makes your cup runneth over with holiday joy!!Thank goodness for my trusty KitchenAid and the 15 minutes of mixing help it gave while making my first ever Homemade Mashmallows...KitchenAid, my arms thank you!!
Yum Yum Yum, beginnings of chocolaty goodness for Chocolate Mint Cookies
Preparing apples for two Apple Pies as well as dried apple rings...my kitchen smells so fruity delicous!Homemade Granola for traditional goody bags for all the aunts, uncles, and cousins!

I really enjoyed making the homemade granola and hope all my family members like it as much as I do! Here is the recipe if you would like to try it :)

Cranberry Almond Cinnamon Granola
4 cups OLD FASHIONED Rolled Oats
2 cups coconut
2 cups sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries (I used a mix of cranberries and cherries!)
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup veg oil
2 tsp cinnamon

Mix all but dried fruit together and bake in sheet pan for 25 - 30 minutes at 350. Stir every few minutes. Add dried fruit for remaining 2 to 3 minutes (don't add too early as the fruit may burn). Pour onto dry surface and cool, stirring occasionally to break up clumps. Enjoy Enjoy Enjoy!

Finding Christmas Cheer

2007-12-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

It's the end of another busy busy busy semester...YEAH, let the celebrations begin!!!!!!! I had two final student events to attend Saturday (yes, I had to work on Saturday, blah!) but luckily they were both located downtown. I'll be honest, as nice as these two events are the thought of devoting my Saturday to work was not appealing. So to change my attitude around I decided to take the train in early and have a little fun with my new camera! I went with a mission of finding Christmas Cheer in the City and it turned into a fun morning and helped put me in a cheery mood for my work duties :) All in all, a great day and I'm actually glad this is how my Saturday turned out!

How great is this, Scarf Building Buddies :)Santa playing at Portland Saturday Market

Colorful Winter Wear at the market...I love how cheery the colors are!

Christmas Cupcakes...yum yum!

Tom McCall watching over our city's beloved Christmas tree

Cute, Cute, Cute!!!

Even the fountain statues are dressed in their holiday best!

Shoe Therapy Kind Of Day

2007-12-12T18:33:00.001-08:00

Today was one of those exhausting and frustrating days where I dreaded going home to a dirty kitty-litter box after already having to deal with crap all day so the only remedy I had was SHOE THERAPY!!! I kept seeing these shoes in my favorite shoe store and have always thought the sole's to be a little on the ugly side but I figured I shouldn't judge without trying them on and boy am I glad I finally did!!! I swear these are some of the most comfortable shoes I 've ever had on my feet!!! Simply amazing and I was tempted to not take them off and treat myself to an early Christmas present to justify my yucky day! If I was wearing jeans instead of a skirt and nylons (totally the wrong look for these shoes!) I'm sure they would have been as good as mine! Phew, my bank account is probably happy for my wardrobe choice today :)

Anyway, as much as I enjoyed trying on these shoes I really enjoyed learning about the mission behind El Naturalistic and especially their El Naturalista Eco-Policy!!! This company is on to some really good stuff and this paragraph on their website alone has made me a fan!

"Leaving Our Footprint: Movement is our reason to be and exist. That´s why we enjoy creating comfortable and nice footwear, that will help us to start the amazing journey of living. Shoes for people who advance as they walk. Designed by people that build as they dream. Aware of our responsibility with our world, we make our way smoothing the path for communities wishing to learn and with a lot to teach us. In a mutual learning act, we bring progress closer to the peoples who inspire us and help them to grow, not only as a group but also as people. Progress, if it is to be synonymous to devastation, makes no sense to us. Life inspires life and that´s why El Naturalista develops footwear to walk through it."

I figure I will get a pair soon but now have to decide between these two colors...which do you think I should get? I heard the green is discontinued so I am leaning towards them if I find them in my size. But the red sure is fun!!!

Straight From Heaven!!!

2007-12-10T21:42:00.001-08:00

So yesterday we had a holiday party and all goodies were entered into a "Bake-Off Challenge" and after three years of participating in this event I was determined to win!!! When I saw this AMAZING brownie recipe from Baking Bites featuring my favorite holiday staple, Trader Joe's Peppermint Joe-Joe's, I knew that this would be the recipe to win the coveted golden wooden spoon award!

I must admit, I have never made a brownie that didn't come from a box and had no idea that I would use a stovetop and saucepan to prepare the batter but let me tell you something, the small amount of effort that it took to make these was so so so worth it! I just might never make a boxed brownie mix again!

I made two batches for our hungry student voters and secretly smiled every time I heard someone say "these are AMAZING" or "these taste better than sin" or "Oh my goodness, give me more!!" and I was confident the golden wooden spoon award was as good as mine! So, are you wondering if I won? Well, these amazing brownies sent straight from heaven came in a close second...WHAT!?!?!?!? I think the voting was tampered with but I will succumb as the winner slaved in her kitchen making some wonderful mini pumpkin cupcakes with vanilla bean cream cheese frosting. She is also about 5 months pregnant so I think she got a few sympathy votes from that...just kidding (kind of!) :)

If you do not have a local Trader Joe's to get some of their famous cookies you can use Mint Oreo's in replacement. If you are a fan of ooey-gooey brownies and mint then you have to try these the next time you need to make brownies! Be sure to cut them into tiny pieces as they are quite filling but still simply to die for! And to my family, expect to see a plate of brownies at Christmas :)Peppermint Cookies n’ Cream Brownies
From Nicole at Baking Bites!
1 cup butter
6 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups roughly chopped peppermint oreo-type cookies (approx 18)

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and grease lightly.

In a medium-large saucepan over low heat, melt together butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally. Whisk in sugar, salt and vanilla, then turn off heat. Whisk in eggs one at a time, waiting until each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in flour and cocoa powder until mixture is uniform. Stir in peppermint oreo cookies and pour batter into prepared pan. Crush 3-4 additional cookies finely and sprinkle on top of batter, if desired.

Bake for about 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not coated with batter.

Cool brownies in pan for about 20 minutes, then lift brownies in the foil out of the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Auntie Weekend

2007-12-10T21:08:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I treated Eli to a weekend with his favorite auntie...ME!

We had soooo much fun playing pirates, going to the zoo, and decorating a gingerbread house! I hate to brag but I really do think I have the worlds greatest nephew!
Oh ya, I almost forgot one of my favorite parts of the weekend...giving Eli his "Super Eli" cape!!! If you have a super hero in your family then you should check out this SuperFlyKidz Etsy Shop for a very cool gift!!! Eli loved his cape and told everyone at the zoo that he was Super-Eli!!! Oh nephew, you simply melt my heart!

2007-12-04T20:54:00.001-08:00

Tonight I decided to watch THIS movie and as soon as it was over I see THIS from my sister...too funny!!! I'm still laughing from some of the funny scenes in the movie and my favorite dancing family that added tears of laughter to my unexpected Elf themed night!!!

One of my favorite parts of Elf was how Buddy described ways in which him and his father could spend their day..."We'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookiedough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle." For some reason this line had me laughing :) Oh Buddy, you are such a sweet and simple-minded elf!

7 Christmas Highlights

2007-12-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

My friend Carrie just posted 7 Christmas Highlights on her blog so I thought I would join in on the fun! So to my readers (like all four of you!), here are 7 memories/highlights that will always make my Christmas merry and bright!

1. I have to watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation at least three times every season or it just won't feel like Christmas to me! I never get tired of the holiday madness that surrounds the Griswold good old fashioned family Christmas!

2. I love that Mrs Santa leaves gifts for us in our stockings :) Thanks Mom, um I mean Mrs Santa!

3. Aunt Carol's Cinnamon Rolls that we enjoy every Christmas morning! Now her daughters make them for us and they are just as good as ever!!!

4. Memories of my sister and I wrapping presents to the sounds of Evie singing "Come on Ring Those Bells" and especially the memory of the Christmas when we found our wrapped presents in our mom's closet and we took advantage of her being out of the house to carefully unwrap them to see what goodies where inside for us. Boy was it hard to get the tape lined perfectly back to cover up our peeks! It was also really really hard to act surprised on Christmas morning but we were good actors back in the day! By the way, this was totally my sisters idea, me being the perfect oldest child would never dare come up with this idea...right Jen :)

5. Making our traditional holiday cookies and especially Peanut Butter Rocky Road which is simply to die for! Better go stock up on supplies as I plan to make this for a Bake-Off at work next week and I expect to win the contest with this recipe!

6. Ham. Unfortunately this is a staple of every Christmas meal on both sides of our family and that is not good news for me because I get terrible headaches from it just after a bite or two :( But, Christmas just isn't Christmas without someone saying "I didn't know Lisa doesn't eat ham"...you would think people would remember after all these years :)

7. One of my all time fondest holiday memories was an opportunity I had a few years ago when my friend Michelle and I were able to be in Romania for the holidays and help pass out Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes in orphanages...AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!! Being able to give out shoe boxes had been a life goal of mine and it was like passing gifts out to angels here on earth! All the children were so excited to be getting their very own gifts and I will never forget this sacred opportunity I was given to show abandoned and orphaned children love at such an important time of the year! I'm ready to go back!

Venice Memories

2007-12-01T22:47:00.000-08:00

Today it snowed and on a day that you have plans winter weather is not good news, especially if you live on the 1st road that they close in Portland! After a snowy morning of listening to crazy forecasters I was worried that I would not be able to get to the Oregon Symphony to hear them perform Vivaldi's Four Seasons but lo-and-behold the snow didn't stick and I was able to make the concert...yahoo!! All during the performance my mind kept wandering back to Venice as I was there this past April and was able to attend a Vivaldi concert in one of the cities oldest known church buildings, a building that is centuries older than our country! It was an AMAZING concert with only about 20 of us in attendance and by far was the highlight of my time in Venice...well, maybe runner-up highlight as they had some pretty amazing coconut gelato :) So, on this freezing cold December 1st evening I would give anything to be back over in Venice enjoying all that surrounded me instead of under my layers of blankets but I will just have to make these pictures and my memories due :)

9 for 9

2007-11-29T18:44:00.000-08:00

It's been 9 days since I've posted so here are 9 things I've been up to :)

Thanksgiving Game Night!
Too bad we didn't have enough markers for everybody and had to drink wine in order to get make-shift train markers :) This was such a fun way to end a day of giving thanks with friends, family, and of course wine!

Doing a little Christmas shopping with my mom in downtown Salem.
We skipped the malls and big-box stores in favor of cute little boutiques...so much fun! I loved this new take on Christmas stockings!!

Having fun making my niece an oh-s0-cute gift for her 1st Birthday!!!

Getting closer and closer to finishing this book!
So good, especially paired with a mint hot chocolate!An evening conversation with my good friend Emily in which she took 2 whole minutes of small talk before shocking me with her engagement news!
Emily, I cannot wait to meet Greg and celebrate at your wedding this summer!
Chattanooga here I come!!!

Trimming my small Christmas tree!
I love holiday decorations as they make everything seem so comfy and cozy!

Driving home each night through a lot of rain...yuck!

Making a loaf of my favorite banana bread!

Being amazed that it snowed this early in the season up in Portland's West Hills!! It was so pretty to drive home through but secretly I was excited it didn't stick! I'm just not ready for winter weather!

2007-11-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

The countdown has begun for the remaining two hours of my week (cannot wait for a few days off!!) and I should be taking advantage of a quiet office to tackle my large to-do list...but do I do that, of course not! I just cannot get away from scouring the internet for the best deal on my next pair of beloved Dansko's! Aren't they awesome! Since I've seen them at my favorite shoe store I cannot get them off my mind's must-have list. I've vowed not to get them until after presents are bought for the holiday's but I just might be tempted if there is an excellent online sale...a girl can dream!

2007-11-16T18:38:00.000-08:00

My O'Malley is doing a trial run at my friend Julie's house to see if he wants to live there with her. I have been thinking of this for a few months as I think it would be best for both my kitties but I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that it was hard to see him leave tonight! I don't know how anyone could give a pet up for adoption to a stranger or to an animal shelter, it would be so hard not knowing if they would ever end up in a good home! I know that Julie will shower O'Malley with more love than I can with two cats and I am confident that they will be good companions for each other but it will be a little sad tomorrow morning when he is not there to wake me up with his purr :( He has only been gone for 45 minutes...is that too soon to call and see how he is doing???

Peppermint Invasion

2007-11-15T19:35:00.001-08:00

You know that the Christmas season is approaching when peppermint starts invading food and drink...I don't mind though :) What a busy week it has been and this peppermint hot chocolate was exactly what I needed to get me through the day!

2007-11-12T12:40:00.000-08:00

This is the Season of Giving and here's something tangible we can do to help those who are hungry in all corners of the world!

I am planning to skip a meal next Thursday and donate the money I would have spent on a meal out with friends to this wonderful agency committed to making a difference to all people, tribes, and nations! I know that many food banks/shelters are doing food drives this time of year and I encourage you to also donate what you can to them as they serve more and more people in need each year!
On November 15th, the Thursday before Thanksgiving, join with thousands of Oxfam supporters and skip one meal to remember the more than 850 million people who go hungry every day.

Skipping a meal the week before Thanksgiving is a tradition that Oxfam began 34 years ago as a way for Americans to connect with people in the US and throughout the world. It's an act of simple gratitude for what we have, and a recommitment to continue our work to make poverty history.

Skip a meal on Thursday November 15th to show your solidarity with those for whom hunger is a daily reality.

This Thanksgiving season, give thanks—as we will here at Oxfam—for the millions of lives that have been saved this year by the profound generosity of so many who care. And for the very real chance we all have to end poverty.

2007-11-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

Not too much happening lately so thought I would share the only picture I took these past few days...this cat has no concept of privacy! I think he thought that if he sat there long enough that I would put down my book and play...silly kitty!

Monday morning is just a few hours away and I have a premonition that I will have a "Case of The Monday's"...why don't weekends last longer than they do??? Thanksgiving and the few days off for it can not come quick enough!!

SWOONING for an Irish man!

2007-11-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

Tuesday night my friend Julie and I had a GREAT time taking in the sounds of THE SWELL SEASON, the artists from ONCE which happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies! It was AMAZING! The show was a sold out packed house but the way Glen interacted with the audience made it feel like there was just a small group of us gathered around him and his guitar talking over a shared bottle of wine...well, maybe over a few pints of beer as he is ALL IRISH! Seriously, his music is simply amazing and stirs something in me and I couldn't be any more excited that they came to Portland on one of their first stops of their Fall tour! Merry Christmas to me! And how cute is it that these two are finally a couple!! If you've seen the movie you totally know what I mean! They were very sweet together and she still allowed him to flirt with the crowd as to completely steal the hearts of all of us ...we totally swooned! Here they are wearing some homemade hats that a fan made for them :)

Baby Skunks Are Kinda Cute!

2007-11-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

Ha Ha Ha...just got this email and thought it was pretty funny!
This could have been my sister and I when we were young :)

So there I was, just relaxing in front of the T.V. when the kids yelled
"Hey Mom, come see the kittens."

Long Live The Weekends!

2007-10-31T22:46:00.001-07:00

Why do fun weekends have to end so quickly??? My mom came for a girls weekend and boy did we have FUN! This weekend was all about creativity as we thrifted and hit up Michaels and Craft Warehouse (twice!!!) and made some CUTE CUTE CUTE holiday gifts but cannot show you as you might be getting one :) It was such a great weekend and I just want to say thank you to my mom, you gave me a weekend I totally needed!! You are the best!!!

So I haven't had a chance to upload any new pics for awhile but thought I would share these scones that I made a few weekends ago...if you are a fan of Maple like I am then you will LOVE these!
Maple Scones

1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups oats
2 tsp baking powder
10 Tbsp cold butter
1/3 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 egg

Mix flour, oats, and baking powder together and cut in 10 Tbsp cold butter. Add remaining ingredients. Knead dough and pat down into an 1 inch thick circle. Cut into eight wedges and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes at 425. Once cooled, add maple frosting...yum yum!

Maple Frosting:
1 Tbsp melted butter
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp cream
1 c. powdered sugar
Whisk until smooth and frost scones...enjoy!!!

Thanks Monica for the recipe!

Lunchtime Stroll

2007-10-31T21:14:00.001-07:00

I work in a really fun part of Portland, historic NW Twenty-Third, or also commonly known as NW "trendy-third" by the locals. This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Portland and they have kept a lot of the businesses in the quaint houses that have graced the neighborhood for many many decades. It has been A LONG TIME since I took a lunchtime window-shopping stroll and thought you might like to come along...have fun getting to know the neighborhood!

Starting off, the first place we come to is Pepino's which is home to my favorite taco's in town! The ladies who work here are so nice and always seem to know that as much as I tell them I "might" try something new that I will almost always end of sticking with the $3.99 fish taco special...so yummy! If you don't want taco's for lunch, how about a crepe from this oh so cute sidewalk cafe! Oh wait, there is still another option just up the block...Mio Sushi! I am fairly new to adventures in sushi but I can recommend their cucumber rolls (I get mine without avocados), a great option if you are looking for something healthy and fresh!Looking for something to do this weekend? Make sure to check out a phone pole, also known as community bulletin board, for what is happening in town! Isn't this a great bike!!Better stop and say Hello to the urban chickens :)Oh my goodness, right across the way is Urbino, probably my favorite store on Twenty-Third! As soon as you walk through the door you will be transported to Old Europe and may be enticed to spend all afternoon wandering through oooing and awwing over all their goodies! Better get going if we want to keep exploring!Thirsty yet? How about a quick pint at McMenamins...oh wait, I might need to wait until Happy Hour as I forgot that it is still lunchtime :)
Ok, lets cross the street before we hit Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe (don't worry, we'll visit it sometime soon!) and let's start heading back. Don't you just love walking through the leaves!Want to get inspired by funky clothes or unique home good then 3 Monkeys is your place to shop! They always have such great finds on the sidewalk that make it hard to walk by without visualizing them in your home! I spy vintage holiday ornaments in the window so we might have to return here when we visit Moonstruck on our next lunchtime stroll :)Here is our hidden treasure, Laurelwood Public House! When it is raining (if you haven't heard, that happens quite a bit in Oregon!) you might want to pick a table by the fireplace and enjoy some of their amazingly delicious food! Want a fun salad? Try their spinach, feta, red onion, and pink grapefruit salad...sounds like a strange combo but once you try it you will love it!
Ok, I might have lied as Nob Hill Shoes is my favorite store on Twenty-Third...Dansko Love, no need to say more!Oh, I should stop in at the bookshop to see if they have my latest bookclub selection, Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing.
And here we are back at our starting point so let's end our lunchtime stroll with a vanilla latte at Vivace!! Aren't you glad we didn't stop at one of the Starbucks we passed, way to go local!Hope you liked the tour, there might be another one in the future as this barely touched the surface of NW Twenty-Third! It was great sharing it with you :)

Happy Halloween

2007-10-30T12:20:00.001-07:00

In the spirit of Halloween, I wanted to share some crazy cat costumes I found online. Who would do this to their cats??? Must be crazy cat ladies and me not doing this takes away some of my fears that I might have been becoming one. Anyway, If I was to do this to my cats I think they would torture me in my sleep!! Don't worry Murphy and O'Malley, I won't strip you of your cool catness and make you wear a costume...just wish I could say the same for Gypsy! Gypsy girl, watch out if Joey brings home any "presents" for you today...you have been warned!
Gotta have a puppy picture too...thought this one was pretty funny!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Bookclub Fun...Eat Pray Love!

2007-10-28T19:56:00.000-07:00

Last spring I took Eat Pray Love with me on a trip to Europe and it turned out to be a GREAT companion for my travels! Over the weekend I joined a dozen bookclub friends and we had a great time being together and discussing what we learned from Elizabeth Gilbert and her three journeys she welcomes us to join along with her! We also had a great time enjoying delicious food as we all loved how Elizabeth was not bashful in writing about her passion for food...especially her love affair with pizza in Naples, Italy! She loves that pizza so much that she even shares with fans in her FAQ how to get your own slice of that famous pizza if you are lucky enough to find yourself in Naples :) I think for every person who asks her about joining the ashram in India or working with the medicine man she worked with in Bali that there are double (maybe even triple!) the amount of people asking her about the pizza :) I can just see people making pilgrimages for that pizza, especially the chocolate pizza she made us all have dreams about!!

You can read a description of Eat Pray Love HERE but I think Anne Lamott (one of my favorite authors) sums up the feel of the book pretty well..."This is a wonderful book, brilliant and personal, rich in spiritual insight, filled with sorrow and a great sense of humor. Elizabeth Gilbert is everything you would love in a tour guide, of magical places she has traveled to both deep inside and across the oceans: she's wise, jaunty, human, ethereal, hilarious, heartbreaking, and God, does she pay great attention to the things that really matter."

And remember this post...well, it looks like I can finally uncross my fingers as Elizabeth will be in Portland on April 3rd!!! YAY!!!

(*photos not mine, borrowed from flickr)

A Week With A Purpose

2007-10-28T17:29:00.000-07:00

I do campus programming and one of my favorite weeks to host every year is Homeless Awareness Week. Bringing awareness to the issues and realities of homelessness is something that I have been doing on a yearly bases since 2000. It's exciting to see two completely different programs I've started for two colleges and I can honestly say that important programming like this is why I love to do what I do! I really enjoy working with local agencies here in Portland who are helping people without homes and I am so excited to see students want to volunteer their time, energy, and resources to helping others beyond themselves. We had a full week on campus and here are some of the highlights of what I organized :)

PhotoVoice Exhibit:Sisters Of The Road is one of Portland's flagship organizations for helping people in need and doing it with amazing care, dignity, and respect. A few years ago they gave some men and women camera's for a week to document their life without a home and now it is a traveling exhibit and one that we are proud to display for them! I even met Dan, one of the photographers, and he shared quite a bit with me when we were setting up the display the things he was able to overcome by the help given at Sisters of the Road.

Voices From The Street Book Sale:Part two of the PhotoVoice Exhibit is a new book that is a leading resource and fact sharing book on issues surrounding homelessness. I cannot wait to dive into my copy as the facts are taken from Portland...what a great way to learn more about our city and the needs of our neighbors!

Movie Showing:
WOW...Homeless in Paradise is a remarkably well done movie on the reality of homelessness as it follows four individuals and their journey to living on the streets and what keeps them from an improved life. I was so excited when our librarian called to tell me she bought this for our campus as she thought it would be a great addition to raising awareness and she couldn't be any more correct...it's powerful and thought-provoking!

Collection Drive for Rose Haven Womens Center:Students collected a car load of items to donate to Rose Haven, an INCREDIBLE community and intervention center for women and children without a home and survivors of violent relationships. Sister Cathie (director of the center) came and spoke on how she has dedicated her life to serving woman in need and shared story after story of women and children she helps just a mere few blocks from our campus. The stories were absolutely heartbreaking and all of us left with wet eyes, Sister Cathie included. We were able to donate a large amount (a car load!!!) of feminine hygiene and baby products to help assist the tangible daily needs of the woman and children but still there is so much more that they need, things like a listening ear, a safe place, and most importantly people and services they can trust!

Volunteer Opportunity:
The week ended with a handful of students volunteering alongside our campus director at Operation Nightwatch, a local center for people who are lonely or don't have a place to go in the evenings. I haven't heard how it went but I am sure all involved had an amazing evening of giving to others!

Coffee Break

2007-10-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

Incase you haven't heard, it is a widely known truth that the Pacific Northwest is the Coffee Capitol of the world! I would have to use all my fingers and most my toes to count all the coffee shops within a 3 block area of my office and I just love how all the independent shops have their own personal vibe and style! One of my favorite coffee shops is Vivace who also has Portland's vote for best crepes in town! I was able to escape my office for a few moments today and Vivace provided a great coffee break...well, vanilla latte and pumpkin spice biscotti break! Here are some pics from enjoying the place almost to myself as most people were getting their coffee to go as to take in the most of the amazing weather we had today!

Say Cheese

2007-10-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

One of the random jobs that has fallen into my lap at work is being responsible for ID pictures for our campus community. I'll tell you this, taking ID pictures is one of the least favorite parts of my job but I wouldn't mind it if I was the person who had to take his picture this week...Welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the world of Higher Education!

2007-10-19T21:07:00.001-07:00

So I just went and saw a fantastic film and wow, there was so much to take in from it!! Into The Wild (from the book Jon Krakauer) is the story of Chris who after graduating from college leaves behind his family, gives away all his money to OXFAM, and begins a journey across the country searching for truth. What I liked about the movie is that it did a great job of showing the impact he had on the lives of the many people he met and connected with on his journey, on his path that leads him to the wilderness of Alaska where he lives by his wits and adopts the solitary life of the wild. We see Alex through the eyes of a hippie caravan couple, an not-so-typical midwestern farmer, a lovestruck teenager, and lastly an older man who gives Alex the love of a father that he has never had. All these people have troubles of their own but Alex and his spirit give them the strength to seek their own truth and walk strongly through their struggles. Alex takes a lot of his vision from authors like Tolstoy, London, and Thoreau and at one point in Alaska he realizes that he has found his truth and is ready to be in community again...but is it too late? Did his search for truth bring the happiness that he was after or are there drastic implications?? You better go see the movie to find out!!

And here are some other films coming out this Fall that I would love to see!!!

Martha, Betty, How About Both!!!

2007-10-16T15:38:00.000-07:00

I had a couple of MUCH NEEDED days off and on Tuesday I was torn between doing Martha (crafting) or Betty (cooking) activities so I did both!

My Martha project:

I've been in the mood for doing some crafts lately and have a whole list going for things I want to make for the holidays...cannot wait to get my craft on! This weekend I found a great kitchen towel and when I held it up for my sister to see she said it would be cute as an apron so guess what...I made an apron! I simply sewed some ribbon on it and I really like it! After wearing it for my Betty (see below) activity I realized there is probably a better way for making it so I am now going to be on the hunt for other fun towels and ribbon! What do you think...like it??

And now that I have a perfect fall apron I needed to channel Betty Crocker and try out two Fall recipes I have been wanting to try lately!

First, I found some great zucchini recipes this Fall that were really good so thought I would expand into the squash family and try making something with Butternut Squash. Luckily the grocery store had them clearly marked as I really did not know what a Butternut Squash looked like :) Anyway, I used one of Giada’s recipes from Everyday Italian and let me tell you, it is delicious and very squashy!Rigatoni with Squash
3 tbsp olive oil
1 pound butternut squash, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt, plus 1 teaspoon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus 1/2 teaspoon
1 cup vegetable stock
1 pound rigatoni
3/4 to 1 cup milk
Basil and Parmesan to taste

Warm 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butternut squash, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Saute until the squash is golden and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the vegetable stock, bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the squash is very soft, another 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the squash mixture to a blender or food processor and puree.

Cook pasta

Add pasta to pureed squash mixture and 3/4 cup milk. Stir to combine. Add the remaining 1/4 cup milk if the sauce needs to be moistened. Add basil and cheese. Yum Yum, cannot wait to have some today for lunch!

Apple Cider Making

2007-10-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

Our family has a tradition of making apple cider every fall. All I remember of it from childhood is having to go to my grandpa's really early in the morning, usually in the rain, getting sticky hands from pouring cider into the containers, and having donuts as a morning treat! I can say that I like the tradition a lot more now! And here are some pictures to show you how our Hansen Family Apple Cider is made...

Start with A LOT of apples...a whole bin full straight from the apple orchard!!

Put them in the egg basket and take them to be cut...Eli and Catie like helping with this part!

Now the apples need to be quartered...luckly that water is warm, not ice cold like grandpa used to make it. This is also a great time to catch up on family news from aunts, uncles, and cousins :)Here's the press, already working on some applesPour the apples into the press where it will crush them down...make sure to use that really old stick so your hands don't get cut on the blades at the bottom of the bin!

Take a moment to cuddle with Lily...isn't she a cutie-pie!!!Here is my sister pressing the crushed apples for their sweet sweet ciderKenton pours cider into 1/2 gallon containers making sure to sieve out any apple chunks that got through the press.Ta-Da!!! Here's the final product, 92 1/2 gallons of Hansen Family Apple Cider...the best Apple Cider you will ever taste!!And now that work is over it's time to play on the farm...YAY!!!

Fall At My Front Door

2007-10-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Cough Cough, Sniff Sniff...I'm on week #2 of being sick (actually, really really sick for me!) so I haven't felt like doing much of anything, including taking the energy to think of things to write on this blog. Today I went into work late (probably should have taken dear ol' mom's advice and not gone it at all) but wanted to spend a few minutes before I left capturing some of the pretty sights all within about 50 feet of my apartment door...enjoy some more pictures of fall, which if you couldn't have guessed by all my recent photos is my absolute favorite time of year!I'm about to have 4 days of R&R! Keep your fingers and toes crossed that I feel better because there is some fun planned for these days that I don't want to miss out on...things like apple cider making, wine tasting, and the Oregon Symphony...oh I cannot wait!!!

Saturday's are good days!

2007-10-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Weekend guests provide great opportunities to show off Portland in what I believe is her best time of year!

Portland Japanese Garden all decked out in golden colors:A Fall weekend is not complete without a visit to a local pumpkin farm!Saint Cupcake, a delicious way to end a busy day!!

Thanks Joey and Rebekah for a great weekend! Next time I promise I won't be sick but glad we could still have a great Saturday despite it!

2007-10-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower
- albert camus

happy autumn weekend to you wherever you are!
may you have many opportunities to enjoy some beautiful "autumn flowers"*photos found on flickr

Lazy Evening Eye Candy

2007-10-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

I caught a cold, a yucky and terrible cold :(

My energy has been completely zapped from this cold as well as some recent hectic work days. So last night I wanted to do as little as possible and found myself curled up on my couch with my favorite quilt, listening to the rainstorm hitting my area, and exploring all kinds of fun blogs that I haven't been able to visit lately.

Here are some things that caught my eye...

Anne Lamott and Elizabeth Gilbert!!!
Two of my favorite authors will be speaking together in March and I would love to be there! I've heard Anne speak twice (got to meet her both times, loved her dreads!!), and am crossing my fingers that Elizabeth will be speaking in Portland soon as her book "Eat, Pray, Love" is one of my favorites!

Granny Squares from Simple Sparrow

I think I want to learn how to make them! Anyone know how??

Corner Frame
Not sure if I like it or not but it definetly caught my eye...especially since the photo is very simaliar to one I have in my living room!

My Next Bag???

I love Portland, I love maps, and I love bags...I think I am sold on this one!!

Yep, I've Become A Crazy Cat Lady

2007-10-01T18:49:00.001-07:00

Sunday was a scary day as the realization that I might be becoming a crazy cat lady hit me hard! Murphy is a kitty who has tried to follow me outside on a few cases (mainly when she was a kitten) and Sunday I ran out to my car really quick and when I came back I saw my front door blown open by the wind and no Murphy to be found inside...my heart sank...it sank hard! Usually Murphy comes when I shake her treat bag so I grabbed it and went out into the rain and tried to find her. After about 20 minutes I started to really worry and almost cry (my eyes misted a little) and realized that this is HUGE as I usually only cry once or twice a year! I was scared for my poor Murphy out in the rain by herself, mad at myself for never getting her an ID tag, and so so sad as I couldn't imagine my home without her in it. After the said 20 minutes I made my way back into my apartment not quite sure what to do next. I think I sat on the couch for 10 minutes and poor O'Malley (my other kitty) knew something was wrong but just couldn't make me happy no matter how much he purred. Then I thought I would do one more sweep of my place and back behind some suitcases under my bed sat Murphy with a look on her face as if saying "what, why are you bothering me?" This little punk made me crazy for a very long 30 minutes but you know what, I still love her and tell her that she is my favorite (shhh, don't tell O'Malley)!!

So, as much as I say I'm not a crazy cat lady I think I might actually be one after realizing how much I love my silly cat. I waited so long to be able to get a cat (one of the downfalls of living with roommates or on a college campus for many years) and she was such a comfort when I first moved back to Portland! Murphy is also good for a few laughs, such as this moment I caught her in last Christmas!
I think she likes Martini's as much as me...no wonder why I love her so much!

Pumpkin Patch

2007-09-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

It's officially fall and nothing feels like fall as much as visiting a pumpkin patch!! Over the weekend I took my niece and nephew to Roloff Pumpkin Farm which you may know as the farm from TLC's hit show Little People Big World! It was opening day and I think the afternoon grayness kept many farm goers away as we almost had the place to ourselves! We did the farm tour and if you watch the show you can see some pics of the farm here that you may recognize :)

Here are some cute pictures of the adorable Eli and Lily with their favorite auntie having a fun day at the pumpkin patch!!

2007-09-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FALL!!

I have 3 student groups that I meet with on a weekly basis and something that I have not been very good at since starting in my current position is providing snacks for our meetings. It is common knowledge in the education field that if you want students to come to an event you need to provide food! Well, I think the same is true for having them stay invested in meetings :) Many of the current students I work with are strict vegetarians and many are also vegan so I was glad when I found the following vegan recipe for a perfect fall cookie...keeping my fingers crossed that they like them!

Vegan Maple Syrup Cookies

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp applesauce
1/2 cup maple sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
2 cups flour

Mix together and bake at 350 for 8-10 min

Drizzle with 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1/2-1 tbsp soy milk, 1 tsp vanilla

*last week was a zucchini recipe, this week maple, so that only means that pumpkin should be in order next week for my last fall baking project for students!

Fall Into Reading Challenge

2007-09-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

I have a pile of books sitting on a bench in my apartment that I have been wanting to read ALL SUMMER! Well, summer is over so I better open the books and finally get to the reading! Today I saw that there is a Fall Into Reading Challenge popping up in the blogworld so I thought I would join! Maybe it will be encouragement for me to turn the tv off (except for Thursday night when Grey's Anatomy and The Office finally returns!!!) and dive into a world beyond my own outlined on the pages of these chosen books:

*The Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer
*Suite Francaise by Viene Nemirovsky
*Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott
Night by Elie Wiesel
The Last Days Of Dogtown by Anita Diamant
The Audicity Of Hope by Barack Obama
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

*Books I'm in the middle of reading. I'm one of those who read multiple books at one time!

Straight From The Farmers Market

2007-09-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

I love going to Farmers Markets and when I thought about how today is one of my first free Saturday's in a long time I thought it was perfect timing for checking out the Beaverton Farmers Market that I have never been to. I loved seeing all the rich fall colors in the produce and flowers growing this time of the season!
After picking up some flowers, apples, and pears, I stopped by the last stand to get some veggies and items for Salsa. The produce was being sold by a very nice Hispanic couple and when I asked the man how much for my items he said $2...what, that is not nearly enough! I asked if he was sure and he said "yes, only $2 for you and your bonita ojos"...awww, I think I might have to go back to them next week as compliments like that will make any girl happy!

It's really easy to make Salsa on your own, you just mix a few ingredients to together!

Here's what I mixed, try it and feel free to adapt to your liking! 5 Roma Tomatoes, 1/2 Onion, 4 Garlic Cloves, 1 Jalapeno Pepper (with no seeds), Cilantro Lime Juice, and Salt. Chop items and mix together...Enjoy!!

Ending The Week On The Right Foot!

2007-09-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a LONG week this has been! When my alarm went off this morning I immediately turned it off and got mad at myself for setting it for the weekend...then reality hit, it is only Friday...grrr, so up I got and off to work I went :( But, as my title mentions, the week ended "on the right foot!" I finally went and purchased the last pair of Dasko Mary Jane's I have been dying to get! One year ago I bought my first pair and now I am the proud owner of four...yipee! Two have been presents (thanks mom and sissy!), one I found brand new at a consignment store, and this last pair was a purchase totally justified in my mind as a reward for all my extra hours at work lately! Aren't they adorable!!!And the other exciting thing that happened to end the week on the "right foot" was that I got my Sisters Swap Package from Jane in Australia! It has been great getting to know Jane via emails/blogs this past month and let me tell you, this gal hit her package out of the ballpark! Just look at all the goodness she sent my way...
I love the Japanese dragonfly bag she made that holds everything! Jane, I LOVE bags so thank you, thank you, thank you! Inside was some yummy Australian choc/caramel candy (my favorite combo!), a cool picture of Puffing Billy (a famous train/destination in their part of Australia), cute sticky notes from a local charity of hers, a cool card for me as well as my friend Carrie and her sister Monica who hosted the swap, and an AWESOME CD by an Australian artist named Missy Higgens...wow, what did I do to deserve all of this?

Portland Swifts

2007-09-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

Every fall, about 4 blocks from where I work, a natural phenom happens and tonight I went to witness it for the first time this season. For about 3 weeks in September, anywhere from 20,000-40,000 swifts nest in a chimney of an elementary school as they migrate south for the winter. What makes the nesting pretty spectacular is that at sunset the birds literally begin swarming in from all directions and start circling the chimney. They circle in one direction, all dive and start circling another direction, do more massive dives and fly-by's over the hundreds of spectators, then start circling the chimney again. Then just as the sun disappears they form a vortex and quickly the thousands and thousands of swifts head down into the chimney feet first where they latch onto the insides of the chimney and find rest for the night. This vortex of thousands of birds looks like a spinning tornado and the whole crowd cheers them on until the last swift is safely inside...pretty amazing!

I forgot my camera tonight so here are some pictures I found on flickr...enjoy!

Zucchini! Zucchini! Zucchini!

2007-09-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my mom gave me some zucchini from her garden...thanks mom! I heard that you can grate zucchini and keep it in the freezer for future baking so I gave it a try. Well, here I am on a cool and somewhat rainy night and nothing sounds better than a little baking for a meeting I have tomorrow :)

Zucchini Brownies
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 pinch of baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa
6 oz plain yogurt
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cups chopped nuts (optional!)

Stir dry ingredients together and set aside. Combine wet ingredients and zucchini. Stir wet and dry ingredients together. Pour into 9x13 greased pan and bake at 350 for 35 minutes...enjoy :)

Here is the large bunch of zucchini and yellow squash my mom gave me...
I think I had zucchini at every meal for a week but I didn't mind as Zucchini Basil Lasagna and Zucchini Coins are two of my favorite late summer meals!

Hiking With Eli

2007-09-16T17:01:00.001-07:00

My birthday was on Saturday and I could not have asked for a better way to spend it than with Eli, my favorite little boy in the whole wide world! My mom and I took Eli on a hike and he did a GREAT job walking the 3 miles all by himself! I think getting bribed with skittles from Auntie Lisa helped his little legs keep going :) He also has recently learned the story of Hansel and Gretel and was very concerned the whole day with dropping enough pine cones and sticks on the trail so they could find their way out...what a good little boy wanting to make sure his fairytale friends get out of the woods safely :)

We hiked to Bagby Hot Springs which is an amazing area in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The trail was absolutely beautiful and I loved being surrounded by so many trees!! I truly live in a beautiful part of our country and I was so glad to spend my birthday enjoying the sights and smells of the forest, as well as being responsible for saving Hansel and Gretel, with two people I love!!

Here is a true Oregonian if I've ever seen one!

I thought it was great that they left fallen trees down (perfect for little boys to play on!) and simply cut parts away so people can continue safely on the trail :)

One of the beautiful bridges we had to cross

Eli inside a HUGE tree stump!

Look at the size of this tree...AMAZING!
Loved seeing all the many shades of green!

Reward for the day was playing in the hot springs!! Way to go Eli!!

Joyeux Anniversaire

2007-09-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Wendy, my nature loving, amazing pastry chef, days away from moving to France friend! It was a beautiful day and as I was taking a walk around NW Portland I decided to celebrate your day at St. Honore, the best French Bakery in town! Hope you had as sweet of day as my Canalet was!

Craft Time

2007-09-12T09:12:00.001-07:00

I just found my new craft project to try...

Thanks Danny Seo!!

I love the idea of using a recycled book that fits the theme for a specific room...
now I just have to decide which room I am making my clock for and hit the
thrift store (or my favorite used bookstore in Salem!!)
for the perfect book just waiting to be used for this project :)

Finally Ready For Fall

2007-09-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, it's hot here! These poor sunflowers just don't know what to do with this late summer heat...poor things!
I'm ready for Fall! I'm ready to put the flip-flops away, pull out my favorite sweaters, enjoy my scarfs, and watch the leaves turn!! I'm ready for some of my favorite fall activities like visiting the local pumpkin farm, making apple cider with family, baking pumpkin muffins, and parking my car a few blocks away from work so I can enjoy a crisp morning walking through the leaf lined streets of NW Portland...hurry up Fall, we are all ready for you!

Lessons From Photo-A-Day

2007-09-06T09:21:00.001-07:00

One of the most rewarding challenges I have ever given myself was to join some friends in a project called "Photo-A-Day". For 365 days straight we were to take a picture that represents some part of our day and post on our individual Flickr pages. This project created a wonderful community of people near and far and many of these friends are still doing the project into their second or third years...what dedication! I really enjoyed this challenge because of the community it built but also because it was a fun way to share my life with friends and family who are not living near me to share in all the day-to-day fun!

Now, each day does not always have a great photo documenting things like a fun outing with friends, the beauty I saw in travels, or something totally adorable my nephew did. Some of my daily photos where just documenting the day to day blah things of life. Like September 6, 2006...my commute. And it is funny that this is what I posted exactly one year ago because just this morning, September 6, 2007 I was dreading this tunnel as much as I dread needles or a dentist appointment because sitting at my desk is the last place I want to be today...the beach just sounds so much more enticing!!!
Looking through my Photo-A-Day Project today was a good reminder that sometimes you have to keep your head high and eyes on the lookout for the spectacular of the blah days (like today) to appreciate the moments that create some pretty amazing memories and treasure nuggets of life that can and should be found at every flip of the calendar page!

BYOBag

2007-09-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

I love my new Envirosax reusable shopping bag...
hasta la vista to those thousands of plastic bags
the stores just love giving away!

This is a great company to support if
you are looking for ways to help reduce
unnecessary waste in the environment :)

Three Day's of Fun

2007-09-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

Labor Day Weekend could not have come any quicker!! As much as I thought I wanted to be a hermit for 3 days I ended up doing some fun things with friends and family :)

The weekend started out with my friend Julie and I meeting at our favorite Chinese Restaurant before seeing a movie at the Laurelhurst Theater, the best little retro theater in Portland. We saw the movie Waitress (really cute!) where they get you with all the beautiful shots of pie...I swear you can almost smell them! So of course we couldn't end the night without getting some dessert and the Pied Cow and their homemade Marionberry Pie did not disappoint! Saturday was spent with family as we celebrated my brother-in-law's birthday. The best part of the night was when Eli prayed for our dinner and he thanked God for his toys and marshmallows...what a cute cute cute little boy! Eli and I also made plans for taking him and Lily to the Roloff Pumpkin Farm later this month where he is extremely excited to see the tractors. I might just have to call TLC to make sure tractors will be there :)Saturday my mom and her friend Leslie came into town and we enjoyed the amazing sunny weather strolling along NW 23rd and enjoying the forest up at the Pittock Mansion. The night ended at the Billy Bob Thorton concert that was simply ridiculous...what a joke! We thought it would be laid back as he does bluegrass type of music but it was hardcore wanna-be rock concert! And the man is just yucky, chain smoking on stage and just being all around slimy...ick!
And Monday, glorious Monday, was spent not doing anything! Finally got my hermit time in and feel ready for a new week! I wonder who I need to talk to about making every weekend a 3 day weekend? Here's to hoping...

Designer Alley

2007-08-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

How fun is this...a few weeks ago I went to a "cottage" sale with my sister and I adored these old clock faces I found. They were a DEAL at only a dollar each so I couldn't pass them up even though I was perplexed as what to do with them. I decided on creating a display on my mantel and ended up liking the way they look...THEN, just tonight I was looking through the recent Better Homes & Garden magazine and look what they had a full page post of...old clock faces!! Even though my design is slightly different it looks like it is right up the alley for new cottage designs :)

Today Is A Day When I Love My Job...

2007-08-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

Today, even with all its insanity, was a great reminder of why I love my job! Myself, a wonderful colleague, and an amazing student all hosted our 2nd Annual Family Day! Last year we created this event so our students who have children could bring the kiddos to campus to see where mom or dad is spending so much time...it's a really fun day complete with crafts, science experiments, food, and piñatas! So much fun!!!

One of the reasons why I love my job is because I get to work with some absolutely phenomenal students! Today could not have been a success without students stepping up and volunteering to help...they give so much of their time and for that I can never say enough thank you’s :) Because of their help, our new academic year is off to a great start and I'm totally jived for what is ahead!

MUCH Needed Day Of Rest

2007-08-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

Working in education, this is a very very BUSY time of year! I love everything about this season of the academic year but Sunday, my only day with no work for a few weeks, could not have come any quicker!! I decided to spend my entire day at home and take Murphy's cue for catnaps...Isn't she a cute and cuddly kitty :)

I also found a new recipe that goes perfect for summer berries...enjoy!

Banana Waffles
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 ripe bananas, mashed

Mix together and make waffles as usual :)

Ending The Week On The White Salmon

2007-08-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

I ended one of my busiest weeks of the year by taking some students white water rafting on the White Salmon River. This is my second year of taking this trip and as last year, the river did not disappoint us! This is by far some of the best white water rafting I have ever done and the river has one of the only class 5 waterfalls in the nation that outfitters can take people over...it's pretty amazing!!

Ready or not...it's waterfall time!!

"Riding The Bull"

Please Don't Tell Me Summer Is Over...

2007-08-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

How can it be August 20th and be so wet and dreary? I feel like I should be inside cuddled up on the couch and drinking something warm.
But for a positive to this drearyness...I have my new white raincoat to brighten my day!
Some women have a problem with purses, I have a problem with coats. I love coats. I have black coats, blue coats, red coats, and many more coats. I'm not a fan of winter coats, I think from the fear of when I had to buy a 'proper' winter coat to keep me alive when I moved from sunny California to the frozen tundra of the Midwest...ick! Those kind of coats are a little too much for me. But for the classic raincoat, there couldn't be much better! Well, maybe except for scarves or red shoes...but those are posts for another day!

A Little Work And A Lot Of Play...

2007-08-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

Today I had a work retreat at Edgefield, the flagship of the NW's beloved McMenamins! After the retreat I joined my mom and her friend who stopped by after hiking in the area for an afternoon of wine tasting, exploring the beautiful gardens, and dinner out on the patio. It was a perfect blend of work and play for one of the last Friday's of the summer :) Here are pictures of some simple things that help make Edgefield as beautiful as it is!Almost ready for vino harvest!!!

Recycle and Reuse, Garden Style!!

Summer Reading

2007-08-15T20:31:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading Forever Lily which is the story of an unexpected Mother's journey to adopting a daughter from China. I rarely buy books brand new (I usually have really good luck finding them at my favorite used book store in Salem) but when I picked up this book at Borders and read the caption I was hooked and knew I had to get it that very day..."When Beth travels to China to help her friend Alex adopt a baby girl from an orphanage, she thinks it will be an adventure, a chance to see the world. But her friend, who had prepared for the adoption for many months, panics soon after being presented with the frail baby, and the situation develops into one of the greatest challenges of Beth's life."

I have always felt connected to international adoptions and am drawn to stories such as this. The part of the book that got to my heart the most is when they went to visit the actual orphanage where Beth's daughter is from and the descriptions of all the babies being untouched and unloved in the metal cribs brought back many memories of the baby orphanage I spent time at in Romania. She describes how hard it is to walk away from them and how the world just doesn't make sense when you see children in this state and that is exactly how I remember feeling. How is the world a just world when things like this happen to the innocent. Makes no sense.

Another reason I enjoyed reading this book is because a good friend of mine (Hi Katie!) and her husband just recently adopted a daughter from China and I have really enjoyed reading their family's journey on their blog that dates back to when they started the adoption process a few years ago. The author of Forever Lily shares the day-to-day adoption experience in China and I was able to compare it to how Katie and her husband wrote about it on their blog. Get your China photo's ready Katie, when I come over in a few weeks I want to see them all :)

Here are the rest of the books on my summer reading shelf...are there any books that you've recently read that should be added to my pile??

Bounty from the balcony...

2007-08-14T19:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some balcony goodies that were waiting for me when I got back from vacation. Sadly my cucumbers (my favorite veggie) dried up but luckily I was able to taste a couple of them before the trip and they were yummy! Can't wait for the last of my strawberries to ripen and for my pepper to turn the bright red color it should be!

And now for my basil...I'm thinking it will turn into this yummy pesto tomorrow night :)

Basic Pesto Recipe

2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tbsp pine nuts
3 garlic cloves, finely minced

Place basil leaves in small batches in food processor (I use a small electric chopper) and blend until well chopped. Add garlic and blend again. Add pine nuts and parmesan cheese. Blend while slowly adding olive oil, stopping to scrape down side of the container. Process until it forms a thick paste and then enjoy!!

You can serve it fresh over pasta, chicken, what-not. I like to freeze pesto in an ice-cube tray, and once frozen slip all the pieces into a zip-lock bag to be used or shared whenever is convenient!

It could only happen to me...

2007-08-12T20:38:00.000-07:00

I posted some pics from Palm Springs on my flickr page...take a look if you have time :)

THANK YOU to my Mom and Aunt Cathy for letting me join them for a few days on their annual Fun In The Sun trip to Palm Springs...It was another trip full of adventures and crazy memories made around the pool :) Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

And now to a funny story of my mom and I's adventure at Indian Canyon!

We decided to beat the heat and take a morning hike in the canyons to see all the beautiful Palm Trees. On our hike out of the first canyon we stopped to take some pictures on this cool rock slab that overhangs the stream. Pictures are taken but then somehow my sunglasses and a piece of my camera lens fall out of my hands and in slow motion make their way down the rock and into the water. I set my camera down but gravity takes a hold and I too go down the rock and into the water, all the non-too-graceful I might add! Well, my mom starts laughing and she then slips and slides down the rock too! At the edge of the rock she is holding on for dear life (while laughing of course!) and I am holding her from below but realize that there is no way she can get up the rock without first getting in the water...so down she goes! We were laughing soooooo hard and luckily with getting just a little bit more wet I was able to grab my items out of the water. Here we are after the event, still laughing of course!
Seriously, it was a good thing nobody saw this event because if they had, I think they might have turned us in here...

What Are The Chances?

2007-08-12T20:26:00.001-07:00

On Friday night we went and saw the pretty flamingos at a swanky resort in Palm Springs. They are fun to watch and when we got back to the hotel and started looking through my pictures I couldn't believe what I captured...a flamingo going to the bathroom! How crazy (and gross!) is that!

2007-08-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

On my way home from 4 great days in Palm Springs!

Ready or not it's back to work tomorrow, I don't know how I will handle it after nearly two weeks of too much fun! Sigh...

Mom's Berry Dumplings

2007-08-07T18:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a delicious recipe straight from childhood kitchen memories with my mom and sister...enjoy!

Berry Dumplings

4 Cups Berries
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
2 1/2 Tbs Cornstarch

1 1/2 Cup Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
3/4 Tsp Salt
3 Tbs Sugar
3 Tbs Shortening
3/4 Cup Milk

Mix 1st 4 ingredients in sauce pan and heat until mixture bubbles. In separate bowl, cut shortening into flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Stir in milk and drop mixture by tablespoon into bubbling berry mixture. Cover with lid and let simmer for 12-15 minutes. Serve with yummy vanilla icecream!

*you can use frozen berries and enjoy this dessert all year long!!

My Side Hurts...

2007-08-07T17:23:00.000-07:00

I don't remember when I had a week filled with so much laughter! I feel so blessed that a good friend came out for a week of West Coast Adventure and I know that the laughter we shared and the memories we created will leave a lasting mark on my pathway of life.

Here are some quotes I found that capture a perfect ending to the week...I hope they bring reminders of shared smiles and laughter with those of importance in your life! Embrace all that comes your way!

"at the height of laughter the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities...jean houston"

"laughter is an instant vacation...milton berle"

"laughter gives us distance. it allows us to step back form an event, deal with it then move on...bob newhart"

"laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face...victor hugo"

"laughter is the shortest distance between two people...victor borge"

hurry back rodney! pumpkin season is right around the corner!

Multnomah Falls

2007-08-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

About 30 miles outside of Oregon is the AMAZING Multnomah Falls! We drove up for the afternoon and really enjoyed taking the Historic Columbia River Hwy, following the beautiful tree-lined road to numerous waterfalls! It truly was a perfect afternoon in the Columbia George!

Multnomah Falls...isn't it beautiful!

We took the path up to the bridge and here is the view looking down...yes, I had a deathgrip on my camera as I leaned over for this picture :)

Flying High Over Saint Helens

2007-08-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Our original plan was to go to Victoria BC today but we switched it up and spent the day at Mount Saint Helens. Once Rodney saw the helicopter rides he was sold on going so there was no turning back :) I was a little skeptical as I had never been in a helicopter (and it seemed quite cloudy and windy...don't worry mom, my life insurance policy is up to date!) but it turned out awesome...I loved it! We were up on the mountain for about 30 minutes and it was pretty amazing to have a birds-eye view of the beautiful regrowth of nature but still see so much destruction that will forever leave it's lasting mark. Just like our lives, we should always be regrowing and making our life more beautiful despite the hardness that scars us and reshapes us. Enjoy the pictures...Ready or not, here we go!

Now here is a happy Rodney!

Flying towards the crater, the mounds you see here are clumps of the mountain from 27 years ago! Pretty amazing how nature is reclaiming her with new trees!

Getting closer...there are too many chemical deposits still in the ground for much to survive here.

The crater! We are looking into where the mountain blew. Too bad there were clouds covering the rim as this does not do justice to how big the crater is!

Flying down the mountain. This sediment goes on forever and is still 80-100 feet deep (if not more in some places) and will probably be here for many more lifetimes!

Seattle Fun

2007-08-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

Rodney and I hit the road early for a great day in Seattle. We had an amazing time there with the first stop being Kerry Park for the breathtaking view of the city. Then it was down to Pikes Place Market where you won't believe what I was able to do...go behind the counter of the fish mongers and CATCH A FISH!!! I was sooooo nervous as there was a huge crowd of tourists and many many cameras facing me. But, with a little coaching I was able to catch the bad boy that was thrown my way! Thank God it was not a baby shark, I would have screamed if I saw that flying towards me! In all my years of visiting the market I had never seen them allow people to do this, totally one of my favorite Seattle memories ever! And the guys that work there are amazing! They all took time out of work to sign the book that Rodney bought and to talk to us and get some pics...pretty amazing!

After spending the afternoon downtown we joined the masses at Safeco Field for Game 1 of Seattle Mariners and the Red Sox! Safeco is such a fun ballpark and we had a great time even with our seats being 3rd row from the top! Mariners won so I allowed Rodney to cry in his beer for a few minutes :) Sorry buddy! But, Red Sox went on the win the rest of the weekend so I probably shouldn't tease him too much :)

Anyway, here are some pics for you to enjoy! And thanks to Joey for letting us crash at her place on a busy weekend for her...you are such a great friend!!

View from Kerry Park

Pikes Place Market

I love all the flowers down at the market!

Fish Catching!!!
One of my all time favorite places to visit!!
Packed house at Safeco Field

Go Ichiro!!

2007-08-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

Today we decided to stay close to home for the day and started the morning out at Dain (a college friend of ours) and Sarah's house. What a beautiful farm they have and one of the coolest things on it is this swing...look at Dain go!

Soon their farm will be host to outdoor weddings, concerts, and more...pretty amazing vision they have of using the space to serve others!

APU'ers!!

Then this evening we met my good friend Julie downtown for a movie and were lucky enough to see opening night of Red Bull's Illume Photo Exhibit where we were able to vote for our favorite photo...all of the photo's were vibrant against the twilight sky which made for a pretty spectacular downtown event!

This photo had my vote! I can only imagine what is going through these kayaker's mind...I would type what I think they are saying but I want to keep this a family friendly blog :)

Perfect Day At The Beach

2007-08-02T22:51:00.000-07:00

We spent a PERFECT day at the beach!!
Too bad we cannot see the view from Cape Meares Lighthouse. The fog literally looked like it was dancing at the cape, I have never seen it come in off the ocean and put on such a show as it did today!

Wildflowers at Cape Meares

Oceanside Oregon, my favorite beach community!!

My Red Crocs love the sand!!

Hidden beach through a rock tunnel at Oceanside, isn't it gorgeous!

Aww, I just love the Oregon Coast!

Driving along Pacific Coast Hwy...does life get better than this??

Rodney and I at Haystack Rock, also known as The Goonies Rock! I'm totally in the mood to watch the movie again :)

Yep, staying for the sunset was totally worth it!!

Watch out Portland, Rodney is in town!

2007-08-02T14:36:00.000-07:00

So what does one do when a friend's flight time is changed...why head to IKEA of course! IKEA has been open for less than a week and this already has been my second trip. Please don't hate me for being an IKEA-aholic :)

Rodney and I had a few hours to kill before meeting some APU friends for Happy Hour and strolled along NW23rd. Vespa, anyone? Yes please, I'll take one in Red!

Passing time until Happy Hour, the best hour of the day!

Gorgeous Hydrangea's, my absolute favorite flower, lining the path leading to Meriwethers Restaurant in NW Portland.

I remember when I was leaving for college my dad told me that I should be excited to leave home because the friends I would make in college would be friends for life...tonight that pearl of wisdom rang oh so true! What a fun time we had reconnecting with college friends over a great Happy Hour...the only flaw in the night was that we forgot to take a picture, grrr!!!

Join The Fun!!

2007-07-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

My friend Carrie and her sister Monica are hosting a Sisters Shoebox Swap! See either of their websites for details and email them at sisterswaps@hotmail.com if you want to join the fun! Seriously, these two are quite a crafty pair and I am so glad they are hosting this fun endeavor...spread the word!

Vacation Time!!!

2007-07-30T09:30:00.001-07:00

7 more hours until vacation time...yippee!!! I love vacation days, especially when they are taken during the summer when I can enjoy the great weather here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest! I have an east coast friend coming out for a week so we are going to grab our cameras and hop in my car to explore amazing places throughout Oregon, Washington, and Victoria BC...Yay!

If you have never been to the NW, stay tuned as I will post our adventures so you can see the lovely sights with us and get a feel for how truly amazing this corner of the world is!

And after the great NW adventures, it is off to Palm Springs for me where I will join my crazy and fun loving mom and aunt under the palm trees on their annual pilgrimage to the pool! It will be divine!!

My Loves...

2007-07-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

This auntie cannot start a blog and not brag about her niece and nephew...they are simply amazing and bring so much joy to my life! Love you Eli and Lily-bug!!

Lily - Sweet baby girl who likes to cuddle...ah, my heart melts...

Eli - 3 years old and all boy...totally makes my day when it is spent with him!!!

"Once" in awhile your heart and soul is moved...

2007-07-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

Do you ever see a movie that just stirs you to the core? I saw Once a few weeks ago and my mind is still returning to it and the message it speaks. It is a beautiful representation to connecting with someone on a level that is so true to who you both are and together moving the other forward...amazing! There are so many other messages of the movie as well so I hope you get a chance to see what it speaks to you! The music is simply beautiful, you just won't want any of it to end!!

"Plant the thought, and let it grow. Wind it up and let it go..."

Method Madness

2007-07-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

I am trying to be the best friend possible to our environment and want to switch over to all Method cleaning supplies here in the Berry Bungalow. I just tried the multi-purpose surface cleaner and LOVE IT! The smell is amazing and it is a great feeling knowing that it is made from all natural products and completely absent of all abrasive materials that make you feel like your hands could melt off after cleaning!

Go Method...keep the products coming!

Strawberry Goodness

2007-07-29T21:48:00.001-07:00

Earlier this summer I organized a Strawberry Picking Party for friends at Kruegers Farm and together we picked about 50 pounds of strawberries! We divided up our berry stash and most went into freezers for making jam but of course some had to be used right away for Strawberry Shortcake and other yummies that make summer the sweetest time of the year.

I made Strawberry Coconut Scones and here is the recipe...enjoy!!!

2 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Tbs Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
8 Tbs Butter
1/4 Cup Sugar
2/3 Cup Milk
Strawberries (washed and cut) and Coconut to your taste
*I think I threw in about 1 cup of strawberries and about 1/2 cup of coconut

Mix dry ingredients together, cut in butter and mix with pastry mixer or hands.
Add milk and mix until blended.
Divide into two balls and flatten. Add berries and coconut and gently knead to mix (over mixing will break down the berries and turn your dough pink).
Cut into 8 pieces and bake for 10-12 minutes at 425 degrees.

Let me know what some of your favorite recipes are for Fresh Strawberries!

Hello Blog World!

2007-07-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I spend way too much time looking at people’s blogs but I just love all the inspiration I get from your ideas, recipes, craft projects, photos, and so much more! I’m hoping my blog will be full of as much inspiration as I have received and a place to build community out in the blog world :) Get ready for some good times from the Berry Bungalow!!!