Bound

These are the things one notices on quiet, cold mornings after a drop-off at the airport, another at Goodwill, an hour-long sit in Starbucks where you bump into an old friend and a slew of police officers enjoying hot cuppas, and a trip to the grocery store to stock up on treats, all before 8am.

My sweet man is bound for Lisbon, where he will meet his crew and stay for a while. Their ship is dry docked for some repair work and there are currently active protests on the docks (unrelated to his work). January in Lisbon should be stimulating.

I am bound for a three-day weekend of crafting and food with friends. On the horizon there is a snow forecast and the prospect of our move into a larger apartment as we prepare for the baby. I am looking forward to the quiet weeks ahead to purge and organize and scheme over our new place.

I am also counting the days until he is home again.

Life is...full.

Baby pants & sunflowers

This is my Saturday...

Big but baby pants, front

...and back

Sunflowers from my boss

Making my weekend just right

Attending an Architectural Foundation of Oregon's Dinner with an Architect event hosted by Anderson Krygier. Good drinks, good snacks, great views, and grand air-time with a near & dear pal.

Brunch at our friends' food cart Pepper Box. If you know me well, you know half the reason I love this place is because of its name. The other half (the greater half?) is because of its awesome food and the wonderful people behind the whole thing.

Dinner at Mee Sen, followed by good times at The Alibi. Classic Portland night on Mississippi Avenue.

And finally, this clever and well-executed video. Because its gettin' real in the Whole Foods Parking Lot.

Weekending

Weekend highlights

:: Cleaned the ol' abode from top to bottom

:: Had a date night with the Mister involving happy hour at Swift Lounge and a viewing of the new Arthur movie, which I enjoyed immensely (btw, we also watched The Fighter recently, which I LOVED and highly recommend, this coming from a girl who has little tolerance for fighting...)

:: Attended a Presbyterian service with our friend Adam, something I've wanted to do for a long time now. It was a morning well spent and I'm glad I went.

Now I am packing for another week in Yosemite. Ryan has made me the equivalent of a mix CD with his very own compositions to take with me. And I am nursing a monster cold sore (TMI?) and placing all my eggs in the Abreva basket.

You, have a great week!

Weekending

I made this sign with my own two hands and a decent level of inspiration;
Kelly, my sister-in-law, is the artist behind the painting

Me whipping up some kitchen magic in the form of cake batter pancakes

Misha noticing the snow this week

It's been an epic two days off, involving:
- Ryan officially submitting his thesis, thus wrapping up the masters degree
- Celebratory breakfast with cake batter pancakes, sprinkles and chocolate sauce
- Marathon viewing session of Downton Abby
- Karaoke basement birthday party, where I preformed an unforgettable rendition of Dolly Parton's Jolene and Ryan covered Simon & Garfunk's Cecilia and The Beatles Back in the USRR. He's the type of karaoke singer that engages the audience and receives high fives and pats on the back after each song.

Now I'm nursing a cold. Ryan is relishing his freedom. On the menu for dinner tonight: chicken wings. I may also be prompted to bake some cookies as inspired by my friend Kat who is making gingersnaps today. Because its frigid out and very windy and grey (In February. I know. Shocker.). Yes, I think cookies are in order.

More from last weekend

And by last weekend I mean the weekend before last. Because it was so awesome.

Ryan presenting at his thesis defense

Giants clobbering the Seahawks

Dinner with Caelum (Ryan's old roommate in Boston, my old school pal at architecture school, the one who introduced Ryan and me eleven long years ago) at Delancey

Grand & glorious Rockaway

:: farmers market berry pie served along side full-production breakfasts :: fog clearing late morning, sun shining bright :: walks on the beach :: trips to town for more ice cream! & window browsing in antique shops :: elaborate mid-afternoon lunch involving homemade tortillas and copious quantities of fresh guacamole :: nap on the lawn in the sun, book forgotten, friendly round of bocce ball in the background :: dessert smorgasbord for dinner :: late night fire works & bonfires at beach :: late, late night card games in the kitchen with Lady & the Tramp playing in the background :: sleeping under the stars to the sounds and smells of the ocean ::

made new friends, celebrated the birthday of an old comrade. arrived home very well rested, relaxed, full, and smelling like smoke from the fire. face is a tad sunburned. sand is everywhere. i am content.








I look like an adolescent lobster here and Ryan looks like he's auditioning for a role as Mr. Honesty, but hey, we're happy.