Saying Farewell to the Crows

Dear Liza,

There have been 30 oversized, beautifully painted crows scattered all over Portland this summer! In the woods, in front of the Art Museum, at City Hall…

You’d almost run into them coming around the corner! Lots of people have enjoyed, photographed, and chatted about them.

But now it’s time to say good-bye. The crows will all be moved to a warehouse to get any nicks repaired, and then will be auctioned off at Lewis and Clark College’s Agnes Flanagan Chapel to raise money for OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

But first, they were all gathered at Darcelle XV Plaza on SW Washington, and everyone in town (it seems) went to see them last Sunday. We hopped on the #15 and smooshed in, happy to see the ones we’d not been able to visit in the “wild”.

I even got to meet one of the local artists and her creation! This is Olivia Mount and her crow Emergence. Aren’t they pretty?

After we’d seen and photographed as many as we could, we had a walk through downtown Portland. It’s already getting dressed up for Christmas!

The joys of living in a big City, taken in moderation, are delightful!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Death at Dusk 2026

Dear Liza,

Last night was Halloween, and Auntie Bridgett and I spent it in one of our favorite places, the Lone Fir Cemetery. This year’s tour was called Death at Dusk, and ran from 2 PM until sunset at 6. Having the tour in daylight is less spooooky, to be sure, but allows us to NOT set up hundreds of lights, which saves a ton of work.

This year, Bridgett was helping Margaret and Perry sell all the wonderful “Friends of Lone Fir” tee shirts, hoodies, tote bags and maps . The sales generate income for the group to help maintain the cemetery. Bridgett had lots of fun chatting with folks and sold a bunch of things!

I was doing Tour Support, which is basically a backup for the Tour Guides. I walked along with the tour groups, trying to keep guests together and adding bits of trivia as we went. Having immersed myself in Lone Fir history for a few years, I know quite a few dead folks.

My Tour Guide was Anne, giving her first-ever tours. She was understandably nervous, but got through and was able to answer many of the questions folks had. On our second tour, later in the afternoon, Anne was more comfortable and able to include more details in her stories.

Besides meeting and talking to folks who love cemeteries, my favorite part of any tour is seeing Lone Fir at sunset. The setting sun backlights the leaves and makes them glow. The shadows get long and give the whole place a welcoming, comfortable feel.

I hope to be a Tour Guide next year, learning all the stories by heart and sharing them with folks. Maybe by then, you can come visit!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Meeting the New ‘Puppy‘

Dear Liza,

Cousin Kestrel has a new pet! His name is Ganache, he is a ball python, and he is adorable.

Since he is going to grow to be five feet long or so, Auntie Katie has rigged up a fine big terrarium for him. He eats a little frozen mouse about every ten days and is very cuddly and curious.

Ganache is still learning to be social, and everyone is patient and gentle with him, speaking softly and moving slowly.

I love how this little guy is so good at scooting around… wrapping around arms, just exploring the world….

And not too shy about personal space, either!

Love,

Grandma Judy

The Next Map Quilt

Dear Liza,

Years ago, I made you a map of our neighborhood in Salinas. Every house on every street between the park, your house, the school, and my house, all done in fabric, felt and embroidery. It took a long time and I really liked it!

When your family moved to Denmark, I held on to the quilt, and returned it to you this past summer. Your Mom suggested a new quilt of your new neighborhood in Horsens. She may have been teasing, but the idea stuck, and…. Well, here we go again.

This will be a less exact depiction of your area, for a few reasons.

At a few miles long and a mile wide, your neighborhood has grown. Also, I want the quilt to highlight the parts of town that are important to you: Your schools, favorite café, hang-out spots, as well as your house and your dad’s boat.

But the design of the quilt isn’t the only thing that’s different.

Since you were just a baby when I made the first quilt, it was all my ideas. But now that you are 13, we are collaborating! Design, icons, color scheme… we are developing them together over hours of Zoom calls. It is such an adventure, seeing the changes as we go along.

I am really stretching myself with the techniques, as well. There will be piecing, appliqué, embroidery, and quilting to get all the images in.

I’ll soon be ready to go hunt for fabrics and other materials at the gigantic Mill End Store in the south part of Portland.

Wish me luck!

Love,

Grandma Judy

In Love with Dahlias

Dear Liza,

My Momma always loved dahlias, and when we lived in Southern California, the wonderful Descanso Gardens was only about an hour from our house. Every year about this time, she would see the other flowers in her garden fading, heave a big sigh, and say, “We should go visit Descanso Gardens.”

And we would.

Living in Portland, Descanso is a long way away. Fortunately, we have the Sunnyside Environmental School just a few blocks away, and they do dahlias very, very well.

In the late afternoon, with the sun slipping behind the trees and the soft shadows making everything glow, they all stood out, fairly begging to be photographed.

Momma would be so pleased.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Showing Support for Democracy

Dear Liza,

President Trump and his administration continue to work AGAINST our freedoms, and people all over the country are marching FOR our freedoms. This week, the marching was focused on how important it is to vote, and support others so that they can, too.

I am grateful we are still able to both march and vote.

This weekend here in Portland, there were neighborhood No Kings protests in the morning, with many of the folks converging downtown afterwards. I walked up to the Laurelhurst Theater at 28th and Burnside to wave at traffic and stand for our Democracy. Also, to take pictures of all these wonderful signs!

There were lots of people there, holding signs and waving, chatting, and listening to great music, like John Batiste’s “Freedom” and Woody Guthrie’s “All you Fascists Bound to Lose.” There were folks signing us up for quick response lists, in case a group of non-violent citizens is needed somewhere. We got lots of friendly honks and waves from the drivers heading by.

Once again, going out and supporting the things I believe in was reaffirming, frustrating, and exhausting. I didn’t go downtown because I was dead on my feet already and still had to walk home. But I had stood up while I could.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Anna Magruder’s Open Studio

Dear Liza,

Saturday was drizzly and cold, a proper Fall day in Portland. But Auntie Bridgett’s friend, artist Anna Magruder, was displaying her paintings in the garage of the SideStreet Gallery, so we put on jackets and headed up.

I love Anna’s paintings! She has a delightful, whimsical, surrealist style that keeps me looking, because I keep seeing something new.

Some of her big acrylic paintings seem to be proper portraits, and on closer inspection, show lizards, mushrooms, or other unexpected details. While we visited, Anna was working on a lady with Turkey Tail fungi as her hair.

But others have a dreamy look, like a thought that is not quite formed in your mind. I just love them.

Anna herself is a lot of fun, as well. We chatted and laughed for nearly two hours as she painted. Inside the Gallery, we found lots more to look at, including some Christmas presents for the Cousins and Auntie Katie.

All in all, a very satisfactory afternoon!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Community Changes at Laurelhurst

Dear Liza,

Our Laurelhurst Park has got news! The Laurelhurst Studio, the small building in the south part of the park, has opened as an Activity Center for kids and adults.

On a walk the other day, we saw the doors open, walked in, and found Cam, the fellow in charge. He let us wander about the fantastically renovated building as he explained all the new plans. First, he explained that although the activities are at Laurelhurst Park, they are run by an organization called Sellwood House… go figure.

The shiny floors and new paint, re-done changing area and new play equipment make for a useable, welcoming space.

According to posters by the door, there will be morning play groups, yoga classes, dance dates, and lots of other opportunities to come, have fun, and meet our neighbors. As you can see, there is a website and even QR codes to get more information and register for classes.

As we were chatting, a little girl came in with her Mom, and they started playing on the delightfully slide-y floor.

I think this would be a fine place for young parents and their kids to go on winter days when the house is just too small. Maybe I’ll even head over on Sunday mornings and learn some yoga!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Sunny Walks Before the Cold

Dear Liza,

Grandpa Nelson has spent quite a bit of time with doctors these past few weeks. Bone scans, thyroid imaging, and cataract surgeries have had him inside, over-measured and under-exercised.

So this afternoon we went for a stroll around the park. He’s still healing up from having an interocular lens installed, so we didn’t break any speed records. But the sunshine, the bright leaves, and the delightful humanity was healing in its own right.

This week is predicted to be our last blast of warm before cooler Fall settles in.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the cold and rain. If I didn’t, it would have been the height of foolishness to move to Portland! Still, being outside in a tee shirt and jeans is a limited time offer here, so I like to enjoy it.

So today I’m counting down the last six days of False Summer.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Learning Gratitude

Dear Liza,

I got sick in the summer of 2025, and it has been a very educational experience.

First, I have learned that recovering isn’t a one-shot deal. After coming down with a nasty case of “face shingles” in France, I was really sick for a month or so, rarely leaving my room and seeing almost no one. During that time, I was grateful for pain medication and sleep.

I was moderately impaired for another few months, when I learned to be grateful for slow walks around the block and art projects online with Ruthie Inman. I also learned that I was grateful for being able to cook dinner! After being such an invalid, being validated was a cause for gratitude.

And finally, I have been getting stronger for the last year. This has lasted the longest and has been, so far, the most challenging, gratitude-wise. Being well enough to WANT to do projects, hikes, and activities is very different from being ABLE to do them. I often start adventures and poop out half way through, or have an hour long ZOOM call with you and need to go lay down.

It is hard to feel grateful for feeling like a tired old lady.

But, as I now know, there are far worse options.

Love,

Grandma Judy