Author: Judy

Dear Liza,

I got new toys for my birthday! Grandpa Nelson and Auntie Bridgett know how much I love to bake, and we have all been enjoying the Great British Baking Show, so they got me Mary Berry’s Baking Bible, a bench scraper, and even a digital scale!

Yesterday, my baking joy continued as I found Lyle’s Golden Syrup (an essential ingredient in many British goodies) at the New Seasons Market by Auntie Katie’s house. So today, I tried something new.

Florentines.

These lovely, lacy cookies are beautiful, and one of my favorite bakery treats, and I have always been intimidated by them. But after watching Mary Berry create them in The Masterclass portion of the Great British Baking Show, I gave them a try and succeeded beyond my dreams.

Using my new scale carefully, following directions, and having all my ingredients and tools out and ready beforehand allowed me to make a half-recipe of these wonderful cookies. The ingredients are few and basic: Butter, Sugar, Golden Syrup, flour, and nuts. I painted melted chocolate on half of the small batch, and was able to make the traditional zigzig pattern. But I prefer them without the chocolate, which I think masks the delicate, nutty caramel flavor.

I will make a full batch later, for Auntie Bridgett’s Gallery potluck dinner.

Yum!
Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

Tuesday was our sunny day this week, so Grandpa Nelson and I drove south to this lovely garden. It is settled in a low spot between Reed College, which is up on a hill southeast of Portland, and Eastmoreland Golf Course, which is closer to the Willamette River.

The Rhododendron Garden is on property that is so close to Reed College that the students there used to perform Shakespeare plays by the creek that runs through it. They called it Shakespeare Island.

Mr. William S. Ladd (former mayor and land developer) was the original owner of the property in the 1800s calling it Crystal Springs Farm. In 1950, the city began to develop it as a rhododendron test garden. What is interesting is that even before that, “rhodies” were being planted there. The oldest one still living was planted in 1917!

Waterfalls, lakes and ponds were improved on, paths and facilities built, and over 2,500 rhododendron and azalea, and companion bushes were planted on the nine and a half acre Piece of land.

We enjoyed the sounds of small waterfalls and small children, overly- excited geese and ducks, and the peace that washed over us when everything was still, soft, and sunny.

As we sat in the sun with a long view across the pond, past pink trees to evergreens, Grandpa said, “This may be the prettiest place in Portland.” And, in a city as nice as this one, that’s saying something.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Last week while we were out walking, we saw a poster that memorialized Mulugeta Seraw, a man who came to Oregon from Ethiopia in the 1980s.

This is a sad post.

Mulugeta lived at the corner of Pine and 32nd, just a few blocks from our house, close to Laurelhurst Park. He and his room mates shared an apartment while they were studying at  the University here in Portland.

One evening in 1988, Mulugeta and his friends were walking from their car to their apartment when they were attacked by young men from the apartment building next door, for no reason other than they were black and the men who attacked them hated black people.

As a matter of fact, the three men who attacked them were members of the White Aryan Resistance and East Side White Pride, groups that exist to harass and attack black people.

Mulugeta was so badly beaten, he died. The attackers went to jail and were later sued, along with Tom Metzger, who is the head of the White Aryan Resistance, for the wrongful death and violation of civil rights of Mr. Seraw.

There was a great deal of press about the attack, because it was a wake up call to Portland that the city had not yet outgrown its racist origins, and needed to pay more attention to racist talk. From what I have seen, it is working…slowly, as all change does.

There are also new street signs in the neighborhood, reminding us of Mr. Seraw’s death. I am not sure why the year of his death is listed as 1981 on the sign, as it was 1988.

Here’s toward a more just world.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

Now that the weather is warming up, we are walking more. The other day, Grandpa Nelson and I had a nice walk with a goal. You pick a spot a mile or so away, walk there, have a snack and rest, and then walk back. You can walk further, because you get a rest before you need to head home.

On our way through the neighborhood, we saw our old friends the flamingos! They are all dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day and seemed to be having a fine party.

We saw signs of spring in bright baby green leaves and tiny daisies, as well as this cute but ominous St. Paddy’s decoration…a raven with shamrock.

At The Buckman School (built in 1926) there is a wonderful, child made mosaic on the retaining wall out front. It is goofy and cheerful.

We walked past this hysterical mural, which I like to call “Signs? What signs?” Heading toward a cafe called Zell’s. It looked good, but had closed fifteen minutes before we got there. Sigh.

Looking around, there was Revolutionary Hall, which used to be Washington High School and is now a cafe, rooftop bar, and music venues, as well as office space for different companies. We stepped in for some soda and coconut water and to rest up.

On the walls of the cafe, called Martha’s, are art pieces depicting different famous Marthas.

I recognized Martha Washington, Martha Mitchell (of Watergate infamy) and Martha, Paul McCartney’s dog, among others. I loved this poster for Martha Graham’s modern dance show in Israel, and was pleased to be able to translate some of it!

Walking back home and resting up, we three went to Circa 33 for drinks and a Houseiversary dinner. Baked Brie, soup, salad, and a nice Malbec. Bridgett had absinthe. Yummy!

Just another day here in Portland.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Family,

I am writing to you all because this is really about all of us. Yesterday I was privileged to be able to perform my last duty to my parents, Lowell and Billie Evans, along with my children, grandchildren and loved ones who worked hard to be with me.

My parents had decided to be cremated after their many road trips, and “seeing how much space the dead folks take up”. My dad passed in 1998 and
my mom in 2013, and both were cremated. With one thing and another, they had stayed in their urn and box, respectively, until now.

Divvying up the family into two vehicles, we drove out to the coast, stopping at the lumberjack themed Camp 18 for a delicious lunch. Dancing bears and lots of good food started the day right.

Near the wreck of the Peter Iredale, which went aground in 1906, we found a quiet chunk of beach and built a sandcastle. Kids hauled water and collected shells for decoration, parents dug moats and built a multi-tiered castle, and my parents were integrated into the nature they loved so much.

After a sandy, wet, happy day at the beach, we celebrated as my father would have, with ice cream (gelato, actually) , kids playing at a park and arcade, and the long drive home.

I kept waiting to cry, but I never did. Crying at this point would come from regret, and I have none. My parents lived honorable, happy lives, and died when it was their time. No one can ask for more.

I am everlastingly grateful for my family, past, present, and future.

Love, Grandma Judy

Dear Jasper and Kestrel,

The third day of Liza’s visit started with a walk to a famous Portland restaurant, The Screen Door. It is on Burnside and serves American southern cooking…. fried chicken and waffles, omelettes, biscuits and gravy, foods that my parents would have considered a fine, full breakfast. On the weekends, people will wait in the freezing cold for an hour or more to get in.

It was warm and sunny, and when I got there at 10:00, there were a few empty tables and no line, but I couldn’t get a table until the “rest of my party”, who were Uncle David, Auntie Olga and Liza, joined me at 10:30. By then, the place was packed and the foyer and sidewalk out front were full! But the nice hostess had put my name on the list and we got the best table, in a corner overlooking the restaurant.

I am sorry to say, the food was nothing to write home about (contrary to the fact that I am, indeed, doing just that). Too salty by far and just regular southern cooking. I don’t understand why this place draws standing room only crowds in a city where foodie specialties like vegan organic wheatgrass ice cream are a thing. Oh well, it was fun to see inside and be able to say I have done it.

Uncle David had work to do, so Auntie Olga, Grandpa Nelson and I took Liza to the zoo. We saw all our friends with four legs, and some with many more. Liza enjoys the Insect zoo as much as I do!

After everyone had a nap and rested from the zoo, the whole family collected at our place for a deli dinner…David and Olga and Liza and Katie and Jasper and Kestrel and Grandpa and Bridgett and me. Whew! I am out of breath just saying it.

There was lots of conversation, horsing around, and catching up on everyone’s projects. Auntie Katie’s new building snd hostessing shows for the Arts Council and Uncle David’s construction in Salinas, and all the stories from kids and such kept us all entertained.

Then at bedtime (the kids’) everyone evaporated and we tied up the loose ends and went to bed…to get ready for the next day! More about that tomorrow.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Jasper and Kestrel,

The second day of Cousin Liza’s visit was very fun, full, and exhausting. First, Grandpa Nelson drove me up to the hotel Liza and her family are staying at, and we took her to breakfast while her folks slept in. We went to Grandpa Nelson’s favorite bakery, Helen Bernhard, up on Broadway. We bought doughnuts for now and cookies for later, which worked out well.

We headed home and Auntie Bridgett had some Art time. Liza, who is almost 6, loves to draw and paint, so they had fun together.

Then Grandpa and I took Liza back to Laurelhurst Park, where she found dogs to pet and kids to play with. We met Heather, who runs Oblique Coffee, with her two girls, and had a nice visit. They had brought Biscuit, their dog, and Liza took him for a walk.

Down by the lake we tossed pebbles and sticks to see them float and sink, and talked with the ducks, who quacked back at us. I showed Liza the Wallasaurus and she climbed to the top!

Uncle David and Auntie Olga let us know they were heading over, and we all went to Straight From New York Pizza, on Belmont. Very tasty, and I had a beer with the unlikely named of “Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout”. Which lived up to all the parts of its name. Except for the beaver part.

When we were fed and refreshed, Uncle David piled us all into his rented car, a Tesla station wagon with gull wing doors! Really, when they are opening, it looks like the car is about to fly away. It also drives silently, because it is electric, and parks itself. Uncle David loved it!

We drove to the Tilikum Crossing Bridge, which is only for bikes, people, trains and busses…no cars. So we parked and walked across it, enjoying the views of the sunshine on the river. Even Mt. Hood, more than a hundred miles away, was shining white in the sun. Amazing.

Feeling the need for a snack, we stopped by Ebb and Bean for delicious frozen yogurt on Division. The decorations are fun and there were more friendly dogs.

Then Auntie Olga wanted a high view, so we drove to Mt. Tabor, our little, in-town mountain. Wonderful views of Mt. Hood, downtown, and even that big statue of Harvey Scott made us smile. But by the time we had gotten back to the car, we were pooped. Auntie Bridgett had moreArt time with Liza, and the rest of the grownups had some quiet time.

Dinner was at Bread and Ink, one of our favorite places, down on Hawthorne. Salads, salmon, spaghetti and wine filled us up and got us ready for bed, where we all went pretty soon thereafter.

More tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Jasper and Kestrel,

I am writing to you because Cousin Liza is here in Portland! She and her Mommy and Daddy flew up Saturday.

First, we all went for a walk to Laurelhurst Park. The weather was clear but still a little chilly, but Grandpa fetched the frisbee and badminton set from the garage, anyway. As we all walked around the park, seeing all the kids, families, couples and dogs enjoying the lawns, he was secretly on the lookout for a place to set the net up and play.

And, not far away from the meadow where we see Shakespeare every year, he did just that! Within minutes we had the net up, coats off, and were having the first game of the season! Hooray!

Of course, it took all of us some time before we remembered how long the rackets make our arms, and Liza had never played at all. But Uncle David figured out a way for her to serve successfully, and we all had a great time.

Back at the house, we chatted, read stories, made dinner, and ate….. and ate some more.

i will tell you more about our adventures tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

Pi is a very special number. It is usually written 3.14159, but is really much longer, going on…well, we don’t know how far it goes yet.

It is useful for finding the radius, area and circumference of a circle, which is otherwise a hard thing to do. When Auntie Katie was in high school, there was a math team, and she made up a cheer for them that went,

“Tangent! Radius! Cosine! Sine!

Three point one four one five nine!”

You gotta love math nerds…

Yesterday, being March 14, or 3.14, we took a walk after dinner, to celebrate Pi Day. We walked a mile and a bit up to Glisan and 24th, to The Pie Spot. I enjoyed the S’mores, Bridgett the Brandied Apple, and Grandpa Nelson, the Pie Crust cinnamon roll. All, very tasty.

We drove there last fall, thinking it was a long way away, but it really isn’t. When everyone is feeling well and rested, it is a delightful trip through the neighborhood.

We passed all sorts of interesting things.

The weather was warm-ish but overcast, so there was no lovely sun, but the clouds made a nice backdrop for the rooster weather vanes on an old building.

A bicycle sculpture that really turned when you pushed it reminded me of the street signs down on Clinton, with their pretty bicycles.

We found “Portland Pairings”, which advertises itself as Portland’s weirdest wine shop, and from the looks of the sign, they may be right! We also passed the still functioning 1940s style Coca Cola syrup factory, painted white and red, looking all vintage and wonderful.

When we got home, we were tired, happy, and full of pie!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

I love the way my story is growing! It started out just having one character; a terribly shy ten year old girl named Clara. Then, I decided she needed a best friend, who is bookish but confident Cynthia. Then, a resourceful Eastside counterpart named Henry, and his artistic best friend, Frank.

But every story needs a villain! Draco Malfoy, Lex Luthor, Snidely Whiplash, whoever. Every hero needs a villain to test their mettle and allow them to grow. My villain’s name is Margaret.

I found a photo of Mary Pickford as a child and saw my villain in her well-tended, dissatisfied expression. She has a lot, but it’s not enough, and if you have more, she will make you suffer for it. And if you have less, she will tease you about it.

As I wrote more, Grandpa Nelson said she needed her own chapters. So now, sprinkled between the chapters about Clara and Henry are what I am calling “Margaret interludes”, scenes that give you an insight into our villain and her home life.

Of course, a new character means more research. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be done! But I think the only way this story will fail is if I give up on it. And THAT isn’t going to happen.

See you this weekend, sweetie!

Love,

Grandma Judy