Judy – Page 73 – Dear Liza

Christmas Movies

Dear Liza,

As you know, we are movie fans. So we have Christmas movies we absolutely cannot miss, or it just doesn’t feel like Christmas.

Our season starts with watching the original, non-colorized, “Miracle on 34th Street”, which was made in 1947 and stars a very young Natalie Wood as the skeptical Susan Walker. It is sweet, understated and reminds us to not get too grown-up.

Our next film this year was “Shop Around the Corner”, another quiet little movie. It came out in 1940 and stars Frank Morgan, Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. It is an early rom-com and more interesting than most.

Last night we enjoyed a newer movie, 2017’s “The Man who Invented Christmas”. This is a fantasy re-telling of what might have been going on in Charles Dickens’ imagination when he was writing his story of Christmas Redemption, “The Christmas Carol”. It stars the wonderfully crotchety Christopher Plummer as Scrooge and Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens.

And this, of course, leads into the best Christmas movie ever, “The Muppets Christmas Carol”. If you haven’t seen this, DO. It is funny, with Gonzo, with Charles Dickens, telling the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat (“I am here for the food.”) Kermit the Frog plays Bob Cratchit with Miss Piggy as his devoted wife.

But it is not just for kids (though my third graders always enjoyed it). Michael Caine, as Scrooge, finds nuances of sadness and regret that more celebrated actors missed. It is also a musical, and if you can get through Tiny Tim singing “Bless Us All” without tears, check your pulse.

We do love the more conventional ”Christmas Carols”, too. Patrick Stewart flexes all his acting muscles and lets us see the range of humanity caught in this one damaged, redeemable man.

I hope I have put you on to some movies that will become your favorites, as well.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Hannukah Party!

Dear Liza,

After we rested from hauling the tree up over the balcony, Grandpa Nelson and I bundled up for the very cold evening and walked down to Auntie Katie’s house.

Since some streets are very dark, I wore my coat with lights in it. It makes me feel safe, and just a little bit like a neon billboard.

We enjoyed seeing the houses’ lights in the neighborhood. Some folks really go all out!

Once we got to Katie’s place, I chatted with her while she fried up a great bunch of latkes (and donuts!) and Grandpa Nelson played mini-cornhole with Jasper on the table.

We ate and talked and horsed around, and then Cousin Kestrel and Auntie Katie used her new mortar and pestle to pound dried lavender for sachets.

As we hugged everyone goodbye and headed for home, we noticed the wonderful new awnings on Books with Pictures. They will protect the books from too much sun, and keep the rain from battering the hundred year old windows.

We got home, after a very Christmas-y, Hanukah-ish day. We were pooped!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Double Holidays

Dear Liza,

At our house, we celebrate both Hannukah and Christmas. And last week, we celebrated both in one day!

Friday was predicted to be our last dry day for a while, so we headed out to get our Christmas tree. Our favorite lot is down at Belmont and 48th. The prices have gone up because of the local growers losing so many trees to the fires the past two summers, but we paid anyway. We chose a lovely Nordman pine from a farm just down the road in Molalla. We named her Molly.

The nice man gave Molly a trim and tied her onto Miles and we headed home. And that’s where the next adventure started.

The last few years, we have wrestled our tree through the garage and up the stairs. Unfortunately, this leaves a sticky trail of pine needles in the carpet. This year, Auntie Bridgett suggested we pull it up over the balcony. It looked impossible, but with the three of us working together, it worked really well!

And in no time, Molly was up and ready for decorations. But they would have to wait until tomorrow, because we had to get ready for a Hannukah party.

I’ll tell you about that tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

To Modern Times

Dear Liza,

We had walked a few miles towards the river, and there was some sort of disturbance involving lots of Police cars a few blocks north. It seemed like a good time to settle in somewhere.

So we walked into Modern Times, a cafe and restaurant on Belmont Street. We have gone past it hundreds of times on the bus, so I was more than happy to see it from the inside.

We were shown a table by the bar in a high ceilinged, bright room. We were two of only five people in the place. We weren’t hungry, and since this is a brewery, I ordered one if their dark beers which is made on site. Black House coffee stout was sweet and rich and just about perfect.

The decor of Modern Times, as seen through the huge windows, has always intrigued me. It looks as though very clever murals were created out of party decorations!

It was mind bending, actually. Cartoons posters and those puffy paper fans were all over one wall.

On the wall leading up the stairway, dozens of small donkey pinatas were applied right side up and upside down. A sign notified us that touching the art was punishable by death.

And looming over it all was a mural, at least thirty feet high, created out of party streamers. It was bright, bold, and completely unexpected. I stared and stared!

We enjoyed our drinks and learned that Modern Times is actually a chain of eateries and breweries, and employs a staff of artists (much like the McMenamin Brothers do) to create art for their venues as well as beer and cider labels, tee shirts, and other goodies.

We took the elevator up to the roof top patio, and enjoyed more quirky art. These hanging designs, created from plastic kitchen and storage baskets, moved gently in the wind and were just charming.

There were fire pits, as well, and views of downtown across the river. Big Pink, of course, was beautiful seen through the flames.

By the time we had seen everything, the police had managed whatever they needed to manage down on the street, and we walked up to catch the number 15 bus home.

Just another adventure in the city!

Love,

Grandma Judy

A Walk Towards the River

Dear Liza,

Yesterday was chilly, but bright and mostly dry. Grandpa Nelson invited me on a long walk down toward the river, so off we went! There were still plenty of beautifully colored autumn leaves to decorate the sidewalks.

I love walking in new areas of the city, because there is always something new to see. On this walk, there were a lot of new murals on the walls of warehouses and businesses by the river.

Some were cute, like these of Dorothy, Toto and friends heading into Oz.

Even the flying monkeys were adorable!

Others were majestic, like this giant wooly mammoth on the roll-up door of a mechanics shop.

And every now and then, a big piece of truth, twenty feet high, reminding us that we all contribute to the city, for better or worse.

Our last painted mural of the day was this one, inside the Post Office on SE 7th Street, showing the Pony Express.

The post office originally had an earlier version of this mural entitled “Post Ride,” funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts and painted in 1936 by Paul Grellert. During renovation of the post office in the 60’s the mural was destroyed. Mr. Grellert fortunately was able to paint a recreation of the original mural. The only difference is that in the original, the horse was white.

After we picked up a bunch of post card stamps for Auntie Bridgett, we headed down to find someplace to rest and refresh. More on that tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Using What We Have

Dear Liza,

I love making presents for folks. Usually, the only trick is to start early enough to finish on time. This year, though, there may be supply chain issues, as well. That exact color of yarn, that color of thread, might not be available. So I am taking a page from my Mother’s philosophy: Use what you have.

I started this scarf for Yen, the nice lady who cuts my hair, the day of my last haircut. It is now finished, just in time for my next haircut. I only know one knitting stitch and had bought the yarn a few years ago from BackStory Books and Yarn down on Hawthorne. The project went quickly.

I used to make gifts for folks because I didn’t have a lot of spending money, and I really enjoyed it. I like being creative, using the skills I have and learning new ones.

For Auntie Katie’s wedding years ago, the late, great Barbara Binder Kadden and I stayed up all night to make the huppa. The time spent problem solving with Barbara, I now see, was a gift. She passed away a few years ago, much too soon.

And if you need a gift that is not like anything on the planet, the best way to get it is to make it yourself! I created this odd dude for Cousin Kyle years ago.

I am currently up to my eyeballs in a new creation, which I hope to show you tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Earl Grey Skies

Dear Liza,

Our Fall weather is turning grey and cool, which means I’m drinking more tea. “Earl Grey, Hot”, as Captain Jean Luc Picard would say. It helps keep my spirits up.

Outside, the grey is varied and spectacular. Our local church looks absolutely blessed as the sun peeks through.

The sight of a cloud-shrouded Sunshine Milk Carton looming over the store always makes me smile. It has been standing up there for decades, and seen much worse weather than this!

And mere clouds can’t make the St. John’s bridge look any less delightful.

Stay sunny, even when the skies won’t!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Happy Birthday Jasper!

Dear Liza,

Cousin Jasper turned 12 last Saturday!

Auntie Katie, Uncle Dave and the Cousins all met us down at Pastini Pastoria on Division Street. Our waiter, Austin, took good care of us. He took our picture. He made sure we had wine and pasta. He made sure we had a knife for the birthday cake I made and brought in. He was funny and efficient and made Auntie Bridgett a tasty Lemondrop cocktail.

We chatted and laughed, playing with words and being silly, like we always do.

Since all of us, including the kids, are vaccinated and boosted, we felt comfortable enough to be in a room that was pretty full of folks. Then this morning, I read that a new virus variant may cause more lockdowns. Well, poop.

So, life is unpredictable. We knew this. The greatest intelligence, said Darwin, is the ability to adapt. So we will adapt and see you at the other end of whatever is coming up.
Stay happy!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Taking a Big Breath

Dear Liza,

After days of preparation, Thursday was the Go To Day for Thanksgiving. The turkey thighs went into the slow cooker, the mince tarts came out of the fridge, and Auntie Bridgett’s spicy sweet yams went into the oven.

I am sorry to say I didn’t take any pictures of the cooking…. I was busy cooking! I really get into the process and sort of forget to photo document.

When Auntie Katie and the Cousins came, they brought two delicious pies and a turkey shaped challah bread. What a feast!

When we had eaten and chatted, had wine and desserts, we played some guitar, made each other laugh, and watched a movie none of us had ever heard of! Mouse took advantage of some company lap time.

Auntie Katie’s buddy Kitty recommended “Strange Magic”, an animated story about fairies and elves, with modern music and a wry sense of humor. It was just what was needed.

Cousin Kestrel got into her drawing, as usual. She has such a way with a pencil! And Cousin Jasper, using his just-a-few-days-early 12th birthday present, played a game of chess with Grandpa Nelson.

When we were all fed and worn out, we went to our own beds and slept like logs.

It was a lovely, loving Thanksgiving.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Liza,

I hope you and your Mommy and Dad are having a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am sad that we can’t get together this year, but travel is so expensive and difficult right now that it feels much safer to stay close to home.

But I will “rhyme” you what I am thankful for.

My parents taught me that it’s all right to play,

My sweet man knows simple joys take you away.

My kids let me see how fast life passes by

Dear Bridgett shows me it’s important to try.

My kitten just loves to be near me to sleep

And the forest can sing without making a peep.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Grandma Judy