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Dear Liza,

It has been such a busy week, we had to wait until Sunday night for our Friday Night Out. Grandpa Nelson got us reservations at a lovely French restaurant just south of our neighborhood, on Clinton.

I have walked there, on warm summer days, to shop at Josephine’s Dry Goods, a high end fabric store. But on a rainy night, a Lyft car seemed the way to go. We got dressed up and headed off.

La Moule is small, and has two rooms. It was lively with conversations, but we asked for a quiet corner, and we got one. The bright blue heart patterned wallpaper set the tone of informality and quirkiness.

Auntie Bridgett knew that La Moule had a good selections of absinthe, so she and the servers discussed it at length, deciding which one she wanted to try. Our waitress, Ezra, and another fellow, were charming and helpful, and she enjoyed her indulgence very much.

Grandpa Nelson ordered a bright red wine from the lower Rhône River area, and it complemented the food perfectly.

Our appetizer was Brie with truffles and cranberries and a baguette, and I had a Petral sole with vegetables. Auntie Bridgett had a salad, and Grandpa Nelson had his beloved French fries, which were perfectly done.

We split the dessert, a chocolate tort with goat cheese mousse and juniper berry brittle… a take on chocolate cake, ice cream and candy, but very grown up and delicious! I regret not getting a photo of it, as it was beautiful.

I liked many things about La Moule…the informality and quality food, the quirky decor and good wine. They even re-use their wine and spirits bottles as water carafes, keeping us supplied with really cold water through our cheesy, wine-y meal. This one was originally the bottle for Bridgett’s Jade Nouvelle Oreleans absinthe. Very pretty.

We left, full of good food and tipsy from good wine, and Lyfted back home. And tomorrow, I get to have an adventure with the Cousins!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

Now that spring is here, the neighborhood Farmer’s Markets are back! Held in parking lots around the city, these markets are mostly used by local farmers, butchers, nurserymen, distillers, and cheese makers to sell their delicious, organic wares.

We drove up the the Hollywood neighborhood, about a mile and a half north of us, to the Grocery Outlet parking lot just off Sandy. It was sunny for the first time in days and everything was so beautiful!

We found some lettuce seedlings to re-pot and put in our bright kitchen window, and some baby asparagus and green onions. A local honey farmer brought honey, bees wax candles, and even a part of her bee hive, with happy, busy bees doing their bee business inside. It was fascinating to watch the little critters.

Of course, people and dog watching is part of what I love about Farmer’s Markets. The Hollywood provides little red wagons to use as kid carriers/ shopping carts, which is practical and adorable.

On our way home, we stopped by Trader Joe’s for some groceries, and found an old friend from Salinas! Steve used to be a barista at Rollick’s coffee, and has now moved up to Portland and is working at Traders! It was so nice to see a familiar face, well and happy in our ( and his) new place.

Looking forward to more adventures!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

This evening, Auntie Bridgett, Grandpa Nelson and I walked down to The Nerd Out, a fun, science fiction themed restaurant just down the block.

They were having a wonderful event called “Accio Books!”, which combines food, drink, trivia, and collecting books for schools. There was Butterbeer (both with and without alcohol) costumes, and lots of fun.

I dressed as Professor Trelawny because I have the round glasses and lots of scarves. We used the magic wands Auntie Christy made for us at Christmas. Auntie Bridgett dressed as a young Hogwarts’ student, and was adorable! Grandpa Nelson was a friendly Muggle.

There were to be two sets of trivia questions during the evening, NEWTS and OWLS. We played in the OWLS (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) and came in third! I would have liked to have won, of course, but it was fun. We enjoyed some roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, and walked the block home.

Not bad for a Thursday!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

It seems we never run out of things to see and do here in Portland. About an hour south of town is the Silver Falls State Park, with very pleasant hikes that take you to TEN wonderful waterfalls!

Since Sunday was the first clear, warm day of the season, parking was difficult, but we found the South Falls day use area had plenty. We took snacks, water and fully charged phones, and headed off along the Maple Ridge Trail.

I know that The Jungle Ride at Disneyland makes a big deal about seeing “The back side of water”. But at Silver Falls, we got to walk behind not one, but two huge, deafening, super-drippy waterfalls. It was humbling and wonderful.

Besides the majesty of the falls were the smaller joys of spring. Plants just awakening and animals hustling about made for a sweet celebration of the new season.

A very friendly chipmunk shared some of Grandpa Nelson’s peanuts.

Mushrooms growing in tiny holes drilled by woodpeckers and the very beginnings of blackberry bushes promised summer bounty.

After about 3 miles, we started to fade, and realizing it was going to be an all-uphill hike back to the car, we headed back. We stopped by The Belmont Station for dinner and cider before crashing at home.

What a wonderful day!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

I think I have told you about Auntie Katie’s new adventure. She is selling her house and moving her business, all at once! She has bought a building that will be both home (an apartment upstairs for her and the cousins) and business (an historic bookshop downstairs). The building used to be Longfellow’s Books and is on SE Division.

The electrical systems have been upgraded, and the sewer repaired. The floors have been sanded and finished. There is still no water to the building and the heating and air conditioning is still being worked on, but progress is progressing.

Since moving home and business are both huge jobs, she is wisely spreading the work out over time, getting help from friends. She has moved in bunk beds, books and shelves, and chairs. So Saturday, before more arrived, I went over and cleaned.

Construction dust had settled over everything and the kitchen had been pretty much ignored for about ten years. With no water at the place, I hauled a few jugs and strategically used the vacuum cleaner. I was worn out before the job was done, but I made progress. I’ll go over this week to finish the kitchen.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

Your cousins Jasper and Kestrel had a wonderful circus/trapeze camp over their spring vacation. On Friday, I got to see what they had learned.

This camp was different from the Cascadia Circus camp they have been attending. It is held inside, at the old Echo Theater on SE 37th Street. Originally built in 1910 as a silent movie house, the Echo became a live music venue and dance hall when talkies arrived across the street at the Bagdad Theater. Its wide open inside space is hung with trapezes and covered with tumbling mats, with a few bleachers for us folks to watch everyone’s progress.

Also different was the focus on process, rather than performance. Each kid took their own time getting on and off the stage, and no one seemed stressed. Cousin Jasper really enjoyed himself and was more confident and relaxed. In this picture, Jasper is in the green shirt, and Kestrel is in the black shirt.

Heath, the leader of the troupe, was impossible to get a picture of because he never stops moving. He dashes about like a hummingbird, comforting, encouraging, and revving up, as required. The kids, which ranged from four to twelve years, all seemed to get the attention they needed to flourish.

There was mat tumbling, pyramid building, and quite a bit of swinging on trapezes. I asked if they had classes for kids my age, and was invited to sign up! (I was only half joking).

After the demonstration, we went for ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s and then everyone headed home.

That evening, Grandpa Nelson and I watched Tank Girl at the Hollywood Theater. Auntie Katie’s shop, Books with Pictures, was hosting it and the show was sold out! We enjoyed the silly movie and seeing Katie so happy, successful, and in her element.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Dear Liza,

Auntie Bridgett and I walked to the Lone Fir Cemetery the other day. It was the first time I’ve been there since the spring colors have arrived.

My goal, apart from visiting old friends, was to find the grave of Thomas J. Dryer, who was the original owner of the “Oregonian” newspaper. The Friends Of Lone Fir Cemetery website gave me his address… which section of the Cemetery he was in, and a map to show me where that was.

On our way to Mr. Dryer, we saw some lovely blooming trees and even a few rogue daffodils. The chestnut trees aren’t blooming yet, but give them time.

We visited Mr. Frush, a bartender much beloved for his generous pours and good nature in the very early days of Portland. An urn symbolizing his hospitality stands over his grave and near his family monument.

While staring at a 1901 map other day ( as I often do) I noticed a small neighborhood of Central East Portland labeled “Frush’s Square”. I haven’t been able to find out if this was indeed developed by our bar tending friend.

Near the tall monument to Dr. Hawthorne, we found this lovely statue on the grave of a little girl who passed away when she was only six. Her name was Ada Smith, daughter of Frederick and Lucinda. People have left her change, for some reason. Perhaps these caring folks thought she might like ice cream money.

Wandering around, we found the headstone for Hope and Chris Carter, decorated with a likeness of Klimt’s “The Kiss”. Hope is buried here, having passed at age 32, awaiting her beloved.

Finally, just where the map said, we found Mr. Dryer. He came to Portland in 1850 and started the “Oregonian” as a weekly paper. He was not a very good businessman, however, and was unable to pay his printer, a young man named Henry Pittock, for months at a time. Dryer eventually gave ownership to Mr. Pittock, who turned it into a daily paper and became of of the richest men in town. Mr. Dryer stayed active in politics and the well-being of the city until he died.

His headstone is charming, a small stone made of polished red marble. It has an image of the original Oregonian Office.

As always, I left Lone Fir with an appreciation of the past and optimism for the future.

 

Love,

Grandma 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