Tag: chalk art

Cloudy Sunday in the Park

Dear Liza,

Walking through Laurelhurst Park last Sunday evening, we noticed several unusual, delightful things.

First was this precise and colorful geometric chalk design on the pathway. For the whole summer, these pieces have been showing up, and getting more complex and well-done. Thank you, anonymous artist!

Then, a section of the park we call The Living Room was full of silent folks with headphones on. Some were sitting with friends, some dancing, others practicing with juggling equipment.

This was the Heartbeat Silent Disco. Each person rents a set of wireless headphones and can tune into three different music tracks run by the three DJs. All these folks were listening to music and enjoying each others’ company without disturbing the neighbors! Not a bad idea.

We people-watched for a while, then continued around the lake and into the forested part of the park. We noticed definite signs of fall, like these bright red leaves that very easily become art when stuck to the bark of a fine tall fir tree..

On the way home, we passed an old house that has recently burned down. Its burnt out walls and chimney are sad and lonely in this busy neighborhood.

In the cloudy grey evening light, it feels like the house could be haunted, if you go in for that sort of thing.

Love,

Grandma Judy

An Almost-Summer Walkabout

Dear Liza,

Before the rain this past weekend, we had four wonderful days of sun. Grandpa Nelson and I were able to get out for a long walk. After lunch at Zach’s we headed south through the Richmond neighborhood.

The peonies in Southeast Portland this year are absolutely stunning, and this group in a planter along Lincoln are pure sunny pink and and as big as a dinner plate.

As we were noticing all the blooms, I was stopped in my tracks by this piece of chalk art on a driveway. No one was around to ask about the artist, so we just enjoyed it, photographed it, and moved along.


The next piece of art was less colorful but charming, even so. Someone with less art experience had tried to paint a cat hiding in the high grass, failed, and expressed their disappointment.

Further along, these tall lupines graced the parkway, framed perfectly by a 1920s bungalow and willow tree.

As we were walking, Grandpa Nelson asked, “when you run out of things to write about, will we have to move?” I told him that in five years of writing blogs, Portland hasn’t let me down yet. I think we’re safe.

Love,

Grandma Judy