We have enjoyed a whole week of pleasant sunshine and temperatures in the 50s, so we have been doing lots of walking.
Little lavender crocuses are sprouting all over, making light purple carpets under the still-bare trees. Standing in the sun feels so good, I see why they are coming up!
Down at Moore Coffee, we enjoyed watching this sophisticated pooch wait for a treat at the bar. Grandpa Nelson found a comfy spot by the fire ring, since it is still chilly in the shade.
And at Sunnyside School, we visited the chickens. Clever girls that they are, they got up on their coop to find some sun.
We three took a really long walk Saturday! And there were an unusual number of birds.
First, we visited a flock of plastic flamingos that started out on a front lawn last year and seems to be migrating. One has even adapted to living in a tree!
Then we stopped by to visit the Taylor Street chickens. We had remembered to bring quarters so we could buy some feed for them. Bridgett chatted to them and she was their new best friend.
It was so warm that we stopped for a minute in one of the little sidewalk arbors. This one even has tiny red lights strung up in the branches. We will have to come by some evening to see it all lit up.
We stopped at Zach’s for hot dogs, french fries, and some cold sodas to get re-energized.
After lunch we headed south for our next destination, but before we got there, we found more chickens!
This happy brood of three hens were out in their portable coop in their front yard on 47th Street. Their owners had posted signs with information about them , and it was just like Farm Day. They even listed foods we could bring to feed the ladies, which include soft fruits and veggies.
Wednesday was the first day of human-level temperatures since our historic heat wave began. We woke up to cloud cover, cool air and even a bit of dampness. It felt wonderful.
Look! Clouds! Hooray!!!
I went to the garden early. My friend Tonya gave me one of her parsley plants, and I planted it between my radishes and lettuce. My garden is doing well, even though it isn’t as tall as the other ones. They have five foot tall trellises and arbors hanging with peas and beans. I have a magnificent beast of a zucchini.
And it makes food, too!
I walked around Laurelhurst Park for the first time in a week, enjoying the cool green, the ducks, and all the people out doing their people thing. Tai c’hi classes, guitar practice, dog parties….. it was life as normal, out on the grass.
After a morning of sewing, French lessons, crossword puzzles and cartooning, the three of us headed off to Grandpa Nelson’s favorite lunch spot, Zach’s Shack. Auntie Bridgett got to go because she isn’t working at the SideStreet Arts gallery anymore. Her new comic strip, AuntieBeeswax, allows her more flexibility with her time.
One of my favorite views….
We ate hot dogs and fries, and, since the sun had come out, appreciated the icy cold sodas.
Then came ping pong! Zach’s back patio has a table and enough hard surfaces that even if the ball misses the table, you can keep it in play. We get a little nuts sometimes, and it is fun!
We played until we were played out, then walked home by way of the Taylor Street chickens. The day had warmed up to 88 degrees and we were happy for the air conditioning.
This heat wave was bad. It send a lot of folks to the hospital. We need to figure out how to help our planet heal so we can all be well.
Today I went on a walk and got to see some interesting critters. Then I got home and hung out with another one.
On my walk to run errands, I met three free range chickens. According to their sign, the are Froggy, Zen and Wolfie. They have a lovely chicken coop and yard, but love to explore. As I knelt down to take their picture, they came right up to say hello! A woman was walking by with her baby, and it appeared they were all old friends. The chickens clucked their way over and the baby laughed like crazy.
Free Range Friends
Further along, I saw a sad sight….a beautiful old tree had blown down in the wind. It missed all the cars on the street, which was something of an automotive guardian angel miracle. Looking at the trunk, I saw that the whole inside of the tree was dry and rotten, with what looks like termite damage. The tree had probably been dead for years, just waiting to be knocked down.
Dead Tree Falling
As I was looking, these two sweet corgis came by, saying hello to me but clearly upset at the loss of a fine peeing tree.
Corgis saying goodbye to an old friend
After walking about three miles, all my errands were done: dry cleaner, banking, doctor appointment, and shopping. I got home, chilly and tired, and sat in front of our lovely fireplace. Mousekin is loving it, as well. Second only to Grandpa Nelson’s lap, the hearth is her favorite place to be.
Fall will officially be here in just two weeks, and the weather is still hot and dry. Walking is limited to the evening because of 90 degree temperatures in the daytime.
And I’ll bet it is!
After dinner yesterday we walked south passing one of our favorite neighborhood landmarks, Fort Awesome. It’s a house.
We continued to Sewallcrest Park, where we saw adult kickball last year. There were lots of other folks out enjoying the evening.
Pick up soccer game
There were two groups of soccer players, a young ladies’ team and what seemed to be a men’s pick-up game (they asked Grandpa Nelson if he wanted to play), both playing half-field. When the ladies were finished, the men moved to the center and used all the space.
There was a group of older men playing basketball, making good shots and passes but wisely taking lots of breathers and drinks of water in between.
Old dudes playing hoops
Besides these organized games, there was the usual nappers, dog walkers, and joggers. A mom and her daughter rolled by on skateboards. The sunset turned the light pink and everything was magical.
Art car
On the way home we enjoyed special Eastside Portland views; the sun going down at the end of Hawthorne Street, an old car enjoying new life as an art piece, and front yard chickens, being chickens.
Dear Liza 