gardens in Ladds addition

Grey Walk to Ladd’s

Dear Liza,

We are in The “April Showers” part of spring, and boy, is it drippy! It’s not terribly cold, though, so still good weather for walks.

I needed to get to Auntie Katie’s place to feed Hopey and Maggie while she’s away doing comic business, so Grandpa Nelson and I headed out.

The rose gardens in the Ladd’s Addition Rose gardens are getting ready to bloom! This little guy is showing color already, and by Monday when Katie gets back, there will be lots of blossoms.

In Katie’s own garden at Books with Pictures, the wild roses by the fence are fully open and making the bees happy.

They sure brighten up the corner by the stage!

The tall purple irises are up and looking gorgeous. I love how they look with the antique bed frame Katie has installed as a part of the fence.

Another way you can tell it’s April is that the neighborhoods are covered with tiny green maple seeds.

They look like tiny helicopters close up, but like a green carpet from a distance.

They sure look pretty with the pink cherry blossoms.

When I’d fed the cats and said hello to Sir Isaac Snooten, I joined Grandpa Nelson at Floyd’s coffee house to warm up and rest before heading back up the hill.

Just another perfect day in Portland.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Roses, Crows, and Finds

Dear Liza,

Auntie Bridgett and I went for a walk the other day, in between rain showers. We carried an umbrella just in case.

First, we ran into a yard sale being held by a young man who is moving to France. He had all sorts of wonderful things out, but we were at the beginning of a long walk and had to be picky.

Two scarves and a hand embroidered laundry kit from about the 1940s were tucked in my bag to be washed and used. A well-used paperback copy of “Pride and Prejudice” will go on my bedside table tonight.

We continued down the hill to Auntie Katie’s apartment to feed the cats while she is away at the New York City Comic Con. I took a picture of Sir Isaac Snooten to send to let her know her scaly friend is happy.

By then, we were hungry for lunch. We walked across the street to Virtuous Pie, which we have walked past dozens of times. They sell vegan pizzas with gluten-free options, so it was a new experience. It is not pizza-as-usual, but tasty, crunchy and healthy. The place is bright and open, and the pizza smelled so good!

It looked good, too, and was delicious! Pesto sauce, cashew mozzarella and tofu sausage on a thin crust… perfect.

We walked home through the East Rose garden in Ladd’s Addition, where the lovelies are having their second bloom. Even with grey skies, they were beautiful!

Bridgett had brought a small bag of kibble cat food that Mouse can’t eat because of her allergies, and we shared it as we went along. We got noticed by the local crows, who would swoop down and have a snack. You’re welcome, crows!

We got home just before it started sprinkling, having walked more than four miles. What a lovely day here in almost-rainy season Portland.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Books with Pictures ComicCon, 2023 Part 2

Dear Liza,

During the Books with Pictures Comic Con, the garden saw a lot of action!

Two lovely people with the unlikely names of Bugchampciri and 2broke4cosplay (these are their Instagram handles) organized and judged the costume contest. Kids from about eight years old to adults in their thirties came to strut their cosplay stuff.

Everyone looked incredible and got lots of compliments on their outfits. What was even more amazing was the dozen or so folks in costumes who weren’t in the contest, but just walking around shopping and chatting.

Later in the day, the garden hosted an Art Battle, with cartoonists in competition to draw the best improvised ‘toon. I watched Ron Chan and Kate Faris drawing “Creepy Farting Tacos” and it was delightful.

After lunch, Douglas Wolk ran a trivia contest. I didn’t get to see it, but was told by several contestants that they had “arrived with confidence” and had been “quickly humbled” by the difficulty of the questions. Douglas is an Eisner Award-winning comics expert. He doesn’t mess around.

The last panel of the day was Nola Pfau, Laura Hudson and Douglas Wolk discussing comics criticism… that is, how to think about, talk about, or write about comics as a genre of literature and art.

For the closing act in the garden, Lizzy Kirby sang delightful, original songs, my favorite having “Meow, meow, meow meow, meow meow” as its chorus. We all joined in, of course.

For part of the day, Kestrel had her art table set up near the garden, as well, doing small sketches for folks for tips. She did very well and retired early.

Here are just a few of the folks on clean up duty…me, Katie, Kenny and his daughter Vanessa, and Mads. Kenny’s wife Jessica took the picture, and was working, too. Katie’s staff member Elizabeth was down the street folding and lifting tents into the garage. The whole day was an amazing tour de force of teamwork.

Something as complicated as a ComicCon takes dozens of people who are good at their jobs working really hard. I am very proud of Auntie Katie and her companions for the work they did.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Final Touches on Katie’s Garden

Dear Liza,

A few weeks ago, Auntie Katie and her strong, clever friends got together and got the garden at Books with Pictures planted.

There were donated plants that people transplanted from their own property, as well as plants bought from local nurseries. They made sure to get plants that will grow and do well without a lot of taking care of.

There are other things installed, as well. A small stage has been built for performances, and the beginning of a stout fence to make it feel more enclosed. There is also a cool slab cut from a big tree to use as a seat.

With such a great team, everything is coming together.

I look forward to spending some pleasant afternoons in this little piece of paradise.

Love,

Grandma Judy