Winter in Portland – Dear Liza

Crafty Christmas

December 28, 2025

Dear Liza,

This year, our Portland family got together for dinner, a movie, and collage. Yep, collage.

First, of course, was dinner. Slow cooker pork shoulder, lots of veggies, and Hawaiian rolls. Auntie Bridgett’s beautiful Christmas plates made everything sparkle!

When we were all sufficiently stuffed, the party divided into two. The fellas watched Die Hard on the TV, because they wanted to, and it was Christmas. Not my favorite, but it’s not just my Christmas.

Meanwhile, we ladies went crafty. I finally passed my wedding dress (made by your great grandma Billie in 1974) off to Kestrel. Although it fit her, I don’t think she will wear it as it is, to get married or for any other reason. But it seems a perfect blank canvas for some textile crafting. We’ll see what comes of it.

Then we settled down at the table for some collage. Kestrel helped me haul some boxes of collage papers and other supplies down from my art closet, and we went at it.

One of the boxes was a collection of vintage images from old Life magazines and publications from the Oregon Historical Society, and that determined a theme.

The other box was Jennifer Coile’s Art of the Met calendar pages, and they played together well. Here is Katie’s creation…

Here is Kestrel’s,

And here is mine. I love how creative we got with just old papers, lots of chatter, and some glue.

All in all, it felt like a very successful Christmas. Food, fun, and family, wrapped up in our weird personalities and seeing how everyone is growing into themselves.

The only thing that could have been better is if you had been here.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Making a Run for Spring!

Dear Liza,

I KNOW it is not spring yet. I KNOW there will be cold nights and even some freezing days before winter calls it quits. I have sworn that this year I will not get ahead of myself and think that warmer weather is just around the corner.

And then I go out for a walk and find these beauties, these bright sparks of spring, popping out of the mud.

And even tiny snowdrops will look you in the eye if you get down to their level.
But it was not many years back that snow piled up on my garden in APRIL, for goodness sake. So I will not be fooled.

Still, it’s nice to have some color in the cold.

Stay warm, sweetie!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Yep, It Snowed!

Dear Liza,

The Snow came! Not only did it come, but it blew up, down, and sideways. The temperature didn’t get about freezing for three days. It was a real freezing …..cold …snowy …weekend!

When we woke up Saturday morning, we had just a dusting out on the walkway.

And as the sun came up and the day began, we got wind, and drizzle, and then snow. And it kept up for hours.

The temperature hovered at around 19 degrees F, so the snow didn’t get wet or slushy, and when the wind kicked up, it blew off the roofs like sand off a dune. It was quite a sight.

In the afternoon, our buddy Stacy across the way went out to do some shoveling. We had seen her and her terrier, Trevor, going out for his walks, and her footprints had been getting deeper.

Bridgett thought that was such a good idea, she bundled up and grabbed our shovel and helped out! The Superwomen of the Belmont non-Dairy Townhomes!

The evening came and the snow stopped, but it never did warm up. What a Saturday. Me, I stayed inside.

All day. Drinking tea. No shame.

More news (and maybe pictures from the OUTSIDE of the house ) tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy

A White, Slushy Christmas

Dear Liza,

By some freak of nature, we had grey clouds and snow on the ground for The Winter Solstice, and you, in Denmark, had clear skies and sun! It snowed a few days before Christmas and, though it got a bit soft and slurpy, the snow was still with us December 25th.

I had to get out and see it! I put on as many layers as I could, including long underwear and gloves that were gifts from Auntie Christy, and headed out. Traffic hadn’t started yet. I stood in the middle of Stark Street and enjoyed having it all to myself.

I love how everything looks magical with a layer of snow! It’s like we live on a plain cake all year, and then “Whoosh!” it’s someone’s birthday and here comes the frosting.

I walked carefully, planning my steps to avoid landing on my rear end, and headed for Laurelhurst Park.

Just as I suspected, kids were in the ravine with their sleds, even though the ground was clearly visible through the icy cover.

And most of Firwood Lake was frozen over! This wonderfully weird blue-grey sheet of ice chased the ducks all the way to the east end, where the inflow pipes keep the water moving. The whole flock paddled there, keeping each other company and grumbling a bit.

Soon, I headed home to get some feeling back in my toes!
Love,

Grandma Judy

Freezing Outside, Cozy Inside

Dear Liza,

December 21st is always a special day for us. It is the day Grandpa Nelson and I got married! It is also officially the first day of winter, and the longest night of the year. This year, it was also the coldest.

When We Three stepped out to catch our Lyft ride to La Moule for our anniversary dinner, it was near freezing! The Christmas lights on all our neighbors’ balconies sure looked pretty.

The driving was safe, but only because it has been so DRY that there was no water to freeze on the roads.

Our dinner was incredible, as usual. The waitress even brought us glasses of champagne for our anniversary! I had a radicchio salad and moules (mussels) served with buttery garlicky sauce and crusty baguette, and Auntie Bridgett had escargot served on focaccia bread with a creamy, yummy sauce.

Grandpa had pommes frites (French fries) and a fine glass of Merlot.

We shared and laughed and had a great time. It was a fine way to celebrate 48 fun years!

We got home and lit the candles for the fourth night of Hanukkah while enjoying the Christmas lights. Never miss a chance to celebrate!

Happy Everything!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Blinding, Freezing Days

Dear Liza,

After staying inside for two whole days because it was just too cold to go for a walk, I bundled up and made it as far as the park. The temperature has been below freezing at night and never above 40 for days, but the sky has been blinding bright.

It is a crazy, bright, beautiful combination.

Of course, all the sunshine is encouraging new spring flowers.

Hyacinths grow just a few inches high, but camellias are budding way above my head!

There are some I don’t even know the names of, but they sure are going to town!

Once I got to Laurelhurst Park, I found a bench in the sun and enjoyed watching the people parade go by. Of course, it was still cold, but I was determined to soak up the sun. I lasted almost half an hour before I needed to get back inside.

I hope your weather is pretty and pleasant.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Bird Drama

Dear Liza,

I’ve told you about all the crows we have here in Portland. While there seem to be more crows than anything else, they do not rule the sky, and this seems to irritate them.

On a bright, near-freezing walk the other day, we got to see some proper bird drama. A tiny dog being walked by her owner disturbed a hawk lurking in a small tree. The hawk and took off and at least 20 crows ( I might even call it a Mass Murder) swooped around the elm tree where the hawk settled.

As we watched, the hawk took off from the limb and circled the neighborhood, menaced by the crows. One by one, the valiant smaller birds would swoop in and peck at the hawk, letting it know, in no uncertain terms, that it was NOT welcome.

After a few minutes the hawk settled again, in the very top of a fir tree. Again it was attacked by the crows but seemed unmoved. By this time our feet had begun to freeze and our ears ached, so we said farewell to the drama and headed toward Zach’s, where yummy hot dogs and french fries awaited us.

Such goings on!

Love,

Grandma Judy

December Hodgepodge

Dear Liza,

This nutsy year is coming to a close, and before I re-cap the whole thing, here are some random images from December.

An unconventional snowman, made just before everything melted, keeps watch on his corner.

Remaining snow frosts adorable metal yard decoration of Audrey II from ”Little Shop of Horrors”.

Someone’s Solstice Circle rests in Laurelhurst Park

A very holiday-ready spray of Pyracantha berries and moss hovers just beside a sidewalk.

See you in the New Year!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Winter Sunshine

Dear Liza,

It is winter in Portland. It doesn’t officially start until December 21, but it’s winter. We have rain which may turn to snow flurries, bridges that are getting icy, and dark, dark afternoons.

But then you look up and the clouds are gone for a while, and the sun comes out! And you don’t care that it is 40 degrees F. You put on two scarves and a wooly hat, and out you go.

We are blessed to live in our Laurelhurst/ Sunnyside neighborhood, with its gardens and hundred-year-old stone walls.

Moss and evergreens glow nicely in the low angled light of a Portland afternoon.

Succulents in a wall resemble magic gardens.

Azaleas and rhododendrons put out buds, defying the seasonal cold. And even though we know that tomorrow will be rainy and grey again, our mammal brains are happy for the light.

Love,

Grandma Judy.

Signs of Spring

Dear Liza,

Yes, the snow is barely melted in the neighborhood, but the sun came out yesterday and showed us some signs of spring.

A mighty Laurelhurst tree, down in the storm

At Laurelhurst Park, the totally saturated ground and heavy ice from our last storm caused another great tree to fall. This is on the edge of what I call The Ravine, and has been in many of my photos of this part of the park. It was angular and leaning and beautiful.

It is sad to see such a fine specimen down. This cusp between winter and spring can be difficult to navigate safely.

But there are more gentle signs of spring. Tiny crocuses coming up beside napping angels.

Early blooming trees cheering us up and letting us know that winter doesn’t last forever.

The list of folks getting vaccinated grows every day, making us all safer. And when we get ours, life will get more mobile and more fun. Then I will get to come visit you. And that will be very sweet.

Love,

Grandma Judy