Sunday, October 25, 2009

one day sun, one day rain = perfect

Saturday was a beautiful day in Portland. I will never get tired of the bright autumn leaves against such a clear blue sky. Around every bend was another gorgeous tree glowing in the sunlight. I spent the afternoon with a new friend and we visited some of the best of Portland. We got used and vintage craft supplies at the Knitten Kitten, we both had our first visit to the amazing (and very busy) Sock Dreams retail store and then I got to introduce her to one of my favorite places for lunch - Jade Teahouse. A nice day all around.

As I left the house Saturday I saw this large spider hanging out. I guess he should enjoy the nice day, too. Still...a little creepy.

Then today was overcast and rainy off and on. I even saw some fog. A perfect morning for fresh baked croissants* and coffee and getting some things done around the house. I mostly worked cleaning up the craft room, (someday i will actually do crafts in here again) doing chores and working on the DVD. It is very close to being all done.

I wish I could stop time. I love the feeling of a day like today when it is about 1pm and I have the rest of the day to get so much done. I always have such high hopes at that time. But, now it is almost 7pm and the day is done. Some things were definitely accomplished, but never as much as you imagine at the height of the day (and at the height of your caffeine kicking in).

Today I also posted on The Cedar Chest blog about one of my favorite ephemera finds in a long time. It is a a beautiful illustrated Children's Holiday booklet from 1935. Go take a look. It might give you some ideas for this Halloween weekend. Hope you all have a good week!

* Trader Joes has some wonderful frozen croissants (I like the chocolate ones) that you put out the night before. They rise real big and then you just bake them in the morning. I recommend them.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

downtown

As far as I am concerned there are only a couple good things about tedious tasks like meeting with a lawyer or going to a medical office. One is that I often end up at some awesome old business building in Portland that I have never been in before. Today was a visit to a lawyer (car accident) and the Morgan Building.



The Morgan Building was built in 1913. There are little shops on the first floor inside. It is all very charming. There was an actual millinery there which was fun to see and also a wine shop with very posh people inside drinking wine and chatting in a very relaxed manner. They were the kind of people I really never see in Portland.

I only had my phone with me. Maybe next time I will have a proper camera.


I love that so much of Portland is still a surprise to me.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

autumn activities

Fall always goes way too fast for me. There are so many wonderful things to do and so many ways I want to be out and about seeing the trees and enjoying the weather and also inside baking and drinking tea - but when you only have two days off a week to do those things, plus, you must also do projects and errands and chores....it is just not enough time and bam, the saeson is over. I would happily give up a month of summer for another of fall.

So far my autumnal activities have been small, but very enjoyable and I thought I would share them with you.


This is my fall display, so far. I love this little cabinet for my seasonal displays. I bought this wreath last spring when from thelittleprints. I was looking forward to bringing it out this fall. I love it. She does beautiful work.


This is my mother's dining room table. My nephew and I went over there for an early dinner a week ago. This is how she decorates the house just for everyday. Maybe you can see now why I get obsessed with my small decorating details. She is a master, though. She really should have been an interior decorator.


These are some lovely flowers I received from the mister. It was our 6 year anniversary. Fall is always extra special because it reminds me of our first couple of months together and the many trips we have taken around this time. This is our favorite season and we usually go somewhere in October or November. In a few weeks we will be at a river cabin in Mount Hood.


This is an incredibly good Sour Cream Apple Pie that I made for our anniversary. The pic may not look too appetizing, but trust me. It is delish and very easy. I got the recipe from the Posy Gets Cozy.
Yesterday we went to the Antique Paper and Postcard show out at the Armory, which is near the airport. Since I wasn't driving it was the first time I got to just stare at the trees. It was beautiful. I got this pic of a lovely autumnal road right as a big old plane came in. You can see it at the top.

Here's to more fall activities! What do you like to do for this season?

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

collecting

This post from Cecily Ink blog makes me feel like I need to collect more and have more of my collections of stuff out and about. Which if you know me, you know how untrue that is. Still such neat stuff and so artfully arranged. It makes me long for a empty studio room to fill. More pictures here.






Saturday, October 3, 2009

i even inherit projects

I have been a little preoccupied lately with yet another deadline. I want to get my father's film out on dvd for Christmas. I have been wanting to get it on dvd for a while, but I am excited to say it is finally happening.

With the film, I am also including a few extras. One is a short film about him and what it is like to be a Wildlife Photographer and the other is a photo gallery. In order to save a good chunk of change I am doing the menu, the gallery, the chapters and some other things myself. Since my guy at the dvd factory is leaving soon for a long vacation, I have to hunker down and get it done this weekend.

So, here I am at home on a sunny Autumn day, listening to The Finches and Kathryn Williams and working on Photoshop. I made my first pot of hot tea of the season a minute ago. It is actually kind of chilly today. I love cool sunny Autumn days. I am drinking Harneys Vanilla Comoro with Coconut Creamer. Yum!

I also recently finished up the new website for my father and grandfather. Please take a look. It has lots of new stuff.

Okay, back to work. It will be nice to have this large project checked off my list and to be able to finally offer the dvd to people who ask for it. It is such an amazing story.

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