at home

It was good to get away...and it's good to be back home.

happiness

These wee ones, they live in the blackberry bushes that flank our trail to the beach. They chirp and fly about madly as we come and go. I like to think they're glad to see us.

I hope your weekend is full of happiness. Thanks for reading.

it's all about the food (Portland no. 3)

If you're thinking a lot of my Portland pictures have been about food, you're right. City exploration = food exploration. At home, I start to think about food when I wake up - what will I make for breakfast? When I get home from taking the boys to school - what am I in the mood for, for lunch? And so on. Cal often asks me as I raise his shades to wake him, from under his covers, "What are we having for breakfast?" So I'm not alone. And I'm the same way when I travel.

some thoughts on travel: Portland no. 2

(top two images: Pearl Bakery; 3, 4 & 5 at Powell's Books; last images Clyde Common)

I wouldn't say I travel well. I pack too much. I worry about our cats, the house burning down or flooding, packages in need of a signature. I take forever settling into a hotel room, and I like to come back to the room and relax periodically. Still and all, it is good - even important - to leave home now and again. It's important for me to remember that where I live and how people are, how things function here, it is not the center of the universe. I have fun trying new restaurants, bakeries and cafes, among other things. As a tourist I feel free to talk to strangers more; I think I slow down and I'm warmer. I'm less distracted with my family. I walk more - something I miss in my daily life, and that I loved at those points in my life when I lived in more urban settings.

Portland no. 1

(first two images at Kenny & Zukes; next two at Stumptown; skateboards at Cal Skate Skateboards)

Hi from Portland! This city feels relaxed and comfortable; we're enjoying our time here. As far as the boys are concerned, anywhere with a pool is paradise. We bought skateboards today and they rode them all over the city. I think Alexi is enjoying them as much as the boys are - I was surprised he didn't buy himself one. I suspect he's first planning to ask his mother if his childhood skateboard is still around somewhere. We spent a bit of time in an arcade, and I was amazed at the number of adults playing video games in the middle of a weekday.

More soon.

Sunday night.

Well, hello. I hope you've enjoyed the weekend - we surely did. I'm happy to say we're officially on vacation. We were going to go back to Whistler to ski, but, well. I am no longer interested in winter and spending time in the snow. Instead, we'll be spending a few days in Portland.

Here's to a good week for all of us.

what I woke up to

I hope you're having a beautiful Saturday also. xo

every once in a while

Once in awhile, a girl needs a change. Alexi and Cal like my bangs; Abbott thinks I look 'weird'.

Thank you so, so much for your nice comments and well wishes this week. It seems the antibiotics have done the trick - I'm hardly coughing anymore at all! And as I was getting my hair cut it occurred to me that I felt cheerful, for perhaps the first time in weeks.

We've finished our Friday night pizza, alone, as Abbott and Cal are still playing at the neighbor's house (happy for them, happy for us). Alexi and I plan to watch The Social Network as soon as the boys are asleep.

Happy Friday!

xoxo Lecia