Vinideus

The cow and I were walking home after our beer and wine at Oaks Bottom and noticed the new wine store (Vinideus) down the street was offering a few wines for tasting. As we entered I heard a strong french accent say, "Would you like to taste some wines today?" Apparently this guy did not know who he was talking to.
We were given the opportunity to taste 5 French wines, 2 Italian and 1 from Oregon. We met some neighbors and chatted with them as well as the owners. We took a tour of the "private tasting" room. It was explained as bring your own food and a minimum of six people - pay the owners 10 dollars per person and the wine will start flowing. We finally left at dusk with a couple of bottles of the good French stuff.

Oaks Bottom Century?

Our inpirational walk led us to an outside table at Oaks Bottom Public House. The cow and I were feeling a little thirsty and we decided to have a drink. As I looked down the sidewalk I saw a guy with a beer mug strapped to his bike helmet coming at us. I said, "this is going to be good!" After a few minutes a group of "Century" riders decended on the Pub. They explained there quest for the day: 100 ounces of beer from FIVE different local breweries. Hence, the reason it is a CENTURY ride.
The group of riders were quite eclectic. After the Southeast engineer filled up the cow's empty beer mug (thanks again) we learned more about our neighbors at the next table. The "pheedo" dude explained that I should have advertising on my blog. The artist discussed the theory of work and the theory of art. His goal is to be an artist but everyone has to have enough money for a few beers. Gato Negro told us that Madrid would be a great place for New Year's and that he is planning to open a Tapa's restaurant near south waterfront.
The team of riders left as fast as they arrived. Onto their last stop of the day. I hope they achieved their goal of 100 ounces.

Inspiration

Inspiration abounds walking from Sellwood to Moreland on a lazy Saturday afternoon. As you already know I have a fascination with the horse project. I caught the Moreland horse getting ready for a gallop while still tied to her post. I will refer to her as Thunder from here forward.
Looking over Oaks Bottom Park on SE 13th and Bybee was a young, energetic artist. He was painting a lovely rendition of the west hills in the darkness of puffy white and gray clouds. He was a very physical painter - bending and moving to get the right stroke.
Lastly, the beautiful red sunflowers are reaching for the sky as the sun breaks in the early afternoon. They are deep red with tiny yellow seeds in the center. I hope they last awhile because they make me smile when I see them.

Portland Sunday

The sun was shining through all the windows this morning. We sat outside and read the paper while taking in our coffee. Decided a ride around town on bikes was in order. We stumbled across a street fair that looked like it hadn't kicked into high gear - but they had the Road Closed signs out blocking a major street in old town. We rode from Sellwood to downtown, around Overlook to Alberta then back down to Mississippi for taco's at por que no? Winding our way back home to have a beer on the veranda. Great weekend but MAN I do NOT want to face reality and go to work- EVER.

Saddle Up!

All over Portland you will find these rings affixed to the curbs. A young man decided to put horses back onto Portland streets in 2005. I have heard about this project and finally got to see a pony tied to a ring right here in my neighborhood. I was thrilled. Read more at The Horse Project.

Moreland at Night

Moreland is right next door to Sellwood. We can walk to Moreland for Pizza, groceries, banking, movies, hardware, dive bars, nice bars, etc. I like the way it looks at night. You can never get enough pink neon! We went and watched "Little Miss Sunshine" and both the cow and I were laughing out loud. Great little flick.

Random acts of kindness

This weekend was filled with people being especially nice. I have three random acts of kindness to report:

1. As the cow and I were dining alfresco on Pizza and vino, a couple sat down at the table near us. The young man asked if his smoking would bother us and that he was more than willing to stand away from his table to have his pre-meal smoke. I was so excited that he actually asked I didn't know what to say. I thanked the couple as we left for being so considerate.

2. As we were walking to the movie theater I noticed the sign pictured. There is a nest of yellow jackets living in the shrubbery. Once I started walking closer you could hear the swarm inside the bushes. Very nice of these people to warn you as you approach the danger.

3. We stopped for a beer and a bite to eat prior to the movie at Oaks Bottom Pub. The server was super nice and let us try four different types of beer. The samples were nice pours also and we both got a good idea of what we liked and what we didn't. The cow ordered the ember ale. I describe this beer as tasting as if you have licked a briquette.

Back-to-School

My NEW Teaching job started on Tuesday and I am so tired I could fall asleep right this minute. I have been getting up before the sun and trying not to fall asleep on my way home.
I am teaching Freshman - an old colleague once said , "Freshmen ARE NOT human beings." At the end of my first three days of school I am going to have to agree with that statement. I am also teaching Juniors and they are so grown up compared with Freshmen. Today one of the Junior girls asked if she could write her paper on ecstasy. I made the snide comment that I prefer she not write her paper while on hallucinogenics - she didn't get it. I also heard a young man tell his friend he thought I was ridiculous! I blurted out the comment that my husband thinks I am ridiculous sometimes too. Again, only the guy who said it and his friend understood what was going on the rest of the class just think I have a bit of terrets (sp?).

Timbers

PGE Park: Timbers (PDX) vs Battery (Charelston) - game time 6:00pm. Great night for "the beautiful game." Although the Timbers did not play beautiful ball. Home team lost 0-1. Had a great time though. Players move fast - I didn't get bored. We sat by the timber nation during the first half. They are basically a bunch of lunatics that go to every game and yell and scream profanities - for example; when the goalie for the opposing team is going to kick the ball out of the endzone they yell in unison: "you suck asshole." Not very nice huh?
The most fanatic of fans though was this old dude hauling around his CHAINSAW, starting it and holding it above his head to get the fans to scream and yell (get it the timbers). He also climbed the pole in picture two and hoisted his drum and his chainsaw up there to get the crowd all riled up. I did not witness him getting up there nor getting down, that was my biggest disappointment of the evening.
Season tickets next year?

Huntington Beach

Before heading back to PDX the beach was calling. Took a trip to Huntington Beach on a beautiful day. There were people everywhere enjoying the sunshine - strolling, biking and playing volleyball.
I walked down and put my feet in the water and with the help of Buena Girl found out what sand crabs looked like.
All in all a great weekend. A big Thanks going out to el s and GoS for the hospitality and thanks to BG for hangin' out with us.

Beware of the OC

Traveled to Orange County to have a short visit with el s and GoS - beware the OC is crazy.
We had dinner at a new restaurant near the oval called Gabby's (sp?). It is an upscale Mexican restaurant with killer margarita's. For some reason the serrach thought it would be a good idea to have a nice sipping tequila too (not at the same time but after we had finished our margarita's). Then we hung out at a place called the District. Kind of a club, kind of a live music venue but definitely packed with all the college kids (they were kids) from the local Chapman college. I kept trying to get a picture of the girl in the white shirt that said, "boy beater" because I was truly disgusted with her. After we listened to a great singer, I thought we were ready to walk home but GoS had a different idea. She claimed she needed to go to the bathroom but we landed in yet another bar. They gave us wrist bands after checking our Id's. We met these lovely young ladies who were having jello shots next to us. I learned from them that a baseball cap is an accessory.

Pouring Concrete?

I woke to the sound of a LOUD construction workers voice on a cell phone right outside my bedroom window at 6:55am. Needless to say- I was pissed. The cow left for work and I decided to take care of a few items on the computer. I could not concentrate due to a diesel engine idling below the window (son-of-a-bitch just turn the damn thing off). I decided to calm my nerves and go for a walk. Please notice the gray clouds in the picture. I am a sunshine girl and I had to wear long pants and a light jacket. The walk did make me feel better but I returned to this behemoth right outside my front door.
There is a concrete truck idling and mixing at the back of this huge crain. The crain is anchored with four tenacles - two on each side. The concrete gets pumped (more noise) into a trough on the crain and then the handsome guy in the overalls uses this remote control to move the plastic tube over the area where the concrete needs to be poured.
It is amazing the noise here. I know why Tam hides in the guestroom on the bottom level under the futon most of the time. I would like to join her but I don't fit.

Lunch at Dundee Bistro

After a bike ride on a really hot day the best way to reward yourself is with a patio dining experience. We headed to the Dundee Bistro, we sat outside and enjoyed a lite lunch with an IPA and a Rosato.

Pedal, Pedal, Pedal

It was clear and hot - time for a bike ride. The river was on one side of us and farm land on the other. We had a great time. There were a few hills (I don't like hills) and great scenery. I told the cow while riding I wished everyone who read my blog could smell the wonderful smells of summer. I am going to do my best to recreate one of the best smells ever! Ready? The sun is shining on your skin, it is about 80 degrees, you smell dirt and then it has a tinge of wetness to it. All of a sudden a blackberry cobbler has been pulled from the oven. The intense berries waft in the air. You want a spoon and ice cream to go with your cobbler, but you realized you have just rode past the most over-producing berry bush you have ever seen. I have been craving cobbler every since.

Falcon or ?

We have seen a couple of these massive birds nests around Portland. There is one on the bike trial leading to downtown from our house. We spotted this one on our bike ride on Saturday. The nests are HUGE- made out of tree limbs and hay and other random stuff. This time I actually saw a baby falcon peek it's little head over and beep at me a couple of times.

New Wine Store

Grand Opening! A wine store with a French influence just 4-blocks from the house. It is a very cute/quaint space but it is really small. We were passing by at 9:30pm and they were still open. In case we need that late night Lafitte.

To Kill A Mockingbird

If you haven't read this book recently or have never read it at all - DO IT NOW.