Everywhere I've looked for a week, it's been white. Fluffy, cold, and falling. Snow sticking's a bit unusual up here. Always melting before the real play could begin. But this time, it's simply added layer to layer, like east of the Cascades.
I don't know how to drive in it in the least. So, I've been home, home, home, and of course, busy with the camera. As you look up the road, it's beautiful, mirrored by the view down the road. We did make it out one day to get a tree for Christmas. As we drove up the drive at our friend's home, we had a view of their pines lining the way. It was so still, so peaceful.
Once there, we had a Narnia moment with the snow swirling around their lamp post.
I'm sure you are all wondering where your surprises are and when they might arrive. They are all finished, waiting for their packing up and a break in the snow to go to the post office. They are darling, if I say so myself,...and red.
The littlest munchkin watched delightedly out the window while dressing this morning. The white flakes drifted down to coat the already glistening ground. "It's a real Christmas, isn't it mama?" Where did the idea come from that it has to snow to be Christmas? Probably from the Bing Crosby cd humming through the house...
King John
Put up a notice,
"LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES
MORRISON'S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY:
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END
OF THE TOWN-FORTY SHILLINGS
REWARD!
And thus, you shall have your reward if you've been searching for "James's" mother. I'm here, back from wandering quite of my own accord. Though, to tell the truth, a horrible, mean-spirited hacker created a virus that has had my sweet little machine under the weather. (Dear Husband says that virus writers don't go to heaven. Dh spent Thanksgiving weekend and many more hours doctoring said machine.) So, if you are here, checking up on Rosemoor and I, you can have your reward!
Two ways to collect:
Click on my photo at the top left. Then click on the "contact me" button. Email me with the word "Reward" to have a surprise shipped to you!
or
Go to my etsy site www.rosemoor.etsy.com Scroll down to the five stars on the right hand side. One of them will have the words "Request Custom Item". Click it and email me from there with the word "Reward" for a special treat!
There's a natural salad out my dining room window, thrown together by the wild winds whipping around the house. Blue fescue pots have leaves in their hair. The "bird berries" wave in masses, clinging to their stems as their leaves die off.
The hydrangeas turn their final deep shades of violet before the frosts come to coat them.
Inside, my fetish with houses builds up and feverish fingers make a mini village. Stirrings of Christmasy castles lurk in the background. I have yet to find a perfect gingerbread castle pattern. This year I'll just have to create a huge one myself...
It was such a relaxing weekend! I love being so close to Portland. Some of the best eateries are on 21st, just outside of downtown. I don't go crazy about fusion food (something about sweet potato fizz just doesn't seem like food), but I
do love gourmet cooking. We skipped the reservations and let the wind take us. We parking at the top of the street and started peeking in the doors as we walked. I was recalling a place we'd been before, but was not set on anything in particular. We stopped at Lucy's Table right away and perused the menu. Dh accidentally saw the appetizer price list and said "sure". We asked for a table and was told "probably not", but they would check.
We got very lucky. Dh saw the price list at our table and choked up for a moment, but all was forgiven with the first bite of poultry for him and halibut for me. They were both sublime. So sorry I didn't take photos of the plate for you, but here's the link. (I did snatch their webphoto to show you where we were sitting; next to the last window from the end.)
For starters we had soup. That is Butternut Squash Soup With Truffle Oil. Dh isn't thrilled with squash and was expecting me to order a minestrone, but it was good enough that he ate it anyway. For the main course we had Oven Roasted Free Range Chicken Breast Stuffed with Taleggio & Prosciutto, Served with Scallop Potatoes, & Pan Jus for him and Pan-seared halibut Served with Lemon Mash Potatoes, Asparagus and gravy. I didn't care for the asparagus sauce, but it kept to the left side of the plate while I delicately devoured the right, middle, front and back sides. Oh my goodness. The pan seared top stayed crispy even after being smothered in "juice". Cheered on by the tastebuds, we went for the strawberry rhubarb crumble. He ate it all, but I wished I'd gone for the Boca Negra Moist Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake, Whipped Cream & Nut Florentine. Next time.
It's happening! Hurrah! Hurrah! Dh and I are finally going away on a munchkins free weekend! We don't care to waste one minute on tickets or travel, so we stay right here in Portland. There is sooo much to see and do right in our own backyard. I'll take you on a photo tour next week. I can't wait! (Can you tell?)
To celebrate, I made these sweet mini bags, his and hers. I knew you'd love them too.
I can make one to celebrate your trip too. Just send me a note with colors you like, and I can whip it up. I can make one any size you'd like and can even fit mini tickets (such fun to make) proclaiming the place you are going with your travel mate(s)!
Last weekend we walked the street in downtown Portland and saw something from my college days. I recall strolling the streets in a tiny town in Nebraska and having hundreds of these crunch under foot. One of my munchkins was delighted with them and their "hats". He stuffed his pockets, determined to take them back to the squirrels at Deer Haven.
Oh my goodness, I just have so much on my mind to share with you this week. But first, a heads up on the pony shirts. If you've been thinking about getting one of these for any little girl in your circle, do it now. When I last looked, there were only two left. Two. I don't know when I will be hand printing more, and if I do, they will be different shirts because I have to find a new supplier stateside. I think that there are only one or two more onesies as well. (One of my FAVORITE lime green ones. Don't know how that one missed getting on the market for so long.)
Next, if you wish for anything handmade (think custom) with artwork on it and wish for it to arrive before Christmas or other end-of-the-year holiday etc., now is the time to contact me. I don't like to think about those things before Halloween is over, however, I do have to schedule handmade delights.
Speaking of custom, a beautiful package arrived at Deer Haven this week. It is a glicee by Paola, from "over the pond". I love her black and white photography, so charming, with an old-world feeling.
It was lovely and cheered me up after a long week with an overambitious munchkin. Munchkin decided that repairs must be made on the roof of munchkin's second story tree house. (He's not allowed that high) so, of course, he lost his footing. Thus, we spent time in the hospital with said munchkin. Much to all of our relief, he's simply sore. (Sore?!) Yes, sore.
All further roof repairs are halted until rock pile etc. have been removed.
Naturally, I've since felt the extreme need for chocolate, prayers, and more chocolate, to cope. From Moonstruck Chocolate, we had the pyramid, milk on the outside, truffle on the inside, very soothing. From my kitchen, a chocolate cupcake with melted Guittard chocolate chips for the icing. My dh almost lost it though when I threw a package of Hostess donuts in the grocery cart though. (I'm the one who reads the labels, no corn syrup, MSG, hydrogenated oils.) But hey, it's been a long week, and chocolate is chocolate.
Can you recall bedtime stories? The ones that always ended happily as your parents knew you'd be in their bed in an hour if they veered too far into the darkness of reality? Once started, my munchkins drew stories from me night after
night. Princes and princesses, gigantic castles, horses bearing knights, mysteries explored... They questioned me the other day about the ending to a story of long ago which had never been resolved. I replied that I'd have to illustrate it and write it up for them some day. Well, the first drawing of "some day" is here, with the introduction to "Rose" of Rosemoor fame. My oldest munchkin lit up when introduced, as if meeting her for the first time, the girl who played in the dark night of his childhood bedroom.
The fog came rolling over the hills this morning, clouds nearly close enough to touch. The moon was huge and beautiful tonight too, but the haze was so bad that nothing I shot is good enough to post. I'm wondering if haze in the morning means haze at night here...
I'm also in the mood for tea. The Dutch (much like we think about the English) know how to do tea right. And often.
They say that every story has two sides. But if you don't know the story at all, it could have many different angles. Tell me what you think about this little sketch, and I'll let you know what I was thinking, next Thursday.
