Not monkey business at first…
Last November, three sisters and a couple of our spouses agreed to come to Naples, FL, in late February of this year to celebrate the 90th birthday of the last surviving member … Continue reading
sun & sea break from ice & cold
Gary and I decided in mid-November that our Christmas present to each other would be a Caribbean cruise. The series of four snowstorms–so far–began after that. The trip was definitely … Continue reading
End in sight?
It’s been a month since I posted anything because I’ve been working on my novel. I finished another five chapters: 42 pages, 12,735 words. I’ve now completed drafts of two of … Continue reading
Spectacular Scenery & Memorable Meals, Part 2
Spectacular scenery took center stage as we traveled north: part of the way by ferry on Sognefjord and part of the way by road, passing farms, forests, small villages, going further … Continue reading
Spectacular Scenery & Memorable Meals
I promise–this is my last report on our recent trip to Scandinavia, St. Petersburg and Torino. Looking at a map, one can see that the Scandinavian countries are bounded … Continue reading
Art All Around
There’s a great deal of art to be found at home, here in Portland; but it’s not so easy to find. My friend Sybilla Cook’s Walking Portland will help a lot. In … Continue reading
Kings & Queens/History & Politics
One’s head spins with the profusion of kings and queens whose inter-related and lavish lifestyles are proudly displayed in all the countries we visited, despite turbulent political upheavals over the centuries. Christian IV (1577-1648), … Continue reading
First, dodge the bullet
We realized nine years ago, when we nearly missed a flight to Italy to board a cruise ship, that we should always plan a couple of extra days at the … Continue reading
Back to Beacon Rock
We talked last winter of spending the entire month of July in a leisurely meander up the Columbia River to Lewiston, ID. In the event–as they say–what with family visits … Continue reading
And now for something completely different…
Nearly three years ago, my husband Gary noticed a small item in the paper announcing that an amphibious transport ship currently under construction in Pascagoula, MS, would be named after Portland, Oregon. … Continue reading
illuminate history 