Project 365: May 21st through May 27th

May 21st: Dinner at Marrakesh with Jen Earp - and we were the only people there.

May 22nd: Sun garden and fence completion. I also added some new stone, plants and rearranged other stuff.

May 23rd: On our way home from Ikea my little Bernie broke a part which is on order. We got a tow from the nicest guy though - thanks for the lift Wil Kaplan! And, as always, thanks be to my car goddess for finding the problem fast and working to fix it. Ahhh the joys of owning a car two years older than me!

May 24th: Salty’s on the Columbia Willamette Valley Vineyards Winemaker’s Dinner Don Crank the winemaker for WVV, Chef Josh Gibler of Salty’s, Beverage Manager of Salty’s Megann Williams and Derek the sales manager for WVV in Oregon.

First course: variety of cheeses, fruits, breads and Prosciutto wrapped melon paired with WVV Dry Rose of Syrah/Tempranillo 2011. Second Course: Orange and Chili Rubbed Colossal Tigar Prawns with Pinot Gris poached pear, crispy Pancetta and Local Arugula paired with WVV Pinot Gris 2009. Entrée: Pan Seared Copper River King Salmon with Yukon Potato Gratin, Crispy Morels, Proscuitto wrapped baby artichoke and a Pinot Noir Reduction paired with South Block Pinot Noir 2008 (this wine is not available any longer and is VERY tough to find but amazing).

Desert: Ricotta Cheese, orange zest, pistachios and fruit compote paired with Quinta Reserva “Port Style” Pinot Noir 2008 (another wine you can not longer find).

May 25th: More work on the yard. Patrick covered the old chicken pen with lattice to hide the veggie garden and our compost. I moved the evergreen clematis and also rehung the purple clematis and honeysuckle from the new lattice work on the old fencing.

May 26th: New blooms - and here in the front gardens my black and purple iris have started blooming.

May 27th: The last of the Spring bulbs are almost done like this stunning red anemone. I still have a few purple ones left - definitely plant anemones since they provide a lot of bang for your buck!

Project 365: May 14th through May 20th

May 14th: Patrick finished our gorgeous new gate!

May 15th: This is the long hall at work which separates our two offices - one which holds the underwriting staff plus our doc department. The other side our a huge pile of loan officers and IT folks.

May 16th: What a gorgeous ass! Thanks to my amazing mechanic my car has a new top and looks even prettier!

May 17th: Iris...in dark purple.

May 18th: Marrakesh for Jennifer's birthday before heading off to Voicebox Karaoke.

May 19th: Sushi dinner with Wendy, Danelle, Erynn and Amber Rose.

May 20th: The pile...to start the next projects...

Project 365: March 12th through March 18th

March 12th: Dinner at Richard Keck's and he made us tasty appetizers too!


March 13th: Flower delivery one from the first day at my new job thanks to Melissa and Mathias. Beautiful African violets.


March 14th: My poor car woke up with snow on it...


March 15th: The second round of flower deliveries to my desk to start my first work week off from Patrick.


March 16th: Jello shots with the girls for Beth's birthday thanks to Ms Amber - also joining in the shot round was Heather & Tracy.


March 17th: Two of my favorite Irishmen...my husband and my BFF from college who is one hell of a tattoo artist, bartender (this bar is Del's creation in their home btw - site of an evening filled with Irish carbombs), and is hysterical when plowed. We happily drove to Yacolt to visit some of our favorite people to celebrate Del and Patti's birthdays.


March 18th: I spent the day weeding even through a rain storm and three hail storms. I did get a large amount of the front yard finished though so if you look to the far right of the photo I was able to get the weeding done all the way past the little stone path to the faucet.

Project 365: August 29th through September 4th

August 29th: Wine and red... I brought my dear friend Lisa Marie takeout so we could catch up in between her filling custom corset orders galore. I love her apartment - it is such a calming space.


August 30th: Picking up my car from its new mechanic. Note the ninja who has been baking in the sun for five years so his paint was completely sun bleached. This was a gift from my dear friend Jenna to my car a great number of years ago.


August 31st: Breakfast with Jen and Pete: Custard style French toast with powdered sugar and hazelnuts; cream cheese, spinach and tomato eggs; bacon and juice.


September 1st: Repainting the Rostyle wheels on my MG Midget which had become rather rust laden after a five year sit. Here is the before...


I might mention I did this freehand. And after...


September 2nd: Honey beige was the color of the day...and what a beautiful color it was! Helping Michele and Greg paint their new living room and family room the day before their big move into their new home


September 3rd: A wonderful lunch at Sinju in Bridgeport Village with Jen, Marissa, Jen's mom and Jen's aunt. Note the giant ball of wasabi.


September 4th: My poor little ninja has been painted fresh and will be returned to hang from my rear view mirror in my MG. Isn't he cute :) Since he was a gift to my car from Jenna it is only appropriate she was the first to ride in Bernie.


September 4th: My beautiful sunflowers which were a gift from my husband to celebrate our second wedding anniversary.

Pedicures, Wandering and Cars with the Voom

A few weeks ago I had some excellent me time which I am lucky. I get alot of me time but I do not always get photos of it.

A dear friend I have known 14 years graduated from college after 11 years, having three children, buying a house and getting married. She has been a bit busy but to spite all the odds, she has her degree and all of us are very proud of her. Me and another dear friend decided to treat her to brunch, desert and pedicures for the afternoon. While wandering around in Northwest Portland I saw so many beautiful things between houses and gardens...even people.

A simple rose yet so complex...the colors are almost their own entity.


This garage was amazing and alive...look at those ferns...


I fell in love with this person's garden - it was overflowing and the stone path is such a fabulous addition...


St John's Wart...


Papa Haydn has the most amazing deserts. Me, Dana and Danelle had a wonderful brunch there and took our desert to go. But, the pedicures and wine began...


And out came the sugar...and we did pass each others around which were all amazing but we each liked our own the best which was perfection!


Thank you Dosha for my pretty toes!



And here are two bonus shots from me taking my car in to get the trunk worked on. I tried to convince the owner of the shop that my burgundy MG Midget had tranformed into this but he, strangely enough, was not going for it.


Here is my car though and a stunning Triumph in the background the men just finished restoring.

Project 365: June 21st through June 27th

I apologize for my absence and that I have to post two weeks worth from the 365 Project. Do enjoy and I will have more garden pictures very soon as well.

June 21st: Lupines finally blooming!


June 22nd: "Not for use on people"....ummm....this was in my doctor's office...


June 23rd: Me and Patrick made a new friend in our garden...I know they are not good for my plants but damn it they are cute so they live.


June 24th: Taking the MG in to get the trunk fixed to British Auto Works.


June 25th: Volunteer recognition for the suicide hotline at Ernesto's Italian restaurant. These were our souvenirs.


June 26th: This amazing rum and fruit tart Michelle made for our wine party which was cut and served with perfection by Eric, Ms Lisa Marie's date.


June 27th: Eating deserts from Papa Haydn, drinking tasty wine and having pedicures at Dosha with Danelle and Dana to celebrate Dana graduating from college.


June 27th: Our bathroom remodel complete...finally.