Good morning from chilly, but not rainy, Portland.
I surveyed my front and back patios to see if the leaves had taken over.
So far, the score is 1-1.
A friend loaned me a leaf blower so I have an advantage.
I hate using a leaf blower…so loud plus, I can use the exercise. Still, I am grateful to have it for the sidewalk and driveway.
When I am not in a hurry, raking leaves makes me slow down and smell the leaves.
Continue reading “Saturday Morning November 12, 2022”I am so close to resolving my window shade problem.
For several months, I battled Hunter Douglas and Home Depot for replacement of defective shades.
Four of the five shades fell apart and could not be repaired.
I paid a workman to take them down and bought temporary paper shades to cover my windows and protect my furniture and hardwood floors from the blazing sun.
So, instead of custom shades from Hunter Douglas in my living room, I had paper shades. Really sad!
Continue reading “Crossing the finish line”I love black beans.
I buy small containers of black beans from a local Cuban restaurant.
They are good but expensive. Plus, the restaurant is far away, adding the feeling of a pilgrimage to buy them.
I could eat one container in one sitting, but I stretch the beans by adding them to burritos, salads, or rice. Sometimes, I do eat them plain. They are so good.
Yesterday I decided I would break the cycle and cook my own black beans from scratch.
Dried organic black turtle beans sell for $3.99 a pound at my grocer, less than the cost of one small container of cooked beans.
I approach this with trepidation.
I have not had good luck cooking black beans. Probably too much liquid or too little attention to the beans as they cooked resulting in mushy, flavorless beans.
To begin this rustic cooking journey, I measured one cup of dried beans and soaked them overnight in the refrigerator.
This morning I rinsed them and tossed any questionable beans.
While the beans drained in a colander, I toasted cumin, smoked Spanish paprika and a few chili flakes for less than a minute. The smell was incredible.
Then I added the beans and water, bringing them to a boil.
Now they are simmering with the lid halfway over the pot, a compromise to covering or not covering the pot.
Wish me luck!
All shall be well, and
All shall be well, and
All manner of thing shall be well.
Julian of Norwich, English mystic and author of Revelations of Divine Love
This was one the first thing I read this morning,
Even before leaving my bed.
These simple words comforted me.
Simple words written over 600 years ago.
Political scandal and upheaval here and around the world.
Epidemics that just keep coming.
The world on fire, the world flooding.
Unease and distrust among neighbors and citizens.
The constant drumbeat of urgent requests for political donations.
Feeling guilty when I enjoy the pleasures of my life.
Feeling tearful and upset that I don’t know how “to fix” the world.
All manner of thing shall be well.
All shall be well.
I will do my best to make it so.
Today is the first day of a three-day weekend for most Americans.
On Monday, July 4th we celebrate Independence Day.
The day will begin with a neighborhood parade. It is sweet in the way that hometown parades often are. There are no flashy floats or celebrities, just local groups. You always see someone you know.
I walked in it one year along with members from my church. It was fun. The parade route was not very long but long enough that my feet started to hurt, thanks to my fashionable shoes. Ah vanity!
At the end of the parade, folks gather with kids in tow for ice cream, music, face painting, and best of all, a pie eating contest!
In the evening, we gather at the park for a concert and a laser light show.
But today is Saturday.
Chores and my little dog Riley are calling.
She needs a walk.
My house needs dusting, my garden needs watering and weeding.
I need to cook some vegetables and a pot of black-eyed peas.
I will sign off now and get busy so that I will have time to enjoy my weekend.
Thank you for reading.
Be well,
Lori
A warm weather favorite from Tea Bar in Portland, Oregon!
Decadent and healthy.
I love the peaceful Scandinavian decor found at all of the Tea Bar locations.
The locations are
1055 NW Northrup
Portland, OR 97209
503-227-0464
10am – 6pm Daily
4330 SE Division
Portland, OR 97206
503- 477-5896
10am – 6pm Daily
855 SW Yamhill
Portland, OR 97209
503-719-7577
*Temporarily closed*
1615 NE Killingsworth
503-477-4676
*Temporarily closed*
Slow start this morning.
Slept in until 8. Unusual for me.
Now on my second cup of coffee.
Cloudy skies, cold and damp outside.
My dog is sleeping by the fire.
This could be a dreary day.
I can’t give in.
My antidote
Turn on lights,
Tune into some happy, upbeat music.
Do little household projects to get moving.
Dust and water inside plants.
Text my sons.
Text my friends.
Send a thank you note to the emergency clinic staff who saved my dog’s life.
Send a thank you note to my two new doctors who are taking excellent care of me.
Play with my dog.
Gather my art materials and create a masterpiece. 🙂
Wow! So many ways to feel happy, connected and creative.
It’s amazing— just writing this post energized me.
Happy day to my blogging buddies! What are you doing today?
~Lori
It’s funny how you remember people.
Take Linda.
I thought of her today.
She is not a friend, a neighbor, not even an acquaintance.
Her number is not in my phone.
I don’t know what she looks like, who her children are, if any.
She is a random person in my life from years ago.
I had one encounter with her.
I don’t remember where it was.
I remember the day.*
I remember her talking to me.
I did not answer. I may have nodded. I’m not sure.
My head hurt.
I felt weightless. There was nothing tying me to earth.
Her words came from a distance.
You have tough times ahead. You must take care of yourself.
Over the years I have often remembered her words.
Unsolicited, barely acknowledged,
Granting permission to rest a bit,
To give up being in charge, in control, always needing a plan.
She reached out to a stranger in pain, in shock.
I am grateful.
~Lori
*The day I learned my Husband had a year left to live. In writing this post I wondered what made me think of Linda. Then I realized, tomorrow is his birthday.
Mid-morning last Thursday I tested positive for COVID.
Immediately, my healthcare system (Legacy) kicked into gear with amazing results.
A nurse called to talk about treatment.
I opted for the drug Paxlovid from Pfizer.
Next was a call from a pharmacist from the hospital.
We had a lengthy interview to review the side effects.
Then, he placed the prescription at the only drugstore near me that had the medicine.
Within minutes, the drugstore called to tell me the drug was ready for pick up.
My friend picked it up and I started treatment right away.
If you have ever worked with the medical system in the US, you know that it is generally slow with lots of waiting around. Not this time, not with COVID.
Happy news….my symptoms improved within 24 hours. I took three pills twice daily for five days.
The only side effect was a bitter taste in my mouth. Eating fresh fruit helped. It reminded me that my late Husband experienced a bitter taste after chemotherapy. Chilled, canned fruit in heavy syrup, something he would never have eaten before cancer, alleviated the yucky taste.
Today, I feel so much better and am planning to resume my normal activities.
Thank you Legacy Healthcare!
Thank you to the scientists who developed the tests, vaccinations and treatments.
Thus ends my COVID story.
Except…
Our job as a nation is to continue to send COVID tests, vaccinations and treatments to nations not as fortunate as we are.
Who’s not allowed on the back of my creme colored couch?
Lori Greer in Portland 