Loving the Pacific Northwest

On Saturday, October 1 Allan wrote...

Becky and I have been in Kalama, WA for exactly two weeks now. We're enjoying the picturesque scenery replete with mountains (The Cascades), the Columbia River in the distance and countless towering Douglas Fir trees with branches so thick they stand like giant, bristly brushes ready to scrub the sky. Or something like that.

One foggy morning around 7AM. A beautiful day followed.

Columbia River at the Kalama river walk area. Late afternoon.

The two dogs and cats we're caring for are sweet and affectionate little guys.  One of the cats has befriended me and claimed my lap and my shoulder as a couple of his preferred places to hang out. Diesel, the retriever mix (see pics on prior post), is a giant puppy in temperament. He seeks out affection at every turn, loves to run like the wind and is a big-time grass eater on his daily walks. Guess he's at least part vegetarian. Sandy, in spite of her age, is spry, active and accustomed to getting up close and personal -- standing with front feet on your lap while she gazes into your eyes as if she's just found her new BFF.

Today we went to one of Portland's seven farmer's markets. It's on the campus of Portland State University and thus is known as the PSU Farmer's Market. See portlandfarmersmarket.org for much more info. It's not as big as the Fiere Libre market in Ecuador, but had a decidedly different feel.

Almost everything here is organic, free of all chemicals. Locally grown.

For those who love meat, this guy has it all.
We passed on the meat but have to admit that
we were curious about the yak and elk.

Here we had a "Moneyball" breakfast. Shitake mushroom gravy
over delicious biscuits with an egg over easy topping it off.

Yes, a different feel...

There is something about Portland. It feels like a throwback to earlier days in this country when people smiled at one another as they passed on the street. Where no one is a stranger. On the free streetcar ride yesterday we watched a woman sit down next to a man and strike up a lengthy conversation about cats, just as if they'd known one another for a long time. That doesn't happen on the subway in NYC. Or on the MARTA train in Atlanta. Drivers motion you to "go ahead, take the turn" to let you into traffic. Shop owners are always ready to chat. People here are polite and friendly. Just this week there was a newspaper article about descendants of Lewis and Clark, of expedition fame, who decided to make amends to indigenous American Indians for thefts committed by the original Lewis and Clark hundreds of years ago. The little Portland newspaper has an entire column dedicated to charitable events happening this week, highlighting socially conscious people doing things to help their brothers and sisters--with complete details on how you can get involved. Finally, yesterday while we were eating lunch at a Bridgeport Brew Pub, Becky started a conversation with a waitress about her beautiful hair. Another customer, a lady sitting by herself at the next table joined in. After a few minutes of discussion about shopping, this lady named Jane offered to drive us to her personal favorite shopping area in the 23rd Avenue district. And she did, saving us a half-hour walk. When we arrived at the shopping district Jane showed us how to take the streetcar back to where our car was parked. Sorry to say, that would probably never happen in Atlanta. Not the "striking up the conversation in the restaurant" part, nor the "I'll drive you there" part. THANK YOU Jane.

Yep, it's different than the ATL.  I like it a LOT.  

I'm just  beginning to find the great food here. Becky and I had lunch yesterday at Bridgeport Brew Pub (which, BTW, runs its own charitable activities). Check out www.bridgeportbrew.com for info. I was tempted by the "meat pie," as I've got an on-going interest in what is commonly called "Shepherd's Pie." But I stuck to my veggie dietary focus and decided to go for the "Vegan Extravaganza" (not their words) and ordered one.  

It's what I call the "Veggie Extravaganza"
Sooo good.

I'm glad I did. If you read any of Carlos Castaneda's books about don Juan back in the 1970's, you might remember how Carlos described don Juan's eating habits. He said that don Juan became totally focused on his food and its eating. Nothing interfered. Nothing intervened. The great master, don Juan, was eating...and doing nothing else. That's how this meal was for me. Lots of "live" food including kale, black beans, corn, avocado, peppers, quinoa, sweet potatoes, a bit of soy and more--all heated to perfection.  Deliciouso!

Yesterday while in Portland we also went to Powell's bookstore. Amazing place. Becky picked up a few art books at great prices, while I succumbed to a Robert Heinlein scifi story I don't think I read 30 years ago: Tunnel in the Sky. The store has several stories in two buildings. Here's a map of the store. It came in really handy because the place is huge.

Powell's Bookstore gettin' around map. Amazing place.

We wrapped up the day in downtown Kalama where Becky did some antique shopping and found some neat stuff. Kalama is a small town but it's got several antique shops, a grocery, a Subway, a liquor store, drug store, Poker Pete's (super pizza place) and all the basic things one could need. Here's a look down "Main Street."

Kalama WA main street

That's all for now. Time to stir up some of that great food we bought today at the PSU Farmer's Market!

House Sitting - Day 1 in Kalama, WA

On Sunday Allan wrote...

Once again the anticipation and waiting for a certain date has "reached fullness," as Michael Valentine Smith said in Stranger in a Strange Land. This week we traveled from the hot-box that is Atlanta to the cooler climes of Kalama, WA to house sit for almost seven weeks. Our hosts, who left yesterday on a nation-wide grande voyage trip to visit friends and relatives, greeted us Friday night with a great "meet the neighbors" get-together.  They've been very thorough and thoughtful. They gave us a complete tour of their home and property; left us a "quick start" document that details all the workings of their house; a variety of flyers outlining things to do in the area; a link to their travel blog; and a vehicle to use while they're away.  I can't imagine any host being more thoughtful and welcoming.

This morning at 7AM I let the cats and dogs out, fed them, walked the dogs (although didn't make it to the top of the 34% grade that runs 1.5 miles up the "foothills"), brushed them, cooked breakfast, chowed down and...now...will get back to some writing jobs that have been waiting for a quiet day. I think the animals are all ready to lazy around on this rainy afternoon.

Diesel is stretched out under the dining room
table, at my feet, as I type.

Sandy has her favorite place downstairs and is just relaxing.

Bernie (left) and Cinder are recovering from a busy
morning hunting. Cinder was seen with something brown
in her mouth as she crossed the back yard early this morning.

On Sunday Becky wrote...




Allan and I have care of the home and pets, and we are getting down the routines our hosts requested.  We feed the dogs--walk the black lab mix Diesel and little blond dog Sandy in early mornings, brush them and give them a treat.  Bernie and Cinder are gentle, mature cats, who hunt and prowl and then nap indoors part of the day.  They sit on our laps at night for TV watching.  One big yellow/white and the other dark gray.


The environment this morning is so quiet, I can hear only rain draining off the roof, the dog's breath, and this keyboard right now.  Neighbors, a dozen of which we met at the cookout welcome, are widely spread out over Green Mountain acreage, some of the homes upscale, mansion-style.  Friendly people at first, and then friendlier after a few more drinks. (I provided Red Diamond and Bogle Merlots, and we drank it all up.)


The landscape around this beautiful modern cabin is heavenly with the giant Douglas firs, rolling mountain views that seem endless. The whole property is surrounded by dark rail 3-slat fencing, nice for the dogs. Plenty of pasture land, tall wheat grasses, and sitting areas on every side of the house, including around the workshop and office building about the same size as the house and just as pretty.  Amber colored wood paneling makes up the entire 3-level house inside and outside.  LaDonna is a Master Gardener, and has tastefully arranged pebbles, creek rocks, boulders, moss, and varying ground covers in and around her flower gardens, making it appear as though it has all been here forever.
I'll be brushing up on my watercolor painting skills, since this medium required the least bulk of tools and paints to pack and transport.  Everything around here already looks like a watercolor painting, so it should not be too difficult to get the hang of the watery medium over the next six weeks.  Visually, it's pretty much perfect here. The temp high is about 70 degrees today, and we aren't using heat or a/c.  We have a wood stove in the downstairs TV room and a shed full of aged wood that has that pungent woody scent all of us has enjoyed in our fireplaces (that is, before we switched to gas logs)....


The towns around our Green Mountain retreat are small--2,000 to 36,000 population and only 9 to 20 miles away. We are very near Mt. St. Helen's volcano park and will visit on the next sunny day this week.  We will be taking pictures in the next few days when it is predicted to be sunny and mild.  Doug says it rains here about 60 percent of the year, so we have to be patient for those blue sky days, but when the light finally shines on us, it is worth the wait.


Carry on, Southerners.  Talk soon.