Monthly Archives: July 2011

Crowds, Music and Ice Cream: The Mississippi Street Fair

I love going back to work on a Monday knowing that you made the most of your weekend. We had a great time living it up in the Sunshine. Favorite moments:

  • Group bike ride down to Mississippi ave for the street fair, including Mayumi’s first time on a bicycle in 10 years (and she stayed on!).
  • Catching the Star Wars Lego windows and Thomas being unable to cotain his excitedment.
  • Braving the crowds to make it down to Por Que No! (Spelling?) for lunch – and then finding a quieter table in the shade when the live music became just a little too loud (but the band was great).
  • Buying matching fairy wings for Samuel and Karin (blue for him and pick for her).
  • Ice Cream!
  • Sitting with my husband on our NEW DECK on a balmy Saturday evening, sipping beer and catching up. (Note: finishing touches still be made to deck but should be done this week)
  • FUN photo shoot with a family who won a session in an Auction fundraiser for Thomas’ school. Adorable kids and incredibly friendly parents.
  • Grocery shopping with Mayumi – she has now conquered her fear of New Seasons. (last week she went by herself and felt so overwhelmed that she left with only a bottle of Orange Juice).
  • Friendly people at the grocery store who remember Mayumi and Karin from their previous visit.
  • Playdate/birthday party at the park for one of Thomas’ school friends which included a gathering of parents who speak Japanese.

Of course, I also managed to take a few photographs of the festival, although the logistics of managing three kids (even with three adults) amidst an incredibly crowded street fair made it difficult. Next year I might have to find a little time to go by myself. So many wonderful photo opps that I missed.

Five Things Friday: Things to do With Portland Visitors

Every time we have people come to visit us in Portland, I am reminded of what a great city this is and all the wonderful things it has to offer. Here are five things that we love to do with visitors – and we have a LOT of visitors. Most are obvious (but the best things are), all are family-friendly and most are available year-round, despite the weather.

1. Oregon Zoo


We have paid for a membership to Oregon Zoo for a few years now and it’s one of the best investments we make each year. For the best Summer zoo experience, I recommend going mid-week and at 8am as soon as it opens. There’s nothing quite like walking around an almost-empty zoo and watching them get everything ready for the day. You may even catch a diver cleaning the inside of a sea lion tank.

2. The Oregon Coast Highway 101 Drive


You can’t beat the drive from Cannon Beach to Tillamook (or vice versa). The coastline is amazing and there’s plenty of lookouts to take a break and just breathe in the crisp coastal air. Personally, I love that the coastal rocks remind me of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and that we share the Pacific Ocean with my other two homes – Australia and Japan.

3. Washington Park


A little something for everyone – Japanese Gardens, Rose Garden, Playground and acres of green space and each season of the year offers something new to look appreciate.

4. Portland Farmers’ Market


Thanks to a Farmers’ Market boom over the last few years, they are dozens of markets to choose from all across the city. When we’re feeling adventurous (and ready to face the crowds) we venture to the one that started it all on the North Park blocks in downtown Portland.

5. Downtown Portland Icons


OK, I’m cheating a little with this one but I couldn’t narrow it down to just one downtown Portland location. My favourite places for a day in the city:

  • Pioneer Courthouse Square – for people watching and, apparently, the occasional techno dance party (as seen last weekend)
  • Powell’s City of Books – you can literally get lost in there. An hour or so in the children’s book section is a great way to spend a rainy Portland day.
  • Waterfront park – a hive of activity in the Summer, a wonderful place to watch the Sakura in Spring and a great walking and biking trail year-round.
  • Finnegan’s toys – If you have kids and want to empty your wallet.
Bonus Summer Activities
  • Star Wars lego display in the windows of Sunlan (strangely interesting little lightbulb shop) on N Mississippi Ave.
  • Running through fountains – there are a number around the city. I like Jamison Square (when it’s not too crowded) or even one of the small ones that can be found at many local parks.
  • Portland Sunday Parkways – streets close down to cars around the city and open for bikes. A great day!

I know I’ve missed some key locations (Hood River, waterfalls, Sauvie Island just to name a few) and, honestly, I’m looking for suggestions while we have visitors over the next few months. Please leave yours in the comments.

 

Because Nothing Says “Welcome to America” Like Giving a Two-Year-Old a Flammable Object

Mayumi and Karin were fortunate to arrive in America just days before that big, loud holiday we call Independence Day. It afforded them the perfect opportunity to immediately experience some of the basics of American culture – BBQ, Beer and Fireworks.

We hadn’t planned on a July 4th get together (our deck is still a work in progress)  but, when our friends canceled their weekend getaway plans, we decided to host an impromptu, low key event in our front yard. Leftover pasta salad, pre-made Kebabs and a little grilled Salmon made it a quick and easy spread for 9, so we were able to truly enjoy each others’ company and the fantastic sunshine.

As much as I want our deck to be finished, there is something wonderful about hanging out in our front yard. It seems if you sit there long enough you will have the opportunity to say hello to every single neighbor at one time or another. Some of them stayed for a Popsicle, others to watch our small (legal and child-safe) fireworks display and then others said a quick hello before moving on to their own July 4th celebration. The best part was that Mayumi and Karin were able to meet nearly everyone without having to endure a big party or millions of household visits. And when they went to the park on their own the next day, they were surrounded by our friends instead of a bunch strangers.

Of course the highlight of any July 4th get together is the fireworks. While our neighbors impressive show (purchased across the border) did not start until after dark, we held our own mini show at the child friendly time of 7pm. Sure, the sun was in the middle of the sky, but fun was had by all nonetheless. And the kids were in bed asleep by 9pm. Perfect!

And then after bedtime the real light show began. It’s the wonder the kids were able to sleep at all.

 

Almost Wordless Wednesday: The Karaoke Collection Grows

Taking a moment from the Karin/Mayumi photo fest to share a few photos of a recent Karoke evening. It seems that this has become a regular event, thanks largely to ringleader (and singer extraordinaire), LeeAnn. My collection of Karaoke photos is growing so large that I think I see a Karoake photo book in my future.

Photos have been selected carefully to protect (and flatter) the innocent.

Guess this song

And then someone else picked up the camera so I am obliged to post just one photo of myself. My favorite part of the photo is the lyric on screen. Perfect.

OK – guess I made it into the background of this one too.

Great times.

And Then the Sun Came Out…

After weeks (months!) of rain, the sun finally decided to show it’s face in Portland this weekend. We celebrated by continuing to show Mayumi and Karin around the city. In hindsight, probably not the best choice for the 4th of July/Portland Blues Festival/first nice weekend of the year. Still, we had a great time catching the train downtown and then navigating the  the crowds, to sneak in a little waterfront fountain time and a walk to Pioneer Square. (Note to the Tourism Center: you need to stock more maps and materials in Japanese).

Making use of our Joovy double stroller again for the first time in at least a year. Came in very handy for toting at least two children at a time and sometimes even three.

The kids were a little hesitant about the fountain at first but as you can see, they soon got in the spirit. As difficult as it is to photograph in full sun, I love that we finally get to experience a few harsh shadows.

Oh, and temporary tattoos are big in our house. In case you were wondering about those unsightly marks all over my children.

And you can’t call it a trip to the Rose City without saying hello to at least one Beaver…

…or posing with a few local icons (Sapporo: 4,456 miles)

Such a fun day, harsh shadows included.

She Calls Him Oniichan

Thomas has really taken Karin under his wing. Sometimes she calls him Oniichan (big brother), other times Tomodachi (friend). He talks to her in Japanese and seems to understand almost everything she says. It’s sweet and more than I expected from this three-day-old relationship. They are kindred spirits.

Of course we’re also dealing with some jealousy issues from Samuel, mainly because his brother is more likely to spend time with someone who follows him around and does everything he wants her to do. Samuel is not that child, but, slowly, he and Karin have begun playing together. He calls her his little sister.

Right now all three of them are playing nicely upstairs. I’m enjoying it while it lasts.

On a side note, Samuel fell down the stairs this morning. I watched from above as he went head over tail down about 10 steps and then hit his head on the closed door at the bottom. Samuel gained a huge bump on his head, I lost about three years of my life. We drove to the emergency room but decided on the way that, since he didn’t lose consciousness and was talking and laughing by the time we got there, that we were better off spending our time watching him at home to make sure he’s OK than sitting in a waiting room.

Three years of age is a dangerous time. This is the third fall that Samuel has had in as many days. I’m pretty sure he’s having a growth spurt and it’s contributing to his clumsiness. I just hope he regains his footing soon for my own health as well as his.

It was difficult to capture it in a photo, but I assure you that the bump was immediate and very impressive.

Life with Karin: Day Two

I’ll be posting a lot of photographs over the next few months so consider yourself warned. It’s not only because I suddenly have a new, adorable, photo subject (although that’s a big motivator), but also because I hope to use this blog to share pictures of Karin and Mayumi with their family back in Fukushima.

Mayumi and I spent her first night in our house talking about her experience in Japan after the Tsunami – she in her broken English and me in my VERY broken Japanese. She talked about how the playgrounds in her neighborhood were empty due to the fear of radiation. How Karin no longer took afternoon naps because she didn’t get enough physical activity to tire her out. How they never left the house except to run errands.

So, after a sleep-in to recover a little from Jet Lag, I took Mayumi and Karin to the park. It was the most perfect Portland day. After weeks and weeks of grey skies and rain, it seems the sun had appeared just to welcome Mayumi and Karin to Portland.

We walked past the rose garden and as the smell of the flowers hit our noses, we both shed a tear. Mayumi, because she was outside with her child for the first time in months, and me because I realized how much I take for granted and how thankful I am that one small child (a child I didn’t even know two days ago but already love as my own) is able to play outside without fear of illness. If it sounds dramatic, it’s because it IS dramatic.

And I think the look on this child’s face tells the rest of the story…

 

Five Things Friday: Inspirational Photo Books (Plus Three on My Wishlist)

I have an obsession with photography books – instructional, inspirational, historical, educational – you name it and I have at least one (or three) taking up space on on my book shelf. One of my favorite activities is to sit outside with a glass of wine and flick through pages and pages of other people’s photographs. Heaven!

So today I share my top 5 photography books, chosen for their ability to make me want to go out and start taking better photos immediately – plus three more that I currently have sitting in my Amazon shopping cart.

Note: While I have a TON of educational books, they are not included on this list. That’s a whole other post.

1. The Photo Book, edited by Phaidon Press

This books is like an encyclopedia of photography, featuring 500 photographers, each with one photograph and a short blurb about their background. This book is so big that I never fail to find something new every time I pick it up. I recommend the hardcover, full size version.

2. The Contact Sheet, by Steve Christ

Sometimes the most fascinating photographs are the ones that didn’t make the cut.  This book takes a look at some of Western culture’s most iconic photos and shows them in their original photo sequence. It’s fascinating to see the photos that nearly made the cut and those that were not even close. The best things is that you will not always agree with the photographer’s choice which highlights the subjective nature of art.

3. The Great LIFE Photographers, by Editors of Life

Anyone who reads this blog knows how much I love a photograph that tells a bigger story. I also have a passion for history (Little known fact: I have a teaching degree, majoring in History and Psychology. Not that I’ve ever really used it…) LIFE magazine employed some of the most talented photographers in the world to capture some of the most amazing stories of the 20th century and shares a profile of each and every one of those photographers in this book. I bought it on a whim at Costco and have read it cover to cover at least twice (although, in fairness, more pictures than words). Fascinating read and a visually stunning representation of 20th century history.

4. The Photo Album, By Frankie Magazine

I adore Frankie magazine. My sister-in-law introduced me to it in Australia but, sadly, shipping costs make it a little too expensive to justify a subscription. One of the best things about the magazine is their wonderful photography which is often a little vintage and a little quirky. This book features photos submitted by amateur and professional photographers who share the Frankie aesthetic. I love the simple, clean design of the book and the way the images are often unexpected and unusual.

5. National Geographic Image Collection

Pure eye candy – amazing images from from the collection separated into the categories of Exploration, Wildlife, People & Culture and Science & Climate Change. You’ll recognize some of the photos while others are being shared for the first time in this book. I dare you not to be inspired the moment you open it.

And Three More…

Although my desire for inspiration is endless, my budget is not. These books have been sitting in my Amazon shopping cart for some time and are just waiting for me to build up enough rewards points on my corporate credit card so I bring them home where they belong.

  1. Annie Liebowitz At Work – A career I envy.
  2. Vivian Maier: Street Photographer – not yet released but available for pre-order. You can preview some of the images that may be included in the book dedicated to this unsung street photographer here.
  3. The Polaroid Book: Selections from the Polaroid Collections of Photography (Taschen’s 25th Anniversary Special Editions) – I’m sure we’ll have a version of this for iphone photography in 20 years.

Please feel free to share your own favorites in the comments and help me load up my wish list.