Category Archives: Portland

Let’s Talk About the Weather

I know, I know – such a booooring topic, but with the curve balls that Portland has been throwing at us lately, it seems to be the conversational topic of choice.

Over the past few days we’ve seen snow, rain, hail, wind and sunshine. I really wish Spring would just decide to arrive early because when I’m looking for excitement, it’s not with the weather forecast.

Add to that the fact that they have had incredible flooding in Australia (my parents sandbagged the house) and devastating tornadoes across much of the US, and it just feels as though someone is playing one big joke to try and keep us on our toes.

Good thing I’m going to Austin on the weekend where the weather will be predictably sunny and warm… oh wait…

I’m suddenly re-thinking the tickets I purchased last night that will take me and the boys to Australia in June, otherwise known as Aussie Winter. I suddenly feel like jumping a plane to Hawaii.

Oh well, at this photos taken during our snow “sprinkling” last week are guaranteed to warm me up. Given you can see the grass through the snow, I don’t think it would be appropriate to call it “snowfall.”

Kei and Thomas managed to gather the little snow they could (along with leaves and dirt) to build a pretty sad snowman – but impressive given what they had to work with.

Samuel passed the time by asking Kei to hit him with snowballs (strange child).

As much as I hate the cold (and complain about it), I admit that it does make for some pretty pictures.

…but then, blue sky makes for pretty pictures as well. Too much to ask?

Snow. Meh.

Sharing a few photos from a January drive up Mt Hood in recognition of the “blizzard” I drove through on the way to work this morning. OK, not quite a blizzard. It was more like someone was playing a sick joke on all the schoolkids who have been waiting months for a snow day.

Me: “Hey guys, it’s snowing!”
Thomas: (Grunts) “I already know…”
Samuel: (Runs to the window) “Where?” (Sees snow) “Oh…”

My kids have become incredibly blase about the whole thing.

Someone’s Got A Case of The Mondays

Too many things on my plate today for a meaningful post so I’ll just share a few recent instagram pics from my new Tumblr account. I set up the account so I could easily share these pics through Facebook and Twitter – and keep them all in one place. It’s so convenient and easy to use and I’m hoping it inspires me to take more photos with my phone. I have been on a bit of a photography dry spell lately and I need something to get me out of this creative rut.



  1. Samuel (and his football) greeting me at the daycare fence.
  2. Window shopping on Mississippi
  3. Beautiful blue skies in Portland
  4. Ice covered car window in Bellevue
  5. Cool office lighting
  6. A storm descending on Seattle
  7. Sunset
  8. The blue tongue ring pop side effect
  9. Snow day humor in Bellevue

Here’s to a sunnier outlook for the rest of the week – literally and figuratively (apart from my dentist appointment on Wednesday – two fillings, ugh!).

P.S. I started this post a couple of hours ago and, since then, have had the opportunity to celebrate a little award (Best Interview Video) I won for a work video I produced last year. Cheers to that!

Today’s Photos of Not Quite a Snowstorm

It’s nice to look back at these photos I took on Sunday and laugh at the innocent naivety of children who think they were actually experiencing a snowstorm.

No kids, that wasn’t a snowstorm.

A snowstorm is what your mother is experiencing right now as she sits in an office in Bellevue, WA, obsessively watching the weather reports for signs that the roads will clear up just a little so she can return home today.

Of course if I lived in Ohio right now I’d be saying “that’s not a snowstorm…”

Welcoming the Year of the Dragon

As I return and recover from a quick trip to Las Vegas during which I I walked about 30 miles of the CES floor, I want to share a few photos from our weekend visit to the Japanese garden to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Of course a Japanese New Year leads to reflection of each of our own birth years – what they mean and how they may have shaped our personalities. A quick critique of my year – the year of the Rabbit:

  • Usually generous, friendly and tranquil by nature. (ummmm…ok…)
  • Rabbits like everything to be low key and even tempered and are anxious if forced to take risks. (that’s fair)
  • They enjoy paying attention to detail to create an ambiance in their lives. (I have no time for details)
  • Rabbits most often prefer the easy road. (OK, now we’re onto something…)
  • Rabbits are suited to careers in literature, art, design, public relations, counseling, advisory occupations and law. They also make good secretaries. (Stop right there! Secretary? I would be a terrible secretary. And where is Photographer?)

Regardless of the inaccuracies in my own zodiac, I am looking forward to the Year of the Dragon and I’m grateful we were able to welcome it in style amidst the beauty and tranquility of the Japanese gardens.

Thomas and his friend Camille jumped at the opportunity to practice their Japanese calligraphy. Thomas tried his hand at some Kanji…

…while Camille worked on a Dragon.

And then we watched the professionals create their own amazing works of calligraphy art.

With REALLY big brushes.

Wishing you a very happy year of the Dragon.

Happy Trails for Some – Back to Reality for Others

Sadly, I was not the one boarding a flight for Hawaii. Back for my first full day of work for 2012 and fully into the swing of things.

Trying hard not to feel too resentful of the three people I dropped at the airport earlier this week who are now likely soaking up the sunshine and sipping Mai Tais (well, the two who are of age anyway).

I will be heading down south for a little unexpected sunshine early next week – but it’s for a work trip so I’ll be catching glimpses through any window I can find while the sounds of poker machines play in the background.

I feel as though I haven’t had much time to reflect on 2011 and even look forward to 2012, so I think I’ll need to set aside a little time for that over the next few days. It would be a sad day indeed if I were to I plunge into a new year without a favorite photo of the year post – or maybe two. I’m working on it.

In the meantime, it’s back to reality and vicariously living my dream of a Mai Tai on the beach.

Come and Gone

So, after the opening of a few dozen presents, the eating of a fatted calf and the taking of many naps, the most eagerly anticipated day of the year has come and gone. I’ve been a little quiet around here while we enjoy a some time with this guy.

And these two.

We’ve also managed to squeeze in some bad guy thwarting…

And approximately 1542 costume/identity changes.

And, did I mention the presents?

So a belated Merry Christmas from the Ishidas – hope yours was filled with as much joy as ours. Back with more photos and stories from our Portland adventures with the Fisher-Flavels soon – right after I finish becoming acquainted with my new Kindle. 🙂

Five Things Friday: Link Me Up (and a beautiful sunrise)

Sharing a few things I came across online during a very busy week. You see, I will officially be on vacation at around 5:01 this afternoon and I had a lot to squeeze into a short 40 or so hours.

Still, I managed to find a few minutes here and there to seek out some online inspiration with a couple of WOW moments.

  1. A beautiful look back at 2011 (keep the tissues handy)
  2. A little (free!) recipe book that I had a hand in designing (look for my contributions next to the recipes from Australia and Portland)
  3. Christmas album #567 added to my collection. OK, not really #567, but I discovered I have a lot of Xmas music and this new one stands out because of the Muppets!
  4. A cautionary tale for the iPhone generation
  5. A wonderful story featuring random acts of book art

Now that my christmas shopping is all done, I am looking forward to weekend filled with relaxation and sloth like behavior – OK, not really. Still, there has been a great weight lifted from my shoulders that will be replaced by my to do list of laundry, grocery shopping and getting prepared for arrival of our guests on Sunday night. For fun, I’ll squeeze in a play date for the boys with some very special friends on Saturday afternoon and something Christmassy.

For now, I leave you with a photograph that I took when I dropped Samuel off this morning. I guess it pays to be a little early for school every now and then. (no comment on the fact that he has a MUCH better view than I do during the day).

Photo is straight out of the camera with just a little sharpening – pretty amazing.

Happy weekend!