Speaking of summer.....what summer? It really hasn't shown up yet, but the humidity is reminiscent of our days in Miami!! We've had cloudy days, thunder storms, and chilly mornings and we're past ready for some dry summer weather. That's why the weekend trip to Bend was absolutely necessary! We loved Bend! We drove over Mount Hood, lush with dark evergreens, but the minute we got to the other side I could hardly believe my eyes! The gray overhang disappeared and in it's place were white puffy clouds and patches of blue! It was as if we'd driven into Arizona, but really we had just arrived in high desert territory. I'm amazed it was the same state! Bend was, of course, charming and quiet, but we had a fabulous sushi dinner in a beautiful restaurant on Wall Street. The next morning (on Wall Street) as we were walking back from coffee in the park JSM spotted Oliver Stone. I didn't believe him (although I should have because he is ALWAYS right!) and low and behold, we followed Oliver Stone right down to our hotel. He was staying at The Oxford, too! Life is funny sometimes.....since we were on Wall Street JSM had just been talking about how much he loved the movie Born on the Fourth of July!
A little perspective on the blue sky
I've forgotten what white puffy clouds look like. These were a nice reminder!
our hotel room at The Oxford
I love Phil!
Because of his diabetes we had to bring him! He didn't love the car ride, but I think he loved the luxurious digs! He made himself right at home...
We stopped for drinks at the local McMenamins Old St. Francis School. It was really a school. Now, it's a brewery, hotel, and restaurant all in one!
My sweet JSM
The librarian....always at work. Translated: looking up directions.
downtown Bend - so charming
Seriously, I haven't seen one of these since college!
Most beautiful store window at the best store ever - full of Frank Lloyd Wright and prairie-style items at
the "bend" in the river
the three sisters
lava
Beautiful!!
We made it home from Bend just in time to have a little barbecue for the 4th of July....It was just the two of us, but I still had time to make a cake to honor the day.
dahlias like firecrackers!
My full sheet cake for 2........ and the entire Papa Murphy's office the next day.
They may still be green, but the tomatoes are getting so big...
and the blueberries are coming up!
The ladies love JSM! He is taking excellent care of them and they are doing so well.....
In mid-July JSM and I celebrated our respective birthdays his on July 11th and mine on July 12th. Sadly, this year JSM was travelling and spent our birthdays in Minneapolis so I went to work and ate leftovers at 9 pm. - welcome to my world! Thankfully, we celebrated both before he left and after he got home so we really had an extra long birthday celebration! Bliss....
The annual double-birthday ice cream cake!
And most recently, my oldest, dearest friend came to visit me. KS, an eternally chic DC girl at heart finally made it out to the "other" Washington. We've been friends for 20 years this year! I can hardly believe I'm old enough to have had a friend for that long, but if I am, I'm certainly glad that she's the one. We met in high school French class and we've been in touch ever since.....we've wished each other many birthdays (2 days apart), been through too many apartments, terrible boyfriends, 2 weddings, a road trip, traveled many miles, written tons of letters, spent countless hours on the phone, and we can still pick up where we left off. What a wonderful friend! I'm blessed to have you, KS!! She was here for a 48 hour trip since she got a spanking new job (congratulations!) and had to check out an event in Salem. She saw Little House on Brush Prairie and had dinner with us and then the next night we had drinks and dinner in Salem. What fun! I wish she didn't have to leave so soon....can't wait to meet again, KS! (Which, if you're reading this, I'm hoping it's a wine weekend in the Willamette Valley!)
Girly drinks all grown up!
My beautiful friend!
This was just laying on the bar when we sat down....
So, I can guarantee it won't be a month before I post again. The garden is about to go off and I don't want you or I to miss it. I'm sure summer is going to show up. I know it will....I know it will and I'll make sure you're the first to know when it does. In the meantime, it's been a whirlwind month and I'm exhausted.....until next week!
For some reason only the first three pictures showed up, but I loved reading the commentary. Glad to hear you are both doing well and having fun! Would love to see the pictures too, so I will check back again to see if they will load.
ReplyDelete-Jen