Coffee and Sweet Tea

Fall is in the Air

2010-09-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

And so I've started baking.

Zucchini bread

Chocolate peanut butter cookies

Cornbread

Now I need these lovely little delights to make something I've been waiting for... ohhhhh it's gona be so good!

Late Summer/Early Fall

2010-09-07T15:35:00.000-07:00

I like this time of year.

Scarves

2010-08-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Our dear friend Alyssa, on coming back from the Middle East, has gifted each of us with a cool scarf. Josh's scarf, being, of course, a boy scarf, is a little tricky to put on correctly.

Alyssa helped me put it on, but things went a little wonky... then silly.

Around Town

2010-08-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

On our way to a Timber's U23 match, we walked past this.

Josh refused to stop and pose for a picture, so I snapped one when he glanced back.

How can you not take a picture with pretty much anything that's not usually life sized?

Two Years

2010-08-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

Love.

July!

2010-07-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Getting up to date!

July started out as lots of fun with outdoor adventures, and turned into less fun and lots of indoor... resting. I have been sick for about two weeks so that means laying on the couch. Not so productive. I still feel like there's lots going on,but I'm sad to be more or less missing it.

Camping - we went to central Oregon for the 4th of July extended weekend with some friends. Saw Saturn's moons and hiked a few rocks.

More soccer - for Josh! He's playing on our church's outdoor team in the local rec league. I haven't taken my camera to catch all the action. hehe.

River - had a sort of hike, sort of wade at a river half way between Seattle and Portland with my girls.

Beach - weekend at our friend Jordan's grandparent's beach house on Lincoln Beach. Met new friends and played lots of games. I have pictures of this but not time to post right now. Maybe later when I update more from July - because there is more fun to come, I'm sure.

June

2010-06-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

World cup.

Improving weather.

More soccer.

More flowers.

May

2010-05-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Ack! All this lack of blogging business is not good. Things have been busy and I've been devoting more blogging time to my floral design blog (even that has been neglected lately!) so this one has just been lacking.To catch up:

May was mostly full of flowers, potting, practicing music for Women's Retreat, and the start of many seasons: Soccer season (MLS), birthday season and farmers market season.

PSU farmers market:

Friend Abbie's birthday party:

Tori and I walking the labyrinth at Women's retreat:

Potted herbs (we have also potted a tomato, lettuce, and a pepper):

Art Projects

2010-04-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

Unforntunately I'm too busy for any art projects these days, but thankfully I have many friends who have the time (and classes) to make cool stuff!

Tori made me a sweet plate in ceramics, and also a bowl! I love them.

I used to sort of look on them as too pretty to use, but that's ridiculous.

I used the bowl to whisk eggs for my scrambled eggs on Saturday.

French day!

2010-04-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

I love French - the language, culture, food, fashion. ahhhh. mmm. I would have majored or minored in French in college if I hadn't already had a double major.

My friend Tori is starting to study French with hopes for going to France, so we've decided to have French days! We started with just watching a French movie. The moved on to going to a fantastic French boulangerie + watching a French movie. Hopefully next movie night will involve French dinner.

Outdoors and the Weekend

2010-04-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Guess what they now carry at the Portland Nursery that they did not carry two years ago?

Kumquat trees.

Grrr. Oh well, I love my culumnar apples, too.

Catching Up - NW Ministry Conference

2010-03-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Taking a little breather after listening to a comedian for a session - I wish you could see how our faces hurt from laughing.

Sitting in the sun between sessions:

Catching Up - Snow[boarding]

2010-03-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

I apologize for how long it's been since I posted a photoblog update. Here are some highlights from March, starting with the Night Church snow retreat.

Hanging out at the cabin in Government Camp:

Snow @ Ski Bowl:

More Re-Reading

2010-03-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

I found my last name in a beautiful book I'm rereading!
"The Chosen" by Chaim Potok Fawcett Books p169

More Design Drooling

2010-03-10T16:11:00.001-08:00

Second only to bathtubs comes my great love of fireplaces. I'm not even sure I can say that - I really love fireplaces. I love them both. Together, I would be in heaven!
Anyway, apartmenttherapy has an incredible fireplace (in an incredible house!) for us today. Incredible. Love it so much. Look at it and drool.

On Reading and Books

2010-03-10T14:02:00.001-08:00

Josh and I tend to read quite a bit.
I had started to feel like all we do is watch tv, but then when I sat and really thought about it, I think we've both read at least an average amount of books (for us), if not more, this year. I wish I kept some sort of running list, but that seems to be too much work.

And while I haven't been to the library in a while, I haven't been neglecting my literary side: I've taken to REreading. And I rather like it!

Cohabitating with another reader has meant a large increase in not only my library, but also my literary influences and range. Josh and I do lean toward a lot of the same books, but we have also have other tastes, so I've spent a lot of reading time in the last year on books that I probably would never have found or read on my own.

Then recently I branched out in a direction Josh will never go (vampire teen fiction - need I be more specific?). That added about oh... 2000 odd pages to my yearly reading. Then, to combat the quality (or lackthere of) of that genre, I read a few notable authors I hadn't tried yet, and then started in on the rereading.

Last week I reread "My Name is Asher Lev" (one of my favorites) and loved it all over again.
This week I reread "Out of the Silent Planet" and started on "Perelandra". It's been a while, but it never ceases to amaze me how much I can forget of a book.

Rereading is exciting. I recommend it.

and THIS

2010-03-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

On the design note...

I have this intense love affair with showers and bath tubs (not mine). When I find a fabulous one, or just a really different one, I drool - my heart rate goes up. European deck showers bring me such joy to even just look at, even a 1x2 inch picture in a magazine. Also, I love the idea of copper in the bathroom: sinks, tubs... today apartmenttherapy came through to brighten my day with some sick soaking tubs. Seriosly, I look at them and Long to hop in one.

Did you see the copper one? Copper.Clawfoot.Soaker. Dream tub.

Design

2010-03-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

Seriously, I spend so much time on design websites and looking at design magazines. I just love it. I don't really know why just looking at design is so enjoyable. Occationally I think of how much I would like to be actually designing or creating, rather than just absorbing, but for the time being (with my small, rented space and my office job) I just absorb and absorb and absorb - hopefully then one day I'll just squeeze it all out and surround myself with fabulous design.
Here's the design find of the day: it's pretty awesome. I can't actually decide if I love it or hate it - thanks, apartmenttherapy for always having something interesting to feed me.

Shocking, Right?

2010-02-24T22:40:00.001-08:00

So, tonight - for the first time in a long time - I was Domestic. That is with a capital D. Dinner, dishes, dessert. And laundry. And FOLDED it. In the same day. 2 loads. Got the mail. Vacuumed the kitchen floor.

Stolen.

2010-02-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

If you know me, you know I love hats. I love buying them, looking at them, owning them, wanting them, putting them on, taking them off.
As it turns out, lovely illustrator Garance Dore also loves hats! Here is a hat post I had to steal for you.

I'm still sad my beautiful grey slouchy hat is lost.

Valentine's

2010-02-14T15:45:00.000-08:00

Josh and I aren't really into the romantic Valentine's stuff. Since we've been together we've gone snowboarding, gone to the beach (in the snow) and gone for a hike. Well, and gone out for dessert. But we do that on other days, too. I think we use Valentine's day as a good excuse to do something outdoors. Maybe it's because Josh seems to consider Valentine's day to be "let Allison pick what we do" day. I'm down with that.

haha

2010-02-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

I found this while Josh and I were walking from our parking spot to NW 23rd one day recently.

I enjoy the use of two discarded items to create something new and interesting. Christmas tree + broken urn. I feel like it must be somewhat symbolic, if one were to think about it long enough. And I'm sure whoever decided to put their tree there enjoyed a good snicker.

Two for the Road, Grandpa

2010-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land
Where my possessions lie

All o'er those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day
There God, the Son forever reigns
And scatters night away.

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promised Land
I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promised Land

No chilling wind nor poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore
Where sickness, sorrow, pain and death
Are felt and feared no more

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promised Land
I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promised Land

When shall I see that happy place
And be forever blessed
When shall I see my Father's face
And in His bosom rest

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promised Land
I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promised Land

Shopping Surprise!

2010-01-23T15:30:00.000-08:00

In the Fall, Janice came down from BC to visit. I love when Janice visits. I love her and also the fun that she brings. Somehow, we usually end up shopping, and usually end up on 23rd. On that particular visit, I hadn't shopped that area in quite some time, and so hadn't been aware a hat store had opened.

I love hats, and I love this hat store. It is fabulous. They do a "frequent hat buyers" card. Yes, they do. And yes, we are almost at our free hat.

I have been saving for a particular hat I found at Goorin Bros for a little while, and we finally went to get it today and it turns out they have a Winter sale!

Hat sale!

Needless to say, we bought more than the one hat.

Mt St Helens is Out

2010-01-21T16:44:00.000-08:00

In Portland we often refer to days when "the mountain is out", referring to whether or not we can see Mt Hood. Recently, we've had days with just partial clouds where the base of Mt Hood was visit, which mostly counts. I can still see how much snow is on it, and it usually means it's not raining, and there is at least some sun coming through.
But today, while Josh and I were driving across the Marquam bridge, after I had distracted him by pointing out the gravely area just South of OMSI where a scene from Leverage was filmed in the episode we watched last night, I spotted St Helens. Haven't seen that mountain in ages! It felt sort of like seeing an old friend - ah! Mt St Helens, we've missed you! I felt almost like I'd forgotten what she looked like.
Now this evening at work, the sky is blue with pink and grey clouds. I stood up from my cubicle to walk around for a few minutes and spotted her again, this time with a cloud casting a shadow on the top half, but she was not enveloped.

Re-Reading

2010-01-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

Owning books is a strange thing: you read a book and it becomes a part of you, so why keep it? Why re-read? Why buy when the library exists?
For me, I love going to the library, and knowing it's there in case I have a book I really want to read and can't pay for, or am not totally sure I want to read it, but want to give it a try - a temporary try.
Books that I really have loved I want to own. Sometimes I buy books just based on how they look. Sometimes if I have loved a book I want to have it on hand to share with other people.
I think I enjoy re-reading. I don't do it terribly often (with the exception of children's books) and I think I ought to do it more. There is always the push-pull of the desire to read new books and the desire to relive forgotten ones. So many books are out there to be read! And then again, so many books sit on my shelf as if they were never read, either because they were read when I was of a different reading/maturity level and had a different experience of them, because I read them hurriedly for school, or because they were read so long ago I have simply forgotten the words inside.
So I usually opt to not re-read. I figure I should move on to new books.
I recently started re-reading "The Pressure's Off" by Larry Crabb. Last year we read "The PAPA Prayer" for small group and it was pretty impacting and life changing. I read this one while I was at Taurenhoff for our one assigned book. I decided to re-read it because I remember close to nothing about it, and because I know Larry Crabb writes things I should read. Funny that I shouldn't remember any of this book because I'm pretty sure I wrote a paper on it.
Anyway, here is a tidbit I read today that I found poignant (if you find it depressing, I'll let you borrow the book and you can read the exciting, helpful stuff).

"The great tragedy in modern Christianity is that pools of living water are bubbling in the burning sand of our souls and we don't know it. We haven't dug deep enough through the debris of our self-deception, through the strategies we carefully follow to make life work, to drink from the divine stream within. We're drinking polluted water and thinking it's pure. Worse, we're feeling refreshed"

Sisters

2010-01-12T21:29:00.000-08:00

I Want I Want!

2010-01-11T17:07:00.001-08:00

Lamp
If you have not yet clicked on this link because you aren't sure what it holds - if it will be a waste of your time, something you aren't interested in, or something you will have to explore in order to find what was actually meant to be linked - have no fear! I understand. I also do not like to click on mostly unidentified links. I am often not interested in what you're interested in. I came to your blog to see what you think about something, not just see the thing itself. That being said, I think you'll want to check this out.
I do have one word of warning, though: you may face an overwhelming desire to find out where in the world you can purchase one of these (or find the evil person who posted it on the internet when you really actually can't buy it and have them jailed).
I love this item because it is both technologically innovative and visually/emotionally pleasing.
Did I mention I really want one?

Another year, another year older

2010-01-07T23:17:00.000-08:00

As Josh and I attempt to join the real, responsible world of adults, we have found it necessary to purchase things on credit cards. It's something you have to be good at if you want to be a homeowner. (Please try to envision the faces I am making.) If you have spoken with us recently, you might have heard us mention how kind of irritating and sort of backward we find it that we have to be sort of irresponsible to be considered responsible.
Hmph!
Well, it's not all that bad. We had a bigger than normal Christmas - one idea for putting things on a credit card. But then we paid it off. Oops. So, we now have a new addition to our living room! A beautiful, not ghetto, leather couch! Great fabulousness!
It fits us both with room for more. It does not require a slipcover. It has it's own pillows. It will be easy to clean. It has legs so we can clean under it. It fits in the room. It is ... what you've all been waiting for ... comfortable to sit on.
Welcome, brown couch!

Schreck's Year End Review

2010-01-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

Daily Life and Highlights: it's good to remember.

January: Not much work for either of us - God does a whole lot of providing and sustaining. Picked up big blue desk! Josh started teaching Biblical Background and the Big Picture.
February: still not working much - learning to go with God's plan rather than ours. Spend Valentine's at the beach and went snowboarding with the college group.
March: Josh started working more, I get a part time job - God knows what we need and what we can handle (part time is all I can handle). We start watching kiddos at church Wednesday nights. Started off the soccer season early with a pre-season Timbers game.!
April: planning for Women's Retreat worship consumed most of my spare time - so joyous and rewarding. Josh spent a lot of time working on sunday school and his photography business plan.
May: Josh continues to play indoor soccer. I help plan and attend various showers/parties for friends getting married and having babies and Grandma and Grandpa's 60th anniversary. Timber's season starts.
June: Weddings, soccer and Sizzle! Sunday school session ends, and I take a new route - 4 weeks of floral design classes.
July: Josh has the month off work; I take two weeks off for vacation in SC (again we see God's blessing). HP6 comes out!
August: Three camping trips (college, 1 year anniversary, and all church). Josh's work season starts with a bang, I pick up more hours at work, and we contemplate house buying.
September: lots of work. We get a gym membership and spend our evenings between the gym and friend's houses.
October: Work gets crazier as I take on a new role, Josh picks up more responsibility, and we start working dances.
November: More work. We get the official "okay" to go ahead with our plans for a college service at Temple. We take a mini vacation over Thanksgiving and talk about how to trust God when there's a lot going on as much as when there's little).
December: Work, various Christmas fun, and lots of planning for Night Church and Bramble (floral design business starting soon!)

Cute Art that I Love

2009-12-31T15:11:00.000-08:00

I found these artists on apartment therapy. Love their happy spacey enthnic looking art!
APAK.

Fun Hat Day!

2009-12-31T10:25:00.000-08:00

In order to make the holidays a little brighter under the flourescent lights and beige-y grey cubicle walls, our social committee and supervisors come up with raffles and competitions.

Today we have fun hat day! The winner gets Chipotle gift certificates. I hope I win.

Oh Fashion

2009-12-30T21:10:00.000-08:00

Browsing fashion this week, I found some pants I love (rust colored, opposite a very interesting dress). I do own a pair of low slung wool pants with pleats, and have more recently acquired a skirt in a similar style, but I think I just can't get enough.
I also love most of the shoes in this series, and the multitude of bracelets.
A little scared of those haircuts, though... but of course, I love the hats.

Ideas for Winter

2009-12-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

Winter doesn't always provide us with the easiest solutions for centerpieces or flower arrangements. Sticks and branches are fun, and there's the ubiquitous poinsettia, but between keeping the regular house plants happy (ours are forced into a small window sill that is too cold and they do not like it) and keeping christmas tree needles off the carpet, who has time to search for interesting flowers? When there isn't much inspiration on the walk from the house to the bus, and the weather pushes planting, dirt, or really anything alive, to the back of your mind, the ever pleasant bouquet gets lost.
Here is a fantastic idea that I think I will try as soon as I find a teacup and have a chance to run by Home Depot or Portland Nursery.

More Christmas

2009-12-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

I've been complaining right and left that I don't really get Christmas this year because I only get the 25th off. I feel like Bob Crachit for goodness sake! Lame. This is normal for most people, I know, but I'm used to being in school and having Christmas break - time to bake cookies and make crafts and watch Christmas movies. So far all I've done is helped make one batch of cookies, watched the new A Christmas Carol (which was fantastically fabulous), and made Christmas cards. It's fun, but I'm just greedy. I'm like the opposite of Scrooge - MORE CHRISTMAS CHEER PLEASE! Anyway, it makes me a little crazy and Tiny Tim might not be down with my manic excitement about the season, so I'm trying to focus on the awesome Christmasy things I actually have gotten to do.
Such as... Gospel Christmas!
Tracy and I had a lovely time getting our soul on! Mmm. Yes, Jesus! Talk about passion and the birth of the Savior! (Also Christmasy is the Schnitz and getting dressed up for the freezing cold... I wish I had a picture of us all decked out.)

More Exotic

2009-12-18T18:22:00.000-08:00

Nativity scenes have sheep, goats, camels... sometimes a pig or a donkey for variety. At The Grotto, while they don't have a live nativity, they do have a petting zoo near the nativity and it has more than sheep and donkies - they have a lama!

(They also have a lot of really cool lights, but I haven't emailed those pictures off my phone yet.)

Not Thriving

2009-12-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

I'm a temp. It doesn't always feel like it, as I work the same hours, answer the same questions, and fulfill the same duties as the actual employees at my job. One of the main differences and drags of being a temp is that I do not have a permanent cubicle. I move around. That isn't all so bad, because I get to know more of the people I work with by moving around (and really get to know the ones who have vacated their desk for a day or a week by staring at their stuff all day). Some people are clean. Some people are messy. Some people are organized. Some people are creative. Some people have amazing talent with orchids. Some people are obsessed with their kids/grandkids.
Some people have really nasty weird plants. Or... one person does.

Who does this to their plans? Why??
It was gross and distracting. Thankfully I had a window at this desk so I wasn't so inclined to look at this poor plant all week.

Kick-Starting the Season

2009-12-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

Decorations! Lights, candles, greens... Mmm... I love it.

Josh and I get a little shopping done early at the Rebuilding center.
And then Josh takes me to Cinetopia to see "A Christmas Carol" in 3D. Amazing!

To Get You in the Mood...

2009-11-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

...for Christmas.
:D
The Nutcracker

(with beatboxing)

We Eat Meat

2009-11-12T17:08:00.000-08:00

Steak is not something we eat often. And it's not something I really enjoy *that* much. But this? This was good.
Thanks to Lance, we had a lovely dinner of deer steak!

Well, at least it tastes good?

2009-11-11T22:00:00.001-08:00

My toothpaste claims it offers "protection against acid attack": one more for the list of things I never should have had to worry about.

Medieval

2009-11-11T21:54:00.000-08:00

My new reason to giggle (thanks to Kristin D and my insanely geeky English Stained Glass book from the library):

We like to call it "Jesus gets His rap fingers out"

Horticultural Update

2009-10-29T18:37:00.000-07:00

Our spider plant continues to grow! It's arm is now rather threatening, or it would be if it weren't all covered in flowers.
Also please note my rather sad -but evident!- attempt at fall decorating (I also have a couple of chestnuts, acorns and oak leaves) and our beautifully growing aloe plant.

More Leaves...

2009-10-25T15:15:00.001-07:00

A Walk in the Park

2009-10-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

From our weekend walk around Laurelhurst.

Learning is Habitual

2009-10-25T14:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it comes from being taught at home growing up, having been an English/Art History major where books, even novels, are a student's primary source of learning/education/homework/etc, or simply from having this be my first year after about 18 out of my 25 years of life where Fall was not synonomus with "Back to school", but I find myself unable to keep myself from rabid reading these days.
In the last couple of weeks I've read ravenously. Some of the speed that has gone in to reading these books has come, in part, from the fact that they are not all exactly sitting in the stacks at the library waiting for me to request them to be drug up from the depths (as is usually the case). We've had some things on hold for weeks that finally came - and then I was stuck in a long, non-library book I wanted to finish, so the race was on: finish the non-library book fast enough to be able to read the others, and make sure to read the last ones really fast since Josh had to read them all first, too. Crazy.
So, the last few books were read as follows:
Inkspell, C. Funke
A Monstrous Regiment of Women, L. R. King
The Case of the Late Pig, M. Allingham
A Wind in the Willows, Grahame
Birthing the Elephant, Abarbanel and Freeman
The Unlikely Disciple, K. Roose

Fog!

2009-10-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

[I suppose I should mention that usually I can see not only these buildings in their entirety, but also the river and downtown.]

Organization, or Lack Thereof

2009-10-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes at work one of the supervisors walks around with a cart of seasonally appropriate healthy snacks. I took my banana and nutragrain bar and hot cocoa to my desk, drank the cocoa, and bagged the snacks.
Turns out its a good thing I did as the single breakfast food in our house this morning was morning star patties. I love them, but usually in conjunction with at least some other food. No eggs, no bread products, no cereal, no yogurt.
It appears Josh and I have forgotten to grocery shop recently I guess. Maybe we should get on that.

Fall Skies

2009-10-18T22:18:00.001-07:00

Hooray! More Leaves

2009-10-18T22:14:00.000-07:00

One

2009-10-16T17:58:00.000-07:00

Sunrise is the One redeeming factor to getting up early.

My Favorite Time

2009-10-15T21:12:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time of year. I LOVE it, but have sadly not had the chance to really get out and enjoy it. I snagged a couple pumpkins from WinCo (real ones and candy ones), picked up a handful of chestnuts from across the street, and had to call it good. Hopefully I'll have a few new fall scented candles soon, and I grabbed a jug of cider from the store that I haven't been able to cook yet. (I did drink some Tuesday night when we hung out with Evan and Karen, though, which was fabulous!)

Fortuitously, the other day when I got off work and discovered Josh was going to be probably about an hour away from being able to pick me up, I took the opportunity to be outside and decided to walk to Trader Joe's. We were going shopping at some point anyway, so I figured I'd just meet him there.
About a thousand beautiful leaves and trees, a few streets I've never walked on, and 40 minutes later, I made it. Really could have used a bathroom somewhere along the way, though.
I wanted to share a few of the trees, but unfortunately, these pictures are pretty terrible. The leaves are incredible- the smell, the crunch, the color. These pictures don't even show that the sky was blue. Oh well, what can you do.

And, ps. I have become rather obsessed with this yogurt.

Work Work Work

2009-10-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

I noticed last week that I haven't been blogging recently. I was bummed about it, but was too busy to do anything about it.
We've pretty much been working all the time.
But it's not all as serious as it sounds.
Here's a little snap shot of our first dance of the year:

Growing...

2009-09-27T21:24:00.001-07:00

Our spider plant has grown a huge branch thing and now has a flower!

3-D!

2009-09-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Josh and I decided to go on a friend sponsored date last night. With leftover gift cards from the Drinnons and Tracy, we went to Olive Garden (we had been previously unaware of the $8.95 endless pasta bowl deal and are now enlightened) and to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". They rung us up and we were Shocked at the price, then even more shocked when the ticket guy gave us little plastic packages. Little geeky glasses? Yay! We accidentally chose a 3-D movie. And it was the most fun movie watching I've experienced in a LONG time. It was fantastic! Everyone should try it. Everyone probably has, I suppose... we are a little cheap and behind the times.

Josh @ Work

2009-09-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

Thankful

2009-09-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

As I was feeling a little tired at the prospect of working all five days this week (yes, I know that's the normal thing people do), and bummed with Josh working such long hours, I decided to think of things I'm thankful for. It's a simple thing, but I really hadn't dont it in a long time.

Things I am thankful for this week (beyond the obvious food/shelter/job/family):

-The Bible, and those those understand it more than I
-Technology (chatting to the Middle East, texting Canada)
-Freedom, and opportunity, to be creative (I found a great low fat banana break recipe!)
-Garden fresh veggies for free (salads and zucchini bread all the time)
-Peanut butter and black beans (not together) - making all the advance meal making that much easier
-House plants that make the air less stale

2009-09-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

I love this look. When we have a house, I might try a similar wall. And I'm not sure if these clocks have specific times or not (looks like not), but I think I would like mine to run, and be in specific time zones.

City Life

2009-09-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Older-Midde Aged Men Who Run On Lunch:
Please refrain. Or at least, run somewhere less public. Or, if you must, please wear something other than light grey, see through, notched up to your hip shorts. I never wanted to see that much male leg with the exception of Josh, and possibly select Calvin Klein models.
Thank you.

Powell's Reviews

2009-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

I was browsing Powell's reviews at work today and discovered a few books I wasn't aware of. As if I need more books to be interested in or want to read! But it's so good to have books to look forward to while you're reading good books... it's horrible to finish a book with no immediate prospects of a really good read on the horizon.
[Currently reading Prodigal God, The Island of the Day Before, and Not Buying It: My Year without Shopping]

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=62-9780785213062-0

http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-9780374299101-9

Scheduling

2009-09-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

This has been a blogless month so far! I love this time of year, and feel like I probably have things I should be blogging about, but it's not quite Fall, and, as I mentioned before, I'm not back to school, so I feel somewhat cheated out of my early September madness. I seem to be making up for it, though, in double booking myself (and Josh), or at least near double booking, quite regularly. There have been many a close shave, lucky cancellation, and merciful friend to save my lack of organization.
What have I even been doing? Who knows. Off the top of my head I remember:

arranging more flowers
buying some cute antique vases off Craig's List
hanging out w/ people
drinking coffee
making lots of zucchini bread
reading
having a weird cold
emailing people
thinking about/praying for friends
having a somewhat chaotic work week
pretending its fall by getting out more blankets, drinking hot chocolate, and wearing darker colors
going to a wedding

eating home grown veggies
doing laundry
looking at an over friendly raccoon through my kitchen window
looking at houses

There are so many good things to do at any given moment - I guess that's why I try to cram in too many. But with too many things, one grows too tired and everything becomes less fun. I suppose I should work on balance this season.

Free! Finds on Craigslist

2009-09-02T21:27:00.000-07:00

"Free rose Kohler toilet, works great

Earlier this year I installed a low water usage Toto toilet in my house and took my old rose Kohler out to the garage. I just remembered it this afternoon and put it out for you to pick up. It works great, and is sitting out there right now.

It is at 1520 SE 48th avenue (hawthorne and 48th Avenue).

Installing it is easy, it is not rocket science. But you will feel like a future person when you flush it so nice."

When you flush it so nice. Aaaahhh hahaha!

Happy September!

2009-09-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

Glads, cosmos leaves and Teddybear sunflower bud

Mini arrangements in bright, end of summer colors

My little kitchen is so cheery!

Island Day

2009-08-27T17:50:00.001-07:00

Mom and I spent the day out at Sauvie's Island picking yummy and beautiful things. There are still some delicious things to be found if you look hard enough. This is also Dahlia season, so after scrounging the last of the blackberries, we wandered though the flower fields. $12.50 a bucket is not a bad price! Back in the barn we bought some farm fresh veggies and fruit to add to our dinner menus.
Then we went out for Thai food!

Almost Fall

2009-08-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a little strange this time of year- it's my first non-back to school year of all time. It's kind of relaxing, yet kind of boring at the same time. I should make up a big book list and buy some paper. I did buy some pens yesterday.

Cooking Chemistry

2009-08-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

It's kind of amazing how this:

turns into this:

And how this:

ends up like this:

Korean BBQ

2009-08-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

Last week I tasted my introduction to Korean bbq. It was amazing. The flavors and presentation were very different, and I mostly just sputtered "This is weird" after every bite. But it's good. And weird. I think I like it.
And I want one of those awesome in table fire pits.

On closer inspection, there are more Korean restaurants in Portland that I've stopped to notice. I suppose I never really thought about Korean food before. But now that I've tried it, I've noticed a few of them around town. I spotted one the very next day, as I drove home from my favorite boulangerie, that I think I'd like to try.
If you've never tried Korean bbq, don't be shy - pick one of these and go! (Then tell me what you think- I have a hard time leaving restaurants I enjoy for the prospect of something that may or may not be delicious.)

Traumatic!

2009-08-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

Phobias unite-
this morning, as I was about to step onto the elevator, a moth flew in.
Needless to say, I took the neighboring lift.

Work

2009-08-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

We got free gelato at work today! A pleasant surprise, improving my current situation: an awkward keyboard and a neighbor who can't tolerate music (I was hoping to listen to Mahler's 2nd and 5th).

Thoughts on Joy

2009-08-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

"Have you been in really good physical shape at some point in your life? If you aren't at that same level of fitness today, you probably know that it didn't "just happen"' you didn't loose your six-pack or your ability to run eight miles overnight. You sopped running regularly, or you quit lifting weights three times a week, or you started adding a couple of extra scoops of ice cream to your bowl. There are reasons that we are where we are and who were are, and they aren't random.

It is the same way with joy in our lives. We tend to think of joy as something that ebbs and flows depending on life's circumstances. but we don't just lose joy, as though one day we have it and the next it's gone, oh darn. Joy is something that we have to chose and then work for. Like the ability to run for an hour, it doesn't come automatically. It needs cultivation.

When life gets painful or doesn't go as we hoped, it's okay if a little of our joy seeps away. The Bible teaches that true joy is formed in the midst of the difficult seasons of life.

A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort.
Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4)"

[Francis Chan-Crazy Love p.146]

Music to My Ears

2009-08-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Muse has a new album!

My ipod is almost dead today, so I opted for streaming knrk.com and heard "Uprising". It pretty much made my day (along with my really comfortable chair, and James and the Giant Peach.)

Woohoo!

2009-08-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

I like Wednesdays and Thursdays - they are my Thursdays and Fridays. (Aka the end of the week.)

Yesterday was a particularly fabulous Wednesday:
-I did a stretching rutine before work, which meant less sore muscles, and more abiblity to sit straight and not get a headache (I also broke down and used the bolster pillow belonging to the guy who's cubicle I'm crashing in this week.)
-the system crashed at 7pm, so we got off early enough to be fun and not taking too big a pay cut
-Our friend Jesse from Capernwray unexpectedly showed up in Portland! So we spend the evening eating ridiculously spicy Thai food and wandering Powells
-I made two great buys at Powells! Found "The Fourth Bear" in a like new hardback for under $10, and a quirky, 60's looking edition of "Mrs. Dalloway's Party" for $3.50.

And now today is my Friday, and I'm looking forward to a weekend relaxing in nature and enjoying my anniversary.

Down the Rabbit Hole

2009-07-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

On my half hour break I like to head down and outside for my little sun fix. I would call it a nature fix, but the only nature in sight is a few trees. I suppose the sky and my fellow human beings are nature, but you get my point.
My long break is now my snack break. I eat lunch on my short early break so that I'm not too hungry on the long break. This means I can actually sort of eat dinner when I get home! Yay! This week's fruit (I always buy too much fruit at a time so I only allow myself to buy one kind at a time) is the peach. I love peaches. I love bringing them to work, though the sharp knife I bring to peel them (their little fuzzy skin hurts my lips) makes me feel kind of dangerous and scandalous (no weapons allowed at Kaiser). Anyway, I peeled my peach and headed to the entry with all the elevators, excited for my 20 min outside. The far elevator dinged, and I stepped on, unable to resist a bite of my peach before I got outside.
As I bit the extraordinarily juicy peach, the elevator decended. And I had the oddest sensation of being Alice, taking a bite of the mushroom and shrinking.

Reading Again

2009-07-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

Recently I read "The Reason for God" by Tim Keller. It reminded me how, among many other things, I have not read many good, serious books recently. And that was somewhat on purpose: I took a break from brainy reading after I graduated. It was good fun, let me tell you. But then I started realizing things I haven't read in a really long time... things I have forgotten to even think about.
So, I grabbed "The Great Divorce" off the shelf and threw it into my work purse to read on breaks. And for my birthday, I received "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan (part of the Passion movement).

Here's a couple of quotes I wanted to share from reading in "Crazy Love" this morning:
God doesn't just want us to have good theology; He wants us to know and love Him.

Some people claim that we can be Christians without necessarily becoming disciples. I wonder, then, why the last thing Jesus told us was to go into the world, making disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all that He commanded? You'll notice that He didn't add, "But hey, if that's too much to ask, tell them to just become Christians - you know, the people who get to go to heaven without having to commit to anything."

2009-07-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Kaiser members,

I have limited Hippa clearance, which I just told you, so I don't need to hear about your alergies, children's emergencies, or BACK FUNGUS. Nor can I help you with any of these issues.
And I'm sorry you answered the phone while you were at work, with the kids at the pool, or eating lunch with your Grandma, and still talked to me for 10 minutes.

I know I sound sweet on the phone, thanks.
Allison

PS. Downtown Gresham is not far from Rockwood. Or even Mt Scott. I'm sorry that's not good enough for you.

Made to Worship

2009-07-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

I went down to the little 1st floor cafe on my much needed break to receive not only a pleasant iced almond soy late, but also a reminder of God's power and grace.

Made To Worship
(Chris Tomlin)

Before the day
Before the light
Before the world revolved around the sun
God on high
Stepped down into time
And wrote the story of His love for everyone

He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember

You and I were made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
When you and I embrace surrender
When you and I choose to believe
Then you and I will see who we were meant to be

All we are
And all we have
Is all a gift from God that we receive
Brought to life
We open up our eyes
To see the majesty and glory of the King

He has filled our hearts with wonder
So that we always remember

Even the rocks cry out
Even the heavens shout
At the sound of His Holy name
So let every voice sing out
Let every knee bow down
He is worthy of all our praise

Finds

2009-07-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

Check this out: Pictorial Webster's
I Love it.

Oh, Mathemeticians

2009-07-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

I was pretty excited to see the PAM was doing an exhibition of M.C. Escher, especially while I still have my student pass (that I have not used nearly enough).

Good thing my birthday falls during the show so I have a good excuse to drag my not-unwilling husband along!

The lecture series looks so cool - I wonder if I should try to get off early for the next one. It might really be worth it. We could call it continuing education?

From the Inside Out

2009-07-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

A great song that we sang last night at church. Definitely a challenge and prayer.

Good Times

2009-07-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

I love:

being on vacation in the South

complaining about the bugs (one is crawling along the living room floor next to me as I type) - and the heat

seeing friends and family (old and new)

introducing people to one of the best games ever,
and some of the best authors ever.

Thoughts for the Day

2009-06-30T09:48:00.001-07:00

In "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller, in chapter eight The Clues of God, he quotes art critic Arthur C. Danto, as he "once described a work of art that gave him a sense of 'obscure yet inescapable meaning'. In other words, while great art does not 'hit you over the head' with a simple message, it always gives you a sense that life is not a 'tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.' It fills you with hope and gives you the strength to carry on, though you cannot define what it is that moves you."
I love this chapter and how it forces me to stop every few paragraphs and praise God for who He is.
I now want to find an instalation by Shirin Neshat. I'm sure I could find her work on youtube, but that seems somehow a little wrong. I think I saw her work at SFMoMA, but I can't see it satasfactorily clearly enough in my mind. I love that feeling of 'obscure yet inescapable meaning' because of the reasuring sense of existence, but also because reminds me that I am created in God's image and He created the whole world in such a way that we can see Him and create art. For in Him we live and move and have our being.

Also Digging

2009-06-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

This artist. I want the flash cards.

http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/2009/06/julie-morstad.html

Can't Resist

2009-06-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

Wall paper.

Who can, really. If you think you can, check out this delicious blog post I found while wandering on the web, looking at design related sites:
http://absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/2009/06/paper-walls.html

Or this fragmented mirror wall gallery, which I am loving.

Thanks, Josh

2009-06-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

Chicken noodle soup is a good antidote for a day of lost earrings, studying the Medicare system, realizing how much money nursing homes cost, hearing about all the ways our bodies deteriorate, not finding my missing fork, leaving my umbrella in the car, and driving home in a huge rainstorm only to have my wipers stop working 5 blocks away from home.
Josh said, "Whoaaa it's okay now! Sit down and take a deep breath! I'll make the soup, tea will come later."

Beautiful Friday

2009-06-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I got up and went to Trader Joe's without makeup on. Josh was up and I slept late (we have discovered that my side of the bed is the sleepy side) so he surprised me by stoping at the Seven Virtues for an americano. We bought coffee (we've been out or nearly a week) beans - the French Roast that we buy because the container design is cool, not because it has our favorite flavor. We also bought mums. Green and white ones. We brought them home and I clipped red leaves off Jen's stair hedge and now we have 6 arrangements in our living room. (Three from class on monday, 3 from the mums.)

Floral Design

2009-06-10T09:41:00.001-07:00

This week was floral design class #3: ceremony flowers.
Josh took a few photos of my garland section.
I am finding I am particularly fond of blueberries, love in the mist, lunaria annua (money plant), rosemary, pineapple sage, scabiosa, spray roses, purple lace and alchemilla.

City Living

2009-06-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

To the many neighbors on Burnside between 74th and 82nd it may concern:
Thank you for having such lovely rose gardens.
I love taking deep breaths of roses between the more regular mouthful of exhaust.

Ah, Monday

2009-06-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

I love my job on days like today. Okay, actually, most of the day was extremely boring because we had to read a health and safety manual and do little quizes, but towards the end I took some calls that just make working at a job that is not really what I want to spend the rest of my life with that much better.
On my last call of the night, I was in the middle of leaving a third message for a member (their last chance to have a lovely 10 minute conversation with yours truely) and I hear the phone connect and a frantic (ly excited?) "Kaiser, Kaiser - I'm here!" She was SO excited that she caught me. How often are people so happy that you are doing your job that they bother to answer the phone at all, much less can't believe they are getting to talk to you? Yeah, it's pretty fun.
And all that sandwiched between 6 hours creating giant flower arangements and going out to dinner for Josh's birthday? A pretty good day.

A Morning of Family and Photos

2009-05-28T19:37:00.000-07:00

First Floral Arrangement

2009-05-28T10:59:00.001-07:00

Ceilings

2009-05-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

So I thought this was cool -
someone on apartment therapy had a wood ceiling. On purpose! Throughout his whole house! Very cool. I have been growing attached to our kitchen paneling as of late. I guess it's sort of hip.

"What Do You Have?"

2009-05-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here working, peeling the thin remnant of a sunburn, stretching, waking up a little (chocolate and old coffee), looking at a days worth of notes and numbers, getting ready for tomorrow:
first Floral Design class! and more of the same.

Pictures!

2009-05-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

From the 'hood!

News in the Schreck World

2009-05-22T21:27:00.001-07:00

Timbers Army broke the interwebs in Puerto Rico tonight, as hundreds of fans in Portland tried to connect to usllive.com - a site which boasted access to tonight's Timbers vs Islanders match. It refused to connect, and fans were forced to keep up with the game via a Puerto Rican fan's blog.
So we watched 12 episodes of Arrested Development instead.

[It was a draw: 1-1]

Ah, Geography

2009-05-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

[Update: Sorry for the bad links, they are now improved]
There is some cool stuff on the internet.
If you like photography of sweet places you'll probably never go, check these out:
Sacred Sites
and
TrekEarth

The Weekend

2009-05-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

On a sunny weekend in Portland, we might be found doing things like visiting the nursery, sitting out on our driveway, at Costello's, not climbing (taking pictures), out on the pitch, or holding Gray.

Timbers vs Rhinos

2009-05-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

2-1 we always win!

Update from the Land of Kaiser

2009-05-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

I work in a grey cubicle, under florescent lights. It's warm, thankfully, and not depressing. I have pictures of Josh and I, and now some small speakers for my ipod (compliments of my two Emilys!) to drown out my closest neighbor's voices. This afternoon my most annoying neighbor is out, so I can hear my Amelie, drink my Good Earth, and do my work on my own little pleasant island (not be be confusled with milf island).
I also just found out that white is the new black. Exciting! and hard to pull off.

Stop Signs Around Portland

2009-05-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

I took this first picture yesterday, and it reminded me that over the last two years of having a camera phone that didn't work right, I had taken pictures of other "edited" stop signs in town.

I Love Her!

2009-05-09T16:12:00.000-07:00