Musings – twoOregonians

Musings

#threemomsgotoeurope

November 25, 2018

I owe my trip to Europe to a stranger on the internet.

Last December, I found myself running late to a blind date at the neighborhood coffee shop.

Well, no, running late puts it too mildly. I almost blew right past my chance at a life altering friendship by forgetting plans altogether. I wasn’t thinking straight. We were in the midst of a chaotic season of illness. My youngest was home sick while Ted teleworked, and I left to drop my oldest at school, not bothering to look at the calendar. I returned from the errand, hopped in the shower, and only when I glanced at my phone—still charging on the nightstand—did I realized with panic that I had stood up a stranger:

“Bethany, flying out of the house right now. Be there in a few! Alisa”

And then, timestamped several minutes later:

“Did I miss you? I am here”

All I could do was panic and send off a frantic string of texts:

Book Writing, Inspirations, Musings, Weekend Update

The Story of a Story: Writing A Book Like Planning A Trip

September 23, 2018

Can I let you in on something?

I want to write a book and share my world with you.

My nature is to hold the cards close until I have the full hand ready to play. I’d rather shoot the moon with a hidden smile or rummy with a straight face. I’d love to post this and say, “I have an agent!” or “I have a book deal!” or “I have a release date!” But today, in absence of anything at all definitive, I thought I’d show you my mismatched suits and wagers. A real life look before another shuffle and deal.

Musings, New Zealand, Photography

Father’s Day is for Memories: Fly Fishing in New Zealand

June 17, 2017

I’m excited today to share this new little project I’ve been working on: download my Fly Fishing in New Zealand Photologue here or at the bottom of the post.

Five years ago, Father’s Day was around the corner, and I was half way around the world from my dad. He was home in Oregon, I was…let’s see..if I consult the Daily Travel Journal from our year away, I was deep in the Cedars of Lebanon, which, if I think about it now, is fitting for the daughter of a tree farmer off to see the world. Continue Reading…

Food, Musings, Oregon, Portland

Hello (Also, Heatwave Doughnuts)

May 29, 2017

Now…where were we?

Ice storms and pies.

Ah, well, this week in Oregon it was all heatwaves and doughnuts, wildflower hikes and roasted marshmallows. (Until it was sorrow and heartache…but I’ll save that for another time.)

The seasonal whiplash here on the blog is one thing. I mean, yes, I make no apology for the long silent spells, and I refuse to stress myself out over arbitrary posting schedules and inflated expectations. This corner of the world is my spot to share what I love, as I have the time. I know that I’m jumping from January to almost-June.

So, consider the blog jump my little way of illustrating how the past few days felt: transitioning from 40 degree lows to 92 degree highs in a couple short sleeps. Continue Reading…

Musings

About That Storm

January 25, 2017

I started this post a week ago, then paused.

After several months riding waves of illness and holiday mayhem and community heartache and winter weather (cough*cough*ice storms that delayed my flight to Kansas*cough), we sent 2016 out with a half-hearted bang…and then January 2017 blew into town with teeth searing cold, dumping a feathery white straitjacket on the city of Portland.

As I’m publishing tonight, storm scenes seem melted from memory (making me glad for photos and snippets like the ones below — if only for the reminder that tempests pass). I’m still unwinding, though. Cabin fever and its jarring focus on the here and now brought lessons I’m still stewing on, and I’ve not made peace with words to dig at the heart of the matter. So, it’s mostly photos. Enjoy? (Or at least help me spot all the beautiful silver linings?)

Musings

Autumn Breadcrumbs: Or, Fear and Love

November 20, 2016

Back in my first days of blogging as a twenty year old living in New Zealand, I used to read She’s a Flight Risk. (“On March 2, 2003 at 4:12 pm, I disappeared. My name is isabella v., but it’s not. I’m twentysomething and I am an international fugitive.”)

Indulging in stories of intrigue and covert happenings seemed a harmless pastime.

Now, I’m a thirty something mother of two, with the real world right outside my front door…and as stories of fascists, despots, and despair flicker on my phone screen, I can’t look away. Continue Reading…

Musings, Tidbits About Us

Some Sports are Bigger than Sports

November 2, 2016

“Some sports are bigger than sports.” And that was true tonight. My Grandpa, a lifelong Cubs fan from Wisconsin, is on hospice at home. Since about game three of this World Series he has been too sick to watch, but my mom has been giving home the play by play at his bedside. I love you Grandpa. This was for you.

CUBS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Ted Continue Reading…

Musings

Making the Most of Groupon in Portland, Oregon

October 31, 2016

This post is sponsored by Groupon. All opinions are my own.

Hole in the Wall Concert Venue in Portland, Oregon Continue Reading…

Food, Musings, Oregon

Apple Season

October 30, 2016

“Love is a fruit in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. Everyone can reach this love through meditation, prayer, sacrifice and an intense inner life.”
– Mother Teresa

Apple season’s just fading to memory again as the deeper darker rhythms of Oregon autumn carry us toward November. Can it really be that time of year to swap fresh fruits for root veggies? To grab a jar of preserves instead of a fistful of berries?

Here in our home, we’ve been living on applesauce and apple butter. (That is, when we’re not chugging lemon ginger tea and garlic and honey, trying to fight off tenacious chest colds.)

Marion, eight months old, scarfs down bowl after bowl, banging her spoon joyously on the high chair tray, grinning wide with fruit smeared into her eyelashes. Continue Reading…

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