Hello (Also, Heatwave Doughnuts)

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.

I’m reminded of some travel lessons I learned on the road:

– Anticipate the climate at the other end of the plane ride
– Dress in layers
– Choose dessert wisely

No. I’m kidding. I have nothing to list.

This post is really just to quickly say hello, to say I hope you’re living out your days well, with courage and hope under the sun (or rain, or clouds, or wind storms) – wherever you are in the world.

And for today, I give you with photos of my brother Seth’s homecoming concluding his five months living and working on a farm in New Zealand.

Talk about change: flying from the end of autumn to the end of spring, greeting two little nieces who’ve grown so much since December, and leaping from last wintertime’s cranberry pomegranate clove doughnut to this sunny (!) May’s strawberry rhubarb seasonal delight at Pip’s Original.

Drew, Marion, Seth, Lucie, and Jesse: my three youngest brothers with my two little girls.

Marion, a girl after her mama’s doughnut loving heart.


Just like that, soaring through time and space.

Pip’s Original Doughnuts – My other living room in Portland. Order the Dirty Wu with Bacon and you won’t be sorry. 4759 NE Fremont St Suite C, Portland, Oregon, OR 97213

Khunamokwst Nature Park – Lucie affectionately calls this, “The Flower Park” since there is one lone little spinner that she loves to whirl around on. (Though when there are three uncles to take turns pushing swings, you can imagine where she spends her time.) 5200 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97218

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Actually, now that I think about it, I do have something to list. (Other than doughtnut flavors.)

I’m planning on sharing a few updates here on the blog in the next little while:

– A winter trip to the midwest (Venuzualen fusion food in Kansas, anyone?)
– A scenic hike with a half-mile elevation gain in four miles (that’s a 1:8 slope!?)
– First birthday celebrations (um, may or may not have involved a puppy)
– My first international travel plans in way too long (airfare and lodging booked!)

Like you’ve come to expect, they’ll show up at random intervals, and you’ll never quite know if you’re clicking into a 2,000 word essay or a 40 image gallery or another of my short and sweet and scattershot collections of tidbits. (Not unlike waking to an Oregon day in spring: will it be sunshine or hail or will it feel like autumn?) In any case, I promise they’ll be straight from the heart…and I’ll probably throw in a dessert or two. Likely doughnuts.

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P.S. I’ll make you a deal — if you leave me a note below and tell me you’re still around and reading this lil’ blog, I’ll send a few of you honest to goodness postcards and I’ll even send two of you gift certificates for a dozen Pip’s Doughnuts (if you’re local to Oregon or planning a visit). How’s that for sweetening the pot with *real* mail, too? (I’ll reach you at the email address you enter in the comment box to get your mailing address offline.)