Dreaming of Key West

Well in Portland, it's rained the past 25 of the past 26 days of March, and we're on track for not only high rain totals, but low temps!  I've been wistfully looking back at out trip to Florida last month, and dreaming of Key West...although, come to think of it, it rained there too, although, fortunately not every day!

I love the Conch Style houses the make up most of Key West.  The are so unique and quaint in their Caribbean style.  I was surprised that most of the homes had metal roofs, and then I read about a big fire that destroyed many homes in the 1900's, causing wooded roofs to be outlawed.

 

The houses are so quaint.  I love the ceiling fans and porches that you find so often in the South.

And secret garden hideaways.  There's so little land, every inch of space is used

Oh, the flowers!

And quaint buildings.

and colorful,fun shops!

A lovely view to beat the winter blues!

Snow Event and Minestrone Soup

Well, it was a rude return from sunny Florida to a 'weather event' in Portland.  We don't call it a snow storm, because you never know what you're getting here. You could have snow, but more likely you'll get slush and ice.  After a week of non-stop weather hype, we finally did get a little skiff of snow. Meanwhile, the night before, I was at the store getting everything I would need to survive alone for 4 days, since 'dear husband' was out of town, and it would be me and the animals stuck on the hill!  I'm sure anyone from the East Coast laughs their heads off every time Portland goes into weather panic mode. In the end, we did get about two inches of snow, just enough to close schools and keep people off the roads.

On a cold day, nothing sounds better to me than soup, so I put together a pot of Minestrone that I adapted from a recipe.  Measurements are approximate, and you can adjust to fit your needs.  This soup freezes really well, so it's great to put some away for later.

Vickie's Minestrone Soup

Saute 1 small onion with about 4 cloves of Garlic in Olive Oil

add 6 diced slices of Canadian Bacon

add 2 cartons of Chicken Broth

1 large can of diced Tomatoes

2 sliced zucchini

1 ea. diced Green and Red Pepper

3/4 c sliced Carrots

1 Anaheim Pepper diced

1 can White Beans

1 can Black Beans

add Dill, Italian Seasoning, 1 tsp red Pepper Flakes

2 Bay Leaves

simmer for 1 hour

1/2 hour before serving, add 1/2 c. Orzo

serve with a handful of fresh Spinach

top with Parmesan cheese

Serve with Olive French Bread...Yummy!

Art Deco in South Miami Beach

We were so impressed by the amazing amount of Art Deco Architecture in Miami Beach.  There's about a 20-block district that's protected by the National Register of Historic Places.  The buildings were built between 1910 to post-WWII.  However, most that are still standing were built in the 30's and 40's.

 Many of my favorite buildings were on Ocean Drive facing the beach.

I loved the clean lines on these buildings, accented by little decorative touches like this flower inlay.  Most of the buildings that I saw had nature or nautical-themed inlays.

This was the foyer of the hotel we stayed in.  Many of the places we visiting had white battery operated candles that looked very realistic and are on a timer to go on and off at a specific time. Perfect for a party.

Neon signs were big!  A nice part of the modern look.

Everyone was eating outside at these hotels...definitely a great place to people watch.

This building was my favorite.  Lots of these fun hotels had classic cars parked outside to match.  Haven't seen one of these DeSotos in ages. When I was little, we used to call them "Pig Cars!"

Another fun car that definitely adds to the ambience.

View from the beach of some stately palms and classic hotels.

Escape To Miami Beach- Lifeguard Stations

What better time to escape from Oregon than in February, when the holidays are over and there's nothing ahead but endless grey days. OK, grey at least until June, and many would argue July. We had to cash in air miles, so it seemed like a good idea to head for the farthest mainland US destination that we could find...Miami Beach and Key West.

 Wow, the beach...white sand, and turquoise water! 

 I was fascinated by these cute Little Lifeguard Stations.  They are so colorful.  Of course nobody swims at the beaches in the Pacific NW, so cute little Lifeguard Stations aren't party of my reality.

These were just a few of theses colorful little stations.  There are 16 on Miami Beach, and 29 total. 

Above, my favorite

  To me this is such an iconic East Coast beach scene...

For more photos and a history of the Lifeguard Stands of Miami Beach, check out: http://www.miamibeach411.com/news/index.php?/news/comments/lifeguard-stands/

Tiny Trailers- A Girl Cave

 I was just sitting down to enjoy a yogurt and fruit breakfast and peruse the ETSY Blogs this morning when my friend, Barb called and said "'get your butt over here" to the Vintage Flea Market at the fairgrounds. http://www.funkyjunksisters.com/  I'm not in the market for more stuff, and would probably have passed it by, but when she mentioned 'Blog Candy' she got me. 

 I'm glad that I went.  There were lots of great re-purposed items, but the thing that caught my eye were the tiny trailers from the 50's and 60's which had been restored inside and out. All the women I talked with were envisioning them as 'girl caves', offices, guest rooms or craft spaces when not being used as a vacation home. 

 Couldn't you just imagine, pulling into a campsite at Yellowstone and sitting in these cute little chairs?  You'd be right out of the pages of Sunset Magazine.

 Another cozy interior... Don't you just love the yellow oven?  When these trailers were at the height of popularity, the big colors were turquoise and pink.  Now you can find them restored in all colors and styles.

Awhile ago I bought this cool book on Teardrops and Tiny Trailers, which has the styles and history of these cute trailers. http://www.amazon.com/Teardrops-Tiny-Trailers-Douglas-Keister/dp/1423602749/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296947299&sr=1-1
My husband and I are not the do-it-yourself-restoration types, but I almost have him convinced to someday consider a new Teardrop and customize it for Oregon Duck Football games!

Making a Terrarium

It's always hard for me to take down the holiday decorations and see all the empty spaces around the house.  Add to that, gloomy gray days, and I crave something pretty to look at.  I found the perfect remedy for the winter blahs in this cool, whimsical shop called Artemisia, where you can make your own terrariums.   Artemisia happens to be in Portland, OR, but my daughter found a similar shop in SF, and I think they are all over.

I was captivated by the cute hanging teardrop planters, but they had several sizes and shapes that would work for tabletops.  A friend also goes to Goodwill and recycles old candy glass containers for her terrariums.

If you need a place to de-stress, this shop is so calming.  You feel like you stepped back into another time and place.

They also had these cute moss covered root ball plants that just sit out on a plate or rock.

Also a beautiful dove cooed in the background while I shopped.

Filling your terrarium is the fun part!  You can add colorful sand, rocks, crystals, moss, shells, birds, and Air Plants! Air plants are great, since they come in several sizes and shapes, and only need to be watered once a week. To water, you remove your plants from the terrarium and soak the roots in water for an hour once a week, and then replace-that's it! You can also add miniature Succulents and care for them the same way.   Below, are the ingredients I used for my Terrarium- two Air Plants, a shell, and moss.

This is my finished Terrarium, isn't it cute?

Happy New Year 2011

It was so cold on the Oregon Coast on New Year's Eve, but we took to the streets anyway, to celebrate the New Year, tearing ourselves away from a cut-throat game of Hearts, and the promise of berry pie!  Our friends Mark and Barb (above), brought the fun glasses and sparklers and we headed to the local Market, The Little Apple, to join about 60 other revellers and walk parade-style down to the ocean.  Did I mention that it was bitter cold, with a piercing east wind making us wish we had added more layers?   

Everyone was in a festive mood- some in fun hats, others wrapped in blankets, others, bundled in layers and waving champagne bottles.  For many years, we had come to the coast to celebrate and found nothing going on except the TV with poor, old Dick Clark doing the countdown in Times Square.  Skipping down Laneda Dr. was a welcome change.

Barb and DH were the center of attention with the sparklers.

Happy 2011!

A Poetic Gift

Walking through NW Portland, we came across a beautiful old traditional house set back off the street looking very much like it belonged in another century.  It was so festive, festooned with lights, and surrounded by red pyracantha bushes.

 As we got closer to it, I realized there was sign that said Poetry.

Free. Take one

(What a lovely gift to share with passers by)

The Shortest Day

by

Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive.

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, revelling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us-listen!

All the long echoes, sing the same delight,

This shortest day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

and hope for peace.

And now so do we, here, now.

This year and every year.