Portland Cargo Imports

Portland was wonderful. One of my favorite things was a store J and I visited.

It's called Cargo Imports - and it's a dream. 

It's a map clock. If I would have had a way to transport it home on the plane it would have come with me. One of the most wonderful things. 

These incredible metal puppets I was sure had to be made of fabric or lace when I first saw them.

 Want all the tiles!

It was a good thing the store closed early and practically kicked us out...otherwise we might have stayed all night.

Portland Japanese Garden

One of our first stops in Portland was the Japanese Garden. If you ever have a chance to go I highly recommend it. It's like a dream.

 

I'd love to spend every day here. The sound of the breeze through the trees. The faint trickle of flowing water. I was certain at times I was walking through one of my own dreams on the winding paths. Need to get one of these for myself.

Portland

Sister J and I took a weekend trip in August to Oregon for our cousin D's wedding. In anticipation of my departure from the US I jumped on the chance for what might be my only trip to fabled Portland. I'd driven through but never had a visit. With a lengthy list of restaurants to visit and stores to stop at we booked our single day to the fullest.

Flying is one of my favorite things in the world. I'll admit I'm a window seat hog - I love watching the earth pass below me. The perspective is so outside my daily one, it's uninterrupted thinking and reading time. 

One really can't beat the views. You sit down in Sacramento and stand up here - 

Baseball with B

The Giants had a depressing season. Back in August a man walked into the firehouse off the street and offered my dad tickets to a game for the next week. Sadly he had to work but brother B and I picked up the tickets and had a lovely time.

The weather was perfect, the game was wonderful, the day was great.

Grateful to be sitting in the shade.

 Quick stop at the Ferry Building afterwards for treats.

 Dinner afterward with D & N in Berkeley.

It was such a nice surprise to have such a lovely day off and good times with B mid-week. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to get time off, my boss surprised me by being willing to let me take the day off when I was already taking several days off in August. Very grateful.

A perfect summer day.