Block Party!

Our neighborhood had a block party.  The family who has lived here the longest - 16 years - says this was the first.  It was perfect that Solomon was in town to meet the neighborhood kids.

There was a good turnout of neighbors.  Hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill.  Fun for the kids and conversation for the grownups.

9 year old Liam made sure that Solomon learned how to take part in all the activities.

Niam's old Radio Flyer trike was Solomon's favorite. Liam and his big brother supervised.

Hooray!  Solomon's feet are long enough to peddle.

Bette and Larry Come to Portland

Auntie Bette and Uncle Larry came from Edmunds Washington to spend the weekend with the family, and to spend time with Solomon-Soup.

Opening night dessert - Pavlova.

Waiting for dessert.

Auntie Bette and Solomon getting acquainted.

Grandma, Solomon and Uncle Larry relaxing in the back yard.

What a family.

Walking around the block is always an adventure.  The neighbors behind have interesting toys on their garden wall.

Uncle Larry and Grandma are all saddled up, "Galloping, galloping, galloping down the country lane."

Solomon and his pony are also "Galloping down the country lane.

What a great weekend.  We hope to see everyone back here next year for more fun!

Gardening with Grandma

Solomon learned that he can't visit Grandma without working in the garden.

Concert in the Park

We joined the crowd at Sellwood Park to listen to a concert on a lovely Monday evening.  It was a great time to relax, enjoy music and mingle with the community.

Enjoying everything!

Dancing with dad.

Meeting dogs.

Dancing to the Brazilian music.

Smoking Jackets Then and Now

Alice made three smoking jackets for Christmas gifts in 1964.  Do Good, Uncle Marshall and Lloyd Devoe each got one.

July 2017 - I gave Syvart and David their grandfather's smoking jackets.  Pretty handsome, huh?

Rose Garden, Today and Yesterday

In 2010 David and Chia drove to Portland from Davis to visit Grandma Alice and to tell her that they were going to get married.  Grandma was very happy with the announcement. During the visit they all went up to the Rose Garden.

2010 - photo by Alice. Grandma thought David and Chia should get married here.

David and Chia with Grandma Alice.  She loved the Rose Garden.  She's even wearing a rose print cap that she purchased at the gift shop.

Chia and wiggling, jiggling Solomon Soup in the Shakespeare Garden in the Rose Garden.

7 years later David and Chia with Solomon Soup are visiting Taylor and me in Portland.  We went to the Rose Garden and the children's playground.  I couldn't resist taking the photo of Chia and Solomon in the exact spot where Alice thought David and Chia should have been married.  Alice would have been so happy to meet Solomon.

Bread from Fuller's

My parents, Walt and Alice, went to Fuller's for breakfast for so many years that they became friends with Suzie, the owner.  They also became friends with many of the customers.  Often Suzie would send mom and dad home with a loaf of her home made bread.  When my mom died, Taylor and I had breakfast there and told Suzie the news of mom's death.  Suzie gave us the loaf of bread that she would have normally given to mom.

With the memory of Walt and Alice in the back of my mind, Taylor and I dropped in to Fuller's several days after scattering Alice's ashes.  Suzie seemed really happy to see us.   As we were settling into the car after breakfast, Suzie ran out of the restaurant bringing us a loaf of bread. This bread is delicious. People go to Fuller's because of Suzie's warm personality and for her bread.  We were so honored that she shared her bread with us.....just because we're related to Alice. See, Alice, your memory lingers on.

Thank you Suzie.  Thank you Alice.

Cooking with Grandma

At last, I'm home alone with Solomon.  Taylor took David, Chia, Syvart and Iris whiskey tasting.  Solomon and I stayed home and cooked an Indian dinner.  He was the chief potato and dish washer.

Good Bye Alice

Before he died in August 2006 my father told my mother and me that when the time came he wanted to be cremated and to have his ashes scattered on the trails in Forest Park.  After retirement Mom and Dad spent many happy years hiking those trails. Their goal for many years was to hike 5 miles a day.  Forest Park has miles of trails and they visited many of them.  As my dad's health failed and hiking was no longer an option, my mom, dad and I would often park near the trail head on Cornell Road and enjoy a maple bar and a cup of coffee. Leaving his ashes near  this favorite spot, across the canyon from our old house seemed like a perfect ending for my dad. It took two years but Mom, David, my cousin Maren, Geri Zinkan the caregiver, and I went up to the park July 2008 and did exactly as my father wanted.  We enjoyed maple bars and coffee. We also enjoyed stories of Walt, Do Good, Grandpa, Daddy.

Over the following years, my mom told me that she also wanted her ashes to be scattered near daddy's.  I assured her that I would do that for her.  However, when she passed away March 3, 2011, David and Syvart  were unable to stay in Portland long enough for us to go to Forest Park together, and I didn't want to do it without them.

 Six years after mom died,  David and Syvart are in Portland at the same time.  It's time for all of us to have a proper goodbye to mom, Grandma, Alice. We got up early in the morning to arrive at Forest Park trail head on Cornell Road before too many day hikers arrived.  We might have found the tree that has Do Good's ashes, and if we didn't we were close.  We took turns scattering the ashes and said goodbye.  We then adjourned at a picnic table and sipped coffee and maple bars. Telling stories of Alice was bitter sweet.  We all miss her kindness, patience, intelligence, sense of humor and the love she gave us.

We miss you Alice, but you are always with us.

July 10, 2017- Taylor, Jamar, Syvart and David. Saying goodbye to Alice.

 We miss you too Walt.

July 24, 2008- David, Geri Zinkan, Maren, Alice and Jamar saying goodbye to Walt.

Sunday in the Country

Margit invited all of us to her home on Bald Peak Mountain for lunch, a swim, and a hike. 

Thank you Margit for such a special day.

Swimming is a serious job for boys and dads.

Some of us played croquet.

Taking a solitary walk.

Wow!  A car!

Lunch on the front patio was perfect.

Bubbles in the Backyard

It's very, very hard to blow bubbles this big.

Uncle Syvart and Auntie Iris know how to blow bubbles.

Solomon, the Urban Grazer

The neighbors down the street have an apple tree in their parking strip.  Apples are all over the sidewalk.  One day Solomon and his mom walked to the tree and found a few that weren't too bruised or buggy.  They brought them home and had a fabulous snack.  Yum.  Apples right off the tree.