bread

I've been baking little loaves of bread these days. I like to give them to the people I like. It makes me happy!

I have also been trying different "cutting" methods on the dough to create different patterns on top of the bread:


I made a little star on this one before baking.


This one I cut a little cross on the top.


And this one had criss cross on it.

How will the next loaf look like?

[Portland 07.09] On the Way to Powell's

After downtown Stumptown we walked toward Powell's Books. We had to go because it was the City of Books!

On the way there we saw a lot more food carts/vans/tailers, and this one was really cool:


It was powered by vegetable oil!

When we were almost at Powell's we saw this:


A brush?

There were a lot of cool public artwork in Portland, and this was one of them. I didn't quite know what it was, but it looked like a very well-balanced brush with a heavy "core" underneath it.


Brian demonstrating how you can move the "brush."

And across the street was Powell's Books!

[Portland 07.09] Downtown Stumptown

After Bijou we went to the downtown Stumptown, which was pretty much next door to Bijou!


The place was HUGE!


Lots of zines.


Lots of coffee.


Waiting for our drinks.


My capp.

John and Brian both got Stumptown cold brew. I believe it was Panama Carmen Estate that day.


Lots of people, and Brian making a face.


Did I mention the place was HUGE?

HUGE!

yummy burgers with black vinegar

John made us burgers again.

This time he used fragrant black vinegar as one of his "secret ingredents." Very delicious!


And of course Nuki wanted a bite!

wall of vines

Sometimes I wish there's not that many vines on the fence in our yard, but they seemed to have been there forever (way before we move in the house)... we cut them off and they come back very soon after... I think they are almost out of control!


I saw this near a restaurant on 4th South. It was so pretty in the sun.

I wonder if there's a way to "control" the growth of the vines so I can have pretty walls of vines but not have them "bother" the trees nearby? Hmm...

maggie getting a latte

Maggie getting a latte (with an little apple latte art on it,) and a pastry.

OK not really. These were for Elizabeth, but I think Maggie wanted some.

pretty at 8:30

These days when we drive home after closing it will still be light outside, and the colors are just amazing!


Looking toward Northwest on I-15 (heading South.)

Ahhhh the colors!


How beautiful. I love it!

And no, I was not driving and taking these pictures at the same time. John was driving, and I was in charge of holding the camera tight in my hand so it did not fall out of the window on the fast moving car.

rabbit pocket

I've noticed that I started wanting and taking notes when I read certain books. I always jot things down on a piece of paper and lost it soon after. I therefore decided I must have a tiny little note book, or a post-it pad, and a pen near by with the book.

I have a lot of bags. Most of them are too big for just one book and its "accessories," or they are actual purses that are not suitable for books. I've been searching for the right size bag.

Then Joyce sent me a cute bag for my birthday, along with a black kitty passport cover and a cute cute cute cell phone strap.


It's a "Rabbit Pocket!"

And in the photo with the Rabbit Pocket: the cell phone strap, the passport cover, and the birthday card.

The Rabbit Pocket is just the perfect size! It's large enough so the book and friends can fit in and stay together, but small enough where you can't really stick much more in.


Rabbit Pocket with a book in it. (I pulled the book out a bit for demonstration purposes.)

And oh it's sooooo cute! Thanks Joyce!

double yolks

My friend Joanne brought me some eggs she drove all the way out to West Jordan to get. These eggs were huge. While not all of them looked super giant, she did manage to find really big ones to me, just to show me how big they were (she thought they would be convenient for my baking purposes.)

I think an average large egg weighs about 55 grams, and I weighted one of the largest ones she brought me and it was 109! OMG. Pretty much double the regular dude.

Anyhow, I cracked one (not the largest) open and there were the double yolks in it!



Ahhh big eggs!

ginger sighting

Ginger has been shy about coming out to play with the others since Torsion came to stay with us. I was a little sad about it, but at least she still comes when I call for her if she knows Torsion is not near.

I usually stay up Saturday night and watch some silly Japanese shows on my computer in the kitchen. Ginger would always come by and stay up with me. Since Torsion came she hasn't done it for a while... she doesn't like to "show herself" at all.

This past Saturday before heading to bed John put up a baby gate at the bedroom door so Torsion couldn't roam around the house (and the other dogs and cats can jump over.) I went to the kitchen, made some tea, and pulled out my laptop.

After a short while Ginger came!


She sat at her usual spot and watched me.


Making sure everything was OK on the table.


I *heart* Ginger.


Fuzzy and cute.


She was cautious and very aware of her surroundings for a while.


Then she felt more comfortable and just relaxed next to me for a long time.

I really hope she comes out of her shyness and realizes Torsion didn't mean her harm when he chased her that few times.


As a result of her hiding so much is that she doesn't eat as much. I think she actually lost some weight!

Ginger was chubby, and she still sort of is, but losing a little bit of weight is probably not a bad thing.

I hope she comes out more often.