UPDATE and adorable faces seen here and there over the years

UPDATE: I had another good night's sleep! Hooray! When I ran my plastic-bristled brush across my head this morning, it felt so good. To be expected, more hairs ended up in it. Blueberries do not taste like they are supposed to, so they're out of my diet now. I imagine it will be long after chemo is finished that I'll try them again, sometime in 2016, y'all. Just because I have a box of them in the frig, I won't keep eating them now that they don't taste right because that could ruin them for me, long term. Next Tuesday, I go for blood to be drawn for pre-chemo tests. If all is well with those tests, Chemo Round Two will happen next Wednesday. I don't know what to expect exactly if there is a problem with one or more of those tests--I'll get a phone call or an e-mail, I imagine, with the news if changes are afoot.



It's a lot of fun to look through my thousands of photos and find one that inspires a post. This adorable little guy certainly did that for me! I took this photo in Sherwood, Oregon, when I went to Cruisin' Sherwood, June 13, 2011. I went looking for more adorable faces and easily found a few more to share with you.



Here's another adorable young man, with his dad I'd guess, at National Train Day festivities at Portland's Union Station, May 10, 2014.



I understand a lot of folks find clowns to be scary. I don't. But, it looks like this adorable little guy has yet to make up his mind. And I have to wonder how long that hot pink stick-on dot remained on his nose. This is another photo from May 10, 2014, at National Train Day.



At the risk of scaring folks, here's a photo that proves adorable faces come in all ages. One more National Train Day photo, y'all.



Scary? Maybe. Busy. For sure. The addition of the hot pink stick-on dot seems like overkill. Surely it was done to make unsuspecting little people accept a dot stuck to their own noses--she's the clown in the photo with the little boy sporting his own pink dot.



A little person off and running at the Portland Farmers Market in the South Park Blocks, downtown at Portland State University. I took this photo on June 6, 2015, when I had recovered enough from the April 24 hysterectomy, so that I had gone back to work for that entire week, then got myself by bus to the market for some shopping and people watching.



For my final photo of adorable faces, I give you my sweetheart friends, Milton and Kay, who came to Portland by train from Jackson, Mississippi, in August, 2011, to be here for the sprinkling of Mama and Duncan's ashes.

Part 1, our last fun day together, Sunday, August 28, 2011

Our plan for Sunday, to go to the Elk Cove Winery and to go to Lincoln City to see the Pacific Ocean and a bit of the beach. Our final stop back in Portland--3 Doors Down Cafe for dinner. I had looked up addresses on the Internet and gave them to Milton to put into his Garmin. Once we had everyone loaded in the Zipcar, we decided to head for Lincoln City first so that we wouldn't be at the winery early in the morning.

That ride to Lincoln City took me along the same route that Mama and I followed many times to Spirit Mountain Casino where we had fun playing the penny machines. I had not been that way since she died in January, and I am so glad that I had family and friends with me as memories flooded in continually.


One of the things that Mama and I did was to drive through the grounds of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum and Wings & Waves Waterpark in McMinnville, Oregon. First thing that caught my eye, the 747 on top of the waterpark. Yes, on top of the waterpark which is inside the building which houses 10 waterslides, a wave pool and a children's museum which teaches all about the power of water. You can see some of the waterslides coming out of the plane!



Second thing that caught my eye, this shuttle used by the museum to transport folks between buildings and vehicles, I'm guessing. Cool design!


And the last thing that caught my eye, something I will go inside and see one day, is the Spruce Goose, the largest plane ever built. I pulled to a stop in front of the building and took this photo through the front passenger window. With the help of Picnik, you can see it pretty well through the glass wall, all four engines on the wing to the right and just one of them on the wing to the left. The plane's wingspan is 319 feet, 11 inches. See the white dot there toward the left at the bottom of the photo, right at the second open window? That is a man's ball cap! Yep, a full grown man! He's facing the window, looking down at one of several display panels which surely tell the story of this gigantic airplane. And be sure to notice the tail, right up there close to the American flag. The plane's height is 79 feet 4 inches, which I assume is from the tip of the tail down because I also found this statistic, fuselage height 30 feet.

Here's what I found out about it on their Web site: Built entirely of wood due to wartime restrictions on metals, this massive airplane stands as a symbol of American industry during World War II. Learn more about the history, first flight, and legacy of this mammoth plane. The largest airplane ever constructed, and flown only one time, the Spruce Goose represents one of man’s greatest attempts to conquer the skies. It was born out of a need to move troops and material across the Atlantic Ocean, where in 1942, German submarines were sinking hundreds of Allied ships. Henry Kaiser, steel magnate and shipbuilder, conceived the idea of a massive flying transport and turned to Howard Hughes to design and build it. Hughes took on the task, made even more challenging by the government’s restrictions on materials critical to the war effort, such as steel and aluminum. Six times larger than any aircraft of its time, the Spruce Goose, also known as the Flying Boat, is made entirely of wood. Originally designated HK-1 for the first aircraft built by Hughes-Kaiser, the giant was re-designated H-4 when Henry Kaiser withdrew from the project in 1944. Nevertheless, the press insisted on calling it the “Spruce Goose” despite the fact that the plane is made almost entirely of birch. The winged giant made only one flight on November 2, 1947. The unannounced decision to fly was made by Hughes during a taxi test. With Hughes at the controls, David Grant as co-pilot, and several engineers, crewmen and journalists on board, the Spruce Goose flew just over one mile at an altitude of 70 feet for one minute. The short hop proved to skeptics that the gigantic machine could fly. Perhaps always dreaming of a second flight, Hughes retained a full crew to maintain the mammoth plane in a climate-controlled hangar up until his death in 1976.

Back to Saturday, August 27, and fun with Howard and Vanessa and Milton and Kay

We drove away from where you saw the Zipcar on the Friday, October 7, post, eventually heading north in downtown to find a parking place closer to the Saturday Market.


Getting around in downtown Portland often requires making the block with a series of left turns. In doing so we stopped at a traffic signal, and I saw the sun on this "diamond" above the doors of the Willamette Building, 534 SW 3rd Avenue, shining in the sun. I grabbed my camera. Click! Nice adornment that calls attention to the diamond dealers in the building.


We parked and walked a few blogs in Old Town towards the Saturday Market where we walked up and down the aisles, browsing. Once we reached the end of the aisles we sat down to listen to the How Long Jug Band. Hooray for live music, folding chairs, canopies, and sunshine.


Just to our left stood a Rogue Nation Rise Up stall. Folks stood in line for a cold drink, wearing their sunglasses in hopes of knocking down the glare. What caught my eye, though, was the woman's purple hair.


To our right, this little dog taking a ride in the bicycle basket caught my eye. Looks like that little girl got a kick out of the dog's ride, too!


Not twenty feet behind the back wheel of that man's bicycle stood this colorful formed beauty, advertising Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille. I have never been to this eatery, so I know nothing about their menu. However, I do like this statue a whole lot.


Look who I saw a few feet to Mary's right! My favorite busker, Mr. Statue.

We left soon after I took these photos--I delivered Howard and Vanessa to their hotel. We three drove back to the apartment. Kay wanted to do some laundry since they would be boarding Amtrak for the long ride home on Monday, and we had all-day plans for Sunday. Howard and Vanessa walked over to the Rock Bottom Brewery for supper. We stayed in, did the laundry, ate leftovers, drank sangria, and watched NASCAR while putting all of Milton's video of the trip onto my iMac. Then to bed for a decent night's rest.

Out and about with four folks who know how to have fun, Milton, Kay, Howard and Vanessa, on Saturday, August 27

Sunflowers make me smile a really big smile. So does having a good time with these four folks!


With our Zipcar SUV Emilia, parked here in downtown Portland--Milton, Kay, Howard, and Vanessa. I love these four people very much!

Here's a bit of what we had seen earlier in the day, before we rested for a while at a great outdoor table to the Rock Bottom Brewery over on SW Morrison. We started at the Portland Farmers Market.


Cherry Country's just right tart-yet-sweet cherry jelly. Rose City Pepperheads' just right sweet-and-hot pepper jelly.


CHOP Butchery & Charcuterie's just-right taste & textured Farmhouse Country Style Pate, crumbled so customers can get a taste. Delphina's Bakery's so right divine Chocolate Cheesecake Muffin, there toward the top right, the cookie-colored one replete with chocolate chips.

Come back tomorrow for some of the vintage MOPAR we saw at Cars in the Park.

Thursday, August 25, Part 7, Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood, before we said, "So long."

Looking a different direction from the viewpoint above the main entrance at Timberline Lodge. I've used the HDR-ish effect in Picnik to get this look. I couldn't believe it when I clicked on it, how those trees got that blue glow behind them, the whole image fascinates me.


I still think this just might be Mt. Jefferson, south of Mt. Hood. I couldn't resist trying Orton-ish in Picnik on the closer shot that I took with my zoom lens. I like. Do you?


A plaque full of facts, attached to the gigantic chimney/fireplace inside the lodge.


It's easy to get the drift when you read this sign and look at the slope of those various roofs--sorry, couldn't resist the pun! This door opens out onto the patio at the back of the hotel.

Naturally I took photo after photo of Mt. Hood from the patio. Such fun!


A cloud came to call.


And came to stay.


And then go away, afterall.


Inside the lodge, I came across a tempting table--the last of a finger-food buffet? I didn't touch one single thing.


Here's another view of the chimney/fireplace and the sign. It's in the center of the lodge, more than two stories tall. Amazing.


Look who I saw out on the patio! A sweet little miniature dachshund who actually was a good bit bigger than our Duncan.


Still a gorgeous little red dog.


Soon I walked back to the Zipcar and drove up to in front of the hotel to get my buddies, Milton and Kay.


When I walked to the SUV, I got to see and photograph this vehicle. Hmmm. Wonder why?


And I saw this KGW Channel 8 remote van. I knew it was in place for the start of the Hood to Coast, a relay race made up of teams, which was set to begin at 3:30 a.m., about 12 hours from when I took this photo. Here's some info about the race. It's limited to 1,250 teams of 12. They run from Mt. Hood to Portland to Seaside on the Pacific. It's 200 miles with 36 legs of different lengths, varying from 3.5 miles to 7.8 miles, and the terrain ranges from flat to steep hills. Each runner may total between 13.6 miles and 19.7 miles. Teams must complete the course within a 31-hour limit. It begins on the Friday morning of the weekend before Labor Day weekend, between 3:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m., staggered with about 20 teams every 15 minutes. The slower teams start earlier than the faster teams, based on self-reported 10K times for each team member. It officially ends at 9 p.m. Saturday. My goodness!


Look! It's an Official Vehicle for Hood to Coast!

We got home in time for me to drop off Milton and Kay and then get back into the SUV to head for the airport. My superb brother Howard and his superb wife Vanessa were due to land about an hour later. Their plane was on time, their luggage was on the plane, and I got them to their hotel safe and sound--the Monaco in downtown Portland. Howard was more hungry than tired, so we made a date to dine in the hotel's bar. I drove home, picked up Milton and Kay, and we enjoyed eating and talking in the Red Star Cafe. Then everyone went home (or to the room) to rest up for Friday's fun!

Thursday, August 25, Part 6, Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood, as we visited them

We parked in the nearby large parking lot, down the slope from the hotel entrance. The lot in front of it had a sign which led me to believe we shouldn't park there, something about guests--I can't remember the exact wording.


Milton and Kay took the path to the hotel, while I walked along on the pavement.


Onward and upward. What a couple!


The reason there's an historic mountain retreat and ski lodge at 6,000 feet. The reason I drove a vehicle by myself up here, for the first time ever, all curved and upward. And can you believe that blue sky? Hooray for blue sky and sunshine!


Part of the front of Timberline Lodge. I couldn't get a good photo of the entire front view, too many cars.


The main entrance.


Seen from the viewpoint above the main entrance. I don't know which direction I'm looking, nor do I know which mountain this one is. My best guess is Mt. Jefferson. Anyone? Anyone?

Come back tomorrow for more from on high.

Thursday, August 25, Part 1 of this day's fun!

On the phone--during one of our numerous phone calls discussing important things like "Are you gettin' ready for us, Lah-neigh-yet?" and "What are we gonna do all those dayzzzz?"--Milton told me the one thing he wanted to be sure to do, visit Multnomah Falls like they had done with Mama and me back in May, 2007, on their first visit. "I want to video it 'cause Mama loved it so."

Here's how we got it done.

Lamont picked us up and drove us to the Zipcar which does not live within walking distance of my apartment. Bus distance, yes, but that sweet son of mine offered to give us a ride over there, and we jumped at the chance! The Ford Escape waited patiently on the corner of SE Division and SE Caesar Chavez/39th Avenue in a service station parking lot. We put the cooler in the back and drove over to Fred Meyer for supplemental supplies: our bottles of water and pop, some cookies, some chips, and a loaf of buttermilk bread. Then we headed east toward our first stop.


I love this natural wonder even if it's difficult to get all of it in one photo. I read online that the upper falls of 542 feet and the lower falls of 69 feet have a gradual nine foot drop in elevation between the two of them which adds up to a total height of 620 feet. Not sure I totally understand that bit about the gradual nine foot drop in elevation, and since I won't be walking up to the bridge any time soon and looking into the pool at the bottom of the upper falls, I may never understand it. And I hadn't read those facts prior to Milton's going up on the bridge, so I didn't know to ask him to check it out for me.


I had no trouble understanding the sign on the left.


A. E. Doyle, one of my favorite Portland architects, designed the 1925 Multnomah Falls Lodge, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places. A bit about the lodge that I found on the Internet: The Multnomah Falls Lodge is located at Multnomah Falls, Oregon, at Columbia River Mile (RM) 136. It was built in 1925 as an overnight rest area on the Historic Columbia River Highway. Originally the lodge had dormitories and four rooms for the overnight stays.

Then I found this up-to-date information on the building's Web site: Thank you for your interest in an overnite stay at the Lodge. Unfortunately, the building was origionally construsted as a day lodge only, and does not offer overnight accommodations.

Available for public viewing, the Lodge houses a U.S. Forest Service interpretive center, an exceptional gift shop, , snack bar, espresso cart and public restrooms on the plaza level. The second floor accessed by Stair or elevator is home to the restaurant lobby and dining rooms, spectacular patio dining in suitable weather, cozy lounge and bar area.

Ah, the joy of the Internet, where anyone can post anything. I'm pretty sure we ought to trust the building's own Web site as factual.


I managed to get it all in one photo! Amazing accomplishment, and I didn't have to stand on my head. My camera has one of those viewer thingeys that rotates so that you can hold your camera in out-of-the-ordinary places, so I wrapped the strap tightly around my wrist and held the camera outside the railing, with the viewer thingey tilted so that I could see what the camera saw. Neat!


Milton on the bridge, wide shot.


Milton on the bridge, close shot.


The best buds, ever!


One last look, for Mama.


Then we headed for the SUV.