Wolf on Wednesday - or Husky Halloween

Okay, honestly she's a Husky. But she's dressed for Halloween. The preparations have begun. And a Wolf is so much more in keeping with the Halloween theme.

Don't you think?

Or should it be a Husky Halloween?

Tuesday Trip Pics

Taking a walk down a tree lined path.

The moss grows and hangs like a weary visitor.

The beauty surrounds us - as we stop to stare.

Should we walk on - Do we dare?

The Eye of the Beholder

When artists used to paint or sketch royalty, they always made them look their best. They knew they could become famous and wealthy if they pleased the royals. So, of course, they made them look "better" than they actually were. You can read more about this phenomenon in this article under the section about Portraits of Elizabeth I.

Well . . ., this weekend I felt like royalty. And, I wish I had the money to make David Poole wealthy--because, believe me, he deserves it!

I had my portrait done while I was at the 30-year reunion this weekend. And, I LOVE this sketch because it makes me look soooo much younger than I actually am.


David Poole is a local Oregon artist who has done portraits of all my kids and my husband. He didn't have time to do mine when he did theirs. So, this was something I've always wanted to come back to the beach to have done.

He was VERY kind in his perspective of me and I really enjoyed talking with him and appreciated the way he presented me.

Have you ever had your portrait painted or sketched? Were you happy with the outcome?

If not, why not? And, if you ever make it to Seaside, Oregon, check out the carousel mall and get a portrait done. I guarantee - You're gonna LOVE it!!!

We have to remember:
Beauty (like age) is in the Eye of the Beholder:

"Shakespeare expressed a similar sentiment in Love's Labours Lost, 1588:

Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:
Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,
Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues

Benjamin Franklin, in Poor Richard's Almanack, 1741, wrote:

Beauty, like supreme dominion
Is but supported by opinion"

I loved David's very generous opinion :)

Reunions and Get-togethers

This weekend was my husband's 30 year reunion. We kicked off the celebration by heading out to Scappoose to grab a bite to eat at the Varsity Grill and Pub. Some people went to the Homecoming football game. Not me. It was too cold for me to sit outside on those bleachers back 30 years ago and you can forget about getting me out there on those cold hard seats nowadays.

But it was so much fun sitting and chatting with "kids" I got to know through my husband at UofO, back in 1979-83. A lot of the Scappoose clan came to our wedding in the spring of 1983. In fact one of them was a bridesmaid. So, it was a lot of fun catching up and going down memory lane.

I hope we get together again - not waiting another 30 years or so. :)

Have any of you gone to reunions lately? What did you think? What was the most memorable thing you experienced?

Interesting Animation

EARTH-FRIENDLY FRIDAY - Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

Wednesday night I went to the Bagdad Theater to hear David Byrne talk about Biking around the world. His novel The Bicycle Diaries should be an interesting read. Books that David said inspired him were 20 Minutes in Manhattan, The Death & Life of Great American Cities and The Timeless Way of Building.

One of his best points was that if you ride your bike, you will have a closer reference point with your surroundings. He says that you will be more inclined to stop and enjoy the environment and get to know the people in your community along the way.

I was even luckier though, there was an entire panel of speakers at the event. One person I found thoroughly interesting was Mia Birk. You should check out all she has done to get biking into the forefront of Portland's concerns.

This was an interesting evening with a lot of great talk about biking in Portland, Oregon.

So, why not park your car for a day and try biking around? Let me know if you start to feel like an 8 year-old again. Flying through the air, on two wheels. . .

TIME FOR HALLOWEEN

I love holidays - all of them. And I decorate like crazy - maybe I am, crazy.

Here's a few photos from Halloween over the years.