random order

It's almost-the-end-of-the-day on Friday and all I want is to be in Portland at this table, eating this pie.

only for today

My grandmother would have been 89 today.

I have a small envelope of some of her things. Miscellany, mostly. Notes, a pocket mirror, church brochures, a bobby pin. There's also a small stack of worn cuts of binder paper. You can tell they were held and read over and over-- she hand wrote about a dozen prayers and would read from these throughout the day.

I miss her. Her delicate cursive is so telling of who she was. They make me cry so I try not to look into this envelope too much.

But today, it's okay. Happy Birthday, Mama Hely. Mahal kita.

david

Happiest birthday to the guy who picks up and delivers a 100-person cake for my niece's baptism, re-watches episodes so I can catch up, travels at the same pace, adores donuts as much as I do, and says, "that goes without saying" when I ask if I look cute.

You are forever thoughtful and surprising and sweet. I'm glad you're mine.

scenes from portland

1. An overcast view
2. The cutest breakfast nook in our listing
3. My favorite Portland breakfast
4. A smoothie break
5. The world's best banana creme pie
6. Details in my host's apartment
7. Channeling my inner Leslie Knope
8. Purple ice cream is best, especially with friends
9. A crackling fire to celebrate our first night in town

pine state

Outside of eating, we didn't have much planned for Portland. I won't overload this space with food photos (for now) but Pine State Biscuits was one of the places we loved, were fortunate to stay within walking distance of, and ate at two days in a row.

We may or may not have been sad without the biscuits for a third day once we were back home.