California

These last couple of weeks haven't been the easiest, so I'm particularly grateful I had the opportunity to see my parents in Sonoma this past weekend. We relaxed, soaked up the much-needed sun, ate tasty food, went on long walks, and snuggled with the puppy. (Okay, I snuggled with the puppy.) And it was wonderful. I'm very thankful to be so close to California at this point in my life.

I'm looking forward to a fresh start with this new week. As my dear friend Jess would say, you just need to show up. She's a wise lady. Let's get to it!

Snack Break

Every once in a while (~ every week) I crave a scone. Luckily, I've got a plethora of coffee shops near my office with a surprising variety of scones. My favorite is Floyd's. How could you not love a cafe that features Dale Cooper on their frequent drink card?

On a related note, I've got a handful of Twin Peaks episodes left to finish. I've been putting them off, though, since those final episodes before the big reveal sort of scarred me. (If you're easily creeped out, don't watch them alone!) But I'm curious what happens next, so I'm going to go for it...perhaps later this week. We'll see.

Coffee

I don't remember exactly when I started drinking coffee on a regular basis, but I think it was at some point near the end of my time as an undergraduate. For most of college, I drank a substantial amount of tea in the mornings and evenings and was a loyal consumer of water while pulling all-nighters. I always enjoyed catching up with friends over a cup of joe (and catching up with Joe over some Capitol Grounds goodness), but it wasn't a necessity. Somehow and eventually it became a habit, though, and up through my time in New York I drank it pretty regularly*.

Since moving to Portland I only have coffee a couple of times a week, usually on weekends. It's something I've come to appreciate as a treat. This works mostly because I rarely feel the need for coffee (it doesn't wake me up in the morning any better than tea), but also because I've starting viewing it as a special drink. It has also become a beverage that my family looks forward to enjoying together, sometimes in cafes near home and other times straight from our percolator, which has made coffee and the rituals around it that much sweeter.

The latte above is from my sometimes-Saturday morning place, Random Order. They also make an insanely delicious egg sandwich, if you're ever in the neighborhood.

* Thanks to Ninth Street Espresso, Konditori, and Café Martin, among other lovely cafes. Gorilla, you gave me the worst jitters of my life. Also, I should have budgeted better back then and brewed at home.

Morning Tea

Oy, mornings this week have not been the easiest. Getting out of bed has taken some serious motivation. It's just so dark! I'm even sleeping with my blinds open. Perhaps I need one of these alarm clocks. Better yet, how about this one.

One thing that gets me moving is a hot cup of tea first thing in the morning. I sort of feel like that lady in the old Folgers commercials who stands in the corner of the kitchen, closes her eyes, and appears momentarily at peace during that first sip. (Except in my scenario, there isn't a buff man in PJs who then walks in with my hot breakfast.) Anyway, after a moment of centeredness, I feel ready to tackle the day. Well, ready to put my jacket on and start venturing toward the office. Baby steps.

Eastern Oregon

Photos snapped at Deschutes National Forest and Mount Hood.

Last Friday a group of us headed out to eastern Oregon for a cabin weekend filled with snowy activities and general merriment. Although the thermometer indicated that we were hanging out in the single digits, the bright sun was a more than welcome surprise (it's nowhere to be seen in Portland) and the sky was clear for two days straight, giving us a healthy dose of vitamin D during the afternoon and an incredible view of the stars at night.

That, paired with wonderful company, game nights, and some uber-lovely outdoor expeditions (some of us by snowshoe, others by ski and snowboard), made for a fantastic couple of days. I look forward to going back.

And seriously, could the drive be any more beautiful? I continue to be blown away by the epicness of the Cascade Mountains. We had phenomenal views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, and the Mount Bachelor Volcanic Chain all during the four-hour trip. Just amazing.