Bio

(Prairie Life, Antoine Lavoisier, Atmospheric Formation, The Desert at Night)

Everyone knows that Portland wants to put a bird on it, and it seems like Charley Harper bird prints are more all over the place than ever. Remember though, birds are just a tiny part of biology, and it's been reminding me of his gorgeous Giant Golden Book of Biology illustrations, published in 1961 as a gift to children and parents everywhere (allowing "Go read your biology book-now!" demands to be met by nodding heads, and turning slanted teenage eyes back into magical child eyes). I never had a copy of this book myself and biology is the only class I ever failed.

I am now waiting for one of my friends to have children and raise them until they're at least 12, so this can be included in their highly anticipated coming of age present.

"To Waste Time"

Mie's amazing gift of We, The Drowned threw me back into the sea faring world I had forced myself to take a break from. It felt like getting handed the keys to a car, or better yet, a boat. The stories of the sailors spending months and years at sea reminded me of the striking scrimshaw they produced. Even though we usually associate this nautical art form with images scratched into ivory (typically whale's teeth), scrimshaw included many other bone and ivory creations. The engravings sailors made are endlessly beautiful, but the practical objects they created linked their idle hands with a far away home. Fun/Fact: Somebody who produces scrimshaw is referred to as a scrimshander. Although the unending loneliness a wife experienced while her husband was at sea was her curse, at least a scrimshander husband would have a pie crimper (first picture), or a swift, used to wind yarn into a ball (second), to hand her when he showed up at the doorstep. This swift can be found in Mystic Connecticut, where my parents were married.

Pretty Things

If you've been enticed by the allure of a city and now find need of solitude, feel free to follow the little footsteps, bike tracks and tire marks I've been making around crowds recently. A mini NY guide will come (from an old expert at hermetic life there), but here are two free places to escape to in and outside of Portland.

International Rose Test Garden/Washington Park



The name says it, but it's worth repeating: this is a testing ground for new rose varieties. Isn't that enough reason to be here? There are many out of towners walking around with cameras, but it is so beautiful there must also be real Portlanders smelling a rose or two (try New Zealand and Easy Going). Maybe you will be lucky enough to see a middle aged Japanese woman giggling like a teenager while posing in front of a thorny thicket, making the whole experience worthwhile. I rode my bike with it's broken gears a grueling five uphill miles in the sun to Washington Park, where the garden is located. Arriving felt like reaching the Promised Land. My crumbly vegan/gluten free bread baking attempt was the manna.

Hood River



The garden is wonderful but still too crowded for you?? I feel the same way! You must have a Subaru, so get in. Driving past Sandy and through Mt. Hood National Park the buildings are already a distant memory. Exit at the end of Highway 35,and follow the scent of orchards. Don't hold back from running into a field of lavender while exchanging knowing glances with other people's Grandmas, and from trying enough cherry samples to substitute for lunch. There's also 47 cent Nigella (picture on the left, Sarah from Saipua on the right! NY flashback) to fill out your garden, or a big empty pot.




On the trip back along the Gorge, take a windy drive up to the Vista House and see a world that looks brave and brand new. Gertrude Stein once said, "I've been rich and I've been poor. It's better to be rich". Forget about money for a minute, because you are surrounded by mountains, filled to the brim with berries, and have arms full of flowers. You are rich! She is right. Keep that thought with you back into the city, and goodnight.