From the Art Gallery.

  

It's raining and bleak today so I stayed home.  Plenty of time to explore the area in the sunshine.  I'm not having a lot of luck yet pinning down a trip through western Canada - too expensive, too much in too short a time, not interested in the Calgary stampede ....... blah, blah blah.  What a terrible problem to have, woe is me (I don't think!)  Because I chose to stay home and cosy today, I thought I might post some of Sue's art work - some of my favourites.  This is a  mask from South America.  In the close up, you can see the man has a mask of a cat (think it's a jaguar) on top of his head.  It's all made from feathers (some really tiny) strategically placed,  The whole thing is only about 25cm in length.  Absolutely amazing.  If you click on any of the photos on the blog, you can see more detail.

One more treat for today.  This is one of her light switches.  She has a few different ones and I just love them.  Can you see the little gecko?

Bye for now

Carmel

My furry friends.

                     

I must admit it helps the homesickness to have to have some furry friends to spoil.  However, they don't wake me in the morning with a wet nose on my face or by fleaing my arms and snuffling loudly at the same time.  Chequers (Cheqie) is the black and white one and she is very friendly and mellow.  As you can see, she is a Tai Chi practitioner as well.  I'm doing the white stork cools wings move and she's doing the feline brush knee.  The grey and white one is Boots.  Now she is my challenge in life!  She is terrified of everything and everyone and spends a lot of time under Sue's bed and, when she comes out, the slightest noise or movement sends her scurrying back.  Well I've started to make inroads.  You know the old saying the best way to a cat's heart is through its stomach .....  Whenever I get a chance I sneak her some special food and, low and behold, she will actually walk past me or allow me to walk past her without disappearing under Sue's bed.  I wonder where all this will end?

The plants are so different from home.

Hi Everyone. Greetings from Beaverton. I think I have been very lucky with the weather. There have been days when it was cool and overcast but there has been relatively little rain during the days (Camelot?!#*) I went for a walk the other day and as I walked under a tree in blossom the wind blew and it snowed blossoms. Just beautiful. Although all the trees are starting to grow new leaves, many of them have moss and fungus on them as well. I find it really fascinating and I appreciate having the time to stop and take it all in. The azaleas are in bloom but most of them are tiny little ones about the size of our 10 cent piece (the coins over here still have me bamboozled!)

I went into downtown Portland on the light rail/train on the weekend. It's either a very polite country or I look feeble because it was impossible to stand up. I got lots of offers of seats and, because no one understands me when I say I would like to stand up, I gave up and sat down!

Last night I was invited to a regular gathering of some of Sue's friends and it was great. They get together regularly (once a month, I think) at a different person's place each time. They do a pot luck dinner and then sit together to formally do something of interest. It takes many different forms but last night it was a discussion of different ways of handling risk taking. It was fascinating to see such varied approaches to the subject from each of the women and I felt honoured to be part of it. The dinner was held at Amanda's house and she is a master gardener and a very creative person. Her back yard has a little creek running through it and her garden is an absolute delight.

After all the warnings about the probability of cold in Yellowstone, I went shopping and bought some extra warm socks and a fleece (and extra warm track top to wear under your coat). I really hate feeling like the Michelin man but I don't have any choice here, I think. I even bought some toe warmers! They're like little teabags you put above and below your toes inside your socks and I'm told they work like a charm. I hope so.

Enough babble for now. I have to go and study the bus system. It's complicated and doesn't come very often.

Lotsaluv

Carmel

More little things to enjoy.

HI Everyone,

Life continues to be very good for me here in Oregon. Oregonians are very proud of their state and their quality of life. I continue to be amazed by all the tulips. They almost grow like weeds - they're everywhere - and so many different varieties and colours. Pansies are all the go as well and they make the gardens so colourful. When the sun comes out, it's warm and gentle and I wore my sunglasses for the first time yesterday. As a special treat for me, Sue lit a fire and we sat in front of it with wine and just enjoyed the flames - absolutely mesmerising.

We attended a lecture on cyber crime. (Part of a series Mentor sponsors - Mentor is the company Sue works for.) Pretty scary but very informative. It was followed by a lovely dinner with more interesting people to meet. Before the lecture Sue took me to a swanky cocktail bar and I had a Stony Rose whisky cocktail. Very nice indeed! I want another one sometime. And just to show what a hick I am, I was shocked when I stood up and the toilet flushed all by itself. I went back later and tried to play and make it do it again, but no luck so its still a mystery to me.

Only two weeks until Yellowstone and I am soooo excited about it. I know it's going to be fantastic. Sue took me to Goodwill and I have a nice warm coat. (I think I told you about that little purchase!) I need to buy a day pack and some warm socks and I'll be set. I've bought an IPod so I can download ABC podcasts and keep in touch with home. I miss my dogs very much. There's no one to make me get out of bed in the morning and I don't have any little love bites on my arms from Mandy fleaing me! It's funny the things that become important.

Send me any of your news. I check out the ABC website but that's only stuff of national importance - what about you?

Lotsaluv

Carmel

Spring is in the air.

Everyone here is very excited about the arrival of Spring and, after seeing Sue's photos of being snowed in at Christmas, I can certainly understand why. This is just one of the houses near here but they all have tulips and daffodils growing in their front gardens. None of the houses have front fences but they have side and back fences. Many of them don't block off the sides of their houses unless they have a dog.

I have christened the hot tub and have to say it was pretty dam good and have done Tai Chi every day on Sue's back deck in the company of squirrels and the occasional bird. Not anywhere near as many birds around as at home. Ventured into the notorious Goodwill today and bought a Calvin Klein coat for $20. It will be initiated at Yellowstone as I keep getting messages of how cold it's going to be there. I had to buy a new mobile as my other one was locked and that cost me $30 and it wasn't the cheapest. Saw a coyote in the street. It looks very much like a dingo, maybe a little bit smaller and I'm told there are racoons a plenty in the neighbourhood but we haven't crossed paths yet. Apparently they attack cats so they're not very popular in this house. I met a couple of Sue's friends - one at breakfast (Ellen) and one at dinner (Janine). They're very friendly and welcoming. Places to eat are everywhere and it's not at all expensive. We went to a place that specialises in different kinds of pancakes for breakfast and a pasta place for dinner and the food was delicious.

I still have to master public transport so I'm grounded to a certain extent but that's this week's challenge. Even knowing where to catch the bus is a challenge because I still catch myself hyperventilating around corners.

Hope everyone is fine back in Aus. Don't be afraid to post a comment or email.

Carmel

Living in an Art Gallery

Over the years, Sue has collected many beautiful things. Among other things, she has an interest in masks and many beautiful examples from around the world. She's also very interested in native American art and and I'm totally in love with her pottery collection from native American artists. Enjoy just a few examples fro the photos. Every time I turn around, I find something I haven't noticed before or see another piece in a different way.

I saw some of suburban Beaverton in daylight yesterday and it looks like something out of the movies - maybe "Desperate Housewives". Lots of lovely winding streets, lovely gardens, trees in blossom and people out mowing their lawns. I can't work out why all the houses have such large numbers. My measly 20 seems very strange in this context. We went to a huge organic store last night. It was about the size of my local Woolworths. It had some other groceries besides produce but we bought some organic meat for me (Sue is vegetarian) and lots of fruit and vegetables.

Sue's house is amazing - it's like living in an art gallery. Walls, shelves an any spare space are covered with large and small pieces of art. Every time I turn around I notice something else astonishing. A lifetime of collecting and appreciating beautiful things. It's absolutely amazing and wonderful.

It's a beautiful day here so I'm about to go out walking. Sue tells me it rains a lot just like Ireland so I had better make the most of it. No heating in the house today an I'm fine with just a pullover on.

Thinking of home all the time. Yesterday, I was asked what my accent was and of course they guessed English. When I suggested they think of another English speaking country, silence. We just don't exist over here. Quaint !?*

Lotsaluv to all

Carmel

Well I made it. Can't say I enjoyed the trip too much but it's over and I'm about to do some Tai Chi and loosen up. I slept like a log last night which was good so hopefully that's a good start to dealing with any jet lag. It's cool here but not totally freezing and the house is nice and warm. I have two CATS for company today - one likes me and one looks at me like I'm an alien. Mind you its not the first one to do that since arriving on American soil. I'm having a problem understanding some people. I think they think I'm rude but I just don't know what they're saying. Anyway, today's task is to unpack and settle in and maybe go for a walk.

Cheers for now

Carmel

Leaving behind my beautiful mates. I'm sure we'll miss each other heaps.