Northern Lights

This video was taken out an airplane window and is pretty cool.

My lap quilt

I finished my lap quilt and I am really happy with it.

Fun stuff from friends

My friends Ted and Susan (a couple) each sent me a fun link, so fun that I am sharing them here.

First Ted:

Now Susan:

Snow fun

The guy who makes that snow art is Simon Beck.

Riding in the Silver Twinkie

We went to visit John's mom in the hospital at OSHU.  We walked to the Max train, took the train to the streetcar which took us to the south waterfront where we could catch the tram (aka silver twinkie) to OHSU.  It was our first ride on the tram.  Of course we have seen it up there in the sky before and it's been controversial, especially for the folks who live under it and feel their privacy is invaded.

Houses under the tram

OHSU stop

Coming into OHSU

Chocolate Chip Cookie Science

Cookie Science

Winter sports

Frozen Waterfalls

All the waterfalls froze during the record cold and several intrepid hikers went out to take fabulous photos.

Trip report for photo

Trip Report for photo

Trip Report for Photo

Dealing with record cold

It's really cold here for Portland.  It got down to 12 last night and I fear for my plants.  In the meantime, we are working to keep the cold at bay.

The hummingbirds are fiercely guarding the feeders.  When it gets this cold, we have to thaw the sugar water about once an hour or so.  Look how puffed up their feathers are.

Here is a lovely way to stay warm...

Both our front and back doors are a little warped and have cracks the cold can get through.  I stuffed some quilt batting in the cracks.  Works great to stop the draft!

We closed off the upstairs completely.  I used some foam insulation panels and a lot of curtains and towels to seal it off as best I could.

We also left the water dripping in the upstairs bathroom to prevent bursting pipes in case they should freeze.

Thanksgiving photos

Now we are in the middle of a terrible horrrible cold snap but just a few days ago it was Thanksgiving and the weather was delightful.  We made Peking duck for Thanksgiving.  The skin didn't come out as crispy as we like so we'll have to try again.  Still, it was an excellent duck.

Drying the duck for Peking Duck

It was a beautiful day and we went for a walk in the park.... lots of people were out enjoying the day.

We did the stairmaster a few times...

Clerodendrum tree, still with flowers and berries

Our peking duck roasting on the grill

The view out an upstairs window.

This is the picture my friend Susan sent me with her Thanksgiving greeting.  The photo was taken in her back yard.  It's such a nice photo.

And here is my latest in progress quilt.