Teitur and Sambo's

There is so much to love in Danish culture--old and new. But if you don't know the musician Teitur, you are REALLY missing out. In fact, he and his band played at the Doug Fir Lounge last night and we were SO lucky to see the show. He was OUTSTANDING. Both M and I were seriously impressed. Wow, what a talent. You really see what people are made of in live shows and Teitur is just so freaking talented... and HAPPY...and funky.
And for those who might be curious- he likes girls.



BTW- little did we know: apparently the Doug Fir is one of the coolest spots in PDX. This is strange, because it happens to us again and again. So we asked ourselves: how is it that we seem to coincidentally end up at all the coolest places? I guess we are just THAT cool. What else can we conclude? We aren't really ready for the consequences of what this epiphany means. We aspire to be like the desert fathers and Brennan Manning, but can't seem to escape being sucked into the cool-vacuum. And before you protest--I think the desert fathers would have really dug Teitur. Advice anyone? Another BTW- this restaurant and lounge was originally a Sambo's Restaurant, way, way back when. Does anybody else remember Sambo's? My most vivid memory of the place was an ice-cream dish I was extremely fond of; I wish I knew exactly what it was; it was something with little animal crackers stuck on top of it.) But I digress.

Teitur's music is quirky, eclectic and difficult to describe. I got to know him in DK (he's from the Faroen islands) and he's HUGE in Europe, little known in the States. He has a new album out this May called 'The Singer' (which we haven't listened to yet)--but we highly recommend 'Poetry and Aeroplanes'. Last night Teitur called his two biggest hits in the U.S. 'teenager songs to be found on mix tapes'; whatever he calls it, I love them (songs, 'Josephine' (about a childhood playmate) and 'I was just thinkin'.)

Aside from the aforementioned ballads, his style is difficult to describe. That band was SURE having fun, let's just say that.

Check 'em out.

Oh--and opening for Teitur--a girl we'd never heard of who was FANTASTIC--Jessie Baylin. Also hard to describe...kind of Norah Jones but even more soulful and eclectic. Amazing voice, great stage presence and fantastic songs (which I think were her own). Her first album comes out here in June. M and I are very curious how full productions of her songs will sound because Jessie and her guitarist were way more than enough to make us fans. Sometimes full-scale productions can overwhelm core talent and make it sound cliché. We'll see....

A poem.

It is extremely difficult to 'translate' art of any kind. So I hope that the phenomenal Danish poet, Benny Andersen, will forgive me for attempting to give you some of his words in English. But they are so beautiful, so poignant, that I cannot resist.

About Time

It's about time
the water's boiling
the earth is burning
the world is waiting
when Alexander was Caesar's age
he was already The Great
when Caesar was my age, he was already finished
they wasted no time
and time didn't waste them
they used time like a shirt
slept with it on
were buried in it
and here I sit
holding a newspaper
holding Christmas
holding back
letting opportunities pass me by
in hopeless resistance to discovery
the world doesn't wait
when Mozart was 5 years old
when Jesus was 12
when Columbus raised his anchor
when Homer
when Rembrandt
when Pasteur
when Darwin
when Dalgas
when Da Vinci
when Gama
Damocles
it's about time
it's way past the time
my hat
my coat
my pant-leg fasteners
it's now or never

If this were a cheesy radio station, I would dedicate this poem to Marian, Gitte, Michela, Aarhus....and Denmark. I am always missing you. and you are always in my heart.

Oh yes,
I am a farmer.

Or alternatively:
'Visualize whirled peas'



Those who know me well, know that I did not inherit the green-thumb of my mother and grandmother (not sure how my sisters fare at gardening.) This is despite my long-time dream of owning a vineyard. You see, besides faring decently with potted culinary herbs, I have, literally, killed many-a-succulent. No one asks me to house-sit their plants more than once.

But here in PDX, it would seem that I have found my niche. A fresh start. Turned over a new leaf. (I pretty much despise punning so why did I have to go there?) Check out this vegetable garden, which Audrey and I planted from seeds just 2 short weeks ago:



People, this is real stuff growing. I think the stuff is summer squash and snow peas, mainly. (And don't you dare write comments about how squash and peas could grow well in the Sahara desert.)

If I were to divulge my newfound secrets to successful gardening it would be this:
#1: have very low expectations. I expected for nothing to ever come up and look how pleased I am. I will be even more pleased after we catch and kill the cat that we saw digging in my precious lettuce earlier today. Cats are from the devil. If you like them, we cannot be friends.

and #2: live a place where stuff grows.

These roses are also from 'our' garden. Hey, I cut them myself, ok?



For you doubters here are pictures of our actual milkman experience.

The delivery...



The eggs, cream and yogurt...



and finally...
The Milk.

Oaks Amusement Park



It's no secret we think Portland is an extremely cool city. But what continues to amaze us is how many cool finds we make on walks in our very own neighborhood.

Oaks Amusement Park opened in 1905 (making it one of the oldest in the U.S.). under the Sellwood Bridge, close to where we live (1.8 miles to be exact). There is NO ADMISSION CHARGE and it's open from Spring to Fall (except for the skating rink, which is open year-round). You just pay for rides, etc. As with many Portland attractions, it's located right on the Willamette, offering ample picnic-ing opportunities.



There's even an old-fashioned Dance Pavilion and Skating Rink.







We felt like our lives crossed a new threshold when our tiny little baby willingly and happily went on two rides by herself. Sniff, sniff.





Do you remember how when you were a kid, you really believed you were steering the car yourself? I did.

We rode the carousel, which Audrey found only mildly amusing compared with driving her own purple vehicle.

We Have a Milkman



Move over, people--we have a Milkman. And he delivers milk.

I recently discovered that we have a first-rate, local, organic farm that delivers fresh dairy right to your porch. The Noris Dairy is run by an Austrian couple in Salem, OR and I read about them online (their motto is 'purity in food'), so we were curious how good the products would actually be...



AMAZING. I have to say that Audrey drinks whole milk--so you expect it to be creamy. But PEOPLE, if you are used to nonfat tasting like 'the water the milk towers are rinsed with' (as a friend in DK says), then you have never tasted Noris nonfat.
Oh.my.gosh. this stuff is so TASTY and creamy(but not gaggy), you would actually think that you were indulging. And the fresh whipping cream has an indescribable decadence and flavor. The yogurt is European style, and Audrey thoroughly approves. They also sell organic ice-cream, beef and cheese.)

The milk and cream is in supple glass bottles and EVERYTHING!

And get this: it's no more expensive than your local grocery store! I placed my order via phone, with owner Franz Noris (my new dairy guru) who talked me out of transitioning Audrey to 2% (which someone recently told me I needed to do); he said that he is in his late 60's, has lived on the richest farm-fresh dairy, and his doctor says he has the health (cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) of a young man. In fact, his doctor asked him how he can get such good health himself; Franz told him to consume full-fat dairy and stay away from American processed foods. (Not being a soy-expert, I was surprised to learn from Mr. Noris that soy-milk is a 'processed' food; I'd actually never thought about it. Needless to say, Dairy-Yoda, Franz, is mega-anti-soy.)

Must be tasted to be appreciated.
If you have a local dairy, you might consider giving them a try for the amazing quality and to support your local farmers.

I know what you are thinking and, no dear friends, a Subaru cannot be far behind.

But for now, we're off to Seattle to visit friends and clients...in the Ford Explorer. (Which, fyi because of it's small size, is surprisingly fuel-efficient by today's SUV standards.)

Not gonna do it-
wouldn't be prudent.

Even though I really, really want to, I am not going to rant about what happened to us last night. Ranting causes cancer.

.........................
......................

Ok, this is SO HEINOUS, I cannot abstain. And we need to paint a realistic picture of Portland, not leaving out the fact that there are clueless, inconsiderate people here too.

We went to our very first 'Home Community' group--a local group gathering of people from the church we've been going to. And no joke, someone brought their VERY sick kid. And I asked what was wrong with her and the mother (apparently, a doctor, who used to live here but is just visiting from Kansas) answered: 'she has a fever and has been vomiting since last night.' 'Oh,' says I. (Audrey had not been near the kid--we'd only been there a few minutes.) 'She was around some sick kids last week,' says the mom. The poor child looked MISERABLE, and was wrapped up in a towel, laying in her mom's lap.
'That's a very long incubation for a flu,' says I (absolutely freaking out that someone with a kid with the flu would bring them around 12 other kids. 'Oh, it's not the flu,' says she. 'What is it?' asks I. 'Probably the Rota virus,' says she. 'Does she have diarhrea?' asks I. 'She will tomorrow' states the lady who I don't know, very matter-of-factly. (For those who don't know it, Rota-virus is an intestinal virus accompanied by PROFUSE diarrhea; it won't harm adults, but which is extremely serious for young children because of dehydration. Over 80,000 young kids in the U.S. are hospitalized every year as a result of it.)

Immediately, Mike and I had a huddle outside and decided that, despite our desire not to offend anyone or be unkind-- Audrey and I would leave immediately.

I'm sorry, people, call me paranoid but if a kid contracts something and there is no way you could have foreseen it, that's just life. And yes, it is a rampant and common disease. But seriously, HOW COULD I STAY AND LET MY KID BE KNOWINGLY EXPOSED TO THE FREAKIN' ROTA-VIRUS?

AND WHAT IN THE SAM HELL IS WRONG WITH PARENTS OF OUR GENERATION WHO TAKE THEIR KIDS OUT WHEN THEY'RE SICK????????????????????

Last week, we did not attend this event because Audrey had a cold and we didn't want to get anyone else sick.

Am I the only one that thinks this is sheer insanity and the absolute definition of inconsiderate?

Ok, I want to go on and on. But I won't. Thank you for indulging me in this brief, cleansing rant. Hopefully, it will cleanse the cancer-causing anger out of my colon.

Rally on the river



So this was one of those crazy things we couldn't have planned.
At the Farmers Market Saturday, we saw that Obama was having a rally the next day at the Waterfront Park and decided that it might be fun to check it out. Not that we expected to actually get in or anything; but we could take a picnic and it would still be fun. Originally, we did plan on getting there an hour or so before the event would start. We ended up parking about 5 minutes before.



To our amazement, a volunteer on the street told us to get in 'that line' and that there was still room in the event (which was a large, sectioned-off part of the park). We thought it was too good to be true but looked for the end of the line. And looked. And walked. Block after block, that line wound--and there was no end in sight. So we asked a policeman how it could be that such a long line of people could still make it in for the event. And he said 'honestly, I don't know because it starts in 2 minutes and the line goes all the way back to PSU.'



So we quickly abandoned that idea and headed back to the waterfront with other masses of people streaming toward the park...and were directed, and directed, to stay left....then right...and then cruelty of all cruelties, us--part of the the meandering, aimless wanderers, were directed to join up with the dutiful people waiting in line. And there were thousands I tell you. And this was not our intention at all. We felt soooo bad, but were just going where we were told and then ended up actually getting into the event. Literally, Obama came onto the stage just as we reached the grass. It felt like that story where Jesus says that the laborers who worked all day for the wage that the laborers who worked only part of the day shouldn't complain, because it was His prerogative. (But I am ashamed to admit that had I waited in line all day, I would have been SO mad at the injustice of coincidental masses like us got in without any effort whatsoever.



Anyways, it was an inspiring speech and very fun to be a part of. Audrey was stealing all of the attention around us because she would sincerely and enthusiastically clap and cheer every time the crowd did. It cracked people up--her parents too.


Believe it or not, these people are at the rally too. Right on the Willamette.



Here he is. We zoomed in as much as far as it could go.






We don't know these people. Audrey made friends with them and offered the woman chicken--which she bravely ate.


So graceful and poised in her swimsuit.

Food poor-
Those farmers got all my money.





As mentioned, in last posting, there are oodles and oodles of Farmers Market's here in the Portland area featuring local produce, dairy, bread, pastry, meats and wines. But probably the most famous one has completely lived up to its' name, in our opinion. It's held Saturdays from April to September at Portland State University. We went last week for the first time and it was fantastic.



Start with the fact that the location is stunning--PSU is located at the head of what's called 'the park blocks'--a long row of park with genormous trees that form an archway leading to the market.








This was one of our more unique finds: Lavender Boysenberry and Lavender Raspberry Chipotle Jams. That night, we basted our bbq'd chicken with the chipotle variety and rhubarb coulis with fresh cream on marzipan nests. DELICIOUS!

There was every fresh, seasonal food that your heart could desire. Mounds of rainbow chard, rhubarb, asparagus (the precious white asparagus has arrived!), berries and breads, cheeses and locally raised meats and dairy (even buffalo!) The place fairly stunk with the perfume of tomatoes and herbs--heaven!





Audrey enjoying a violin performance by two very talented young ladies.



Having a daughter who is a tomato addict, how could we leave without our own plant? The farmer said this one would be prolific. With my black thumb, we'll see. Hopefully Farmer Mike can keep it alive.



Below, a view of the river, crossing over on the way home.



This was our bounty (shown below on our porch bench.) With this kind of sumptuous abundance available on a regular basis, I am sure we are destined to become food-poor.





By the way, someone (who shall remain anonymous), has asked whether we miss CA at all. The answer to that is: NATURALLY, we sorely miss our precious and beloved family and friends there. We just think that they should all move here.
And another very bad thing about living in Portland is that there are very large goose turds because there are many geese. So there you have it.

These are a few
of my favorite things

So many things to love, but here are a few of our recent faves:

Audrey's recently learned skill of doing the famous 'Blue Steel' pose:


Watching Audrey play with Basil the gnome





Our cozy new backyard


Being able to walk to this park for weekday lunch, in under 5 minutes



My good-smelling and sweet husband



Our new neighbor, Avery.



and how sweet she is with Audrey



Ravenous consumption of oatmeal and very short bangs--that I cut MYSELF.



The Portland Farmers Market.



...which deserves its own blog entry.
To be continued.