Japanese Gardens, Rose Gardens, & Other Wanderings

This was my favorite place in the Japanese Garden. 

Do you see the face?????

Today I went to the Portland Japanese Garden. It was pretty incredible. I would like to sit in one place from sunrise to sunset just to watch the light change. Nearby are the Rose Gardens, the Hoyt Arboretum, and the Oregon Zoo.

I Make Books.

As most of you know, I am going to school to study bookmaking. I started classes on Monday, and I've already made two books. The first was a hand-stitched pamphlet book, and the second is the one in these pictures. For the next project in my bookbinding class, I will be making a box to keep it in.

The Oregon Coast

Driving into Ecola State Park

The forest at Ecola

The view at Ecola State Park

A surfing hotspot at Ecola State Park

Hiking at Ecola State Park

Tree at Ecola State Park

Gnarled tree trunk

Rocky coast

Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach

People and dogs

Walking on the shore

The tide rising at Cannon Beach

Horses on Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach

Last Sunday, I saw the Pacific Northwest coast for the first time. I think I'll let the pictures do most of the talking. Although, I should mention that I had the most delicious clam chowder I've ever tasted on this day. It was beyond good.

Voodoo & Sausages

Today Marshall and I went downtown and did some of that touristy Portland stuff . . .

We wandered around the Saturday Market (Dogs! Kids! Art!)

We ate some Polish food (Cheers to Wisconsin!)

We went to Powell's (Pop-up Books!)

We braved the line for Voodoo Doughnuts (Maple and Bacon together forever!)

It's going to take a long time to get to know this place. I knew Madison so well. It's strange to feel so unfamiliar with the city in which I am living. People are very friendly, though. They say hello, they strike up conversations. There is no stand-offish attitude. This makes things easier.