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Choices, Choices Every year, Christmas over takes me and I swear next year will be different. Well, I started with good intensions to begin this year in a more timely manner. Huh, me get things done early? Even if I start early, I only add more to do to my plate of tasks. So, what is a Moeder to do??? At least I have narrowed my color palette to red and white for decorations. I bought some red felt and I plan to make red hearts with white yarn blanket stitches in the Swedish manner. I wandered through the huge just-opened Menards this afternoon. I looked through the Christmas displays and didn’t find a thing. A stop at the Dollar General and I found a wealth of inexpensive red and white tree ornaments, package tags, canned spray snow and rolls of two dollar wrapping paper. Christmas hint: Take your odd bits and pieces of wrapping paper and run it through the paper shredder. It makes a colorful filling for gift bags. I am off at least to a start... Where to start... Whether planning a garden or decorating for Christmas it is always the hardest part of the whole process. Being a visual person, I go shopping for ideas. I went to the city and did a bit of poking about before Thanksgiving sales were to begin. I purchased a set of good-sized metal stars, deep red in color, thus the red theme. A start in the many choices....
I promised I’d finish my travel tales from the Oregon Coast. I left off at Cannon Beach (my goodness, go get a map!) where we had left and headed south to do the three capes loop. Stopping at every overlook, we hiked out to the light house at Cape Mere’s with its windswept trees and crashing waves. Resounding the cries of the ancient sea as it crashes into the sea caves where the edge of land and ocean meet. I’d love to get to the coast on a hot summer week and pitch a tent, stay awhile. My visits so far have all been in the fall.
Leaving the ocean behind we trooped off inland to Tillamook, Oregon. We went in search of a waterfall that was written about in some printed materials we had gathered.
Another find; a yet to be developed site with a narrow slippery path and the beginnings of a soft pacific coast rain falling on it. Remote is a good way to describe it. A very rainy forest. By the time we saw it and photographed it, we were kind of soggy looking. Time to head to Portland to our unique digs for the night, The Hotel Monaco, listed as the #3 on Trip Advisor. I encourage you to take a look at their website. I had booked a room called a double double. A wet and tired trio of travelers in a pricey hotel...what a hoot. Right by the front desk is a dog-shaped chalkboard with the names of the canine guests (dog friendly hotel). As I was checking in, I had message from a good friend that she’d be by the hotel about five o’clock. Within minutes she walked in and we made plans for dinner at Jake’s Seafood which was only six blocks away. My son wanted pizza and peace. The rest of us dined on fresh seafood and enjoyed our visit. April decided she’d definitely return to Portland to experience the city. We were short of time and were sprinting from place to place. This is where I am going to leave my travel tales. To be continued..... Cookbooks have such an allure and I know I am not the only one who has this bend. As I have traveled about this wild and wonderful world, I have collected cookbooks to take home. The most important part of any culture is the foods they eat. Books are easy to transport in the bottom of your suitcase; they won’t break and there are no problems at the customs desk. I was just watching the Martha Stewart television show and she had on Martha Phelps Stamps. I thought the name sounded familiar? The New Southern Basics/Traditional Southern Food for Today cookbook. Sure enough there she be, big as life on my cookbook shelf. Good choice, I have made some tasty dishes from that one. The problem when looking at the recipes is there so many choices. If you check Amazon, you’ll find a copy. Buy it for yourself and one for a friend. Now is time to wish everyone who happens to read this a joyous holiday season. Remember to eat good food, be kind and speak the truth. I think it is important to think upon the fact that we are all headed the same direction>>>>forward into the future. Dateline Nov. 26,2007
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