A show and a slide

Our friend Brad had another play produced for the Fertile Grounds event. It was staged reading of a drama, quite a departure from the usual comedies we've seen from him. "Spellbinders" it was called.

In late January we drove down to PC to see B's dad, recovering from surgery. His wife, J, was happy to see on a blustery weekend and we entertained her with games (she never plays with K).

And B was able to get in one day of skiing this season, heading up to Washington to hit the slopes with his sister and brother-in-law.

Another Chinatown story

The second day of our about town birthday was spent in Northeast Portland. We wandered around Powell's books (and bought cars) and headed to Chinatown. We had a nice lunch and wandered around for a Chinese New Year event. We watched performers and toured some of the tongs, the social associations formed by grounds of families. one we found was farther away from the tourists and when we got there it was evident we were the only non-Chinese there. It seemed to be all members and they knew each other. Surprisingly they made us feel welcome and B and I had a long chat with their president, an older gentleman who took great pains to teach us mahjong.

a bit of birthday

We were planning on celebrating our birthdays together this year, but B insisted we do something to recognize mine, which fell on a Sunday. So we went out for a appetizer dinner/drinks outing at the McMenamins in Vancouver, on the river. We played games and kicked back on a cold blustery day. 

And a week later I went out with three friends. We played a silly game of ping pong on a place on Belmont, then had a lovely dinner. Mary, Julie and Sue gave me a lovely day.

And in January we finally had a new door installed. Not only did it look great but it shut and kept closed. And kept out the wind.

Staycation 2

Instead of going away for the weekend for our joint birthday we stayed closed to home. We made it a mission to gad about town spending all the various gift cards we've been accumulating over time. We hit the comic store, the knitting store, the music store and of course, books. 

And we filled one page of our McMenamins passport by touring Kennedy School in NE Portland and having lunch, drinks in one of the eclectic bars.

Christmas 2017

Leslie's Star Trek puzzle provided welcome distraction

Christmas was low-key but very enjoyable. We had our usual Eggs Benedict brunch Christmas Day but the night before we walked into town to play pool and have a beer. Jess was out of state so as she requested we all donned her gifts (cozy socks) and took some photos to send her. 

Christmas Eve it snowed, then iced, so everything was quiet the next day. Travis and Joey headed home in the late afternoon and got detoured for an accident on the mountain pass. A three-hour drive took them 8 hours.

Family selfie with gift socks

Hanging at Thatchers, neighborhood dive bar

Annual Darcelle Scavenger Hunt

Yeah, no clue what I was doing

 So I tried to come up with a new activity for the holidays this year, beyond eating, playing games and watching movies (always good things but wanted something new). A 'scavenger' hunt seemed like a fun group activity so I spent some time compiling of list of things teams of players could find (taking photos) in an urban setting.

The List and Darcelle

Our pre-Christmas Christmas was on Dec. 20, to accommodate Jess's trip to Utah. Steven and Travis were not there yet, alas. We headed to the downtown waterfront, divided into teams (B, Leslie, Jess against Bug, Trusten and Boo) and went insane for 60 minutes. 

awkward selfie in downtown store

We met afterwards at a whisky bar and compared lists. Amazingly, both teams got the EXACT number of items -- so it was a draw. I had found a great gnome Christmas ornament to be our trophy and we debated what to name it. When we realized it had dramatic glitter eyebrows B suggested we name it Darcelle, for the infamous drag queen and bar in Old Town. 

The game was a big success and everyone wants a rematch in 2018.

Selfie with (traffic) cop

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Bits of December

Could be drainage in backyard needs work?

 Didn't get the record-breaking ice and snow storms this winter but we got plenty of rain, testing our new gutter guards and drainage systems. Travis' riverbed drainage swale out front is doing great though!

Sarah's gig at No Vacancy

Sarah switched jobs just before the holiday and is now bartending at a trendy dance club in Old Town. She has to wear ear plugs to avoid hearing damage and says the job makes her feel old. 

New holiday decor

Got the tree up but we were so busy with all the remodeling work we did not other decorations for the holidays: no outside lights, no mantle decor. But I did extend the life of our new Halloween decoration (courtesy of a Methow hike) with a little Christmas twist. 

photo for holiday card this year

Almost didn't get holiday cards out this year but at the last minute came up with these New Years cards, courtesy of our whimsical solar eclipse experience.

the Visitors arrive

Steven & Kristin

This year for the holidays we had plenty of visitors. Kristin came up from California as soon as her school began winter holiday break and immediately got busy visiting friends, eating in her favorite restaurants and hanging with family. Steven joined her several days later and both were able to stay until New Years.

Steven & Kristin at Pips & Bounce

Jess came to visit the week before Christmas, staying several days before heading south to catch a flight to Utah to spend the rest of holiday break at her mother's house. She was bummed to miss seeing everyone but was happy she was able to visit Park City on this trip to Utah. 

 

Jess at the game table

Travis arrived just before Christmas, bringing with him his roommate Joey. Seems like it's not a holiday without an adult 'orphan' or two. Joey got thrown in the deep end with the family, enduring game marathons and crazed gift-opening assaults. He seemed to enjoy it however, and we were glad to have him. 

Joey tries Trivia