A run through Portland

 I'm back home in Livermore, and it is cold enough to flip on that furnace! During our short trip to Portland, we stayed at "The Asylum" apartment building in the Hawthorne District.  In 1861, James & Loryea Hawthorne opened the Hawthorne Asylum. None of us had heard of the asylum before, and were slightly confused why the building we were staying in was called that.   Oregon encyclopedia for James Hawthorne history.

Back in May of '96, we bought a house in the not as sought after Creston neighborhood.  When we stay in Portland, I take a nice leisurely run outside to visit what we refer to as the "little house".  This may or may not be interesting to you, but I took some fun house photos during my run- houses I used to dream of owning.

Ladd's Addition area

Loved this peek-a-boo gate.

I like modern architecture, but a new build stuck in this neighborhood felt real stupid out of place. 

There were a couple gardens loaded with everything. 

I wonder if they sell or it's just like this all the time.  The porch was loaded up as well.  I'd much prefer a plant hoard!

This was very tidy, the curved porch beams were very striking.  

And there she is, the little house!  The tiny green-gray one, no garage.  We had the porch redone while we lived there, it was rotting.  Painted and put on a new roof. 

I did notice they had put in a new stair railing, it was just an old pipe when we were there. *And they painted the door red, we preferred the original wood. I lugged garbage cans and 3 babies up and down all those stairs, and a few more stairs up the porch.  I also scraped all the sempervivum off the rocks by the stairs, thinking they were "old lady" plants.  I've changed, and I'm a bit of an old lady now! 

Beautiful moss, lots of enjoyable signs.

Cool meandering pathway

I liked this, nice wide hellstrip.

This hellstrip had to be 10' wide! 

Lovely Arcto and I like the mustardy trim on the house.  Especially with the gray days.  So many beautiful homes!  And not even a bit war-torn. ;)

We did some thrift store shopping, anyone seen this movie? 

The kids got to see all their cousins, pictured with my brother's kids.  Not planned, but they were all basically spawned around the same time. Made for fun holidays.  Vincent, M, V, Sophia, H & Olivia.  Gathered in my parents dining room for pie. My parents have lived in the same house at 113th & Flanders since 1969-ish. Growing up it was all avocado green and pink/black tiled bathroom.  Now everything is pink, my Dad is colorblind and very easy going.  

Reminder for myself, I saw this garland of strawflowers at a flower shop on Hawthorne.  I love that!

And as luck would have it, I have grown and dried these.  Must do. 

I'm so happy to be home, and working on getting those Christmas decorations out.  It should be warming up after today, I'm eager to continue work in the front.  Today, it's just too cold - I think?  My fungus treatment of the aloe blooms seems to be mostly a success.  

Hakea laurina is such a bright spot in the back.  

Happy December to all!  I'll be back to regular garden posting next time.