Yummm! Mexican Food in Portland

 Two Mexican restaurants have opened in the past few months here in Portland.

You might not know this about me, but I love Mexican food.

So many Mexican restaurants are just ho-hum, so finding two this year that are

delicious I just had to share new hidden Portland secrets.

The first is: Taqueria Nueve, 727 S.E. Washington Street, Portland

www.taquerianueve.com

 Isn't this chicken dish beautiful?  It had a lovely salsa/salad underneath.

The taco was wild boar.  I can attest to it being very yummy.

 Then near my home we watched as a very poor looking building was renovated and turned into Tamale Boy.

Really we didn't have much hope for it because the area is rather run down.
The addition will definitely make for a better neighborhood.

To our surprise when you have good food the people will come.

With the lovely warm weather lately they have a patio to sit in that is just wonderful.

I am excited because I can actually walk here and the food it soooo good.

 It is located at 1764 N.E. Dekum Street, Portland

 www.tamaleboy.com

 They make the guacamole right at the table and you can ask

for more salt, lime juice, or spice after you taste.  Delicious!

 I had the chili verde pork tamale, yummmm!

 The patio

 To our surprise after dinner at Tamale Boy we found a new gelato

shop right next door.

Definitely worth the stop here too.

www.bassottopdx.com

So there you have it, my own personal hidden treasures out and about in Portland, Oregon

Good thing I can walk to Tamale Boy and Bassotto Gelateria

because I can see I will be needing to walk off a few of those calories.

Gnome Beach, a Secret?

 Each time I visit Oswald West State Park and Beach I fall in love all over again.

Take Hwy 101, just south of Cannon Beach and park in the lot.

You won't see the beach from here, but I promise you it is there.

 It is approximately a half mile easy hike to the beach

through the most beautiful trees and undergrowth.

 I walk slowly with my camera because there is so much beauty all around.

 Arriving above the beach this is the beauty you will see.

It is a cove, which the surfers love.

 Normally it is fairly quiet, but yesterday it was busier than I have ever seen.

I guess they came because it was quite hot in Portland and about 70 degrees here

with a lovely breeze.

  There were some clouds, but still just beautiful.

 Even a couple dogs were giving surfing a try.

 Now why did I say it was Gnome Beach

instead of Oswald West?

 Many of the trees look like this.

From the first visit with my young children we called it Gnome Beach because of course gnome's must live here, we see the signs everywhere.

Now I am sharing my favorite beach just with you,

don't tell anyone though.  We like the beauty just for ourselves.

A Monkey

 Do you know this monkey?

If there are little ones in your life you would know this monkey is Curious George.

 It had been a long time since I got to take a little one to a kid's event.

When I saw that the "monkey" was going to be at our local mall

I knew where my favorite little guy and I were going.

There was singing, dancing, and silliness.

Just what my heart loved.

As you see the "monkey" didn't disappoint.

Thanks to the Red Tricycle I knew the monkey was coming for a visit.

If you have a little one in your life and live near a city in the US

check to see if your city has the Red Tricycle online.

They send a weekly email with suggestions and things to do

with the younger set.

Monday's Quotes

If I had my life to live over,

I would start barefoot earlier in the spring

and stay that way later in the fall.

I would go to more dances,

I would ride more merry-go-rounds.

I would pick more daisies.

~Nadine Stair

ps - this is one of my all time favorite quotes.

Along with Life comes a little rain

Summer time is suppose to be laid back and fun,

but sometimes life just gets poured on and swamped.

This week has been pouring rain, but the sun will soon come out.

So this a quick hello just to say Have a Great Weekend.

For me it is our neighborhood's garage sale, family, and tea time.

Be back on Monday.

Just to let you know for the month of August I will take Susannah Conway's

August Break, which is just posting a photo a day.

If anyone that blogs wants to play along, 

you can find the information at susannahconway.com

What's in the Box?

 Recently I saw online that a tea shop in Paris was selling tea time in a box to go.

I love a challenge.

With a venture to the paper store I found this pretty little box, 4 1/2 inches square.

My challenge to myself was to see if I could make afternoon tea in a small box to go.

The one in Paris didn't have tea or a cup, but I wanted them as part of my tea time.

In the box I wrapped each of the food items in vintage tissue paper and linen string.

If you unwrapped the treasures you would find 3 herb cookies,

two small egg salad sandwiches, 2 small turkey, cheese, fig jam sandwiches,

6 cherries, 1 tea bag, and a special handleless glass teacup.

Under it all is a pretty little napkin.

The only thing to add is hot water, which could be in a thermos or teapot on the side.

So what do you think?

Did I step up to challenge?

It was fun, how about you?

Are you up to challenge?

It was lots of fun and then I had tea time in my backyard.

Let me know if you do it and post.

Power

Photo for my grandson, who adores tractors and backhoes.

There is power in machines.

Tractors pulling loads of hay on the farm needs power.

I have had thoughts of the power within me on many occasions over the years.

Sometimes it actually scares me when I feel it there.

I withdraw from it.

I even hide.

I think about embracing it,

but wonder would it scare others like it scares me.

Where would I go with it?

I acknowledge it sometimes, but then I let it go.

I want to grab onto it, like the tail of a kite, and let me soar to heights unknown.

I take baby steps at times and then find that closet door.

Do you feel like this at times?

Does power scare you too?

Or do you allow it to take you places yet unknown?

Monday's Quotes

Courage is not afraid to weep;

and she is not afraid to pray,

even when she is not sure who she is praying to.

~J. Ruth Gendler

Sharing Tea

Twice this week I have had the opportunity to share tea with friends.

The cups are upside down because we haven't started making the tea.

How wonderful to sit in the out of doors and share our love of tea.

For both opportunities I shared the same tea.

I wasn't sure how it would steep and taste coming from my little teapot,

but it was quite good.

I shared a Darjeeling tea called Puttabong Moondrops First Flush 2014.

Sounds kind of technical doesn't it?

Puttabong is the farm or estate it came from in India.

Moondrops is the name they gave it.

First Flush 2014 was the first picking in the Spring of 2014.

I tend to like the Second Flush better for a more robust tea,

but drinking moondrops fascinated me and I just couldn't resist

buying it when I knew it was being picked.

I mentioned moondrops last year, it is like drinking stars from the sky 

on a clear evening with a gentle breeze blowing.

Have you enjoyed sipping something recently that reminded you

of a delightful starlit evening with a gentle breeze?

Rose, Violet, & Scamp of Swain Woods

A continuation of the story of Swain Woods and the Fairies.

Rose bloomed brightly, the youngest fairy, she had a glow all her own.  Her cheeks were pink like they had been pinched by the morning dew or a blush from the sun.  She was the artist of the three fairies, an artist in her soul.  Creating beauty wherever she went, her hands just danced with delight.  Rose could turn a piece of bark or a twig into something of beauty.  Her baskets were used for storing their food and for capturing rainbows at the end of a rain storm.  Those honored to receive a gift from Rose treasured each gift with great appreciation.

You have met Violet earlier in my story.  Violet loved to dance in the woods, she would sway to the music coming from above for the birds sang a song just for her.  She cared deeply for the woods, her sisters, and for Scamp.  You could say she watched over them, just as big sisters do.  She had a voice like honey poured from a pitcher warmed by the sun.  She shared stories she remembered of their family long ago.  She treasured the memories and being the oldest shared them most freely.

Scamp was the Wood Nymph living nearby.  They say his name suited him well.  His eyes twinkled with delight and laughter was often on his lips.  He didn't miss a cup of tea or a song to dance by, for his heart was that of a happy soul.  He learned the sounds of the birds nearby and sometimes when a human passed by they thought there were birds nearby.  In some ways he was a trickster and those that knew him just delighted in being in his presence.  His laughter was infectious and made each fairies heart to sing.

These are the stories of my fairy friends of Swain Woods.
There is one more episode to come next week as we travel with the fairies and dream.

Warmed by the Sun

The earth is warmed by the sun

Everything is growing and ripening at once.

It is berry season in my part of the world.

Blueberries have been picked and put in the freezer for winter.

Raspberries have been made into a most delicious jam.

Marionberries have been picked just yesterday,

they are calling my name right now to come and make jam,

plus a pie or two for the freezer.
Ahhhh, strawberries have been eaten and delicious.

I love berry season, but why does it all come at once?

Oh that sun is doing it's job for sure,

for it is the season of berries and ripening in the garden.

Corey from Tongue in Cheek shared this yogurt cake recipe quite awhile ago.
I just love it with all the fresh berries.
Here is the link for finding the recipe.
Since I buy large yogurt containers, I used the 3/4 cup for my measurement.
It took about 30 minutes to bake.
http://willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/2010/01/one-french-secret-about-baking.html

I hope you are enjoying the outdoors with the fresh produce growing around you.  What are you enjoying?
Top photo is the blueberry patch where I recently picked.

The Fairies do Play

Dancing in the Garden

Dreaming under the clouds

Singing songs with the chickadees

Laughing all day long

Swimming in the sea of Delight

These are the dreams of sweet fairies

and those with a child's heart.

~m.miller

Monday's Quotes

 Peeking into my backyard from the other side of the fence.  Happiness!

 

From the other side of the fence.

The neighborhood is full of these alleys behind the houses.

You can find all kinds of interesting views walking down the alleys.

"Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it,

 but to delight in it when it comes."

 ~Charles Dickens

The Mad Hatter Came to Tea

 The Mad Hatter did come for tea on a summer day.

The note you see said you would become just right if you eat the treat left by the mailbox.

So gobble we did and miniature we became, just the right size for this diminutive house.

Oh yes, the balls and toys were left on the porch for it was tea time you see.

 Enter we must for tea is waiting for that Mad Hatter and Me.

 There were cookies to delight.

Candy you see.

Bubble gum to chew.

Yes, there was hibiscus tea too.

 The hedgehog also decided to join us.

We laughed and we sipped and nibbled just so.

When we had imbibed all the tea and nibbled each cookie and candy

it was time to say goodbye.

Oh we had fun that Mad Hatter and Me,

but now it is time to pick up my ball and bat and go play.

I won't soon forget teatime with that Mad Hatter and

who knows maybe one day he will come for tea again.

For more fun, I am linking to Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist.
http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/

Daisy from Swain Woods

Do you remember the tale of Swain Woods a few months ago?
If you do a search with the word "Whimsey" you will find the first three parts.

This is a continuation of the story, a story I am sharing with you from my child's heart.

Daisy speaks softly, but shines in the sun; she is the middle sister, the creative one they say.

Daisy tiptoed softly over the mossy ground.  How she delighted in the warmth of the summer sun.  It would shine in speckled light through the branches of the tall fir trees.  The blue bird would come to sit nearby and sing just for Daisy, a song that caused JOY to bubble in laughter and smiles.  Daisy had a heart of gold and emanated happiness and a smile to my face each time I encountered her.  There was a special sweetness that surrounded her.  Some days she would sit in the meadow and make daisy chains for those around her.  Have you made a daisy chain, she would ask?  Her mama taught her long ago.  She would pick a basket of daisies, make slits in each stem, then thread the stems together and form a chain.  The chain was wrapped through her curls and created a crown worth all the golden colors in the world.  How I would love a chain of daisies sitting in my hair for it would make my heart sing and my toes to dance through the meadow.  It would be a remembrance of times sitting in the sun with this dear little fairy named Daisy.

Have you made daisy chains to delight your soul?

Morning Tea with Me

The “A” List
Kittens are your very best guests for tea.
They won’t require Albert’s china.
When serving milk and savories
A chipped saucer will do just fine.

They will sit quietly and enjoy
Your company
And never say
“So tell me, Dear,
What is it exactly that you do?”

Kittens are cute,
Generally quiet and mostly free.
Could there ever be
A better invitee for tea?

Susan Patterson
08-03

This poem came in my inbox just yesterday.
I had been thinking about my Joey Cat joining me for morning tea lately.
Not sure why I was so slow to take notice,
but every morning he stretches out at my feet when I have my breakfast tea.
Of course there is a tummy rub involved.
Even if the tummy rub wasn't there, he would still be there quietly enjoying
 morning tea with me.