We spent a lot of time working on home projects this month while following doctor’s orders to stay off trails while my husband’s Dupuytren hand surgery healed. The good news is that his hand is much more functional, and we are back on the trail – see the next post. Meanwhile, at home in Portland, it has mostly been a beautiful month – not too hot or smoky, and we’ve had a few local adventures…

September skies-

Art in the Pearl, September 2nd –  I like to walk through the exhibits, and be thoroughly inspired by the many thousands of hours of artistic creativity on view – a few of my favorites:

Backdrop of new and old buildings…

And a comparison – last year I took a photo of the graffiti on the side of an old building near a vacant lot – this year there is a whole new building in the space…

Bookgroup views from Suavie Island on a beautiful evening-

Neighborhood gardens-

Picnic lunch at Laurelhurst Park- on a day when we were running errands around town. We haven’t been here for years, though we visited often when our children were young.

Neighborhood whimsey- I noticed several new fairy gardens, and a new resident bear while on walks this month.

Lael Wilcox finished her Ride Around the World! – I followed this endurance athlete all summer as she circled the globe on her bicycle. I listened to her brief daily podcasts, and cheered her on from afar! (photos from Instagram)

Of course there has been knitting – I finished a scarf and cowl, started a hat, and acquired new yarn for gift socks…

Other news of the world –

A quote by one of my favorite artists:

Another (another another another) sad event:

And yet I continue to hope for change…