I took many neighborhood walks this month, watching the season change, and contemplating sad partings.
Fall colors in Northeast Portland
The leaves…
Berries and late blooming or winter flowers…
Sidewalk square of the month…
This one has a human profile etched in the weathered cement.
And of course, the early holiday decorations…
Santa penguins, wondering where the snow is.
Knitting
I finished one cowl, which I am wearing almost every day. The pattern is Ella Improv by Cecelia Campochiaro. The yarn in Malabrigo Lace.
Ella Improv cowl
Reading
I finished six books in November. The most compelling was The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai, a saga of family life in Viet Nam in the twentieth century.
Books of November
Signs of Resistance
My neighborhood is always heartening in the display of signs of resistance. There seem to be more and more all the time.
Window signs, telling the world how they really feel!These signs were displayed in front of almost every house on this block.Including this one, with an Anne Frank tribute as well.Lady LibertyKeeping it brief.The wall mural I see on the way home from the library, in the low autumn light.
Sadness
This month I lost two close family members; one older, one younger, one with a long illness, both quite sudden. This was unexpected and sad and I have been feeling shaken and unanchored in time. As a family we are scattered geographically, but with the miracles of technology, we have been able to grieve together. It is hard. And it is human. We are all on that train. We are stopped in our tracks by the loss. We are determined to live well in response. Both paths seem wrong. But we go on.
Thanksgiving was celebrated with close friends who invited us for the day, and for whom I am grateful, especially this year.
August began with a birthday week stay in Bandon on the southern Oregon coast. The rest of the month went by with the usual home activities, in Portland, Oregon, which, contrary to some news reports, is a very pleasant place to live.
Around the neighborhood –
Lots to look at this month while walking – gardens…
Sidewalk art, architecture, and more Portland quirkiness…
Yard creatures…
Homegrown treats…
Asters that survived the roofing, painting and tuck pointing.Our neighbors shared their abundant tomatoes.
Knitting –
I made progress on my cardigan and a pair of socks. Our local coffee shop, KISS Coffee, has taken to reserving our Friday morning knitting table.
Reading –
Of the eight books I finished in August, my favorite was There Are Rivers In The Sky, by Elif Shafak. It is set in Victorian and modern London, and ancient and modern Mesopotamia, and links several character’s lives through water and literature. There is a hopeful conclusion, despite the hardships endured. I also enjoyed rereading the Elizabeth Von Amin books set in her German garden.
Eight books read in August 2025
8/19 – A walk in the Wildwood Recreation Area –
This was the only hike for me in August, after our trip to Bandon. Usually August is a prime hiking month for us, but I had to address some health issues. There were many appointments, including PT for my wonky hip. Everything seems to be getting better, so I hope to have many more challenging hikes in the future. But one hot day, we drove up Mt Hood to the Wildwood Recreation Area, which we had not visited before. This is a BLM site, at about 1200 feet elevation, on the Salmon River. There are several miles of mostly flat trails through shady forest, and along the Salmon River. I imagine many school field trips come here because of the easy access, and abundance of educational signage and picnic tables.
Trailhead sign… we walked trails on both sides of the Salmon River.In the parking lot, I watched a Big Leaf Maple leaf slowly float to the ground.The first leaf of fall?Salmon River from the bridgeView to the nearby ridge across a marsh on one of the nature trails.Shady reflections in the waterForest bathing here…More reflectionsSalmon sculptureRiver access for picnickersUnderwater viewing chamberWe saw a few very small fish in the viewing window. Salmon pass through here in spawning season.
The Wildwood Recreation Area was a great spot for some easy forest bathing on a hot summer day.
And lastly –
A few birthday gifts and cards…
An aspirational window sticker seen in the neighborhood…
There is so much going on that I am constantly whiplashing between system overload and full ostrich. It is a challenging time, and yet we will continue to do what we can to be hopeful and helpful.
July was a busy month, when I look back. Our daughter visited for two weeks at the end of the month, and of course, that was my highlight! Before that, I visited a Textile Exhibit at the Columbia River Gorge Museum, and we went to the Peninsula Park Rose Garden on the fourth of July. There were five hikes (next post), lots of neighborhood walks, and the World Naked Bike Ride rode right past our house.
July 1st – Museum Day
I went with my friend Peggy to the Columbia River Gorge Museum in Skamania, WA, to see an exhibit of tapestry weavings by indigenous artist Kristie Strasen, that were inspired by the Columbia River, and its dams.
Tapestries of the Columbia RiverIndividual panel and river segment descriptionsClose up of panel II, our local strand of the river.Chinook salmon tapestryAntique airplane in the museum, and the outside viewMuseum patio and view to the Columbia River
July 4th at the Peninsula Park Rose Garden
Not much going on for us today. We went over to the local rose garden to see the roses.
Peninsula Park Rose GardenBlue eryngo near the entryYellow rosesOrange rosesRed rosesAmerican flag beyond the fountain
Knitting and other crafts
I have made progress on my three projects – socks, a scarf, a cardigan.
Cardigan, sock and scarf, in progress
Our daughter is an expert sock monkey creator and teacher. We started making our own sock monkeys on her previous visit. We are further along now; one more visit from her and we should finish. Meanwhile, she made one for a gift to a friend.
Sock monkeys, in progressHer completed sock catEnjoying Ken’s Artisan Pizza.
Home Improvement/Upkeep – It took half the summer to finish the house painting, and that included having all the storm windows freshened up.
Storm windows ready for re-hanging.Fresh paint
Monthly Book Report
I finished 11 books in July. Several (Cranford by Elizebeth Gaskell, The Dante Game by Jane Langton, Wintering by Katherine May, and Civil to Strangers by Barbara Pym were comfortable re-reads. The type of book that is worth a second listen a few years later. My book group had a lively discussion about Commonwealth by Ann Patchett.
My Hollywood Branch of the Multnomah County Library is closed for six months of remodeling. I went to the newly opened Albina Library, just a little farther away, to pick up my books. It is a beautiful space, open and light-filled. The old part of the building is now a colorful children’s library. The new section is a beautiful, airy space, including classrooms, an outdoor patio planted with native plants, and lots of study spaces.
Russell Street EntryNew foyerOutdoor reading patioSome of the stacksKnott Street entrance. This older part of the building is a refurbished 1911 Carnegie Library, remodeled as the children’s library.Children’s libraryChildren’s library
Signs in the neighborhood of resistance and solidarity…
Appreciating our shared acknowledgement that we are not looking away.
And last but not least, The World Naked Bike Ride rode past our house on July 26th. It took 45 minutes for the full peloton of thousands of people to roll by. Neighbors came out and cheered them on. The atmosphere was festive, as the riders expressed their freedom of speech and body acceptance. No photos.
Having been out of town for two weeks in southern Utah where it was too hot to walk outside or exercise, and I was otherwise engaged in helping a family member with a health care situation; Having returned, exhausted, and happy to be in my own home quietly for a couple of days; Having successfully taken a couple of slow neighborhood walks in the flatlands…
Today I felt I had the energy to walk up to Alameda Ridge and do a few stair repeats. Success! And once again, I am charmed by my neighborhood where I am so lucky to live. Front yards are in bloom and colorful; and today it is only in the mid60s; how lovely to be able to walk outside without being dried and desiccated by the sun. I lived seven years in Tucson, I know dry heat; I knew my survival strategies then. The two weeks of abrupt immersion in the heat and aridity in Utah were exhausting; but now I am recovering. Soon I will be walking in mountains again.
Today I walked my way up the hill, and noticed all the whimsy throughout my neighborhood. It is part of the keep Portland weird vibe. Little doors on trees, little houses under bushes, interesting little signs painted on the sidewalk stair cases of Alameda. Little free libraries throughout my neighborhood.
I also looked at each poetry post – today there was Emily Dickinson‘s, ‘Hope is a thing with feathers’, on one signpost. My favorite poetry post, the one I never miss if I am up in that neighborhood, had a very hopeful, expressive poem today for these terrible times we are living in, with the authoritarian effort to crush anything progressive, kind, diverse, multicultural, and human in our country.
Also up on the ridge today, there is that one house with a flagpole – today they were flying three flags, the Pride flag, the Juneteenth flag, which I had never seen before, and the Ukrainian flag.
How positive those signs are to me just wandering my way through the neighborhood on a beautiful early summer day with flowers blooming everywhere. Birdfeeders and gnome doors and buckets of water on offer for the dogs; signs and flags and symbols of inclusion and acceptance and community. Our quiet mostly white, mostly financially stable neighborhood is not in the firing line of ICE raids, but I have seen my neighbors going to the demonstrations and standing in the space to support the resistance.
I did a few stairway repeats on the ridge today – and now I am ready for our next hike of the week in the mountains.
June 24, 2025 – Anthill, Herman Creek and Pacific Crest Trails near Wahtum Lake, Oregon
We usually hike to Chinidere Mountain from this trailhead near Wahtum Lake, but I was curious to try the Anthill Trail toward Tomlike Mountain, which is another rocky peak in the area.
Trail map – about 6 miles and 800 feet elevation gain.
The Anthill Trail begins above the parking area, and continues upward at a gentle gradient along the ridge above the lake. It is beautifully shaded, and on this June day, all the white flowers of the forest floor were sparkling up at us. This is a new addition to my list of favorite trails.
Beargrass along the trail as we start uphill.Green forest floor with so many flowers the entire way. Lots of vanilla leaf in this section.BunchberryStarry solomon sealBleeding heartAvalanche liliesBeargrassRosy twisted stalkContinuing shaded trail with prolific Sitka valerianQueen cup lilies just beginning to openSitka ValerianWindflowers
Near the ridge crest, a rocky view opened up, back to Mt Hood and Wahtum Lake.
View to Mt Hood and Wahtum Lake, with beargrassYellow flowers on the sunny open slope – arnica, groundsel, Oregon sunshine and wallflowersSwallowtail butterfly on a wallflower
We continued along the Anthill Trail, to the spur that ascends Tomlike Mountain. This is a less well maintained trail, a little rockier. After eating lunch at a rocky viewpoint and admiring the view, we decided begin our return hike. It was another rocky mile to the top – I wasn’t quite ready for that today.
Rocky outcrop, and view to the top of Tomlike Mountain.Glimpse of Mt Adams to the northPenstemon on Tomlike Ridge
We decided to walk along the Herman Creek Trail toward Chinidere Mountain before returning to the trailhead. We walked through shady forest for least a half mile of blooming avalanche lilies, as far as one could see, across the forest floor. And a few beargrass as well.
Avalanche liliesAs far as the eye can seeShady forest with liliesAnd beargrass
My husband took the side trail to the top of Chinidere Mountain, while I continued a very short distance along the Pacific Crest Trail to the rocky open slope below Chinidere’s cliff side. From here I could see many of the sunny blooming cliff flowers above me, and a view back to Mt Hood the other way. Then I rested in the shade near the trail junction – it was beautiful and quiet in the forest!
Looking up at the cliff side of Chinidere MountainMariposa lilyPaintbrushBuckwheat and columbineChickweed and phloxMt Hood
We completed our circuit by descending along the Pacific Crest Trail above the lake.
Bunchberry and coral root were prolific along our return trail.
This had been a thoroughly enjoyable hike. We had seen some of the wildflowers blooms at their best, though there are more to come. It was lovely to be back in the woods!
I spent the first half of June in St George, Utah, helping a family member with a health care situation. I was extremely grateful to return to the lovely pacific Northwest for the rest of the month, enjoying our more temperate climate and the lovely flowers blooming in the neighborhood. I finished knitting a pair of socks, and cheered on the No Kings Day Protests from afar.
Southern Utah, June 4 to 15th.
It was too hot in Utah to do much more than scurry from one air conditioned space to the next. We drove through nearby Snow Canyon State Park one evening, to admire the Navajo Sandstone landscape from the car window. I paid homage to the air conditioning gods and the electric grid, praying that it didn’t go down while I was there.
The weather…
Snow Canyon State Park –
Willow trees in bloom
Birds of St George…
Roadrunner in the hospital gardenDove in the back yard
Flying home through Salt Lake City:
Great Salt Lake from the airplane windowTerminal Tunnel in Salt Lake City, inspired by the salt flatsTerminal tunnel art panelThe Columbia River, Cape Horn, and Mt St Helens; welcome views on the return flight to Portland…
Flowers in the neighborhood –
Knitting
I knit not a single stitch while in Utah, but I finished one pair of socks after I returned. I cast on a new pair of socks, and made some progress on a scarf and a cardigan.
Finished socksThree works in progress – cardigan, scarf, socks
Books
Nine books read in June
Of the nine books I completed in June, by far the most compelling was Figuring, by Maria Popova. It is a long and interwoven biographical tale of several women artists and scientists who made major contributions within their fields, yet have gone somewhat unrecognized. The women include astronomer Maria Mitchell, poet Emily Dickinson, sculptor Harriet Hosmer, writer Margaret Fuller, and biologist Rachel Carson. She includes many intersecting peripheral people, who interacted with her selected historical figures. I found it fascinating to listen to.
I also enjoyed a trip down memory lane as I read Sandstone Spine by David Roberts, a description of hiking across Comb Ridge in southern Utah, a place I did field work 40 years ago.
The rest of the world:
June 14th – While I was roasting away in St George in a care-giver role, millions of people all over the world were marching in No Kings Day protests. I am grateful that so many were able to show up!
(Instagram screenshot)
Back in Portland, I took a long neighborhood walk on Juneteenth, and a real hike near Mt Hood on June 24th – to be described in the next post…
In May we enjoyed a visit from our son and his fiancee, went on five hikes (next post), and attended a live concert, while the spring flower season rolled on…
Walking the neighborhood
Blooming this month in Portland:
RhododendronsIrisPoppiesRosesDogwoodColorful tile stepsSidewalk of the monthNeighborly advice
Knitting
I finished a dishcloth for donation, and I have three active works in progress.
DishclothSocks, a scarf, a cardigan, in progress
Books
I finished eight books in May. The one I enjoyed the most was Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner, set in Post-Civil War Boston, and Portsmouth, England. It is an imagining of Americans who appreciate Jane Austen’s novels, and interact with her last surviving sibling. Ms Austen’s themes of women’s restricted access to their own money and life choices are compared between the two countries. Spoiler – neither was great, and we still have a ways to go. The judicial aspect was interesting. I love the opportunity to think deeper about Ms Austen’s work.
May books
Events
We spent a lovely afternoon in a garden in Eugene, Oregon. Pegasus pizza, toy airplanes, and lots of conversation.
Eugene garden
I passed on this beautiful dress, handmade in about 1982 by my sister for her daughters. My daughter wore it in about 1998; and my little grandniece is the next eligible little girl in the family.
The red dress, made in 1982
We attended the James Taylor concert at the Ridgefield Amphitheater with one of our sons. The music was lovely!
James Taylor concert
An upcoming event I will not attend because I will be in Utah, helping a family member with some health issues. But you should go if you have an event near you!
The first part of April was slower paced and focused on healing. We had to cancel plans to visit family on the east coast, and instead my husband had a surgical procedure to his neck to relieve stenosis. All went well, he is nearly back to normal, and his neurological symptoms are receding. I took on most of his chores, all the lifting and even cooking (he has done most of the cooking and shopping since he retired five years ago). I am glad to have him back to most of his regular activities, although our son is still mowing the lawn, and the weeds have gone crazy. We went on several slower paced hikes to see the wildflowers (see next post). And I saw many beautiful flowers in neighborhood gardens on my near-daily walks.
Neighborhood Gardens
Early cherries lost their blossoms.Late cherries in bloom at Grant Park.Apple, crabapple, and Chinese fringe flowers in the front yard.Horse chestnuts in the neighborhood.Forget-me-nots and a fading tulip out front.
Dogwoods in bloom all through the neighborhood…
Bunchberry in the front yard.Dogwood trees in many colors: salmon pink,Pink, andWhite – these are newly planted, just across the street.
April 15th, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in southeast Portland –
It was early for the rhododendrons to be in full bloom, but we saw a few…
RhododendronNorthern lakeGoose eggTrilliumNutriaAzaleaGeeseFawn lilies and anemonesCherriesShadowsJapanese maplesJapanese maples
April 20th, Easter
A feral bunny stopped by, but didn’t leave any eggs.I dyed a few brown eggs with muted results.
Arts and Crafts
We saw a lot of beautiful pottery at the Oregon Ceramics Showcase, and bought three small trinket dishes (made by Truly Sarah).I finished knitting a shawl (“May I Borrow This Please” by Larraine Waitman, Juniper Moon Cumulus yarn), and a pair of socks (Laines du Nord Summer Sock yarn).
Books and Reading in Portland
Signs of Literature in the neighborhood:
The selection of books in this little Free Library has a dark theme.This telephone pole art has a more positive message,And I always enjoy a visit with Ramona, Henry and Ribsy in Grant Park.I read six books in April. I especially enjoyed the biography of Barbara Pym, an author I have been rereading since the eighties; and the memoir of Liese Greensfelder, a young woman from California who worked on a primitive sheep farm in Norway in the 1970’s.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, our daughter, our son, and his fiancee met up anyway, even though we had to cancel our trip. Looks like they had a good time. I look forward to seeing them all during the summer!
We returned from our California/Thanksgiving road trip on the first of December, with the Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah and home repair to look forward to. In the neighborhood, some folks went all in on their decor – a few of my favorites:
Rudolph and friends
Giant ornaments
All the snow people
We had a stretch of cold, clear days, one of which was an appointment at OHSU for me – all well, for the moment, and I got a great 7th floor view of Portland.
Tram, Downtown Portland
Willamette River, Mt St Helens
And, during that clear weather stretch, the roofing crew we hired put a new roof on our very steep roof.
New plywood
Tar paper
Shingles
Hiking
I went on two hikes – one out to Catherine Creek, WA, on a foggy day, and one to Powell Butte, in Portland.
December 10th – Catherine Creek, WA –
We stopped at the Starvation Creek Rest Area on our drive. The sun was out, and we could see the frosted trees at the top of Wind Mountain.
Wind Mountain from Starvation Creek
Clouds were sitting on the hills at Catherine Creek. We walked up Sunflower Hill through the recent controlled burn zone, then back down along Rowland Wall. The sun never came out here…
Walking up Sunflower Hill toward the burn zone.
Green coming up through the blackened soil.
Springtime view of that same slope – 2023
Walking down Rowland wall
The leaning tree and Rowland Lake
Fields of Mosier beyond
Golden grass of winter
December 19th – Powell Butte – We could see Mt Hood, Mt St Helens, and a few deer.
We watched the lenticular cloud forming over Mt Hood
Mt Hood
Mt St Helens had already donned her own cloud cloak
A few deer in the forest
And a sentiment from the Bard…
Knitting
I finished my Christmas gift knitting, and then made a new cowl after Christmas.
Socks, mitts, hat
More socks
Lancelot Cowl
Winter Solstice
The sun was out. I walked through the neighborhood looking at shadows and puddle mirrors in the low bright light.
Christmas
Christmas arrived, a little quieter this year, with no out of town company. We celebrated with local family and our usual trappings – tree, gifts, cookies, tamales…
Cookie baking
Cookies and grapefruits
Tamales
Gifts from the Paris Olympics and Dollywood
Gifts from Dollywood
Iceland ornament, with puffins!
Cozy fireplace
2024 Christmas Tree
Hanukkah
The first night was Christmas evening this year. The next day, we went with friends to the old Hollywood Theatre, not too far from us in Portland, to see the new Bob Dylan biopic – which we thoroughly enjoyed. I grew up listening to that music as a child, because my older sister played it non stop on the record player in our shared room.
First night
Hollywood Theater, Sandy Boulevard
New Years’ Eve
Another sunny day. I walked through the neighborhood, thinking about choices for next year as I passed some of my favorite shadows and cracks, and found some new shadows and reflections…
We lit the seventh night candles at sunset, than enjoyed a phone call with our son, who had just gotten engaged to his partner – a splendid, cheerful moment to end the year!
Everything so tense before the election, then a blurred time of surreal disbelief afterward…meanwhile, we had a late, very colorful fall, with Mother Nature screaming, “Look at me!”, which I did on neighborhood walks and one hike. At the end of the month we took a road trip to California for Thanksgiving – see next post.
Knitting and Home Improvement
I attended the Sacred Sheep Fiber Festival on November 2nd, with my knitting friends. We saw the sheep, and I bought some vintage buttons for my Icelandic vest, and a mini skein for a future project. I have several gift knitting projects on the go – more about that next month.
One of the sheep
New buttons and mini skein
Finished Iceland vest – Calidez by Jenjoyce, made with Allafosslopi yarn
We are still in home repair/declutter mode. I reorganized some of my bookshelves, and I am particularly happy with this shelf dedicated to Jane Austen.
Jane Austen shelf
November 7, Catherine Creek Arch Loop, WA
Once again walking this oft repeated hike, visiting familiar views.
Mt Hood to the west
Eastern view along the Columbia River to Oregon
Passing our ent friend
Ent
Rock spires, fall colors
The arch
The road
Big leaf maple
From the trailhead, we could see the controlled burn swath on Sunflower Hill – and that it is already greening up. Hopefully, native species recovery is occurring there!
View from the trailhead up Sunflower Hill
Closer view
Zooming closer to see the green
Neighborhood color
Our transplanted blueberry bush
The day after the election, this invasive, poisonous pokeweed bush, and lingering demonwraith caught my eye.
But fall colors were late and glorious this year, all through the neighborhood, saying, “Look now! We will be gone tomorrow!”
I felt punched in the gut by the election outcome, that we did not finally elect our first woman president, and now have to face a term of inanity. However, I have my own survival/resistance plan, which includes inspiring my children, who were also gutted by the outcome. I saw the the “Ozymandias” poem shared around on the internet, one of many examples of past overtopping failures, and eventual recoveries and progress. History repeats, but it is painful to be living through the regression, when we could be doing so much better for the people and the planet. I appreciate the lingering yard signs in my neighborhood even more. We are in this together.
Margaret Quilts 