July 2026 Hiking

September 24, 2026 / margaretquilts / 2 Comments

We had six hiking days in July…

7/1 – Powell Butte, Portland

We went for a short hike on this nearby volcanic butte on a warm day (4.3 miles/400 feet).

We started in grasslands on top of the butte.

We descended to the cooler forest on slopes that surround the butte.

Cedar, fir, and ferns along the well-groomed trail.

Eventually we ascended back up to the top, startling a few deer in the meadow.

Late season flowers – clarkia and daisies.

The mountain finder viewpoint – no mountains out today.

And then back across these colorful grasslands to the trailhead.

A couple of birds hopping ahead of me on the path.

7/6 – Lookout Mountain

A favorite hike to an old Fire Lookout site on a ridge crest east of Mt Hood. There are views to the High Cascade peaks north and south, and high desert to the east. Wildflowers galore are in bloom this time of year! As I write this in September, it is bittersweet, knowing that the Grasshopper Fire swept through this whole area about a month later (3 miles/525 feet).

Meadow near the High Prairie Trailhead, elevation about 6000 feet.

Jacob’s ladder, blooming in the shade along the trail.

Meadow midway up the trail, with view of Mt Adams.

Closer view of the east face of Mt Hood, and its dwindling glaciers.

We continued upward along the rocky crest of the ridge that leads to Lookout Mountain.

The slope just below the peak is rocky and scattered with clumps of flowers.

Views from the top:

Cascade peaks to the south float in the haze. The Badger Creek Wilderness lies to the east, and most of what I can see from here is within the footprint of the Grasshopper Fire.

The lower meadows again… I’m sure they will recover…we shall see…

In early August, as the Grasshopper Fire spread, I took screenshots of the perimeter from the Watch Duty App as the fire spread. The fire became huge, and is still being monitored, listed as 98% contained in September.

Our hiking track, from the Gaia App. I added a bright blue dot to the High Prairie Trailhead, and a purple star to the top of Lookout Mountain.

August 5, 2026 – The top of Lookout Mountain and most of the meadows have not yet burned.

August 7, 2026 – Lookout Mountain is burned, but the trailhead area is not.

August 8, 2026 – The fire has completely overrun this area.

September 2, 2026 – Grasshopper Fire Perimeter, The bright blue dot is the Lookout Mountain area.

7/13 – Chinidere Mountain

Last year I didn’t have the stamina to make it to the top of this peak on the north side of Mt Hood, where we have been many times. I was very happy to have made it to the summit today. Again, with wildflowers and mountain views (5.6 miles/950 feet).

We started up the Anthill Trail again, instead of going down to Wahtum Lake. The trail was shaded, with white forest flowers blooming along the way.

Eventually, we attained the ridge with views to Mt Hood, and to Wahtum Lake.

Arrow points to Chinidere Mountain, our goal for the day

We could also see Mt Jefferson through the haze.

We continued around the ridge, and up the switchbacks to the top of Chinidere Mountain…

The top of Chinidere Mountain, with view to Mt Hood. Hoorah!

To the north, the Cascade peaks in Washington

And another look at Mt Hood, before descending.

Some of the wildflowers of the day:

7/18 – Umbrella Falls to Picnic Rock

My sister Helen joined us for this hike. We started at the Mt Hood Meadows Trailhead (5200′) to minimize elevation gain. It is a great choice for a relatively easy hike high on Mt Hood that has a waterfall, wildflowers and a view (3.2 miles 300 feet).

View to Mt Hood across the ski run, with lupine.

And a few more wildflowers:

7/25 – Wildwood Trail, Forest Park, Portland

Another hike with Helen, who wanted more forest time. We walked a shady loop on the Wildwood and Yellow Pine Trails on a warm afternoon (2.2 miles/275 feet).

7/27 – Bald Mountain

This hike starts at the Top Spur Trailhead on the west side of Mt Hood. In the past, we have gone all the way to McNeil Point, but that is beyond me just now. Instead, we went to the top of Bald Mountain for the views, than walked the circuit around the Bald Mountain, for more views and wildflowers. The south side is exposed to the sun, and gets lots of colorful wildflowers. The return loop is through shady woods. It was very satisfying, the perfect level of difficulty for me at this point (3.2 miles/730 feet).

Gaia track of our hike around Bald Mountain, showing other key locations on Mt Hood.

The first half mile ascends steeply upward, with lots of roots and rocks on the trail.

Lunch view: looking toward Mt Hood from the east summit of Bald Mountain.

Yocum Falls and Muddy Fork of the Sandy River

Mt St Helens, seen looking to the north through the trees.

Mt Adams, also looking through trees from the narrow summit of Bald Mountain.

We returned down to the main trail that circles Bald Mountain, first hiking through shady forest again.

In the forest, approaching the bald side of Bald Mountain.

Bog orchids were plentiful along the trail here.

Once out in the open, the rocky slopes provided continuous views to Mt Hood and the Muddy Fork of the Sandy River.

This view is looking up from the trail toward the summit of Bald Mountain, with rocky slopes and sun-loving wildflowers.

Eventually, the trail returns to a forested section, and we returned to the trailhead.

Last view of Mt Hood before heading back into the forest, with frothy blooms of ocean spray along the trail.

Paintbrush and columbine were also blooming here.

I enjoyed this day on Mt Hood. The approach trail from Top Spur was not as steep as I remembered. I hope to make it all the way to MacNeil Point again someday…

July 2026 in Portland

September 19, 2026 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

My sister Helen visited for a mini-quilt retreat. There were lots of neighborhood walks and a few other other Portland adventures.

Quilting with Helen:

She finished her Lighthouse Quilt, and I prepared one of my tops for quilting.

*Modern Quilt Studio Summer Camp Mystery Quilt, 2024* – pin-basted, and ready to quilt.

Portland Excursions with Helen:

7/16 – Leach Botanical Garden

We walked many of the trails to see the seasonal blooms.

The hydrangeas were particularly colorful today.

The bridge has reopened, so we walked in the natural area by the old stone cabin.

The pollinator garden was in full bloom.

Wine cup clarkia and pearly everlasting – a couple of my favorite wildflowers.

7/21 – Portland Art Museum

Helen wanted to see the David Hockney Exhibit, so I got to walk through it for the third time. So much still to see! I was thinking about how people paint water – I will save those thoughts for another time. She also wanted to see the Monet Waterlilies, and the Chihuly Glass.

7/22 – Lloyd Center Farewell Walk

We made a farewell circuit of the Lloyd Center Mall one hot day. The mall was slated to close for good in early August. It has been an anchor in this neighborhood since the 60’s, and a good resource on days that are too hot or too rainy to be outside. I have spent many hours at this mall, especially with my children, taking them ice skating, to movies, to visit Santa, to the ear piercing studio. We used to watch the professional skaters while eating lunch, and they are the people who will miss this space the most, since there is no other skating rink in Portland. The parking garages used to be full during the holidays. Helen sometimes visited the mall when she was in town, so she also felt a bit of sadness for the end of this space. Internet shopping, and then the pandemic, led to anchor stores leaving. The future supposedly holds a lot of new affordable inner city housing with easy access to transit – we shall see…

Ice skaters using the rink until the last minute!

The ice dancing couple has been skating here since the rink opened. Where will they go now? The developer first promised to keep a rink in the complex, but has since changed their mind.

7/24 – Tilikum Crossing Bridge Walk

One evening we were near the Willamette River after dinner, so strolled across this bike/pedestrian/bus/streetcar bridge, to enjoy the view.

Looking toward the Tillikum Crossing from the East Bank Esplanade.

Tribute to our Congressperson/neighbor who helped make it happen.

Walking west on the north side of the bridge. There are pedestrian, bicycle, and transit lanes on both sides of the bridge.

Looking north toward downtown on the west bank; the Marquam Bridge; and OMSI on the east bank.

Walking back east on the southside of the bridge.

Bonus photo of the Tilikum Crossing – taken on 4th of July while driving east over the Marquam Bridge.

The Tilikum Crossing over the Willamette River, **Mt Hood** beyond.

We also went on two ‘real’ hikes with Helen, included in my July hiking post.

Also this month:

Knitting:

I finished a pair of socks, and acquired some new yarn:

Crazy Zauberball scrap socks – using remains of 3 skeins.

Reading:

I finished reading 13 books in July. Only one was in my Jane Austen theme for the year. My husband and I finished a re-listen of To Kill A Mockingbird as our road trip listening. It is still relevant, and it still makes me cry. I also appreciated relistening to the classic A Room of One’s Own, by Virginia Woolf, also unfortunately, still relevant. Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks is a thoughtful grief-processing memoir, also unfortunately relevant and meaningful to me at this season of my life.

Neighborhood blooms, flowers, shadows:

Meanwhile…

Family members were enjoying life in Chicago and Philadelphia:

Cygnus X-1 and Barney joined the extended family.

Signs of the month…

As seen in the neighborhood…

June 9, 2026 – Portland Art Museum

July 28, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

I walked myself through a few of the exhibits at the Portland Art Museum on a partly sunny, partly rainy day.

Mary Henry Exhibit

The quilt maker in me was drawn to the geometric patterns and bright colors of the paintings in this gallery. I admired her precise application of paint that glows with hue and shape.

The centerpiece of the exhibit, *Vivo*, and a photograph of the artist, beyond.

A few more of the bright paintings…

Early career info about Mary Henry, and an earlier painting:

Mixed Media…

The hallways that connect the galleries are open to the sky on both sides with slightly veiled windows. I saw clouds in the sky, and buildings reflected in the wet pavement. I spent some time appreciating how the newly remodeled space frames the surrounding city as yet another form of art.

There are openings in walls and balconies that allow viewing of artwork below on lower levels.

Looking down into the Whitsell Gallery – there were glass, metal, stone, wood and porcelain pieces…

Another angle – Chihuly glass, Calder mobile, bronze, and wood sculptures.

Marble, neon tubes, and an outdoor backdrop.

Inspiration wall card for the Whitsell Gallery.

Closer view of bamboo slices and linen thread,

The Sun, 2018, Gilded bronze, Ugo Rondinone, can be seen from both inside and outside the museum.

Later, I sat for a while in the Whitsell Gallery, looking through the TALL windows at the golden spiked hoop outside, at blue sky and puffy white clouds, all the rain dried up now. A breeze moving the leaves. People walking on sidewalks and cars driving by on the street; mail boxes, cross walks, and street lights. Behind me is a red, twisted, tentacled, free standing Chihuly glass piece; hanging above is a Calder mobile; behind those, an indigenous carved totem; and neon words on the wall. In other galleries are art pieces from all the epochs of human existence.

More pieces I noticed as I wandered through various galleries today…

*Untitled*…As I walked into this gallery I saw a large glowing sphere, casting beautifully symmetrical shadows on the wall behind.

Side view – it is an illusion! Fascinating, how does he do it? There is science as well as art going on here…

Walking into another gallery, I was inspired by the encouraging neon words in the background.

And after reading the wall card for this piece, “line drawing 1”, I was pleased at the idea of the “frozen in time” motion it represents, manifested in bronze…

This one is made from reflectors, and I love the bright colors and symmetry.

In another gallery, pieces made from burlap, wood, glass, and found objects.

And a fiber arts piece, that begged to be touched, but I did not.

As I wandered through galleries, looking at these and many other pieces, I contemplated the time it takes an artist to master their creative skills. I have a scientific brain and training, and yet I also express myself in various fiber crafts that I am still learning. So the science side of my brain was asking “How do they do it?”, while the artist side of my brain was asking, “How does it make me feel?” I marveled at the collective skill level required to create these pieces I connected to today.

And finally, a bit more David Hockney…

I visited the Hockney exhibit again, which we had seen in February, shortly after it opened. There are more than 200 pieces here, and it was impossible to take them all in, so I was glad to have another chance to look.

Last time we missed a large gallery that displayed two very large, wall-sized paintings. The room also had a table of iPads so the viewer could create their own art.

Placard – I spent a lot of time looking at the images of other paintings within this painting but did not see them all. This piece was created with modern technology that the artist embraced as a way to work faster, and larger.

Arrival of Spring 2011 – painted with oils, the old fashioned way, on several panels that are mounted together, again, taking up an entire wall. I can feel the breeze blowing the leaves.

I decided to try my hand at drawing on the (comparatively) very small iPad window. I was like a baby, patting and tapping the screen, and rereading the instructions, until I was finally able to draw a simple chair in a few different colors, with a few different line widths. It was fun, and I might like to try it again. There is an erase tool that helps. I drew a chair, inspired by the many chair images in this exhibit – many drawn to represent people David Hockney lost to AIDS or other causes. I am feeling my personal losses deeply in this season, and it was the first idea that came to mind.

Coda: David Hockney died a few days after this visit to his exhibit. My internet feed was full of tributes and interviews with him, and after reading them, I am even more appreciative of his goal to follow his inspiration to make art; to keep working, to keep trying new things. This image came up, and seems suitable to share here.

May 2026

June 4, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

What happened in May…

In the Garden –

More roses blooming early in the month.

Last year we had so much exterior work on the house (roof, painting, window repair, tuck pointing) that we never put in any kind of garden. But by the end of May, I had planted seven tomato plants, some basil, and some colorful marigolds, zinnias, scabiosa, and sea thrift. There are still many weeds to pull, but there will always be many weeds to pull…

Knitting –

I sewed the buttons on my Zephyr Cardigan.

Zephyr Cardigan, pattern by Celia McAdam Cahill, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes yarn

I started the knitting of Frog and Toad, but then had to take a break, as the tiny needles hurt my thumb joint.

Frog and Toad, in progress, Knit Picks Swish DK yarn

I made progress on socks and a market bag.

Ilene Bag by Hannah Mason, Lang Linello yarn

New yarn – I indulged in a colorful rainbow of mini skeins on a day I needed some cheering up. I also won a skein of sock yarn in the guild raffle. Not sure what either of these will be, but right now, I enjoy just looking at my yarn rainbow.

Reading –

I finished ten books in May. Three were in the Jane Austen adjacent category. In particular, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney, is a look at other women authors Jane Austen would have been reading in her lifetime, writers who inspired her, and who she refers to in her own writings and letters. These authors have mostly ‘disappeared’ from the literature canon, mainly because they were women. My ‘to be read’ list is now much longer, and I look forward to reading many of the authors described in this book! That may be my project for next year. I love having very long list of books waiting for me!

A Visit to Eugene, May 3rd –

A day with family while our son Brian was on the west coast, visiting from Philadelphia.

Art, but on Ice, May 24th –

Once again, no art museum visit this month. But we attended the Stars on Ice show in Portland, a showcase of Olympic figure skaters. It’s been a while since I have attended a live event, though I do like to watch competitions. This year, I was enchanted by the skill and performances at the Olympics, especially seeing the mutual support of the athletes for each other. With just the right amount of sequins, music, spins, and backflips. What must it be like to have their gravity- and friction-defying motion in their muscle memory! (I took just a few photos – which are blurry because they move so fast!)

In the Neighborhood –

Walking along… I saw

Etc

And more neighborhood signs of resistance…

April 2026

May 15, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

April was a roller coaster, with another great loss. Nevertheless, I made progress on some usual activities.

Neighborhood walks…

Sidewalk of the month:

Knitting…

I finally finished knitting my Zephyr Cardigan. It fits well, and now just needs buttons.

Books…

I finished twelve books in April. In the Jane Austen category, I listened to the BBC radio adaptations of all six novels – a completely satisfying refresher. I also listened to two Nancy Mitford novels, and read two by D.E. Stevenson. All escapism. I suppose my re-listen of The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion was the most pertinent, and sadly, very relatable, and I appreciate having her writing to listen to in a sad time such as this.

Art…

Once again, I did not make it to the Art Museum this month, but I did see a huge new wall mural at one of the remodeled arrival concourses at the Portland Airport. Colorful ceramic tiles suggest a volcanic landscape, or the view from 30,000 feet… with details that look like topography, plants, lakes, lava…it is beautiful!

We also went to the Oregon Potters Association Showcase, and bought some new bowls and trinket dishes.

Patagonia by proxy…

My husband went to Patagonia for a Photography Workshop, and shared photos while visiting the National Park and Fitzroy areas.

Sisters quilting retreat…

While he was gone, two of my sisters came to visit and to work on some quilting projects. We finished four potholders to give to family members in Eugene. I practiced using my Juki machine, and we had more quilting planned after the Eugene weekend.

Eugene weekend…

We were enjoying visiting with siblings and sorting some of our parents photos and other archival material.

We watched the splashdown of Artemis II together. Our father was a rocket engineer, heavily involved in the Saturn V engine development in the early 60’s, so we all have great appreciation for successful space missions.

An afternoon in a family garden…

Only one younger sister wasn’t there, not feeling well – and then we received the sudden news that she had an unexpected fatal cardiac arrest and our world turned upside down. What started as a fun reunion turned to grief. At least we were all together and could console each other; at least we are good people to go through tragedy with; ‘at least‘ is one of the worst phrases in the language…All plans were upended and now I am writing this in May trying to remember what else happened in April.

Toward the end of the month…

My husband returned safely from South America. Our younger son visited from Philadelphia. Our daughter passed all her preliminary PhD exams at Duke, and now “just” has to complete her dissertation over the next few years. Our older son traveled to Trail Blazer post season games, thus the many airport trips. There will be two hikes to report on in a later post.

Etc…

Life continues under the toxic umbrella of war and global disarray that I do not look away from.

March 2026

April 22, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

I’m way behind again, here, with life challenges getting in the way. This is my March at home update. A post about March hiking, and one about our week at Yachats on the Oregon Coast, will follow.

Knitting

I went to one local yarn shop, Close Knit, during the Rose City Yarn Crawl, and bought one skein of a new to me sock yarn. I started knitting the socks later in the month. I am ready to add the button bands to the Zephyr cardigan. I finished a small The Answer Scarf, by Laura Nelkin, with rainbow beads.

Neighborhood

Spring blooms all month long, our neighborhood St Patrick’s Day parade, and our neighborhood No Kings gathering.

3/15 – Our neighborhood St Patrick’s Day Parade…

This homegrown parade generally includes everything from firetrucks and Irish wolfhounds, marching bands and classic cars, to a Mardi Gras Krew, and children’s bicycle floats. The rain held off until after the parade.

Waiting to start – all fun and nonsense.

3/28 Neighborhood No Kings Gathering

We stood with about a thousand people at a busy intersection, many folks on their way to the much bigger gathering and march downtown, including a few Portland Frogs.

Books

I finished 10 books in March. Three were Jane Austen adjacent. I found The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, about the working relationship and friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune, to be very moving. It makes me mad that we are still struggling against the racism and misogyny they were fighting. My husband and I finally finished our ongoing road trip listen to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, a tale I have reread or listened to many times since my teen years. For a palate cleansing, I heartily recommend any book by Alexander McCall Smith, whose books usually describe ridiculous human conflicts that are ultimately solved by kindness.

Art

I didn’t make it to an actual Art Museum in March, but we spent most of a rainy day at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, described in a later post. We were given one of the paintings made by my recently deceased nephew, Nathaniel, and found a place for it in our entryway. It reminds me of the rainbow we saw at his life celebration last month.

Etc.

Well, besides the No Kings day expressions of resistance, I found this quote that reminds me to keep thinking about what I can do in my own sphere, if not able to reach out further at the moment.

February 2026 Hiking

March 18, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

I went on only three hikes in February. We had some down time while my husband recovered from a sudden illness. He is well now. The later walks were in easy, recovery mode.

2/5 – White River snow hike, Mt Hood, Oregon

With snow levels still very low, we were able to hike this out-and-back trail, a long time favorite, with just micro spikes on our boots. There was a small amount of post-holing, but it was mostly fine.

Hiking uphill along the White River moraine – lots of exposed earth.

Our usual lunch spot, about a mile and a half up river, near the Timberline Trail crossing.

Boy Scout Ridge, which we sometimes avoid due to avalanche danger, has exposed plants on the surface today.

Luckily we had more snow by the middle of the month. There is more snow at this location now than there was in the beginning of February.

2/15 – Leach Botanical Garden, Portland

This public garden was gifted to the city of Portland by the estate of John and Lilla Leach. We hadn’t been in many years, but I remember taking my children here when they were young, and walking the stony paths between the plants. There was a bit of a Secret Garden feel to the park. I was aware that there had been a huge remodel and accessibility initiative. There is now a lovely Aerial Walkway that floats through the woodland. Today was our first time to try it. We walked less than a mile in total, as we had a time constraint, and also, my husband was still in recovery mode. Spring flowers were popping in a few beds, with more to come. I hope to return later in the spring to see more flowers.

Trails continue down to Johnson Creek, and to the original stone cottage across the creek.

Some flowers in bloom today…

2/26 – Memaloose Hills, Oregon

A windy day in the gorge. Most of this trail is protected from the strongest blasts, and it is a good conditioning hike (3 miles, 550 feet), as we work on our stamina…

Trailhead view across the Columbia River

Gold stars and grass widows on the upward slopes

View of the gorge and Mt Adams from the top of Chatfield Hill

We continued the loop that circles over the top of Marsh Hill…

View eastward from the top of Marsh Hill toward Tom McCall Point, with Columbia Desert parsley and grass widows among the rocks.

Swales of grass widows just beginning to bloom.

On the drive back toward Mosier, we stopped for a view to the north, to look at the greening slopes of the Coyote Wall and Catherine Creek areas, all burned last summer by the Burdoin Fire.

The good news is that, despite all the chaos in the political world, the flowers of spring are blooming again this year in the Columbia River Gorge!

February 2026

March 15, 2026 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

I began February with a lighter heart, having reconnected with many family members in Eugene at the end of January. Cold weather, rain, not enough snow in the mountains, and a week-long interruption due to a (now resolved) medical emergency derailed some of our plans, but on we go…

Knitting and sewing

I spent several days in hospital rooms, keeping my husband company as he was treated for a sudden bad reaction to a medication he was taking. All is well now, and he is recovered, but I spent many hours sitting, and knitting serious/whimsical hats for sock monkeys, and other small creatures. These are in homage to the Resistance Hats that were worn by Norwegians during the Nazi invasion, and now are made by Minnesotans and other knitters, as anti-ICE symbols. I bought the pattern, with proceeds going to help people hurt by ICE. In the meantime, while I was distracted and worried, knitting these little hats kept my hands and part of my brain busy. We have a display of sock monkeys in our window, leftover from early pandemic solidarity, and now they have joined the resistance.

I began with a couple of the sock monkeys and the Emotional Support Chicken.

I found a small amount of green yarn, enough to make a couple of Portland Frog hats

And then added a few more, including a Pussy Hat for good measure.

I also finished a pair of socks.

And I actually sewed with my sewing machine for the first time in a while. I made a travel kimono robe.

Books

I finished five books in February, including three in the Jane Austen-esque category.

2-17– Museum Day – David Hockney Exhibit at the Portland Art Museum

I was not previously familiar with David Hockney, but now I am so impressed with his body of work! The exhibit follows his life, from British art school student to American icon. His art follows his curiosity, into new mediums and subject matter. The impact of anti-homosexual laws in England, the loss of many people to AIDS (bouquets and chairs); portrait, still life, abstract, and landscape images, including one of my favorite places – Yosemite. The work varies from traditional art materials to modern iPad drawings and videography.

David Hockney, Self Portrait, 2012, iPad on Paper

Below are some of my favorites of his earlier works, created with traditional media:

Later works used Photographs and iPad paintings

I really loved this Yosemite Series, 2010, iPad drawings printed on paper:

These two extremely large works, described as Photographic Drawings printed on paper, play with perspective:

25th June, 2022, Looking at the Flowers, 2022. In this case, the original flower paintings were mounted on the large wall on the other side of the gallery, as well as reproduced on this large image. The artist is sitting in the chairs.

The videography piece was created with multiple cameras mounted on a vehicle driving through a snowy forest. The perspective of each camera differs slightly, the effect is mesmerizing. Luckily there is a convenient bench to sit and watch.

The amount of work presented in this exhibit is overwhelming. I am showing just a few here. I hope to go back and look again.

Neighborhood

Crocuses and daffodils were blooming in February.

One day I walked to our newly reopened Hollywood Branch Library, and saw the early cherry trees beginning to bloom, along with this sign of the resistance.

This new mural in the entry to our remodeled library celebrates our local author, Beverly Cleary, who grew up here and set many of her beloved children’s books in this neighborhood.

New Beverly Cleary Mural in the Hollywood Library

Etc…

Internet meme of the month…

January 2026

March 2, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

I will continue to post about knitting and other crafting; reading; neighborhood sights; hiking and other adventures, including monthly visits to an art museum; and inspiring resistance memes from my internet neighborhood, trying to focus on the positive.

Knitting –

I finished two projects in January – a cowl, and a pair of socks.

Reading – My own private Jane-uary –

I have been rereading Jane Austen’s novels since my teenage years. Perhaps because it was Jane Austen’s 250th birthday last month, there have been many new ‘adjacent’ books published: scholarly analyses of the times she lived in with speculation about her political, feminist, quirky, satirical, and social views; and fictional sequels and ‘inspired by’ books. I realized at the beginning of the month that I was simultaneously reading three of them (one audio, one ebook, one analog). And there are more on my shelf, or in my library queue! Austen literature gives me joy and provides escapism from these troubling times.

Six of the eight books I finished in January were Austenesque. There will be more in February!

Neighborhood sites in January –

Museum Days –

We had two museum visits in January – the Portland Art Museum, and the Ursula Le Guin Exhibit at the Oregon Contemporary Museum.

1/6/2026 – Portland Art Museum – We spent most of our time at the Global Icons, Local Spotlight exhibit, and also visited the Mt Hood room.

Global Icons entry placard. There followed several rooms of bright and inspiring artworks. Highlights for me:

25 Dots, 2013, Chul-Hyun Ahn – This piece is extremely colorful, and three dimensional.

Your Love Will Bring Me Home, 2023, Jeffrey Gibson. By an indigenous artist, includes acrylic paint and glass beads.

Spirit and Matter, 2023, Jeffrey Gibson, Acrylic paint on elk hide. Skywalker/Skyscraper, 2022, Marie Watt, Reclaimed blankets, cedar, steel.

Atomic Pinwheel 8 and 9, 2018, Polly Apfelbaum, Woodblock monoprints

LA Magic Hour 6-10, 2021, Tacita Dean, Lithographs of sunset colors; these pieces reflect the circular airbrush painting: No. 138, 1999, by Ugo Rondinone, at the far end of the gallery, providing a surreal, almost immersive atmosphere.

Jazz Stories: Somebody Stole My Broken Heart #2, 2023, Faith Ringgold, Quilted textile

Some of the mountain paintings in the Mt Hood room:

1/16/2026 – Ursula Le Guin at the Oregon Contemporary Museum –

Author Ursula Le Guin spent much of her adult life in Portland. Her family helped create this exhibit with many of her original manuscripts and hand drawn maps of some of her fantasy worlds; personal belongings, including childhood toys, books, sketch books, and literary awards; and interactive exhibits about her literature. I didn’t take very many photos, but I was inspired to see these artifacts of her life and works.

Awards and books and a lifetime of pet cats.

Eugene Weekend

Late January – early February, my extended family held a celebration of life for those we lost last year. The silver lining was the reunion with several distant loved ones parted since before the pandemic. We hope to meet up more often going forward.

Celebration, with Nathaniel’s Art on the walls

The rainbow that came out as we toasted him.

Etc…

Events are occurring in our own country I never thought to witness. My neighborhood held a candlelight vigil after the murders of protesters in Minnesota. We continue to support the resistance as best we can…

2025 – Review

February 16, 2026 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

I am having a hard time keeping up here – real life is getting in the way, as it should, I suppose, but I want to keep my record. Future me wants to read about what happened. So this post is my summary of 2025, written in February 2026, to the best of my current memory.

Last year I still managed to knit and read a fair amount, but our hiking and travel were somewhat curtailed by health issues, and I did very little sewing and quilting.

Knitting

I finished 17 projects in 2025, including nine donation items, mostly hats.

One goal for 2026 is to finish the Zephyr sweater I have been working on for two years.

Reading

I always set my goal to my age, but lately have zoomed past it. This year I read just over 100 books.

Quilting, Sewing and other projects…

Stitching was mostly helping my daughter work through her mending pile whenever she visited. I also briefly worked on these quilt blocks. Next year I hope to quilt four languishing quilt tops, and I have several planned tops in my minds eye…

Hands All Around Blocks, Modern Quilt Studio

We also made progress on home maintenance and repair: interior wall repair; new dining room blinds, new hallway carpet; new kitchen faucet; window repair; storm window cleaning and repair; exterior paint; and exterior brick tuck pointing. This 1932 house will always need something!

Hiking

I have had the goal of at least a hike a week in recent years. I only made it to 49 in 2025, mainly due to health setbacks. Hip bursitis, and a complete cardiac work up for me, and neck surgery for my husband, kept us on shorter and easier walks for a while. I have noticed that I have much less stamina on hotter days, and we seem to have many more hotter days now.

Highlights:

March – Grass Widows at Rowena Crest, OR

April – Green meadows with Death Camas, Shooting Stars and many other wildflowers at Catherine Creek, WA…these meadows would burn in July….

April – First walk through the new hiker/biker tunnels at Mitchell Point, OR

May – Return to that one trail between Multnomah and Wahkeena Creeks, OR

June – Avalanche lilies on the Ant Hill Trail, Mt Hood, OR

July – Bear Grass near Picnic Rock, Mt Hood, OR

July – Elliot Moraine and Timberline Trail High Point, Mt Hood, OR

December – First return after the fires to Catherine Creek, WA

Travel

Travel was mostly local this year. We had to cancel plans for Paris, Switzerland, and Mt Rainier due to the previously mentioned health issues. We spent two lovely weeks in January and August at Bandon, on the southern Oregon Coast.

We visited family in Connecticut and Philadelphia in the fall.

And I spent two weeks in southern Utah in June, but that was mostly within health care settings, and too hot to go outside.

RIP

I will miss these family members who left too soon.

Etc…

2025 was worse than expected, with the government now being run by corrupt criminals who have a stranglehold on the checks and balances built into our government. Someday, someone will figure out why Congress and the Supreme Court won’t do their jobs (Epstein files?). In the meantime, people are protesting in the streets, and every avenue of progress has been set back; basic rights are denied to many people. I thought this was behind us! I wish I was living in that other reality, with a woman president, all people feeling respected as humans, climate change initiatives proceeding, and everyone learning to accept diversity as a natural part of the human species. In the meantime time I will do my bit to communicate, vote, knit, read, and share in resisting tyranny. In spite of everything, I have to hold an optimistic spark in my soul, for hope that we end 2026 on a brighter note!