Memorial Day Weekend

We spent the weekend at Winchester Bay riding our sand toys and hanging out at the beach.

Union Street Bridge

The Union Street bridge project began with a railroad bridge that saw it's last train in 1990. Fourteen years later the City of Salem purchased the bridge to connect Riverfront Park and Wallace Marine Park. The bridge opened to bicycle and pedestrian traffic a couple weeks ago. These are some pictures of the Willamette River from the bridge. Today was a beautiful day for a walk.

Farmer's Market

Today was beautiful, and a perfect opportunity to visit the Salem Saturday Market. The market started the 2009 season a little over a month ago, and unlike a more traditional farmer's market, includes baked goods, food vendors, craft vendors and local pet adoption agencies. Today's purchases included for my aunt and I included homemade molasses cookies, banana bread, fresh-cut flowers and Cape Foulweather coffee. I'm really looking forward to the season progressing to include more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Quasi-Anonymity

Hm...I may not have spelled that correctly. Oh well. The point is that being anonymous can be a powerful thing sometimes. Think of all those "juicy tween and teen secrets" you spilled to your brand-new bunk mate at camp. Or those little tidbits of yourself you mention to that stranger on a bus or in a waiting room. It's weird, sometimes, how a person can feel more comfortable talking to total strangers than close friends.

I've personally always been more comfortable having really powerful conversations with some space. When I was a teenager and life was hard and my emotions were rioting I would write letters to my parents and leave them in places they would find them. The teenage years were tough, and I couldn't speak the words face-to-face. I thought, somehow, I'd outgrown that. That with age, experience, and maybe wisdom I'd grown to be more honest in my interpersonal communication skills. I haven't. Tonight I found myself doing that very same thing, this time electronically, to tell a friend some things I needed to say. Things I couldn't say to his face, but things I've been wanting to say for awhile now. I just hope things won't be strange the next time I see him.

Festival of Flowers

Today was the Jefferson Festival of Flowers. Jefferson's a small town, so we weren't sure exactly what to expect, but there were flowers, and a maypole. The tiny Jefferson library had a book sale. We bought some flowers in between rainshowers and at ate lunch at the Tratoria. And I was recognized by a few people I knew from years ago when I was a substitute teacher.

Taste of Ashland

Erin and I spent the weekend in Ashland doing the walk, drink and eat thing. Ashland always seems to pick a great weekend. The weather was sunny, and just warm enough to be comfortable. We hit all 17 galleries and had some wonderful food. And I have to say, the wine wasn't bad. I really liked the Frizze and Pinot Gris from Cuckoo's Nest Cellars in Cave Junction, Oregon.

After nibbling all afternoon we had sushi for dinner at Kobe. That was followed by ice cream at Mix. And finally a trip to Dutch Bros. for Erin's coffee and my cinnamon cocoa. What can I say, we ate all day long.

On the trip home Sunday we stopped in Sutherlin for a bite of lunch at a place called Bronx Begals. It was yummy.

Lunch and Sake

Erin finds some of the most interesting activities. Today we drove to Forest Grove because there is a sakery (distiller of Japanese rice wine). Since I knew nothing about sake, my response was "I'm up for it."

We started with lunch at McMenamin's Grand Lodge. For those of you who don't live in Oregon or Washington, and/or have never visited a McMenamin's establishment...Get there. Seriously. Their restaurants, pub theaters and hotels are fun, historic and quirky. The Grand Lodge is a former Masonic Home, Edgefield was a county poor farm...you get the picture. Check out their website. They have consistently good food, and they brew their own beer.

After lunch we went to SakeOne. I really didn't know anything about sake before our stop today. Now I know a little more. The crew in the tasting room was really knowledgeable and helpful. Personally, I like the Plum Sake and Raspberry sake best, but if you're ever around Forest Grove, check it out.