Super Stylie Specs at Glance

I think I need to get me some of these stylie specs from Glance Eyeglasses.




Check 'em out.

Glance Eyeglasses
330 Court St NE
Salem, OR 97301
503.399.9090

Memories from the Oregon State Fair 2010

This year my middle child won big on the "shoot the red star" game.

Two Jumbo prizes.

My jaw dropped in shock as he came loping up with his massive sacks of booty. He was so proud. So cute. (He's still only 14, I can say that 'cause he doesn't read this blog. Nor do his friends.)




My favorite part of the fair is the animals.

Every year.
Love them.














My favorite ride of the fair is, and always has been, The Swing.

Another Saturday Night

Good friends, beer and a bite.

Bus ride.

Timbers game.

Beer and a band

Crawdads and Memories

I brought this guy and some of his kin home from Fitts Seafood the other day. My kids had a blast.

I bought them because I remember catching crawdads and eating them when I was a kid.

I also remember catching minnows from the rocky banks of the Willamette River in Keizer, I remember digging for treasure in the backyard, playing Wiffle ball in the empty lot next door, having dirt clod fights, climbing trees and eating young apples and feeling ill. I remember standing on a plywood sheet held up only by the blackberry bushes beneath it over the side of a hill, picking and eating until my fingertips were black. I remember the road trip I took with my grandparents and brother through the Redwoods, by the Great Salt Lake and to the red desert. I remember my pony. I remember having fun.

Memories.

night

Mail call

Mail call.
Reed Opera House.

Waiting for the bus...

What is there to do while you're waiting for the bus and have no book?

Play with your camera of course.

Oh yeah, I love waiting for the bus.

Beets, bread and cheese

Today's haul of fresh local goodness:

French sourdough bread
Radish greens
Beets
Garlic chive goat cheese




Hmmm. What to make?

Beet salad sounds perfect.

La Capitale's beet salad serves as inspiration. As I need a starting point, this Roasted Beet Salad with Oranges and Beet Greens recipe will be mine.

Of course I'll tweak it and substitute the radish greens.

For a small selection of local goodies visit the Saturday Public Market on Rural Street. Open 8:30-1:00

I'll let you know how the salad turns out.

Shopping for Stuff

While I was waiting for my daughter to finish her indoor soccer practice I took a stroll through a local World Market. Let me share my shopping adventure. Wait. Local World Market? Hmmmm.

Here are a few things that made their way to my house.
And a few that didn't.

You gotta love nutella. (Shhh. I bought the store brand.)

I love parchment paper. I need parchment paper.

See that measuring cup? Buy it. It is the best. You can measure the liquid from the side or from the top.
Brilliant.

These aren't fizzy lifting drinks but they are entertaining. A marble in the bottle neck will do that.

These dishes didn't make it home. They will. Someday.
I have gifted the sake set with a bottle of Oregon sake. Ahhh. The gift of alcohol.

I have gifted this as well. Nothing says love like a ceramic compost bin.

Beer. Local. Rogue.

Baby bubbly. So cute.

Salud!

To Grandmother's House We Go...

No over the river and through the woods for us.

The streets were relatively deserted as we made our way North to the Grandparent's house for the Christmas morn festivities.

Obviously, the car needs a wash.

Mmmm, Christo's is good.

Hey, look, a billboard for my insurance agent.

Closer.

Closer.

We've arrived.

Let the wild rumpus start.

Vietnam Restaurant

One of my kids pointed out recently that Wednesday's seem to be our dine out day. How about Vietnamese food?

Lately we've been dining at Vietnam Restaurant, located in a mini strip mall on the corner of Liberty and Center in the downtown core. It's nestled in between a camera shop and a silkscreen business and is around the corner from See's Candies. (And I mean nestled, as in, almost hidden.)

It's location is very convenient to our Central Salem home and the prices are very affordable, averaging about $7 for a well sized entree. They serve the standard selection of Pho and Bun but we've discovered something more.

We've discovered Com Tom Xao Xa Ot, which is Spicy lemon grass shrimp with steamed rice. Oh, it is heaven.

Today we ordered:

#8 Pho - Slice - Fresh eye of round steak with noodle soup

#14 Bun Tom Thit Nuong - Grilled sliced pork and grilled shrimp

#22 Com Vit Quay - BBQ duck with steamed rice and vegetables

#24 Com Tom Xao Xa Ot - Spicy lemon grass shrimp with steamed rice

#26 Com Ga Xao Xa Ot - Spicy lemon grass chicken with steamed rice

Mmmm. Nom Nom.

Give it a try.

Vietnam Restaurant

364 Center Street

Downtown Salem

503.581.1668

Monday- Saturday 11am - 8pm

Sunday 11am - 6pm

Ice and Rodents in Salem

I honestly can't recall a time when the Willamette Valley has had sustained below freezing temperatures for a week or longer.

I don't want to complain because the sunshine was wonderful.

I love the ice build up on the sides of one of the many local creeks. This may be Shelton Ditch or Pringle Creek. I can't keep them straight.

This nutria seemed a little perplexed by all of this ice.

My kids enjoyed throwing rocks in an attempt to break the ice. I loved how the ice appears to adjust the flow and direction of the water somewhat.

On the other side.

I admit this is from two days earlier and explains why I needed that extra quilt. It never hit 40 on Friday.

Keep warm everyone.

Saturday coffee

We're enjoying our morning cup o joe at Busick Court this fine, crisp Saturday morning.




I've ordered the blueberry granola cakes, which is not a usual move for me. I'm normally a potato-scramble kind of girl.

Joe's ordered two eggs, links and potatoes. Very normal.

Looking around, I can see five stocking caps and four baseball hats on the 40 or so patrons.

Sun is shining and the temperature is just above freezing. Ahhh.

A lovely walk

Today was a delight. The sun decided to visit.

I enjoyed a brisk walk downtown




I love these cement bridges.



The other side of the street.




What is this all about? Anyone? It's facing the wrong way on a one way street.




I love these berries. No idea what they are.




A tidy yard. I expect the lavender will be wonderful.

Salemites

I'm a second generation Salemite. My kids are the third generation. That's counting those in my family that were born here. If we're talking just growing up in Salem, then add another generation to the tally.

Nothing brings perspective than recalling the past for my children. There are stories to be told which hearken back to my grandfather's days.

One of my favorite stories involves Bush's pasture (not park) and some devious young boys and their experiments with smoking. The story goes that my grandfather, his brothers and friends were off sneaking a cigarette in Bush's pasture, one thing led to another and ended with a small brush fire. Nothing serious.

There are many other stories, as my father didn't fall far from the tree when it came to the devious department.

This recent nostalgia stems from my observations while driving through downtown on many a night. I can see the change and I love it.

I love the people milling about. I love the activity. I love the sense of community. I know it's no Portland or Seattle but something is brewing and it's wonderful.

I can't claim the same lineage when it comes to blogging as I'm a virtual baby of this world.  But it appears the Salem blogging community is becoming just as vibrant as our downtown core. If you haven't yet, please check out the Salemites blog. This is a hub of some of the Salem area bloggers.

Take a try at the periodic trivia contests.



Join Today!

Memories of Spring

Lavender smells divine.