While in Belgium, I went to visit my aunt (Tante Marcelle) and my uncle (Onc' Jacques).
My aunt is 83; she always has some interesting story to tell, while my uncle (85) tends to joke, with the same sort of dry humor my cousins inherited.
Tante Marcelle:
"Ah, that reminds me what happened with the neighbors, but that was 16 years ago, no, wait, it was 12 years ago, because I remember the wall hadn't been rebuilt yet, well, what was I saying? Oh, that's right, the neighbors, nice people; they always say "Hello" so nicely. But they have the nerve to park the truck right across the gate and there's no room left for anyone. Did I tell you the man is a truck driver? No? Anyway, they always say hello very nicely, but then, the kids do the darnedest things. They keep kicking their soccer ball over the gate, and it pisses me off that they keep doing it, over and over. When I go down the alley, if I have to go get groceries, and I find the ball, I throw it back over the gate, but I had to go tell the mother to tell the kids to stop ringing the doorbell at the gate. It's happened several times, I had to go all the way down the alley, then the stairs. -Ah, it was exactly 12 and half years ago, because we redid the stairs after the wall!- So you see, it just doesn't seem right for an old lady like me to have to go down all the way down the alley then the stairs, and just for a soccer ball, you see. It's bad enough that I have to go down those stairs twice a week to go get groceries. Ah, yes, that's right; I was telling you about the neighbor. What did I want to tell again? I can't remember anymore... I have the worst memory. No, really, I assure you. I can't remember anything. It's terrible how low we sink. So, as I was saying, those people are always parking their darn truck in the street and there is no room to do anything, see, since it's a cul-de-sac, no one can turn their car around because of his %^!! truck. But they're nice people...for the most part."
Onc' Jacques:
"You can almost tell whose car it was by the color of the paint scrapes on the side of the truck!"
M. asked us to take her to Firehouse restaurant for her birthday. M. had wanted to eat there for a long time: Matt, her former boss at New Seasons' is the owner.
I took Moso to Todai for her birthday.
I wanted to mark the date in some manner, so I did this so-so sketch of Obama mostly from memory.
I did this cool sketch of a young guy sitting across from me. I thought he looked like an artist.
The Portland French Alliance had a demonstration of how to make a "Galette," the traditional cake for the "Fête des Rois" (this is the day the Wise Men arrived at Jesus' Manger, January 6 according to the Catholic tradition).
I did these sketches while watching the first "Die Hard" (Bruce Willis still had hair!).
Years ago, as I was sitting and drawing a woman who looked a little, let's say, mad (like crazy), she suddenly jumped up from her seat and sat down next to me. I immediately shut my sketchbook. She leaned over my book and asked what I was drawing. I reopened the book at random, relieved she hadn't seen the drawing I'd done of her. Since then, I try to be discreet and to not look too obvious; I don't want someone to get upset with me.
We had Ward Conference at Church today. This is a sketch of the inside of our chapel.
...Lebanese food sounded good tonight...so we went for take-out at Nicholas' Restaurant on Grand Avenue. (I did this sketch while waiting for the food to be ready.)
On News Year's Eve, G. and I went to Pix Pâtisserie to end a frustrating year in a fun way.
What can I say about this quasi-castle, the most famous house in Portland?
The Lion and the Rose is a famous Bed and Breakfast in Portland. We were given a tour of this superb house by one of the owners. It has been gorgeously decorated (flowery wallpapers, antiques, period-style light fixtures, etc.). Imagine, 7 bedrooms and about 9 bathrooms! I loved the amazing attic with cavernous ceilings and a tiny turret room.
The owner of The Georgian House Bed and Breakfast gave us a tour of her house which she operates as a Bed and Breakfast. Although I am not partial to Country style, the consistency of the decorating was very pleasant overall. This house is obviously well-cared for and is a lovely, welcoming and comfortable place.
The White House, a famous Bed and Breakfast in Portland is very impressive Greek Revival mansion is a breath-taker, a heart-stopper, a beautiful, immaculate house in a perfect setting.
Hmm... Although this house had a certain charm, the dormers' metal frame windows were obviously not period and the big rust-colored metal panes in front of the gutter channels looked unsightly.
I didn't care for this house. It seemed very average compared to some other houses in Irvington.
I did some sketches of houses for my last class at Portland State University.
