Here is another cute DIY idea for out of the ordinary pumpkins. Could be good for a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

(more…)

Pieter and I embraced the ice cold Portland morning with an adventure to Albina Press on foot. Mornings have been brisk, and evenings long and dark…but we have a fireplace for now and kitties to cuddle up to. Also, i’m rekindling my past love of photography and brushing up on my skills with these new fandangled digital cameras.

(more…)

I love this idea for a costume…maybe next year!

Stumbled across these beautiful prints by Dan Hillier who can be found online or at the Sunday Upmarket in East London.

(more…)

Friday evening we had some friends over for dinner, one of which is allergic to gluten and dairy. I had planned on experimenting with a craving for ravioli, so I went ahead and tried it gluten free and non gluten free. Both recipes included in this post.

(more…)

If you haven’t checked out Ampersand located on 29th and Alberta in NE Portland, I urge you to stop in sometime, especially durring a Last Thursday event. The small shop specializes in books and retail committed to cultural preservation of historic and contemporary documents and collectables. You can purchase anything from vintage Playboy magazines, to hundred year old love letters written to long gone romantics.

(more…)

I discovered a blog this evening called The Dutchables which basically posts anything to do with the Netherlands. There are a lot of beautiful images of country as well as city. But I chose a few more interesting posts to share.

(more…)

Well folks, its Fall in Portland again, and that means layers, scarves, gloves, cuddles and the annual gaining of 5 lbs. Such a glorious time of year! We haven’t yet made our own trip to the pumpkin patch, but here are a few beautifully crafted takes on the traditional Jack-O-Lantern.

A note of experience: If you try any of the designs where you’re only shaving off the top layers of the pumpkin or gourd, candles don’t do well due to general lack of oxygen, or for smaller pumpkins, the flames tend to be too close to the top and end up burning the inside. Try either cutting a vent in the back of the pumpkin or using a small LED light instead of a candle.

We’ve had a couple comments this Fall about how lucky we are to live in a house with a fire place. For those of you who are in this category, this is for you.

Electrolux makes an amazing little fireplace, that would sit nicely on your coffee table, a shelf or even bring it a long with you to your girlfriends place…ya know, to create the perfect mood.

(more…)