Once In A Blue Moon

On Friday there was going to be a BLUE moon, which means that the moon is totally full twice in one month.  I hopped in my car and headed up to Portland Women's Forum - I soon saw this "Harvest" moon - a big golden sphere above Larch Mountain.  I zoomed in and got this image.  

When I arrived at Portland Women's Forum Scenic Viewpoint there it was, over the Viewpoint Inn.  Did you see the movie "Twilight"?  The prom scene was filmed there.  I think I've told you how devastated I am that there was a fire at this historic inn a year ago and the owners didn't have fire insurance and so this lovely building stands with a huge black gaping hole in the roof and all winter the rain and snow poured inside and no one.. NO ONE.. is even putting a TARP over it to save this building.  I am meeting this coming Friday with people from the Historic Preservation League of Oregon to discuss the future of this building.  I'll let you know what I find out.  In this photo the sunset is reflecting off the windows of the vacant building.. it's almost like it's begging for help.

Yesterday my dear husband and I headed off at a bit after noon to go visit my best friend from 7th grade, Shirley, and her husband John and to see their new home.  They've recently moved from Seattle to Oregon and have purchased a home in Sherwood.  

We were zooming along until traffic slowed to a crawl - pretty soon emergency vehicles came screaming by, sirens wailing... 8 police cars, 4 ambulances, 1 fire truck and 2 "incident response" trucks.  We even had to turn off the car and Dayle got out and visited with other guys standing on the road - then a LifeFlight helicopter landed and took off soon thereafter.  There was a 1 car wreck, 1 fatality and 2 people life-flighted out.  Poor people in that wreck.  This delayed us an hour.

As soon as we got to Shirley's house, we headed out to lunch at "Trees" restaurant nearby.  This is the entrance area and deck dining to the restaurant.. isn't this cool?

A nice dining room - we were between rushes, at 3 pm or so.  Shirley and I had the salmon club sandwich on ciabatta bread and the guys had burgers.  The cook even came out and chatted with us!  She had gone to culinary school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and had several Cajun dishes on the menu.  Next time I will try her gumbo.

Here are my adorable and lovable friends, Shirley and John.

The chef told us what was available for dessert and she mentioned she only had 2 pieces of her own homemade pecan pie left, so we ordered them and each couple shared a slice.  She told us there was a "secret ingredient" and challenged us to see if we could figure it out.  She came back to see what we thought and I told her "chocolate"?  She goes.. well, you are the first one to figure it out.. she said she puts a layer of Nutella before she puts in the custard mixture and pecans!  It was yummy!

Outside the restaurant was a pretty fountain.. ::click:: 

And some of the first Fall leaves I've seen... ::click:: 

We then headed back to see more of their new home and visit.  Their soaring ceiling makes their home so spacious!  

John and Shirley have been collecting depression glass for years now and have their favorite pieces in this lighted glass cabinet.  They just recently have picked up a few Shawnee Corn dishes.. which we have in common.   

I love the two vintage Vaseline glass measuring cups in her kitchen window. 

I brought a house warming gift for them, a Shawnee Queen Corn bowl - they loved it! 

After seeing their upstairs rooms we all got comfortable and chatted for a long time.  I even brought my crocheting and worked on my shawl while we talked about old times.  

Today we're relaxing and watching HGTV and looking forward to taking our son Travis and our two littlest grandsons out for lunch - Kristi just had her tonsils out and we thought she'd enjoy some quiet time while she recuperates.  I hope you're having a good weekend!!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)