I came across a short article about box beds, which were sleeping cabinets people in cold climates used to stay warm. There was a mattress and bedding inside, and doors to enclose the sleeper. There was an old photo showing a double decker bed, with a heavily dressed maid perched…
Uncategorized
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Reflecting on our Alvord Desert trip
June 9, 2023 – We’ve been back in the Portland area for less than a day and are setting back into our routines after a great trip with Jim and friends Matt, Wendy and Jay. I’m so thankful for the inspiration, guidance, and welcoming friendship Matt provided that resulted in…
George Winston, contemplative pianist, died June 4, 2023
Winston was an amazing pianist for Windham Hill Records. My father loved him in the 80s and beyond. He got a stereo and listened to Winston in the dark, one of the calmest times I have ever seen for him. I know that peace when I listen to Winston’s piano…
Healthy Habits: Growing your Own Sprouts
You’ve seen them at the grocery store, in the specialty area of your produce section – a small, wilted, slightly browning little plastic clamshell container with alfalfa sprouts. For me, finding that sad little vegetable again and again inspired me to want better greens. This is a vegetable you can…
Our lives are being changed by COVID-19 – permanently
I just read on OregonLive.com that gas stations will be permitted to temporarily go to self-service to reduce exposure of employees to coronavirus as they take payment and interact closely with customers. I’ve often thought that handing a credit card across is one of the best ways to give or…
LastPass and my chromebook
I’m settling into my new Asus Chromebook C433T, which is a wonderful, fast, slim machine that seems to do so much of what I want out of a laptop. This one has an Intel CORE m3 8th Gen processor and 60 GB of storage, and is running Chrome OS Version…
My favorite Young Adult books
Goodreads.com is promoting Young Adult week. Its blog article, “Can You Be ‘Too Old’ for YA? Our Expert Opinion: No,” says it all. I agree. Young Adult Fiction that’s written with care, where the characters drive the action, is a joy to read. One of the things I love about…
Book Clubs have gone high tech
My recent exploration of social sites and apps that might help me manage a book club has surfaced some interesting new choices, but I find myself a bit disappointed in the options. Let’s start from the beginning. We have a book club that occasionally swells to 15 members but most…
avatars
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New avatar bodies in Second Life
I sometimes visit a world called Second Life, which is kind of a big 3-D space where you can hang out, build stuff, and fiddle with your avatar’s look. I’ve been a member since 2007, and in that time, I’ve seen the look of avatars change a lot. Also, the…
Food and drink
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Spring’s coming! Time for beer and wine events in Portland
This Spring is starting early with some events to herald warmer weather and blossoms. In Portland, that means celebrating with food, beer and wine! I attended the Golden Valley Brewmaster’s Dinner on Saturday, March 3 with Jim. They had set aside their party room in Beaverton for the occasion and…