Friday, December 29, 2006

Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart



Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

Recently Evan's car and his collection of 200 CDs was stolen. He got his car back. Now, with this surpise tucked inside a CD case, he can start to rebuild his collection.


Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

Lindsay and Lamont's buddy John has his birthday on Christmas Day, so it was a double celebrationf for him. This little thing-a-mah-bob can be set to warn him that it's time to go put money in the parking meter, plus he can record where he's parked and play it back! Wow. He's a happy guy all around.





Lamont's thrilled with his cutting protection thing and his kitchen towels. I think he's tired of getting his picture taken, though.


Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

I couldn't resist this shot of Kate, peering into the bag before she actually discovered the lovely handmade wooden pepper grinder from Lamont and Lindsay. She's going, "Oohhhh" in the second photo.


Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

I found this black T-shirt at Presents of MInd, on Hawthorne just west of 37th and around the corner from 3 Doors Down Cafe where the guys cook. I knew the guys would love them because the reel-to-reel design would remind them of one of the few photos we have of their dad, sitting in front of a reel-to-reel machine, running sound for a folksinger friend, back in the early '70s.



Here's Lamont and the birch box I found at a neat store that sells Russian crafts, the Russian Art Gallery on Yamhill. I highly recommend it for the beauty of each object as well as the prices.



Lamont's awe and joy are evident as he eyes the gift card to Sur la Table, a kitchen/cooking store. Lindsay's parents made a solid choice.



What's smilin' and red all over? Lamont and Evan and their new T-shirts.



Leslie's thinking, "Salt?" and Cooley's thinking, "Salt!" It's good sea salt, from Lindsay and Lamont.

Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

Here's Leland and his reel-to-reel T-shirt.



Neither could I resist getting both couples Potato Guns at the same store. By their smiles, I'd say they're pleased. I couldn't get Lamont and Lindsay's photo to come up right beneath Leland and Cristina's, but you get the picture, right? Wow, ain't I a great maker of the pun?



I promise you Leland has not lost it; he's just hamming it up for the camera. The Silver Spoon Cookbook did thrill him quite a bit, though. He'd been reading Lamont's copy for years, thinking that eventually a used copy would show up and become his own. Now he doesn't have to look any more, just enjoy. Lamont and Lindsay knew he's love it.


Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

Richard, Lindsay's dad, beams as he holds up his multi-bit, pen-style piece of hardware.



Here's Lindsay with her mom and her aunt, holding up the colorful case for keeping up with things in her purse--at least that's what I think it is. I knew she'd like the color, the shape, and its usefulness, however she decides to use it.



Leslie and Cooley smile sweetly as they hold up the framed rose photos from Mama and me. Those particular flowers bloomed in the summer of 2004; I took the photos on our first trip to Portland.



Lindsay's modeling her new purse, given to her by her honey, Lamont, who looks pretty pleased with himself for finding it for her.



The woolen scarf Lindsay's holding is from Russia; I found it at that great, affordable Russian store on Yamhill, across the street from Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

The best gift of all for Mama and me is being with Lamont and Leland. Y'all know what I'm talking about, family and it's importance to one's emotional well-being. The fact that through these two young men we've met and grown to love more wonderful people already in their lives when we arrived in Portland only adds to our joy.



Mama's thrilled with her bag of Stumptown Coffee beans. Lamont told me that he and Lindsay had that for her, plus the Mr. Coffee coffeegrinder that shouldn't present her with any operational problems. (She's been drinking delicious Stumptown coffee all week, finally getting the strength practically perfect today.)


Christmas Evening, 2006, Portland, Oregon--Gifts from the Heart

Lindsay waited for a break in Portland's rainy days and did a splendid job decorating with lights outside the house.



Lindsay's cousin Chris grins from behind his brand new Nerf Glow in the Dark N-Strike Firefly Rev-8.



Giving life to the boy still living in all men, thankfully so, Richard couldn't resist playing with the Nerf gun.



Here's another shot of the exterior lights and one of the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.


Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Felice Navidad, Christmas Eve, 2006, in Boring, Oregon--Peruvian Style--Part 1

Christmas Eve found Mama, Lamont, Lindsay and I out in Boring to be with Cristina and Leland and her family and friends. The plan was for traditional Peruvian food (Cristina's mom Delia is from Peru), lots of laughter and togetherness and an exchange of gifts. Like the A-Team's Hannibal always said, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

This first photo is of our Peruvian salad course, papa la huncayna, made from a hunk of boiled potato, a section of boiled egg, a slice of olive and a special sauce, all on a bed of lettuce. The sauce is made with onion, garlic, green peppers, queso fresco (a style of cheese), soda crackers and milk. Everyone ate it right up, spicy sauce and all. I especially love spicy food.

Next is a closeup is of Cristina's sister's Alea's pumpkin mousse. How's that for a row of possessive nouns? Whew. It was cool and creamy, just right after our spicy salad and entree.

Here's Martina, one of Delia's long time friends. isn't she beautiful? She's from Panama. Next is Tempi, who looks great in her festive outfit. She said I'd break my camera, but I knew I wouldn't because she looked lovely.

Here's the Christmas tree, the first one Leland brought home in the trunk of his new car. Pretty soon, he and Cristina will be living in the wing that's being added onto the house (pictures will come eventually as I'm sure you've already guessed). Next Christmas, he'll bring home two trees, one for each living space!

Here's my cutie-pie Mama, the very first photo I took with my brand new camera. She looks great for an old gal, doesn't she? She'll be 81 on January 23!

Cristina's cousin Roberto and brother Pepe sport great smiles and shining eyes, being my next new-camera-guinea pigs.

Here's a beautiful trio, Carolyn, long-time family friend and mother of Alea whom Cristina considers her sister; Delia, Cristina's mom, and Cristina herself.

Delia's husband Gabriell smiles broadly for me as he pauses while loading the dishwasher. He's a man of many talents, working every spare minute on the addition to the house, as does Leland when he's not at the restaurant. There he is with hs nephew and his son.

Lamont and Lindsay enjoyed an appetizer--Lamont couldn't seem to get himself to stop chewing. When I said, "Aw, I'm taking your picture," he laughed and said, "You'll take 40 more, Mom!" Doesn't Lindsay look pretty tonight?












Felice Navidad, Christmas Eve, 2006, in Boring, Oregon--Peruvian Style--Part 2

Here's Cristina, smiling while she plated the Peruvian entree, lomo saltado. The sauteed onions, steak, tomatoes and jalapenos tasted great. Tradition calls for the sauteed dish to be served over a plate of rice, topped with french fries. Pepe, her step-brother on leave from the Navy, enjoyed an Incredible Hulk or two while he watched Leland cook.