Seen downtown, No. 5

Let me count a few of my daily life blessings for you.

First, from my employer I get a 24/7/365 mass transit pass. 

Second, I work in a building a single block from a bus stop where three bus lines that go west over the Willamette River stop at the beginning of my lunch hour. 

Third, those buses all stop a couple of blocks from the Wednesday downtown Portland Farmers Market, located at Shemanski Park in the South Park Blocks, behind the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. 

Fourth, while this particular version of the PFM is less than a square block, I prefer to think of it as being village-like, intimate and personable and filled to the brim with the bounty of folks who must have huge hearts because they're willing to grow all of these vegetables, fruits, and flowers--or to bake tarts and breads and cookies and quiches or make goat cheese--so that we can zoom over there on our lunch hour and shop among the trees. 

Fifth blessing, those founders of the city who donated the downtown blocks of land which have become home  of two versions of the Portland Farmers Market, this small one at the north end of the South Park Blocks and the huge Saturday PFM at the south end of the South Park Blocks.

So, this week on Wednesday I happily saw once again, up close and personal, why it is so ever-lovin' OK that it rains in Portland. These vegetables. Other fruits I didn't get a photo of because I was carrying too many vegetables back to work with me and couldn't manipulate the camera. And the flowers in the next photo, one that I took before I had all of the vegetables to lug.




Once I got home from work, I took everything out of the bags and washed it all and put it in these two colanders to drain.

Sixth blessing, knowing I'll soon cook and eat all of these beautiful vegetables. More on that next time.

• Seventh blessing, my friend Sarah of Portland Creamery sold me some mighty fine chevre and gave me a great big hug!

Continuing the Milton's Gourmet White Bread thread ...

I'd say 95% of the time, ever since I discovered this scrumptious bread, I've had the same thing for lunch--it makes the mornings easier if I'm in a routine, at my age of nearly 60.

Left to right: ice-cold sweet tea (Cold Brew Lipton sweetened with Splenda--I love the 21st century!) in an ice cup from Burger King; my half peanut butter sandwich; and a delicious fruit serving from the coffee counter on the first floor--there's a generous slice of watermelon hiding out in the bottom. Tuesdays and Fridays I pick up the free Portland Tribune, scan the headlines and try the crossword--operative word, try; Mama always completes it on the paper I take her. Other days, I'm reading Roy Blount Jr.'s book "Long Time Leaving Dispatches from Up South." Let me tell you, at times this book has made me want to whoop and holler, it's that funny, but since I'm eating in an employee lounge, I struggle and manage to maintain my manners. Besides that, it's a thought-provoking read covering a roving range of topics.

Y'all have a great Friday!