Almost Thanksgiving, and our garden is still producing (November 17, 2025)

These crisp, sweet just-off-the-vine bell peppers and Carmen peppers (not spicy) are so delicious in our dinner salads!
 

Tons of serrano peppers to add to Papa's delicious black beans and other dishes too!

Rare Northern Lights in Central Texas (November 11-12, 2025)

My friend Sharon Reed in Georgetown sent me this photo of the Northern Lights as seen from her driveway on November 11. 
 

We drove as far north as the Walburg exit (about 40 miles) in hopes of being far enough from Austin's light pollution to see the Northern Lights. We ran into a traffic jam north of Georgetown. Apparently the lights came and went. By the time we reached the dark road to Walburg, the lights were gone.

Our consolation prize: glow-in-the-dark Oreo cookies. Greg gave them to us earlier in the day after Tom removed a deep splinter from Greg's thumb for him. We traveled to Iceland in November 2017 specifically to see the Aurora Borealis. The sky was overcast the entire time. Seeing the lights is on my bucket list. Could there be a winter trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, in our future? 

Another house gone in our block (November 4, 2025)

We returned from Portland late on November 3 only to wake up to sounds of heavy machinery four houses away. Well, only three houses away now.
 

Tunnel Beach (November 2, 2025)

We couldn't leave Tillamook County without visiting Oceanside Beach. No swimming though! The water was freezing and the waves were wild, crashing across each other.  
 

Otis and I stood on some rocks to let waves flood around us. Otis wisely suggested it was time to run back on the sand. The very next wave crashed over the rocks we'd been standing on!

The access from Oceanside Beach to the secluded Tunnel Beach is a 90-foot tunnel through a cliff. Otis is near the end.

The tunnel was built in 1926 for resort guests. Tunnel Beach is only accessible at low tide, when you can see tide pools filled with sea life. The beach is also known as a prime location for finding sea agates and other unique rocks.

Sometimes you can see seals, sea lions, and seabirds like tufted puffins nesting on the Three Arch Rocks Wildlife Refuge. We saw none. Maybe you need binoculars?

Papa Tom and art in the tunnel

Art and me in the tunnel

Tillamook Creamery (November 2, 2025)

Don't we all love Tillamook cheese and ice cream? We visited the source in Tillamook, Oregon, a beautiful 90-minute drive to the coast from Portland. We traveled through a forest of trees covered in yellow, orange, and red leaves.
 

VW microbuses were painted cheddar cheese orange for Tillamook's national promotional tour in 2010. We enjoyed cheese and ice-cream samples on our tour of the factory.

When the factory opened in 1949, cheesemakers made cheese the old-fashioned way, in open vats. The process is called "hand-cheddaring." Today, the cheesemakers use the state-of-the-art Cheddarmaster machine to separate curds from whey, and automate the cheddaring process.

I remember hearings ads as a kid bragging that certain brands of bread were "untouched by human hands," like automation is better than bread made by bakers. Robots turn 40-pound blocks of cheese into 20 2-pound blocks. The "40-pound blocks" actually weigh 41-42 pounds, so workers take a little off the top to make shredded cheese. Cheese, whether touched or untouched by human hands, is so yummy!

Starting in 1958, sweet-faced Tilly of Tillamook, a little brown Jersey cow, promoted Tillamook cheese for more than 50 years. She was a beloved rubber squeak toy for many cheese and ice-cream lovers.

Taking nachos to another level!

Halloween in Portland, Part 4 (October 31, 2025)

Ready for the trick-or-treaters. Our VRBO host left us a cauldron of candy to hand out...and snack on!
 

Superman, a witch, and Jor-El 

Superman and Jor-El as Jonathan Kent.

Super duper Otis, after all the trick-or-treaters have gone.

Halloween in Portland, Part 3 (October 31, 2025)

 We had to stop at the McMenamin's Chapel Pub for our Terminator Stout. Their seasonal aptly-named Black Widow porter was incredible too. The pub was once a neighborhood wedding chapel and funeral parlor. Weird that it's on North "Killingsworth" Street.

Otis and me next to the toasty wood stove.

We had beer and fish tacos. 

Otis had French fries and a root beer float.

The circle of life from wedding to not quite funeral yet. If memory serves from a news clipping I saw a while back, at least one bride's wedding and funeral were both held here. 

Halloween in Portland, Part 2 (October 31, 2025)

Our first stop had to be at the ICE facility, where the frog has become the symbol of due process for all. Why didn't I get this protestor's name? Our rental car had Florida plates. She asked what I think about "your governor." Then I told her I was from Texas! She knew all about Gov. Abbott too.
 

The frog on the right has been at the facility every day for four weeks. Two of the nicest people I've ever met.

Only seven protestors were on site mid-day Friday. Otis told me I missed the masked, armed men in unmarked vehicles leaving the facility. That's probably when the signs when up. 

Halloween in Portland, Part 1 (October 31, 2025)

Welcome! The more than 100 year old VRBO reminded some of us of a scary movie setting. In a good way.

We loved our VRBO at 2861 SE Woodward Street in Portland. Our host was Stuart, a native Scotsman, who immigrated to the US in 1986 to start the first microbrewery in Stumptown.
 

Otis made fresh-squeezed orange juice for breakfast.

Blues cat on the amp (October 29, 2025)

Zephyr patiently checks out the side yard from the window in my space. Pardon the mess!
 

The squirrels finally discovered the pecans on the front porch (October 23, 2025)

 Big Boy, where were you? You're supposed to guard the pecans!

Home grown gala apples (October 20, 2025)

The gala apple tree at Ryder and Brandy's house is loaded! I ate one. Crispy, sweet, juicy. Delicious right off the tree!

 

Brandy harvesting apples. 

We escaped the circus! (October 19, 2025)

Thank goodness for all the smart people not holding the sign. I fear I would have remained forever trapped by the magician without them!
 

Upon escape, Piper pushed the "we did it!" buzzer

Wow! (October 19, 2025)

We saw a full on Barbie car parked at the Red Door escape room in Emeryville.

 

What would October be without a corn maze and pumpkin patch? (October 18, 2025)

Ryder and Brandy in the corn

Ryder and me in the maize maze

How high can you fly, Piper and Mya?

Cows give mustard and ketchup???

A future witch with future jack-o'-lanterns and maybe pumpkin pies?

Beautiful gourds!

 

No Kings rally in Pleasant Hill, CA (October 18, 2025)

Ready to go to the No Kings rally in Pleasant Hill. I believe Project 2025 is the true danger. Trump is a distraction from how entrenched they're becoming.

The Gulf of Mexico since the 1500s. Take that man's Sharpie away!

Thousands of us demonstrated in Pleasant Hill, a town of 34,000. Here's a nod to the Portland, OR, inflatable frog.
 

Pups don't want kings either!

We lined a main road. Most passing drivers honked in support.

I think we all agree.

My favorite rally sign.

Costumes, signs, balloons. All very festive!

All ages participated. We all love our country!

Yep, I was there!