We went for a Valentine's walk on Saturday. Sixty-something degrees and sunny. Apparently we've skipped winter entirely and moved straight to spring. Our walk was just a tiny portion of one we'd taken several years ago (Walk 6, Portland Heights to Council Crest Loop), from the book Portland Hill Walks by Laura O. Foster. I cannot possibly say enough about this book, I love it so much. Walking tours and history and a wonderful, friendly, thorough, savvy writing style. I love this little essay about walking (on Laura's web site). Now that we have a junior walker, our family walks have a whole new pace and style. The picture just after the one of her boots? That's Mimi doing "sassy walk." I think she does it when she's really happy. Swinging her elbows and shaking her hips, tromp tromp tromp. Like she owns the place. Oh how I love it when she does sassy walk. This neighborhood is way up in the west hills, across the city from where we live. Some of the houses are worth millions; just blocks away, some of the houses are in various states of dishevelment. I think we were walking on SW Hawthorne Terrace, SW Davenport, SW Elizabeth Street. And Robin's Crest Drive: my favorite part of our walk, a little fairyland at the end of that dead-end street. Around there, charming, once-fancy little houses in need of paint and new roofs, forgotten winter-crusted gardens brimming with Kenilworth ivy and hyacinths, ancient Mercedes parked in the driveway. Wild birds everywhere. Mossy steps and cracked sidewalks. Pine-scented breezes and impossibly lovely camellias. My favorite season now approaches, ever so strangely early. Pink fairy magic.
***Mimi's pink dress is from JujuBunnyShop (but over a year ago), her tutu is from H&M (but over a year ago), and our lasagna recipe is here!
Wow! here I am in single digit temps and snow on the ground that just won't melt because of the cold and it just amazes me no end to see your photos of no coats and no gloves and not a single sign of snow. Oregon just seems like a foreign land to me.... lol!
I love what she's wearing, I wish I had an outfit like that! :-)
I'm amazed to see how green everything is there. With flowers blooming and everything. It looks like a perfect neighborhood for walking, so many things to see. Amelia looks lovely all in pink.
Love that book, but have yet to take one of the walks! :( Someday soon, I hope!
The picture of A at the gate reminds me of Anne of Green Gables for some reason. Can't get enough of those green boots!
I love the photo where she is peering through the gate into the secret garden. And that sweet pink dress with the soft pink crinoline underskirt! How precious ~
Wow, thanks for sharing. Love her pink dress and the green boots. Lovely neighborhood.
Oh, gosh - shades of The Secret Garden!
more 'pink and green' … oh it is so sweet and wonderful … and the photo of her on tiptoe at the gate, leaning and peering, just such a perfect composition … still freezing here, so living vicariously :)
Beautiful! Would love to get to Portland one day.
Love love love Miss Mimi's style. The old-fashioned-pink layers and those favourite green gumboots. And those camellias are perfect. I enjoyed all of these photos.
If I were dressed that fabulously in pink, I'd probably walk like that too.
I can almost hear the swish of the skirt as she struts. You always allow me to appreciate such simple things.
I love these glimpses into your world, they simultaneously make me envious of your beautiful locale and inspire me to channel my creative side. <3
So lovely. This post is like a Valentine to your readers. Thank you! Gorgeous neighborhood, gorgeous girl. :)
Oh my.. that first big house with the leaded glass.. oh my oh my.. I want to live there. We had an adventurous weekend out here in the gorge.. dinner at Tad's last night.. 4 boys were swimming in the Sandy river across from us!
Mimi looks so cute and flouncy and happy and adventurous.. you're giving her a wonderful childhood.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Does Clover Meadow come with you on walks? You haven't shown her much lately, and I miss her and Bee!
My mentor lived on Council Crest (they just moved to AZ) and I was only too happy to dogsit for her--in her beautifully restored old house, with two sweet puppies to walk up and around that park. It is dreamy.
Man, Alicia, you write so beautifully!
And your photos achieve high art in places and are always stunningly romantic. It's wonderful getting to watch your Ameila grow up with you.
And your food! As lovely and delicious as is your life.
Little cutie x
elke dag kijk ik naar deze website: zo lief! het kleine schattige meisje geeft kleur aan de wereld.
groet uit Delft Holland.maria.
I always look forward to your beautiful blog posts and this one really lifted my spirits as I've been stuck inside this week with a rotten cough and cold that I haven't been able to shake off. I loved the chance to share your walk with you and Mimi and explore some of Portland. The part you visited looks so beautiful - am imagining the 'secret rambling gardens'.... I love the idea in the essay on walking that you shared that just getting out into a new neighbourhood is like 'taking a mini vacation'. Looking forward to more pink fairy magic!
Claire x
You captured Mimi's "sassy walk" just perfectly. Even before I read the text I thought "wow, that is some walk she has got going there!" You can see it in the frothiness of her skirt! Delightful outfit, especially with the boots! I love skirts and dresses with boots😀. Portland looks such a lovely place, I hope I can visit one day.
Votre fille est adorable et toujours élégante :) je vis en France et vos photos me font rêver. J'espère pouvoir faire cette jolie promenade , un jour avec mon mari et nos enfants. Merci.
HERMOSO ESE LUGAR!!!
EL PAISAJE DIVINO.
ESAS CAMELIAS SON PRECIOSAS.
LA NENA DIVINA!!!
SALUDITOS
What gorgeous photos, you have outdone yourself. And what a beautiful spot to explore, I do like a walk around the houses, especially if there's a little history explained as well. I just posted far too many photos from a bit of a historic walk around here. I love the picture of Mimi looking through the gate of 1400 and the one looking down the steps to the house. And those camellias, my favourite winter/spring flower. I'm laughing about the sassy walk, I think I shall try this myself later, after all, the sun is shining here. CJ xx