Coming up roses

Portland, Oregon: City of Roses
Everyone who's been after me (nay, hounding me) to take vacation this year, I bow down before your everlasting wisdom.  Hit me over the head with your DUH stick because the trip to Portland, Oregon was a wonderful one and a much needed break from work and the oppressive Texas heat.  I may have teared up a little bit at the airport on Tuesday afternoon when my sister dropped me off - I do miss her so much already.  If you guys don't follow me on Instagram, you won't have realized that we pretty much ran and ate the entire city.  Okay so that's a slight exaggeration but it sure felt like we did.

There were so many highlights to the trip: staying up late with Siri watching scary movies, crawling around the corner in the morning for freshly baked croissants, eating all the ice cream, meeting the beautiful and talented blogger Christine, exploring the Oregon wilderness and generally getting acquainted with my sister's new home.

With a slew of items to hit on, I'll start where it's easiest and closest to my heart, with my sister.  It was my first time visiting her in her first "grown-up" apartment and I was immediately impressed at how accommodating and gracious of a hostess she was.  Her place was immaculate and she had stocked the pantry and fridge with food just for me.  Even at twenty-something years old, my sister will always be my little sister to me - forever stuck at five years old.  I had to physically restrain myself from buying her groceries and paying for every single meal.  She's turned into a perfectly capable young woman and I'm so proud of her for how far she's gone already.

Siri's apartment was comfy cozy, with the rooftop deck right outside her living room windows.  The cross breeze would float through it in the evenings and cool the room down after baking in the evening sun.  Her upstairs neighbor is a concert violinist for the Portland Symphony and her interminable practicing would wind its way downstairs until we were both humming Tchaikovsky before we went to bed and when we awoke in the morning.  Initially, when I was tenaciously getting up early in the mornings, I would wander around the corner to the neighborhood artisan coffee shop and grab a latte, then cross the street to the bakery and wait in line for one of their morning buns or chocolate croissants.  I think I could rinse and repeat that morning routine into eternity.

Comments

  1. I still can't believe I missed the chance to meet you. Next time for sure.

    Isn't it funny how little sisters grow up? When did that happen? (Mine is 28!)

    I can't wait to see your other accounts of your adventures here.

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  2. Yeay you're back!!!! I'm so glad you have a wonderful time, and a restful holiday. Though running I'm pretty sure is the sort of thing that most people take a holiday from, but I guess you're just weird like that ;) Now come to London already so we can have hangouts.xx

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  3. Oh, isn't this just what a vacation should be? I feel so cozy and settled as I read it, and your sister sounds like a perfect hostess. I'm still trying to get better at hostessing. I'm missing something, somehow.

    But I digress. You sound happy, and that trip sounds wonderful, and all of that makes me very happy. :)

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  4. I'm so glad you had such a nice time. Speaking as a youngest sibling, it's good to hear that you recognize and appreciate your sister's adult-ness. :).

    I've had that same classical music issue. A former BIL played bass in the Bsltimore Symphony.

    Welcome back!

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  5. Glad to read that your much-needed vacay was a success, Rooth:) You and Siri are too adorable:D

    PS Still here in Vancouver...I think I wanna move here:)

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  6. Sounds like a nice neighbor to have! I am so glad that you had a great time with your sister! I surely enjoyed following your trip on Instagram!

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  7. Glad you had a great time! And yes, it is very important to take vacations from time to time... I'm already trying to decide where to plan my next one!

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  8. The visual of a concert violinist playing in his apartment and the sound filtering down to you is so beautiful. I'm SO happy you had such a great time with your sister! Sounds like it was a much needed break, made even better by the company. xo

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  9. I echo everyone's sentiments. :) So happy to hear that you had a lovely time! I think I'm in love with your sister's apartment just from your description. Ha. Oh and your mornings over there? Sounds divine. I can't wait to hear more about your trip.

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  10. Wow, what an awesome neighbor to have! Siri's apartment sounds fabulous!

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  11. i am so happy that you liked portland. i feel like a teenager hoping her friends like her boyfriend "did you like him? he's really nice isn't he? so . . . what do you like best?" portland is a pretty good place and your sister lives in the perfect neighborhood to visit. next time ice cream with the boys :)

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  12. So glad you had such an awesome time in Portland! That city is definitely on my bucket list. One day!

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  13. sounds like you had a wonderful time. time spent at her apartment and throughout the city sound all so lovely :)

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  14. That sounds heavenly!!! And I'm with ya, I see my little sister as little all the time!

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  15. Oh, that sounds positively delightful!

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  16. I've been wanting to visit Portland, after hearing so many good things from bloggers and friends. Hope you post some pictures :)

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  17. Yay!! I'm glad you had a good time! Everything about your trip sounds wonderful, especially the ice cream :). Hopefully you can find a way to make it seem a little like vacation now that you're home.

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  18. Sounds like a wonderful vacation. I'm glad you had a good time with your sister.

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