umbrellas are for transients.

i woke up to sun today! bright. warm.
glaring sun. in portland. in january. it
was amazing! i decided to seize the day,
forget about the work i should be doing and
go for a nice, leisurely bike ride. in the sun!
the kind of ride where i take side streets just
the look at the houses and forget i'm
pedaling for a while.
did i mention it was sunny?

















first i headed up to east burnside
where nationale just opened. a lovely
little shop run by a french ex-pat
full of her favorite things from france
and the states. i didn't have much
cash on me so i just snatched up some
french caramels. delicious. then i
trolled some thrift stores but
restrained myself from buying anything.



































i've decided to limit myself to $20 a
week for any luxury items, in other
words anything outside of rent,
basic groceries and art supplies.
i know, i know art is most definitely
a luxury but it's become more of a
lifeblood for me than a past time
so it's allowed. as are tidbits of
french candy and bike rides.

i snapped this as i rode over
the burnside bridge. yea shooting
into the sun! i kind of like the blur though.

















then i parked my bike at stumptown
downtown and had some chamomile
lavender tea.






















i then headed over to butters gallery
where they are exhibiting paintings by
barbara bartholomew. she was the first
art professor i had at lewis + clark and
she played a big part in my decision to
study in new york and major in studio
art. sadly she passed away last fall.
i was in france at the time so it still
feels a little unreal. i hadn't seen
much of her work before today but
i really like it. very subtle and often
subdued but with really strong contrast,
marks and atmospheric qualities.
she will be sorely missed.




















unusual views barbara bartholomew 1997



finally the sunset and a flock of birds over oaks
bottom on the way back home.






















a lovely day indeed.