Snowstorm 2014

Obsidian Street looking west

This must have been the second worst snowstorm since 2008. The office was closed for two days in between weekend, unheard of since I have been in Portland. Four days at home, I became restless, there was so much you can do, and television had been my best friend in the duration of the snow days. It took more than two hours on Thursday, February 6^th to get home, when the snow was covering the street we decide to head back home. I was very careful what I drank in term of quantity, but nonetheless everything was shrinking including my bladder, so I had to melt some snow in the middle of the snow blizzard somewhere in Hillsdale on the side of the road. This snowstorm also cost me two vacation days for nothing.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2014/snow

 

Oregon Pacific Railroad

Oregon Pacific Railroad

This is our first outing in 2014. When our friend showed us an article about this railroad (he knows I am a train nuts), and the weather is relatively dry and sunny, we decided to go and check this out. This is a short line railroad, what amazed me is that this line is still owned by an individual and not a corporation, for five bucks a ride the owner said that he won’t make money and he will earn smiles from people who rides it.

The weather is so dry that we even have forest fire in five places in Oregon; this is unheard of since I moved to Oregon some fifteen plus years ago. Send some rain our way. Anyway, I always love anything that runs on rails. Enjoy the ride with me.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2014/oprr

Happy Birthday and Happy Retirement

Merry Christmas from the Davis family

The Davis family has literally adopted Pokie and me as part of their family, we are very grateful for that. The holiday seasons are always very special for all of us, a sense of belonging and love.

It all started as a humble beginning when I took the train and met Joan and a group of fine folks in the wee hours of the day. That was almost 15 years ago, one day we were invited to their Thanksgiving dinner party and it was indeed the start of a very loving friendship that we all cherish.

Now, Joan is retiring, no more waking up early, this she will have to get use to it. Christmas is also her birthday, so Happy Birthday dear Joan.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/joan

Merry Christmas 2013

Bridgeport Village

This evening was not raining, so it’s a good day to take picture outside, the temperature was also mild. I got this idea from a person who took some pictures about a week ago, but he was not using a tripod and used a very high ISO that I am sure make the images a bit grainy (noise). So I decided to use a tripod with a remote switch, but it drew attention to the security guard of the mall who came to me and told me not to take any buildings, just the lights, so I quickly agreed and I made sure to tell him that I have no commercial intent, just a hobby. Here are some of the images outside; otherwise my camera will in the storage, hibernating until spring comes. I wish you a Merry Christmas.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/xmas

Holiday Cookies 2013



Moonstruck Chocolate

The highlight of the Beaverton Culinary Institute is the yearly Holiday baking where we make variety of cookies and swap them when done. This year is no difference when it comes to the excitement; but I think we make more cookies than any other years that I can think of. Here are some of the cookies that we make.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/bci/cookie2013




Talgo - the new train on the block

Mt. Jefferson

I can’t ask for a better weather to venture around Union Station this morning. In fact there is no rain in sight for the next week. I am talking about the Northwest here and I am also talking about the later part of October. That’s a treat if you ask me.

I was too anxious to see this new train; I went last weekend without checking the date. The show was only open for two hours from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, so I came just before it was open and way too crowded.

It’s good to see the new train will be in service soon, the only sad part if this is European technology. The US only make freight trains.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/talgo

Autumn 2013

Autumn 2013

Welcome to the autumn season 2013. I almost always go to the same spots year after year, but yet, the colors are strikingly different from one year to the next. I usually do not venture too far from home. This morning I took a drive seeking the first colors of the fall season. Can you guess the number one enemy to the fall colors in the Northwest area? If you say the rain, then you can give yourself 100 points. So, before the rain came this morning, I managed to take a few images, this would be the first of the series, I hope to take more pictures next week. Oh, by the way when I went to the New England states, I read, “ Autumn is the second spring when the leaves turn colors”. It is so true. Enjoy!


http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2013/autumn