Thank you for the treatise on the monkey puzzle trees. Quite an astonishing plant.
I know exactly what you mean about house renos and contractors. We've had a few projects or even appliance repairs, etc., that have shown us now psychologically tricky it all is, but also just how inept so many repair/remodel people are. (service people???) Especially the young ones and need to have the old guy on staff to come back and repair the repair. One older man, though, who installed a shower door and sink faucet system was so pitifully incompetent, the company sent him back with replacements and another fellow to supervise him. It was so sad to see this man stoop before me as he told me about the "problems." One was the showers doors were the wrong size. He pulled them together, leaving a three-inch gap, telling me I could pull them like that. "Really? I don't think so." Why did I feel like Cruella Deville? For Pete's Sake, bring up your game. I wondered how he got through life, but then again, some people have said that about me.
Long and maddening. We didn't install any tile in the new reno, but opted for the (sort of) cheaper laminates and plastics. Trickier to clean because most products destroy colors, etc. Then again, when the kids try to sell the house after we kick off, the next owner will rip everything out anyway. I knew someone who bought a new house and had this need to replace the granite counters because she didn't like the colors. Another friend spent $50K redoing her whole kitchen, but it didn't improve her cooking.
When I was a child in a small Connecticut factory town, we could go to the movie theater for 20 cents (for 2 movies and a newsreel), but not on Sundays. No card playing on Sundays either. Sundays were for Sunday school and then a service at our Congregational church.
Amy, you are right, of course. I was being too simplistic. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I knew that about Washington County but had forgotten it.
Follow the food! It’s a telling way to track demographics. Washington County is home to an ever-expanding range of cuisines, including niche outlets such as Ome Calli (Mexican frozen treats) and Bombay Pizza (Indian-inspired toppings). It’s been the first Oregon location for out-of-state Asian restaurant and grocery chains (Din Tai Fung, H Mart, 99 Ranch, 85C Bakery). And I hear the county seat, Hillsboro, now has a Latino food hall/marketplace downtown. Clackamas County’s food offerings have been diversifying similarly, though not quite as rapidly.
Sorry to be a copy editor but the third bullet under bridle doesn’t tell me what “pelf” means. Great pics again and good reminders. I love monkey puzzle trees. I understand they are one of the oldest trees (older than conifers). On the earth a very long time.
Thank you for the treatise on the monkey puzzle trees. Quite an astonishing plant.
I know exactly what you mean about house renos and contractors. We've had a few projects or even appliance repairs, etc., that have shown us now psychologically tricky it all is, but also just how inept so many repair/remodel people are. (service people???) Especially the young ones and need to have the old guy on staff to come back and repair the repair. One older man, though, who installed a shower door and sink faucet system was so pitifully incompetent, the company sent him back with replacements and another fellow to supervise him. It was so sad to see this man stoop before me as he told me about the "problems." One was the showers doors were the wrong size. He pulled them together, leaving a three-inch gap, telling me I could pull them like that. "Really? I don't think so." Why did I feel like Cruella Deville? For Pete's Sake, bring up your game. I wondered how he got through life, but then again, some people have said that about me.
They aren’t so inept as very expensive. Who knew it took so long to set tiles in the bathroom?
Long and maddening. We didn't install any tile in the new reno, but opted for the (sort of) cheaper laminates and plastics. Trickier to clean because most products destroy colors, etc. Then again, when the kids try to sell the house after we kick off, the next owner will rip everything out anyway. I knew someone who bought a new house and had this need to replace the granite counters because she didn't like the colors. Another friend spent $50K redoing her whole kitchen, but it didn't improve her cooking.
When I was a child in a small Connecticut factory town, we could go to the movie theater for 20 cents (for 2 movies and a newsreel), but not on Sundays. No card playing on Sundays either. Sundays were for Sunday school and then a service at our Congregational church.
Re suburbs: Some of the most diverse places in America, like the San Gabriel Valley outside L.A., are pure suburbia. “All of the past decade’s growth in big suburbs is attributable to people of color,” the Brookings Institution reported in 2022. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/todays-suburbs-are-symbolic-of-americas-rising-diversity-a-2020-census-portrait/.
According to the 2020 Census, Oregon’s most diverse county is Washington County, which is all suburbs. Multnomah County, home to Portland, came in third. https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/news/2020-census-oregon-and-portland-metro-area-more-diverse/article_f31f4ac0-feaa-11eb-a686-ab0011e33b86.amp.html.
Amy, you are right, of course. I was being too simplistic. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I knew that about Washington County but had forgotten it.
Follow the food! It’s a telling way to track demographics. Washington County is home to an ever-expanding range of cuisines, including niche outlets such as Ome Calli (Mexican frozen treats) and Bombay Pizza (Indian-inspired toppings). It’s been the first Oregon location for out-of-state Asian restaurant and grocery chains (Din Tai Fung, H Mart, 99 Ranch, 85C Bakery). And I hear the county seat, Hillsboro, now has a Latino food hall/marketplace downtown. Clackamas County’s food offerings have been diversifying similarly, though not quite as rapidly.
Sorry to be a copy editor but the third bullet under bridle doesn’t tell me what “pelf” means. Great pics again and good reminders. I love monkey puzzle trees. I understand they are one of the oldest trees (older than conifers). On the earth a very long time.
Right. I caught that ommision and fixed it, but not before scores of readers had seen it. You are the only one kind enough to point it out.. Thanks!