You Asked for Photos of the New Digs
Monday, 31 May 2010
[EDITORIAL NOTE: Freda, who lives in Scotland, has sent in her photo for the Where Elders Blog feature. You can see it here. Instructions for including a photo of your blogspace are here.]
Cats! You just get the bed made all nice and neat and smooth and the cat makes kitty prints all over the quilt and plops down for a nap. Their sense of neatness and elegance applies only to themselves and nothing around them.
Except for hanging pictures and other objects on walls, we're finished. Ollie the cat and I have settled into a routine already - in Ollie's case, the same as in Maine: breakfast at 5AM, or else.
But once the coffee is ready, my new office area is a pleasant place to work while the sun comes up, although I need an additional desk lamp on the right.
That faux hotel key box will be hung higher on the wall as soon as I figure out where I want it horizontally.
Here's a shot from the living room into the office at about the same time of day – early morning. The rattan furniture is working out nicely in the office.
The sideboard fit against the back wall of the dining area just as I had envisioned the first time I walked into the apartment.
Those counter stools on the left of the table have become a joke. The counter is much higher than the one in Maine so anyone sitting there will find his or her chin on the counter.
In Maine, I made the living room into the office and library with built-in bookshelves covering one wall. I can't afford to have those made this time, but the guest room will be come the library.
Shelves of some sort will go along the wall where the book boxes are stored now and I'll trade in the double bed for a trundle bed that can be a sofa when there are no guests. But it will take awhile to work out the details I want.
Yesterday, my brother and his wife treated me to breakfast at the St. Honore boulangerie in Lake Oswego.
Several other people had also recommended it and none of them were wrong. It's filled with scrumptious breads along with gorgeous and delicate French pastries.
We all had the Brioche Cocotte, a brioche filled with a poached egg and chive-flavored crème fraiche with a couple of strips of crispy bacon and a small salad. Yum. I'll go back regularly for that.
And there you have it – pretty much all I can tell and show you about my new home and town so far. Because cats always get the last word, here's Ollie again who, of course, figured out in no time the best way to frame his beautiful self.
At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Mary B Summerlin: Meghan Again
Thanks for the wonderful photos. Your new place seems lovely. I just did an evening performance sharing characters, songs and scenes from my musical play on aging. Boy, that was fun--a packed room and a great audience. Plan to do more of these events to raise funds for a full production of the play. Hope we have a chance to meet sometime soon.
Posted by: Gaea Yudron | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 05:43 AM
Just lovely Ronni.
Everything about your new place is beautiful.
Ollie is right at home.
Posted by: Chancy | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 05:59 AM
It looks wonderful! I love seeing other people's homes. I like those little built-in half-shelves (don't know what to call them) between the living room and office - they break up the space without breaking up the roominess. And Ollie looks like he has always been there.
Welcome home, Ronni. I've been thinking and thinking about your post about courage. You are such a good writer.
Posted by: mary jamison | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 06:25 AM
Just wonderful.
Would you have settled in so fast if you did not have such an eager audience? It's a great prompter, I think.
"...love it when a plan comes together."
Posted by: notdotdot | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 06:35 AM
Ollie looks like he is King of the roost again. I think he is one happy cat.
I love your new home and think you must be enjoying the trees outside your windows. Happy New Home, Ronni.
Posted by: Darlene | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 07:10 AM
Blessings on you and your new home. Hope you are as comfy as Ollie looks, bet he's relieved. Thanks for the pictures.
Posted by: Celia | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 07:15 AM
Great pictures and your home and the environment around it looks wonderful. Ollie looks quite contented now that his furniture is in place.
Posted by: Rain | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 07:27 AM
The horrors of the world were getting me down this morning -- and then, there was Ollie! Cats help.
Blessings on your new home; it already looks homey.
Posted by: janinsanfran | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 07:39 AM
Breakfast? This was my favorite the last time I was in Portland...3 years ago. But they do have a current website so I expect them to be in business.
http://mothersbistro.com/
It's amazing how quickly you have made a home...I'm sure it was exhausting but well worth it.
I like the pictures by the way. Hope you include more.
Posted by: Steven | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 08:09 AM
Ollie looks as if he has everything under control. You've made a lot of progress, Ronni!
Posted by: jenclair | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 08:14 AM
It looks so comfy! May you find much happiness there.
Posted by: Mary Warren | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 08:43 AM
Oh, thank you for these! Ollie looks quite content and the King of his castle.
Your new home is quite lovely. Looks positively cavernous compared to my tiny 860 sq. ft. bungalow! Do you feel like you are finally "home"?
Posted by: possumlady | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 09:15 AM
It all looks so lovely, Ronni, and Ollie is his gorgeous self - wherever he is!!
Have new cushions made for those bar chairs - really deep ones!! LOL
Posted by: kenju | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 09:32 AM
Yes, it does look homey and welcoming,Ronni. And, I have the answer to those low counter stools.
Make some friends who play for the Trail Blazers...They will find those chairs the exact right height....
Your move from Portland to Portland was textbook! Just ask Ollie....
Posted by: Nancy | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 09:54 AM
I laughed when I first opened the blog today to see Ollie! I also sense a lilt to your writing denoting a happiness. Your home is wonderful. Don't skimp on the lighting. You will need a lot of light in your home living on a lower floor in Portland. There will be sunshine outside, too, eventually - after the June monsoons!! All the best, Ronni!
Posted by: Cile | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 10:53 AM
It all looks terrific. And Ollie is just the cat's meow.
Posted by: Anne Gibert | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 11:12 AM
Absolutely beautiful Ronni. You've done a beautfiul job. Thanks for the pictures. I'm so happy that you are enjoying Lake Oswego and your new home.
Posted by: missanniescandy@rcn.com | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 01:38 PM
A truly great new place, Ronni!!!!!!
Ollie, as always, is magnificent!!!
Posted by: Kay Dennison | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 01:41 PM
Sweet! I am so glad for you both.
Posted by: Susan | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 02:07 PM
Looks great. The weather is improving. And Ollie is quite the feline beauty. I'm sure you will be very well off in Lake Oswego.
Posted by: Hattie | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 03:04 PM
Very nice place Ronni. Ollie is an interesting looking cat.
Posted by: john | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 05:13 PM
Love the pictures of Ollie and your new home.
Happy homecoming!
Genie
Posted by: Genie | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 06:08 PM
Your apartment is lovely. I wish you happiness in your new home.
Posted by: Betty | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 09:35 PM
Ollie is such a ham for the camera! He looks in control.
I can't believe how beautiful everything looks; you really did work non-stop to make it home. It's lovely, Ronni.
Posted by: Lydia | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 11:03 PM
What a marvelous job you have done in getting the rooms looking elegant and inviting all at once. Your new abode is going to work out just fine. Ollie already looks as if he fells at home.
Posted by: lilalia | Monday, 31 May 2010 at 11:47 PM
Great job, Ronni! Now you deserve to relax. Ollie is always so good-looking.
Posted by: Claude | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 02:33 AM
cheers! i'd say all is a success.
Posted by: suki | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 04:20 AM
Ollie imperator (the Latin for 'cat').
Great pics, Ronni. Thanks for posting them. Your new pad is looking great.
Posted by: Marian Van Eyk McCain | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 05:44 AM
The new place looks lovely and Ollie seems to have found his inner cat again so all is right with the world.
Wishing you wonderful new adventures and lots of happiness.
Posted by: Marilyn | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 06:00 AM
Your new home looks wonderful. You did everything right and it worked!
Ollie looks so proud to have made it through. He's lucky to have you and you him!
Posted by: Claire Jean | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 07:02 AM
Ollie is so vain...he probably thinks this blog is about him...don't he, don't he...
Gaww-gess place, Miss Oregon!
Now I am starving after looking at that breakfast shot.
Posted by: Cowtown Pattie | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 08:07 AM
Looking good.
Ollie looks a tad indignant, though.
Posted by: TropiGal | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 11:44 AM
Love your sense of style. Most wonderful!! It is obvious that you feel at home..
Posted by: Linda | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 02:01 PM
The new place is gorgeous!!!
And about Ollie, remember, dogs have masters and cats have slaves.
Posted by: Miki Davis | Tuesday, 01 June 2010 at 04:53 PM
all of the above....lovely!!!! YOU DO ALL THIS ON THAT TINY COMPUTER...I DON'T BELIEVE IT - WOW!!!!
Posted by: Sheila Silver Halet | Wednesday, 02 June 2010 at 10:03 AM
Lovely! You got things in order quickly. It feels good that you are near family and that you enjoy doing things together. You'll make friends there, too, and enjoy living there, I think. This feels right.
Posted by: Joy D | Wednesday, 02 June 2010 at 06:46 PM
Your new abode is most attractive. You should praise yourself for getting settled as quickly as you did. Sounds like you truly are home in more ways than one. Glad you have family nearby -- a definite plus.
That's the main thing missing for me here but I don't want to relocate to the east coast or midwest in order to be near family. My thought is, would I want to live there if they moved and the answer is a definite "no." I don't want to be following them around should they move.
Posted by: joared | Wednesday, 02 June 2010 at 09:44 PM