One step, two step, how many steps...

The front steps at Plum Blossom Studio with our poetry post.

Irving Park

Irving Park

Irving Park is the large, full service park next to the cottage and studio

Two Plum Park: the tiny "pocket" park nearby

Another view of Two Plum Park

The other day, just for a lark--and because I was avoiding going to a meeting--I counted how many steps there are from Plum Blossom Cottage to the park across the street from us. 73 steps from the front steps you see in the top photo to the edge of Irving Park in the second set of images. Counting steps appealed to both the childlike part of my mind as well as the meditative part. I decided to count how many steps there are from Plum Blossom Cottage to a lesser known park a few blocks down the street. I'll tell you at the end of the blog post how many steps I counted to Two Plum Park.

Portland is rightfully renowned for its beautiful parks. The Portland Parks and Recreation system has extensive outdoor parks, swimming pools, community centers, forested areas, biking and hiking trails, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, public fountains, soccer fields and off-leash dog areas. When the weather is fine, we Portlanders LOVE our parks! We lie on the grass, picnic, watch free movies, listen to concerts, take in Shakespeare plays, splash in the fountains, and play all kinds of games. When the weather turns....well, we're still in the parks and forests, hiking, biking, playing under the covered areas.

Depsite our reputation for grey, rain sodden Autumn and winter months, Portland is really lovely in all seasons. Yes there's rain and it's frequently chilly, but grab a pair of rubber boots, a decent waterproof jacket over your wool sweater, some warm gloves and a hat and you can have the time of your life just walking around, counting steps, splashing in puddles (even all the ones your mother never let you when you were a kid!), collecting colorful leaves, popping into coffee shops for a hot beverage. 

Portland is one of those places that brings out the kid in you no matter what the weather! Plus we have AWESOME cloud formations worthy of John Constable paintings!

By the way, there are 775 steps from Plum Blossom Cottage to Two Plum Park...

Autumn Sluice

This morning’s

tea drinking reverie

in the bright autumn

sun:                         

 watching

the red-gold leaves

twirl downwards, stem

skyward

until the leaves,

shaken loose by

crisp season turning

flutter through

the clear light

and rest, tenderly,

with smooth unevenness

on the dew frost loam

beneath the trees: maple, chestnut

oak, sweetgum.

And then scatter

their fire jewel hues

through the open

spaces where dogs

and children play.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3383967

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/