You know you're a Portlander if...

Portland, Oregon is a really cool city. I can see why my brother and his wife wanted to move here. The weather this week has been close to perfect; natural vegetation is lush; and the residents are almost unfailingly friendly. The Pacific Northwest definitely has a culture of its own, and I've found myself smiling at it this week.

You know you're a Portlander if...

• ...your recycling bin is a dumpster, twice as big as your trash bin. (So cool!)
  
• ..."doing your hair" means putting it in a ponytail.
• ...a "fancy up-do" means brushing your hair and then putting it in a ponytail.
  
• ...vegan is totally in--and not just vegan food; vegan belts, earrings, and shoes--because we're all striving for less eco-guilt.
  
• ...in your wardrobe, fleece is an all-season fabric.
• ...you see a small, 1950s home for $400,000 and think, "What a bargain; we'd better snatch it up before someone else does!"
• ...you go to a park and have trouble finding an open swing for your child since the whole population of the city is outside.

This is a great city, and I could get used to leaving my hair straightener unplugged. Thanks for the cool weather and the warm welcome, Portland!


Chickie and Zoodle with my awesome brother and sister-in-law


Chickie and I enjoying cool morning weather (with Zoodle on my back in a carrier)


Chickie playing in the sprinkler/wading area at Saturday Market (Portland's artisan market where my sister-in-law often sells awesome homemade candles.)


Zoodle enjoying the water

Tomorrow we head home for a couple of days before our Saturday flight to Boston.