Signs of Spring

Seven-spotted Ladybird Beetle -

Coccinella septempunctata

I was picking dandelions in the front yard this afternoon when I noticed my first ladybug of the season.

This one is an (introduced) European bug, and not one of our native species. Actually I didn't know until last year that there were different species. I just thought the difference in the number of spots was natural variation.

Kaufmannia tulip

I don't remember which variety these were, but the foliage is very pretty with burgundy red stripes. I got them at the nearby Wooden Shoe tulip farm a few years ago.

Birds in the Attic

Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis

Fortunately, not our own attic... We're working on group projects in my Sustainable Building Advisor class, and we went on a site visit. The existing house on the lot is not in the best shape, and the upstairs wall is full of holes made by birds and other critters.

I'm sure I've seen this bird before, but haven't had a good enough picture to ID it until now.

Trillium Trail and Beyond

Today's hike in Forest Park (2.9 miles)

Aaron and I decided the weather was finally good enough to start hiking in Forest Park again - during the winter, short days and muddy trails make things difficult.

Anyway, we parked on Old Springville Rd. and took Firelane 7 to Trillium trail.

Western Trillium - Trillium ovatum

It was a good choice, the Trilliums on this trail were just beginning to bloom.

After TT, we walked along a section of Wildwood trail and then headed down what we think is a new trail. The unknown trail (we now call it nettle and mud trail) was covered in tiny new nettles.

Spring is Springing

Green is showing up everwhere... in clumps of new leaves, and the mosses and ferns.

Looks Good, Smells Great

Winter Daphne - Daphne odora

I was just walking along thinking how hungry I was (since I accidentally left my lunch at home) when I smelled something scented like Fruit Loops - only better. It turned out to be these pretty little pink flowers.

Isil's Birthday

Sami, Sara & Isil at Portland City Grill

Saturday night we went out with Isil, Aaron and Akiko for Isil's birthday. The first stop of the evening was at Portland City Grill.

The restaurant/bar is up on the 30th floor of the Unico US Bank Tower and the views are amazing. Unfortunately it was very crowded and we couldn't get a table near the window. In addition to the great view, there is a very fancy and fairly cheap happy hour menu.

All of us with the "fishbowl" drink at Gypsy

Our second stop of the night was at Gypsy to have one of these crazy giant drinks... definitely the first time I've tried one of those. I also had the macaroni, which was excellent.

The decor in the other half of the bar was shockingly red and yellow and very mid century.

Akiko at Aztec Willies

Our third and final stop of the evening was at Aztec Willies taqueria for Salsa night.

Actually Salsa was extremely popular when we lived in Illinois. I was told the week we moved there that if Sami was an engineer, there was no doubt that we would learn to Salsa while we were there. Somehow it never happened.

Isil and Aaron on the dance floor.

These two were the only ones who actually knew how to Salsa - they did their best to teach us all.

Aaron & Isil dip

Aaron & Akiko

Isil & Akiko

Sami & I

Isil and her brother Ilker

Isil's brother joined us after a while. He was a very good dancer too, and he and Isil impressed everyone around us.

And another picture of Sami and I (and some random people in the background)

It's not often that someone takes a picture of us together - I figured I'd better post it.