ROAD TRIP REWIND: A PRINTMAKER'S HEAVEN

On our walk through the Pearl District on our way to lunch, we stumbled upon the most wonderful little store. Oblation is equal parts print shop, ephemera wonderland, party of paper and place of learning. If you don't already know, I was a printmaker in a former life--I have a degree in printmaking, actually--so this place made me feel right at home. It also made me miss my days spent behind a press, mixing inks, and smelling solvents.

















And it made me want to scoop up every little thing in the store and bring it back to Mississippi: the tags, the cards, the tools, the books, the gadgets, the toys and, oh, the paper. Such beautiful paper! If I lived in Portland, I would be done for. My studio would be filled with stuff collected on regular trips to this place and my bank account empty from my lack of restraint. I'd also be signing up for many a workshop, you can be sure.


Can't you just smell the inks? I wish this photograph were scratch and sniff.

CRAFTY INTERLUDE

I thought I'd interrupt the Portland vacation recap with a little bit of craft. It has, after all, been a while since any of my own personal creative expressions were highlighted here. (Note to self: get back in the studio!)

Kurt and I spent the weekend doing some nesting: I did some spring cleaning and house rearranging, while Kurt worked in the yard. One of the little organizational projects that showed itself to me was figuring out how to organize my growing collection of awesome earrings. It didn't take long for me to come up with an idea. I took an old wooden frame out of my studio, found a scrap piece of brass screen in Kurt's man cave, and put the two together to make this handy earring showpiece. The best part: it only took about five minutes to put together. And now I have all of my wonderful earrings on display, instead of in a knotted mound. Putting the finishing touches on the day's outfit has never been so easy.

Actually, there is a little bit of Portland in this post. If you look closely at the frame of earrings, notice the ones on the second row, second pair from the left. I got those at the Museum of Contemporary Craft's gift shop. More on that wonderful place to come.

ROAD TRIP REWIND: THE SILK ROAD

If you visit this blog often, you're well aware that I have an obsession with not only pie, but Vietnamese and Thai food, too. So Portland, which was home to the second largest Asian community at the turn of the nineteenth century and is home to a considerably large one still, is now officially my personal Heaven on Earth--as far as my belly is concerned, anyway.

On our first full day in the city, after our tour of the Chinese Gardens, we hoofed it on over to the Pearl District. We'd heard tell that there was a great Vietnamese restaurant in this part of town, so I set my spring roll radar to high, and we soon found our destination.

Silk is a pretty swanky joint, far from the hole-in-the-wall, family-owned little places that I usually frequent. Even so, they definitely know how to make a spring roll and a great bowl of Phở .

Portland is a funky, interesting, livable city. I tell you, though, there's a Vietnamese, Thai, or sushi restaurant on every block, reason alone for me to consider calling Stumptown home.

No worries. I'm not hitting the silk road to Portland any time soon. I'm content to stay rooted in my little dirt road here in Mississippi. Phở can be found just an hour away in Memphis--far enough to keep my cravings strong but close enough that I don't suffer withdrawal. Thank goodness.

ROAD TRIP REWIND: THE TAO OF TEA

Mom and I left our hotel early Friday morning to begin discovering Portland on foot. The first thing that we discovered was that, being such eager beavers, we were out and about before anything was open. So we made our way to Chinatown, thinking we could at least start doing some lunch scouting. We eventually stumbled upon Portland's Classical Chinese Garden. And it was open.

Touring the garden was a fabulous introduction to the city. The place takes up an entire square block, and once you're through the gate, you feel like you've stepped into another world. The morning was quiet and the sky heavy with rain clouds, so the peaceful beauty of this place was made all the more magical.
After meandering down each and every path, we made our way to the tea house (the two-story building in the photograph above), which is also known as the Tower of Cosmic Reflections. Inside, it was dark and cozy, and musicians were playing traditional music. We settled in and ordered some tea. Mom got rose petal, and I ordered a tea flight: a selection of three white teas delivered with every tea accessory you could imagine.

And, of course, we had a little something sweet: a taro root mooncake.

INTERLUDE: PORTLAND'S CHINATOWN & CLASSICAL CHINESE GARDEN

ROAD TRIP REWIND: FROM THE BEGINNING

Please know that this photo in no way represents the time I spent with my mom in Portland. It just happens that this is the very first photo I took. It's going to take me a while to sift through the 200+ images from our trip, so I thought I'd start off simple--from the beginning.

I saw this sign on our walk from the hotel to the Chinese Classical Garden early Friday morning. I took the photo for my friend Mary, creative gal and mother of one. She got a kick out of it, as you might imagine.

By the way, the Chinese Classical Garden was incredible. And yes, there are plenty of pictures. Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment: The Tao of Tea.

PORTLAND BOUND

Hard to believe I'm about to be on the road again. Even so, I'm excited about catching a plane to Stumptown.

My mom and are taking a little girls' trip. Last year, we went to Santa Fe (and Truchas and Chimayo and Bandelier). This year, we thought we'd go somewhere we've never been. Oddly enough, it seems Portland is all the rage these days, so we're pretty happy with our destination of choice. We're also looking forward to some yummy food, pretty scenery, and a visit with friends. I'll spill the beans on the details of our itinerary upon my return--with pictures, of course.

Still, I'm bummed about all the great goings-on that I'll be missing while I'm away: my friend Leyla's play, Secret Histories: Oxford; another friend's wedding; the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale; the Crosstie Arts Festival in Cleveland; and probably a slew of other fun springtime-in-Mississippi happenings that I don't even need to hear about. If you're reading this, and you're in Mississippi, please take advantage of all the cool stuff going on this weekend.

For the rest of you, I'll see you back here next Wednesday.

LIFE IS GOOD...

...When you own a canoe.

Saturday, Kurt and I took a little road trip to Memphis to pick up our new toy (and some Thai food). We'd been wanting a canoe ever since our friend, Nick, brought his over to our house for a little yard party that we had last year. Needless to say, it was a big hit--with our guests and with us. Now that we have what amounts to two ponds, it seemed obvious that we were in need of a canoe of our own.

We christened our new Old Town with the help of our friends April and Chris and their son, Jonah, Saturday night. I'm telling you, there's nothing like a campfire and dinner by the pond, prefaced by a little paddling in the canoe.

And so you know, Jerry Lee has taken to riding in the canoe. He's a good little passenger, too. Jackson, on the other hand, is content to sit in the yard and watch.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CAMEY!

Actually, Camey's birthday was yesterday. But just this afternoon, as I was digging through my wallet, I flipped past this picture of Camey and was reminded of her big day.

Camey is daughter to Liz, one of my high school girlfriends. She also happens to be named after me: Cameron, which is my middle name (you've been wondering what the "C" stands for, haven't you?). The picture here is pretty old, oh, by about nine or ten years. Notice the cute rocking chair she's sitting in; I painted that.

So now Camey is a pre-teen. I can hardly believe it. And God help me, Liz, if you post a comment here, telling me that Camey has actually turned thirteen. I think I might lose it.

Anyway, all this is to say that, Camey, I wish you the happiest of birthdays. May there be lots and lots of cake!

A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

Meet sweet, sweet Jerry Lee. He came to us all the way from Athens, Georgia, just last week. He didn't make the trip on his own; he had some help from our friend Stacey, who fosters dogs for Athens Canine Rescue. I stayed with Stacey back in February, when I was on the road for work, and I fell instantly and madly in love with Jerry Lee.

Unfortunately, though, I don't have a great picture of him. This is the best I could do for now: through the screen door. He's a busy little fella! He loves tromping through the woods, wading in the pond and, yes, chasing Friday. And Jackson, who I'm realizing is getting up there in age (we think he's about seven), is not completely convinced that this little guy is all he's cracked up to be. They're getting along, sure. It's just that Jerry Lee is on the playful side, while Jackson's more on the lay-around-on-the-front-porch side. These new bosom buddies made a day of it yesterday, though, when they went on a romp through the woods together and returned to the porch covered in mud.

Welcome home, Jerry Lee!

CAKE OR PIE?

Two friends have blogged about my preoccupation with both cake and pie in as many days.

Sara's post, Porn Pie Wars, on her blog, Gumbo & Other Tales, is a funny analysis of some cream-topped pie she encountered while in Arkansas. It's also a little jab about me torturing my own readers with photographs of pie. After you read about the chocolate cream concoction pictured here, take some time to devour some of Sara's other posts. They'll make you hungry for more than pie.

And then, just today, Miss Linda over at Abby Creek Art, took the time to make mention of me and my dessert obsession in her wedding anniversary post, of all things. There's a funny story about this fabulous-looking Italian cream cake, so hop on over and read all about it. And do take the time to eat up some of Linda's fabulous paintings, while you're there.

Thanks for the cake/pie love, ladies! If pounds were gained by looking at pictures, I'd definitely say y'all owe me one--or two.

And so you know, if I have to choose, it's pie. All day long.

MY FAVORITE PART OF SPRING IN MISSISSIPPI

QUEEN MARY

So yesterday was Mary Shepard's last day as owner of Club Ebony. They were calling it a retirement party, but it was really a tribute to the place and, most of all, the woman. Mary Shepard was crowned "Queen of the Jook" and sat in a throne at the foot of the bandstand to receive flowers and gifts and words from friends. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour even issued a proclamation, naming April 6, 2008 Mary Shepard Day. There was music. There was cake. And yes, a few tears.

Even though Ms. Shepard is no longer at the helm of this legendary blues club, she'll still be a fixture. She's been given the title of honorary griot for the soon-to-open B. B. King Museum down the street, and you can be sure she'll be popping into her old club from time to time to hear some of those down home blues. And, as she joked to the crowd yesterday, she's got a little something else up her sleeve.

Mary Shepard may have retired, but she's sure not going to quit.

ONE MORE CLUB EBONY STORY

Kurt and me with Mary Shepard at our wedding after-party at Club Ebony, March 2005


A couple of months ago, I received this email:

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Subject: With joy and sadness I found your blog
Amy--

I have been meaning to send you a note for the last few weeks...I Googled David Lee Durham a few days after he passed away, and I found your blog entry. So many folks were touched by his music and his character, he will be missed...Everyday...

What struck me was your photo. I was there that night, your Wedding Night...don't you remember(kidding, sometimes I think I am really funny)? Seriously, it was my first time seeing David and my first trip to Cub Ebony. I had only been in the Delta for a few weeks, working on a new business in Sunflower. Someone mentioned that if I loved live music, I had to visit Club Ebony. So, there I am the only Canadian white boy in the place, making some friends(or enemies) at the pool table... Next time I look up there is a mess o'white folks, cuttin it up the dance floor wearing green dresses and suits. I turned to my partner at the pool table...

Did the tour bus just pull in to town?
Um ya... Well...they have a bus.

The picture in my head of you dancing with Willie(I think) he had on his full suit, matching shoes and hat... Beautiful.

The waiter walked up to me and asked if I was with the wedding party?
I said no and continued to play.
When the waiter returned I stopped him

If I had said YES to being with the wedding party... I would have been
drinking for free?

Head nods and begins to walk away...

I should get ONE for being honest???

I stayed at the pool table as long as I could, playing all the locals and most of the Wedding party... the beer just kept coming and coming, complements of the house. Hands down the best time I have ever had in a bar with complete strangers. One of the many reasons I love the Delta..

-----

Amen.

IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL

When I was in Chicago last week, my friend Mary Beth emailed me an article announcing that Club Ebony finally sold. B. B. King, Indianola native and frequent performer at the club, bought it. The previous owner, Mary Shepard, has been a friend of mine for a handful of years. She's owned and operated Club Ebony for longer: more than three decades. It's definitely the end of an era. And while it's pretty fantastic that Blues legend B. B. King now owns the place, there's no telling who's going to run it. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Also while I was in Chicago, I conducted an oral history interview with James Lemons, owner of Lem's Bar-B-Q. Mr. Lemons is originally from Indianola, B. B. King's hometown. So we got to talking about the famous bluesman, Club Ebony, and his cousin, Mary Shepard. Imagine my surprise.

So Ms. Shepard's last day at the club is this Sunday. I'm going to head on down to Indianola and Club Ebony to help send her off to retirement in style--and pass along a hug from her cousin in Chicago.

UPDATE: Indianola native, lawyer and friend of both Mary Shepard and B. B. King, Carver Randle, is serving as Club Ebony's general manager.

SO YOU KNOW I'M ALIVE AND WELL. AND FULL.

After a grueling but productive work trip to Chicago that was filled with lots of pork and lots of cake, I came home and had more cake. Pancakes, that is. A lazy Sunday morning after a long week away definitely calls for pancakes.

Usually, I'm a pancake purist: made from scratch, preferably buttermilk, with lots of butter and syrup. Sunday, I felt like getting a little fancy, so I broke out the lemon ricotta pancake recipe and served them with a maple cream (equal parts syrup and yogurt) and fresh strawberries. Pure heaven. I guess all of that on-the-road-eating inspired a little time spent in my own kitchen. Eating the pancakes on my grandmother's Fiestaware, with a perfect view of the pond and, of course, my husband across the table, made for a fantastic start to the day. Because you know what comes after pancakes: Nothing.

I must confess, though, that my time in Chicago wasn't just filled with pork and cake eaten on the run. My fabulous hosts, Leslie and Mike, treated me to more than a few fine meals. Leslie made some incredible homemade pizzas, we had ceviche, and there was Thai food. Thanks for the warm--and filling--hospitality, y'all. And Mike, thanks for stepping up to the barbecue plate and helping me with all of those rib tips.

I definitely look forward to another jaunt on up to Sweet Home Chicago, but for now, I'm really glad to be home.