Terrific Tuesday

Our second full day in Portland brought cooler weather, the best beer yet, and the pleasure of getting to know Terri G (Scoots, Shoots & Leaves, on the right above), her partner Laurie, and canine charmer Liza in person.

We were the first people in the door when Cascade Brewing Barrel House opened for business at noon today, a mecca for lovers of (intentionally) sour beers, including Phil. I was happy to go there because their menu was much more interesting than the usual beer pub pizza and burgers. We shared this delicious, beautiful plate of charcuterie and cheeses (three of the four were from Oregon), pickled vegetables, and bread, as well as a fig and goat cheese grilled sandwich, all of which were excellent with the beers we chose.

If you're interested in the beers we chose for our taster flights (four samples each, named left to right), you can see Phil's here and mine here. Phil's favorite was Sang Noir and mine was McShagger Scottish strong ale, which we then enjoyed in 12 ounce glasses.

In late afternoon we went to Terri and Laurie's house, which radiates peace and contentment to grown-ups and children alike (Laurie provides exceptional day care there). After a tour of the house, garden, and Terri's tiny cottage/studio in the garden, we walked and scooted to a nearby Thai restaurant, where we had an excellent meal.

If yesterday with Kendall was like playing in a woodwind trio, today's was like playing in a string quartet, and equally delightful and wide-ranging. Sharing our "how I got to where I am today" histories with one another, as well as sharing our thoughts on current events, education, books, work, families, and much more, has deepened our Blip friendship.