Double-Stacked Bookshelves

This week's prompt for the Writer's Workshop is:  10 Things That Make Me Happy...   A Strong Cup of Coffee.  I like to taste my coffee and have it kick me gently in the face.  Mmmm. Rain.  The sound.  The smell.  The feel.  The atmosphere.  The...taste, I guess.  Being from the PNW allows me to experience the beauty of rain a lot.  However, we've had an unusually dry Winter/Spring...and going in to Summer, so I haven't been able to enjoy my delightful rain as much as I would love to. Hoppy Beer.  I am also thankful that I live in a region that produces seriously outstanding beers (You go, Oregon!).  As my preferences have changed over the years, I have become increasingly drawn to IPAs and the like.  The hoppier, the better in my opinion! A Plethora of Books.  I feel completely lost without a book on my person at all times.  What if I have to wait somewhere?  What if I get sto...

If you’re looking for a quaint neighborhood experience just minutes from a bustling city, look no further than the Sellwood-Moreland district in SE Portland, Oregon.   This little community has so much to offer if you enjoy low-key wanderings in picturesque, historic locales.   Located along the Willamette River and just over the Sellwood Bridge , Portland’s most southern bridge, the Sellwood area has a lot to offer its guests.   Boasting a unique array of restaurants, antique shops, boutiques, and the like, there is something for everyone.     Do you enjoy a good cup of coffee?   Look no further than Blue Kangaroo CoffeeRoasters on SE 13 th Ave where the beans are roasted on-site, the pastries are all made locally, the WiFi is free, and the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious.   I recommend the Cubano Latte.   If you are into something with a little more kick, then cross the street and hit up The Portland Bottle Shop .  ...

It's a rainy, windy, out of control day here in the Pacific Northwest (seriously...I feel like the roof is going to be ripped off the top of the house right now), but I am a dedicated Teaser Tuesday poster and, fear not, I will not let you down!  Today's teaser comes from a book that I am two pages into as I started it this morning and then got distracted by shopping (whoops).  My selection is from Alexander McCall Smith's second installation in the 44 Scotland Street series and is called Espresso Tales . "Stuart looked frantically about the room.  It would be possible to make a run for it now, he thought.  Lard would be unable to run after them, with that bulk of his, but he had heard sounds out in the hall and he had assumed that there were other men, apart from Gerry, in the house.  These gangsters rarely had just one side-kick, he remembered." (177) And now I want some coffee...

With the recent closing of our local Borders (where I spent a lot of time not only reading, but grading papers and drinking coffee), I have been forced to either frequent used bookshops or venture into ordering my books online.  I've never had a problem with either of these options, but I think that Powell's presents the best of BOTH worlds!  This is why Powell's is my Favorite Book Institution . Powell's New and Used Bookstore is located in downtown Portland, Oregon and is simply amazing!  Now, the website leaves a lot to the imagination, but let me tell you this place is a treasure trove of awesomness!  First off, Powell's encompasses an entire city block, boasts an awesome coffee shop, has both new and used copies, requires a map and color coded signs to get around, AND you can even get married in your favorite section!  Now that's pretty great.  Powell's was opened in 1971, very humbly, and continued to grow into the great entity it is today and n...