January walk.

So lately this blog has been more "In & Inactive" than "Out & About." This is due mainly two reasons:

1. Lack of sleep has kept me from morning exercise so fewer pictures from there.
2. It's really dark all the time in the winter here.

This morning, though I walked to the Tin Shed Garden Cafe where I ate breakfast with Jan & Kelly. Here are some pictures I took along the way:

Along this stretch were some nice post-war cottages. Then this tiny little house with a huge front yard and no back yard.
This part of North/Northeast Portland is the only area I've found in the city with alleys. Most of them seem to be little used, and some are grown over completely with blackberry brambles.
This shared garage reminded me of houses in South Boston. One owner would update the paint job on their half of the house and the other owner wouldn't. It was pretty common to see two-toned houses. I've rarely seen shared garages in this town, though.
Here's a cute little post-war house that decided to embrace the swinging 60s with geometrical porch supports, a new door and windows. The sign at the corner of the house says "Suits Me Too"
Along one side street two woman were chatting outside a van. One asked me if I would like to buy tamales. I'd never eaten one, so I took the opportunity to ask the silly questions I'd always been too shy to ask in restaurants. Questions like, "Do you eat the wrapper?" "What's inside them?" They were selling them six for $5.00 and so I bought some chicken ones. They were good too. I've got a card to call if I want more and they will deliver to me.
I like clever graffiti, but this just seems like it needs to be a little more clear. What was hot? It was hot and what?
After Jan & Kelly and I ate and solved the problems of the world we went for a stroll. It was a rare February nice day. Blue sky and warm temperatures. Days like this make winter bearable.
Of course there would be a skeleton in Warrior One on top of a ladder on top of store. Don't you have one in your town?