We exchanged the warmth of San Diego for the cold of Oregon. Our first stop was Newberg to spend time with Alexis and Joe. We stayed at an Airbnb called “The Little Red House.” Apparently it has some historical significance, what I remember the most is that it was cold. It has been cold most of the time in the PNW part of the trip.
I did this sketch with the Kaweco pen I bought at the Moleskine store in Gare Montparnasse, Paris.
After Newberg we went to stay with our friends in Portland, near Mt. Tabor. There were flowers on the table but the trees are bare. Today it is winter solstice so the trees can begin looking forward to the greening of spring. Sketching leafless trees is a favorite theme of mine.
Mais, bien sûr, my mind is never far from France and the lovely fields of Normandie or Provence.
We will head back to Newberg tomorrow to spend Christmas weekend with Alexis and Joe. We are looking forward to our Christmas Eve tradition of hot chocolate while watching “The Polar Express.”
I hope your holidays are going well with plenty of peace. Our friends and families may be small or large, near or far, but thankfully our hearts can travel in sprit. Or as the song says, “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.”
theTravelsketcher 
These sketches are awesome. Anita
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Thank you, so kind.
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Lovely post!
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Season’s greetings to you. 🎄Beautiful sketches, especially the last one.
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Thank you, and have a merry season as well.
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Just a comment to tell you that scrolling through this posting made us smile. You’re having a great time–and your final sketch is really evocative of ‘home’ –here or there. Happy Christmas everyone!
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Merry Christmas and stay warm.
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“Our friends and families may be small or large, near or far, but thankfully our hearts can travel in spirit.” Beautiful words and thoughts. Thank you.
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I’m so glad yo didn’t die of dysentry following the Oregon trail as many f my generation who played that game on now antique computers…
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