This week in The Pearl – October 22, 2026


Last Thursday we chatted with friends from Normandie in the morning, evening for them of course – always good to catch up. Roscoe is there champagne-colored poodle, when he hears our voices on WhatsApp he perks up and looks at the door, we guess that he thinks we are coming to visit – he is…

This week in The Pearl – September 10, 2026


Last Friday, September the 4th, would have been my dad’s 102th birthday. He lived a long life, 93 years, and I miss him. We would sit at his table in Molalla and discuss everything from politics to the Bible, sometimes with a bit of passion, but it never damaged our relationship, though some may have…

This week in The Pearl – August 27, 2026


This was a week with plenty of “best moments.” My birthday is August 18, my oldest friend, Tim, has his on the 21st so we often have celebrations that are connected. This year, Lisa, Tim’s wife, put together quite a surprise for Tim. Tricia and I were in on it from the start, and sworn…

This week in The Pearl – July 31, 2026


We are continuing our re-watch of Eugene Levy’s show “The Reluctant Traveler,” it is just as entertaining the second time around. We watched episodes in Spain, and in Mexico. I of course sketched. In one episode he said something that is worth quoting. “You’re never too old to get aquatinted with the world you’re living…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday – Mornings


From early childhood I was an early riser, I still am. Awake at 5.00am has been normal for me all of my life. My parents made it clear that they did not share my propensity for such an early time, and I quickly learned that waking them at that hour was not a good thing…