A Christmas Parlour Tour... is it all an illusion???

Jerry Andrus, a world renown illusionist called his home in Albany the "house of chaos!" Otherwise known as the "Key Hole House" because of it's odd shaped windows, the home will be featured on the annual Christmas Parlour Tour, December 11th. 

"Jerry Andrus is well known among many of the world's greatest performing magicians as one of the best "close-up magic" performers. However, he is equally regarded among scientists, educators and skeptics as a visionary, poet, philosopher, inventor and creator of truly amazing optical illusions."

Christmas Parlour Tour

On the second Sunday in December, 2pm-7pm, tour the parlours of several historic homes beautifully decorated, and experience the sights and sounds of the Victorian holiday. Costumed carolers and vendors will delight you on the way. Ticket price is $10.00 and includes hot drinks, entertainment, and trolley & hay wagon rides. 541-928-0911 OR 800-526-2256. 

We hope you join us on the spectacular tour as we enjoy the town of Albany at Christmastime.  Boasting the most historic homes and buildings and the most varied styles in the entire state of Oregon, you will love strolling our historic districts or being taken by horse drawn wagons. 

EXPERIENCE OUR SWEET QUINTESSENTIAL ALBANY FOR THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARLOUR TOUR ON DECEMBER 11TH  BUT STAY FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND!  SHOPPING IN OUR BOUTIQUES, DINING IN OUR RESTAURANTS, STROLL OUR RIVER WALK AND ENJOY CHRISTMAS IN OUR OREGON TOWN.  

Don't forget your cameras!   

Visionary illusionist, skeptic and magician, Jerry AndVisionary illusionist, skeptic and magician, Jerry Andrus astounded the world with his illusions and special effcts. At home in Oregon, which he called "The Castle of Chaos," Andrus fashions the mind boggling illusions which he exhibits all over the world. Until just before his death the world renowned magician continued to perform, invent, write and occasionally lecture on the subject of cognitive science.

stounded the world with his illusions and special effects. At home in Oregon, which he called "The Castle of Chaos," Andrus fashions the mind boggling illusions which he exhibits all over the world. Until just before his death the world renowned magician continued to perform, invent, write and occasionally lecture on the subject of cognitive science.

Visionary illusionist, skeptic and magician, Jerry Andrus astounded the world with his illusions and special effects. At home in Oregon, which he called "The Castle of Chaos," Andrus fashions the mind boggling illusions which he exhibits all over the world. Until just before his death the world renowned magician continued to perform, invent, write and occasionally lecture on the subject of cognitive science.

only for my family!

We have decided to use Willamette Travel to book our flights to and from Germany.  Since there are three groups of us coming from three different regions of the US and since we are flying to Frankfurt and home from Berlin, we thought having someone else tackle this nightmare would be nice so we at least all arrive in the same year.

So, I need asap from all of you:

1)  PASSPORT NUMBER
2)  PASSPORT EXPIRATION DATE
3)  FULL NAME ON YOUR PASSPORT AND FYI... IF THE NAME YOU GIVE ME ENDS UP BEING DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE ON YOUR PASSPORT AND YOU ARE DETAINED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO WHAT I ASKED FOR, WELL THEN... I DON'T WHAT HAPPENS BUT I THINK IT COULD BE BAD!
4)  I NEED YOUR EXACT BIRTH DATES

AND FOR YOU PARENTS OF MINORS...

1)  OUR TRAVEL AGENT WILL EMAIL ME A LINK TO AN ON LINE SITE THAT WILL CONNECT US TO A LETTER THAT I WILL THEN FORWARD TO YOU... DONNA AND DENISE, THAT WILL NEED TO BE NOTARIZED ASAP FOR Q AND DREW BECAUSE THEY ARE UNDER 18.

2)  AND PLEASE MAKE SURE EVERYONE INCLUDING THE NON MINORS HAVE THEIR MEDICAL INFO/INS CARDS, ETC.

Now about money!

If you cannot or do not wish to get a Capitol One credit card, please find out if there is a "Travel X" in your area.  They have a great exchange rate for euros and they also have a debit card that you can add cash to and use like a credit card.  You may refill it as needed with a phone call while in Germany.  I would suggest that you not bring very much in cash/euros as the debit card works everywhere.  But, you must spend at least ten euros or more to use the debit card.  And, since we've been to Europe, that should be no problem even for just a latte'.  Now remember, we are paying for your airfare, your hotel and your meals.  You will be responsible for any souveniers, alcohol and bail if that becomes necessary.

Another FYI:  If you choose to use another credit card besides Capitol One, please be sure of one thing...  with some credit cards, every time you use it out of the US, there is a percentage that is charged to your card along with your purchases.  Not sure why but it's at least 1.5% to 2.5% or more in some cases.  Capitol One does not charge you to use your card outside the US.

In the worst case scenario, we can use our credit card for your incidentals, etc. and we won't charge you any %.  

Also... I have a Germany map and we got a driving/train map today so we can sit at Christmas and sort of get some ideas of what you all want to do.  I almost forgot... we are purchasing train passes for everyone too so we won't have to buy a ticket every time we get on a train.  The trains will take us from village to village and we will try and not rent a car because that would be very expensive.

Thanks for choosing "Let's go to freakin Germany!" trip planners.  We hope you enjoy the ride...  AL WEED IS ZANE 

Noshing in the Willamette Valley... a Christmas gift of tasting!

 Soon you will be able to buy Nosh tickets on line for our our next years Albany Nosh Tour schedule!  

Well in to our second year, the Albany Nosh Tour is successful and quite frankly the most "talked about" new thing to do in the Willamette Valley!  Our dates for 2012 will be announced soon so you can give the gift of noshing!  

 Our tours have consisted of beer, Oregon wine, a plethora of cocktails and the most delicious food you will find anywhere in the Willamette Valley.  Class V burgers from Calapooia, homemade chips and Shepherd's Pie from Brewster's, Sybaris where a James Beard Foundation winning chef preparing dishes he has created and shared in New York City, tapas, a black molten chocolate cake from Cappies to go with that Hop In The Dark Brew from Deschutes and we're just beginning!

 It's not unusual to meet the chef's, taste their food and even watch as some of them prepare it for you right in front of your eyes!  We are so lucky to have that personal attention to our food and our chef's here in Albany love that they can show off for our nosh tour guests!  

 A place to go for great pizza and beer, the only Hungarian restaurant left in Oregon and a possible stop where the "fiercely independent" coffee purveyors brew up their "Truck Stop" or "Breakfast at 11" blend for us!  We hope we are making you hungry!

A sweet ending at our local and award winning carousel museum where The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn makes homemade Ranger Cookies or Snickerdoodles or Blondies for the perfect end to a perfectly delicious Albany Nosh Tour!

Call 541-928-0911 for a fun ride full of delectable tastes and spirits in the Willamette Valley!

SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS!!!... Albany Antique Mall

 Everything vintage... everything that makes you feel good about Christmas and that fact that you bought locally feels good too!  Albany Antique Mall is two stories of amazing fun.  I just spent over an hour perusing and spent about 150 bucks there myself.  I love that when my family opens their gifts, I know that I have found them something no one else will give them.  Antiques, things that bring back memories and a whole section of vintage clothing, hats and shoes just in case you wanna do retro for your office or family parties.  

Say hello to Sharon for me while you are there.  She used my camera to take these photos and they are beautiful and fun!  I really love the vintage Christmas ornaments... it brings back so many memories of my grandmas metal tree that used to spin slowly while colored lights illuminated it.  I hear those are really expensive now.  

Enjoy the Antique Mall and if you read this and see something you'd like held for your next trip to Albany to shop, let me know!

The Best of Fall... Albany, OR

 I was so worried that I'd miss fall in Oregon when we were in Wisconsin a few weeks ago.  Ha... I didn't miss a thing!

 I love Jeannie's house.  I love how the pink stucco and the oranges in the leaves don't clash.  Nature is awesome isn't it?  Amazing how it all fits.  

 I saw this leaf today on my walk with Steven and Patty on Countrymen Drive in N. Albany.  I love fall and I know that I have mentioned that a few hundred times but I seriously do.  I love how I feel when I am driving down a lane and leaves scatter from the tops of trees above the road and gently float around me.  It's like being blessed with holy water at church.

 I couldn't see the house at the end of this driveway today but I decided that someday I would love a home at the end of a very long driveway.  

 I really wanted to sneak up this walk to see that truck.  I think it's a Chevrolet.  I would have loved the opportunity to photograph it.

A dead tree at Pumpkin Hollow in N. Albany fashioned in to a piece of carved art.  I love pumpkins anyways so Pumpkin Hollow and this carved pumpkin kind of made my day today.  

I love sharing where I live.  If you are contemplating a trip to Albany or the Willamette Valley, let us know.  We'd love to let you in on the secrets of our region.  

Steak and Eggs Rancheros... with salsa!

 I finally got to make this recipe I have been eyeing for a while.  I don't eat meat so I made my version with black beans but Ray had the steak.  He loved it!

 I used a simple top sirloin steak and had Ray Traeger it today.  He said he smoked it for an hour or so then turned the heat up and cooked the steak till it was medium rare.  It smelled so good during the Veteran's Day Parade.  We could smell the meat smoking all the way out in front of the inn where the parade ended.  He let it sit for a bit then put it in the fridge for me to use later for dinner.

 I made some salsa today too.  Here's my salsa recipe.  I get asked for it all the time and it's so easy to make.  All I do is blend two cans fire roasted diced tomatoes, a few jarred jalapeno's with a teeny bit of juice and  four frozen cilantro cubes (from T. Joes).  Put this blended mixture in a bowl and add about 1/2 chopped sweet onion and a little garlic salt.  Stir and it's so good with a big bag of black organic corn chips.

I cooked a corn tortilla in just a little Extra Virgin Olive Oil till somewhat crisp.  I put the cooked tortilla on a plate, laid out the chopped heated up cooked steak, topped it with some of that good salsa, fresh tomatoes, chopped avocado and slapped a fried egg right on top.  Then I sprinkled some feta over the whole thing.  Like I said earlier, I used black beans cooked in a little olive oil and garlic salt for my filler instead of the steak.  It was very good!  

This isn't the "official" recipe but as always, I cannot just follow a recipe. I have to actually make it work for me.  I love to cook and bake but I also love lots of flavor and an easy but delicious recipe.  And, if I can serve it for breakfast and/or dinner... well, that's even better.  I am wondering how really good ground sweet Italian sausage would taste in there instead of steak.  Hmmm...  maybe our guests will find out next weekend!

Christmas is in the air at the Albany Antique Mall!

 This player piano was so cute!  It was under 800 bucks, I couldn't believe it!  It was playing Christmas songs while we attended the special Christmas event in downtown Albany last Thursday night.

 Silver is always so classic at Christmastime.  It blends well with white, my favorite Christmas color.  You should see our tree at the inn this year.  All white with glass balls, vintage angels and decked out in family photos from years gone by.  Makes me miss my nana and poppy each year when I see their faces adorning my Christmas tree.

 I think I need to go get these.  I hope they are still there.  We have more family coming at Christmas this year.  They all arrive on the 21st.  Yikes!!!  But, it's going to be so much fun.  

 I love these white dishes.  I may have to pick a few of those up too.  I want to decorate our Portland loft kitchen shelving with white to brighten up an area with no windows.  Wonder how this stuff would look up there? Maybe we'll just have to see!

 I have a snow family myself made by Debbie Williams.  It's a snow mom with her snow children.  I smile each time I bring it out.  They are adorned with glitter, pearls, and bobbles that remind you that it's seriously Christmastime.

I have some of these but in white.  So vintage Christmas and such a great reminder of winter and childhood.  This Christmas, I want to be a child and play outside in the snow, drink hot cocoa and sing carols.  Want to join me?

Chicago Art Deco, Autumn in Door County and home in Oregon!

 Take a lover of everything Art Deco and put her in the middle of the "windy city" and she is in heaven.  

I think I was born too late.  I was supposed to born in another era, an era where the lines were straight, the metals were used boldly in design and all things glamorous would be mine.  

 My first trip to Chicago proved more than I had planned.  I fell in love immediately with the skyscrapers, the buildings made of stone and steel and feeling that whomever is in charge of making sure all of the buildings in Chicago somehow blend no matter what year they were built must be an artist!  A master of design, a fluke of nature or just a lucky chance left to the architects of the past to meet with those of today in pure design within a perfectly designed city.

 I have picked out my neighborhood.  Tall historic buildings maybe three or more stories tall.  Not too far from the lake or the good restaurants.  This is where I would have lived if I had been in Chicago in the 30's.  I loved the brownstone type buildings made of stone and brick.  The windows bent or bowed in design with lots of wrought iron and wood.  The doors are always my favorite.  Their colors, the shape or the detail tell me who lives inside.  

 A few miles north and Autumn springs forth with the golds, the reds, the browns and hues of sienna that I love.  My favorite season is fall and so it is no surprise that I find these colors the prettiest of all.  I search them out to photograph them while I can.  We almost missed all the colors but then I remembered that when we returned to Oregon, it would begin again.  The Willamette Valley is in the middle of it's Autumn show right now.  So, I won't miss a thing!  

 Roads that took us to parks, villages and coffee houses along our route in to Door County reminded us of home.  It was just great to see it and be able to touch Lake Michigan, walk through the leaves in Fish Creek and watch a young boy snag a twelve pound soho salmon and then release it back in to the lake while we stood beside him.  It's everything that reminded us of home without the extra large lake of course but I have touched the Willamette and seen it's beauty on many hikes through the fall leaves.

Our last night in the mid west took us back to Chicago.  One last evening to stroll in the fall air which was an amazing 60 degrees.  A margarita at Blue Agave and tacos with some chips and salsa.  And yes... no matter where we go, it's still about the food!