I did manage to sneak away for a couple of days, making my first visit to the West Coast. I taught Portuguese Knitting at Knit Purl, a shop I'd long admired. Of course I brought home a skein of souvenir yarn. Bumblebirch is hand-dyed in Portland, and I'm sure no one is surprised I picked purple.
I didn't have much time for sight seeing, but I did make it to the Japanese Garden on my last day. Don't let the photos fool you - it was completely packed! I went expecting a quiet couple of hours of relaxation before boarding my flight home, but even on a Monday afternoon there was a huge crowd. It was still beautiful though!