When I was a child, my parents and I spent more than one summer vacation driving from our home in the Central Valley of California to visit family friends in Portland, Oregon.

The trips were long, arduous, and exciting in the way that only road trips can be.

My father was a compulsive driver who packed the car so that he would have to make as few stops as were humanly possible en route to our destination. Sandwiches, coffee, and water were packed, along with pillows and blankets and books.

“Pit stops,” as he liked to call them would be made, but the need had to be urgent, there were to be as few of them as possible, and ideally, the car would be refueled as well.

By the time we arrived in Portland, I was ready to stretch my legs and play with my once-a-year friends until it was time to go home

I have only fond memories of Portland, so when I stumbled across the show, Portlandia, I was curious to see how my long ago memories stacked up against this modern, satiric look at “The City of Roses.”

While I have enjoyed all of the episodes I have seen so far (I mete them out sparingly like a box of Godiva chocolates, only watching when I can give my full attention and view all 22 minutes without interruption).

Episode 2 of season 1, “A song for Portland” opens with this:

I felt that the my future cookie bag was, like the “sad little tote bag” in the vignette:

but instead of a bird, I decided to put a cookie on it (well, a cookie times 15).

Here is the result:

In addition to putting cookies on the tote this weekend, I also worked on finishing the solving cookies for the cookie-dough-ku.

Here is my progress as of sunset this evening:

and here is an overview of how they fit into the cookie bag:

When I began this project, I did not see all of the places that it would take me, but the adventure continues, one stitch at a time, and I know that one day (maybe even a day this week), I will finish this project, and it will be time once again to move forward to whatever adventure is next.

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