SEEING THE FOLKS

After touring the Columbia Gorge, we were whooped, so we spent the night in Pendleton. We took our time, but finally reached Mom and Dad's. This is the side of town they live...so beautiful!! Rich with ranchers, foothills and mountains (Elkhorn Mts.).

Mom was preparing shrimp for our lunch (it was the last of what Larry and Lorna had given to Mom and dad...L&L caught in Canada)!

Mom! I love this photo of her!


Dad was the energizer bunny...he had already weed-eated, and after watering, he mowed the lawn!


Mom and Dad looked great and seemed to feel well and that was a blessing!! Our visit was too short and it's always hard from me to leave...Cliff was kind to take a photo of us before leaving to California.

HEADING EAST

It was time to leave Vernonia and head east to visit Mom and Dad. We did enjoy our short stay and we thank each and everyone of you for your hospitality, love, and lets not forget all the laughs! You guys are amazingly awesome! However, even on vacation, we did have to have some kind of schedule...While traveling east down the Columbia Gorge, our first stop was at Multnomah Falls. I don't think we could ever get tired of experiencing their beauty! (Cliff is standing at the base of the first fall in red)

For our picnic lunch, we stopped at Cascade Locks and it just so happened at the Marina where the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler docks. To learn more click on this link:

http://www.cascadelocks.net/sternwheeler.htm

the "Bridge of the Gods" is the bridge we took to get to the Washington side of the Columbia River


After visiting the Marshal's Winery on the Washington side, we drove down hill back to the highway with the pleasure of seeing Mt. Hood (on the Oregon side)



Maryhill Winery was another destination...for more information:

http://www.maryhillwinery.com/



Maryhill Museum was another short stop...we didn't tour the museum, but enjoyed the peacocks


Our first white peacock!!


Our last stop on the Washington side before going back to Oregon, was America's Stonehenge (full size replica). For more information:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WA-Stonehenge.html

APPRECIATION

One of the things I didn't appreciate as a kid growing up in Vernonia, but do now, are the wild flowers that are so plentiful...the Daisies and Foxglove were beautiful. The stump reminds me of the culture I grew up in...a logging community.

VHS (Vernonia High School)...another I appreciate...the awesome teachers I had and the experiences I shared with classmates...truly irreplaceable!!! However, the VHS building is replaceable and will be torn down soon (flood victim that won't survive this time). I was sadden almost to tears when visiting my last time.

I past this name plate hundreds if not thousands of times attending school or sports events and I don't remember seeing it. VHS was erected in 1952.

OUR VERNONIA FAMILY

Between the rain and meals we were able to get a few photos of the family. This is Tim and Allison (our nephew and niece), and our great-nephew, Cannon! He is a little corker and I could hardly keep my finger off the shutter button our entire visit. That little guy was truly a cute one to photograph!

See what I mean...his little wheels were always turning...yes, dirt did end up on the deck!

Front...Bryan (great nephew), Teresa (our niece and Bryan's mother) Back...Pat (Teresa's husband, our nephew), Norma (Teresa's mom) and Lester (Norma's husband)


Sister-in-law, Sandy and brother Ron in back row with Chris and Heidi (Ron and Sandy's daughter, and son-in-law...our niece and nephew) with their two pups, Jake and Zoe! Zoe couldn't keep her tongue off Ron! It must have been the BBQ ribs!

My brother, Darwin and his wife (our sister-in-law), Linda (they were unable to make the shoot as Linda's son and family came to visit from Japan)

My sis, Darlene, also known as Daffy or Daf (and yours truly)

I must put a disclaimer on the next few photos...some might be disturbing...but I'm totally proud to announce I'm related to these people (my sister and our brother-in-law)!! Daf and Cracker (AKA Darlene and Bryan) make the best of each moment.

"Norka, Norka"...yeah, I have no idea what it means and Bryan doesn't know either I'm sure, but it's a language he speaks!

This is what I get for asking Bryan to keep his eyes open...

I began to get a little uneasy when they decided to add props to their shoot...

...and this is why!!!

Next Day...JULY 5TH

I can't hardly write this without laughing...okay, you all know what a photography nut I am, right? Here is the golden rule with my family when it comes to photography...let them ask you to take a photo of them and not the other way around. Even if I say, "May I..." it's not allowed and I broke the rule. You see it was Cliff's birthday after all, and here is what he said, "I shouldn't have to do this! It's my birthday!" What I was doing was using him for a model for the family portrait sessions coming up. It still makes me laugh looking at his pouty self! Oh yeah, and he turned fifty-hmmmmmmm-something!

FUN WITH FAMILY!!!

After two days of driving, we finally reached our destination and was greeted with a family BBQ hosted by my brother, Ron, and sister-in-law, Sandy. The food was scrumptious and the company even better...but the food as you can see was easy on the eyes and truly delish (dessert made by our niece, Heidi). We enjoyed the fireworks right from the backyard and I must say, the grand finale of small town Vernonia put Atwater's display to shame! I will introduce you to my family later, so be sure to drop by again!

Childhood Friend

Kathi and I are childhood friends, and even though the miles have separated us, we have stayed close. Bill and Kathi live in the burbs of Portland, and they were on our way to Vernonia. We have spent many mini reunions with them on our travels to Oregon. Thanks Bill and Kathi for your unfailing friendship! And...who is that handsome dude I'm standing next to? :0)

REST WITH BEAUTY

Next day, July 4th, we continue to travel north to Vernonia. Now this is a rest area I'm talkin' about (Woodburn, OR)!! It's one that once you stop you never want to leave. The fir trees are ginormous and the flowers enhanced their beauty in the foreground.

Look closely (bottom right corner), and you will see a lady walking her dog between these beauties!

Off the Beaten Path...

Leaving Mt. Shasta Lavender Fields, while traveling off the beaten path north to Yreka, we came upon a "Shoe Fence". We wondered what the tradition for this country roadside art was all about, and it certainly made us stop and look. That is one thing about driving country roads, you can stop dead center of the road without worry of traffic.

I particularly liked this one...makes you wonder who's foot graced this worn out sole. Without a doubt, I'm convinced it was a hard working rancher!

Contrasted with boots and shoes were these lovely ballet shoes...it made us laugh!


Another interesting surprise...I have to say both Cliff and I were impressed with this barn!

Cutting Your Own...

Cliff and I wanted to cut our own lavender, but we were convinced that it would not survive the rest of the trip, even to Vernonia. I did, however, catch these two young women that were very willing to model their baskets of lavender for me. Can you tell that I truly loved this whole experience? Okay, okay...enough lavender already...I hear ya. Please stay tuned, however, for more adventures!

We're Back!!

Yes, we're back! First, let me just tell you that we had the most wonderful time with family and friends, along with seeing and doing new things...below is one of the first new things that we experienced on the very first day of our trip. After turning onto this dirt drive, we wondered if we were on the right road, and just when both Cliff and I voiced it out loud a sign popped up saying "1/2 mile"...assuming that was our destination...

We couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised than to drive over a knoll to find the lovely lavender fields nestled below the north side of Mount Shasta (farm located east of, and between Weed and Yreka, CA). We were greeted with not only the fragrance of lavender, but also with a glass of lavender lemonade, topped off with a lavender sprig! It was just like a painting!!

The Mt. Shasta Lavender Fields Farm has a lovely gift shop housed with the most fragrant of lavender products, and the most congenial people. Baskets and scissors are provided if you choose to cut your own sprigs (100 per bundle...$3.50).


We never got tired of looking at the gorgeous purple flowers and the beauty of Mt. Shasta as the back drop...

Cliff is not one to stay put for long...he explores the field beyond the hill top.

Grant was pretty impressed as well!!

Believe you me, if there is ever another time we pass this way again during lavender season, we will surely make this a destination. The hour was much much too short.

Please stay tuned for future vacation posts!

Grant

Meet our new little traveling buddy, Grant! When I brought him home, Cliff said, "what did you buy a little devil for? You could of gotten a cute little dog or teddy bear!" What? Huh?? Are you talking to me??? Can you see the confusion on my face, everyone? I was trying to find something that wasn't so "cute" to accommodate my husband's testosterone, so he would be "our" little traveling buddy! Anyway, yes, he looks like a devil, but really he is just a little monster instead...a friendly little monster that has a fabulous smile, and that my friend is why I bought him...and...the fact that he is red, because red is my favorite color. Anyway, Grant needed a name, and Grant it is (means great)! We are looking forward to a "great" vacation experience that will include our new little traveling buddy, Grant!