Showing posts with label oregon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oregon. Show all posts

Thursday, October 18, 2012

What is Old is New Again

Back in January I posted some photos of the Willamette River and the old Oregon City/West Linn bridge under renovation.





Designed by bridge designer Conde McCullough, designer of many of the beautiful spans along the Oregon coast, our bridge opened in 1922, and in 2005 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

After an almost 2 year closure, our historic old bridge is reopened and last weekend's celebration was for foot traffic only. 3 days of festivities brought out scores of walkers from both cities. 


From West Linn, looking toward Oregon City.
A beautiful restoration.




The Oregon City end.



A view south toward Willamette Falls, the locks, and the mills.









It was also a weekend for the dogs.
We love our bridge!






Sunday, July 1, 2012

Yachats

Had a chance to spend a few days in Yachats  on the central Oregon coast this weekend. We used to come here when the kids were little for a week each summer. This time it's just me, my oldest daughter, and sister-in-law. The weather has been cloudy, but not too cold and since it's a pretty sleepy little town, not too many people. 


One of the things I like about Yachats is that you have the sandy beach if you feel like it, or the rocky, tide pool filled wilder side.



The sea anemones are my favorite, and this year we watched grey whales spouting off very close to shore each evening...




Pinks were growing everywhere in these rather harsh coastal conditions yet they don't seem to last more than a season or two in my garden.
Nice scarf, Caelen...



Japanese tsunami debris is beginning to turn up on the beaches.





 our catch of the day!



Happy campers, or I guess I should say happy beach housers...








Thursday, June 21, 2012

Father's Day...

Not only was the weather fine on Father's Day weekend, but both the girls were home with us. We took a drive south, through the Willamette Valley towards Stayton in search of Shelburg Falls. Oregon has great places to hike and this was a good one.

First, some refueling at the Java Stop on Hwy 22.


Daisies, and foxglove were lining the edges of the fields as we began the hike along the road toward the forest. The temperature was in the 70's all day, perfect as far as I'm concerned!


and Flores found a mud puddle within the first 5 minutes...


 then had to suffer the indignity of being carried over several cattle guards.



The lower falls were not far into the forest


we then began to follow a trail toward the upper and larger falls


Taylor spots it in her trendy hiking gear...


The trail continues behind the falls, which is pretty cool and pretty muddy.

walking under a humongous ceiling of basalt...

 lots of maiden hair fern growing in this area.

Slugs everywhere of course...

But there were also wild roses along the trail


and in the patches of sunlight, wild iris were popping out in various shades of purple.


The dog jumped into every body of water we came across. We kept him securely on the leash around the falls...

All in all, it was a great way to spend Father's Day


and it makes me wonder why we don't do this more often...






Monday, April 9, 2012

let the gardening begin...


My gardens have been in a sad state since last Fall when I told them I was done, they could put themselves to bed... This Spring, when we've had a nice day here and there, I had other things to do, mostly spend time in that little basement studio. Today I finally got myself out there and boy am I feeling it!
Noticed lots of little things in bloom, especially the Akebia vine with it's heavenly scent...

 
Usually blooming in March, it's a bit late this year most likely due to the cool weather we've had.


It's evergreen, with a very pretty leaf. The flowers consist of small flower clusters and an occasional larger single flower. I think it's the male and the smaller ones are the females. The scent is really lovely. I get a waft of it every time I walk out the back door and if the weather is warm enough, I can open the window and let it in.


Most of the daffodils are gone, but tulips are still hanging in there, in fact I had tulips come up this year that I know weren't there last year, and no, I didn't plant any last Fall. The last time I bought a bag of 100 tulips at Costco and never got them in the ground I learned my lesson... bad me.




I really couldn't tell you what these little guys are. The were bulbs that I planted some years ago and they really multiply, so be careful, I have to dig a bunch out every so often to keep them from taking over. And the kaffir lily is the same, but easily managed. I've given them to people all over my neighborhood. Around here, you'll get blooms all year round and they look kind of like miniature gladiolas or iris. Very sweet with an insane deep salmon color.


I cut back the ferns and already see the fiddleheads emerging. The hostas are coming up and looking good. I love the colors in this little clump! It's amazing what you can find when you pull away all the debris...


The always reliable bleeding heart planted below the akebia trellis and one of a few camellia blooms that survived my husband's "pruning". 


And last but not least...well, I actually got this done first thing today and that's probably why my knees aren't working so well right now... the vegetable garden. Planted in the strip between driveways, but getting great sun, I tilled, amended and planted onion starts, and spinach, lettuce, chard, and snow peas from seed. About a month or so later than I had wanted, back then when I was doing my taxes...


Flores wasn't a huge help. Every time I got down to put the seeds in the ground, he'd put his nose in my ear. But he was nice company... Happy gardening!


 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Autumn's last gasp



Last night we had a pretty big wind and rain storm in the Portland area. I had just remarked at how pretty the Japanese maple looked this year. Seems like the red was extra intense, but then again I think I say that every year... Alas, that windy night did a number on the trees. 




The back yard, where we have an old big leaf maple is carpeted in yellow. Bruce has that job, I cook.


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Art Spot - Pop Up Gallery in Lake Oswego

LOCAL 14, Lake Oswego Arts and Crafts League is approaching it's 45th year. Once a year, in October, the women's art group puts on a big art show and sale at the World Forestry Center in Portland, OR. Three and a half days, and then it's over... 
Now, for fans of the group, you'll be able to continuing shopping right through the Holidays. L14 is taking an empty storefront in Lake Oswego and turning it into The Art Spot pop up gallery! Things have been slowly coming together the last couple of days in preparation for our opening day on Friday. Painting is done, lights are being set and art is filling up the space at 1st and B Streets, Lake Oswego. It's like a concentrated L14 Show! Currently, gallery hours will be Wed - Sun, 11am -6pm. Dates are being set for a grand opening celebration. Please stop by if you're in the Portland area!


                                                             Lots of elbow grease getting the place in shape.

                                                               



                                           



Still putting on the finishing touches



By Friday, perfection!