28 June 2013

Celebrating Midsummer: Pt 2 (AKA -- At the Beach)

This actually was going to be post 3 of a series,
but since we're now into our heat wave
and since very soon I will feel like a wilted flower.
I am posting it today--
because looking at photos of the beach at least makes me feel cooler--
 
Stay cool my PNW friends...
cool and well hydrated!
 
No trip to the northern Oregon coast would be complete without some time at my favorite beach...
besides it seems like such a Scandinavian thing to do on Midsummer:)
 
 
Yes, the native grasses really are that tall!
 
 
First glimpse of the ocean...
I wonder if Lewis + Clark felt the excitement we still feel today?

 
A photo to the left over the field...
LOVE this area:)

 
Almost there...
hurry up grandma!
 
 
Hang on Papi!
 
 
Grandpas make great playmates....
and they make pretty good sand towers too!
 
 
Midsummer wildflowers at the beach...
SO much beauty!
 
Hope you are enjoying some beauty wherever you are today:)
Blessings,
Aimee
 
Notes:
Photos taken on Oregon's north coast.

24 June 2013

Celebrating Midsummer (AKA Another Reason I LOVE Astoria)

What's a girl to do when she is hungry for some Nordic pastries?
Well, if it's the weekend closest to the summer solstice,
she heads to Astoria of course:)
 
And this time she headed there with her blue-eyed Farmer Boy
and her green eyed, blonde flower loving youngest granddaughter!
 
 
After a wrong turn,
a bit of a walk
and a trip over a pedestrian bridge suitably decorated for a Scandinavian festival,
we arrived in time for a quick peek at the flag raising taking place outdoors.
 
 
LOVE the traditional costumes...
 
 
Inside it is a Nordic-lover's shopping paradise,
but with a wee one in tow I never ventured there...
my Farmer Boy could save a LOT of money if we always had a wee one along:)
 
 
No matter---I have many Scandinavian hand crafted items already,
AND I did take time to grab the ESSENTIAL Norwegian krumkake and a Finnish pinwheel (tart).
YUM!!
Sadly the line for aebleskiver was too long and so I just may have to make
myself some later this week
(they're actually quite easy to make).
 
 
The festival is held in a pretty setting at the county fairgrounds.
This is in the Midsummer Pole area --
for those that may not know,
that is a large pole with a cross piece that has been decorated with flowers and greenery.
Oh--and topped with a tiny rooster:)
It is quite fun to watch them raising the pole and all the dancing that follows it!
 
 
Sorry we missed that this year...
it would have been fun to see our little one dance around it,
but after a little coaxing from me,
she did do some dancing to the awesome live music of
                                                    Harold Haugaard and Helene Blum,
as did other children there!
If you'd like to hear some of what we heard follow this link to the Festival website...
 
After the pastries and some music it was on to the Barnefest...
where our wee one played a lot of games...

 
 
and won some Viking treasure:)
 
 
And then it was time for some fun in the sun at the beach...
but since this is already SO long,
that will have to wait till another time.
Wishing you a Monday filled with many blessings,
Aimee
 
Information:
You will find a link above should you want more information on this wonderful celebration
of Astoria's Scandinavian heritage.
 
 
 
 
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