In Sight of Beautiful Mt. Hood: Pt II

Blessings on this cold and very rainy (at least here) Maundy Thursday!
(yes I am late posting it)

I am busy today baking some hard-'boiled' eggs for Easter -- but since my DH is now aware of their presence, they probably won't last that long. I thought about dying them, but I don't have any red cabbage and I am not ecstatic about braving the rain right now.  I keep forgetting this is the Pacific NW where real summer weather only arrives after July 4th :)

Other items on the menu are glazed ham (my mom's favorite way of cooking ham), some kind of potato dish, asparagus and an Easter lamb cake (I am finally using that mold I bought years ago at Goodwill)...

I was going to make a Dutch Baby Pancake for breakfast on Easter, but now I am torn between vafler, crepes or the pancake. I know, whatever I make, it's got to have lemon as I am craving that yummy flavor right now (links to recipes below)

Speaking of lemon, I cooked last night's salmon using Teresa's recipe.. the combo of lemon, sour cream, salt, pepper and salmon was -- well delish as Teresa says:)

And now back to our road trip while the eggs cool down...

 

Another shot of my beloved mountain from up high...

on occasion, we also caught glimpses of Mt. St. Helens further north in Washington State

(miss you Washington).

 

 

A photo of an old wigwam burner. I posted one a long time ago I think, but this is a bit better.

This burner brings back memories of trips to southern Oregon to visit family.

There were a lot of them then

and they were used in that day. Not many are left so I always get very excited when I spot one!

This photo, as you can tell, is taken from a moving vehicle (ours)

 as we drove by the Olaf M Oja Lumber Co. in Sandy.

Here is a link if you want to read more about this big part of our history...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beehive_burner

 

A lot of people out this weekend enjoying the parks, the rivers, the beaches and the mountains!

A lot of horses and dogs too:)

 

Some more pretty spring flowers?

Even though we have year round blooms in our garden,

I just can't seem to get enough color--

and then spring comes

and EVERYTHING seems so bright and lovely!

I wonder if I am becoming a snowbird?

Could it be???

 

Some carvings I found down by the riverside...

wonder if this was made by a fisherman longing for the days of sunshine?

 

Look at those roots!

Remin (pause to look at the lunar eclipse)

reminds me of my granddaughter's hair the last time we had her.

Pause to say a silent THANK YOU to wonderful sister-in-law who had some detangle magic:)

 

 

Another view of Mt. Hood--and lots and lots of trees. 

 

I NEED a horse again.

OK, I want a horse but perhaps I will just be satisfied with a trail ride--

if we ever get some more spring sunshine that is.

 

We are now up to 5 snake sightings in a ...

'unfortunately' one is no longer with us

(my car is very, very 'naughty' it seems...

but honestly I didn't know till my hubby told me this morning)

Have a blessed Easter!

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Links:

Lemon Strawberry Crepes

 (http://www.wiveswithknives.net/2012/06/08/lemon-strawberry-crepes-farmers-market-style/)

 

Lemon Vafler

Sons of Norway has this recipe. Just google their website for lemon vafler.

I LOVE Norwegian waffles--they are thin, crisp, and with the right wafflemaker, heart-shaped.

 

Lemon Dutch Baby

http://www.alaskafromscratch.com/2013/12/17/meyer-lemon-dutch-baby-pancake/#

(her recipe for Smoked Salmon 'Deviled' Eggs makes my mouth water!

I would LOVE to visit Alaska someday )

 

Easter Lamb Cake

http://www.prouditaliancook.com/2014/04/making-easter-lamb-cake.html

(I really, really want to make one of these this year but might wait till Small One is here

 so she can have some fun decorating it with me)

 

Teresa's Salmon

http://teresakasner.blogspot.com/2013/12/blog-friends-holiday-luncheon.html

(I didn't use the rosemary called for in this version. This was SO yummy!)

 

I think this cold, winter like weather has made me hungry.

Think I'll go eat a hard-'boiled' baked egg :) 

In Sight of Beautiful Mt. Hood: Pt I

Much has happened since I left you all at the lake...

We've had more fun time with the Small One...in which I almost wanted to--for a moment or two that is--move into a town. But then the feeling passed--or did it?

We 'celebrated' the official beginning of the Snake Season here...4 sightings, the latest today, in less than a week. Did you hear me scream???? Frog season is also going strong--one of them made me scream too.

We--well I, came to the conclusion (after some prayer) that a lack of organization on my part was the reason I never, ever have time to be creative -- at home that is. Since that realization, and a visit by some a lot of ants, I've set upon a new course and am working hard to get this home organized--starting with our kitchen. It is amazing that a few simple changes can make life SO much easier, be fun to do and save one money  (some thing I also came to a realization about these past few weeks).

But this post isn't about organization. Nor is it about being creative, although I did make my FIRST crochet stitch (sadly without taking one photo) this weekend. Yep, I really did -- and I think it was even a totally official and authentic stitch. LOL

As with all people, life has been a series of ups and downs; challenges and goals met; obstacles, realizations; rainy days and sunshine:)

And now on to the point of this post--our latest road trip.

 

Beautiful Mt. Hood in all her radiant spring glory.

Whenever I see her I think of my pioneer forefathers who settled not too far from here.

This, of course, is taken at Jonsrud Bluff in Sandy, Oregon.

If you ever go there you HAVE to take a look through the telescope there:)

 

Along the Clackamas River near Estacada.

 

Pretty flowers---yes, I still LOVE pink!

 

Along a creek that flows into the Clackamas River

(I think this is Dog Creek)

 

Another reason I LOVE this time of the year:)

 

Fishy, fishy in the brook-

or in this case at the Fish Hatchery.

LOTS and lots of fish--

 

 

Fish.

 

 

Fish.

Mmm. I think we'll have salmon tomorrow night.

If you eat salmon, how do you cook it?

 

Wishing you blessings this Holy Week.

Aimee