And Part Two...

Now this part is going to be painful...

but I promise I will share the pain

(in fact as I prepped the waterfall photos I felt great suffering believe me).

But I promise you a reward

sort of

if you make it all the way to the end.

 

Now by turning left instead of veering right,

then going to the park,

then going straight where he was supposed to turn,

the right and up, up, up...

my DH actually brought me to a place I have wanted to visit for a long, long time...

(but was too afraid to go)

and he did it without ever knowing he was doing so!

So here we were...

I hesitantly stepped near the edge of the first 'waterfall'...

and then thanked God I didn't fall in.

Now it was time for a little hike...

(yes, for those who know where this photo was taken, this is NOT the first thing you see)

Actually this is one of the first things you see...

depending on where you park that is.

Past a sign with a map,

over a bridge,

up a trail,

by the water...

in the forest

you will come to this

(if you are looking for it)

Oh that was painful!

But I am forcing myself to do this to remind me...

of

1) the need to brush up on how to take photos of waterfalls.

2) what an amazing, wonderful, loving hubby I have.

You see Aimee was NOT happy at this hike...

not because it wasn't absolutely gorgeous

(because it was),

but because Aimee has a challenge in her life...

and she was just a whole lot nervous that she couldn't

*shouldn't*

be doing this trail.

But Aimee's DH wouldn't take no for an answer...

 

So on we trudged...well one of us did.

Past happy, happy hikers and their amazing dogs

(we had our amazing dog with us).

And then we saw steps going UP

(and I do mean UP),

but to the left...a bridge.

And that is where we saw this...

and I almost missed it.

And it wasn't till later that day

that Aimee figured it out...

the DH had not allowed Aimee to stop,

turn back

or give up,

because the DH was NOT doing this hike for himself...

he knew this hike was a dream of Aimee's

and he wanted that dream to come true:)

Sigh ...

I married a really, really sweet man.

 

Do you have someone like that in your life?

Maybe a spouse,

a sibling,

a best friend?

Someone who wants you to reach your goals,

your dreams?

 

On to my waterloo

(which was a good, a very good thing).

 

OK enough of me

now it is time for your reward...

and that reward is a link to the site of a GOOD photographer

one who knows what he is doing:)

http://oregonwaterfalls.net/mcreekf.htm

 

Blessings,

Aimee

When Meeting My Waterloo Involved a Fall (or Two)...and was a good thing:)

Our most recent trip brought us again to the land I love so very much...

the land our family has roots in.

We ate lunch, grabbed at my favorite drive-in

(the type my hubby and I went to when we were younger)

and ate it by the lake...

in view of the mountains.

Pretty, huh?

The water of the lake was like a mirror in places...

the sky,

well you can see for yourself:)

And then my plans got changed

(well actually they changed a bit before this too)...

and I have my hubby to thank for the change!

The change involved a turn to the left...

and brought us to a park...

by a river

where we could see some very, very special rock outcroppings.

And then a missed turn

(missed on purpose)

and a turn to the right

which led us up,

and up,

and up.

 

Where silence reigned supreme,

the views

(well you can see for yourself)

and...

I wished I had put some family history on my smartphone.

 

Can you believe this weather?

Couldn't have asked for a better day.

 

 In addition to not having family history on my smartphone...

I didn't have my zoom either.

Guess that is pretty evident:)

 

And then we went by a camp...

a camp which held awesome memories for me...

because it was there I heard a wonderful, incredible, beautiful woman speak once...

so many years ago now.

Perhaps you have heard of

Elisabeth Elliott.

She inspires me!

I count hearing her in person as one of the BIG blessings of my life,

along with hearing Corrie ten Boom.

 

In this day and age

(actually in every day and age)

we need women inspiring other women to be everything God created them to be.

 

Well back to the trip

and the falls...

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

What did you do today?

For my fellow PNW friends and visitors,

did you LOVE the weather today as much as I?

Felt like spring

and can you believe it,

we are just a few hours from springing forward!

March 1, 2013

March is here with longer days

(sure noticed this last evening as we were making our way home

 from IKEA, near PDX),

happier koi

(well maybe it is just me that is happier),

daphne getting closer to blooming,

sunlight breaking through the clouds as I type this,

hopefully more days with windows opened like today,

'beads' of beautiful pieris,

In our home March has arrived too...

items in white, natural, ivory seem to be multiplying

making the rooms seem MUCH lighter.

Yep, shades of white...

with little splashes of color in places too:)

In the miscellaneous culinary category...

have you ever tried rosehip juice?

I had my first this morn

and thought it tasted a bit like papaya (maybe).

Speaking of tropical fruit,

I also discovered recently that I am probably NOT allergic to mango after all

after accidentally (and then purposely)

ingesting some chia clusters that had some in them.

After a brief search on the Internet

(source of all knowledge--NOT)

I found that most likely it was the skin/rind of the mango I had reacted to years ago.

Who would have guessed that it contains urushiol--my arch nemesis?

I am now looking forward to trying more mango...

very, very cautiously of course.

 

Well time to go eat some lefse and Danish cheese,

and check how my scientific experiment is going:)

Wishing you a blessed Friday!

 

Blessings,

Aimee

Truly...

Truly I can't believe that St. Patrick's Day is less than 3 weeks away...

truly I can't believe I have SO much to do before then:)

Have a great day!

Blessings, Aimee

Yesterday

Yes!

Aimee's place now has,

as of yesterday,

daffodils in bloom...

can spring be far away?

 

What's happening at your place?

Blessings,

Aimee

 

 

Amazing!

Wow! As a bird and wildlife lover, I think KNOW these are the most amazing owl photographs I have ever had the pleasure of seeing...

http://leerentz.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/winter-predators-of-the-samish-flats/

(By the way, if you have never visited this site before, be prepared for a real treat!)

Blessings,
Aimee (who is crossing her fingers, hoping for snow and more bird visits tomorrow)

Month of Love: Day 17 Memories

On the 17th day of the month of love,
my TRUE LOVE gave to me...

a thousand geese a roaming
and  

an old hunting lodge in the middle of trees.

 

OK...enough.

I'm just not feeling that poetic this evening after a fun time at one of my fav stores today...

 

But last Sunday my DH did give me all these things (and more) as my Valentine's Day gift!

Yep,

a roadtrip to wherever I wanted to go...

and I wanted to go see one of my favorite national wildlife refuges,

the William L. Finley NWR just north of Monroe, Oregon

in the beautiful Willamette Valley.

 

 I love this NWR for several reasons...it is large and has varied topography

(a long gravel road allows you to drive through the park--although some sections are not accessible).

But most of all, I love the historic buildings there

(barns, carriage house, two homes)

and the wildlife!

 We quickly changed out the lenses on my camera, opting for the zoom lens.

 It was a wonderful day... 

my hubby is a very good, loving man who knows how to make his wife smile
and her heart sing:)

Blessings,
Aimee

Link:
 http://www.fws.gov/willamettevalley/finley/index.html

More photos to come;
photos from 2 years ago...

 http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2011/03/sometimes-you-just-need-refuge.html
and a post with close ups of my fav geese:)

Please excuse any errors...typing this by
yep, candlelight:)

Month of Love: Day 15

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,

 that we should be called the sons of God...

Up late (because of several factors) I awoke to this beautiful blue sky
and after taking care of our smallest dog, went for a stroll in the gardens...
what a gift such a day like this is!

Everywhere I looked I could see the first signs of spring...
and I almost felt like crying--
not from unhappiness or pain but
from sheer joy:)

And now,
as I sit comfortably curled up on our recliner,
with light streaming through the window
(which by the way is opened all the way),
listening to my favorite radio station playing 'Friday favorites',
I can't help but feel loved by Him who made all this beauty around me
and sent His only begotten Son to save me:)

Is it sunny where you are?
What beautiful scene have you seen lately?

Wishing you all a happy weekend whether your weather is sunny OR cloudy:)
Blessings,
Aimee
 

Notes:

I John 3:1a KJV

Photos:
plum (Shiro, a Japanese plum) buds
camellia sasanqua
(thank you DSLR for finally getting the pink right -- LOL)
daphne odora
(I'm on a fragrant flower watch...)
daisies (lawn or common---although I think there is nothing 'common' about them)
AND
sunlight--
beautiful, wonderful, incredible sunlight!

Month of Love: Day 14

"They do not love that do not show their love."

William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, Scene 1

This year I wanted to do something special for my hubby.

So starting on Monday I began cooking his favorite meals...

tacos, Reuben sandwiches, a heart shaped meatloaf...

and tonight a meal from the land of amore--Italy

(or at least my version of Italian food).

 We are starting to get changes in the yard outdoors--

 

promises of the spring still to come,

and I wanted to bring a little spring to our table

with some 'lovebirds', a lantern, some greenery and these napkin bundles.

BTW--sunstarved Oregonians.

Did you hear tomorrow's forecast?

I am giddy just thinking of it...

today, when a friend and I were on a roadtrip

we actually saw blue skies and a farmer in his field.

I should also say, while it is still Valentine's Day--

Happy Birthday Dear Oregon!

And now back to our meal

(and further proof why I am not a food blogger)

First up antipasto...do you have a favorite?

I confess there will probably be no more green olives by tomorrow eve...

I LOVE green olives:)

 

And at the same time,

a tossed salad.

The main course,

spaghetti and meatballs

(my DH said they were as GOOD as THAT Italian restaurant...

perhaps you know which one I am referring to?

I LOVE their chicken marsala;

he always, always orders their spaghetti and meatballs...)

 They were pretty good,

and so was the garlic bread.

Mmmm, Italian garlic bread...

 

And then there was dessert...

but since it is almost tomorrow

and since we are going to have a winter 'heat wave'

and since I am going to be busy...

 

Happy Valentine's Day

and night all.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

Month of Love: Day 13

Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind;

charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth; 

 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things,

Charity never faileth...

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;

but the greatest of these is charity.

 

I love you Farmer Boy.

May God enable me to love you even more:) 

Blessings, Aimee

 

Notes:

Scripture from I Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13 KJV

charity=αγαπη (agape) unconditional, perfect love

 

Photos:

My wedding veil and gown.

DH and I on our wedding day.

Month of Love: Day 9

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it..."

Blessed Saturday to you.

This has been an eventful week...

a short visit by a virus

(ick!)

 a very scary discovery

(which later on. thank God, was revealed to be not quite as bad as I had thought at first),

a lot of progress on the alcove area (cabinets and moulding now finished),

garden discoveries

 (a camellia sasanqua STILL full of blooms;

a dapne odora that has buds on it now, 

continued bulb stalk growth)

and more.

Spring cleaning and organizing continues with a few bright sunny days to remind me that spring is just around the corner...

well almost.

Oh, and little reminders of the day of love are beginning to appear around our house:)

Anything happening at your place?

Blessings, Aimee

 

 

Notes:

Scripture is Song of Solomon 8:7a KJV

 

Photos:

The cute couple above is a salt and pepper shaker that belonged to my mom.

I am not sure how old it is but I really love it!

Our daphne odora

I can hardly wait for the buds to open....mmmm

Valentine Tree

The Month of Love: Day I

"Love comforted like sunshine after rain."

William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis

 

The first day of February saw me admiring a golden sun and blue sky.

Unfortunately, I had slept little at my dad's and had fallen asleep with my contacts on 

(my eyes were screaming at me of the 'wisdom' of that decision).

So after a morn snack,

a 'chat' with my dear daughter

(whose eye was screaming at her too),

and a little TV

(please pray for the little boy being held against his will in Alabama and for his family too).

it was off to bed for a few hours.

 

Yes, it was a little difficult because of the sun

but my eyes were SCREAMING and I couldn't ignore it anymore.

And then I got up, put on my contacts and went in search of love...

 

Well I went off to find things that remind me of love...

specifically my wedding day:)

First goal-

my going away dress....

it was a struggle to get it out of the dark recesses of the closet where it

 and my wedding gown have been residing for years.

But I was determined because it was

1. a sunny day

2. it is the first day of the month of love

(besides it was good exercise).

My going away dress was a Gunne Sax,

very popular at that time

and apparently experiencing a 'revival' in popularity.

 

I still love the lace detail,

the feminine style,

the color--a very light natural (between an ivory and white),

the neckline and all the other detail.

It also gave me some more incentive to keep on the path I have been following since January 20

(although I don't plan on losing quite that much---

I was a size 5 when I married and way too skinny!

Funny how I could eat everything then and not put on a pound. ).

Here's the label...

And here's a close up of some of the lace...

 

Yep, I LOVE lace...

which reminds me I found some pillow shams in another dark recess of my room.

They have some nice lacy detail on them,

which is what I've been wanting for the bed.

Now I can cross off those items on my 'wanted' list:)

After my search for the day was over I went outside to tour our yard,

count (LOL) the gopher/mole holes in the Japanese-style garden and check for any blooming items...

and found this

 

and our irises were even bigger!

It almost feels like spring

and I LOVE that:)

 

What are you up to these days?

Are you craving spring also

(or autumn if you are in the southern hemisphere)?

And now,

speaking of cravings,

I need to go devour my new secret weapon that keeps me from devouring my DH's chocolate:)

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Notes:

For help with identifying whether your dress is real or not

(I guess some people are now selling counterfeit Gunne Sax dresses)

see this terrific post

http://www.bignabazaar.com/2013/01/identifying-gunne-sax-dresses.html

LOVE vintage...wish the mice hadn't gotten into some of my other old clothes.

 

When Aimee Dreams...(pt 2)

As I was saying this whole journey started with a dream
(lately I've had dreams about meeting William Shatner -- who I actually did see at a fair one year,
a very sad looking former coworker -- who I hope isn't sad,
my grandson eating heart shaped cookies and my daughter going to get one -- probably related to the fact that I am currently on a diet
and more)
But back to the dream,
the dream with a covered bridge...
and this time (third journey to find this particular bridge) we had success!

Ladies (and possibly gentlemen) may I introduce you to the Free Enterprize bridge...
(this was our third attempt to find it)
and yes we can grow some palm trees and other 'tropical' looking plants in the PNW.

Along the journey we drove this country road...

I LOVE roads like this,

especially on foggy days...

you never know what you'll find.

BTW, my DH 'swears' he saw a Bigfoot one time on a mountain road.

Do you think I should believe him?

 Back to the beach and our posing seagull...
can't get enough of him (or her).

Love...

A path not yet taken...
but one that looks interesting.
I also haven't stayed in a yurt yet.
That's on my unofficial 'bucket' list.

And I leave you with this quiet waterside view.

Have any of your dreams led you on a journey?

Blessings,
Aimee

Notes: central coast and elsewhere, January 2013