Back to the West: Central Oregon--Pt. II

Ah--the gray skies and rain have finally arrived in the very dry PNW...

a good day to cook some beautiful sweet orange winter squash (ambercup + gold nugget),

drink some hot mountain huckleberry tea

and remember the brilliant sun, blue skies and gorgeous leaf colors of central Oregon.

 ~

Let me see,

I believe last time we met my friend and I were in Sisters at Sisters Coffee Company...

 so we'll begin there.

We were sitting on the comfortable leather sofa in front of the big stone fireplace,

enjoying a eggnog coffee and some huckleberry iced tea,

munching on some very yummy cookies and relaxing to some good music!

Definitely an awesome place with friendly staff, yummy baked goods

 and a wonderful western decor:)

BTW, here is a photo of their outside eating area--they had a nice water feature there!

(to see more photos go here: http://www.sisterscoffee.com/hood_avenue.html)

With some newly purchased Mountain Huckleberry tea in hand we were on our way to the next destination---

Bend, Oregon.

Here we stopped at the visitor center to get

some very specific information about places I wanted to go,

things I wanted to see

and other things.

The staff  were friendly and extremely helpful;

I definitely recommend a stop there if you need information about this area.

(and BTW they were SO right about the friendliness of Bend residents).

With maps, pamphlets and a visitor guide in hand,

we headed to the next item on my 'to see' list...

Drake Park-

a wonderful park located along the Deschutes River.

There we enjoyed some golden tree leaf color,

the river

and the very entertaining ducks and geese!

LOVED it:)

From there we traveled a bit to see my beautiful niece...

also a lover of photography and nature, by the way:)

I definitely wanted to give her a proper hug goodbye as she leaves on a new adventure soon

Is it OK if I say I'll miss her...?

I will.

After bidding my talented  niece goodbye and wishing her well,

we took one of the routes the visitor center staff had recommended

(they SO understood my NEED for lots of autumn color)...

it just so happened to take us up a butte where we did see lots of  autumn color

and a whole lot more!

(the photo above is a bit of the whole lot more)

 

Next stop: time under the aspen trees.

 

Notes + Photos: 

Sisters Coffee Company

http://www.sisterscoffee.com/history-of-sisters-coffee-company.html

Visit Bend

http://www.visitbend.com/

Drake Park, Bend.

 

A BIG thank you to Sisters Coffee Company for permission to take and

post photos taken from inside their incredible coffee shop!

(SO hungry for one of their wonderful oatmeal-cranberry cookies right now).

Way too short of a trip...

 

As usual, I am not associated, except as a satisfied customer, with any of the businesses I feature (unless I say so specifically).  

 

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Columbus Day storm,

do any of you remember it?

 

Back to the West: Central Oregon

We left before sunrise on our adventure back to the "west".

After a quick stop (and then a quick return) to a favorite stop by a lake,

we arrived at our first major destination--

the Short Covered Bridge.

~

I, as usual,

was dressed appropriately for the FROSTY weather in the mountains--

barefoot and wearing summer clothes.

But great lighting on a beloved covered bridge

 can make one do strange things,

even when one has bare feet.

I now know just how  freezing COLD a covered bridge's surface really is

on a frosty autumn morn.

My friend, being more practical in nature and dressed suitably for the weather

will never know such things.

Slightly before the bridge,

where my feet froze BUT I got the photo I wanted,

we passed a camp and this little 'western' town.

I have NO idea of its importance or use,

but I loved it:)

Alas, the lighting was not quite as wonderful here,

but still you have to grab a photo when something is this neat.

On our way again,

we passed by lots and lots (dare I say again?) lots of trees

and I took many photos--

but unfortunately our car window showed the evidence of many a

 bug's demise limiting the ones I will post here.

But you get the idea, right?

Beauty, amazing color, blue skies, miles and miles of evergreens,

cold mountain rivers, great vistas...

And then came the area hit by fires in years gone by...

still amazing autumn color,

blue skies

and some evergreens...

but it was SO painful to see the devastation that only a forest fire can bring

(deep sad sigh inserted here)

I was hoping there would be more recovery by this time,

having been in this area with my parents some years ago-

alas it was not to be.

And then,

after lava, a couple of mountain lakes, more areas of fire damage, amazing views..

we arrived at our next destination

Sisters, Oregon

and one of the BEST coffee shops ever!!

But, alas again, I must bid you farewell,

for the hubby will soon be home

and

he likes to eat dinner when he gets here.

Imagine that?

:)

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Birthday Journeys

 My first birthday trip brought me west...

up into our coast range,

along creeks and rivers

and to a favorite restaurant.

 And it also brought me to one of my favorite beaches--

where my hubby and I shared some sweet childhood memories

and later made new ones in a mountain valley he had never been to.

 And then last week brought us here--

just because we're still having beautiful autumn weather

and are trying to savor every minute of it before our REAL autumn begins.

 But yesterday,

well yesterday's journey brought me west again--

to a place I consider the 'WEST',

gorgeous central Oregon...

land of sagebrush + juniper,

rivers, lakes + waterfalls,

mountains + buttes. 

 

And also,

land of past memories,

family ties,

a real feeling of the 'Old West'

and ASPEN--beautiful, wonderful, unforgettable aspen.

 

It was a great place to celebrate another year;

it was a great place to remember.

 

And later this week,

IF blogger photo upload cooperates...

I will share some of my trip with you.

And if blogger doesn't cooperate?

Well I am considering some changes:(

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

 Photos:

friendly cat at Camp 18--

a very well known restaurant in Elsie.

Fort Stevens--Peter Iredale Beach.

Somewhere along the central Oregon coast

(OK, I know where but I am keeping it a secret for now)

:)

Autumn in the Pacific NW

Outside the leaves are changing...

our weekly trip to the coast saw more yellow

and of course, red.

At home, the lilac and blueberries have more color than other plants...

but, from where I am sitting, I can see the Japanese maple is in the process of changing color too.

I have a very long list of 'to do's' today ...

so I hope you won't mind these photos of leaves from autumn's past

In fact one of the reasons I am SO busy today has to do with autumn leaves...

beautiful red and yellow leaves in fact.

It is also a dream I have had...

the dream I have every autumn.

But this year it looks like my dream will come true

(although not quite in the way I originally envisioned it).

Perhaps you have a autumn dream too?

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photos:

Autumn leaves from various locations,

including my sibling's and our garden.

The Little Luckiamute River

(Falls City, Oregon)

Thanksgiving tablescape from last year

(just bought some things for this year's Thanksgiving)

Love

Love,

love,

love!

 

What places do you love?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photos:

Vernonia Lake, Upper Nehalem Valley

Humbug Creek, Camp 18, Elsie

Coffenbury Lake, Fort Stevens, Warrenton

 

Notes:

Yikes! My hubby caught me up...

he says I am a night owl;

I think, that besides being a practical man,

he is very wise.

Night:)

Of Vaflers, Lingonberries and Lefse

Back in May of this year, I had a burning desire to get a heart shaped wafflemaker

so I could make those thin Scandinavian waffles I am so fond of...

I thought they would be fun to make for special days like

Valentine's Day,

Syttende Mai,

and Christmas morn

(oh and a whole lot of the mornings in between).

A quick call to my one of my favorite Scandinavian shops and
I was on my way to pick a wafflemaker up:)

Of course, when I go there it is never for just ONE item...

if you could see my house,

you would know that is true!  

 After a nice drive we arrived at their front door -

and found shoes!

High heeled ones with succulents planted in them

(what a CUTE idea)!

Through the door

we entered paradise...

well, paradise to me.

Imported chocolates and other candy (gummi's--yum),

cloudberry and lingonberry preserves,

lingonberry juice concentrate

(update: today they also had elderberry juice concentrate)

and many other Nordic food items.

They also carry cardamom bread (yep, it's yummy),

lefse (YUM) and other items

(hint: check out the refrigerator--for years I didn't).

 I LOVE their selection of books--

favorites of mine are Carl Larsson

(love, love, love his artwork--the colors he uses, the themes, etc, etc)

and

I really love the Northern Lights series by Lisa Tawn Bergren!

I don't see them in this photo but I have also read

and enjoyed these Scandinavian themed books too:  

The Emigrants, Johan Bojer

The Emigrants (a trilogy), Vilhelm Moberg

Kristen Lavransdatter, Sigrid Undset

(I like the translation by Tiina Nunnally).

By the way,

if you have any suggestions for books with a Scandinavian theme,

I'd love to hear them:)

Scandia Imports also carry books on crafts, interior design

(I would like to learn rosemaling and wheat weaving one day;

have books on both of these crafts).

 Today when I was there I noticed that the new owner has changed the layout of the shop

and I really like it as it seems so much lighter in there!

I LOVE light

(especially as we go into the autumn + winter).

~

My shopping list was shorter than usual today--

Nordic chocolate

(for the hubby man),

lingonberry juice concentrate

(LOVE this),

a hallonkräm mix
(sounded good)

and

2 bottles of Solo

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solo_(Norwegian_soft_drink)).

 

But, though my list was short,

 I couldn't resist checking out some favorites

 (Swedish textiles, tomten/nisser,

wooden kitchen spoons, etc)

and a few new items...

after all Christmas is coming:)

And, yes, I am VERY happy with my vafler maker!

 

What are your favorite kind of places to shop at for your home and food?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Syttende Mai?

You've never heard of it, you say.

Well you are in for a wonderful time

 if you are lucky enough to find a Syttende Mai celebration near you.

Here are some links to posts from this year's festivities:

http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2012/05/syttende-mai-parade-from-different.html

http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2012/05/syttende-mai-norse-hall.html

 

And a post on one of my favorite horse breeds (which of course just happened to be there)

http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2012/05/syttende-mai-of-fjords.html

LOVE fjords!

Notes:

Thank you to Scandia Imports for permission to take photos this spring and post them here!

And if you are reading this -- thank you for our talk today!

It meant a lot to me:)

 

You can find their facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/ScandiaImports

With more photos:)

 

Disclaimer: as per usual, I have no association with this business

except as a long standing, happy customer!

 

Proverb + the WORD on Wednesday

"If we don't change our direction,

we are likely to end up where we are headed"

This proverb is true in many ways...

and I think it is true for my personal situation.

 I am day # 3 into making some changes

and am looking forward to today.

 

I know, as a wise blogger said, that some days will be harder than others,

but I need to stop living in the past

(focusing on losses, regrets, mistakes),

avoid giving strength to fears and anxieties of the future

(healthwise, national and international problems, etc)

and live in the present.

 

And that reminds me of these WORDS... 

 

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own."

 

and this commentary...

 

Let us not pull that upon ourselves all together at once,

which Providence has wisely ordered to be borne by parcels..

.by our daily prayers we may procure strength to bear us up under our daily troubles...

 

And now, it is time to eat (starving!)

and then cleaning and baking.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Notes:

Old Chinese Proverb

(found widely on Internet)

Matthew 6:34 NIV

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™

Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Matthew Henry Commentary on above verses

(in the public domain)

Photos:

A favorite subject--

the Peter Iredale shipwreck on Clatsop Spit,

Ft, Stevens State Park, Warrenton. 

 

 

Of Fruit, Veggies + Those Wonderful Food Bloggers

I am NOT a food blogger...nope!

I leave that up to the very talented Ree, Cathy, Erin, Anne + others:)

But I really DO enjoy cooking

(sometimes more than others)

and I especially like to try new things...

last week it was an apple pie

made from our very own heirloom and some other apples,

AND

a roasted veggie salsa.

Mmmm!

By the way, did you notice the TERRIBLE lighting in our kitchen?

It is reason #1 why I am happy to NOT be a food blogger

and reason # 365 why I would love to have a skylight there

(alas my husband hates skylights...

they leak he points out, being a practical man). 

 

Reason #2 for not being a food blogger...

well the photo above is only showing you part of the apple pie on purpose 

(it has to do with Aimee not following the exact directions for the pie crust

and--perhaps--letting it brown a wee bit too much in areas).

Sigh.

But even if  the pie didn't look perfect,

it was very, very tasty

and the overly browned areas--

well they provided me with a quick snack before dinner.

 

The salsa, too, was heavenly--

the scent of roasting garlic, peppers, sweet onion and tomatoes

 filled the air of the countryside and our home with sweet cooking love...

but peeling the poblano chile pepper--

well that is reason #3 I am happy to leave food blogging to others.

 

Yep,

 I am quite comfortable with my decision NOT to be a food blogger...

and VERY, VERY grateful to those that are for all the inspiration they give me:)

 

On the 'to do' list for this week-

an apple crostada

and possibly a pumpkin baking mix I've had for awhile.

I am still working on building up courage to make my first biscotti--

I bought one at a farm store this summer that was quite heavenly and

 I am determined to somehow recreate it.

 

What's on your cooking to-do list?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

See my bloglist to the right for food bloggers I follow--love them all!

Sometimes...

Sometimes a path turns out to be a very, very bad choice.

My path in the last 2 years has not been easy.

 

Serious house problems

(fear, stress, uncertainty, loss of a dream),

my mom's terminal condition and subsequent death

(grief, loss),

dad's health issues and need for care

(stress, care and family issues),

problems my kids and grandkids were facing

(when they hurt or are in a dangerous situation you hurt too),

world and national events

(where do I begin on this one?),

and more added up to make some really distressing times for me

and finally a feeling of hopelessness

(which wasn't like me).

 

This weekend

 it dawned on me that I had gotten SO totally focused on the bad

(and some things were truly BAD)

the challenges,

the struggles,

that I was forgetting--to some degree--all the good,

the positives in my life,

the blessings

that God has given me;

that He is still giving me.

 

So it is time to change my focus...

and yesterday I began to do so.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photo:

This is the Horseshoe trestle and I really did want to walk across it...

good thing I changed my mind, huh?

:)

Along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Upper Nehalem Valley.

Saturday Scripture: A Refuge in Troubled Times

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,

 and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,

though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Selah...

The LORD of Hosts is with us:

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah...

 

Wishing you a blessed Sunday,

Aimee

 

Photo:

Rockaway Beach

 

Scripture:

Psalm 46:1-3, 7 KJV

In the Heart of the Tillamook Burn: Pt 2

From Thursday~
This morning, as I sat in the family room waiting for a load of wash to finish,

I found myself again wishing to be in the heart of the Tillamook Forest ...

walking over this suspension bridge,

eating lunch on the deck near the Wilson river,

hiking through the magical world of light and shadow that is the forest,

and feasting on the beautiful color of the changing leaves!

Yes, at this time of the year,

the forest often calls me

and my heart answers...

soon, my beloved, soon.

 

Have a blessed day,

Aimee

Special thanks!
A very special thank you to Teresa for pointing out the monster in the river--love, love, love it!
So do YOU see it too?
 

Photos:

Near and at the Tillamook Forest Center

(see last post for their website).

In the Heart of the Tillamook Burn: Pt 1

The Coast Range of the Pacific NW is gorgeous;

I have spent much of my life traveling in and through this area

and

I totally love the forests, rugged mountains and rivers one sees there!

One section of the Coast Range I am especially fond of is the Tillamook Forest--

a beautiful area located in NW Oregon between the valley/metro Portland area and the northern coast.

Today you drive through this region

and everything looks so green; so lush

but when I was younger it didn't look that way.

For when I was a child and teen this area was still recovering from the effects of the Tillamook Burn-

a series of devastating forest fires that destroyed many acres of old growth timber in the

years between 1933 and 1951;

both my hubby and I remember all too well what it looked like then.

Some 40 years later

the mountainsides are again green with Douglas fir and deciduous trees

and one can only hope that fire will never again burn this area

so loved by tourists and residents alike.

~

This past Sunday I talked my hubby into a drive on Highway 6--

right in the heart of the Tillamook Forest.

I had a definite goal in mind

(besides a trip to the Twin Rocks area that is).

It was something I had been wanting to do for the longest time

and it was the perfect autumn day to do it...

with weather this great I was also hoping to find the autumn color

 I have been craving for about a month now;

I was not disappointed:)

~

Before long we arrived at the Center and I checked in with the fantastic staff there.

Then my hubby and I got busy touring the exhibits which covered

the early history of the area,  the Tillamook Burn,

the watershed,

pioneer life in the forest 

and more.

They were well done!

As a grandma

(and being a child at heart myself)

I LOVED the fact that there were activities to keep the interest of children...

one activity being a scavenger hunt...

I think children

(as well as grownups)

would also enjoy checking out a sighting scope

(used for surveying),

reading the personal memories of the Tillamook Burn

(some schoolkids helped a bit with the reforestation effort)

watching a very good film about it,

learning more about the eco-sytem there

and

of course--

climbing to the top of the replica of a 40 ft fire tower!

 

FYI--

in addition to the great and FREE exhibits inside the center

and the fire tower outside,

there are many hiking trails in this area

(maps available at the center),

access to the river,

a nice deck area to grab some snacks or perhaps eat your own picnic lunch

(vending machine for snacks and beverages there),

the wonderful Wilson River suspension bridge.

(photos and more in part 2)

 

And now it is off to process our freshly picked heirloom apples

(I am thinking pie perhaps?)

and then I will be making salsa for the first time

(thanks to my chef son for his instructions);

but first--

the dreaded dishes...

(SO miss my dishwasher)

 

Have a great Wednesday!

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Notes:

all photos taken this Sunday at the Tillamook Forest Center.

Thank you to their GREAT staff for permission to take photos and post them here!

Here is the link to the center:

http://www.tillamookforestcenter.org/

(if they are reading this, please feel free to let my know of any errors I've made

or any additional info you would like visitors to know).

 

If you can, take time to check out their upcoming events--

two that look interesting are on local, wild mushrooms

and wreaths.

 

AND remember--

it is Take a Child Outside Week

and this is an AWESOME place to do that!

The staff have set up a table in the foyer with activities for children

and the adults in their lives to do:)