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:)

What Week is THIS?

 

My surviving sibling and I grew up camping and traveling with our parents

throughout the western United States and also in western Canada.

 

They were good days...

and we were left with a deep appreciation of the beauty

and the wonder

of the natural world.

 

I am glad that my grandkids are also growing up with special memories too.

 

So are you planning anything special to do with your

 kids, grandkids, nieces,

nephews, younger siblings this week?

Click on the above logo or follow this link to get some ideas

http://www.takeachildoutside.org/activities/gettingstarted.html

 

I celebrated the start of this week by taking my child

(OK, my hubby who--with me--is still a child at heart)

to the Tillamook Forestry Center

http://www.tillamookforestcenter.org/

and we LOVED it!

I will have photos of our time there as soon as blogger decides to cooperate with me:)

It is a great place to spend time learning about the forest

(autumn colors can be seen now-mostly reds)

and the devastation of forest fires

(the horrific Tillamook burn),

the wonder of reforestation

(in which school children played a part),

early and pioneer life in this gorgeous area,

to hike,

to climb a fire tower,

to cross a suspension bridge over the Wilson River

and to savor all the beauty of this amazing area!

(they also have some very nice interactive activities for kids there this week)

 

Hope you get your little ones

(and bigger ones)

out in nature this week!

 

Blessings,

Aimee

Am I Plucking Blackberries?

 

 

 

 

Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

And only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning,

Aurora Leigh (1865),

Book VII

 

So am I plucking blackberries?

Are you?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Note:

quote widely available on Internet and is, to my understanding, in the public domain.

Here is one place to read some quotes from this God-gifted poet:

 

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Barrett_Browning#Quotes

(see the above link for terms of use of the quotes)

In the Footsteps of My Farmer Boy

When my wonderful hubby was younger,

he did some crazy things.

One of them was walking across railroad trestles...

something I would NOT ever advise anyone to do!

 

But,

thought I,

what would that be like...
to be so high above the ground?

 

And of course,
being me,

I had to find out--
in a MUCH safer manner though :)

On the Banks-Vernonia State Trail,
Buxton Trestle.
700 glorious feet long,
80 wonderful feet high.

Here is a link to the Oregon State Parks brochure on this great trail:
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/bv.pdf
and another to some Oregon State Park photos and information:
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_145.php?md=pic
(if you scroll down the photos you'll come to a photo of the trestle from below)

Where have you hiked, gone horsebackriding or ridden your bike lately?
If I can, I want to do more outdoor activities this autumn--I find my endurance very low.

Blessings,
Aimee  

On the Cusp of Autumn

This morning we woke up to a beautiful, refreshing drizzle...

another sign that Autumn will be here soon.

I also woke up to the sad fact that I was still unable to upload photos to blogger,

but now -- about 1 1/2 hours later --

I am.

Go figure:)

No matter,

I spent time lost in sweet memories of autumns past--

and came to the conclusion that I am more then ready to let summer go.

So what do you think of when you reflect on the season of autumn?

Is it wrapping yourself in a nice, warm quilt? 

Or perhaps it is something else?

There are so many things that are part of our autumn here in the US

(and perhaps where you are too)

Thanksgiving,

brightly colored leaves,

wisps of fog hanging on the hillsides,

snow falling in the mountains,

a lit fire in the fireplace

and more.

 

Blessings,

Autumn

 

Photos:

the 2012  St. Mary's Quilt + Craft Fair,

Vernonia, OR

(see yesterday's post for contact information)

Wish I was there today:)

Of Quilts, Afghans + Other Handicrafts

This was going to be a post filled with photos of the amazing quilts, afghans and other handicrafts I saw today during my trip to St. Mary's Quilt + Craft Fair in beautiful Vernonia, Oregon...but I cannot get any photos to upload from my computer and I no longer can use the old interface as a backup as I've been forced to do lately...
You will just have to believe me that the church was filled with quilts of every size and color you could imagine, pillows, afghans, dish gardens, table runners and a whole lot more! We truly loved it and, yes, a new quilt found its way home with me as did an adorable baby dress towel (that I would love, love, love to show you because it is the cutest!) ....

Additionally we had a great lunch of beef barley stew (love this stuff), apple pie (yum), a roll and a delectable marinated salad...oh and my friend and I had a lot of fun being waited on by some of the most respectable, cute, attentive kids that we've ever met! They were AMAZING and truly had servant hearts!

 

The fair is going on for a few more days if you want to enjoy time among some gorgeous quilts and more! It is located at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They are located next to the new Vernonia school (SO happy for little Vernonia who has been plagued by two very bad floods) at 960 Missouri Ave. The phone is: (503) 429-8841. Admission is $1 (yes, one dollar).


FYI:
Cell service can be iffy in this mountain valley; depends somewhat on your carrier and a lot--it seems--on your location.

Found a new, amazing way to get to Vernonia today---sometimes getting lost IS a great thing:)

In trying to keep up with my hubby who (foolishly) walked across railroad trestles in his youth, I walked across my FIRST one today...and I didn't crawl:) Of course, the one I walked across had a LOT of safety features and was meant to be walked across. BTW---the views from up top were very, very nice as were the ones on our NEW, preferred route to Vernonia!

And last but not least, we saw the following today: lots of horses (regular and miniatures too), alpacas (love them), dogs (of course), deer (3 does under some apple trees), bison (yep in an idyllic setting too)...no cougars though (BIG sigh of relief) or bear (ditto) during our hikes>

What are you up to?
Blessings,
Aimee

PS: Will post current photos later--if I can. As per my usual disclaimer I have no association with St. Mary's Church except being a repeat visitor. And now---politics:)