October Monthly Gratitudes

Just moving October's Gratitudes here to make room for this month's in my pages...
Happy November 1st everyone:)

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless His name.
~
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you..

September 30, 2012
Today I was thankful for a trip in my beloved Coastal Range and to Astoria.

October 1, 2012
Today I was thankful for the beautiful, BIG blue dragonfly that came for a visit.

October 2, 2012
Today I was thankful for the wonderful autumn weather we have been enjoying!

October 3, 2012
Today I was very thankful for the comments I received on my post "Sometimes";
they encouraged me when I really needed it.
I'm also thankful for this thought I found in Matthew Henry's Commentary
on Matthew 6:34: "Let us not pull that upon ourselves all together at once, which Providence
has wisely ordered to be bourne by parcels...
by our daily prayers we may procure strength to bear us up  under our daily troubles".

October 4, 2012
Today I was thankful for a visit to Beaverton Bakery (challah, strudel, etc),
Scandia Imports (lingonberry juice, solo, chocolate, etc),
Michael's (autumn decor for tablescapes, etc)
and Japanese food!

October 5, 2012
Today I was very thankful for our ripe Concord and Niagara grapes--YUM!

October 6, 2012
Today I was thankful for a trip to one of my favorite Central Oregon coast beaches--
the waves were amazing, the weather warm and we got to watch a surfer:)
I am also thankful that we had a chance to see our son-in-law before he headed home.

October 7, 2012
Today I was thankful for the challah I (finally) got to eat some of. I was also thankful for the blue skies, some dish towels I found that remind me autumn leaves (they made me smile)

October 8, 2012
Today I am thankful that my 'Autumn Dream' looks like it will be coming true! I am also very, very grateful for the kindness of my niece; a quick chat with my youngest granddaughter, my dear daughter-in-law and my dear daughter:)

October 9, 2012
Today I was very, very grateful for these things:  1) getting the chance to hug my niece goodbye before her move out of state, 2)  a safe and incredibly beautiful trip to, from and in central Oregon (what an amazing place), 3) conquering my long held fear about a certain mountain lake!! For all these things I give thanks to God:)

October 10, 2012
Today I was thankful for the opportunity to rest, sleep and rest some more!

October 11, 2012
Today I am very thankful for a certain little girl who means the world to me.
Love you baby girl:)

October 12, 2012
Yikes! Forgot to make an entry today...but I have been thankful EVERY day for the changing leaf color. I SO love the yellows, oranges and reds! When it is gray outside, I am especially thankful for their jewel-tones:)

October 13, 2012
Today I am especially thankful for the gift of food one of my sister-in-laws gave my hubby and I (chili!) and the gift of flowers (a beautiful red azalea) another sister-in-law and her husband gave us.
I grew up in a fairly small family (one of siblings died before my birth) and it is truly a GIFT to have so many brothers and sisters to share life with:)

October 14, 2012
Today I was thankful for the rain we received and for the rain that makes its way over the Cascades and to the parched ground and forests of central Oregon! I pray that this rain will put a stop to the devastating fires in the Pacific NW. I am also thankful for the book I started reading this weekend that is transporting me into the interior of beautiful British Columbia...

October 15, 2012
Today I am thankful for candles, flashlights and laptops.
I was also thankful that God included Jonah in the Bible so I would know God loves us even when we run from Him and that He brings together circumstances in our life to bring us back.

October 16, 2012
Today I am thankful for a forecast of 3 sunny days! Yippee!
I am also very thankful that a new cyber friend and one of my uncles have been sending me information on things related to my family heritage:)

October 17, 2012
I was very grateful to get to dry some laundry outside today--in mid October!!

October 18, 2012
Today was a very, very sad day for me. I received some distressing news about a friend of many years...I am grateful I could ask God, who created heaven and earth, to help them.

October 19, 2012
Today I was thankful for the wasp who taught me a spiritual lesson as I was washing dishes today
(or should I say for God who sent the wasp from whom I learned a lesson)   :)

October 20, 2012
Today I am thankful for something special coming my way soon:)

October 21, 2012
Today I am thankful for the wonderful SNOW photos my son sent me...
snow always makes me happy! I am also grateful for my friend of over 40 years who is still a part of my life though she lives in another state!

October 22, 2012
Today I am thankful for the fact that I keep a journal offline so I can update this page:)

October 23, 2012
Today I am thankful for a new mattress set
(and my hubby is even MORE thankful for it)!
I am also thankful--again--for the beautiful autumn color!

October 24, 2012
Today I am thankful that I was able to finish 3+ loads of laundry
(but I am really, really missing hanging it outside).

October 25, 2012
Today I am thankful for new jeans
(but mindful that I really need to lose some weight)
and the incredible beauty of blueberry and Lady's Mantle leaves after a rain.

October 26, 2012
Today I am thankful for phones...
and for a certain caller:)

October 27, 2012
Today I am thankful for a little thing--
and yet a very big thing.
I am thankful for a roof over my head
(because it is pouring outside).

October 28, 2012
Today I am thankful,
SO incredibly thankful,
 to see my son again!

October 29, 2012
Today I am thankful for the wonderful day that my son and I had in downtown Portland,
eating outside in late October, some yummy donuts, city pigeons, public art and more!
I am also thankful that my son has a giving heart.

October 30, 2012
Today I was thankful for another day with my son---yummy Vietnamese food,
an autumn drive in the countryside and a new pillow (which until now was my son's).

October 31, 2012
Today I was very thankful for an answer to prayer!
  

Recently, several blogger friends suggested I start a journal in which I record things on a daily basis that make me cheerful; things that I am grateful for--this is my online version of those journal entries. Please feel free to share your 'gratitudes' too in the comment section:) Aimee

Notes:
Psalm 100:4 KJV
I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

Sorry

Sorry to 'leaf' you...

but I must.

It's time to celebrate:)

 

See you in November

(or perhaps sooner).

 

By the way, would appreciate you checking out the poll to the right.

Trying to decide whether to include the Follower gadget or not.

Thanks...

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photo: yet another reason I like blueberry plants...their gorgeous autumn leaves!

Back to the West: Central Oregon Pt IV

Back to "the West"... 

 I know I've already shown you some photos of Drake Park in downtown Bend,

but I LOVED it there! The geese and ducks were very, very entertaining ---

especially when they were 'bottoms up' looking for food under the water.

It was SO wonderful to be able to walk along a peaceful river and watch the wildlife swim by:)

A beautiful view of the mountains from near the top of one of the buttes in Bend

and the gorgeous autumn colors that we saw up there too! Such a different world from the western valleys of Oregon and western Washington--both beautiful, both unique! 

 Ok---I know we are going back...but I REALLY, REALLY like geese and parks:) 

I know you've already seen this if you are seeing this in October...

but I wanted to be able to see this photo when I change my header.

This is an area we passed on our way to see the headwaters (underground springs) of the Metolius River. The headwaters are located not too far off the main highway and it is a very, very peaceful area with a paved, not too long path you can take to get to a large viewing deck near the river--not as near as I would have liked (I would have changed to my zoom lens had I known) but definitely worth a trip! I was back to barefeet again by this point:)

And last --

at least for this post...

along the Deschutes River Trail

http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/centraloregon/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=38338&actid=50

near the Aspen Grove (at Aspen Day Use area).

one can never see too many rivers or too many trees don't you think?

 

And now--time for a quick snack and then off to bed.

It is going to be a very, very busy week..

 

Blessings,

Aimee 

 

Photos:

Drake Park (1, 3)

A scenic drive up a butte

Metolius River area

Deschutes River Trail

(at Aspen Day Use area) 

Back to the West: Central Oregon--Pt III

I love many trees: maples, evergreens, fruit trees (especially in spring during blossom time) and more. But there is ONE tree that I am especially fond of, especially at this time of the year, and that is the Quaking Aspen. Yes, I long to see their beautiful white bark and wearing their autumn gold finery at this time of the year. And I long to see them because they remind me of some of my forefathers who lived high in the Rocky Mountains.

So, along with seeing my beautiful niece, the call of the aspen brought me east of the Cascades this year...

 

 to walk among them

to listen to their call

to touch that wonderful white bark.

 

LOVE aspen...

and I just found out there may be some close by:)

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Notes:

The photo above was taken by my wonderful niece.

She, knowing I love aspen, went on a 'treasure' hunt for them

and then sent me a whole lot of photos!

Isn't she the greatest?

LOVE you dear niece!

 

Other things:

Well a comment by someone got me searching for my own 'treasure' this week...

a treasure of heritage (family history) so I have been busy 'diggin' up that treasure,

thanks to the help of a wonderful woman (and fellow history lover).

It has also helped bring back some great memories of my mom and grandparents.

 

Yes, there is a reason for this post being so short--

besides being busy,

I continue to have problems uploading to it

and then sometimes it will say it's failed

so I try again to the same message,

only to find out it did upload BOTH times.

Any suggestions?

Any preference between blogger, wordpress and typepad?

 

 

 

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).