Perfect Portland Weekend - Day Four

Day Four of our Perfect Portland Weekend started early.

The only child we could talk into joining us was Cali - the other two stayed home in bed.

We got up early and joined friends Marsha and Larry and headed out to the gorge. We spent the day hiking Dog Mountain. Dog Mountain is on the Washington side of the river just across the Bridge of the Gods. The guide book says it is called Dog Mountain because as the settlers came over the mountain they had run out of food and had to eat their dogs. Hood River was originally called Dog River but was changed when people didn't like the name!




This hike is listed as "strenuous" in the guide book. I had never done a "strenuous" hike before. I have done plenty of moderate but this was my first strenuous. It is rated strenuous for a reason - it is hard!

You go up 2,700 feet in elevation in under 4 miles - that makes for a steep hike. Despite some major huffing and puffing and frequent water breaks - thank goodness for the Camelback...we made it to the top. One of the main reasons to endure the torture of climbing Dog Mountain is the wildflowers - they are amazing this time of year.

Most of the hike is in covered, forest area where there are some pretty flowers but as you near the top you break out into the open and hike through hills covered in amazing yellow and purple wildflowers. The picture does not do it justice.

Once we reached the top we sat in the meadow area and enjoyed our lunch and the view - you could see both Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens.

I am kind of standing right in front of the view of Mt. St. Helens but you can see a bit of it to the right of my head. The wind was blowing pretty hard at the top!

The downhill trip was a bit of adventure because of the steep terrain. Fortunately only one of us fell (Cali) just a nice slide onto her bottom and a minor twisted ankle.

The last half mile my knees were feeling it and I am sure we will all be feeling it tomorrow. We popped some advil on the ride home!

Once home and cleaned up Jim and I went out to pick up the 22 rocket stoves our ward had ordered and we delivered them.

When we stopped at our neighbors, the Atacks, to drop theirs off they invited us in to join their family BBQ. Since I had nothing planned at home for dinner we gladly accepted - we had some amazing BBQ ribs - thank you Atacks!!

It was an amazing Four day Weekend here in Portland. We enjoyed ever minute of it and packed as much fun as we could into it!!

Hope the weather lasts so we can do it again next weekend when Logan is home!!

Perfect Portland Weekend - Day Three

So our perfect Portland weather continues.

Day Three - we enjoyed a nice Sunday. Church, BYU, Missionary Open House for Travis Burk returning from the Hong Kong Mission and then a neighborhood movie night.

And there was a lot of this going on in the afternoon...

Here is my fun new garden art - Jim put it together and got it in the pot for me - love it!

We enjoyed Sunday dinner on the patio. Just fun being together.

And there is always a few goofy faces when the camera comes out.

Using an infocus projector our neighbor's the Quillins hosted a neighborhood movie night. We sat in Osborne's yard and watched Cheaper by the Dozen on the side of Quillin's house - fun! I provided the treats - popcorn and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies!

Perfect Portland Weekend - Day Two

Day Two - Saturday



I got up early and went to a yoga class, Clark had to be to work at 4 a.m.and Tessa had dance at 9:00



After yoga, Jim, Cali and I headed to the Beaverton Farmer's Market - one of my favorite places.


We enjoyed a huge omelet for breakfast at the market - one fed all three of us!



We bought some yummy strawberries, asparagus, kettle corn, Dave's Killer Spelt Bread and I found some fun new garden art!







Mike Darcy, a local plant guy who is on the radio was there and selling these fun things he had made in Vietnam to create yard art - you just slip the pieces over some re bar and PVC pipe and stick it in your pot or the ground - love it! I got enough to make two.


While we were at the Farmer's Market we got a call from Clark that he was on the way to the Urgent Care.

He had caught his elbow on a sharp shelf at work and now required stitches. He was excited that he got to go sit in the Urgent Care and he was still on the clock - Costco was paying him to go to the doctor. He ended up with 6 staples in his arm!




It didn't slow him down much because after work he went to work in a friend's yard, planting plants for her for several hours! Fortunately Costco also picks up the medical bills!


After the Farmer's Market Jim, Cali and I went and picked up Tessa from dance and headed down to the Saturday's Market. It was a busy day because the Rose Festival Fun Center had opened. We had a fun time walking around, looking at the different booths and especially the people.


The street performers can be very entertaining!

Deciding on what to eat is always a challenge - so many choices!

We ate lunch at the market a lamb gyro for Jim, Cali and I and Tessa had noodles.

The girls enjoyed checking out all the booths selling wares.

Afterwards we came home and invited Debbie and Hannah over for dinner - we barbecued Spicy Honey Chicken and fresh asparagus from the market, pasta salad and some yummy garlic cheese bread. We also grilled pineapple and made dulce de leche and served it over ice cream - yum!

After dinner we enjoyed a round of Five Crowns! Another Perfect Portland Day

We are happy to report that Logan has arrived home safe and sound on American soil!!