For love of country they accepted death... ~James A. Garfield

I have lived down the hill, not even a mere mile, from Willamette National Cemetery for 5 Memorial Day's and this is the first time I have trekked up the hill for the Memorial Day Service. Each year that I have been in town on Memorial Day I have been able to hear the fighter jets fly overhead for the ceremony's customary fly-over. Each year I have asked myself why I didn't go. I grew up attending Memorial Day Observance Ceremonies. Many times being in them myself. I can't count the years of pictures my Mom has of me dressed in white, or blue and white, white gloves donned and either laying a wreath or holding a flag. It is part of my being to respect departed military in this way. So, spur of the moment, and only because my investigation on start time, I attended this year's 61st Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Willamette National Cemetery. I felt at home there. Comforted.


Because I live relatively close, and because I've seen the steady stream of traffic leaving the cemetery on Memorial Days past, I decided to put on my walking shoes and walk UP the hill (officially called Mt Scott, by-the-way) to the cemetery. Boy, was it a walk, a hike rather. Once I got to the cemetery gates I had a nice hike through the cemetery to get to the ampitheatre where the service was held. I was elated to see the ample seating area, as I had expected that I would be standing. It was a chilly, overcast, threat-of-rain morning. Thankfully, it didn't rain, the sun came out and it became quite warm.

Below you can see the ampitheatre, and all the people. I was about 2/3 way back. Later news reports predicted that there were 2,000 people in attendance. It wouldn't surprise me.

The F-15 Interceptors from the Oregon Air Guard flew over. Because of the cloud cover it was hard to see them. This is the best picture I got. It was fun to hear and feel the rumbling for minutes prior to them flying over. I love that feeling. (linked photo courtesy of NORAD)


Master of Ceremonies...

It was fun for me to watch the speakers because I could see my homestate State Flag the whole time...can you see the head of the Buffalo?! Love it!

Advancement of Colors...actually, it may be the retiring of, I can't remember.

The Bagpipers for Portland Police Highland Guard.

No promises that the following video will work, but I must try. I love, Love, LOVE bagpipes. I had to capture a bit of their sounds.

A plaque at the ampitheatre.

The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross. Read more about the symbolizm HERE.

I didn't puruse the cemetery a whole lot, but did come upon this memorial of WWI with a plaque with the poem, In Flanders Fields, with Poppies planted at the base.

There was also a 21 Cannon Salute. The cannons of today look so differentfrom the cannons of yesterday.

Walking back down through the cemetery I discovered a couple of gravesites of men from Wyoming.

Lots of flags.

There are beautiful views of Portland from high on the hill (mountain) that the cemetery resides on.

Love the bright pink Dogwood tree, blooming in all of its glory.

Across the street from Willamette National is another cemetery, Lincoln Memorial. There were also flags displayed there. You can see the grounds of Lincoln Memorial just past the brick posts and iron fence.

All that traffic coming down the hill...still...at about an hour after the ceremony was over.

It was a great morning and I am so thankful that I ventured up the hill and experienced such a great tribute to the men and women we have lost in order to live the lives we are able to live in such a great country.

It is hard to make it through the day...

...when all I want to do is come home and crochet!

You may remember from THIS post that I started a new crochet project. All I had ever crocheted was a scarf. And that was years ago. Stasia taught me how to read a crochet pattern after I fell in love with a particular pattern/afghan. I had actually estimated that it would take me between one and two years. In actuality, it took me like 4-5 months. Woohoo. Yes, I stayed up until 11:30pm last night to finish it. Almost 15 skeins of yarn, lots and lots of hours I made 105 of the "motifs" and am thoroughly pleased with the end result of my first large scale crochet project!

Here it is in progress...

Ezme felt that she had to continually check my work and approve of it.
She also had to approve of the yarn balls...they made mighty fine toys if I turned my head for a moment.

This is a picture of one of the motifs. I think it does the color better justice than the pictures in the first post.

This no flash picture is so that you can see the pattern. I'm a swirl girl and this pattern is definitely swirly, and lovely.

Tada~

All done and glorious.

Now, on to the next project. And, believe me, I've got a few lined up!

Time Away in Corvallis

I'm so blessed and thankful to have friends in all places. Even though I don't get to all those places, sometimes I do, especially to the friends in places fairly close. My friend Tera wanted me to make a trip to visit her in Corvallis again after we had such a good time in the fall when I went. We planned the weekend and along it came. This time away was perfectly timed with a need to escape and get away from life in Portland. God's timing is good.

Tera was going to be running the last 5 miles with a friend who was running an ultra-marathon (32 miles through woods) the day I was arriving. Once she ran and made it home she called me while I was purusing parts of Corvallis that I know. I headed to her place and got the scoop on the run and the plan for the weekend. Tera had traveled a lot since I had last seen her in February so I got to travel vicariously with her and her pictures, to Israel in particular. We got to chat and catch up and then headed to her church where she is on staff and attended a prayer meeting. After that we headed downtown for dinner and more chatting.

We ate at a local brew pub called Block 15. The food was so good. We weren't sure if it was because is really is good anyway or if it was because we were both SO hungry. We walked around downtown a bit and made our way by the courthouse. I love the quaintness of Corvallis and its downtown area. When we got home the neighbors were out of town and had chickens that needed to be moved to a warmer place. So, in the dark, in a wooded area we moved 4 chickens, one by one from a backyard pen to the garage. What unexpected fun!

Sunday we headed to church, delivered car wash signs to a group and checked out one of the area specialty markets before heading home to make lunch, which was fun. Then we whisked away to a downtown antique store and stopped in at the Animal House, a pet store with unique and rare pets. Including these Chinchilla's that we took pictures of because they were so cute.

And they all liked to cluster up in jars.
Tera and me.

We were blessed by good weather during my whole trip. The forecast had been for rain the whole weekend and it barely sprinkled overnight Saturday night. What a great and rejuvenating escape and time with a dear friend.

A snow day, just when it is needed

Portland doesn't do well in the snow. Sometimes this makes me laugh and shake my head. Sometimes it makes me thankful when I am ready for and in need of an unplanned day off from work. That was how this day was way back in February.

This is where Ezme spent most of her time...sleeping, on or in between my legs. She was a good source of heat. We cuddled, I crocheted and she slept.

This was the view of outside.

Such a pretty snow.

Late in the morning I decided to take a nap. When I woke up this was the view out my back windows. Where'd the snow go? Don't worry, it snowed again later in the afternoon.

Thanks for a quiet day inside, snow day.

Attention

It has been brought to my attention (from a few people) that I have been neglecting the blog. It is true. I can't deny it. The last post was on April 1st. Well over a month ago, and that was even a scheduled blog, so I don't count it, really. I don't really have an excuse, or a good one anyway. Life has just been moving briskly along.

Anyhow, I just downloaded a load of pictures from my camera and will make it my goal in the next week to update. Look for more posts, mostly, really back-dated...to February, eh em. Actually, I cringe to say, venture all the way back to January if you dare...I am more behind than I had though...Sorry about that. Please forgive!

"The Earth Laughs in Flowers." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Hood River Valley is a gorgeous area. I love to make the drive and drive the "Fruit Loop" normally this would be done in the fall at harvest time. This year, I ventured into the gorge to head to the Fruit Loop to see the blooming fruit trees in all their glory. It was a stunning day to go. Sunny the whole time. I packed a lunch and headed to Panorama Point Park for a nice picnic lunch among the sunshine and blossoms.

Row upon row and blooming trees...

Looking out over the valley.

The valley, blooming trees and Mt Hood.

A gorgeous day~

Thirty Floors Up

At our March Girls Group we decided we needed to do something special for our April group. An outing. Downtown. 30 stories up. Home of Portland City Grill. Host to a lovely evening. Only one of the four of us had ever been. Away we went.

Looking North from out window seating.

It has been a cloudy, rainy week, but the sun came out for us.

You can see the Willamette River and the Broadway Bridge.

Looking NW.


Me & Jamie

Rachel and Rose

The sign in the lobby.

Few of the exterior of the building from the street.

Such a pretty building on such a pretty evening.

Our group!

We all had amazing dinners and desserts. Rachel had a martini and I had a glass of wine. It was all delicious. What a treat and special evening with friends!

March Poem of the Month

The River
sung by Garth Brooks

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores...

And, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide...

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all...

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
'Til the river runs dry

No time like the present...

I've always enjoyed watching movies. I've always wanted to watch all the Academy Award Nomination films before the annual award ceremony. I never have. I still aspire to that. I had a friend who did that this year and she is currently my hero. To branch off of that hope, I decided that I would start at the first Academy Award Best Picture Winner and work my way through the LIST! I rented the first winner, Wings, on my way home from church today. And so it begins--I am all settled with the VHS (yes, VHS) in the tape player and am ready to dive into the 1927 world of black and white, epic war film and love story and the beginning of many great movies to come. Thank you Movie Madness for aiding in this indulgence!

Cheers! :)

*post-film viewing critic from a very unqualified movie critic: I thought that the film was well done, especially for the time it was made. There are some pretty impressive aerial shots. I do remember now that silent films are hard for me, as I love to multi-task and needing to pay close attention to a movie, whether silent or foreign and subtitled, is a bit more challenging to me.

Poem of the Month

Unofficial Taps Lyrics
attributed to Robert Ellicombe

Day is done,
gone the sun,
from the lakes
from the hills from the sky,
all is well,
safely, rest,
God is near.

Fading light,
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky
Gleaming bright,
From afar,
Drawing, near,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This, we, know,
God is near.

Baptism and Llamas

You may ask...really?! What do Llamas have to do with Baptism?! Don't worry, I asked the same thing.

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Crazy that I would even think to ask...duh, Stephanie!

I've met these Llamas...pretty reputable fellows if I do say so.

Crazy days call for Crazy Hair

We do crazy things at work. We even do crazy hair! :)

Me and my co-worker Donna. Watch out...I did that to her and could do it to you if necessary.

Come join us sometime!

2 down, 11 to go

When I was in college I learned how to crochet. It was always something that facinated me. My Aunt Jonna taught me. I was home in Casper on Christmas break. We were sitting on the floor of her living room with the sun graciously streaming in, all while it was brisk and cold outside. I challenged myself to make a scarf. Fairly simple. I did complete it. I still wear it. You can definitely tell it is beginner though. My stitches were inconsistent, waxing and waining, tight then loose and back to tight.

In the years that passed I always kept yarn on hand and would pick up the crochet hook and yarn every now and then-just to make sure I didn't forget to fingering for crochet. So my hands would remember. They always did.

Then a couple weeks ago when I was at Stasia's she was showing me her upcoming project. I found an afghan in her book that I loved. I couldn't get it out of my mind so I decided I would attempt to make it. NOTE: It's been probably six or seven years since I learned this craft and only ever completed one project. Makes this daughting. Also a good challenge.

So, without further adieu, I'd like to introduce you to my next crafting challenge....(minus the baby)...It is called "Twisted Pinwheel" and will most likely accompany me on any journeys for the next 12-24 months.

This is the completion of 2 of the "motifs" out of 52 that the pattern calls for and the 72 that I actually hope to complete. I'd like it to be a bit larger than planned via pattern.

This is the yarn. I'm really disappointed that the picture doesn't do the color justice at all. It is a deep, beautiful purple and has quickly become a color I love.

It's been fun to remember crochet, reminisce about my Aunt teaching me and other family crocheting in my presence and I even learned that my dad was taught to crochet and enjoyed it in his younger days. Stay tuned for project updates...who knows, maybe I'll surprise us all and have it done sooner than later!

January Poem of the Month

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!



by William Arthur Ward