“The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows. . . .” ~William Cullen Bryant

For years I have wanted to go to a lavendar field. Today, I finally did that! I didn't have a plan to do this until I woke up and just decided to hop in my hot car on this hot day and go for a drive with a lavendar field being my destination. It was a great little "day trip"-heat and all.

The weather has been glorious this summer-which is great, but it also means that everything is early. Because of this, it was the end of lavendar season-or at least the end of the peak lavendar season. I still thought it was great!

There were probably 30 different varieties of lavendar at this Lavendar Farm...it smelled amazing!

I loved the quaintness of the farm...cute old bike!

Heeps of lavendar!

They had baskets and siccors for folks to use in getting their lavendar...this was my basketful. Some of it will be used to make lavendar sachets with my participants at work and some of it will just make my house smell good!

I bought this adorable, little (and by little, I mean little-the frame measures like 3-4 inches I think) picture. I thought it was precious and I really like purchasing artwork from local artists-which this one is. And, I just like little things, too... 

    

Proof...I was there-with all the bees!

On the drive to the fields I had passed this little market. Had to stop on my way home and it was so cute and filled with fun things-fruits, veggies, and lots of kitchen and home goods. And-milkshakes. The one I had was amazing. If it wasn't so far away from home for me I think it could be one of me new favorite places...I suppose it still can be-even if I only make it there this one time.

Here's to wonderful summer days!

Perks of the Job!

One of the perks of my job is that I get to take our participants to some pretty awesome places. Kelli (my co-worker) and myself and our Food Services manager were supposed to take participants fishing yesterday, but David had to cancel so we Plan B'ed it. Kelli and I took a group to Trillium Lake. A lake I've wanted to go to for a long while and just haven't made it too...well...I finally did. Of course there was no hiking but there was lunching and who can argue with such an amazing lunchtime view?!

Mt Hood-beautiful Mt Hood from Trillium!

Proof...because that is needed ya know!

I wonder where my next work adventure will take me?!

This years blueberries!

Boy...were they plentiful. I picked for over and hour and ended up with over 9 pounds...some to freeze for later, some to give to a friend who gave me a bunch of raspberries and some to eat now!

If only you could pick berries ALL year long!

Miss Stephanie and Josie's Grand Adventure

Josie is my adorable Goddaughter-as you know. She is so special-as all kids are. Yesterday I was lucky enough to get to "kidnap" her for part of the day. This is something I do a few times a year with Myles-Josie's big brother, but I'd not taken her out before yesterday. 

We whisked away to my work to drop something off for someone and played around a bit...

Josie LOVED spinning in one of the office chairs!

She "helped" Georgia (the PTA I work with) to move walkers around...

...she checked out the fishies....

And then we went to a park and played. Josie loved the swing...

...and then she wanted to go check out the play structure...

Look at that smile! I love it!

She's a determined little girl!

No smiles for me right now...she wants to be playing!

...or better yet-trying to pull out a clump of grass from a dirt patch.

Look at that sweet face!

Time to go home-not ready, but time.

It was fun for me to see the differences between Myles and Josie. Myles just goes and does and Josie is a watcher. She has spent all of her life watching her big brother do things and then she attempts them so she does the same on a playground full of kids...watches all of them and then goes over to play. She is a sweet girl and I was glad to have this time with her!

Christmas in July!

Since Rose and Lee were in Alaska for Christmas again this past year, our Girls Group celebrated Christmas in July once again. Rose hosted and made an wonderful spread of breakfast for dinner and the rest of us also brought yummy food to share. 

Rose got this cute tree out with ornaments!

We also had a kitty cat nativity!

Heart shaped, gluten-free waffles that were yummy!

Gift exchange outside! Such a fun and unusual place for a Christmas gift exchange-guess anything is possible at Christmas in July!

"The Hat" is back. Several years ago this was my contribution for the corny gift exchange. The dreaded baseball aht bird house. Everyone has now had it and it was only fitting that it return to me...Now I have a year to add something to it. Any ideas?...let me know!

Rachel and her corny gift for the year.

And Rose with hers...

Part of Jamie's...

Aren't we a nice looking group?! I think so! Such a fun evening filled with friends and laughter and good food! Here's to another year before our next Christmas in July!

“We should all have personal hot air balloons and drift serenely through the clouds.” ~Rhys Bowen

I'd always wanted to make it to the Festival of Balloons in Tigard, but never had. One year I'd gotten all the way there and then my mood changed and it was nearly 100 degrees out so I turned around and went home even before attempting to park. This year, I made it. After debating about sunrise lift off or going for the night glow, I decided on the night glow. It's a good thing I made this decision too because they didn't do the morning lift off today due to weather. 

When going to the festival you park like a billion miles away from where the balloons are actually "parked" and walk and walk. I was glad I wore good shoes. It was so worth it. Next time I go I really do want to see them lift off though...so I might just need to brave the early morning hours for that. Enjoy the pictures...

 I really liked the Humpty Dumpty balloon.

It started sprinking a bit and there was a guy running around telling all the balloon owners and before you knew it all the balloons were decending so they could be packed and stored. It amazed me how quickly they all came down and how quickly the teams manuvered them to pack and store them. I was impressed.

In addition to the balloons there was a carnival going on and a few bands that played. I listened to The Beatniks and they were a great group. I would definitely see/listen to them again. I was so glad I finally made it and will be back to visit again!