"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." ~Henri Matisse

I love Dahlia's. They are amazing flowers. Though I could do without the pom-pom versions. Every year I go to the Swan Island Dahlia Fields to see some amazing colors and to dream about my future yard/garden. This year my friend Jenny has become an avid lover or gardening-flowers and veggies. I invited her to join me and she was more than happy and excited to do so. We picked a day and away we went to the flowers. It was a hot day-like every day that I go to the Dahlia Fields is, but we had a mission: take as many pictures as possible. Jenny's got a plan. In the dull, dreary, winter months she'd like to comb through the pictures and pick her favorites to print, frame in simple black frames and hang. A way to bring some summer into the midst of winter and any day to come. So we went. We took pictures. And then we took some more pictures. And when we thought we'd taken enough, we took some more...just to be "safe." So...pardon this photo dump...there are more where these came from so be glad I didn't upload the 100+ pictures I took just on my camera. Weed through them for a couple people-involved pictures! (PS We did play with the altered version button on my camera-so some of these pictures have been color altered.)

A picture of us before we got too hot and sweaty!

 My favorites for this year...

After getting maybe enough pictures, but for sure getting to an over heated point we headed out. I'd been craving BBQ and once I mentioned it to Jenny so was she. So after dropping off flowers that we purchased at Jenny's we headed for Famous Dave's. First time either of us had been there. We will go back. It tasted amazing! So yummy.

Thanks for the fun day, Jenny! We'll see these pictures in the grey months to come!

Music and friends in the out of doors...

My Girls Group is back to getting together once a month. It's been nice. We always have one summer month where it is a Girls plus spouses/significant others/kids (depending on where we all have been in life) Group. Sometimes a BBQ, usually a BBQ. This year we went to a concert at Kruger Farm on Sauvie's Island. I'd never been, but it was fun! 

I met Rose and Lee at Concordia and rode with them a) to save gas and b) to save money...it cost each car to get in. We had all brought dinner and we sat in the sun and humid air (it's been unusually humid the last week or two in PDX) and ate and watched Xander's antics. 

He's such a cutie.

We were some of the first people there. Jamie had told us it started earlier than it really did. We didn't mind. We watched the seating area fill up with blankets, people, kids, picnic items-the sights and sounds of summer and the way it should be.

 More people!

 The girls + Xander and part of Lee (Rose, Jamie, Rachel, me).

 Amazing sunset. The color of the sky that night was phenomenal!

 Xander being silly on Rachel's lap!

What a delightful way to spend a beautiful summer evening! Can we have more? Summer is coming too quickly to an end.

Taiko in the Park

After work today I whisked away to Sandy to listen to one of my favorite groups, Portland Taiko (a Japanese drum drumming group) perform. They are amazing. Every. Single. Time. I. See. Them. Every time!

I can't get the videos to upload right now...will try again later!

One of my favorite places! The H.R.

Hood River (H.R.) is one of my favorite places! I love going and have said that if I ever could really dream about having a "vacation home" I would consider having it in the Hood River valley. Placed perfectly so that I can see these two glorious mountains!

I went with my friend Linda and her family for the summer fruit (mainly peaches, apricots, plums). I'd never been this time of year, but it was beautiful as always.

Mt Hood!

Mt Adams!

Purple Beans (just 'cause I thought they were fun)!

So...when do we go again?!