A much needed, restful weekend away

Ah, Southern Oregon, a territory that I must admit has not been frequented be me. Never. Ever. I have called Oregon home for 9 years. My, oh my, how times flies. I digress...focus Stephanie, focus. Nine years later, I finally make it to the Southern (Southwest Oregon to be more specific, Medford area to be more exact) part of this ever diverse and different state. The reason: Memorial Day Weekend. Perfect timing for a mini-vacation. Perfect.

Megan's parents live in this area and so we decided to road trip it down for the long weekend, along with Megan's friend Julie and her family. The daunting task was going to be the drive down. Not because it was particularly long or complicated, but merely for the reason that it was Memorial Day Weekend. A busy time on any road, anywhere in the United States. So, climb in the car Friday night we did. After a long week at work. We were wholly and truly prepared to sit in some major traffic. I, however, have decided since that time that the traffic gods were looking down on us and smiling. Really! I don't lie! We got on I-205 and, in the rain made our way south. There was a slow down on the interchange from 205 to I-5 and then it was smooth sailing. What?! How'd that happen? Like I said, it must have been the traffic gods, and maybe even a little bit of the weather gods. The rain maybe put a damper on plans for some? Maybe?!

Anywho, we booked it along right down I-5. Stopped once and met up with Julie and her car-ful and then ventured the rest of the way down. There are three things I would like to share about the drive down. I wrote them down so that I would not forget them. They made me laugh.

1) Megan wanted to know what time an amazing diner in Rice Hill closed. After getting a diner name from her parents she called 411 and had the darndest time getting the computer service to recognize Rice Hill. Oregon. Oakland. You name it...it was hit or miss. Mainly miss. Finally after getting the number, well assuming you've got the number coming through in a text message it fails. Try again. It was hilarious (to me) to have Megan keep saying Oregon. Oregon. Oregon. Rice Hill. Rice Hill. Oakland. Oakland. And, it went on. Finally, number was acquired, but they'd be closed by the time we rolled through.
2) Playing "I Spy" with a 4, almost 5, year-old over walkie-talkies in two different vehicles that were a few car lengths apart was quite amuzing, and really, quite adorable.
3) Singing "Happy Birthday" to a co-worker who had the day of her birth anniversary off from work. It is always fun to sing out-of-key (which is what I always do).

We eventually made it to the landing pad late. And to bed I shortly went. In the morning when I got up and looked out the front door, this is what I was greeted with. A gorgeous site that I had been unable to see in the dark the previous night.

After some hanging out, lounging and breakfast we headed to Jacksonville OR. A town that had, way back when, been destined to be the state capital. It was a cute, quiant little town.

There was this "old fashioned" lady sitting on a bench and talking on her cell phone...oh, the irony.

That night we had a fire and roasted marshmallows. YUMMY!

Mt McLouglin is to Southwest Oregon like Mt Hood is to Northwest Oregon. It was a beautiful mountain.

Sunday we packed things up and headed to Crater Lake. A place on my to-do list. It was amazing! It was beautiful, breathtaking, and a place I will most definitely go back to. Promise.

This was the drive up towards the lake.

There was still A LOT of snow. It was gorgeous.

Me on the rim.

A snowball fight ensued. This was one of the "casualties."

The lodge in the distance and lots of cars of the lots of people that were there.

AMAZING, right?!

After the Crater Lake experience we did some more just hanging out. Had a BBQ on Monday for lunch and then headed back to PDX. We couldn't drive past Rice Hill without stopping at Peggy's. Yes, that is the name of the diner Megan had been attempting to acquire a phone number for. When we got off the freeway, low and behold--it was the WRONG place. Oy. Anywho, we made it over to the right place...the K-R Drive In.

And,we got a blackberry milkshake, and it was oh-so-good (once it would come up through the straw)!

We got back on the freeway and made it home with little, actually, no difficulty. The traffic gods were smiling again. And so was I.

Much thanks to Megan for inviting me and to Gary and Claudia for the amazing hospitality!

May Poem of the Month

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking
Author Unknown

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first picture on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed there was a God that Icould always talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me good night, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared and
I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked....and now I want to say thanks for all the things I saw,
when you thought I wasn't looking.

I think I'll spend a day with the animals

I enjoy zoos. To be truthful, I am sort of partial to the Denver Zoo. I love that zoo. I have very fond memories of that zoo. However, I am no where near the Denver Zoo. So, the Oregon Zoo must do...and today it did. The second Tuesday of every month is $2 Tuesday. This month that day happened to coincide with my dear friend, Stasia's birthday. I had asked her if she and her family would like to go and they said yes. It was a fun affair, though crowded as it of course is a popular day.

I took lots of pictures, but realized that I have not a one of me at the zoo...alas, because of some of the cute pictures I got of Stasia, Dave and Myles, I can endure on just the memories that I was there. Below is probably one of my favorite pictures.

**LATE ENTRY** Below is a picture Stasia emailed me from their camera! Proof that I was there!

Happy Birthday, Stasia and thanks for letting me join you and your adorable family for a fun filled day! I am thankful for your friendship and the time I get to spend with you all!

A Day For The Soul

I have been restless. I get that way this time of year. I think it is because I don't fair well when couped up all winter. Not that I am couped up entirely, but from some of the great hiking spots in the area. Some may say, "Stephanie, you can hike in the winter." And my response would be, "Yes, I know this, but I melt in the rain." Not really. I've done lots of things in the rain, hiking has unfortunately not been one of them. Maybe I should try that next winter on a nice day.

Anywho, I've been sort of stir crazy as of late and decided that this would be the weekend I got out. I awoke early this morning (in anticipation of my adventure?!-maybe), 6am, early for a weekend anyway. Earlier even than when I wake up during the work week. I did consider jumping out of bed and heading somewhere, but figured I would crash entirely too early this evening. So, I dawdled. It was wonderful. I had decided to head into the Columbia River Gorge. A place that I often forget to include in my spur-of-the-moment ventures. I took the Historic Columbia River Highway and was not disappointed. I had been in the gorge multiple times. It just doesn't tend to be my first thought for a Sunday drive type of destination.

The first stop I made was at the Portland Women's Forum. This scenic viewpoint is most definitely scenic. It hosts some of the most captivating views of the gorge, especially on a clear day such as today.

Look closely and you can see the Vista House at Crown Point.
Approaching the Vista House

View looking East from Crown Point

View looking West towards Portland

The Vista House was built in 1917 and designed to be an ideal site for “an observatory from which the view both up and down the Columbia could be viewed in silent communion with the infinite.” ~S Lancaster, proposer of the observatory. It is still true to those words, all these years later.

After my stops at the Women's Forum and Vista House/Crown Point I headed back down towards the multitude of waterfalls that can be found in the gorge.

First falls:

The picture below reminds me of some sort of ethereal something or other. In actuality it is the sun streaming through the mist of the fall. If only there'd been a rainbow...

Approaching the elevation of the drop-off location of the falls. Amazing views from this height.

Falls stop #2:

This is a fall that I have not ever seen from the road, as you have to hike in to see it (I believe).

I posted the picture below because it cracked me up that you can so easily see the reflection of my hands in my sunglasses...

Falls stop #3:

I love this fall. I would classify it as my favorite among the falls of the gorge.

After seeing my favorite I decided to head up to see the Upper Horsetail Falls, AKA Ponytail Falls. Again, amazing views from that height.

The grotto, yes, that is the official name of the area carved out behind/below the falls; reminds me so much of Silver Falls State Park, another favorite of mine.

I was in heaven sitting under and behind the water. The rumble and crashings of water was so loud that I could barely hear myself think, let alone any one of the number of people surrounding me.

To end my day I was invited to go on a walk with my friend Megan. I had also asked if she wanted to do a picnic dinner at Rocky Butte. A place so near to her home that she had yet to visit and I'd been asking her if she'd been there for a year now. Today was the day. Our walk turned into just the picnic, which was delightful, even if a bit chilly as the clouds had rolled in. The views from the butte are pretty much amazing, I think. You can see all of Portland, along with Mt Hood, St Helens, Adams and Rainer (on a clear day). We had a short glimpse of Mt Hood before the clouds settled down around its peak and we had several great views of St Helens.

Looking East toward my earlier-in-the-day adventure in the gorge.

You can faintly see Mt Hood below, if you look real close...yes, squint just like that... :)

Downtown PDX. I love this city, especially in the spring when everything is so green and fresh.

Happy Soul Rejuvenation Day!

Dear Mom,

I love you! Hope you had a fantastic day! Thanks for all of your unending love and support.

~Steph

Taken June 2009 in Wheatland WY

Only 5?!

This was shared by one of my co-workers as a reflection during a staff meeting. I LIKE it, A LOT!~~

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

by Portia Nelson

I

I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk

I fall in.

I am lost...I am helpless.

It takes me forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don't see it.

I fall in again.

I can't believe I am in the same place

but, it isn't my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in...it's a habit.

My eyes are open

I know where I am.

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

V

I walk down a different street.

"Their blooms, a hidden gargle in their green throats" ~Kathleen Jamie

After living in PDX for 9 Spring seasons, and wanting to visit this garden each of those Springs, I made it. Megan graciously accompanied my to the Crystal Spring Rhododendron Gardens. The garden was so quiet and peaceful, reflective of me and my mood for the day. The weather cooperated for the most part. (Except our fingers about froze off!) The garden is 7 acres and contains many colors of Rhodie, Azaleas and other trees, plants, bushes, etc. It also host a quaint little lake and many waterfalls.

The bridge at the entrance garden.
Megan at one of the waterfalls.

She was trying REALLY hard not to fall in!

Toddling among the stepping stones leading to the waterfall.

It started and stopped raining at this point....

Amazing colors!

If you look in the distance, under the archway you can see a waterfall! I love the sounds of cascading water, the smell of spring.

Megan on a log, remnants of a tree that felled due to weather, I imagine.

DUCKS! Everywhere!

Megan took a series of pictures (probably 12 in all) just to get the "perfect" picture of both duck butts up in the air!

"Can you twist that way."

Amazing colors!

Craggy branches and trunks!

Another felled tree.

Baby ducks; AKA ducklings! They were adorable!

More colors.

By now, I think our fingers were officially frozen. It was worth it though. The garden was beautiful. I will return, even in the "off season" as it is a truly peaceful place.

Maybe you should come out next spring and go with me?! YES! I love visitors!