Christmas-time in the City

Doing something for two years make it tradition...right?! Last night was the second year Jenny and I went to the Christmas tree lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square. I'd say that can make it tradition. This year her roommate Angel also joined us and this year it was dry and (as opposed to the buckets of rain we had last year) and this year we returned to Rock Bottom Brewery for dinner (also tradition) and watched the UO and OSU football clash-the Civil War. It was a lovely night out! Enjoy the pictures!

Waiting the the lighting...

As we were waiting for the lighting I made a comment that it would be cool if Santa made his appearance by ziplining into the square from one of the many tall buildings surrounding the square. Next thing Angel said people around us had all started looking at the building tops around us and wondering out loud what building Santa would zipline down from. I guess I started something...maybe Santa needs to consider it! :)

Love, LOVE the lights. There were mini strobe lights blinking too. I love the atmosphere of the whole event as well.

 So pretty...

Too bad it can't be up all the time. I would love that.

Evenings full of laughter

I have worked with some amazing people. Most of them I still keep in touch with. This evening Mirjana hosted a lovely and lively with laughter dinner. It was great to see all these wonderful people that I used to work with.

Pictured: John, Mirjana, Jan, Diane, Jenny, Sara and me in front. 

Thank goodness for timers on cameras!

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Notice I say it's beginning to  look like Christmas and not, "a lot" like Christmas. It's still a little early for that for me. But, a special Christmas tradition came through Vancouver, WA today. Every year there is a months long process to pick a tree from one of the National Parks and then there is the cutting and transporting time. As the tree makes its way from its origination to Washington DC to grace the grounds of the US Capitol it makes stops so that the people of this country can wish it well on its way. A few years ago the tree came from Wyoming, my homestate. That was also a year that I was in Washington DC at Christmas/New Year time and was able to see it. This year the tree is coming from Washington state and made a stop in Vancouver, just north of me. I decided I'd like to go so away I went...

Here is the tree covered in canvas to protect it.

 I think that because you can't see the tree itself the most impressive thing to see (besides the length=height of the tree) is the truck pulling it. The paint job of the truck was so detailed and so impressive....there are several photos in here of it...

 There was a canvas/tarp that covered the tree and sharpies for people to sign it.

 There is some plexi-glass window sections so you can get a small glimpse of the tree and some of the ornaments, all of which are made by the people of the state the tree comes from.

 Here's an ornament that is made for the tree and year.

 Santa even made an appearance!

 I had to sign it....

 More of the truck...

What a fun and early Christmas experience! Wishing you well on your way, Capitol Christmas Tree!

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” ~Albert Camus

Fall is my favorite time of year. I especially love it in the Northwest, where there are so many more colors than I experienced in Wyoming. I had the day off from work and it was gorgeous. Who could pass up a drive into the Gorge and then around Mt Hood to come home?! Not me.

Mt Hood from Gresham.

 Colors in the Gorge!

 Mt Adams from Rasmussen Farms with some fall leaves.

 Gourds!

 More gourds!

 Old broken down tractor in the pumpkin patch.

 Pumpkins with Mt Adams in the background...

 ...and color altered.

 So pretty and Mt Adams looks SO big in this picture.

 Apples....

 ...lots of apples...

 Drive home on Hwy 35 among the beautiful yellows.

 Mt Hood!

 From another angle...

 Mt Jefferson among the fog from Timberline. Amazing!

I came home refreshed and content with the fall experiences I've been having! I also came home with lots of my favorite apples! Mutsu's!!

How I feel about the day:
“To say it was a beautiful day would not begin to explain it. It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with the start of fall....” ~Ann Patchett

She's 2!

My precious Goddaughter, Josie turned 2 on Tuesday! She was sick, so we celebrated tonight. I baked a fun, gluten-free cake and joined their family for dinner, cake and some preliminary (pre-party) gift opening.

Yummy chocolate cake with yummy homemade buttercream icing (minus the frosting of the dots...that was store bought and gross, in my opinion, but it made the cake cute)!

 The still recovering, newly 2 year old!

 She was color coordinated with her cake-completely unplanned!

 Smiles while we were singing Happy Birthday to her!

 Dad helped her blow out the candle!

 I held baby Ella! She was happy...

 ...we even got a smile and a cute little tongue out of her!

 Gift opening time!

 Help from Dad and attempted help from big brother.

 New sheets for her big girl bed!

 Mom took most of the pictures...she's got to be in one...even if something else got in there as well...I'm not sure what that is...card opening.

 Pig flashlight!

 I got Josie blocks with pictures on them...they were a hit and they come in handy for stacking, too.

 Someone's been eating chocolate cake...and looks tired.

This little party was a good practice run for the bigger, weekend party!

A week or so before birthday celebrations I met Stasia and the kiddos at the park for a few minutes and Josie and I went down the slide a few time! Fun!!

What a special girl!