A weekend in the yard...

...is always nice.

A bathroom cabinet!

Last Sunday, my friend Michele, took me (and her visiting Mom) to Sellwood to some antique shops. I have been looking for a old white dresser for the bathroom downstairs and had all my measurements ready to search. There were lots of such dressers, but none quite right. Instead I found a cabinet to hang over the toilet. I was worried it would be to big for the space, which it very well might be, but I am getting used to it and it has a fair amount of storage space. Yeah! A little but of storage in the bathroom! Now, if I forget to bring a towel into the bathroom, I don't have to go into the hallway after my shower to get one. It's all about the small successes in life.

Gorge-ous Day

We have had several beautiful blue sky days recently. Today Daniel and I took advantage of such a day and headed down the gorge. We drove along the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, which was nice and we wondered why we always drive East on 84. Then we took about a 4 mile hike to Horse Tail Falls and Triple Falls. We stopped in Cascade Locks looking for fish and chips for lunch but couldn't find any. Had some salmon chowder instead. Although, CharBurger interested both of us, we aren't eating meat for lent. Over the Bridge of the Gods we went and drove North up the other side of the river, stopping to hike about 2 more miles at Beacon Rock. Daniel had never been there before, and I decided that I am nervous about heights. I never noticed this before. But walking on those narrow pathways clinging to the side of the rock face reminded me of being on the glass floor at the tower in Calgary...scary. We didn't take any pictures, as Daniel is scrutinizing cameras, after our new one kept fogging up in cold weather.

Birthday Celebration

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and today is my grandpa's birthday. We celebrated yesterday by going to dinner at a Thai food restaurant near our house, and then back to our house for dessert. I am working on healthy desserts this year, trying to stay away from so much sugar and fat. It's hard with this sweet tooth of mine (inherited from my mother). Anyway, I made a chocolate cake with whole wheat flour, and agave syrup (instead of sugar). I was very nervous about the results, but it turned out well. There was a layer of plum preserves, that I had canned this fall, and then cream cheese and honey frosting. The frosting did have sugar in it, but not as much as the recipe called for (which was 3 cups!!).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! to Mom and Grandpa. I am glad you guys are close by so we can celebrate together.

Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa


Birthday Cake

Happy Birthday Mom!


Daniel, Dad, and Charlene
Tallying the results of the 3D Blokus Game

Grandma, Dad, Charlene, and Sarah
Playing 3D Blokus

Beautiful snow...

Snow...scenery on our snow shoe hike Saturday afternoon.

Daniel...
Saturday was beautiful and clear. Warm enough we didn't need jackets.

Sarah and Michele

Sarah...enjoying the scenery.

Glorious Mt. Hood

View from Timberline.

Lynn..... Playin' Scrabble.

Daniel and Sarah...
Sunday morning was a different day. Cold wet snow and wind.

A special walk

Our poor Beckett is getting old. We finally feel like we are walking an old dog when we walk Becks. He is still as excited as ever to go on a walk, but he slowly trudges along down the street to the coffee shop or around the block. It is a real exercise in patience for Daniel and I, who prefer to at least feel like we are getting a little exercise on a walk. We have given up taking him on any longer walks or adventures. Everyday it's around the same block or up and down the same street to Cooper's for Daniel's morning coffee. Last weekend we decided to take Beckett on a special walk, I thought he needed some excitement in his life, so we headed to Sauvie Island. We had been up there in the fall to visit the pumpkin farms and had taken him on a walk at Wapito Park, so we headed back there. He had a very nice walk, smelling all the new smells, and getting all muddy and dirty. He was happy and got all worn out.

Frozen Lakes and Fishermen...

...who knew the two went together? While in Whitefish for Christmas, Daniel, his parents, and I hiked from our cabin to the frozen lake. There were several fisherman out there ice fishing, some in huts, some without huts, fisherMEN of all ages, but no fisherWOMEN.

On the left side of the lake you can see some of the huts the fishermen use to keep warm.

I guess if you're from Minnesota you aren't afraid of frozen lakes. I, on the other hand, have heard they are dangerous. Jerry and Daniel walked out there without a second thought. I was carefully inspecting the ice before each step.

I usually don't wear scarfs around my waist, only when I am dressed for arctic weather and have just been hiking uphill.

Jerry, Sarah, and Judy

I'm not too sure you should get close to the hole...the fisherman thinks that is funny.

Looks fun, right!

I'm ice fishing, with a short little fishing pole!

If you look close you can see the two fish I caught on the ice. Just kidding, no fish for me, but it's not hard for the fisherman to keep their fish on ice.

The End...