Oregon Vacation - Days 7 & 8 - Portland/Home

Dang.  This is our last day of fun as we fly home tomorrow.  As low key as we have kept this, time has still zipped by.  The one thing that ha happened, though, is that I think we both have fallen in love with this area.  We could live here and that's saying a lot because of all the places we have traveled, rarely do we have this desire.

Leaving the car behind, we are public transiting it today.  After catching a bus downtown, we make a return trip to Spella.  Yes, it is that good.  Now for a walk down the street and a quick stop at the Pioneer Mall for facility use before wandering about all day.  Yep, nature does call now and then.

Oregon Vacation - Day 6 - Coast

It's Coast Day!  Coffee first though and on the way I am reminded of the murals all over Portland and that I have not taken a single picture of them.  Well, let's rectify that.

Oregon Vacation - Day 5 - Portland/Oregon City

It's another beautiful day in Oregon.  We simply could not have requested better weather.  Since we were unable to get into the Japanese Gardens yesterday, that is where we are headed but wait - stop - hold up.  Coffee --- where is today's coffee spot?  How about the Dragonfly Coffee House.

I LOVE this place the minute we walk in.  It is full of cozy corners, cushiony sofas, and atmosphere up the wazoo.  Settling into a window nook (the place is PACKED), we order a coffee cake and pumpkin/apple/walnut muffin for breakfast.

Everything arrives, looks beautiful and is HUGE.  I am positive that we should have shared a muffin.  Oh my.  Let's just take our time and relax.  It's our vacation. (No, I still can't eat it all.)

Oregon Vacation - Day 4 - Portland

Hello there!  We slept in!  Yep, that is unheard of during a vacation together.  There is just so see and do, but my sweetheart (and myself if truth be told) need to take it easy this week.  This is a chance to push the reset button and, by golly, that is what we are going to do.

However, that being said, it is almost 10 and time to go.  Downtown is the destination and wandering for awhile is the agenda.  Come along and see what we do.

First stop is the Pine Street Market.  We are hoping for some breakfast in here but as we enter, it quickly becomes clear that this is not a market so much as a food court.  Drat.  At any rate, we DO  find a great little coffee shop with pastries and that will work too.

Oregon Vacation - Day 3 - Eclipse and Portland Arrival

Good morning ya'll.  Happy Eclipse Day.  We are on the road by 5 a.m. and eagerly watch the horizon for an appearance by the "star" of the day.  Oh, there she is.

Oregon Vacation - Day 2 - Scoping It Out

After a good night's sleep, we are ready for a road trip.  We are going to scope out some areas east of Madras as the news keeps saying how terrible the traffic is.  At this point, we have not experienced any traffic, but we are fairly north of the "totality path."

Last night while getting dinner in Lyle, we spotted a cafe that looked good for this morning.  The Country Cafe absolutely fits it's name and although a bit slow on service, certainly delivers one's money's worth.  Goodness, we won't need to eat the rest of the day.

Crossing over the Columbia River and back into Oregon at The Dalles, we then take Hwy 206 off into the boonies.  Yep, we are looking for the road less traveled today.  The first town we come to is Wasco and stop for a bottle of water.  No, we didn't plan well.  Yes, I'm thirsty.  It's a cute little town with a market on Main Street and barn quilts on the buildings.

As we are leaving, a cherry orchard is spotted alongside the road and these trees are just plain loaded with cherries.  Fortunately, we still have some from the stand we stopped at yesterday.  Yum.

Oregon Vacation - Day 1 - Columbia Gorge

There are times in our lives where Mister and I think we are super informed and on top of things.  Last April, we had one such moment.  I was reading the monthly Texas Journey magazine from AAA and saw an article about an upcoming total eclipse.  It said the best viewing spot would be in Madras, Oregon.  I mentioned that it would super cool to see this and reminded him that the Portland area has been on his list for awhile.  Done.  We literally bought the plane tickets that day.  A week or so later, he started looking for places to stay and we discovered that perhaps we were really behind the eight ball on this one.  Some places told us they have been booked for YEARS preparing for this.  Hmmmm.  He kept looking and found a great cabin for us (not in Madras, but driving distance) and an Airbnb in Portland.  Whew --- we booked a rental car and were set.  Now all we had to do was wait until August.

Fast forward and here we are.  The day has finally arrived and I'm super excited to have over a week with my sweet Mister all to myself.  We are up, up, and away bright and early.  Hello, Mt. Hood.  Our flights went right on schedule and with an arrival in Portland at 9:30 a.m., we have a whole day ahead of us.

It's hard to believe, but by 10:00 we are leaving the rental car lot and starting our fun.  That was slick Portland.  Nice airport.

Grass and Bad Lawn Service

We have the worst lawn service in Dallas.  Honestly.  How do I know this?  Well first off, I ran a lawn service for years and absolutely know what good service is.  Secondly, our grass hasn't been mowed in over a month.  When I go outside and stand on the lawn, the blades of grass come up my leg and this is St. Augustine.  It's supposed to be flat on the ground.

Since we are leaving town tomorrow and Mister would like the house to look a bit "lived in" while we are away, he has finally traced down the service and requested that they show up TODAY.  Apparently, making money is not the top concern for this company.

Late in the afternoon, they finally show.  Life is better now -- at least for another month.

Mister Finds a Friend

A renewed effort to walk is taking place in our house again.  Yes, again.  Wouldn't it be awesome if restarts weren't necessary?  At any rate, while we were on the way home Mister flinched and said to me, "What is on my shoulder?"  I took a look and so should you.

Red Hat Day

It's another RED HAT DAY!  The last time I was able to attend was clear back in May.  I tried so hard during both June and July but honestly feel that the universe was against me.  This month is not an exception BUT I am going to beat the universe.  It's midnight and I am in Abilene, TX.  That is at least 3 hours from where the Big D Re-Gals are gathering in Plano, TX.  Ugh.  How can I make this work?  I am supposed to leave at 5 a.m. to get the rental car back by nine so that should give me time to get cleaned up and off to the meeting.  I look at the clock again and it's now 1:30 a.m.  The heck with getting up at 5.  I am outta here.  Packing up quick, I hit the road at 2:00 a.m.  Wide awake and with classic country blasting on the radio the miles soon tick off.  THIS IS DEDICATION!  Also, there's a bit of guilt to ease from June and July.  (The meme at the side should say "Wanting to be a Member of the Red Hat Society.")

Abilene Living - Fort Phantom

I am in Abilene for a week watching the boys while Jen and Louis take Bekah on her graduation cruise.  And this is my abode.

I have Bekah's domain to call home for awhile and I like what she has done with the room.  I'm curious to see how much it will come apart when she leaves for college at the end of the month.,  At any rate, it's mine for the next week.

San Francisco With Amanda

28th -  A little over two weeks ago, my daughter called and asked if I would like to spend a weekend together in San Francisco.  Any chance for some one on one time is the BEST so I jump at the opportunity and our flights are soon booked.  Today is fly day and wouldn't you know it - my flight is delayed.  Drat.

Finally, we board and take off.  It's a long flight so I have a chance to watch a movie.  Yes, I have things I SHOULD be working on, but Hidden Figures is available and I have not had the opportunity to see it yet.  Score.