Anniversary camping + wildflowers

Last July, I visited a new-to-me trail in the Gorge. The hillside was covered with dried balsamroot, promising a beautiful spring flower display, and I hoped to return this year and check out the blooms.

For our May 16 anniversary, Brad snagged a camping reservation at Deschutes River State Recreation Area - where the Deschutes meets the Columbia River. We don't often get to "brown Oregon", but the draw of the aforementioned wildflowers and the cooler spring temps was enough to make the trek.

We pitched our tent right next to the Deschutes and settled in for the evening just as a rain storm arrived.

The rain lasted into the morning hours, so we decided to sleep in and explore the right-next-door Lower Deschutes River Trail when the rain stopped.

Spring rain means the brown hills are still green!

We did about 9 miles via the Ferry Springs trail and enjoyed exploring somewhere new!

Sunday, we woke early and drove to Rowena Plateau for a hike up McCall Point.

It did not disappoint!!!!!

Wy'East was peaking out from behind the clouds:

24 years adventuring with this guy:

So many more to come ❤

No-TV Tuesday: yard work and flowers

No-TV Tuesday kicked off with a run to the ballot box.

Armed with empty yard-debris bins and a dry evening, I spent hours outside doing more cleanup. I finally made it all the way around the yard collecting cones, cuttings, leaves, and weeds. And I got MOST of the big pile into the bins. 

Two weeks from now, the pile should finally be gone - and hopefully most of the overflow cans. BUT... then I need to do the roof and gutters. It's really never ending. Fortunately, I enjoy the work and love digging in the dirt.

Overflow:

Then I took a stroll around the yard to soak in my spring blooms:

A very old azalea hedge:

Stolen from Ma's yard:

Most of my front yard was swiped from Ma's house:

Hostas coming up:

More old azaleas:

Much better than watching TV

:)

24 years!

Yesterday marked 24 years of marriage!

Going-away bubbles were very popular in the late 1990s. 

Lots of adventures - and hopefully many, many more to come!

How old were we?!?!?!

Looking more our age:

❤

No-TV Tuesday: ballots and packing

Another super-thrilling No-TV Tuesday!

Picking our candidates for Oregon's primary election. Don't forget to vote by May 17!!! 

Also did dinner, laundry, and dishes while listening to my current audio book:

Packed for an upcoming camping trip:

Gizmo helped...

Ha!

:)

No-TV Tuesday: Winco, union strong, shrimp, weeds

I love turning on my audio book and digging in the dirt! A couple dry days brought plans for yard work.

But first up: Winco!

OSEA Chapter 51 monthly meeting:

Sally's Creamy Pesto Shrimp - one of our favorites!

Then I got to work in the front yard, quickly filling one yard debris bin:

Our very wet spring has me behind on my yard cleanup, but Tuesday's dry and warm(er) weather gave me a chance to get out.

I worked until I lost light and bedtime called.

Planning to get out more Wednesday 🍂🌼

Year of Hiking 2022: 24 - 27

We had some big hiking goals this month, but cold, wet, snowy weather put a damper on those outdoor plans. Fortunately, a quick trip to San Francisco gave me a chance to see some new spots for my 52-Hike Challenge.

No. 24 - Wildwood 53rd to Germantown Road, April 2 (25K race recap):

No. 25 - Centennial Way Trail, April 11:

No. 26 - Embarcadero, April 11:

No. 27 - Junipero Serra, April 11:

Hoping to explore much more in May :)

Happy Independent Bookstore Day!

Brad and I spent Saturday in Vancouver celebrating one year since MIL Donna's open-heart surgery.

Together with Donna and Steve, we ate lots of yummy food, watched Obama's nature documentary, chatted about all the important things, visited a brand-new See's Candies, and browsed Vintage Books. 

Vintage Books - at Mill Plain and Andresen - was new to me. We arrived to find chalk drawings announcing Indie Bookstore Day! 

That was a happy accident! The shop was busy, full of shoppers spending money at their local bookstore. 

While we didn't see them, apparently a couple cats hang around to greet customers:

The store was crammed full of books - new and used - of all genres. I was thrilled to find a used copy of Louise Penny's latest mystery:

If you're in the market for books, check out Vintage Books in Vancouver! I will definitely visit again 📚

2022: Nos. 26 - 32

April reading roundup:

No. 26 - I Don't Want to Die Poor by Michael Arceneaux:

No. 27 - The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda:

No. 28 - Shadow Sands by Robert Brundza:

No. 29 - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner:

No. 30 - The Safest Lies by Megan Miranda:

No. 31 - The Girl of His Dreams by Harry Mazer:

No. 32 - Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby:

:)