Field Trip to Hood River (part I)

Thursday is Andy's day off and we usually try to do some sort of family activity after Carson gets done with school.  But this week we decided to have a field trip day and spend the whole day adventuring.  We decided to explore a little of Hood River- it is about 3ish hours from us.   

We left the house around 8:30am.  The kids were so excited!

Here all three of them are entertaining themselves with their own personal computers.

We took a couple of pictures of Multnomah Falls as we breezed past.  Promising to return someday soon and explore.

We stopped for gas and ran into an Idaho friend of ours.  It was such a surprise to walk into the gas station and see her, and so wonderful to chat for a few minutes.  She suggested we stop at the Fish Hatchery.  Just like she said, this hatchery is so very cool!!

There were big fish...

and tiny fish...

and lots of room to run and  explore.

They had well-done landscaping and beautiful fall flowers.

Meet Herman, the ginormous sturgeon.  He was huge!

While we were there, a man was re-painting the fish on the pavement.  I was trying to help the kids do a little critical thinking and was in the process of asking why they thought the cones might be there.  Before the words got all the way out of my mouth, Kenzie started to weave in and out of the cones. I quickly halted her progress and Andy helped her clean the paint off her shoe so we didn't track white paint.  So much for critical thinking.

They had so many fish ponds...

For a quarter you could buy a handful of fish food and feed these fish.

Lunch was a peanut butter sandwich picnic.  These three jumped and ran while they ate. 

Within walking distance of the hatchery was a Oregon trail historical marker.  Of course we had to check it out. Thankfully there was no Chinook wind blowing so we didn't hear the wailing of the unhappy Indian maiden.

Beacon Rock

My littlest man taking a nap.

We also drove through the Bonneville Dam area.  It would be really neat to be there when a big boat would come through.

Then it was on to the beautiful town of Hood River.



Please stay tuned for part II.

Backyard Fun

 

 

Today it's the picture version of Backyard Fun.

~Astoria~

Recently, we took a little road trip up the coast to the lovely little town of Astoria.  The purpose of this trip was two-fold;       1. The Columbia River Coffee Roaster is there, and they had  some Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Coffee that Andy really wanted to try. (and he had a little birthday money sent specifically for coffee)
2.  We hadn't been to Astoria and really wanted to explore a little. 

After Andy got his bag of coffee beans we crossed the loooooong bridge into Washington-just because we could.

These were some cargo ships we saw while crossing the long bridge over the Columbia River. They kind of remind me of a battle ship game. 

Welcome to Washington.

While in Astoria, we decided to visit Fort Clatsop.  This is where Lewis and Clark spent the winter after their big discovery journey.

But alas, our plans were foiled.  O well, we will have another reason to return to Astoria.  Also, Andy has really enjoyed the coffee beans he purchased, so that would be the other reason to return.

Carson and I did get out and walk a ways down a trail to see if we could spot the fort.  Unfortunately, no signs of the great Fort.

But we did find this amazingly large garbage can. This thing was huge!

On our trip back home, we drove through Cannon Beach.   This is a picture of the famous Haystack Rock.

The evening was really beautiful and the ocean was peaceful.

We enjoyed our adventure, but will return to Astoria to discover more cool things.

When the Frost is on the Punkin

Well the frost has certainly been in the air, if not on the pumpkin.

Andy has been chopping some kindling so we can....

....get our wood stove all fired up.  This stove will be our primary source of heat through the long, cold, wet, rainy winter days/nights.   (That sentences sounds so pathetic... long, cold, wet, rainy, dreary; I'm sure we will spend our days wrapped in blankets shivering by the fire, listening to the wind howl and rain swirl around the house.)  Anyways, I digress...

 

 I think it is such a cheery fire and it has sure been warm the last few mornings when Andy has started it.

 

Carson has enjoyed warming himself by the fire, sipping hot chocolate, and listening to "Autumn in New England"  (my all-time favorite c.d.)

Here's a little piece of poetry for you by James Whitcomb Riley.

Our view from the backyard.

They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere

When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—

 

 

Another view from the backyard.

 

Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,

And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;

 

 

Glorious sunshine as viewed from our backyard.

 

But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze

Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days

Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.

God's pumpkin...we didn't plant it, but have so enjoyed watching it grow.