Beautiful Oregon

I may post more details later, but for now, here are some of my favorite things from our week in Oregon.


Favorite place we stayed:
Two nights in this lovely tiny house in the Boise neighborhood of Portland. We enjoyed the restaurants and shopping within walking distance.

Favorite drive:
The drive out past Mt. Bachelor here, with the top off the rental Jeep.

Bonus: Fall Creek, which comes from snow melting from the South Sister mountain (seen here) was so cold that even our "polar bear" daughter couldn't keep her feet in for more than five minutes. It took her a while to get the feeling back to her toes so we could take a hike.

Favorite hike:
The hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness, next to Fall Creek was a marvelous one. We didn't make the whole 11 mile trek, but we plan to make it happen next time!

Favorite overall place:
Smith Rock State Park

Each turn revealed something new and beautiful. Crooked River is something special.

It was actually quite a warm day. I could have kept going and going. As it was, my hiking partners were troopers and we all had fun!

Every time I thought it couldn't get better.

Each time I was impressed.

This one, though. Just pure showing off. Okay. Smith Rock clearly won my heart.

Favorite river:
The Deschutes
We floated it.

In various states of togetherness in our individual tubes.

We rode through Class 2 rapids. On my first trip down, I banged my right knee. On the second trip down, I scraped my right shin. On the third (pictured) trip down, I flipped the tube and lost my hat and glasses.

Sophia flipped, too, but came out happy and whole. The adventure was worth it.

Favorite locals:
Erick's uncle Bill & Cheryl

Favorite Beer:
the Wit from pFriem Family Brewing in Hood River

Favorite sunset:
In the Hood River Park across from pFriem

Favorite activity:
Trail ride over the Columbia River Gorge

Favorite story:
We topped out here, and I'll let Sophia tell the tale of our narrow trail

We had more adventures and lots more views, but these were my favorites. I'll tell you the stories when I see you next!

Spring Break

Our Spring Break has been idyllic. We have done some outdoors and some indoors, and we've gotten lots of rest and had fun. I couldn't have asked for a better first week no longer working - that's a different story, but it makes this week that much sweeter.

Erick took Monday off to be with us, so we took full advantage of the nearly hot day we had by going to Laumeier Sculpture Park. We were not the only ones to have the idea, but we were the only ones I saw allowing their kid to dip in the creek. It was warm!



After the creek, she built her own sculpture. Quite lovely, too, I must say.

Sophia had some work to do with her partner on the Science Fair. But, even that took place with quite a bit of play and fun.

Today, we're relaxing. What better way to relax than inside a fort of pillows with a dog and his puppy friend.

Still have a few days left of our lovely week! Nothing on the calendar but fun and hanging out together. I'm so lucky.

Tired but Happy

This weekend, we tried to take full advantage of the strangely warm and beautiful weather. Lots of playing and eating and hiking outdoors.

It was perfect since we had the extra day together to enjoy it, too! Monday, we went to Pere Marquette, a beautiful state park in Illinois, right next to where the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers come together. It's quite beautiful. Leo's face in this picture gives you an idea of exactly how we all felt on our hike.

And here's a picture of Sophia on the horse farm at sunset. Because why not?

Spring?

Last week was not a banner week for us Creaches. It began with Erick getting a stomach virus and ended with Sophia recovering from it. I nearly passed out somewhere in the middle. Good times.

So, this weekend we took it easy but took it outside. I can't remember ever being quite so thrilled to open the windows. To Sophia, spring means poking around. It always has. Evidence. This winter, we've had a lot of fun with ice. I sincerely hope we've had the last of it for quite a while.

It's our first spring with Leo. It would be an understatement to say that he loves it. It would be accurate to say that he would prefer to spend each and every moment outside, but we do what we can. There are so many lovely things to look forward to as the weather warms up.

Our family walks have resumed in the evening. Last night, we watched as ducks flew in by the pair to settle in for the night. It was quite lovely. Leo would probably have a different description, but we all enjoyed it.

Into the Woods

As badly as I'd love to see the movie Into the Woods, that's not what this post is about. This is about Forest Park. And Leo.

As you know, since we've moved to St. Louis, we have lived across the street from Forest Park. It takes less than five minutes for us to walk to one of the most picturesque locations in the city. And we have. In the last four years, we have used that park a lot. A very lot. Playgrounds, museums, picnics, lakes and the whole thing. We've used most of what the park has to offer.  

However, since Leo has been added to our family, we have discovered its wilder side. In the past, we have only used the woods as a cut-through to the zoo. That is no longer the case. In the past, we had sometimes hopped into the car to get to what we thought were the more useable parts of the park. Or we'd walk to one of the buildings. Having a dog who needs walks has led us to be more creative, and that has opened up a world we didn't realize existed. 

At least once a week since we've gotten Leo, we have followed the much less-beaten paths through the woods. We have been when it's cold, when it's muddy, when it's hot. 

No matter when we go, it's beautiful. Sometimes we have to drag Sophia off the couch to get her there. That's a fact. Another fact is that once we're there, we usually have to drag her back home. Point out growling stomachs or fingers and noses changing color from exposure. She has discovered that she loves fallen trees. She already knew that she loved mud holes and creeks.

There are many things that I love about having a dog, but this may be the very best thing so far. The woods.

Freshly Cut

Ever since Sophia was very small, we've had artificial Christmas trees. After last Christmas, our most recent tree finally gave up the Christmas spirit and we tossed it. Sophia was determined that this year, we'd have the quintessential (she didn't use that word, although it wouldn't surprise me) Christmas experience by going to the tree farm and cutting down our celebratory evergreen.

Of course, that's what we did. In what turned out to be ill advised sentimentality, we brought Leo with us. He's just so cute, and I hate to think of him shut up in his little crate all day. He doesn't seem to mind, really, but it bothers me. He was nutso. Fortunately (?), Sophia joined him in his nutso behavior, and we all had quite the time.

Then we took one another's pictures. Because that's how we roll. Oddly, no selfies this time around.

Saturday was just gorgeous. The weather was so perfect for tree picking. And we had the window open while we decorated! Perfect, I tell you.

A real tree is exactly as I remembered it. A pain in the rear. Worth it, though. When it makes our super Christmasy girl that much happier.

Naturalist

Sunday was a lovely day. One of many lovely days we've had this spring. My family was nice enough to let me choose what to do with our day, so I chose to go for a hike. I was surprised to find (on Facebook) just how many moms chose hiking for their day. I wonder what that says about us.

Anyhow, Sophia was happy with my choice because she has recently become the owner of a Scat, Tracks and Signs book to help us determine what wildlife we might be near.

We stopped at ever poop pile and hoof/paw print to analyze it. Pretty sure there are coyotes out at Howell Island Conservation Area. I know that because we found some poop. 

I'm also sure there's a fawn in the woods there because we found just the cutest little hoof print. I did not point out to Sophia that we should hope they stay on opposite sides of the woods...

The binoculars were a good idea, but not great in practice. But she's just so cute using them that I keep recommending it.

It really was a beautiful day to enjoy nature together as a family. I'm grateful, as always, for my allies in adventuring.

Beautiful Weekend

It was such a beautiful spring weekend! Saturday, we were in Columbia visiting Mary. Because the day was so perfect, we had to get out and enjoy nature. We were not the only ones with the idea, but the park is big enough that we weren't tripping over one another anyway.

Sophia loved it! She doesn't remember being there before, but she was happy to lead us on a different trail around the park.

And, even though she was a little anxious about it, she went into the cave at Devil's Icebox. She wanted to explore deeper into the cave. I was very surprised at how much she liked it in there. It was just just a beautiful day!

Deep Breath

My olfactory senses are very near to my spirit, or whatever you might call it. The slightest whiff of a particular smell can draw me in or spit me out, depending on the conjuring that follows.

One smell that will always bring fullness to my chest is described here: Yesterday, we finally enjoyed some above-freezing weather. Not only that, the sun came to visit. Sophia and I took the chance to get outside after she got home from school. A cruise downhill on her bike, followed by some digging in the mud, seemed like an appropriate welcome to the first springish day we've had.

After we were inside, I leaned over (not so far these days) to kiss Sophia on her forehead, my nose in her hair. There it was. Spring. Promise. Innocence. Earth. Combined with the scent of my daughter. The result was color and warmth. Memories of the same moment having passed between us hundreds (maybe thousands?) of times. How many thousands more can I manage before I'll have to conjure those memories from words like these rather than from a deep breath?

Sick of the Snow

I like snow. I do. It's something I always say. "If it's going to be this cold, at least we could have snow." I will more or less stand by that statement. I just think I'd rather not have it go to such extremes. In temperature or snowfall...

Anyhow, it wasn't all bad. Even though the wind chills got to 35 below or something. Before the biggest chill hit, we went outside to play. Because the snow was just taunting us. Looking so perfect and untouched.

Bundled to the max

We didn't make it very long outside that day. Sophia could have kept going, but her cheeks took a while to return to their normal color. While she thawed, she blogged. And here's what she looked like. With her cup of snow beside her.

Anyway, now the snow is all gucky and brown. (I find it very interesting that spell check did not underline "gucky.") The charm is gone. And now the rain will even make it impossible to play in. So I'm ready to bid this one adieu.

The next time it gets very cold, I'm pretty sure I'll still say, "At least let's have a little snow."

Perfection

All I need for complete and utter happiness is about a billion more days like today.

Or two billion.

Is it here?

We are certainly willing to believe that Spring has arrived. Sophia keeps insisting that it's not yet Spring. That's technically true of course, but I'm an optimist. Spring it is.

 

Spring doesn't start around here without a few wishes at the fountain. And this girl takes her wishes seriously.

 

 

Hey, look at that. My wish already came true.