A Walk-a-bout... Around Collins Lake Before We Hit the Road!

After another yummy breakfast ala Chef Julie, we started our packing for the trip home.  (By the way, folks, Julie's condo, where we were staying, is for sale.... turnkey... and ALL THE FURNITURE!  It's gorgeous with a creek running in the back below the deck... write me if you want more info.)  But, back to our morning.  After we were pretty much organized for the trip home, we walked around the Lake Collins and a bit of Government Camp... and towards Ski Bowl.  It was crisp, with light fluffy clouds blowing above.  The Northwest... there's nothing like it!\A spectacular get-a-way... Thank you Lord for our blessings!

Fall colors... we were there at just the right time for sure!  
 

The babbling creek as they say!
 

Look at the weird trunk in the middle right... two 90 degree angles... wonder what happened to make that happen?
 

sorry... no frame of reference... but the big mushroom was about 6 inches in diameter!
 

I can't get enough of this creek!

Mt Hood almost reflecting in the Lake... Julie said the trees have grown in the last ten years... and the view is disappearing!

 

Hey divas!  You look like you're waiting for someone... almost being impatient at having to have your picture taken....but you know Jean... she has to take pictures... and more pictures...
 

Oh... I see... You just wanted to get Jean in a picture!  Thank heavens for self-timers on cameras!  We got a bridge pic of the four of us!

Oh... and we did a geocache... that's all I'm saying... the building is part of the clue! 

\ 

Snow, Hood River and Timberline Lodge!

Woke up to a dusting of snow around the area… Our coffees in hand… we just giggled as we looked out the windows!  Winter in the Mountains is arriving!

Decided that today we would travel down the other side of the slope and venture forth to the Town of Hood River, about a 50 minute drive.  The fall colors were beautiful as we traveled down the slopes… the temperature warmed up (well, 50’s) and we could see Mt Hood and in the distance, Mt Adams.  Man, oh man, we live in such a beautiful part of the country!

Got to Hood River and walked up and down this quaint town and enjoyed lots of little shops!  The winds were calm; the sun was out… as a result, the Columbia River we could see was void of any Wind Surfers.  We had a great lunch at the 6^th St Bistro to replenish our souls and then more shopping.  Goodwill had the greatest boutique store in town!  Big fans we all became! Gonna check the one out in Tacoma when I get home!      

The trip back to the condo let us enjoy the back side of Mt Hood.  We then took a detour with a quick trip up to Timberline Lodge… built way back… and absolutely stately and gorgeous!  There was about a foot of snow… and suddenly it was just a tiny bit socked in.  Julie’s Dad, Ray, actually worked here in this area as a young man.  He was a conscience objector during the war (WWII) and he work in Government Camp (that’s the name of the town here) and at the Lodge area as alternative service… way cool!

Got back home, Julie was trying out two homemade soups on us!  And we can tell you, they were both fantastic!  This is our last night together… it’s ending way too soon…. But gives us time to get excited for our next get-together
 

As we left Government Camp... Mt Hood was so clear... didn't last the whole day, so we were glad to get this pic!
 

Fall is in the mountains!
 

And this would be Mr Adams!
 

Cyn was suppose to be with us, but due to her impending move, she could come... We wanted her to know we missed her!
 

 

 

Mt Hood from the back side....
 

 

The resident St Bernard up at Timberline.  There were two of them...
 

This picture of the gal on the chairlift, from way back, is actually the etching on the PeeChee... who knew if was from Mr Hood!
 

check this out!
 

 

 

 

 

The Chef is in the House!

A great, lazy day... Chef Julie was up and at 'em early in the kitchen.  This visit, she announced, she would be using us to sample a bunch of new recipes!  Now, that's a job anyone would love: tasting Julie's fabulous concoctions.  Before she even started breakfast, she had the ingredients all prepared for two soups she would be making,  She then started on our breakfast... a fritata that was delish!

Fritata, Cantelope and Pumpkin Bread.... Yummy!

 After our great brekky, we cleaned up and headed out for some, yes, you guessed it, shopping at Gresham Station.  What a great shopping center!  Managed to keep money in our pockets... just not as much as we arrived with!  We also missed our 5th Diva, Cyn...
She would have the evening off today (soups are for tomorrow) as tonight's meal would be an array of appetizers each of us brought from home.  Christy prepared her famous Mandarin Orange Martini's!  They are so yummy... and we each stopped at one... after all, we were starting at 4 in the afternoon and, well, we didn't want it to appear we were all lushes (and drunk!)!
Just one of our appee's for the evening grazing fest.... yup... lasted about 3 hours... watched two movies... "The Replacements" and "Life As We Know It"..

 

 

 

Oh yeah... Comedies and Chick Flicks!
 

 

 

We looked out the window and were greeted with SNOW!  Didn't last a long time, but it definately got us all excited!

 

Diva's Take Beaverton!

After three weeks of non stop travel, Jean’s week with the Diva’s finally arrived.  Sunday night I unpacked, and then repacked… cuz, today at 8:30 am, Liz was picking me up and off to the ‘Couve to pick up Julie and then meet with Christy in Beaverton!!!!  Yahoo!  We hit some rain, but nothing to slow us down! 
Now, what’s in Beaverton… well only the Employee Store for Columbia for which Julie had a pass!  Lunch first at a great place, the Golden Valley Brew Pub.  From there we left some of our hard earned dollars at the Columbia store…. And then laughed when we tried to add those items to the jam packed car… Four divas, all their luggage and the coolers with the food, wine, and then an additional grocery stop for more!  You see, we’re spending a few days in Julie’s condo up at Mt Hood.
We got to our digs… and just felt the tension release.  An hour or so later, we popped back in the car and had dinner at the ‘Rendezvous’ in Welches…a favorite spot! The meal and the drinks did not disappoint.  We’re thinking, this is gonna be a great getaway!      

 

 

 

 

You know... there really is no place like home...

and knowing this little guy is waiting for you!