Events...

Crater Lake

It's like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, awestruck. These photos won't do it justice, you gotta go for yourself. Aaron and I decided to do something alone together for the first time in years. We decided to climb Watchman Overlook. It goes from 7400 to 8056 feet, a mile and a half round trip. Above, it's hard to see but the little cabin where you end up is at the top right.

Aaron showing off the view from 8056 feet. I don't think he realized that we were really going all the way up but I think he felt good that we did, at least I hope so.

Aaron discovers a more civilized way to write your name in the snow on the path up to the Watchman Overlook.

It was hard not to whip out the luge and rip down the mountain; we did it the hard way though-walking.

Here's a close up of the cabin at the top-Watchman Overlook.

The color is unbelievable; it's all rain and snow water, pure and clean.

A person could stay and just look for hours and we did.

It's truly azure, sapphire blue.

Diamond Lake

The closest place to stay outside of Crater Lake is Diamond Lake and we stayed here at Diamond Lake Lodge. It reminded me of Big Sur Lodge and many other state park lodges...I love that.

You can see why it's called Diamond Lake although I haven't done it justice in these photos.

The morning we left to go for our second time around Crater Lake the boys got to play bumper boats and had great fun.

Coos Bay

So the deal with Coos Bay is that north of there are all these giant dunes. We found a place where you can rent three or four wheeler atvs or dune buggies or dune trucks and then you go out onto the dunes yourself. Not being the beachy, sandy girl, I let the guys go without me and they had a great time. That's them in the middle heading out. "But what will you do while we're gone?", they asked. Hummmmm, I managed. It was cool but the sun was warm so I laid out on the wooden bench in front of the place and read and relaxed. As I said, I managed.

Matt and Aaron sand surfing.

This young man highly recommends this place for all your dune dragging needs.

The Lighthouse

Next was the lighthouse with this big old boat and some men fishing for buggers in front of it.

Nice lighthouse, one of our first on the West Coast. We've been to many, many on the East Coast. We've got a thing going about them now.

Down the road was another lighthouse but we got distracted by this beach. We spent a couple of hours here, the boys playing in the water and lots of interesting rocks, seaweed, trees, and fauna for me to study and enjoy.

This is how little Aaron and Matt look on the beach compared to the mountain edging up to the sea.The boys getting into the surf.

The Pool

They have a totally cool swim park in Corvallis. I don't know what other pools they have as this is the only one the family has let us see; I'm sure you can see why. There's a separate part where there are huge inter tubes where you can just float and tan or torture others. Here Aaron and Matt are torturing Lucas' travel buddy, Jovis, chasing him all around. It was a question as to who was wearing who out first. And this huge water slide. To the left is all manner of jungle gyms, climbing equipment, stationary (other than being able to aim at the moms' faces as they come out of the water...I still want to give that kid a wedgie) water guns, water falls, and more fun than a kid can have in one day.

So we made a point of going twice this time which is much lower than who knows how many times the last visit, but staying over 3 hours each time made up for it.

Shops...

Portland

On my "Always in Portland" list includes a trip to Anthropologie. I've been to several in different cities but this one in downtown Portland is my fave. Check out the clock above. We must all acknowledge that I did not buy the clock even though I'm a clock fanatic and this was an ultimate one. Could have been the sheer size and "how would I get it home" or even the $8000 price tag. Still, a little credit is due. I just get so inspired by their creative vignettes.

Giant bowl with potatoes spudding.

Many hanging jars of potatoes and other sproutings.

Initials everywhere but the French rack with items on the bottom was the draw here. Another credit for $3600. Why do I never find these things at garage sales?

Lots 'o hanging light bulbs; a very cool way of recycling burnt out bulbs-I'm on it!

On every one's list of "Landmark to-dos in Portland" includes Buffalo Exchange, above. I've been shopping at those for at least 20 years starting in San Francisco; they have them in a handful of cities including New York. Also on the list is Powell's, below, a gynormous bookstore which takes up three stories of a full block sized building. It's awesome. If you happen to be making your own list it should also include Peet's Coffee. I'm not a coffee drinker but it's a gotta-go-to place for java lovers.

Inside Out

What a fun shop this is; one of many in Corvallis. Caution: some items shown in these pictures may not still be in the shop. The second trip in I started talking to one of the owner who has good friends in Leesburg, VA and was just in the area not too long ago. Small world.

Lots of cool nature-inspired this and that which makes my heart go pitty pat.

Who doesn't like an umbrella inside? It's unAmerican to not love it!

A chandelier of crystals, stone bugs, and lanterns-beautiful especially against the green walls.

Emma Downtown

This is the shop housed in the building below John's (see Decor post) home, Emma Downtown.

And your caught right inside the door, no way out without buying several things.

Eye candy abounds in every corner and in between.

Some items are missing since this photo was taken. No, I won't do a before and after, "find what's missing" challenge here.

But I can say since talking to my mom from back home here in Maryland today that the missing items are on their way via UPS as we peek.

Even the dressing room was a place where you could just close the door and stay for a while.

Lots of good. And more to come...

Thank ya, thank ya very much...

Thanks for your patience on my long overdue posting on our trip. I spent many hours last night editing and cropping and still have lots to go. I'll try to get more photos up tonight. I've only been home two days; just unpacked today. My supplement husband, Cedric, met me with an impressive honey-do list that I was supposed to finish with the boys before I left. He'd not conveniently forgotten but we knocked it out this morning. Waking upon West Coast hours also makes for short days. I'm hurrying as fast as I can before y'all loose interest...I promise I've got some great pics to share so stay tuned......by the way, I met this dude in Portland last Saturday; he was great fun.

Hi Pizza!...Family

Preview: Ben, "Unca", and "Map", how cute are these guys?

We got to Oregon the day before Aaron's 13th birthday so first thing the next morning, his birthday, we all went out to brunch to have the family celebration. That afternoon was a family and friends party at Valori and Court's house...

...here's "Unca" (what Ben calls Aaron) taking baby boy for a ride in the wonderful back yard.

The official cutting of the cake, a big deal for Aaron as he doesn't get to have sweets too often,

and he's loving it. The cake was fab.

Ben goes for the whole-slice-in-one-bite award and won it.

Courtney holds Court on the deck during dinner...

...while Mom and I get to know some new friends.

A couple of days later, here are Aaron and Matt at the Pumice Dessert near Crater Lake. They were being respectful of the structure built by earlier visitors and only added their own small rocks to the top.

At the railway crossing on the way to Crater Lake.

A great photo of Eder and sweet fortune snapped from its place in their home.

Here's the reason for the title, Ben, the first of our next generation of our family. Recently he got into saying "hi" and "bye" to inanimate objects. The one that struck the whole family as hilarious and we have not worn ourselves out saying constantly (but surely others) was, "Hi pizza.". So we say that to each other every chance we get. He inspires us all; two years old and everything he does is either genius, hilarious, or both. Above he's wearing my dad's cowboy hat; he's a Gramps kinda guy.

You can surely imagine my delight when I spied this perfect "Ben" sign on our way out of Crater Lake National Park a few days ago. I had to get it for him. Mimi and Ben, few boys have loved their grandmothers like Ben loves his and visa versa.

The producers, Eder and Maya. Can't image how they got such a cute kid...

Had to get the, "I've got your boy and I'm feeding him lots of sugar", photo for my sis just like I used to do with Maya and the pics of her with a Coke in one hand and a Snickers in the other. My sis is a...umm...little...umm...she's a great mom in every way including making sure her children eat healthy food. Kristen, Lucas' girlfriend, buddy Joe, and Lucas at an alfresco dinner...

...Matt and Benny getting ready for another of our many alfresco dining experiences.

Way Too Long No See

Well I guess these things are bound to happen if you let them. When my first husband and I divorced over 16 years ago he, of course, got custody of his best friend, Mark. So I hadn't seen Mark and his wife, Cindy, in all this time. When Matt and I were out here in Oregon two years ago, Lucas was also here and informed me that Mark and Cindy live in Eugene, just about 40 minutes from Corvallis. We talked about calling and getting together then just plain ran out of time. I was determined this time to see them and here we are. Matt and I drove to their home outside of Eugene then went into town for lunch.

We ended up at a great multi-level, open-air "mall" which immediately reminded me of Carmel Plaza in, durrrr, Carmel. Neat shops and eateries on several levels with pretty flowers and landscaping.

Then back to Mark and Cindy's, below to sit amongst their wonderfully landscaped, beautiful home on a large lot backing to an open field of farm expanse.

One of my very favorites, Hydrangeas; they had bushes and bushes of them. And lots of bamboo. Mark shared much knowledge with us about all the advantages of planting bamboo. Can you guess what's on my list of to-dos when I get home?

This was supposed to be a serious representation of our Bamboo Lecture Series with all of the different types of bamboo in this one area; the roll up blind, the kind against the window, the bamboo wind chimes, and the pot of yet another variety in the background. As you can see Teacher and Student were taking the photo quite seriously. We had a wonderful time with Mark and Cindy. You know how there are times when you know you miss someone but don't realize just how much until you're with them again? This was a very good example; I could have stayed for days instead of hours but I'm so happy that we got to have this time together. Thanks y'all, I love you two.