169

Taking photos in a moving car is always a surprise. I was taking a pic of the cool moon and all I got was "169". I don't even know what that was to or remember there being a sign.

Does your mind ever race and dwell on thoughts that are best not dwelled on? My mind is my biggest distraction from what really matters. "169" is not something I need to try to remember
and I'm not, but I sure wish I had more control over my mind when it comes to things that matter. Something I need to work on.

Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

I'm Movin~

St. Johns Bridge. There are 10 bridges on the Willamette River.

To beat the heat yesterday we went boating out on the Willamette River. Today was even hotter. Tuesday and Wednesday are to be hotter yet. I like it warm. Really I do. But I don't do hot. I'm a lump on a stump when its hot and while I try to beat the heat, I think of all the fun things I could be doing if it wasn't so hot. It makes me cranky. Ask my family if you don't believe me.

St. Johns Bridge on the way back to the marina.
We boated south, through Portland, toward the Lake Oswego area then anchored with some friends to play in the water. In the water is so much better than being home in the heat of the day. Trust me. Just when I thought my day couldn't get any better, my husband says to me, "We're moving into one of these houses." "Okay" says I. "Which one do you want to move to?" says my darling husband. Well I said I wasn't particular but it was harder to make a decision then I thought it was going to me.

This one is my particular favorite. While most have a private dock for their boats, this one was sporting a small yacht but I don't need big or flashy. Small is fine with me. To the left was a either a private vineyard of grapes or rows of blueberry bushes. My guess is grapes but I like blueberries enough to plant a hillside of bushes. Don't you?

The kids were wowed by this one but it seemed a little Venetian to me and I'm a simple girl after all. It may be a little excessive to my lifestyle of simple. Can't beat the view for waking up to though. Looking down on the water. Someone knows how to live.
I also liked this little simple number. Okay, little might not be an accurate description but it did seem smaller than most. My husband would be fishing, off the edge there, morning and night. I'd have to bring him his meals out to the edge. Believe it. I would.
This row of very unique homes will be our neighbors. Variety is fun and there's always something to talk about.

OMSI is just down the river. I wonder if I get a discount for tootling my boat on up to the dock?

The area seems very nice. I really liked this view point that had this cool awning for shade.

Portland is but a mile or two down the river too. We could boat on in for dinner or a bit of shopping. I may never need to get in my minivan again. I wonder if the local grocery delivers?

This is beautiful Portland at sunset.
Well I'm off to pack up the household while I decide on which house I want to move in to. My job is never done.

Full~

Summer is in full swing around here. Evenings outside to enjoy the cool air after a hot day.
Neighbor girls stopping by to have their pictures taken and chat about their zoo adventure.

Oh the water bill that will be coming soon but we can't let the plants suffer.

Good friends are appreciated so spending time with them.

Making raspberry freezer jam. First time I tried this. So yum. These were for co-workers in thrifted vintage jars. These lids just slipped on. I think I squealed when I spotted them.

I Luv Baseball~

Father's Day we went to a Padre's game while we were in CA. When we lived in CA we were big Padre fans and went to their games often. We'd always buy tickets to the game that had a Doobie Brother's concert afterward.

Petco Park was not where we'd go see the games though. This is a new venue and it's right in downtown San Diego, right off Mission Bay. It has beautiful views of the bay with all the military ships, cruise line ships, all the sailboats and such. The city is a well oiled machine on game day. They have traffic flowing and people flowing for the least amount of stress to the public.

Even though it's a big stadium, it has a cozy feeling to it and it was really enjoyable. We had a blast. I love everything about a baseball game. The music, the people, the chanting, the wave that the crowd does, the sounds of a game and it's a bonus when they win. Padres won the Oakland A's. The Oakland Raiders are an old rivalry of the San Diego Chargers so it was good to win their baseball team.

This is the view of the girls in the family. Since it was Father's Day, the boys lucked out on some free seats right behind the visitors team dugout. They were down close and personal with the players. It was a great treat for my husband to have his boys all together. I was glad where we were because it was a hot day and we were in the shade.

My husband with the two oldest. Our third son was taking a potty break. The usher was really cool about letting me go down to take their picture. When you're that close to the field, there are rules and they don't like them broken. I think he let me go take their picture so I'd stop babbling on so about it being Father's Day and we were visiting from Oregon and I wanted a picture with all the guys together since we don't all get to be together that much and so on and so on. I guess he figured, you can't make this stuff up and keep going on and on about it.

It was a great day. A really good memory.

Lake Billy Chinook~

In central Oregon. Hot. Perfect for being on the water all.day.long. Someone has to.

Kids laughing all day long. Playing on towables that are surfboard like, tubes and snowboardish.

I love summer. I love water. I love Oregon. It's been so incredibly good to us. I'm thankful.

72 miles of shoreline, 4000 acres of surface area, views of Mt. Hood, in existence since 1964 when PGE built Round Butte Dam. Named after a well-known Wasco Indian scout from the Warm Springs region who traveled with John Fremont in 1843.

We saw two waterfalls. This one has a rainbow in it. When on the water we're surrounded by cliffsides that look like the Grand Canyon. The cliffsides are full of different patterns so it appears they are alive with movement. Read more about it here.

There are two campgrounds that I saw. We camped at the top at Crooked River Campground. Each campsite has electricity, water, trees for shade, a fire pit and picnic table. There are flush toilets (a must) and showers. The campsite was full but not once did I have to wait for a shower or to use the restroom. Have I mentioned that I love Oregon skies?

A Recipe~

Jamaica Juice:
1 cup dried hibiscus flowers*
2 quart water
Sweetner of choice

Add 1 cup of flowers to 1 quart water and bring to a boil. Turn off heat once water comes to a boil. Strain by colander into a pitcher. Add the other quart of water to concentrated juice. Sweeten to taste. Refrigerate or add ice and a little less of the second quart of water. Perfect for summer!!

Optional: 1)a squeeze of lemon for a bit of a different flavor. 2)Add about 1/4 cup made juice to a glass of sparkling water.

* We buy our dried flowers at the Mexican food store. 4.00 for 1 lb of dried flowers. It goes a long way. Ours were packaged in a clear bag and labled : Jamaica Bulk.

After boiling / Dried

Deep~

Changed my blog name. Why? I liked it better.

Liquid Relief~

The last time we went boating on Mulnomah channel, an eagle (in back) was after the fish the front bird had. The front bird was flying hard and fast to keep its fish. Other little birds were after the eagle because he was too close to their nest. They were swooping in and around us, each intent on their own mission.

We were cheering for the front bird and he did win out. The eagle couldn't catch it with the little birds pestering him.

Well the weather is going to be in the 90's tomorrow so we are going to head out to the river for some liquid heat relief. We go with friends who have a boat too. Last month the weather wasn't quite hot enough to brave the cold river water but we are definitely taking the 3 man tube and getting wet.

The houseboats are amazing. From very small one room shanty looking things to big two story houses that have full on trees on their front deck. How do they grow those? They don't look like they're in a planter box or anything. Maybe some day I'll just stop and ask.

Water, sunscreen, water, sunscreen, more water and more sunscreen. A priority!!!!