Summer's last hurrah........

This is it....or pretty close....the rains will begin, they say on Friday, and not let up much until February, probably....but today was the perfect, sun-filled, 70 degree fall day!

So, we made the most of it by taking a short drive to Champoeg Park to walk the dog. 

Champoeg is an historically significant Oregon State Park, that lies in the north end of the Willamette Valley, about 15 miles south of Portland on the beautiful Willamette River.........pictured here..................

and here......................................................

and here.........................................................

The Willamette, pronounced Will-am-et, flows south to north from Eugene to Portland.  It divides downtown Portland's eastside from the westside and empties into the Columbia River on the western edge of Portland.

Champoeg Park marks the spot where a handful of men voted for Oregon's becoming a part of the United States, instead of England.   They voted to set up a Provisional Government which started the process toward statehood.

The vote was in 1843, but this marker was installed when Champoeg Park was built, by the state, and dedicated in 1901.  This marker designates the exact site of the signing.

This side of the marker, and two of the other sides, list the names of the original signers of the document.

Between 1843 and 1901, there was a major flood that wiped out the thriving community/river port that was located on the Champoeg Park site. 

Fortunately, descendants of those early pioneers realized that this location was of such historical value they wanted the area preserved.  This beautiful state park is the result of their efforts.

  Picnic area of the park....which is a very popular spot throughout the summer, on any weekend there would be a crowd of people in this area. 

The park includes several miles of walking/biking paths, picnic areas, overnight camping and a boat ramp, and since it is close to home, we come here often for family gatherings and, sometimes, just to walk the dog!

What dog wouldn't LOVE all those trees!!!!

For the first time, I am joining the party at Southern in my Heart's Inspiration Friday.  Come join the fun and don't forget to leave a comment. 

Thanks for the visit!

Salute to my Dad and the U of O...........

I'm starting this blog with a salute to a special angel, who is today sitting in heaven with a huge grin on his handsome face....my Dad!

The University of Oregon has gone to first place in the national college football league, a FIRST for any Oregon college team!  The season has just begun but, if, they continue to play as they have the U of O has a pretty good chance of being in the playoffs for the national title. 

The story goes, that when my folks first moved to Oregon in 1939, my Dad, who loved football, wanted to support one of Oregon's football teams......at that time Oregon State was the program to beat....and Oregon was struggling.  Typical of my Dad, he went with the under-dog, so for 50 years he was a staunch supporter of U of O football.  He passed away in 2000, at 92 years of age.

He was never able to attend college, but no alumni could have been more supportive of his school, than my Dad was of the U of O.  He went to as many games, as possible, or listened to them on the radio or T.V.  The year they played in the Rose Bowl, he was there!

So until this football season ends, my Dad's hat is going to sit on top of the T.V. so he will have a front row seat!

In the meantime and on to other things happening in Oregon, I've redone a the small oak table I use for an end table and given it a more "fall-ish" look!

I filled an old baking powder can (how about that price) with some of my dried hydrangeas, added some worn old books and a birds nest full of rubber stamps, from the day!

That is one of my collages hanging on the screen and sitting on the floor, next to the table, are a couple of my mixed media paintings.  Here is my favorite!

I am joining the party at Sally's Blue Monday and Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorphasis Monday

and A Stroll Thru Life's Tabletop Tuesday !  Remember I love to hear from you, thanks for stopping by.

Time for a change....

We are going into the second week in October, I guess it's time for me to accept that summer is over and fall is here!

We've had some of the best weather of the entire summer, recently, but...alas....that too will end!  So, let's change up the front porch and get in touch with our "inner-fall-self"..........

Added some recently dried hydrangea flower heads to a basket and a branch of dried eucalyptus, m-m-m smells good too, baby pumpkins and tiny flowerpots fill the wire basket.  Moved mama hen and one of her baby chicks out of the flowerbed and up to the porch.

     Few more pumpkins and we are really to roll!

I'm joining the party at Metamorphasis Monday and Blue Monday.  Remember I love comments and followers.  Thanks so much for visiting.

Simple Blue.....

Wanted to participate in Sally's Blue Monday AND play with "Picnik", which is a photo editing site that offers a free download you can use to jazz up your photos!

So took some photos of the kitchen/dinning area that wears a lot of red, white AND blue during spring and summer.

One of my favorite pieces is this old, milk-painted blue cupboard that we use for storing canned goods.  Also, makes a nifty resting place for these old crockery bowls.

I confess I am one of those grandmas who, normally, would have several photos of her grandchildren on this side of the frig......but every once in a while I clear it off....so for today, at least, you can see the cool Dad's Root Beer metal chalkboard advertising sign sans photos!

I like the Picnik cropping tool but I'm not sure I totally understand the brightness option.  I love the drama that can be achieved by cropping!  See the photo below for the BEFORE cropping......it so easy to eliminate stuff you don't want to show and to highlight what you want to showcase!

For those of you who have been using these tools, this is old news, but to a relative newbie, like myself, it is so much fun to experiment with these tools.  I think the end result is so much better, visually, and I've only begun to explore the possibilities.

No blue, actually this red and white photo was another opportunity to play with Picnik...more cropping fun!

I know there are other photo editing downloads available. Next, I plan on exploring Picasa but this one is certainly easy to use and does seem to improve the quality of the photos. 

I use a point and shoot Olympus that takes a decent photo, but it could be better, so I am hoping to improve the quality with these programs BEFORE I rush out to buy a new camera.

Hope you enjoyed my red, white and blue world and my photo experiments.

In addition to Blue Monday, I always love being a part of

Metamorphasis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch and Sue's Rednesday be sure to visit all of the parties, you will love what you see!

While you're in town.....

This Friday evening, October 1st, from 6 to 9 PM some of you may be visiting Charolette's Brocante in Canby (click here to learn more) and if you have never attended....you should.

Locals know the house where the sale is held, as the historic Barlow House.  Once or twice a year, the mistress of the house, goes to France to buy and bring back the most incredible French-flavored treasures that she sells in her little shop in the back!  There is more information and photos on her blog.

While you are in town.....drive about two miles south to Aurora, there you will find one of Aurora's best kept secrets.....a flea market that is held at the Legion Hall, located on the east side of 99E and Main Street.

Actually, you may want to come to the flea market BEFORE going to the Brocante, since we will only be there between 4 and 6:30 P.M.....setting up AND selling.

If, you can't make it Friday night, we will be there Saturday, October 2 from 9 until 4 P.M.  There are lots of dealers and lots of DEALS and the Legion ladies sell homemade soup and pie....so stay for lunch, when you come.

A couple samples of what I have to sell!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a retired antique dealer and I'm clearing out...so the prices are LOW! 

Aurora is always fun to visit...make a day of it.

As summer fades....

We've had just enough rain, here in Oregon, combined with sunshine....that some of the flowers are still giving us a great show of color for fall.

Another example of why I am so enamored with the Roxanne Hardy Geranium (in the background), it is covered in beautiful, bright blue flowers all summer long.  In the foreground is an Alyssum that volunteered from last year and the yellow-green leaf is Gold Barberry.

Yes, indeed, I like the blue/yellow combo.  Here the Hydrangea's blues play off of the Dahlia's yellow-gold and the variegated leaf in the background is Andromeda or Pieris. 

On the other side of the garden we have Blue Oat Grass, always a winner, with more Roxanne Geraniums, purple asters and the faded blooms of gold Crocosmia.

A broader view of my front garden, the hydrangeas are on the left and the bed with the blue oat grass is out of view on the right.  After December, this will be but a memory....until next spring!

Finally, I am getting ready to sell at a flea market this Saturday and I had dried some lavender stems that I thought would be fun to gift wrap and take with me to sell.  They smell sooooo good!

Thanks so much for visiting, remember I really like to hear from you. 

I am linking this blog to Tuesday Garden Party , Bloomin Tuesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

PUSHING BUTTONS.....wrong ones!

Seems as though, sometime last February, I pushed the wrong button and immediately cut this blog off from the outside world!!!!!  WHAT? 

Yes, faithful followers, your "blog roll" or "follower's list" may show that I have NOT posted for seven months.  Not true!  I must have had some free time and started playing with my settings.....so it would not send out  new blog updates when I posted. Duh!

Thanks to dear Marla at Always Nesting , who took the time to e-mail me yesterday and ask what was going on, I think it is fixed.  Marla, also, went in and deleted the old blog connection on her computer, replaced it with the new, rebooted and all is.......WELL!  Thoughtful people like Marla are why we blog, I can't thank her enough for all of her help.

So, if you had given up on me because you thought it had been months since I posted.....PLEASE, PLEASE try again.....I'M BACK!

A month or so ago, I changed the look of my blog page and the header.  Today, I'm going to share a few more photos from the same little cabinet that holds the header vignette.

First, let me tell you that this cabinet sits on a shelf my husband made from old corbels and a shelf and is hung on the wall beside the bed.  Notice the little cabinet that sits on that shelf, I bought it at a garage sale for a dollar, painted it white and lined it with dictionary pages.

I LOVE my cool antique bed frame.  I purchased the head and foot from a friend for a cheap reasonable price, had it sand blasted and painted.  Then we had a welder add a piece to lengthen both side rails, so our queen size mattress would fit. 

  

My blog header is the second shelf from the top.

 

Everything in this little cabinet holds special meaning to me.  Call me sentimental!

 

 

 

The collage is one of mine, the very small perfume bottle was given to me when I was about 9 or 10 years old....it's little glass perfume dauber is still intact.  The spray of pearls, I bought when we went to the big sale in Round Top, TX.  I just like the color of the box!

This is a photo of my kids, and my parents, was taken back when mullets were more of a fashion statement than a joke!  All three boys have the hair style of the day, for which they tease each other now! 

The newspaper clipping is a favorite of mine, it reads  "My age doesn't bother me but I am appalled at the age of my children".........who doesn't relate to that! 

The middle pill box is new, the one on the left was a gift from a friend, who was an antique dealer in Bellingham, WA for many years.  Sadly, she past away a couple years ago.  She, also, gave me the little rouge "pot" on the right.

I don't collect glass or baskets, but I really like this little hob nail cranberry glass basket.  The paper weight I found at a sale some where. 

The two beaded bags are very special to me!  Both of them were gifts, many years ago, from my friend in Bellingham.  The one in the back, I believe, has it's origins with a Native American tribe.  The little coin purse in front reminds me of something from WWII or the late 30s, early 40s.

P.S.  If you read the "comments" you will find one from Staci, my granddaughter, who remarks about how much that little beaded red, white and blue bag that held the little round "rouge pot" when she was little.  Now, she has shared that history with her little Emma, who is 4.  That is how sweet memories linger!

Last, but not least, is the photo of my hubby when he was 12 or 13 years old.  The rose ball I purchase some where, it is still slightly fragrant and I love it!

A psychologist might have a field day with this post because these are some of my most meaningful and sentimental possessions.  What do you think they say about me?

I know it says my heart goes pitty pat over blue-green and pinkish coral....(did you see that coming?) and I have a handsome husband, three equally handsome sons, a beautiful daughter, I miss my parents and my good friend from Bellingham?

I just know, it gives me great joy just to look at these treasures and remember friends, family and places I have been.

Come with me as I link to the following blog parties Metamorphasis Monday, Blue Monday, Tabletop Tuesday, Rednesday and White Wednesday.  Thanks for visiting, please leave a comment and come again.