I've been too busy to read all the post I'm following, let alone post another one of my own. But I promised, so here are the pictures of Bridge of the Gods - one of the check points during the last leg of Amazing Race.



I stayed the night at Skamania Lodge a few weeks ago. I had to cross the Bridge of the Gods to get there. On my way home I decided to stop to take some pictures. The two on the top are the downstream view. I thought the old farm equipment made for an interesting shot. I'm not sure, but I think the island they zipped to is just out of sight in the picture on the bottom. If you could see up the hill in the woods, right where the bend in the river is, you'd see Skamania Lodge looking down over the river. A pretty awesome location!

I'm sticking these other pictures in, just because I like them. Mt. Hood is what I see when I look out my bedroom window. Although not quite the same view as this. I get roof tops and power lines. Not to mention that this shot is about 10 miles closer than where my bedroom is. The sun was getting ready to go down, and the sunset was reflecting off the mountain. The last shot was taken last weekend from the front of my house. Another sunset reflection, only this time off the clouds. Pretty cool, huh!

The power of suggestion

OK, I'm curious. How did the tagging affect everyone? . . . . . . or did it?
I've received many emails along the same line, only with most requiring short one or two word answers. I think I may have followed up on one or two of them. This one was so much better! It gave us a chance to share a bit of who we are, giving a bigger picture than one or two words ever could.
I loved reading them all! Not only did I find out things about each other that I would never have known otherwise, but I also found out just how much alike so many of us are.
Another thing I found out is how strong the power of suggestion is. As I noted in my tag comments, I'm not a big sweet eater. HOWEVER, after reading about chocolate and ice cream and pastries and coffee, I began to get cravings.
First, I saw a sale on ice cream - my favorite flavors, no less! I ended up with four 1/2 gallon cartons. Spumoni, Pumpkin Pie, Egg Nog and Peppermint. Actually, the Peppermint is for my daughter. I really don't like that one. But at $3 per carton, I couldn't pass them up.
Then, the following day I was at another store and walked past the day old bakery goodies. I stopped. I looked. I bought. Yummy raspberry twirls. Just like a cinnamon roll, except has rasbperry filling instead of cinnamon & sugar. The first pastry I've bought in I don't know how long.
As I was leaving the store, I saw a new self serve Seattles Best stand. I just HAD to check it out. Wouldn't you know, it had Chai latte's. I whipped up a nice chai latte (non-fat, just to make up for everything else), and went on my way.
All things considered, I think I did pretty good. I didn't get any chocholate!!
So, was anyone else affected like this after writing and reading their tags?

How I spent my summer vacation

OK, now that I've got this blog up, I'm committed to posting something more. Plus, I've been inspired by so many others, that I just can't help myself!!!
I started out planning on posting some recent pictures I took from my window. But I got sidetracked! Blame Sydney!!!! : )

After seeing Sydney's porcupine, I had to dig out this one. It's a bit hard to see behind that fence, but it's a big black porcupine that shot his quills up when being startled. We saw him at Wildlife Safari in Winston, OR while on vacation this past summer.







I didn't mean to start out with pix from my summer vacation, but after looking thru them, I have to share! This is my grandson (obviously) getting to know a donkey at the West Coast Game Park. It's America's largest wild animal petting park located on the southern Oregon coast in Bandon.
Here Austen and my daughter, Erin are getting ready to feed a lion cub. The three of us got to go into the cage and sit with a blanket over our laps while the cub laid across our laps and played with us. Then a bit later, we got to go back and play with a baby lynx. It was amazing how soft they both were.



We didn't get to pet this guy, but I was only about 5 feet away from him when I got this shot. I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but he has green eyes. Isn't he georgous!!






Here's Crater Lake with Wizard Island. the lake is in a crater of a volcano that's fed from underground springs. There are no rivers flowing in or out of it.







This is the "resort" we stayed at after leaving Crater Lake. Rustic is a good word for it. Those dormers on top are where each room is. Downstairs is a gift shop and little store. We shared a bathroom with all the other guests.










Oh, to be young again! The freedom of running in the waves with the wind at your back! These were taken in Newport, along the Central Oregon coast.















Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. Northern Oregon coast. This is where my brother lives - about 2 hours from me. Color me green with envy!

And what's a vacation without pictures of pretty flowers??















I hope you enjoyed going on vacation with me again and seeing just a few of the wonders in my backyard.

I've been tagged by Jackie's Town USA

After reading all the other tags, mine is bound be sound quite boring, but you asked for it, so here goes!

1. Clothes - Having way too much body mass, I hate shopping for myself. It's a hassle trying to find something that fits and I like. However, I do love shopping for my grandson. Yesterday I scored!! I got 3 pair of denim shorts, 3 t-shirts and 2 polo's on clearance for only $22. The regular price was almost $70!! Now I just need to remember them when short season rolls around again!

2. Furniture - Can you say eclectic? I have a mish-mosh of things I've picked up over the years. No particular style, just what caught my eye - or I needed at the time. I like comfort and functionality.

3. Sweet - Some say I am, but I just may have them hoodwinked!! As far as food goes, sometimes I get a craving for something sweet, but I usually prefer chips or popcorn. I'd rather have something spicy (like cinnamon or nutmeg), than chocolate, although I'd never turn down the chocolate if it was offered! My pie of choice is pumpkin and my ice cream of choice is Spumoni.

4. City - Like most of us, home is where the heart is. I've lived in a few other places, but Portland is home to me. However, if wishes came true, I'd travel back to my favorites and stay until I felt like leaving - Places like Dingle, Ireland; London; Victoria BC; Hilo, HI; San Francisco; San Diego. And then of course there are all those others too numerous to mention, that I'd love to visit for the first time - NY, New Orleans, Paris, Sydney, to name just a few.

5. Drink - I generally stick to water or green tea at work and at home. I enjoy a nice cold micro-brew once in a while. In my younger days, when Saturday night wasn't spent watching recorded TV shows, I usually had white wine or vodka tonics. I don't drink many soft drinks - usually only when required for a mystery shop.

6. Music - I've never been into music like so many others. I don't listen to cd's and don't have an Ipod. Country is what I have on all my radios - car, home & work. I like that there's a story that I can actually understand, without screaming and foul language. I really dislike rap and heavy metal. They make me anxious.

7. TV series - Since what brought me to this blog was BB, I have to list that one! To that I can add Survivor, TAR and DWTS. Others that I can't miss are Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, Gray's Anatomy, and most recently Life on Mars. There are others I like and watch occasionally but there's not enough time in the day to watch them all. I've also been watching the ABC soaps for about 25 years. Whatever would I do without my recorder??? Fortunately, my house is set up so I can see the TV from just about anywhere, so I can be working in the kitchen or on my computer and still watch.

8. Film - I like romantic comedies, musicals and suspense. I don't like "See how stupid I can be" comedy or gory horror. I'm not much of a movie goer. When I see previews on TV, most sound good and I want to see them. However, once they come to the theaters, I can't bring myself to pay what they're asking.

9. Workout - Not much, sorry to say. Walking is my workout of choice, but I must admit I don't do enough of it. I bought an elliptical a while back, but it hurts my arthritic knees so it's just sitting there staring at me.

10. Pastries - I'm really not much of a pasty eater. Although I have founds something at Safeway that has become my pastry of choice. Bumbleberry Blossoms - A flaky pastry filled with apples, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. YUM!! The best part is that they come frozen with 4 individually wrapped blossom to a box. When I want one all I have to do is take one out and pop it in the toaster oven for about 15 minutes. Unless my daughter discovers them in the freezer, a box will last me a couple of months.

11. Coffee - I have a coffee maker, but don't remember last time I used it. I'll buy a cup of coffee once or twice a week - usually from McDonald's or Seattle's Best. When I get a Starbucks giftcard from work I get their Chai Tea or around the holidays, the Egg Nog or Pumpkin Spice lattes.