Mt. Hood

We took a Sunday drive out to Mt. Hood which is about an hour outside of the city. It can be seen on clear days from Portland and is around 11,000 ft. in elevation. We stopped at the historic Timberline lodge, around 6,000 ft. The exterior was used in the film The Shining for the hotel that they watched over.

Inside Timberline lodge this rock fireplace had opening on 2 if not 3 sides for fires and was three stories high with fireplaces on each level. It was a beautiful lodge inside made from primitive tools and hand-wrought iron work, all an amazing testament to craftsmanship. I think it was completed in 1939. The tunnel pictured below was added in the past few years.

The snow gets so high here- there were pictures from the 1940's of people actually skiing over the building. As you can see in the picture above, snow is halfway up the building!

Earth Day

Earth Day in Portland! We went to a fair that had live music, booths featuring green products and ideas, and tons of good healthy food.

Above, 2 guys power snow-cone machines by riding bicycles, mushroom growing kits for health were on display, and Jacques watches a worm composting bin being made.

Jacques gets friendly with a goat...

and a bear!

Hodgepodge

We haven't done many picture worth things lately so I will just share a few of our day-to-day shots- a hodgepodge of our new life here in Portland. Jacques is getting better at feeding himself!

Here is a picture of the kale in front of the ecovillage. Just yesterday, they cleared this field and are going to put in 30 keyhole gardens, a childrens play area, a pond with 2 streams and a fruit tree orchard.

We decided to visit a famous doughnut shop - Voodoo Doughnuts. It has been featured on various tv shows and it is so popular people actually get married here. We went to the original location downtown which was a very small place with a walk up counter, one table and death metal music blaring down from speakers. There was a variety of voodoo and zombie related art on the walls and I didn't think to take a picture until we had already left so this will have to do--I ordered the voodoo doll. It had a pretzel stake through the heart and was filled with bright red rasberry jam.

Multnomah Falls

I like this tree in our neighborhood. I'm not sure of the scientific name, but we call it the Dr. Seuss Tree. The branches/leaves are spiney like a cactus. I really enjoy looking at all the flora and fauna of the Northwest Pacific!

On the bridge you can see the tiny people.

Multnomah Falls are about 30 minutes East of Portland. We hiked halfway up and walked across the bridge to get a better view and a light shower.

Pittock Mansion

Pittock Mansion is on a hill surrounded by forest overlooking Portland.

Quite a luxurious place!

Please connect me to Texas.