Around Oregon

My lifelong friend and his youngest son drove from the Midwest to explore the Wild West, including Mt. Hood near Portland, OR.  The views of the area from near the top of Mt. Hood, WOWed us :)

Crater Lake is a nearly 4000 foot deep lake formed when Mt. Mazama erupted and the volcano collapsed in on itself.  There are no streams that feed it, just 50 feet of snow a year!  It is among the purest lakes in the world and on a good day observers have been able to see to the depth of 140 feet!

In order to see the lake we had to walk ? up a small ? snowbank that was not hard packed after 20 inches of snow fell two days before we arrived.  I stepped out of my right shoe twice, and was grateful for the steadying hands of my friend and his son!!

Mt. St. Helens observation park is near where we went to St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Church Sunday.  We thought we might get a closer view of Mt. St. Helens, but it was shrouded in clouds so we had to settle for watching a film about the eruption.  I lived on the East Coast of the USA when the mountain erupted years ago, and was amazed that the ash traveled thousands of miles and effected us in NY state, too!

I've dashed in and out of Chariteas for tea several times in the last three weeks, and also enjoyed her flowers...

lavender and iris,

more lavender and new growth on some pines,

and rhododendrons !

One of the many gorgeous nurseries near our home...

My two oldest granddaughters in balance :)

This llama lives near our home.

I enjoy seeing the alpaca on nearby farms.  Have you heard alpaca hum?

The wood ducks are so beautiful, and somewhere nearby are about 8 little ducklings hiding...they may belong to Mr. and Mrs. Mallard.

Still trying to get an unobstructed closeup view of the wood ducks on the front pond :)

I made four more knit bunnies for the little girls.

Daisies Molly gathered for me at the park.
For those of you who celebrate it, Happy Mother's Day Sunday!  I hope your weekend is a joyous one!


Gracie xx