Friday, July 27, 2012

Busy Day in the Gorge

Today was action-packed!  I headed off to Multnomah Falls to join my sister Denise for lunch at the Lodge before our afternoon volunteer shift in the Visitors Center.  We had a great afternoon talking to people from all corners of the world.  The Falls are rather skimpy this time of year as the snow melt is mostly gone and it's been dry, no rain, so the only water coming over is mostly from the spring that feeds the waterfall.
We had several visitors come in asking about Oneonta Gorge, so I went down to get a photo to show you.  This rock bluff and tunnel are at the entrance to the gorge, and are a part of the original Historic Columbia River Highway. 
This photo is an example of when nature takes it's course, not to the benefit of those of us who would actually like to SEE down this gorge.  It used to be clear so you could see the rock sides and the narrow winding gorge, but you can hardly see down there anymore.  There is also a big log jam down there that hikers have to climb over to continue on down the gorge to the end where there is a waterfall.  The USFS says it's natural and they can't clean it up, but last year a young man fell off the log jam when trying to climb over it and hit his head on a rock and died.   
I zoomed my lens in and you can see some hikers, the log jam and on down the narrow gorge.   
If you hike to the end of the gorge, this is what the waterfall looks like - I found this image on google.  A hot summer day is the best time to hike back into this gorge as in some parts of it you have to wade or even swim through the water.
There are mosses and lichens that grow in this gorge and no other place in the world.
In the last few years this tunnel was re-opened and secured with a wooden interior - it had been filled in with rock debris since the 50s. Now the public can ride bikes or walk through it again. 
I then drove further down to snap a photo of Horsetail Falls.. it's a beautiful one that has a huge flow all year long, no doubt a spring.
Driving along the Historic Columbia River Highway is always lovely with the tall forests on the cliff side and the river on the other. 
When I arrived home, I asked hubby.. would you like fried chicken for dinner?  He goes "SURE!!" - so I said, well, hop in the shower, let's go to Tad's Chicken 'n Dumplin's!  He told me he'd taken a fall off the top of the step ladder, he climbed to the top and then realized one foot was in a mole hole and he went flying backwards onto the ground.  Nothing is broken, but he's sore.  Tsk tsk.  ::sigh::


Then he told me he'd waiting until I got home to cut the door from the chicken coop into the new run.. isn't that sweet?  He knew I wanted to watch the chickens discover their big new space.  So, I pulled a folding chair into the pen to see what happened.  
The first ones to venture out were the 2 Ameracaunas that will lay aqua eggs.  We bought them from a woman who had them in her back yard and she realized she had too many chickens.  The chickens we got from a poultry raiser are more timid as I think they were caged until we bought them, poor chooks.  
These two are the bossy ruffians of the flock - a pecking order is being established.  I've named the one with a black pouffy topknot "Beyonce" and Kristi, our DIL, named the other one Shelby as she's the color of a Mustang car. :-)   
Dayle has wired this run up like Fort Knox.  And he has more securing to do, running wire fence down into the ground around the perimeter of the fencing.  How do you like his cover?  I love it!
The Buff Orpington who will lay pinkie-brown eggs.  Her name is Buffy. 
The Blue Laced Red Wyandotte - her name is Lacey. 
Weeeee.. room to get chased around by the mean chickens!  The two groups are like rival gangs.. and the 2 Ameracaunas bully the other 3 pretty bad.  The low man on the totem pole is the littlest one, the Black Copper Maran who will lay dark chocolate brown eggs.  Her name is Hershey.  :-)  Now to wait for the eggs to come.  
When I came into the house I saw this big box on the table.. and it was the fabulous and generous giveaway gift from Shari at Shari's Crochet.  OH MY GOODNESS.. I absolutely am enchanted by the "Bucket of Seashells" bag she made and sent to me!  And a sweet card with a handwritten note, 3 balls of lovely cotton yarn, 2 note pads and a darling little stack of beautifully printed sticky notes!  Wow... thank you SO much, Shari!!  I will be carrying my crochet projects around in this soft, lined, lush bag!  :-) 
While I was admiring my prizes, hubby was getting ready to go out to dinner and off we drove, just 10 mintues from our house - we got a great table by the window at Tad's.  This was our view of the sun going down over the lovely Sandy River.
We were in the "old dining room" and I got this photo of the newish dining room, it's the neatest place ever. 
I just loved seeing the river flow by with the leaves illuminated by the late afternoon sun.  I looked downriver and saw at least a dozen people playing in the river, and fisherman going by in boats. 
My dinner arrived, crispy fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans with ham and onions is served family style for us to share.  We had some healthy stuff first, a veggie platter and a salad each.  They make this chicken in a cast iron pan and oh my goodness... this may have been the tastiest, crispiest, tenderest chicken in my entire life.  Neither of us could finish the chicken.. it's in the fridge for lunch. :-)
 Dayle had the same thing, except he had the dumplings.  
This is the back side of the sign - the locals call it the "Chic Dump".  They tried to fix the sign several times and the 2nd part would burn out, and the locals begged them to leave it be, so it stands.  :-)
This is the other side, and what people see when coming from the city of Portland to dine.  Us locals see the other side as we come and go down the Sandy River Gorge. 
And so, we got home with full bellies in time to watch "Big Brother" on TV.. and life is good.  Very very good.  I'm a happy "chic".  OK, I'm off to go swimming and hubby is going to a gun show with our oldest son, Shawn.  Boy stuff.  Have a great weekend!!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 


19 comments:

  1. Teresa~
    LOVED the photos of the lesser known waterfalls--it is so lush and green. LOVE all the green!
    Your hubby did an awesome job on the chick pen; I think your chickens will be very safe and happy in their new home.
    Have a great weekend and please wish me luck in my preps for company:)
    Blessings,
    Aimee

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh Teresa......I know I say it all the time, and it must surely be getting old to hear. But.....I LOVE where you live. I would love to live there! When Greg and I were very young, we dreamed of moving to a place that would have 4 seasons, and plenty of unspoiled mother nature all around us. A place like Oregon, or Washington or Idaho. When I was in Oregon last, I felt it again. That pull. That feeling that I would love to live there. But we got rooted here. Our children grew up, and stayed nearby. Now they have children, and we are so madly in love with all of them that I can't bear the idea of living so far away. This is why we will retire in Big Bear. Only an hour away, but worlds away it would seem, once there. Truly...you are so lucky, and it would seem you know it and appreciate it, very much. Such a lovely life!!! I am so excited about the chickens! Dayle made an excellent run!!! I hope they lay very soon for you!!!
    When I come see you one day, we must go to the Chic Dump!!!!
    XO Kris

    ReplyDelete
  3. I always love your photos of the falls. So beautiful. I think your chooks are going to be living the high life!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Teresa, thanks for making the time to blog about your life. I love learning about the world around you. Often I am amazed, entertained, instructed, challenged and inspired...but never bored =) I am grateful you are a part of my world.
    Hugs from Gracie <3

    ReplyDelete
  5. Again, beautiful pictures! I particularly like the one where the waterfall ends down in the turn of the gorge. So beautiful:) And between you and Lucy, I'm sorely tempted to get some chickens! I must say your hen house does seem a bit like the Hilton for your feathered friends! Hopefully your chickies will learn to get along a little better.
    ~Lacey

    ReplyDelete
  6. You were at Multnomah Falls today? On Friday? We just drove past this morning on our way to Portland. We stopped at Camping World on I-84. So sorry we missed you. I would have made hubby stop to say hi. Just here until Sunday to paint the babies room and move furniture.

    Maybe next time we can visit and I can meet Gracie too!

    Blessings,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your photo's are always wonderful, testing a new camera whilst away to the moment and hoping blog picks look okay lol. Beautiful falls, and do hope Dale's fall was ok next day. Love the chicken house/run and they look pretty darn happy ☺ Yummo to the food, makes me hungry, tea is a few hours away here on a saturday.
    wendy xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Chicken's are on my to do list..I expect within the year..perhaps 2..Responsibilities are just too great right now..otherwise I'd have them. thanks for sharing your!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love reading your blog Teresa, and seeing all your beautiful, rugged countryside - so spectacular in every way. I think Shelby is my fave chook but they're all beautiful and look very happy in their new home which Dayle was so clever to build for them. xoxox

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh I adore your chickens....would really really like some...but it is not going to happen..our neighbours would not be happy. xoxox
    Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh what a lovely place to live! Thank you for taking time to share your day with us...I really hope hubby is ok from his fall. The chickens look so happy in there new home...that's a nice one! Oh...and the cover...great job!
    Yeah...you got it!! Looks like that is right where it belongs. I am so happy the bag will come in handy for you...now seeing it on your end....I kind of miss it just a little...LOL, I guess I will just have to make another ")
    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
    XOXOX
    Shari ")

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't help being a little bit jealous about the place you live!! Thanks for sharing this with us, it is so beautiful. And aqua eggs, I'm curious. Lovely chickens!
    Hugs, Gerda

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hope Dayle is ok after his fall. Love all the photos of your beautiful part of the world. Love the idea of aqua eggs. My grandson - Sam - who will be five next Saturday told his mummy she was cruel. Why asked Carolynn - cos you eat chickens and I think they are lovely so I'm not eating any more chicken!! He still had a hotdog and burger though when we had a BBQ last Mon eve. :-) he's not caught on yet with where they coe from. Have a great wekend. Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are such a lucky woman to be living in such a lush and beautiful area of our country. Here in Ohio where it has been so ungodly hot and the earth is scorched, the crops are dried up and what is green in the fields is only that way because of all the fertilizer the farmers throw on it. Let there be one hole in the yard to fall in or twist an ankle the soul will find it. Hope your hubby is okay. Looks like the girls in the coop are happy with their new home (do I smell fried eggs or be it chicken?). Soon you will have no need to go to any chicken joints when you have your own supply, lol. Guess you will be wringing a neck or two and frying up a pan.....that was how Paula Deen got her start ya know. Love your blog, thanks for sharing.
    Susanne :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great post! I love visiting you! Yeah! Happy Days there are New Chooks on the kasner Farm. Aren't they cute! I love um! Do keep us posted with their antics they are lucky girls! I hope they won't end up on the 'Chick Dump' though. Them plates sure look tasty! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. I just love these posts so much Theresa, they make me want to get out into the fresh air! What a lovely prize from Shari, that bag is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such lovely summery pictures of a beautiful place, Teresa! And what wonderful gifts you received from Shari! Have a happy Sunday!
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am just catching up and love all your news and good cheer. Lovely pictures of the beautiful land, chickens, dinner, give-aways and birthday boys. Glad you are having a great time and everything is going well.
    Hugs to you dear Teresa,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds like a wonderful day. Hope you enjoyed your swim! Have a great Sunday. Heather

    ReplyDelete

I absolutely love comments and thank you so much for taking time to leave me a note. :-)