Presidents & Serendipity

In the United States, we always celebrate our Presidents on the 3rd Monday of February. I belong to the Portland Women's Forum - and our President & Vice President decided to celebrate our living Presidents yesterday at our meeting.  They had just started to slice the cake and I said.. "WAIT! I need a picture!" - so here is the beautiful cake with some slices in it.  LOL!  

Here is a photo of the current living presidents plus our State Parks liaison.  From the right, her term was 1969-70. I had us line up according to our terms, which range from 1969 to our current president to the far left.  I served in this position for 3 years.

I catch a ride to the meeting each month with my old co-worker from Vista House - Sally King.  I hired her as my Assistant Manager when I worked as the Executive Director for the Friends of Vista House from 1982 to 1998.  We've been friends for 30 years!  On our way home she said, "Do you want to drive up to see Vista House?"  Sure!  They've been working on the viaduct around VH for months and it's been closed to the public until last week.  

Of course, our first stop was Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint - the place where the absolute BEST photos of the gorge and Vista House are taken.  The light is always changing here, it looks different each time.  I zoomed from there to get Vista House.

I also zoomed down to Rooster Rock, this is an interesting shot as it's Washington state reflecting above the rock, which is on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge.

See Rooster Rock down at the bottom left?  And Vista House looms above it on the bluff on the right, 733 feet above the river. 

Here is the newly re-installed Portland Women's Forum monument that I coordinated to get put back at the park.  It was a drinking fountain in honor of Gertrude Glutsch Jensen, one of the past presidents of our group.  The fountain had been removed by State Parks as it was not ADA approved (American's with Disabilities Act) and stored in their workshop yard for years, and I led the movement to get it re-installed as a monument as it still had the plaque on it.  I'm so happy to see it back here.  State Parks has been doing some clearing around the property to improve the views, and now you can see the river beyond the monument!

Looking East.

Then we headed down to Vista House and Sally showed me where they've done more view clearing here.. yay! 

My beloved historic building, built in 1918 as an observation point and visitors center. 

Sally kept on driving and pulled into her ranch of 25 acres right on the Historic Columbia River Highway - I snapped a photo of 2 of her 4 horses.  She has sheep, chickens, a goat and other livestock.

She then took me to see the newly finished parking area and rockwork at Latourell Falls. 

On to Wahkeena Falls. 

We drove past Multnomah Falls, but I figured you'd seen enough photos of that one so I didn't even take a photo. :-)  The one below is Horsetail Falls.  Then Sally said, shall we drive on to Cascade Locks and over the Bridge of the Gods to Stevenson, WA and get an ice cream?  Sure! 

And finally she dropped me off at home after a huge loop around the gorge.  Below is a photo of Dayle and our 4 grandsons when we met our boys and their families for Chinese dinner on Wed eve. Caleb had swiped grandpa's cap and put it on and was mugging for the camera.  What a character!

When I got home there was a package awaiting me.. it was from Claudia in New York.. 

She's selling these adorable felted heart earrings made by her sister and my friend Meredith!  Click HERE for their Etsy shop.  Thanks, Meredith and Claudia!  I love them! 

And last but certainly not least, it's my firstborn child's birthday today!  Here is my darling Amy as a toddler.  

At her wedding to Jay.  Isn't she a beautiful bride?  My son's look so handsome too.  Yes, I had dyed my hair for a few years.. lol!

She is now a wife and mother to two adorable and charming daughters.  Happy Birthday, honey!  Have a wonderful day!!

Well, it's been a whirlwind week.  I'm taking today "off" for some R&R and some crochet.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)