Train Trip & Surprise!

We were up early yesterday to head off up the Columbia River Gorge for the yearly train trip for the volunteers for the Vista House and Multnomah Falls.  We invited our DIL Kristi and our two littlest grandsons as our guests, and they arrived before 8 am to ride with us.  We were thrilled that our run of wonderful weather continued yesterday.  My friend Shirley and her husband John also joined us, the photo below is one I took of them by the train engine.  (NOTE: I forgot my Lumix camera!!!  So all photos are from my iPhone 4S.)

Here are the wiggly little guys goofing off with grandpa on the train.

The train goes through a lot of deep forest on it's way up to Parkdale, OR.

Once in Parkdale we walked over to the Apple Valley BBQ for lunch and I saw this amazing bush covered with these red flower buds with a few of them open, it's a Mountain Laurel and I would love to have one of these!

Hayden and Caleb LOVED this vintage log truck in the park at Parkdale! 

I mourned not having my great Lumix camera with terrific zoom.. but this isn't bad zooming from the iPhone.. just not as much detail.  Mt. Hood from Parkdale.

Lunch at the Apple Valley BBQ - BBQ Chicken Salad.  Oh. My. Goodness.  This is the best thing I've eaten in a month.. and I still lost another lb. - down 19 lbs. Dayle also lost more, now he's at 12 lbs down.  You should try this one at home.. crispy romaine, tossed with ranch dressing, sprinkled with 2 kinds of grated cheese, crispy julienned bacon, sliced RIPE cherry tomatoes and cornbread croutons - topped with freshly bbq-ed chicken breast with some bbq sauce on top.  The flavors all melded wonderfully.

Caleb and Hayden enjoyed hanging out with Shirley and John.  Grandpa gave them each a lollypop.  This is on the way back down the mountain. 

The train passes by mile after mile of Apple, Pear and Cherry orchards.. I tried to get a shot of these young pears from the moving train. 

The train also trundles alongside the beautiful Hood River, I love babbling rivers. 

When we got home at 3 pm, Dayle brought in the mail and there was a mysterious padded envelope in the pile of mail.  What could this be???  OH WOW, it was from my blog friend MEREDITH from Mereknits blog!!! Remember, Meredith really helped me with my bunny dress knitting.. thank you again, Meredith!!  I opened the package and what do I see?  She knitted my bunny an apron in the most lovely denim blue wool!!! OMGoodness!  I promptly brought Miss Maggie Maria out on the deck and tried on the apron and it fits perfectly!  

She also included a note with a cute alpaca on it, and a sweet note - she also included some tools that I did not have when I was doing my project, some stitch markers shaped like tiny sheep and 2 stitch holders.. how thoughtful, sweet and generous!  Also included were some cards for adding to crocheted gifts! 

See the little sheep stitch holders?   *T*H*A*N*K* * *Y*O*U*!*!*!*  Meredith!  

The boys posing for a photo.. goofy kidlets!

And lastly... I started a group on Facebook, called "We Love Lucy II" - we now have 597 members! (We'd love to have you join us.)  We are all fans of the blogger Lucy at Attic24 - be sure to check out her colorful crochet and fun English lifestyle.   AND SO.. in the group there is a member who is having health challenges, and another member, named Lee, came up with a neat idea, that we'd all crochet a few granny squares using Lucy's "Summer Garden" design, then send them to her and she'd sew them together and send them to our friend.  SO.. I made mine last night, following Lucy's pattern, with the dog on my lap.. :-)

Next I need to take a photo of these 2 in front of a local landmark.. I'm going to use the Columbia River Gorge from Portland Women's Forum, which also includes Vista House.  :-)  Isn't this a neat worldwide project? 

So, today I will do that, and then go swimming.  What are you up to?  Do you have fun weekend plans?  Tomorrow I'm going to do a Folk Art Program at Vista House with my friend Sally - we both have Indian trade bead collections to share.  I'll take some pix.. :-)  
((hugs)), Teresa :-)