Monday, July 29, 2013

Friend's Picnic

Have you been reading my blog long enough to remember my post last year about the annual Volunteer Picnic for the Friends of Multnomah Falls?  It was yesterday and it was the best day!  Perfect weather, happy people, good food, a successful event.  Last year one of the ladies brought her two grandkids and I spied her plates (I asked everyone to bring their own plates and utensils so we weren't adding to the landfills with disposable things) and fell in love with them!  They are well-made enamel on tin vintage camp plates.  So, I came home and found some on Etsy and was able to show my friend my plates, and she brought hers too!  I also asked for everyone to bring their own tablecloths so we didn't use those big rolls of plastic to cover the tables.  It was fun to see all the different cloths on the picnic tables.
Aren't these the perfect plates for a picnic? 
We had a table set up for desserts, so I snapped a few shots of them.  Lemon bars.  Oh how I love these, let me count the ways.. gooey tart topping, crunchy savory crust underneath.. bliss. 
Brownies, cream puffs. 
And every year one of our male volunteers brings two.. count them.. TWO amazing cakes from a French bakery called "Petite Provence".   
The Friends provide hot dogs, hamburgers, buns and accoutrements - and the volunteers bring potluck items such as Orange Baked Beans (us), fruit ambrosia, potato salads, etc. 
Yum.  The Ambrosia salad was unique, it used small pearl shaped pasta in it! 
People brought flowers from their yards for the tables.  What a neat group of people! 
We had a surprise and welcome visit from the previous site manager for the falls, Aaron Pedersen.  He got tons of hugs and a joyful reception from us all.  Two of the USFS guys also attended.   
I always organize the annual photo - Dayle is the photographer so he's not in the shot.  Of course, 4 people arrived right after the photo was taken! 37 people attended.
Every year I take a photo of the old Latourell house - it's still standing but falling in more each year.  It's sad as the descendants still own this but have let it fall into this disrepair. 
We drove home on the historic highway and stopped at Vista House to take a few shots.  The weather was beyond perfection.  This is the Columbia River Gorge looking east, if you're new to my blog.   
This is the view from Vista House of Washington State.  They made the gorge a "National Scenic Area" when plans were being made to cover this hillside with homes - and now we know this view will stay rural in perpetuity. 
My beloved Vista House.  I was the Executive Director and one of the founders for the Friends of Vista House, so I'm part of this place.  It just went through a 4 million dollar restoration, so it's in tip top condition again.   
We drove on to Portland Women's Forum - I was hoping the wild sweet peas would be in bloom - and got this shot of the Vista House, the gorge with flowers in front. 
Pretty little peas. 
I am so grateful to live here. 
I'm going swimming today and also to the fabric store to get more holiday printed cotton for the yo-yos I'm making for a centerpiece.  
OK.. now I think I need a nap. :-)  But what we really need to do is start making lists for our trip to Waldo Lake in a week.  The fun just doesn't stop. LOL!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

32 comments:

  1. Very nice day :) I absolutely LOVE the cowboy dishes!
    Smiles, DianeM :)

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    1. We keep them in our trailer for camp meals. Which we'll be doing in a bit over a week! :-)

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  2. Looks like fun. I'd like to raid that dessert table! One of each please! Haha.

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    1. I had very thin slices/samples of the 2 cakes.. very fresh, fluffy, light.. the frosting on the top of the chocolate one was decadently delish.

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  3. Your picnic ware is great Teresa and such a better idea than using disposable plates. What a fun picnic and perfect weather you had x

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    1. I really like people to use re-usable things. :-)

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  4. What a nice event. All of the food looks delicious. They sound like a very nice group of people. Your scenic photos are amazing as always, what an incredible place you live in. I love those plates! Definitely very picnic-y. :)

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    1. People that volunteer are almost always really nice as they give of their time willingly. :-)

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  5. Love everything about this post. The Gorge is truly a beautiful place. I always look forward to the drive, especially one I reach Hood River. Gorgeous from there all the way to Portland.
    Blessings my friend,
    Betsy

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    1. I think it's beautiful.. the only place I'd give up living here for is a cottage right on the ocean or a lake.. like yours! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. Beeeeautifully busy!!! Thanks for another wonderful post, Teresa :) the kids just came in with some huge ripe blackberries and pretty pictures of the berry patch! I'm going exploring...such gorgeous weather!!!
    Gracie xx

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    1. There were blackberries by the Latourell house, but they were unusually small.. I assume from our lack of rain. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. The cowboy dishes are the BEST, great find and the photos of your event make it look like fun.

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    1. The ones I have are hard to find, but there are some others called Monterrey Western Ware which can be found on eBay.

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  8. Hi Teresa! Looks like you had a perfect day for your picnic!!! My daughter and her family are on the plane back home now. They had a really wonderful time!!
    Love your yo yos!!!!
    xo Kris

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    1. Let me know what they liked best in Oregon! :-)

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  9. Looks like another perfect year and perfect picnic. Those plate are just too much fun.

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    1. The vibes at the picnic were really positive and happy - it was a great day.

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  10. Hi Teresa what a wonderful 'spread' as my S.I.L. would say. It all looks delightful. I like your idea of doing away with all the disposable items. Hate our throw away society. Beautiful photos as well of the beautiful area you live in. Hugs Anne x

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    1. Anne, is your SIL American? That's a common term here. :-)

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  11. What a gorgeous day, I think you have some Angel's looking down at you so you have perfect weather for your picnic year after year. Love all the photos. You are blessed to live where you live, and by the way I love those plates.
    Hugs to you Teresa,
    Meredith

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    1. Someday you'll have to visit here and have lunch with Gracie, Taci, Betsy and me. :-)

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  12. Just perfect... My favourite flavour is lemon,so hose bars look delucious

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  13. Love your picnic plates--so much cooler than my blue enameled steel ones! Looks like it was a wonderful get-together...
    Your photo of the Vista House from the Portland Women's Forum is SO pretty with the pink flowers in the foreground and I love your photo of the Latourell house...now I am very curious to know more about it:)
    Blessings, Aimee
    PS: Have a great time at Waldo Lake!

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    1. The Latourell house story is that the descendants of the family that the town was named after have let this house rot instead of selling it to someone who would fix it up.. makes me upset each year I see it. We will have fun at Waldo Lake, thanks!

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  14. I so enjoy your pictures of everything when you're out and about! What a beautiful part of the country Washington and Oregon are ;)

    It makes me sad to see old houses and barns just fade away like that... and it looks like it was quite a beauty in it's day.

    The plate idea is a fun one... I'll have to remember that for family picnics and get "togethers"! Those cowboy plates are awesome!!

    ~Chris

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    1. I can bet your liked my cowboy plates. Did I tell you that from seeing the turkey plate at your house I got a whole set and will be using it for the holidays! :-)

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  15. Looks like fun! Those picnic dishes are SO cute! Beautiful scenery too!

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  16. Such a fun day Teresa! I love the enamel plates...they make me think of Cath Kidston's cowboy range and those cakes look delicious!It's lovely that everyone decorated their tables and brought flowers too. I hope someone restores the little house one day before it's too late....it's a treasure.
    Beautiful photographs as always!
    Happy Wednesday,
    Susan x

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  17. I have some western plates but have never seen those. They are great!

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  18. Lots to catch up on here today! Love the plates, they really are perfect for a picnic! Love your yo yo's too, the fabric with the white background is especially gorgeous. I hope someone looks after that lovely old house soon....would be so great to see it done up and loved!
    Helen x

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