Natural Beauty and History

We live in a rural area in the Columbia River Gorge, when we drive to "town", Gresham, Oregon, we cross the Sandy River and drive up a curving road to town.  There is a really pretty little waterfall, no name that I know of, which I make sure and look at each time I go by.  I pulled over and snapped this shot on my way to swimming on Friday.  The sun was shining through the forest, the new leaves just popping out.  Glorious.

Mosses, ferns, new spring leaves and gushing fresh water.. what's not to love?

Yesterday my dear husband and I were up hours earlier than usual to go up to Camp Crestview where I presided over the Friends of Multnomah Falls Interpretive Volunteer Training Workshop.  The manager built a fire for us and the great hall was all set up beautifully for our meeting.  The tables all had tablecloths on, just lovely.

Crestview Manor was completed in 1917 by a wealthy grocer from Portland.  This was his weekend and summer house for his family.  The wood is cherry and fir and the stonework was created on site by Italian stonemasons.

We had 3 presentations, done by our very own board members.  The first one was on the geology of the Columbia River Gorge by Carl, a former teacher, the second on the Native Americans of our area by Flora who is a descendent  of 5 tribes, Quinalt, Chinook, Cree and Sioux - also from the French and English tribes.  :-)  Katie told us of the wildflowers of the area with photos.

Flora brought many items that she received during potlatches - this is a gift to her of a handwoven cedar bark hat, decorated with a shell and an Ermine pelt.  I wish I had one of these!  These were common hats worn by American Indians in our area in days past.

Flora also shared a few of her favorite books.. I just ordered this off of Amazon and will tell you more about it when I read it.

As in the past times we've visited Crestview, they provided a healthful and delicious lunch for us.

Our tables were all set for us with pitchers of apple juice and water..

Broccoli cheese soup.

And this, my friends.. is the view from our table.  The Columbia River as it flows towards Portland, OR and on to the Pacific Ocean.  The Bridge is the Glenn Jackson Bridge, the Interstate 205 that joins Oregon to Washington (on the right).  

We drove up to Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint after the meeting adjourned at 2 pm.  I never miss a chance to see this view of Vista House and the gorge looking East.  See Rooster Rock sticking up down there on the left?

Here's a zoomed in closeup of Rooster Rock.  We found out that this rock did not start here but was part of a landslide during the ice age floods 15,000 years ago.  When they happened, the water was going at 90 mph and you could hear it coming from 1/2 hour before it reached you.  

Those floods formed this gorge.  The water was so high that it was over the cliff where Vista House sits now.

I zoomed in on Vista House, you can see all the cars there, it's a popular place to visit.  Behind it to the left is Beacon Rock and to the right is Bonneville Dam.  

The boys got a Lego set each yesterday when our son and his wife met her sister for lunch.  They had hours of quiet concentration as they put them together themselves.  

We had little pots of primroses to decorate the tables at the workshop.. this one was at the head table and I got to bring it home.  Sweet!

A large bloom of my pink-orange Christmas Cactus.

I've had this African Violet for several years now and I must say, this one has been the best blooming one I've ever had!  Is this color amazing or what?

We are resting up this morning, but this afternoon we prepare to do battle.. we're going to Costco for some shopping.  I will leave in little over a week to visit my daughter and granddaughters in Ohio - we're going on a side trip to visit the Amish country.  My friend Gracie lent me a book to read to prepare for my Amish visit - it's called "Plain and Simple - A Woman's Journey to the Amish" by Sue Bender.  It's a true story and I read 3/4s of the book yesterday.  I highly recommend it.  Thanks, Gracie!  OK, time to bid you adieu.  Have a super week!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)