Narrow Escape

Hello and thanks for visiting.  Do you have time for a story?  My friend Sally picked me up to go to the Portland Women's Forum meeting on Thursday.  We drove down the Historic Columbia River Highway past the Stark Street Bridge.. I realized that I forgot something for the meeting, so she turned around and took me back to the farm where Dayle handed the bag to me, then we headed back down the HCRH towards Troutdale and the freeway.  When we were in the meeting, Dayle texted me to tell me there was a rockslide near the bridge and we'd have to go an alternate route home.  

When we returned, I quickly snapped these photos -- oh my goodness -- some really BIG rocks came down!  There is a huge gap in the hillside where it all came down.

Last evening we headed to town to grab a quick dinner at the Dairy Queen and I pulled over and walked over to get some better photos of the rockslide.

When I realized that we went under this looming disaster THREE times just minutes before it fell, it has given me great pause to think about how dangerous the world is.  :-)

I posted this photo on Facebook and several people commented on this rock.. what do you see?

When I got home from the meeting the boys were in the pool, so I went up to see.  Hayden is in the floatie - do you see Caleb?  I showed him this photo and he said "I almost dwowned!"  Not really.  Mom and dad were right there.

Their Dad bought them these floaties with built in squirt guns.  I love the patterns of the water you can see from the outside of the pool.

I turned from looking at the pool to see our woods from a different perspective.

Looking up into one of our huge Douglas Fir trees.

Caleb.  :-)

Travis drove the VW bus up by the pool - Grandpa is warming up Hayden before he gets back in the pool.

They had used this shovel for the sand.. this is a special shovel as I found it on my grandfather's farm and brought it home with me when we brought home the kitchen queen cabinet and 5-legged oak table.  

Grandpa wrapped the handle with electrical tape way back when.  Back when it was made using a fabric base, not the all plastic stuff they have now.  Can you see the age and hard work this shovel has gone through?  It has to be over 100 years old.

The garden is looking very pretty and lush, don't you think?

This is a pretty Japanese grass I put in years ago and it's so faithful.. coming back year after year.  

A nice big Hosta.  That darn Creeping Myrtle needs a trim, not an easy job!

We're having a nice calm morning.  We're watching the Rose Parade on TV.  Kristi has taken the boys on some errands and out to lunch.  She's bringing back some fresh Oregon strawberries.  I see strawberry shortcake in our future!  What are you up to today?  Watch out for falling rocks, whatever you do!  
((hugs)), Teresa :-)