Pendleton Mill Store and Washougal River

If you are a crafter you will understand this story of lust, adventure and greed.. :-)  A few weeks ago I got a Pendleton bag.. to support the Warm Springs Indian Museum.. and it doesn't have a pocket for my glasses so I started looking online for a Pendleton one.. none of them were "it" so I started formulating an idea of making one myself!  But I needed some awesome woven Indian blanket material.  Right?  So, it just happens that across the Mighty Columbia River there is a charming Mill Store where you can get close-out items and fabrics, blankets, bags, clothing, jackets.. you get the idea.  SO... I convinced my long-suffering husband that an adventure was what we needed yesterday.  We also took our quiet, well-behaved grandsons with us.  :-D

When I eyed the rack of woven wool fabric bolts on this rack my eye went ZOING.. right to the turquoise and fire colored one.  None other would do.  I asked the nice young salesgirl to show me how much I'd need to get one whole design section.  To learn more about the Pendleton company, click HERE.

I also loved this sage green, red and gold-brown design.

Which design SPEAKS to you?

I showed great.. massive even.. restraint in the blanket and bag area.  They also are making a whole line of thick cotton beach towels.. yum.. no, Teresa, no!

The unassuming store front.  While I was getting my fabric, Dayle was trying to keep an eye on the quiet, well-behaved grandsons who were hiding in the clothes racks and touching the antique carding machine.. much to the chagrin of the nice salesgirl.. I gave him the keys to the car and sent them outside.  :-)

Then we took a drive UP memory lane.  When the kids were VERY small I used to take them up the Washougal River to a special swimming hole, called Dougan Falls.  There is a bridge over the area, this is looking downriver.

This is looking straight down at the big swimming hole where I would float my 1 year old baby.. Travis.. in a floating baby ring and I would swim and dive down in the water.  The older kids would play in the shallower water.

This is the view from the other side of the bridge.. the boys were amazed and excited by the waterfall.. it sounded awesome, too.

Isn't it gorgeous?

You can see the forested mountains beyond and the blue sky and clouds reflected in the water.  Joy.

Before we left the sun came out and made the forest glow.. did I tell you that we are in Washington State, directly across the Columbia River from where we live up on the cliffs of Corbett, Oregon.

I walked a ways down the trail and was amazed that I used to haul 3 kids, floaties and picnic stuff down that steep descent - in my young mother years.  

We then headed down the river towards home.. this was another scene from a bridge lower on the river.  We were amazed at how many homes were built up this river gorge from when we were young.

Further down the river.

So we made our way down the river and then headed East up the Columbia Gorge and came around a corner and I pulled off the road.. here is our gorge from the other side bathed in a warm golden evening light.

We pulled into Beacon Rock State Park to get a gander at this fabulous 840 foot high basalt volcanic plug.  

The golden evening glow on one gigantic rock.

Members of the Portland Yacht Club were there for a cruise-in.. we chatted with a few of the members for a bit.  There were some serious partying going on in the cockpits of those boats.  :-)

We let the boys run out some of their energy, up and down the boat dock ramp and around this big grassy area.  On Caleb's first run DOWN the steep ramp, he hit the dock and tripped and rolled.. he stood up and shouted, "I'm fine!".  But he brought home a bit of a scraped knee.

We finally pulled in at the farm at 7 pm.  A big day!  This morning I laid out my wonderful fabric to admire it.  Also, I forgot to show you this delightful trio of velvet pumpkins I acquired from Etsy.  I love them!  Want some?  Click HERE.

Now I need to get my other pumpkins out and do a bit of gourd overload.. lol!  

And now.. time to get ready to go to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival.. better known as OFFF.  We are taking the boys along to see the sheep, Angora goats and rabbits, Llamas and Alpacas.. and me?  I will be looking at yarn and the ladies spinning.  Shall I take my camera?  Ya think?  Okay.. if you insist.  I hope you're having a spectacular weekend!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)