Hot Springs and Farm Boys

Hi there, thanks for dropping by for a visit.  Would you like to hear about Gracie's and my visit to Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa in North Bonneville on the Washington side?  You would?  OK!  Well, first I had to show you the wonderful swimming pool.  Gracie said it was the best swim of her life! I must say as I descended into the water it felt perfect.  Not too cool, not too warm.. perfect.  We paddled back and forth for an hour and it went too fast.  Now I want to take Dayle and the boys there soon, maybe Monday.  It was divine.

When we arrived at the resort, we went directly to the Pacific Crest Dining Room for lunch.  It's wonderful there, a wall of windows makes you feel you're in the forest.. the hotel is U-shaped and there is a beautifully landscaped garden in the center.  There is a creek running through it and several fountains spewing from granite columns.  Along the south side of the garden is a long rock wall that has a cascade of water falling off of the entire length of it.  

After lunch and our swim, we relaxed in the garden and I walked about to take some photos.  I was thrilled to find a creamy white Magnolia blossom there.

One of the granite column fountains and the beautifully planted garden.

It was fun to see some flowering variegated Yucca there.

The exterior of the hotel is rather unassuming, but when you enter the lobby you are bowled over by the soaring ceiling and the massive rock fireplace in the center.  It is so comfortable and welcoming.

A small fire flickered in the fireplace.

The chairs are so comfortable.. you could almost close your eyes and take a nap.  LOL!

A bronze sculpture of a Bald Eagle sits on the mantle watching over you.

As we exited the hotel there is a large water feature to your left with a bronze sculpture of a pair of battling Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep on the side.

These can be found in the Columbia River Gorge.

Then we drove on to Stevenson, Washington where we picked up some refreshments at the Little Viking Drive-In and then drove down to this scenic spot to enjoy watching the river and the wind-surfers for a while.

This log cabin can be rented - Gracie said she'd love to stay there sometime.  Who wouldn't?

Next to the cabin in a park area is this wonderful art piece.. it moves in the wind with colored glass in it.. a fun thing to watch.

I noticed that our wild cherry tree is full of bright red cherries, it's a huge tree and the birds enjoy the feast.  Some people even call these "bird cherry" trees as they are the result of birds eating them in one spot and "depositing" the seeds in another spot. Ahem.  

The apples are growing larger too.

When Travis got home from work, he and the boys had a picnic out in the yard on a bunch of blankets.  Then our son decided to do a little blackberry eradication.. and gave the old machete to the boys and taught them how to use it.  Picture grandma with her eyes open very big and going "blink blink blink" when she saw this photo.  

THEN.. he taught them how to use the gas powered Weed Eater.. as you can see by the blackberries behind the wood shed.. it's a constant battle to keep them at bay here.  It's said that if everyone left Oregon for a few years they'd come back and find the whole state engulfed in these invasive non-native Himalayan blackberries.

Hayden is taking a turn at machete wielding.  He's swinging it so fast it's a blur.

How is your week going?  I'm off to swim soon at our regular pool.. but oh how it's tempting to go back to Bonneville.  Soon.  Have a super day.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)