Summer Days This and That

On Wednesday my pal Gracie and I headed up the Columbia River Gorge to swim again at the healing waters of Bonneville Hot Springs.  I thought it would be fun to have our lunch somewhere different so when we paid our $1 toll to go over the Bridge of the Gods I asked the toll taker where the best place for lunch in Stevenson, Washington was and she said "Big T's"!  I'd never heard of it so we found it and it sits on a bluff overlooking the river.  We could see sailboats out on the Columbia racing along.

It was inside an old house, we sat on the front porch.

They had a nice bright porch but we found a table with a comfy booth inside.  My goodness, they had a varied menu!  We both got a cheeseburger, Gracie got sweet potato fries and I had crispy tater tots and we both got a huge glass mug of iced tea.  We'll be going back here!

Then on to the hot springs.. they have a long rock wall on the south side of the garden courtyard and a fountain splashes down the whole length of it.  Isn't it pretty?  It was our best swim yet as there were very few people in the pool.. it's so soothing there with spa-like music playing while you swim, knowing you're "taking the waters" in healthful mineral water and the view from the pool are the trees in the gardens and forest surrounding the place.  Ahhh.. nice.

After our swim and showers and all we drove over the Bridge of the Gods and on to the East Wind Drive-In for refreshment.  Then to the Cascade Locks Marine Park where we saw all the racing boats, Lasers, coming back after the racing to the shore.  So pretty.

It was reminiscent of my Sunfish sailing.. flying across the water being propelled by the winds.. the water splashing across the bow, the sun sparkling on the water.  

Do you read Country Living magazine?  I do.. it's getting mighty thin though.. but I still enjoy it.  I love it when they do stories about small business people, artists, craftsmen.. small farms.  I saw one recently about a neat young family on a farm in Northern California, the woman of the family screen prints cards and even the bags in which she sells her dried beans they raise, the label on the honey they produce, so I went to her Etsy store and got a box of assorted products, the beeswax candles, butter beans and honey.  It just arrived and I can't wait to try the honey and make something with the beans.  I *LOVE* supporting small business and independent craftspeople!  Here is a link to her store.. Butterbean Studios.  (I'm not getting paid to support her but I like to spread the good word.)

My darling younger sister Denise went to Peru and Ecuador and brought me some sweet souvenirs as a gift.. Thank you, Denise!  I shared some chocolate with Dayle last night and it was tasty.  I adore the hand embroidered tea cloth and the wonderfully colorful hand-woven and leather coin purse.  So neat!

And I'm back in the Bootie Business.. making some pink booties for my niece.  We'll be attending a shower for her in Corvallis at the end of the month, should be fun.  I want to make a hat to match.  :-)

In a bit I'll be packing my swim bag to meet Gracie at our regular pool.  Are you keeping busy this summer?  What are you doing for fun?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)