Low Clouds and Glass Float

Oregon.. how I love thee.. even cloudy and grey.  I'm an optimist.. are you?  When others see darkness I see moody beauty.  How do you view the world around you?  When Gracie and I drove to the hot springs pool on Wednesday the weather was certainly different than how it's been during the summer and fall.  We had our lunch at Big Ts and then did our lap swimming hour.  I must admit.. there were 6 young mothers in the pool with 6 very small babies and it wasn't the best and most serene of experiences.  I noted that the loudness wasn't all baby shrieking and crying.. it was the mothers and grandmothers doing that baby talk thing.. OH.. isn't this FUN?  WHEEEE!!! What a darling BABY YOU ARE!!!!!  :-)  My thought turned to.. just how can a "swim diaper" protect me from what's inside it?  Yes, I'm bad.

On our way back over the Bridge of the Gods there was no one behind me so Gracie took a few photos for me with my iPhone.  This is a different personality of the river, isn't it?  Moody.  This next photo shows the train down on the Washington side.. gives you some perspective, doesn't it?

Do you know about the Gingko tree?  There are several planted at the hot springs entrance.  This one is turning a pretty yellow.

Two more items that Kristi brought home from her mother's house as they go through things to save or give to charity.  The jug is an American classic, the old pottery whiskey jug.  Her grandparents had lived in Guam for a while and they brought home several Japanese fishing floats.. this one is brown and very pretty.  They used old glass items to melt down to make the floats, this one is made from old brown beer bottles.  Many of the blue/green/aqua floats are made from used Sake bottles in Japan.

I just love this one!

Just imagine the life of this float.. first a beer bottle.. then melted and re-used into a fishing float.. and where was it made?  How long was it used?  Where did it start and how far did it travel before it was found?  They began making these in Norway in 1820 and then the use of them spread to Asia and were eventually made all over the world.

Yesterday at our Portland Women's Forum meeting, Betty popped in just long enough to give me four quilted placemats that she made for me!  I asked how much I owed her and she said "Nothing!"  Wasn't that the nicest thing ever?  I think these will come in very handy for the boys to use.  

Kristi brought home some pear trees from her mom's house - these are Asian pears.. yum!  This tree will go to Travis' friend Ernie.

I forgot to tell you about the blog friends I was having dinner with on Monday - it was Becky and her husband and Gracie.  We met at Tad's Chicken 'n Dumplins.  We had a nice visit.  I didn't get a photo this time!  Well, I hope you have a fun weekend planned!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)