Lighted Lodge, Advent Surprises and Scheepjes Yarn

Season's Greeting, my friends!  I snapped this photo of Multnomah Falls Lodge yesterday after volunteering in the Visitors Center with my sister Denise for the afternoon.  It's all lit up and the smoke is rising from the big stone fireplace in the dining hall.

We always have lunch before our shift and we enjoyed the holiday decorations and the tree in the big dining room.

This is the View Room.. you can actually see the falls here while you dine, but the glare on the window blocked out the view for this picture.

This is the waiting lounge by the bar and the dining room which we use, the Wahkeena Room, which also has a fireplace.

This man had a 5 week old puppy with him, it's part Chihuahua and part Pomeranian.. a Pom-a-wah-wah?  :-)

I love this model of Multnomah Falls Lodge on display in the dining room.

We had some really interesting visitors.. a lot of people admired the Woodland Blanket (by Lucy of Attic24 blog) that I was crocheting on.  I always give her blog for people to google and find her.  One group told me of their dollhouse her dad made for her daughter and so I pulled up some photos of my dollhouse and they ohhed and ahhhed over the inlaid wood floor.  That was fun.

Denise picked me up on the way and Dayle came to get me up at the end of our shift.  On the Bridal Veil entrance to the freeway I-84, we stopped to get a photo of the sunset over the Columbia River towards Portland, Oregon.

My yarn came for the Sunday Shawl I want to make, but I have to say I was very surprised by how FINE this yarn is!  :-(  I don't know whether to persevere and crochet it or do something else with it.  What do YOU think?

I do love the colors in this.. like a starburst.

Here is the progress on my Advent cowl - design by Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy blog fame.  :-)  I was worried that I was doing something wrong where the increases are, but looking at the pattern, this is how it's supposed to be.  The pink part will be the back, the rest of the color changes will be the width of the purple section.

My surprise from yesterday...

Tea!  Made in Spokane, Washington.  I look forward to a cup of this.

I wonder what the beige bits are?

And just now this one...

Another speckled pink skein of yarn!  :-)

I thought you might enjoy this image I found on Facebook.. :-)  Wouldn't this be the ultimate yard decoration this time of year?

I've accomplished some of my gift appropriation, just a few more things to find.  I'm enjoying this season.  I hope you are too.  Are you all set?  

****************************************
 *M*E*R*R*Y* * *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
**************************************** 

((hugs)), Teresa :-)