💗 50th Anniversary 💗

💗 Yesterday my dear husband and I celebrated 50 years since we were married in Louisiana in 1970.  He picked me up from Multnomah Falls where I'd spent the afternoon volunteering in the Visitors Center with my lifelong friend Shirley.  Then we drove on to the Columbia Gorge Hotel for dinner, which is our tradition for many years.

This is a photo from when we were there a few years ago.

There is a garden in the front of the building with a neat bronze sculpture.

Our reservation was for 5:30 pm and this is the main dining room.

We always ask for a table by the windows overlooking the Columbia River.  

Perfect!  That is Washington State across the river.

The table is laid with these pretty plates, funny thing is they whisk them away before you are served your meal on a white plate.

Here is the love of my life, trying to figure out whether he should order the prime rib or a seafood pasta dish.  I knew right away I wanted the bacon wrapped filet mignon.  :-)

Mine was served with Bordelaise sauce, fingerling potatoes, broccolini and a carrot.  Yum!

Here we are 50 years ago.  I told the waiter that it was our 50th anniversary - when it came time to give us our bill he said - "I'm happy to tell you that someone has picked up your tab for dinner!".  We were amazed!  We figured out that it was the younger couple sitting at the table next to us.  He wouldn't tell us who, he said it was secret.  :-)

Dayle and I met in high school, I was a freshman, 14 and he was a junior, 16.  We went steady through high school and then he enlisted in the Army and headed off to boot camp and then flight school to fly helicopters in the Vietnam war.  I was talked into flying to Hawaii to live by one of my best friends.  I became a hippie while there, advocating for peace.  Poor Dayle was in 'Nam fighting a war.  He got shot while flying scout helicopters and ended up in traction in Seattle at an Army hospital.  When he returned home, I also returned home and we re-connected.  After he healed from his surgery he went back to Texas and sat on the flight school elimination board until he was retired from the service.  He then got a job flying for Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. in Louisiana.  After he visited me in Oregon we decided I'd fly down and see him where we decided to get married.  And the rest, as they say, is history.  :-)

I made that dress by buying a few yards of ivory satin fabric, then freehand, I cut out a big huge circle, cut the neck out, hand sewing the lace around the neck and sleeves and hem, then put some lace around the back to the front and pinned it on with a cameo pin.  I went to a florist and ordered the circlet and bouquet.  Dayle rented a tuxedo and we went off to a photographer to commemorate the occasion.

We went to a Justice of the Peace in Scott, LA where he married us.  We had no one to serve as witnesses so he had his son come out of the garage to sign and his DIL, too.  No big huge expensive wedding for us!  :-) 

Our daughter was born 2 years later, then a son 15 months after that and 3 years later our youngest son was born after we moved back to Oregon.

This painting was on our way out the door, isn't it neat?

Behind the hotel there is "Wah Gwin Gwin Falls", also known as Lullaby Falls, a waterfall of Phelps Creek located in the property of the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel, in Hood River County.  This is a photo I took a few years ago.

You can stand at the very top of the falls and look down as they fall 200 feet below.

I thought I'd share a few photos from earlier in the day.  This is Zev, the USFS Site Manager for MF.  He brought in his dog to show us.  She's a 6 month old Golden Retriever.

One of our visitors was this young girl who was in town to participate is a big regional spelling bee.  We gave her a Junior Ranger book which she filled out so we gave her a patch and bracelet.  If she wins this contest she'll go on to Washington DC for the big spelling bee!

I got more done on the border of my blanket while chatting with visitors.  But I have one and a half more rows to go to finish.  This photo shows the blanket way more yellow than it is.  

We have one of our grandsons here for the night, Hayden.  Caleb is off to a big math team competition with his school in Vancouver, WA.  We hope he wins!  Have a wonderful weekend.. any special plans?

((hugs)), Teresa :-)  

Dahlia Border and Banana Peanut Butter Bread

Well.. it looks like I underestimated how long it would take me to finish the border on my Dahlia afghan.  :-)  I only got 3 out of the 6 rows done.  But it even looks wonderful so far so I think it will be lovely all done.  One problem is the 2 colors I took out of the pattern are both used in Lucy's border, so I am having to pick out 2 different ones to use.  I'm free-wheeling it!

I'll actually be sad to see the end of this project as it's brightened the winter amazingly.

This was my "nest" as I crocheted away.  We're really enjoying the new stove!

In our effort to bake our own homemade breakfast, I found a quick bread recipe that sounded good.. Banana Peanut Butter bread!  We got some fresh new baking soda and the bread rose over the edge of the pan so it's a bit imperfect looking but tastes delish, especially buttered and warmed in the microwave for 22 seconds.  

Kristi finished the painting upstairs and this room is coming along.  I need to find some new curtains and hang some of my extra artwork up there.  We also need to get some pillows on the bed.  But I'm happy we have a nice clean, fresh guest room now.  :-)

I found this meme on Facebook and got a huge kick out of it.. I thought you might enjoy it too.

I think I'll work more on that border today and tomorrow I'll take it to Multnomah Falls with me to work on while I volunteer with my friend Shirley.  How is your week going?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)  

🔥 Let there be fire 🔥

Our new pellet stove was delivered and installed this afternoon.  The guys doing the work were fabulous and knew their stuff.  It took a bit over 2 hours and now we have the warm radiant heat again.  I love it!

We bought the stove from a family owned business, this is the grandson of the owner.  

The stove weighs 450 lbs!

They did an excellent job, adding a new top to the stovepipe, screwing it all together, spray painting the screws, sealing the pipe in many places, etc.

There are acorns and oak leaves embossed in the sides and on the top front of the stove.  The color is "Majolica", a rich dark enamel brown.  Done and dusted, whew!

We've had some lovely sunny weather.  I even sat out on the deck for a long time on Friday visiting with Dayle and Kristi.  I snapped the daffodils in bloom by the big rock with my metal goat on top.  :-)

Here is the view from the deck.. ahhh.. sun. Our older son came over on Saturday and fixed his truck so it's no longer here.  Grandson Michael came with him so we got to visit with both of them for a while.

Dayle picked one of our Jumbo daffodils for my brass bulb vase.  I will keep one on my newly refinished piano stool right by my chair so I can see it and smell it's Spring aroma all day.  :-)  

On Sunday, yesterday, our son and Kristi invited us over for BBQ chicken dinner.  After dinner we watched a movie called "The Bus" about the history and stories about the VW Bus.  I loved it!  My first new car of my young life - after we were married - was a 1970 red VW Bus "Campmobile".  I adored that thing.  Dayle's car was a 1968 GTO, metal flake olive drab color.

Kristi bought this toy for Mocha.  A rainbow striped unicorn llama!  LOL! 

Oh how she loves massacring stuffed dog toys!

Our messy little girl.  I wish she'd pick up after herself.  We've got her trained to sit on command, now lay down.. and I'm starting to teach her to shake hands.  

I am going to work on the border of my Dahlia afghan after I publish this blog post.  I should be done by tomorrow!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)  

Getting Things Done

Our afternoon of errands yesterday began with a "porch pickup" of some newly made Jadeite measuring cups.  Yep, Facebook Marketplace.  I think they're neat.  What kind of measuring cups do you use?

Next up was to drive to Oregon City to see a pellet stove we were interested in.  I don't think I told you but our old stove "poofed".  We were sitting her last week and we both heard a POP.. and the stove died.  It had served us well for over 25 years and we figured even if we had it repaired all the motors and working parts would be old.  So began the research into a replacement.  This is what we decided upon.  It will be delivered and installed on Monday.  We've really missed the warm radiant heat of a fire.

After placing our order we drove up the Clackamas River to have lunch here at Stone Cliff Inn.  I'd been here before with my sisters but Dayle had never been there.

We love having our early dinner around 3 or 4 pm, before the dinner rush and were able to to get this wonderful table with a great view of the river.

This place is so pretty inside with all the big log beams and walls.

The bar was right behind our table.  

The service was fast!  I got a Kobe beef burger with sweet potato waffle fries, Dayle got a corned beef sandwich.  It was fun to see a fishing boat way down there on the water.

We've been eating very healthy at home, so an occasional splurge is okay.. right?  :-)

The soaring ceiling and river rock fireplace is something.

When we walked to the car I followed a path to the edge of the railing and snapped this photo.

Since it was rush hour traffic on the I-205 freeway we took the back roads home.  With one last stop at the grocery store.. we pulled into our driveway right as the last rays of the sun lit up the sky.

A day well spent.  We are having several lovely, sunny days.  Oh.. I got a clean bill of health from the doctor.  I just have to have a "procedure" done that entails a thorough cleanse.. which I'm not looking forward to.  Anyway.. I have a newsletter to finish today which I will begin once I hit "publish" on this blog post!  I hope you have a wonderful day.
((hugs)), Teresa :-)  

Celebrating Friendship

I invited my blog friend Gracie (click here to view her blog) over yesterday for a birthday luncheon.  Look at the wonderful bouquet she brought as a hostess gift!

Chef Dayle made a roasted chicken for us.  Yum!  I used my art deco dishes which was fun.  The vegetables were small potatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes.

He makes a sauce with the drippings which puts the finishing touch to the meal.  Thank you Dayle!

After lunch we retired to the family room to visit and crochet.  Gracie loved the gift I gave her - a WWII Navy Wardroom china with an anchor on it.  Her last name is Saylor so she loves nautical things.  

I wanted to show you this bud vase.  It's brass, vintage and my daughter Amy asked for one of these for her birthday.  I fell in love with it and found one on eBay for myself.  

The base is a bulb with roots and then 3 slim leaves.  Dayle picked two of our daffodils that had bloomed and they just fit in the brass tube.  Fun, huh?

This is a photo of the bulb on the bottom.  The maker is Carnevale and was made in the 1980s.  Gosh, that's 40 years!

I have this by my chair and the aroma of the daffodils is wafting my way right now.  Spring!  How I love thee!

The new paint is everything I'd hoped for!  It's calming, fresh and bright.  The color is called "Sea Glass" which thrills me.  I have a small collection of sea glass.  The dark painter's tape will come off soon.  Then I need to find some new curtains.  Hmm.. pure white or colored?  Floral or ?  What would YOU do?

I can't wait to put all the things back in there, my Princess dresser, artwork on the walls, etc.  This is the East room.

This is the West room.  My Cosmic Cowboy room.  Kristi just arrived to finish the edging paint in this room and she thinks the walls will need two coats of paint.  How nice to have a fresh start upstairs.  I look forward to showing the "reveal".. as they say in home remodeling shows.  LOL!

We're having some sunny days!  This is my view from my easy chair.. see the pretty tablecloth?  Can you see the photo bomber?  :-)

OK.. time to get ready to head off to my annual physical exam.  Ugh.  I hope you have a better thing to do today!!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)