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Home Cover Feature “THE MOUNTAIN IS OUT”..A SATURDAY DRIVE

Sandra Miller April 19, 2009 8 Comments

“THE MOUNTAIN IS OUT”..A SATURDAY DRIVE

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

When we first moved to Oregon 11 years ago (has it been that long!) one of the first phrases that struck us as “oh so local” was  “THE MOUNTAIN IS OUT”.  When Mt. Hood decides to reveal herself it is never subtle.

This dormant volcano with her “hood” of white is a sight to behold. No matter how many times we catch a glimpse of her through the haze or shining like a beckon as she was today…it is truly a GENUINE HONOR!!  I took this shot moving, through the window as we crossed one of the  many bridges coming back home from wine tasting

My rhododendron in full bloom...and Lillian

Steve and I had a glorious weekend and spring has arrived with a bang!  It was in the mid 70’s (almost 80 today) and the air was filled the song of bare naked  infant birdlings in their nests begging for their meal..I LOVE spring!!!

Above you see our rhododendron in full bloom!! Our vet tech Marion, gave us this rhodie from her garden about a week after Magenta was born.  She saved Magenta’s life after  C section.  This shrub was moved outside my studio window right after we lost Magenta last year suddenly.  I wanted it closer to me and it is blooming like crazy.  I feel like my little “Yettie” is beaming back at me every time I look out that window.  Wow…can’t hold back the tears when I think of her.  Sigh! This is Lillian giving me lots of kisses. She wanted in the act!

Barkleigh..our resident stray cat reappears today

And then there is “Barkleigh the stray cat”..remember him.  He has a tag and a collar but no other ID..other than “My name is Barkleigh”   We hadnt’ seen  him for MONTHS!!   Well as we were getting ready to go on our Saturday drive to the wineries…Steve opened the car to put something in the back seat here is Barkleigh..sitting on my black sweater in a  car terrarium coma. He had gotten in through the sun roof and was quite content.

Our neighborhood stray

I love that cat…I spent an hour photographing him…more to come.  He is a dear cat with a great sense of humor.  We need to make sure that sunroof is always closed….geesh!

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

This is certainly one of the best ways to spend a weekend day in Oregon! We have one of the most beautiful wine regions in the U.S. and one of our fave stops is SCOTT PAUL WINERY. This is one of many fun pix I took on our Saturday drive

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

FROM THE SCOTT PAUL WEBSITE

“Scott Paul Wines is an artisanal producer of Willamette Valley, Oregon Pinot Noir, based in historic, downtown Carlton. We also import wine directly from small family producers in Burgundy, France and offer select Burgundies alongside our Oregon Pinots in our tasting room.”

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

FROM THE SCOTT PAUL WEBSITE

What’s the deal with the rabbit? Our logo is inspired by a special painting… a painting that seemed to “choose” us. It was in Los Angeles in 1998, when the very first seeds of our desire to make wine were germinating.

At that time, Scott was working with three partners in a firm that consulted all of the major record labels, doing marketing and promotion projects for everyone from the Beatles to Britney Spears. It was a lot of fun for a long time, but it ceased being fun when rampant consolidation engulfed the music and broadcasting industries in the mid 90s. READ MORE HERE

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

A fave quilt barn on the way to Carlton

On our mini trek to Scott Paul Winery in the Willamette Valley, OR.

Loved this red roof

My rhododendron in full bloom...and Lillian

And another photo of my girls and the Rhodie

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I love weekends like this…AND I updated the look of GRAFFITI GOSSIP too!!  Hope you like the layout.  Be sure to click on HOME to see the blog in it’s entirety.  I am still adding features but it will be done by week’s end.  New jewelry coming this week too.. Woo Hoo!!

Filed Under: Cover Feature, Farmers Markets and Wineries, My Garden

Comments

  1. Rhonda says

    April 19, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    Sandra, what lovely pictures, I love the Rhododendron as well. Being originally from W.Va that was our state flower there, and you would see them blooming all through the spring and summer. Here in FL I suppose it is to hot, I can’t recall ever seeing them her. I looks as if you and Steve had a wonderful weekend, what a beautiful drive. I have never been to Oregon, but I fell in love with Washington when I was there for the Nationals a few years back. The snow capped mountains, WOW. By the looks of it I would say you have an addition to your family, and probably had been inside the car more than just this once. Thank you for sharing your relaxing gorgeous weekend with us. Rhonda

    Reply
  2. Kristin Schnuckle says

    April 19, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    Thanks for sharing, Sandy! Oh, I LOVE your photography. I wish I was that good at it!

    Reply
  3. Sandra Miller says

    April 19, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    Thank you so much Rhonda and Kristin for taking the time to comment!!! Rhonda, I bet you are right that it may be too hot where you live for Rhodies. In Minnesota it was almost too cold. We could only grow a couple of azalea varieties.

    Kristin…I got your email about the Chow you saw!! OMG I wonder too if it’s Dianas baby???? I’ll ask her tomorrow!! Not as many chows as their used to be thats for sure. It’s always like finding an old friend when one comes along.

    Reply
  4. Mary Siegel says

    April 19, 2009 at 10:30 pm

    Hi Sandy, Sounds like you had a wonderfu picture taking weekend as I did too. Okay as a native of the PNW, I feel compelled to clear something up here. Mt Hood is a gentleman, not a lady. Here is the folklore behind three gloreous beauties I love looking at on Sunny Days.

    This is the Bridge of the Gods legend told by the Klickitats Tribe.

    In their tale, the chief of all the gods, Tyhee Saghalie and his two sons, Pahto (also called Klickitat) and Wy’east, traveled down the Columbia River from the Far North in search for a suitable area to settle.

    The sons quarreled over the land and to solve the dispute their father shot two arrows from his mighty bow; one to the north and the other to the south. Pahto followed the arrow to the north and settled there while Wy’east did the same for the arrow to the south. Saghalie then built Tanmahawis, the Bridge of the Gods, so his family could meet periodically.

    When the two sons of the Saghalie fell in love with a beautiful maiden named Loowit, she could not choose between them. The two young chiefs fought over her, burying villages and forests in the process. The area was devastated and the earth shook so violently that the huge bridge fell into the river, creating the Cascades. The Cascades Rapids were an area of rapids along North America’s Columbia River, between the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon…. of the Columbia River Gorge.

    For punishment, Saghalie struck down each of the lovers and transformed them into great mountains where they fell. Wy’east, with his head lifted in pride, became the volcano known today as Mount Hood, called Wy’east by the Multnomah and Pahto, with his head bent toward his fallen love, was turned into Mount Adams. The fair Loowit became Mount St. Helens, known to the Klickitats as Louwala-Clough which means “smoking or fire mountain” in their language.

    Reply
  5. Sandra Miller says

    April 20, 2009 at 6:15 am

    That was so interesting Mary. Thanks for sharing the history of our “gentleman”. Nobody knows the history of a region like its native born residents. 11 years in the NW seems like a lot but hardly enough in my book. We love it here. It pays to check “under the Hood” when applying a gender to a mountain…SMILE!

    I really enjoyed your photos you sent Mary. It truly was a gorgeous weekend.

    Reply
  6. Mary Siegel says

    April 20, 2009 at 7:56 am

    Thanks Sandy,

    It felt so good to just get out and have some fun. I really haven’t done that is quite sometime. I am feeling inspired for a new product. Once I get the concept placed into reality, I will let you know.

    Reply
  7. Claudia says

    April 20, 2009 at 8:51 am

    Loved the pictures. We are leaving on our trip on Wednesday. Heard they have be re-routing some of the ships so everyone can see the lava flow from the eruption on Fernandina. Will make some nice pictures if it is still flowing.
    And I love that black Maine Coon look alike. Think you need to make him a housepet!

    Reply
  8. Sandra Miller says

    April 22, 2009 at 9:04 am

    Wow Claudia..I’m so excited for you!!!!! Can’t wait to see your pix of the trip

    Reply

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