summer evenings are for...

...exploring!

We've discovered a new trail! 

{new to us that is}

Actually our "newlyweds" had been talking recently about a great trail next to the Tualatin River that they use when they take their evening walks. It has a nice pedestrian bridge which crosses the river and a long, winding path that connects two parks in neighboring towns. We finally had a chance to try it out one warm night last week and loved all the animals, fields, parks and tree lined banks along the river

and next to the creeks.

A train loaded with logs even went rumbling by just as the sun was setting.

A great place for walking, running, biking, dogs 
and also 
canoeing, fishing 
or 

just floating on the river.

What a beautiful place for an evening walk!

patio~finishing touches

 Remember our DIY backyard makeover from last summer? Well, there were a couple small details left to finish on the patio part of that project which are now getting checked off the to-do list. We have two vents in the foundation of our house where the patio was placed that needed to be kept clear and accessible. In order to do that the patio was designed with two holes deep enough to expose the vents. Since the openings are not a standard size and needed to have removable covers that meant another DIY project.

So,

a couple weeks ago Ron welded the first of two, custom~fit, metal grates for the vent cutouts and last week I helped choose the paint color. I think the first one turned out great and the second one will be finished and installed soon.

Happy Friday!

{vanilla cupcakes~chocolate frosting}

YUM!

We had these beautiful homemade cupcakes for dessert last night 

and 

I can assure you

they taste as great as they look!

In fact,

these incredible, 

made from scratch, 

vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting

are

 extra special 

because 

they were

made by our

daughter!!

♥such a treat♥

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show {saturday}

Last Saturday I spent the day with my mom and sister at the annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. We had a lot of fun looking at quilts, taking pictures, talking to friends and enjoying our favorite little town.

We also did some shopping at my 

FAVORITE quilt shop 

the Stitchin' Post!!

And how cute is this??!! 

This was one of my favorite quilts this year! 

Lots of people as always.

As you can see from the pictures

it was a beautiful, sunny day in central Oregon

however 

the weather changed very quickly late in the afternoon 

when a thunder storm moved in. 

We had already left town when it started getting cloudy and learned later from a friend that it had started to rain and for the first time in 35 years all the quilts had to be taken down early.

 

fruits & veggies

Our pear tree is loaded with fruit this year! 

In fact, we already had a limb break from the weight of so many pears. Usually we don't need to prop the branches up quite this early but by the looks of it we'll need to do it soon. 

Our cucumbers, zucchini and summer squash will be ready anytime.

Raspberries are in full swing!

Just wish the tomatoes would hurry and ripen.

Sunday

We woke up to cloudy skies 

and

light summer rain this morning!

A Grand Surprise after so many warm, sunny days in a row. 

watermelon & cucumbers

make a refreshing summer salad!

Happy Weekend!!

summertime is for

playing games

riding bikes

visiting the cows

walking the dog

and enjoying warm summer evenings with family and friends!!

happy Wednesday!

I'm loving all the flowers that are blooming around our yard! 

A lot of our flowers were starts from my parents yard, however, our dahlia's we grew with seeds from some flowers we picked in a country field  years ago. We brought them home and let them dry and then rubbed the dried flowers between our hands to loosen seeds from the petals. We kept each color separated by placing the seeds in marked sandwich bags and planted them the next spring. Now we have lots of colorful flowers which last all summer long.