Little Japan

Here's another shot from the Portland Japanese Gardens.  I love the lush feel of this whole place, and everything about my visit felt almost spiritual.

A Trip to Japan

No, I haven't actually been to Japan. I have been relatively close (Philippines, back in 1999), but today I'm referring to the little piece of Asia that resides on a hillside above downtown Portland.  The Portland Japanese Gardens is a beautiful oasis above the hustle and noise of the city, and it is really quite a lovely place to take a break.  My husband commented that it would be a fabulous place to bring a book while it's raining and sit on a bench in one of the several shelters within the gardens, and simply enjoy the sound of the rain while you relax with your book in the quiet.  Over the next few posts I'm going to take you on a quick tour of the gardens so you can experience the peace of that place, too.

Impromptu Walk

On Saturday afternoon my family and I were hanging out with some friends of ours, lying around the living room and lamenting the pouring down rain that prevented us from taking the kids (and us!) outside.  About thirty minutes later, the sun came out and we immediately grabbed our shoes, the strollers, and our car keys and drove to a lovely park with several miles of walking trails, just two miles from my friends' house.  After walking a mile and a half alongside ponds, the Salmon Creek, fields, and small forests, we stopped for a break before turning around to head back.  I couldn't resist the wild daisies growing near our resting spot.  Little Miss and I picked a few dozen to take home; there were hundreds there on the hillside.

Rainy Day...Every Day

One unalterable truth about the Portland/Vancouver area: It's wet here.  And, truth be told, I don't mind it.  The rain keeps everything green and the temperatures cool, which are both positive, and it lends itself to amazing spur-of-the-moment shots like this one, which I actually can't take credit for.  My husband took this photo with his phone; he and my older daughter, Little Miss, got caught in a downpour while walking the dog at our local dog park.  She loves her rain boots, and she loves splashing in puddles.  The light was perfect for this picture; I plan on printing and framing it if the resolution is high enough to enlarge it.

Multnomah

This is Multnomah Falls.  It's about a 20-minute drive from Vancouver along I-84 and is in one of the most beautiful areas of the Columbia River Gorge.  This is the largest of them, but there are several major waterfalls in this area, most of which are accessible via trails through the woods.  One is located within a smaller gorge and requires trekkers to hike in sometimes-waist-deep water and cling to sheer rock walls in order to reach it, but adventure is what it's all about in the pacific northwest!

Just the Beginning

Welcome to my new home!  At the end of October I moved across the state of Washington from Walla Walla to Vancouver to start a new job.  My family joined me on New Years weekend and since then we've enjoyed exploring our new residence, which is separated from Portland, Ore. by only the Columbia River. 

I maintained a city daily photo blog while living in Walla Walla, and wasn't sure if I'd start one after the move, but I've decided there is entirely too much to share with the world here to NOT have a photo blog.  I hope you enjoy exploring my new home with me; the above image was taken at Rocky Butte, a small park on the top of a hill overlooking the city of Portland and the Columbia River.  It also offers a fabulous view of Mt. Hood (pictured) and Mt. St. Helens (to the left in the above image; not pictured). 

Whether you bookmark/RSS this blog and enjoy the Pacific Northwest with me, or just stop by from time to time...welcome!  I look forward to exploring your home, too.