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~ News And Views In And Around Troutdale, Oregon and the West Columbia Gorge

Columbia Gorge Gateway

Monthly Archives: March 2013

And… GO, FISH!

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Day Trips, Events, News In

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

run, Sandy River, smelt, Troutdale

The smelt are running in the Sandy!!!  If your response is yeah, yeah, there are fish in, of all places, the river and so…?, then it’s likely that you didn’t grow up around here forever ago like I did.  When I was a kid [not quite forever ago, but slightly back in the mists] the freezer was always full of smelt. 

I hated them.  Tiny fish so you just eat the bones and I just can’t quite eat fish bones, BUT, boy was it a good day at the river to go dip them.  And Dad and Mom liked them.  I think.  Although they also claimed to like the asparagus pie debacle, so…

smelt_oregonlive

And then they quit running.  The last big run was in 1980 (I’m taking that from the City Of Troutdale site as in 1980 I wasn’t thinking about much beyond who was playing at The Last Hurrah that night, so I didn’t actually notice).  There were small runs in 2001 and 2003, but it’s been ten years since they were back in the river, and words like massive and enormous are being used to describe this run.

There won’t be any dipping this year as they were placed on the endangered list in 2010, so, while there’s some discussion about whether their absence was just part of an existing cycle we don’t have enough perspective to see, it’s illegal to possess them at this time (fishermen, that includes picking up a dead one on the shore for bait). 

Smelt3_Doug Beghtel

Therefore, I would suggest you get to the Troutdale Bridge, or the beach by Lewis & Clark or Glenn Otto, and witness a bit of this massive!, enormous! run of millions of fish for yourself.  That’d be where I’m heading today.

Pictures Doug Beghtel, The Oregonian.  Read more here!

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Go Fish!

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around

≈ Leave a comment

A friend came to town this week (I love it when that happens) and we went to Bumpers for dinner last night (I love it when that happens, too).  If you haven’t been yet, add it to your list!

Bumpers 1

Lovely décor, great food, beautiful fish, good bar… now if they’d just quit moving around so I could get a decent shot. : )

Scallop pasta off the fresh sheet, a great burger, a huge apple dumpling and crème brulee for dessert, a beer and a warming adult beverage seated next to the fish.  Good evening.  There was one bad moment when the hermit crab appeared to be taking pieces off the beautiful ruffle-y fish, but, since the ruffle-y fish kept coming back for more, we decided we simply didn’t understand the relationship.

The steak salad is still my all-time favorite, but every meal I’ve eaten here has been great.

Bumpers 3

I know you can’t see this guy, but he’s charming. Black and white striped with maroon fins (some sort of clown fish maybe?). He blew pretty little bubbles for us all through dinner.

Bumpers will be hosting an Easter brunch – take a look at the menu (Daily Specials same page)… and enjoy the fish!

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Easter Egg Hunt!

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Community, Events

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Easter egg hunt, kids, party, Troutdale, what to do

Troutdale Lions Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 30th
10:00 a.m.

Pancake Breakfast 8:00 – 11:00a
Boy Scout Troop #174

Glenn Otto Park
1106 E Historic Columbia River Highway

Troutdalelionseaster3

There is not possibly on the planet a better place for an Easter Egg Hunt than Glenn Otto!
Grab a kid and a smile and be there for the festivities…

troutdalelionseaster2

Make plans now to attend the Troutdale Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 Saturday March 30, 2013. Bring your baskets and get ready to find those eggs!!! There will be 10 golden eggs in each of the four age groups. If you find one, you win a big chocolate bunny:) Tell all your friends! Hope to see you there.

For more information, contact
Kristenia at 503.880.5015 or
www.facebook.com/TroutdaleLionsClub

Photos Troutdale Lions April 2012

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Painted Violins At Caswell Gallery

14 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Community, Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art, Caswell Gallery, event, Painted Violins, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Troutdale, what to do

My calendar for tomorrow evening just changed… I ADORE Painted Unexpected Things!

Caswell Gallery is hosting a reception for the Portland Youth Philharmonic Painted Violins Project 2013 at the Gallery tomorrow night, March 15 from 5-9PM. See violins that have been painted by a variety of western area artists and musicians and are available for purchase to support PYP.  The Gallery will be serving hors d’oeuvres, wine from Phelps Creek and have entertainment by members of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Call the Gallery for more information at 503-492-2473. The event is free and does not require reservations. Hope to see you then!

PYP Violins

About the Painted Violins Project

The Portland Youth Philharmonic invited eighteen renowned artists from the West Coast, as well as three PYP musicians, to transform violins into works of art. PYP’s Painted Violins will be available for public viewing around the Portland metropolitan area. Caswell Gallery was chosen as one of these venues.
After the gallery exhibits conclude, these unique works of art will be auctioned at the PYP Painted Violin Gala on Friday, April 19, 2013.
All proceeds will benefit the musicians of The Portland Youth Philharmonic.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=481704438550534&set=a.329324733788506.86945.143006282420353&type=1&theater

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Sun Drops Garden Tour!

14 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Community, Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

garden, package, special, Sun Drops, tour, Troutdale, walk, what to do

EASTSIDE GARDEN TOUR Troutdale, OR 97060

May 18th & 19th, 2013

Thundering torrents of water, ice, and earth roared across the Northwest, carving new canyons, sculpting monstrous waterfalls, instantly transforming the face of the land. Then, almost as suddenly as they had come, the floods were gone”….leaving behind the deep, rich soils in which we peacefully plant our gardens.( Ice Age Floods Institute, www.iafi.org)

Come explore the rain-blessed river communities of the West Columbia Gorge as you hop from artistic gardens past inspiring natural views to the next gardener’s pride. Leave the hectic pace of the surrounding world and stroll through the lush landscape along the Historic Columbia River Highway, once known as “The King of the Roads.” Follow the Historic Highway as it winds gently past the tree-lined banks of the Sandy River, farms, pastures and upland forests. At Portland Woman’s Forum State Park, Mt. Hood towers behind as you scan the vast expanse of the Columbia River below. Walk the perimeter of the “King’s” crown at Crown Point. Then gradually descend to the floor of the Gorge, meandering past falling curtains of crystalline water. And another glorious garden is always just around the next bend!

 

Ice ball (Small)
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Hutson 35
Huston 34
Huston 31 (1)
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Fransiscan Sisters 6
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Tickets for this self-guided tour are $20 per adult and children are free. To purchase tickets online and get further details, please go to www.EastsideGardenTour.com. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the following locations- Nancy’s Floral (620 NE Burnside Rd, Gresham), Burns Feed Store (29215 SE Orient Drive, Gresham), and Deep Creek Garden Center (2330 NE Hogan Drive, Gresham).

Pick up tour maps and purchase tickets at the Harlow House (726 East Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale) the day of the tour.

We welcome you to our community and invite you to experience our exceptional quality of life! Proceeds will benefit the programs of the West Columbia Gorge Consortium. The Consortium’s mission is the advancement of the quality of life of the communities in and adjacent to the West Columbia Gorge. Art, Culture and Heritage are major components in the pursuit of this goal.

Sun Drops Package

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Well This Is Fair Fun…

11 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Community, Events

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

contest, Edgefield, McMenamins, St Patricks Day, wedding

Edgefield wedding1

Clicking the pic should get you there. : )  Happy contest-ing!

 

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Let A Smile Be…

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Other Side Of The Inside Of The Box

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blue sky, smile, sunshine, Troutdale, view

… (if you can complete the last two words of that thought, you’re likely as old as me.)

Look what we did!  We turned the griping in the direction of a smile yesterday and look – just look! – what we got today! *

WP_20130307_002

I stepped outside this morning when the light caught my eye, and was greeted with a beautiful pink and blue-sky sunrise (you’ll have to take my word for it – the cell phone missed the bulk of the pink).

You know what I like about this place?

Even when you’re in the middle of a long work day, running errands, doing all the needful things…

You can look left…

WP_20130307_007

or right, east, west, make a small course correction and see something straight on…

WP_20130307_008

… and find something that delights.

We live in beauty we do.

Enjoy your day.

LLH

* Yeah, that whole thought was Pollyanna -esque, but I believed it for one brief shining moment. (**)

(**  if you can sing that one brief shining moment reference. you’re likely as old as me.)

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Who Goes There

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in Other Side Of The Inside Of The Box

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

random, smile, story, words

We had a truly beautiful Monday.  Truly. 

Tuesday and Wednesday, however, have been a bit… wet.  Gray, even.  This too will pass.

Meanwhile, here, have a smile.

 

Who Goes There

Who Goes There full

That was the day Who decided to go There. He had woken up that morning feeling a bit discouraged with life in general and Home in particular, and was seriously in need of an immediate change of venue. Who fixed himself breakfast and splashed water on his pertinent parts, then opened the front door and contemplated Direction. Sure enough, it was clear that Here was out – muddy and cold. And When looked like a storm was coming in over the mountain. Which left Everywhere (Who always got lost when he headed in the direction of Everywhere) and There. Who packed a lunch, whistled Whatever in from the yard, and they started walking the trail to There, where, today, the grass was greener, the sun shone brightly, and the otters were playing in the river.

LLH; 2006

 

There.  That’s better now, isn’t it?

 
 

Loree Harrell; 2006

 

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