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Tag Archives: walk

Look look! Snow for the tree lighting!!

06 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Community, Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art, Christmas, event, First Friday, holidays, oregon, Tree Lighting, Troutdale, walk

Tree lighting

For maybe the first time ever (I made that up, but it’s a decent bet), we’re going to have snow on the ground for the tree lighting tonight at Troutdale’s First Friday Art Walk! No worries about getting there… it’s just blowing about and the streets are easy peasy.

Tree lighting in Mayor’s Square 6:00p, the C-Notes will be singing from 5:30 – 6:30, and Santa will be in the house.  Relax, find a wonderful gift or two at the Art Walk, and, most of all… have fun.

Merry Christmas to you!

Dec FF Dec FF2

 

 

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Yes, It’s Raining. But!…

02 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Beauty Be Us, Day Trips

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Columbia River Gorge, fall, rain, Sandy River, walk

Sandy River Gorge rain puddle

Sandy River Gorge rain puddle

It looks like we have a week of wet coming up, so I’m going to tell you a little secret that might clutter up my winter trails a bit.

That rain that is pounding the windshield of your car, and looking like the outside world is unfit for man and beast?

When you’re walking in it, on a slightly muddy trail through a forest with wet-shined leaves, it isn’t nearly as intense as when you’re doing 60 mph down the freeway with the wipers flapping in your face.

In fact, if you have on good boots, a hat, and (preferably) some good rain pants (because wet jeans bite),  and maybe a dog or three, you’re pretty much guaranteed to enjoy the day.   My experience has been that if you’re committed to go no matter what, the rain will even work around you, and hold off until three minutes after you’re back in the car (the past two days we haven’t had a drop of anything other than wet from brushing through the ferns, and then the downpour has hit on the way back down the hill).  Throw a cuddly sweatshirt in the car to change into when you get back, and enjoy this third season.

Beaver fwap... slightly annoyed with the three dogs on the bank.

Beaver fwap… slightly annoyed with the three dogs on the bank.

You might even catch one of the local denizens who thinks everyone has gone home for the year.

Have fun out there : )
Loree

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Let There Be A Gorgeous Chaos…

28 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in Beauty Be Us

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

fall, leaves, nature, oregon, Sandy River trail, walk

… and it was so.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Bits of two days in the past week spanning about 1/8 mile on my favorite Sandy River Gorge trail.

All images, Loree Harrell; 2013

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A Quiet Place To Run

18 Sunday Aug 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in Day Trips, Ramblings

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

dogs, Larch Mountain, nature, smile, summer, walk

What I love most about this place we live is that there is always a new place, always a place with no people, always green and water and sweet air.

IMG_3861

Sometimes you just have to look a little further, venture someplace you don’t know.

The dogs and I have five places we usually run, and in all five, for most of the year, we have the trails to ourselves.  This time of year, the two river trails are busy with summer people, and the other three trails, beyond the gates on tree company land, were closed to entry two weeks ago because of elevated fire danger.

So we’ve been going to the river trails in the early morning before the summer people have had their breakfast, but a late shift Friday had us out in the afternoon with no place to go, so we went further up Larch Mountain, into the National Forest land, to find a place.

At milepost 9, we found a gate with paved road and walked in.

IMG_3875

Well, I walked.  The dogs exuberated.  (No, it’s not a word.)  (But it should be.)

I expected, it being Larch Mountain and all, and Larch Mountain having a large network of trails, that we would come across a trail that would take us off into the woods, but two miles of paved, and another mile of pack gravel before we ran into a Bull Run Watershed No Trespassing sign, and nary a trail.

IMG_3881

Still.  Beautiful little creeks that those of us in the party with four nimble legs could get down to for a cool down, wildflowers by the road, gorgeous forest, and quiet.

Venture out someplace you don’t know.  There’s something there, I promise.

Here, have a smile.

IMG_3882

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It’s the 5th of July. Now what?

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Community, Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art, event, First Friday, Troutdale, walk, what to do

Now…The FIRST FRIDAY Art Walk!… is what…

Troutdale’s First Friday is one of our favorite things… art and food, shopping and coffee, music and the occasional warming (or refreshing, as the season dictates) adult beverage. Don’t forget your Passport for a chance at taking home the abundant plethora of goodies (including two nights at our favorite hotel and a 16×24 Limited Edition print from our favorite artist) [<< shameless self promotion by the site administrator] that is the drawing winner’s basket!

This month’s lineup…

July lineup

July lineup 2

Phyllis was the winner of the March First Friday gift basket - grab your Passport and go!

Phyllis was the winner of the March First Friday gift basket – grab your Passport and go!

You’ve probably already worked out that the next one is August 5th.

Because, coincidentally, that would be the first Friday.

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Snapshot No. 5

22 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in Ramblings, Snapshots

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

cottonwood, flower, rain, Sandy River, walk

Sometimes it’s all gray and green, cottonwood fluff…

cottonwood fluff2

and sweet sweet blue.

Sweet sweet blue

I love the living smell of spring –  the pungencies of cottonwood and warming damp earth, of scotch broom and wet dog. 

Almost a match for the abundance of green.

[cellphone pics, dusk, and drizzle… ]

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Sun Drops Garden Tour!… now with free tickets!

16 Thursday May 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Community, Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

ENTER ON PDX PIPELINE TODAY FOR A CHANCE
TO WIN
FREE TICKETS
TO THE SUN DROPS GARDEN TOUR!

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)
McMenamins_3887_copy
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Hutson 35
Huston 34
Huston 31 (1)
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Fransiscan Sisters 6
Franciscan Sisters 3
Donna x
63860025
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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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Snapshot No. 4

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in Ramblings, Snapshots

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Sandy River trail, snapshot, spring, walk

Sandy River Gorge; Loree Harrell, May 2013

It was raining lightly when I got to the woods last night after an overcast day.  That was good after days of beautiful blue sky, as it meant we had the trail to ourselves.

In the rain, under gray skies, the forest was glowing with a light all of its own.

I never remember how it is.
Or maybe I choose not to remember.

So that each shift is fresh wonder.

 

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First Friday (BEAUTIFUL!) Art Walk Tonight!

03 Friday May 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Events

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

art, Caswell Gallery, First Friday, Troutdale, walk, what to do

I was just in town and it is hummin’!  Get on out and enjoy the art and the food and the utterly magnificent evening : )

First Friday banner

This month’s basket is worth over 900.00! – so pick up your Passport and have fun tonight.

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Columbia Gorge Flower Frenzy!

08 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by loreeharrell in And Around, Day Trips, Events

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

columbia gorge, event, flower, frenzy, friends of the columbia gorge, hike, nature, oregon, walk

Friends of the Columbia Gorge
Flower Frenzy Challenge 2013!

March 1 to July 31, 2013

FriendsoftheColumbiaGorge_FlowerFrenzy2013

What a great reason to get boots on the trails, and experience the spring and early summer in our beautiful Columbia Gorge!  Every year, I intend to get out to Dog Mountain in the spring, and every year, I miss the window.  Rain or shine, I am going this weekend – mark it.

Friends Of The Columbia Gorge has put together a treasure hunt of 25 beautiful flowers that appear briefly in the Gorge in the spring and early summer, and the challenge is to get out there and find as many as you can, with the shyer of the bunch being worth more points.  There are prizes, although I would suggest the treasure, in this case, is in the finding more than the winning :).  The log has great information on each flower, like:

Bitter Root

Bitter Root _ Lewisia rediviva… This flower was found in the Bitter Root Mtns by Lewis & Clark (state flower of Montana). The speciman they brought back had a viable root and bloomed years after the expedition. Hence the scientific name. American Indians valued it highly as a food, and although it is nutritous, it tastes bitter. According to tribal myths, the plant grew from the tears of a starving old woman, and its roots are bitter because of her sorrow. The large, fleshy roots were harvested just as the blossoms began to bud, and, after being boiled, became jellylike and less bitter.

Register at www.gorgefriends.org/flowerfrenzy , print out your log, and go find some beauty you haven’t seen before.  Even if you’re not going to play this time, become a member!  Memberships start at 35.00, which is a killer deal and gives you access to great inside information and resources.  I also see that if you register now, you get a free copy of Ross Jolley’s “Wildflowers Of The Columbia Gorge”!WildflowersoftheColumbiaGorge_RussJolley

Some of the early ones will be disappearing soon (or you’ll have to hike up higher to find them), so start this weekend and I’ll see you on the other side of a cluster of Dutchman’s Breeches!

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