Rooster Rock 3/15/2018 (#10)
We took a short afternoon to explore the trails at Rooster Rock State Park. To the east, the beach trail gives views of Sand Island and the burned skylines in the gorge.
Looking east toward Sand Island and the beach trail
Sand Island
Burned Angel’s Rest and trees along the skyline
To the west we hiked to a close view of Rooster Rock. This park is very popular in the summer, but quiet today in the off season. (3 miles).
To the west
To the east
The waterfall above Hidden Lake
A robin
Looking east, Rooster Rock
Reflections
Rooster rock
Memaloose Hills 3/18/2017 (#11)
This is the earliest we have hiked this April-May wildflower eden between Mosier and Rowena in the eastern gorge.
Pinnacles along the lower trail between I-84 and Rt 30
Grass widows, gold stars, and a view across the Columbia River toward the labyrinth.
From the ledge above the lower trail one can look over to a cliff that hosts a great blue heron rookery. We only saw a few birds here today (grey spots), but in a previous year there were countless herons on this cliff.
Look for the grey blobs on the green slope near the top of the cliff
From the Hwy 30 Memaloose viewpoint one can look directly across the river at Catherine Creek in Washington.
It was interesting to see the early season flowers – gold stars, yellow bells, glacier lilies, early buttercups, Columbia desert parsley, and a few others.
We hiked up a nearly barren Chatfield Hill, with extensive views at the top.
Hiking up
View to the west from the top
To the north and east
To the east, Tom McCall Point and Columbia desert parsley
Since the full flower bloom was not out, we returned by the loop through the oak woodlands on the north side of Chatfield Hill. 
I hope the next time we take this hike it will be in full wildflower glory: a view from today compared with April 2015.
March 2018
April 2015
4 miles/800 feet.
Quilting
I spent a day photographing 13 of my quilts, and adding labels where omitted. I am getting closer to writing the stories of these quilts, which is why I actually started this blog!
Knitting
I finished the Strong Heel Socks, though I plan to reknit the toe where the knot in the yarn interupted the stripe sequence.
And in the garden:
Star magnolia
Margaret Quilts 