Hiking, January 2024

February 5, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Two hikes in January – it was mostly too cold, wet, icy to hit the trails this month.

First Day Hike – January 1 – Columbia River Gorge and Powell Butte

The skies were blue and the sun was out! We could see the mountain as we drove east out of Portland!

But in the Gorge, the east winds were strong and cold, and fog banks covered many of the slopes. We turned around and drove back to town on the Historic Highway, stopping for views at Vista House. The winds were so strong I could barely open the car door!

Looking east – white caps on the river!

Looking west…

And Vista House.

We stopped again for a quick view from Women’s Forum/Chanticleer Overlook…

Looking back at Vista House, the Columbia River, Beacon Rock…

And then we drove to Powell Butte in east Portland, where hiking trails lead up the sides and around the top of this volcanic butte. It is also the location of an enormous covered reservoir, a main stop in the Portland water system. Lots of other people were there on this sunny first day, so that we had to hike up from the north parking lot on 148th Avenue because the upper lots were all full. But we persisted, and were rewarded, finally, with a chance to stretch our legs a bit on this beautiful day. It was a lot less windy here!

We could see Mt Hood beyond reservoir infrastructure as we reached the top.

The museum at the top utilizes pipes as part of an exhibit that explains the water system

Pipe as embedded surface art.

We made a loop to the high point on top, with better views of Mt Hood,

and Mt St Helens.

Eventually, we returned down the Blackberry Stairs to our car, after a 3.5 mile hike.

Thus we began the New Year as we mean to go on, with weekly hikes. Nature got a little bit the better of us in this regard…there was snow, ice, and below freezing temperatures for a week, and then a fair amount of rain. But I did get out for one more hike in January – to see the eagles!

January 23 – Balfour-Klickitat Natural Area, and Coyote Wall, WA

There was a lot of snow all through the Gorge, and more than I expected in the eastern Gorge. It was quite beautiful, and not as cold as it had been. We drove over the Hood River Bridge to Washington…

Looking east from the bridge

The views across the Columbia River from the Chamberlain Lake Rest Area on Hwy 14 were sparklinging in the sunlight!

We reached The Balfour-Klickitat Natural Area, just west of Lyle, and found that the parking area had not been plowed. We parked just below, on Hwy 14, and walked up along the Klickitat River on a snowshoe trail. We wore microspikes on our boots to assist our grip on the six inches of snow.

Looking back across the Columbia River from near the parking area.

Walking along the Klickitat River Trail

Klickitat River

A perennial stream enters the Klickitat River on the west side of this little lake.

We reached the overlook to the lake where bald eagles congregate this time of year, and there they were! We counted about 25 different eagles over the course of our observations.

The white plumage of bald eagle pops out against the gray tree branches across the lake.

Closer view

Another one

We noticed these two on our side of the lake…

Zooming in…

The more we scanned the landscape, the more we saw, though the brown juvenile birds are harder to see. Then we noticed a snag in the distance that was covered in birds!

Distant snag, circled in blue

Zooming in. Birds were coming and going. There are also three perched in the trees to the left of the snag.

Nine eagles perched on the snag in this view.

There were also ducks down on the lake, and flying about…

Ducks

Eventually the fog started rolling in, so we returned to our car.

Fog

Goodbye to the eagles for this year.

It is always a treat to see them before they return to Canada.

We drove back west on Hwy 8, planning to walk at Catherine Creek, if possible, but it was completely fogged in. We sat in the car, eating our lunch and hoping the fog would move on, but no luck.

Lunch view at the Catherine Creek Trailhead.

We continued west to the Coyote Wall Trailhead, once again parking near Hwy 14, because the parking area was not plowed. We walked under the cliffs, and along Look Lake to the frozen waterfall, and then turned back, as the fog was beginning to settle here, too.

Looking toward Coyote Wall from the snowplow berm near Hwy 14.

Our path along the old highway under Coyote Wall

Looking back toward sunlit cliffs at the top of Coyote Wall

Look Lake

Sunlight in the melted lake ice

Frozen waterfall

Waterfall icicles

Fog rolling in ahead…

View over Look Lake as we walk back westward.

We had seen enough for the day, and it was time to warm up again.

View to the west as we drove back over the Hood River Bridge. Even the sandflats out along the Hood River Delta were covered with snow.

We will be back next month to see the first spring wildflowers after the snow melts.

2023 Looking back, looking forward…

January 5, 2024 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

We have adapted quite well to the empty nest life after a lot of travel in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, hiking, reading, knitting, quilting, walking in our neighborhood, seeing family and friends in the post pandemic (for the most part) world. Our health is mostly good, and I am grateful.

Our travel this year was to New Zealand in February,

Philadelphia in March,

Steel ghost structure of Benjamin Franklin’s home, with modern buildings beyond

Benjamin Franklin Bridge to New Jersey, over the Delaware River

Philadelphia’s Magic Garden

and Austria/Italy in June/July.

Next year we have plans to go to San Francisco and Iceland, and possibly somewhere in the southwestern US in the fall.

Hikes – I counted 79 hiking adventures last year, adding up to 480 trail miles and 60,000 feet of elevation gain – a bonus amount because we traveled to both New Zealand and Austria/Italy, focusing on hiking in both places. Lucky me! Among my other favorite hikes were –

Memaloose Hills in full balsam root bloom with Emily and her rose colored glasses

That peaceful spot on the Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop

Cook Meadows with surprise scarlet gilia bloom, with Helen

Cannon Beach

Multnomah Falls with Brian and Rachel

Return to Saddle Mountain

Fall color in Indian Heaven

Labyrinth trail,

and the eastern Gorge

Fall colors from the Portland Tram, especially after getting the all clear in test results.

Books – I have always been a voracious reader, with Jane Austen being the gold standard. I like to read books that allow me to experience other places, other times, in my mind…nothing too graphic or gory, but not avoiding hard facts. My ToBeRead list is enormous, yet I keep adding to it. I look back at the 71 books I read last year, and remember a little something about most of them.

Goodreads Book Thumbnails

Traveling, hiking, and life memoirs, histories and fictional histories, novels, poetry and graphic novels all find a place on my list. My favorites of the year were : Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimerrer, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin, The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton, and A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki.

Knitting – I knit 8865 yards of yarn last year, and finished 18 projects, according to my Ravelry pages.

Ravelry Project Thumbnails

I always have fun knitting whimsical gnomes and other creatures. I like to give socks, hats, and mittens to keep people warm and loved. I made two blankets and a sweater for the Puddletown Knitters Guild service project. I finished my Slip Stitch Blanket that I love having on my bed in winter – for both its weight/warmth, and its beauty. I continue to meet weekly with my lovely group of knitting friends. Next year: I have a circular Anthology throw and a purple Hitchhiker shawl that are almost done. I plan to knit along on the Rose City Yarn Crawl Mystery shawl, with beads; to make myself a cardigan; and to make a pile of hats for the guild service project.

Anthology Throw

Purple Hitchhiker, in progress

Quilting/Sewing – I completed the tops for two Modern Quilt Studio Mystery quilts, thoroughly enjoying the process while learning about color use and design elements. I now have four quilt tops languishing on hangers in the closet. I plan to learn how to use my new Juki machine and finish all those tops, and maybe more. I am also participating in another Modern Quilt Studio Mystery.

Modern Mystery Quilt 2023, Front

I squared up the top to the Modern Mystery Quilt – next steps are to make the backing, then quilting.

Secret Agent Mystery Quilt fabric

Writing – Counting this one, I have completed 24 blog posts for 2023. They tend to be longish summaries of activities, which suits my purpose of keeping a record. I tend to overdocument things…but I like it, and I plan to continue. I have a lot of digital hygiene and transcribing to do to keep up…I am always trying to keep up, though always woefully behind…with too many works in progress, but the next new thing calls to me from the sewing room, the knitting stash, the book pile, the trail guide, the blank graph paper…don’t even look at the weeds that keep growing…

To be read, knitted, sewn…

Trying to keep up…

2024 – We have a political year ahead, and once again there is a knife edge, an incomprehensible lean toward fascism that I cannot understand, but I plan to do my part to enable diversity, inclusiveness, peace and stability. There are underlying currents beyond my comprehension, but I will keep paddling in my own way in the streams I can see, and hope for the best possible outcome.

December 2023 – all about the light..

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

December is a month for hibernating, preparing for holidays and family visits, rooting for the solstice, and trying to get all the knitting done for holiday gifts. I only went on two hikes this month.

Early December...sun getting lower, shadows longer, I was counting down to the solstice with two advent-style knitting projects and a few walks on dry days.

Pro Palestine march passing our house

A little bit of knitting every day on the stocking and the mystery gnome…

Arne and Carlos Mystery Stocking

Imagined Landscapes Mystery Gnome

Hanukkah was early this year. We lit candles and had friends over for latkes on one of the nights.

December 12 – Hike – Lyle Cherry Orchard Discovery Trail, WA – We hiked the 4.5 mile loop on an overcast day – taking in the views and getting some good exercise.

Looking east as we ascend

View west from our lunch stop

Circling back below the Lyle town sign

And almost back to the Convict Road.

December 15th – We passed Joan of Arc on our way to lunch and bead shopping with the knitters…

December 20th – Hike – Dry Creek Falls, OR – Another dry weather window – we hiked a past Dry Creek on the Pacific Crest Trail to one of the pinnacles, but not all the way to the main pinnacles. It was a good seven mile hike.

Starting up the trail at Cascade Locks.

The pinnacle near our lunch stop. All the forest we have hiked through today has 2017 burn scars

Slight view across the Columbia River from our lunch stop.

Back to the PCT bridge over Dry Creek,

and upstream a short way to the falls —

Dry Creek Falls, pouring out of a notch in the columnar basalt.

They are quite beautiful!

Splash pool at the base.

And back at the trailhead, the park at the Bridge of the Gods is adorned with festive light displays.

On the Solstice, I took an enjoyable walk through the neighborhood – happy to know that longer days are ahead.

Christmas week – House guests, finishing the knitting, decorating the tree, wrapping and unwrapping presents, tamales on Christmas Eve and dinner with friends on Christmas day. A little bit of baking, but not too much. It was a relaxed and enjoyable week.

Tree decorated

New ornaments – from Italy and New Zealand

With gifts

Stockings

New books, bowls, and glasses

Trifle of Christmas

Dog of Christmas

Emily and Izzy at Multnomah Falls

Some of the Knitting:

Finished stocking

KC hat for Rachel

tiny cat for nancy

Hat for Izzy

Socks for Dan

Socks for Emily

Socks for Brian

Snow Matter What gnome and snowman

The month ended with more clouds and rain. I found a version of the Christmas story on instagram that resonates with me for its inclusiveness, and the reminder that although history repeats itself in terrible ways, there are always people who step up and help.

Weak sun through clouds

Rain wet streets and sparkling lights

Message of hope

November 2023 Hikes

December 14, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

We had five walking adventures in November, four in the wilderness and one in town.

November 1 – Deschutes River Trail, OR –

We’ve taken this trail many times, especially on days like today when it is raining everywhere else within a two hour drive of home. This area had a fire several years ago, and another brush fire last summer, which we could see evidence of along the way.

Deschutes River near the trailhead

Looking upstream as we walk uphill towards Ferry Springs.

Looking downstream toward the confluence with the Columbia River.

Approaching the Ferry Springs crossing.

Ferry Springs – burned by a brushfire last July.

A few wildflowers flowers hanging on.

View upriver from our lunch spot near the rock arch.

Walking back along the Blackberry Trail, the Columbia Hills appear like a mirage from the mist.

Sumac

Heron

And the rain didn’t start until we were on our drive home (5 miles, 500 feet).

November 8 – Portland Arboretum and Crystal Springs Garden, Portland –

We wanted to see the beautifully curated gardens, including the spectacular Japanese maple, at Portland’s Japanese Garden in Washington Park. On this sunny Wednesday it seemed many had the same idea. The parking lots were packed and lots of people were walking toward the garden entrance – it seemed less than ideal. So we drove around to the other side of the park to the Arboretum, and there found a beautiful Japanese maple and many other trees in excellent fall colors with much less crowded paths.

White Mexican Orange flowers near the Arboretum headquarters.

Walking toward the Maple Trail…

Approaching the sumac grove

Sumacs

A selection of leaves and berries…

And a beautiful Japanese Maple…

After lunch, we decided to check out the fall colors at Crystal Springs Garden, on the east side of town. It was also beautiful there, with colorful reflections in the lakes, and also not very crowded.

We passed the Portland Tram, that I rode in last week, on our way across town.

A pink azalea blooming very late

Japanese Maple near the entrance

Northern lake, with technicolor reflections…

Cherry tree

And another upside down tree

Crossing over to the southern part of the garden…

Ducks on a log

Party meadow

Waterfall

The reflections in the southern lake were mesmerizing…

November 14 – Cape Horn, WA –

It has been a while since I have walked the full seven mile loop, but we decided try it on this windy day (7.4 miles, 1460 feet).

We started clockwise, downhill, a one and a half mile roadwalk.

Highway 14 viaduct across Cape Horn above.

Crossing the lower scree slopes.

Lower cliffs, upstream view to the Needle and Beacon Rock

Several hundred feet higher on the trail – one of the viewpoints that has had a wall and viewing platform added in recent years.

Upper viewpoint to the east along the Columbia River.

Through the woods near the top of Cape Horn.

View to the south from the uppermost viewpoint.

Whitecaps on the Columbia River below, and a horse in the meadow.

View to Silver Star Mountain, to the north, as we switchback down to the Salmon Falls Road Trailhead.

November 20 – Horsetail, Ponytail and Triple Falls, OR –

This trail is in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge waterfall zone, and was very hard hit by the 2017 fire. We have not been on this trail since before the fire, but had seen recent trip reports that the trail was repaired and open, so went to see how it fared. We hiked the clockwise loop, starting at Horsetail Falls, then up hill to Ponytail Falls, then across Oneonta Gorge, past the Oneonta Falls, then uphill to Triple Falls, and circling back down to the Highway, and to our start point. We walked through a lot of burned forest, and across several repaired trail sections. The very cliffy trail up to Triple Falls had several obvious washouts that had been repaired, but seemed somewhat fragile. With the local downpours last week, I would not be surprised if the trail were washed out again. (5.0 miles, 1000 feet).

Horsetail to Triple Falls trail

Horsetail Falls

The trail ascends the cliffs above the falls

Top of Horsetail Falls

Ponytail Falls – the trail passes behind the falls

View from behind the falls

Looking back at Ponytail Falls

Looking east at the viewpoint before heading up to Oneonta Gorge

Westward view from the viewpoint

Heading upstream toward the new bridge over Oneonta Gorge

A peak from the trail down into Oneonta Gorge

Crossing the bridge

View down stream from the bridge

Middle Oneonta Falls upstream from the bridge

Looking down at Oneonta Creek from Oneonta Trail

Burned forest on the slopes above Oneonta Creek

We reached the Triple Falls viewpoint after walking along the repaired trail through the severely burned forest. For comparison, I’m adding a similar view from September 2013.

Triple Falls, Nov. 2023

Walking back along the Oneonta Trail through the burned landscape.

Circling back along the highway, toward the Oneonta Tunnel, which was completely burned in 2017.

View from the tunnel bridge up the Oneonta Gorge, trail closed since before the fire because of hazardous log jams in the gorge.

Back to Horsetail Falls.

November 28 – Hummocks and Boundary Trails, Mt St Helens, WA –

We have hiked the Hummocks Loop here a few times, but gone farther along the Boundary Trail toward Johnston Ridge one other time, in May of 2020, when they first reopened the trail after the initial pandemic shutdown. We encountered only a few other people out on the trail today (5.7 miles, 1100 feet).

Welcoming party at the Trailhead – white tail deer, Mt St Helens beyond.

Walking along the lakes that have formed between the hummocks.

Partially frozen lake

Frost on the trail

The famous upside down log, still in depositional position from the eruption in 1980.

View of Mt St Helens from the trail junction with the Boundary Trail.

The trail rises above the hummocky plain, and switchbacks up Johnston Ridge, past sheered-off tree stumps, to the ridge crest. From the top are views in all directions, and we can see the mountain all the time.

To the north – Coldwater Lake and Visitor Center.

Eastward panorama – Mt Margaret backcountry and Mt St Helens

Some closer views:

Mt Whittier

Coldwater Peak

Zoom in on the volcano monitoring equipment on top of Coldwater Peak

Mt St Helens Crater

Mt St Helens – snowy high point

Toutle River Valley

Here is a set of photos from nearly the same spot on the ridge, one from May of 2020, when the hillsides were green:

November 28, 2023

May 27, 2020

Heading down, I realized we had a good view over to the Windy Pass area on the east side of the mountain, which we were looking toward from the south side on our hike to June Lake in October.

Shadows growing long in the crater as we hike down.

Closer view of the Windy Pass area

And an excellent view of some of the hummocks in the afternoon light.

Back at the Boundary Trail Junction

The top of the mountain is glowing.

We stopped on our drive out at the Castle Lake Viewpoint for a last look at the area as the sun was setting…

Castle Lake Viewpoint

October 2023 adventures…

November 15, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Our five hikes in October ranged from urban Portland, to wilderness areas at Mt St Helens and Indian Heaven, and to our reliable dry trails in the eastern Columbia River Gorge in Washington.

October 1st, Oaks Bottom, Portland

An oft-repeated sunny walk around the Willamette River bottomlands just south of downtown Portland. Not much wildlife today, but there was new artwork on the railroad underpasses since the last time we were here (3.4 miles, 150 feet).

New artwork on the southern railroad underpass

We could hear the screams from upside down people at Oaks Park today.

View of the giant mural and the lake along the bike path.

A few cormorants

New artwork on the northern railroad underpass,

on both sides.

Early fall colors and

reflections in the lake.

The train, and the hills of SW Portland.

October 4, Indian Heaven, WA

We repeated one of my favorite loops in Indian Heaven, from Thomas Lake to Rock Lakes, to the less trodden path through the lakes and high huckleberry meadows along the Old Cascade Crest Trail (6.4 miles, 750 feet).

Colorful foliage from the trailhead on…

Thomas Lake

Heather Lake

Mt St Helens from the viewpoint above Eunice Lake

Mt St Helens

High meadows of huckleberry foliage

Naha Lake

Reflections

More reflections

Bright red foliage

High meadows

A glimpse of Mt Adams through the trees

We arrived at our lunch stop, Rock Lakes.

Rock Lakes

Rock crossing

Reflections

Moss

More red

After lunch we continued a little farther east, then south through the high meadows and unnamed lakes along the Old Cascade Crest Trail – all water reflections and colorful foliage. A delight! These are just a few of the images.

Unnamed lake

Magenta foliage, with a few last huckleberries

Lakes and huckleberry bushes along the trail

South toward Gifford Peak

Looking back at partly burned East Crater

Gradients of color in the foliage

And in the reflective lake water…

Monet water

We also caught a glimpse of Mt Rainier through the trees on our return hike…

Eastern flanks of Mt Rainier, and the Tatoosh Range?

On our drive home, I took this photo as we crossed the Bridge of the Gods. The burned zone in the Gorge is starting to look like fuzzy grey hair on the slopes.

Crossing the Bridge of the Gods, looking toward Oregon.

October 12, June Lake, Mt St Helens, WA

Our only new hike this month. We have been to June Lake before, but this was the first time we continued to the east on the Loowit Trail, the 30 mile loop around Mt St Helens. The mountain top remained covered in clouds all day. We saw fall colors on the slopes below the snow line (6.5 miles, 1200 feet).

Trail map

The first mile through the forest along June Creek is relatively flat.

Glimpse of the cloud-covered mountain from near the trail head

Approaching the lava flow that has dammed the creek to form June Lake. Tiny hiker on the lower left.

June Lake

Lower cascade

Reflections

Fall colors mirrored

More reflections…

More Monet water

Past June Lake, the trail ascends steeply to join the Loowit Trail around the mountain. We went eastward this time, through forested trail, and over the toes of lava flows, ascending to an eventual viewpoint of the mountain.

Lava flow along the trail

A view of the mountain flank

View from our lunch stop, where we waited for sun breaks to illuminate the fall colors.

Huckleberry oranges and reds. The Ape Canyon trail junction is in the notch

Colorful foliage on lava flows… the trail continues through here, but we did not take it today.

Volcano monitoring equipment

Snowy slopes

Mt Adams occasionally appeared behind the clouds to the east.

Mt Adams

We returned back over the lava flows…

Loowit Trail over the Worm Flows

Larch trees glowing golden in the autumn sun.

Some of the trees and plants…

Mushroom

Partridge foot

Mushroom

Old growth trees

Huckleberry foliage

Vine maples

Coral root

Penstemon and pearly everlasting

Bunchberry

A branch of Swift Creek at the base of the Worm Flows

Mt St Helens today, still capped by clouds as we drove away.

Mt St Helens from FR 83

And a lookback comparison of June Lake from previous trips, autumn, summer and winter…

October 12, 2023

July 4, 2019

February 20, 2016

October 17, Labyrinth Trail, WA

Another visit to one of our favorite viewpoints on a dry day in the eastern Columbia River Gorge (4.2 miles, 900 feet).

Up the basalt labyrinth

Oregon grape

Buckwheat, eastern view

Rose hips, ponderosa viewpoint

Lunch near the ponderosa

Return trail; Mt Hood and the oak tree

Oak grove

Columnar basalt mesa

Looking down the labyrinth

Raptor above the cliffs

Greeting one of my oak tree friends on the way down.

October 27, Coyote Wall, WA

A walk with friends up the basalt cliffs and down the dry meadows of the eastern Gorge (5.8 miles, 1230 feet).

Bald eagle above the Columbia River

Dry slopes above Coyote Wall

Looking across to the Oregon side, the orchards of Mosier

Oak trees

Oak leaves

Cloud mirror to the east

Coyote Wall

Looking east toward the Labyrinth

Walking back along Look Lake

Coyote Wall

October 2023 at home

November 12, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

Autumn in Portland…knitting progress, colorful trees in the neighborhood, the last of the tomatoes, a few events around town, and Halloween…

Knitting – progress on three projects…

Anthology Blues Throw, in progress

One sock done

Purple Hitchhiker, in progress

Neighborhood- Colors of fall …

Changes in our garden…

The last of the tomatoes, with marigolds…

Roses

Katsura

Sumac and tupelo

A few events around Portland…

An eclipse – We were not quite in line with the full eclipse on October 14th. It was mostly overcast, though I did sense the change in intensity of the sunlight during the event. My nephew took this photo from the outskirts of town during a cloud break…

October 14, 2023

As I sit in my kitchen on sunny mornings, the change in angle of sunlight often compels me to photograph the shadows, the light…

October 30, 2023

Barbara Kingsolver – We went to see the author at the Keller Auditorium in downtown Portland. The event was sold out – over 3000 people attended to hear her speak. She talked mostly about her book Demon Copperhead, how it allowed her to bring her Appalachian story to light, highlighting the twin tragedies of foster care and the opioid crisis, while aligning the plot with Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. She left me with the compelling thought that ‘Hope is a Duty’, however challenging the times.

View from our seats, before the event…

Instagram post the next day

Art Day with a friend: First, the plein air show at the Oregon Society of Artists…

Brooke Borcherding

Then, a viewing of the Meet Me At The Center Installation by Maria T.D. Inocencio at the Armory Mezzanine…

Halloween in the neighborhood…

Hopeful owl jack-o-lantern

Floating witch hats

Ghosts

Witches

Blackbirds

Haunted entry

Neighborhood theater

A friend reanimated our curtain as a ghost…

Other thoughts…

The world is presenting some challenging events – this post by Patty Smith captures the mood…

But I try to counterbalance with positive thoughts…

September 2023 at home…

October 20, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

An ordinary month with lots of flowers. We had a fair amount of home time. The hikes are detailed in the next post.

The knitting:

Hitchhiker scarf, in progress

Slip stitch blanket, finished and ready for winter. It goes well with the Jane Austen quilt.

Ankle socks, ready for someone’s birthday.

The quilting and sewing, and home improvement..

I squared up the top of the Modern Mystery Quilt – next steps are to make the backing, then quilting.

I made a new curtain for the vaulted front window.

We replaced our ailing stove…

The last pot of ratatouille on the “old” stove.

The new induction range, fully installed and ready to train us in a new skill – digital cooking.

Also around the house –

Some beautiful cards…

Among the last of the tomatoes

Hydrangeas beginning their fall journey

Neighborhood walks – colorful flowers…

Sidewalk shadows and cracks…

Early Halloween beginning to creep in…

Ghosts beyond the hummingbird…

In other news of the world – more evidence of climate change; and as I am writing this in October, devastating events in Gaza, in Ukraine, in congress. I try not to obsess, and stay hopeful, but I also feel the need to mention them in this personal chronology…

from Instagram

We went to Art in the Pearl in Downtown Portland over Labor Day weekend. The artists’ creativity and color inspire a sense of hope in me in a time of distress for the world.

Michael Gard

Mark Gates

Dan Cautrell

Pearl District

Rachel Harvey

Lindsey Fox

Scott Swezy

Tom Boatwright

Meia Leisz

Pamela Spika

And the one that came home with us…

The Mountain III, 2022, Claire Christy-Tirado

Hiking in August 2023…

September 14, 2023 / margaretquilts / 1 Comment

We had five outdoor adventures in August.

August 1 – Bird Creek Meadows, Mount Adams, WA

The hiking trails in the Yakama Nation Track D were opened earlier this year, in good time to see the lush wildflower meadows the area is famous for. We repeated the loop we hiked in September last year, this time seeing the full midsummer display.

We began again at Bird Lake:

Mt Adams and Bird Lake

Bird Creek Meadows hike track

We started uphill through the burn zone toward Bluff Lake, lush flowers along the trail:

Bluff Lake

We continued upward toward the Trail of Flowers, passing Staircase Falls on the way.

Wildflower meadows all the way up.

Staircase Falls

Remnants of the picnic area along the Trail of Flowers

We continued upward, along trails through dryer slopes, also lined with flowers, to the Mt Hood viewpoint.

Mount Hood to the south

Continuing upward, through more wildflower meadows, to the Hellroaring Viewpoint…

Elephanthead lousewort in the meadows on the way to Hellroaring Viewpoint

Mt Adams from Hellroaring Viewpoint

Hellroaring Falls

Top of Mt Adams, with glaciers

We returned down, then west along the Round the Mountain Trail, then down to Crooked Creek Falls, through wildflower meadows all the way…

Crooked Creek

Approaching Crooked Creek Falls

Crooked Creek Falls

We completed the 6 mile/1000 foot loop, hiking back down through the burn zone, and back to Bird Lake.

These meadows were beautiful in their fall colors last year, but I am glad I got to see them in full summer wildflower bloom again!

August 8 – Vista Ridge, Mt Hood, OR

Another trip up to Wy’east Basin from the Vista Ridge Trailhead, one of my favorite hikes on Mt Hood.

Hiking up Vista Ridge through the burn zone, trail lined with pearly everlasting.

Panorama view of Mt Hood, the Pinnacle, the Dollar Lake Fire burn zone

Coe Glacier, Mt Hood summit

At about 5600 feet, we came across patches of avalanche lilies and beargrass, and the beginning of the alpine flowers.

Beargrass

Avalanche lilies

Heather and beargrass

More alpine flowers:

avalanche lilies

lupine

paintbrush

pasque flowers

We reached the Timberline Trail, then continued a little further uphill into Wy’east Basin, admiring the flowers.

Looking north from the Timberline Trail towards Mt Adams

Looking up toward Mt Hood and Barrett Spur

Shooting stars

Partridge foot, paintbrush and heather

Eventually we returned down Vista Ridge. The fireweed was just beginning to bloom, and we noticed lots of new fir trees in the burn zone.

Vista Ridge

Fireweed buds

Tiny fir tree

Golden rod and fireweed

Mountain ash berries and fireweed – I love the color contrast!

And of course I greeted my favorite haunted trees!

August 16-18 – Beach Walks, Cannon Beach, OR

A HOT week in town! On fairly short notice, we were able to book a room for two nights in the Tolvana area of Cannon Beach. The room was expensive, even though the view was to the backside of Mo’s Restaurant. However, it was within a short walk or drive to some of our favorite beaches. Our timing for low tide wasn’t great – around sunrise and sunset, but we made the most of our three days on the coast.

Our first afternoon, sunny and beautiful, we walked south from Tolvana Beach:

Our first pod of pelicans

sand plovers

Our favorite pizza restaurant. We bought a pie big enough to feed us for two dinners!

South Cannon Beach

After dinner, we walked north to Haystack Rock as the tide ebbed.

Haystack Rock

anemones

sea stars

The Needles, photobombed by a sea gull!

We saw more pelicans and a lovely sunset:

Pelicans again!

The next day, during high tide, we hiked at Oswald West State Park, out to Cape Falcon…

Into the woods toward Cape Falcon

Looking south from Cape Falcon

Zooming in to the southern headlands

Pelicans on the headlands

Looking down to surfers at Short Sand Beach on the return hike…

The trail is a bit rooty…

Then we drove south to the Neahkahnie Lookout above Manzanita, and as always, paused to say, “Thank You!” to Oswald West, for preserving access to our beaches!

Then we took the short walk to Devil’s Cauldron Overlook, and looked back north to Cape Falcon.

Devil’s Cauldron and Cape Falcon

More pelicans on the headlands near Devil’s Cauldron.

After a second pizza dinner, we took a long evening walk to the south toward Silver Point.

Silver Point in the distance

The kids always called it “Big Starfish Rock” because we found so many sea stars the first time we went there.

Low tide

Oyster catchers

The Sphinx of Arcadia

The next morning, after packing up, we visited another favorite beach, Hug Point, even though the tide was coming in.

Hug Point Beach

We could see the tide coming in at the foot of the road that is carved into Hug Point.

My husband opted to wade through, and visit the point.

I visited the nearby waterfall, still a favorite spot for children…

Hug Point stream meets the sea…

We turned and walked south toward Arch Cape, along the lovely wide beaches where we spent many family holidays.

South toward Arch Cape

Big Barnacle Rock and Castle Rock

The Cave

Before driving inland, we stopped for a picnic lunch at Ecola Point, and for a last look at the beaches we had visited. We had walked almost 20 miles on the beaches and headlands within this view, and enjoyed our time on the edge of the continent.

August 22 – Wildwood Trail, Portland, OR

On a hot day we hiked a three mile loop on the Wildwood Trail in Hoyt Arboretum.

Into the woods, looking for shade.

Found some on the Redwood Trail

Vine maples

Took a rest on the Redwood Deck.

Tupelo trees beginning to turn near the archery grounds

No view of Mt Hood from the Viewpoint

Asters

Beech seedpods

Beech trees in the Winter Garden

August 31 – Coyote Wall, WA/Multnomah Falls, OR, in the rain

Our son visited from Philadelphia, and brought a friend. She had never been here before, and as luck would have it, her week coincided with a spell of old school Portland summer – lots of overcast and/or drizzly days, which seem to be more of an anomaly in recent years. She didn’t even see Mt Hood until the day she flew home. We drove to the eastern Columbia River Gorge to look for sun, and took a slightly rainy hike at Coyote Wall.

Coyote Wall – not crowded today!

Looking east across the golden grasslands

Looking down over the wall at our trailhead

Turnaround point – we went about 2.5 miles, round trip.

Silvery buckwheat among the golden grasses

We made the mandatory stop at Multnomah Falls on the way home; still a bit rainy, but also, relatively uncrowded as a result.

Multnomah Falls

At home in Portland, August 2023

September 9, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

For me, August is the heart of summer; my birthday season and the season for fresh blueberries, fresh corn, chocolate cake, and a few gifts.

blueberries

birthday asters

Jane Austen themed card

fresh corn

long ago…

This year I planted tall zinnias out front, not knowing how tall they would be. We have the delight of seeing these giant blooms framed in our front window. I will have to remember this for next year!

Neighborhood – I am a person who loves the cracks in the sidewalk: the shadows, the textures, the shapes, randomness and spontaneity. Over the years, I have identified my favorite cracks. Some days new ones stand out as the shadows shift, as the angle of the sun changes, as the seasons turn. Some days my pace is slowed by all the distractions: the light, the shadows, the leaves, the bIooms. I just saw a yard filled with pearly everlasting and purple heather, and then down the street, ripening figs and apples, and bright yellow Rudbeckia; on I go. I stop to read all the poetry posts, and check the little free libraries, some days, finding gems from each that I take with me. My neighborhood is colorful and varied and changes every day; I never get tired of walking here.

pearly everlasting

heather

figs

apples

rudbeckia

Knitting – I finished knitting the Meadowlands Blanket for the Puddletown Knitters Guild service project – to be donated to an organization that helps foster children.

Meadowlands Blanket, made from Lion Brand Mandala Yarn

Quilting – I finished making the blocks, and started piecing the top for the Modern Quilt Studio Summer 2023 Mystery Quiltalong.

All the blocks

Partial quilt top assembly

Supermoon – I went out to photograph the supermoon rising, and instead caught the image of a ufo coming in for a landing on the elementary school roof (wink)…

We also went on a number of hikes in August – see next post…and it seems to be the season for this internet meme as well…

Austria and Italy, 2023, part 1

August 9, 2023 / margaretquilts / Leave a comment

June 23 to July 14th….We went on a covid-postponed hiking tour of the Dolomite Mountains of Italy, preceded by a few acclimatization days in Innsbruck, Austria. The destination was a goal trip for my husband. This was my first trip to continental Europe. I was trepidatious about the amount of hiking (would my knees hold out?), language barriers, transport, covid, all of it. But it all turned out fairly well. We saw amazing scenery and wildflowers, ate delicious food, made some new friends, and despite a few transit delays and confusion, returned safely. Now I am home in the Pacific Northwest that I love, and recovered from the jet lag that I find so disorienting. I am thinking about our adventures, and adding my experiences of a new place into my world view. As I have found before, I wish I had more international experience at a younger age – it would be easier on the body. But I am glad we went, and I will enjoy many memories from this trip for a long time.

Part 1: Austria-

We flew from Portland, Oregon, to Newark, New Jersey, to Frankfort, Germany. There were unexplained delays in Newark, so we missed our connecting flight flight to Innsbruck. After sleepwalking back and forth for two miles on the concourses between airport terminals, we eventually were rescheduled onto a flight for the next day, and given room and meal vouchers for an airport hotel. The next day (June 25th), we flew into Innsbruck, admiring the mountains on either side of the city as the plane descended into the valley.

Descending into Innsbruck.

We were staying on the 12th floor of a hotel on the south end of town, with excellent views.

View of Innsbruck, and the mountains to the north, from our room.

Closer view

Window inspiration for a modern quilt?

View to the south, including the mountain we would ride a gondola up, then hike up, later in the week.

We spent the next few days walking around Innsbruck, and hiking in the adjacent mountains.

Tuesday, June 26th – We rode the Hungerburg Funicular to its upper station, on the slopes of the Karwendel Mountains. We could have continued up higher into the mountains on the Nordkette Gondola, but the weather was not amenable that day. Instead, we took a short hike to the Arzler Alm, a farm with a restaurant, then made our way back down to the funicular station before riding back to town. I was still fairly jet lagged, but enjoyed seeing the landscape and stretching my hiking legs a bit.

Looking up toward Hungerburg

Lower Hungerburg station

Hungerburg Funicular at the top station

View back toward Innsbruck from the upper Hungerburg station

Looking up into the mountains along the Nordkette Gondola route

Hiking path above Hungerburg

Arzler Alm

Arzler Alm cows

Riding the funicular back to Innsbruck

Wednesday, June 27th – Another partly rainy day. We wandered some of the streets in the old town and visited the Golden Roof Museum.

The Triumphal Arch from the south

Triumphal Arch from the north

Open streets/pedestrian zone in the old town

Building detail in the old town

Golden Roof Museum

Close up of the golden roof and building ornamentation

The Golden Roof Museum was built in 1494, and was a residence of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I. The museum highlights the life and accomplishments of Maximillian.

Looking out onto the town from the balcony under the Golden Roof

Tile detail

A 400+ year old painting of Innsbruck

Virtual image of us looking out onto Innsbruck

We also walked along the Inn River, and at some point, I walked past a yarn shop and bought some souvenir yarn.

The Inn River

Thursday, June 28th – A beautiful sunny day! We rode the gondola up the Patscherkofel, then hiked about 2 miles/1000 feet, to its top. Although it is capped with communication towers, there are stunning views back toward Innsbruck and the Alps to the north. And we got a taste of the abundant wildflower displays we would see during the rest of our trip.