Friday, March 19, 2021

No idea!

Hi friends,
Did you notice the title??? Well.. I have NO IDEA as I start this post, what I'm going to write about! I haven't really done a "real" post since Christmas! But I do want to stay in touch with my sweet blogging friends out there so here goes...........


This is a photo I took last November when I was visiting my sister's new place in Terrebonne, Oregon. As I was going home, I drove down a side road that I had wanted to explore, and came upon this gorgeous canyon! Wow it was amazing, and bits of snow were sprinkled here and there. Of course I had to get out of my car and take pictures!

I miss going on photo shoots just for the fun of it - visiting different areas and exploring. Didn't do any of that in 2020 (well hardly). I don't call going to my sister's house as a "photo shoot" but there IS some stunning scenery there, if you look for it!


I may have already posted this photo (above) that I took last summer in July. That little trip was the highlight of my summer of 2020! My son and his fiance had come to visit, and we went for a drive into the mountains (Cascade Range) west of us, and went for a little hike along the Metolius River. Oh that was so wonderful to see water and big trees! I so miss that in Madras where I live.




Really, there just hasn't been much to blog about for 2020, and not much for 2021! Like most of you, we just haven't gone anywhere other than to a grocery store, doctor's visit or post office or library. I feel kind of like my blog is based on sharing awesome photos with you, of places I've visited, or of my home and yard. I kind of  have "nothing" to share!

I DID actually take my first trip out of my town for almost a year - and that was a visit to Portland to see my great nephews. I rode along with my sister who lives here, close to me (the one who lives in Terrebonne).  Now I finally have some pretty photos to share!

We drove on the mountain pass that goes by Mt. Hood, and it was a gorgeous sunny day, and the mountain was just stunning. This first photo is Mt.  Hood in the distance, as we are driving in the "dry" country to the east of the mountain. I've grown up with this mountain and I love it!


Now we are driving into the forests and trees - so nice to be in the deep dark forests.

A close up shot... it was hard to get good shots of the mountain as we were driving and a view would open up for about 5 seconds, and then we would be in the trees again!

We only made a day trip, but accomplished alot in that one day! Went to visit my "niece in law" and her twins (my great nephews). Here's my sister and me with the little cuties (below). They are not identical twins and each have such a different personality. Love them both to pieces! We also drove by the old house we grew up in, in Portland, went to the cemetery to "visit" our parents, stopped to see another friend of my sister's, and managed a take out lunch from Subway!


Anthony, in the back (below), is a little mischief maker. He is trying to grab his brother's head! And Andrew, in the front, is the little mellow one... very laid back.

Andrew is happy to entertain himself:


So far, this has been 2021's highlight. I have been constant in my paper crafting, and even a little sewing. I've been making a few "spring" face masks to add to my wardrobe. Not very exciting but is something I've wanted to do for weeks and finally got started on them (only one made so far!).

I've made quite a few little mini albums since Christmas, and they are now at a little shop here in town that just reopened after a year and a half of moving to a new location. 


I love this little "My Treasured Scriptures" album that I made. There are pockets inside that hold tags to write your favorite scriptures on. It was fun to make and I want to make some more!


In January, I took a "mini class" from a gal at the little quilt shop here in town. I had bought some pretty fleece, and the owner was holding it for me until I could come and pick it up. The day I went, her friend was there doing some sewing in the back room, and I asked her about the darling ponchos she had made, that were hanging around the store on the walls. She said, oh they are so easy to make, I can show  you right now if you want! And I said YES.. and we sat down and she helped me make mine in about a half hour. Now that was fun!


I really HAVE been pretty busy.. and like to keep busy so I don't dwell on the current state of affairs in our country.

Oh... I did have tons of fun making some Hershey Bar Pockets for the little gift shop. I had made some Christmas ones that I sold at the craft fair I participated in last October, so I thought some Spring ones would be pretty.




Oh I so loved this lavender paper from Prima Marketing! I have been hoarding it for two years, but thought I'd better use it. For 2021, I am at least going to try to use up some of the gorgeous scrapbook papers I've been hoarding......... that is my goal anyway.

I know this is a long post, but I wanted to get caught up, so I can post more often, and shorter posts. I hope that coming up will be some Spring gardening and yard posts. At least we got most of our hard (big) work done last  year when we laid down all those heavy tarps and 10 yards of gravel! We still have one side of our house left to do, but that isn't such a daunting job.


Hopefully this spring and summer will be more fun projects, though I do hope we can (build/buy?) some larger raised bed cedar boxes for some vegetables. I also want to find some more of these nice cedar boxes for flowers (above). Last year, our local Bi Mart did NOT have any in stock! I was so disappointed. I looked everywhere for them.  I'm so tired of all the plastic tubs we have been using (see that blue one?) that are old and cracked and falling apart. They were supposed to be "temporary" but you know how that goes.........

Hope you are all staying well and finding things to bring  you joy!









16 comments:

  1. Oh Marilyn you have lots to blog about. Love your trip to Portland. Wow such gorgeous pictures. Your great grand nephews are adorable. Looks like you had some joy and fun.
    Let's hope as the year progresses and we get the vaccines out we will come to some kind of normal again soon. Happy back to blogging. xoxo

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    1. Kris, I am so looking forward to things getting back to normal. Although we did go to Portland, it still felt strange that we had to be so careful... things just don't feel the same anymore, but I do hope and pray that changes. Take care... Marilyn

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  2. I took one look at your great nephews and knew right away who the little rascal was and who was more laid back. They’re adorable and I’m sure you had lots of fun with them.

    Glad to see you’re keeping busy and safe Marilyn. Always a pleasure to hear from you. I don’t always comment because I can’t seem to do so on blogger blogs and I don’t even know if this will go through, but since I’m on my phone as opposed to my iPad I am cautiously optimistic 😉.

    xxx

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    1. Doreen, your comment DID come through on my blog! I don't know if you'll get this reply either! I never know if anyone sees my replies. Could you let me know if you do?? And yes.. those twins are going to be little rascals as they get older, especially the "mischief maker" Anthony! He makes mischief, but he also wants lots of attention! Hugs.. Marilyn

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  3. I took one look at your great nephews and knew right away who the little rascal was and who was more laid back. They’re adorable and I’m sure you had lots of fun with them.

    Glad to see you’re keeping busy and safe Marilyn. Always a pleasure to hear from you. I don’t always comment because I can’t seem to do so on blogger blogs and I don’t even know if this will go through, but since I’m on my phone as opposed to my iPad I am cautiously optimistic 😉.

    xxx

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  4. I completely understand. I have felt very cooped up this last year, and haven't been out of Atlanta. Now that I am completely vaccinated I feel like I can go about doing some more activities, still completely masked of course. Here's hoping we can all get back to a more normal way of living soon.
    xo Laura
    PS Your photos are lovely and the babies adorable.

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    1. Thank you Laura! I have felt pretty cooped up too! Was so nice to go to Portland, just for a change of scenery! Congrats on being vaccinated. I bet you feel much better now. We haven't gotten ours yet. My hubby can't as any sort of vaccine makes him deathly ill. He would probably not survive it. I'm hesitant but probably will in time (get mine). Here's hoping for better times ahead! Marilyn

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  5. Such a wonderful blog post Marilyn, how I enjoyed it! I just loved "traveling with you" to see the sights around your area! Truly magnificent to be within a day's drive of such loveliness! I loved the gorgeous little canyon you found, and the Metolius River hike, just beautiful! And what a blessing to be able to travel with your sister to see the darling twin nephews! They are soo adorable! I love all the beautiful albums and especially the scripture albums you've been making! I adore your handiwork, you are soo talented! I am on a mission to use up more of my stash as well. It's hard, ha! We've had some wonderful sunshine-y days here, and I've been out working some in my yard and garden. Still lots to do, but it is so nice to have most of our snow gone... even though tonight it is snowing. It won't last long, as the days get so warm, but still... you know winter loves to throw in one last round before the end of the season, lol! Sending you many blessings... enjoyed my visit with you tonight :)

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    1. Hi Marilyn E.!! thank you for the nice comment. I just bet you are well into your seed planting and planning! You go girl! I haven't done much yet, but do have the itch to plant some flowers. Too early yet here though. Was showing my son your book yesterday when he was visiting (from Astoria) and he thought it was beautiful. His fiance grew up in that area and knows the road you live on! she grew up north of Priest Lake (the town). they both know how gorgeous it is up in your little bit of Heaven and they want to get married up there somewhere in the mountains! I too need to use more of my papers and not collect anymore. I'm so into digital papers now, so keep buying those and downloading them, and probably never will use them! I just love looking at them and they are much cheaper than buying the paper pads (and don't take up as much room!). My mojo is back for paper crafting but having company kind of puts a stop to that for awhile. Here's hoping for warmer days to come and no more snow! hugs.. Marilyn

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  6. Oh Sweet Marilyn, I was so happy when I saw that you had posted again . . . Your photos are beautiful and speaking of beautiful, those little guys are adorable. I'm so glad that you and your sister were able to get out and take that trip together. The smiles on your faces shows how much you love each other.
    Did I spy strawberries in that wooden box. I have never tried growing them . . . should add it to my list :)
    Well again. wonderful to see that you are posting again. Believe me none of us have lives filled with trips and adventures, Covid 19 put a stop to most of that for everyone. BUT there is still beauty all around us, we just have to open our eyes. Especial this time of the year, the trees are starting to bud out, the tulips are starting to crawl out of the ground, things are happening . . . new life all around us. Don't let this virus rob you of enjoying life. It's one of those things that has tried to keep us under it's heel, but I'm stinking fed up with it all and I think everyone else is too. Life goes on. My life stinks enough right now and I refuse to let Covid try and make it even worst. I'm going to use spring to get out in the fresh air and discover joy and freedom even it's only in my backyard. God never promised that life would be easy, but He is watching over us and He loves us more than we can fathom. He's bigger than Covin!

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  7. Hi Marilyn: I understand the "no idea" concept. I have a lot of those. Sometimes I just sit down and start typing and something comes out of it all. I really like to have something "special" to talk about but when you stay home mostly 24/7 it isn't always easy. You did pretty good, though, I think. Love those baby blue eyes! What darling little ones. I miss our jaunts up into Or and Wash. I have always said you can always tell the minute you leave Calif you know because all the beautiful trees are so much greener and brighter in Or and WA. I have started thinking about working in the garden in the coming months. So much we want to do, but shall see how much we are able to accomplish.. WooHoo..2 more days and our waiting is up. We are safe to go out into the world! Shall see how much of that we will do too!! Stay well..xxoJudy

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    1. Judy, sorry I didn't reply sooner! Time has gotten away from me (again)..... I know what you mean about the GREEN in Oregon and Washington, though I think Northern California is beautiful too! I've always wanted to explore the Trinity Alp wilderness area. It is so dry here that working in the yard is like working in a desert! No rain for a long time. Plus lots of winds and dust. We are going to start doing some yard work soon though, if our energy will increase. Hubby and I have both been so blah lately. Hugs.. Marilyn

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  8. Judy.... yes.. that's how this post started. Just started typing and then a couple of photos popped into my mind and I was off and running! I've been to California down as far as San Jose I think it was. I do remember though, how beautiful northern California is, around Mt. Shasta. I've always wanted to take a drive in the Trinity Mountains. I did drive down the Calif. coast too, way back in the late 60's... that was gorgeous! Where I used to live in SW Washington, it was like a rain forest there.. of course, though stunningly gorgeous, we had about 120 inches of rain a year! Yikes. With green... comes alot of rain! Though I do miss that area so much. Take care and good luck getting out and about! xoxo Marilyn

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  9. Your paper crafts are gorgeous, Marilyn. Congratulations on your accomplishments. Love the poncho. Day trips are always fun. The twins are adorable. So sweet. Your photos remind me of all the sights I got to see in Oregon while living there. Such a beautiful state. I remember your photos from the Washington trip. I know how much you enjoy nature, as do I. Have fun in your garden and carry on with all that creativity! Hugs.

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    1. Nancy.... thank you! Yes I do love nature and I so miss the forests and trees of Western Oregon and Washington where I used to live. Where you lived also was one of the most glorious areas of Oregon! It's time to start garden work and it's been so dry here that I'm not real enthused about it. Dry and windy and dusty already, and it's only April! I hope we don't have a drought year here in central Oregon. We need some rain and I miss it! I have to get out of my "slump" and get myself outdoors. I still do manage to do a little paper crafting as it's what keeps me sane. Hugs.. Marilyn

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