Busy bee

This week I am working my butt off.  Which is all good really because I could use some spending cash for my Hawaii adventure I'm about to take!!! That's right folks. Hawaii....the big island....ten days.

I never thought I would be heading there after 2 1/2 short months here on the west coast but, hey. I've got a free place to camp out, a cheap cabin to stay in and a 99 Suburu to tool around the island in. I'm excited and a little nervous because I don't know what to expect. As far as I know; it is tropical paradise with epic beaches, jungles for days, volcanoes to explore and the aloha vibes to keep me calm.

Even St Paddy's Day I was working long hours so I went out the night before to attempt to check out the Portland scene. It wasn't very Irish but I still had a good time w my girl Miranda leading the way to some tator tot extravaganza.

St Paddys Day itself I wanted to check out downtown and go for a hike before work, so I sported some green and met Alex for lunch.

We went to Macleay Park which leads into Forest Park on a spring hike. Which I definitely saw lots of green there!!!

And the usual awesome waters running alongside the trail.

Now all I got left is one more day bartend/catering and two days of the taco shop...

Then I am on a plane to paradise!

Aloha y'all🌸🍍🏄🏽

Japanese Garden

The adventure today actually began at the Hoyt arboretum to check in on the Giant Sequoia trees.

For my DPH's :)

Magnolia trees!

Blooming galore

Serene white ones also.

Then some California Bay tree blossoms

Our first intention was to head over to the rose garden when we noticed the Japanese garden was open and thought that their spring flowers would be in full effect there.

I'd say we made the right decision!

These buds were so meaty and huge!

They made for giant Camellia flowers!

I wish this shot below was a little more focused.  I absolutely loved that sculpture.

Springtime fun!!!

The flowers are popping up absolutely EVERYWHERE in and around Portland.  Magnolia trees, Camellias and daffodils for days!  Our Monday adventure this week was to go out west where the desert begins.  It's an area known as Celilo Falls, or else at least there used to be a giant waterfall before they put a dam in that section of the Columbia River Gorge.

We passed Multnomah Falls

We passed Hood River and the Dalles before we moved over to the Washington side of the river.

This is the Washington side, looking over toward Oregon.

The Washington side is also known to have better weather, where the gorge side in Oregon is affected by the weather of The Cascades.

 We drove up into the mountains.

 The yellow flowers are known as Spring Gold that appears along the mountainside.

 There are tons of purple flowers too.

 It got SUPER windy high up on top.

 But it made for a gorgeous spot to have some wine and cheese.

 We saw a golden hawk playing with an eagle.

 One kept swiping down and jolting the other.

    We walked to this next spot in hopes to find some wild plants that Alex wanted to cultivate.  We didn't find the right kind but we stay here for 3+ hours!

 Everything was so lush and green.

 I harvested some nettles and kept my eyes open for morel mushrooms, but unfortunately didn't find any. :(

 Plenty of yellow bells though!

 Just look at all those lil flowers.

 We found a boneyard in between one of the canyons.

 I think this one looks like a clown fish

 Probably a wild elk.

 LBM's! (also known as Little Brown Mushrooms)

 

 

 

 Bull with the crazy eyes!