Where did two weeks go?!

Time sure does fly by when you work two jobs, just moved into a new place that you are putting together and have a boyfriend.  I feel like I've barely been here while the same stack of clothes I've been meaning to go through still sit on top of my dresser, not gone through.

The new place is great!  I painted my room this golden orange color with a peachy sand colored accent wall.  At first I might have thought the orange was too much but I absolutely love it now.

Just because two jobs have came up does not by any means that I have stopped my adventures either!

I've had numerous night hikes up to Mt. Tabor.

I have helped to plant willows out on Sauvie's Island with these two goofballs.
 
Tommy is still cute as ever!





I got up super early one day (like 4:30am) and went into Washington to do some bird watching.

 This is a black bird.

 At first I though this was a picture of a harrier hawk but it's another blackbird.

  We saw so many cranes and blue herons.

 We saw multiple types of ducks too.

 We saw a kingfisher and a bunch of bald eagles perched high up in the trees.

Then Alex said, "did you see that sea lion?" So we had to drive closer thinking we'd only see one or two, but there was a SEA LION INVASION!!!

 Apparently, they travel north sometimes to eat the Steelhead and the Salmon and made a little home up in Washington!

 I was a little afraid to go on this dock at first because I have never been so close to them before.

 They were little hams and showed off for anyone who came close to them.

 Oh and at night there was this awesome full moon that was really yellow and hung super low in the sky.

Thursday; I went to a beach called Kelly Point and then did some wild harvesting at Hayden Point.  I gathered stinging nettles, which are amazing to pick and eat this time of year.  They have a spinach quality but are loaded with so many great vitamins.  They do have these small stingers underneath them that will sting you right through your gloves.  Not like a bee sting, but kind of like a small electric shock.  I had pins and needles in my hands from it for over twenty four hours!

Friday; I went to Willamina to spend two nights over at Alex's sister's house.  We stopped into a vineyard called Sokol Blosser on the way up for fun.  It was absolutely stunning to drive up this big hill and overlook all the green on their acres and acres of land.  The drive up we saw so much farm land as well. We brought his sister some nettles and made an awesome ricotta lasagna with them with a lemon cream sauce.

Saturday; we drove to Pacific City to go surfing but the waves were ranging from 8-13 feet so the surf shop wouldn't even rent us a board because it was too dangerous to go out there.  However, we had our wetsuits and booties so we went for a swim in some of the small waves, even if some of the small waves were over my head. ;)  And we got to drive on the beach!

Saturday night; we went into his sister's little town and saw a great band called Hillstomp.  The place was packed full of locals as well as people who drove in from Portland and Vancouver to come see them.  It was a 2 man band with a guitarist/singer and a drummer/washboard player.  They put on an awesome show and got everyone in the place dancing.  They had this bluegrass meets rock sound and they describe themselves as a "Bucket n Slide Brand of Rock n Roll!"

Sunday; we ate the last of the nettles harvest in a sauce over pasta and watched Kung Foo.

Yesterday, I went to the Vancouver side of the Columbia Gorge.

So all the giant waterfall places in my posts before were mostly in the Gorge on the Oregon side.  The other side of the river is Washington state and the forests are much more wild.  The Oregon side is much more traversed with tourists and hikers, while the Washington side is a bit quieter and the paths can be more hidden.  We got a beautiful day yesterday and sat in the sun drinking Pu'er tea.

The hike wasn't very demanding but we saw so many wild flowers budding, just starting to shoot up.

 Some flowers making appearances too, but just little teeny ones.  And butterflies!  We saw at least a dozen as well as a few sea lions.

 If you think I am sick of waterfalls - then you are mistaken!!!!

We had a little lunch in this beautiful spot

  

 I had the pleasure of this sky on the way home!

So life continues on in an amazing fashion!
I'm only working 3-4 times a week (some long hours though) -but lots of time to continue my adventures!  I still am exploring my new neighborhood.  As I stated earlier, I have barely been there and am not familiar with my hood yet.  There are two really divey bars just a block and a half away.  In one direction is one called Lotsa-luck with a bunch of video poker signs outside.  The other is Aces, a poker club/underground bar.  I haven't been to either yet, but will most certainly let you know when I do!