Walking Among the Tall Pines (La Pine State Park, OR)

We only had a 3-night stay in the La Pine State Park.  We wish we had booked it for a couple of more days.  We had a very nice time there.  We stayed busy walking the scenic trails among tall Ponderosa Pines along two rivers:  the Deschutes and the Fall River.  The campground is filled with little critters running every where.  The cats preferred to be outdoors stalking the ground squirrels and chipmunks, but we never let them get too close.  Quite often they just had to settle for watching the little guys from the windows.  At least, they stayed entertained while we were out for our walks. 

On the Deschutes River trail, we walked through an area of a recovering burn area.  Even the burned Ponderosa gave a feeling of being grand.

Below are some photos of the Deschutes River.  The trail is a loop that circles three campgrounds and follows the river.  An easy 3 mile walk with hints of rain and earthy-aromas along the way.

This is my favorite view of the Deschutes with the mountain in the background.  This viewpoint is actually on the McGregor Trail at the viewpoint...and what a view!

That is one hairpin turn!  I used my wide-eye lens.  I kept the lens level with the horizon to keep out the distortion, but some of the closer trees are distorted.  It is the only way to get all of the river into one shot without using panorama settings.  Which would mean trying to paste the photos together.

Lots of different wild flowers blooming among the pine trees.

The next day, we walked to the Fall River.  This walk included parts of the Deschutes trail and the McGregor trail which connected to the Fall River trail.  Close to 9 miles of walking and it was worth the walk.  There were very few people on the trails.  So nice not to have loud people shouting to each other or playing music while we are trying to enjoy the silence of the woodland.  So peaceful.

Below is a photo of the Fall River's fall that is only about 10 feet tall, but has a good roar going.  

I can't get over how crystal clear the rivers are here and so blue!  Gorgeous!  I read somewhere that this river is a favorite among the fly fishermen.  I was hoping to see a few of them casting their lines...oh well, maybe another time.

One last photo of lupines growing near the river.

Red, White, and Blue Treasury
With the 4th of July coming up soon, I decided to put together a Treasury with one of my wall hangings.  I still have three left and a few Uncle Sam mug rugs as well.  I can easily make a few more treasury collections.  So many delightful ways to celebrate the 4th of July through Etsy!

Happy Trails!

Binding Quilt Stories (Las Vegas)

No Peeking!

Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini

When I start reading one of Jennifer Chiaverini's books, I anticipate a story filled with quilters finding friendship through their love of quilting.  There are few books published by a writer that understands quilters and our love to quilt or to talk quilt.  

I can understand an author wanting to spread her wings and write about something new.  I just feel Sonoma Rose should have been marketed separate from the Elm Creek series.  The only connection to Elm Creek was a couple of flashbacks to Elizabeth from The Quilter's Homecoming.  Otherwise, this story was about Rosa's family and Lars.

As you can tell, I never tire of reading about the process of quilting - no matter what is being describe.  But, this story did not focus on the quilter's life or quilting.  Basically, the only quilt talk came from Rosa thinking about block patterns and colors for each of her children's quilts, her mother's two quilts barely get describe, and she cuddles under her own quilt.  Towards the end, Rosa started to teach a friend how to quilt, but that ended before they even got started. Great!

If you are interested in Prohibition and life on a vineyard then this book is for you.  I enjoyed Rosa's story and I learned a few things about the Prohibition era. I often read Jennifer's books more than once, but I doubt that I will read this one again anytime soon.  I'll have to run out of reading material first.

I won't give up on her though... Jennifer's next book The Giving Quilt will make up the difference since it is about the Elm Creek's Quiltsgiving Day.  Two of my favorite subjects: Quilts and Project Linus.  

But, I have to wait until the end of October...so in the meantime, I found a new author, Clare O'Donohue.  I started reading her first book The Lover's Knot: A Someday Quilts Mystery today.  Quilts! Mystery!  Now that's my kind of story!

 

 On the Cutting Board

Okay!  I got all the binding done yesterday.  Can you see that the red binding is a lot thinner than the other two?

I was a little short on red material so I made the red binding 2 inches instead of my usual 2.5 inches width.  I would rather be narrow than short on length.  I have used binding this narrow before, but it is not easy to wrap around the raw edges of the quilt.

Tuesday Treasury

Like a buffet, I pick out one or two items that strike my interest and move on to the next section.  The more eclectic - the better I like it!

Traveling Through Death Valley (Pahrump, NV)

Ashford Mill Ruins

We got a late start on our visit to Death Valley National Park.  We planned to visit Scotty's Castle and the northern end, but it wasn't going to happen.  Not today anyway.  A truck had jack-knifed across the two lane highway with no impact that we could see.  From the way people were just standing around and there were no emergency vehicles, I would say no one was hurt.  They were just waiting for the road to be cleared.

Change of plans...  We turned around and drove to the center east entrance to Death Valley.  The weather was almost perfect - cool and a little windy.

Ashford Mill Ruins

Only a golfer would come up with the name The Devil's Golf Course for this area.  I have no idea why anyone would think to golf here.

Devil's Golf Course

 We stopped to see the Natural Bridge.  This a view from the trail head.  I could not have asked for a more picture perfect day.

Here's Dan standing in front of the Bad Water area.  Cars on the main road look like ants.  That's how far away we are in this photo.  It is so amazing how far we can see.  It just goes on for miles and miles and miles.

 The walk was only a half mile.  Thank goodness, it wasn't miles because it was all uphill.  Yep, I was a little winded.  I need to start walking more.

Natural Bridge

 This is my favorite spot.  We are standing 282 feet below sea level.   Five miles of salt flats with crusty ridges going every which away.

Bad Water

Turns out it is not as dry as it looks.  Dan and I were kneeling to get better close-ups of the salt.  Both of us ended up with a wet knee.  When the spot dried, we had a salty crusted knees.

Side view of the ridges

Close-up of the dry salt

Small threads of salt 

The mountains surrounding the valley are so colorful..black, orange, red, yellow, pink, and green..yes green soil.

 

All righty then!  We are off to explore the northern end of Death Valley and Scotty's Castle.

Tuesday Treasury

This treasury is for all the hard working burros, donkeys, and mules.  The artists did wonderfully amazing work.

Shake Shake Shake

Shake Your Booty!
       A Coatimundi Moment

Oh, I hope she doesn't see me.  My fur's a mess with stickers.

Oh no, she does and she is taking pictures!  No! I look awful!

I'll just shake it off...a little harder

...get off! get Off! get OFF!

Ahhh, much better.  Okay, calm and collected..
I look good...now look at the camera.

Okay, I'm ready for my photo shoot.

Hey lady!  Where are you going?

Tuesday Treasuries 

A Treasury of Cats (Branson, MO)

Aquariann does a Treasury Tuesday every week.  I have been wanting to do a Treasury List since joining Etsy.  First list - Cat Crazed.... of course!  There are so many choices.

And speaking of cats...I finished my quilt top.  I plan to add silhouettes of cats to the top before I quilt it.