Summer Time = Fun at Mt. Hood National Forest

Is the "summer time" theme getting boring? Oh, well there will still be a couple more ;) Mt. Hood National Forest really is fun any time of year. Sking, snow shoeing, cross country skying in the winter, and wonderful hiking in the summer. You just have to love the area we live in, that is if you love nature ;)

I pretty much spent the entire weekend in the National Forest. On Saturday a group of German women took the Ramon Falls hike. Somewhat like in Germany but yet very different. It is one of the most popular hikes because it is so close to Portland, and also very moderate. It is a 7.1 mile loop. The south side is along a picturesque creek where you would expect fairies, and the north side is somewhat barren. There is an elevation gain of about 1,000 ft., so I really would not recommend this hike for little children. I said a couple of sentences ago, that it is very similar to Germany and you know what? We saw another large group of German's en route, and I read that the Austrians of Portland went hiking "Wandertag" today, Sunday. Do you know where they went? Yup, also to Ramona Falls. It must be the all German hiking spot ;) If you would like to check it out here is the link http://www.oregon.com/hiking/ramona_falls.cfm. There is a picture of Ramona Falls on the site, and you know what? The falls really do look like that. Just amazing...

So I went hiking with girlfriends yesterday, and today we took a family trip out to the Wildwood Recreation area in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Again, just wonderful and I like to take nice walks on Sunday's. Nothing "German" happened...we did not meet any other Germans, but at the fish viewing area a boy asked me whether I spoke a different language to my kids. I said "yes" he then asked whether it was "Japanese", and I then told him that it was "German". It was quite cute. Here is the link for the Wildwood Recreation Area. That is just a fun all around family place http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Wildwood_brochure07.pdf.

Summertime = Farmer's Market Time

Who does not love summer. Sunshine, flowers, fruits, and veggies are abundant here in Portland. I just love it, and going to the farmer's market to me is like a celebration of the season. They are so fun, there is music, dancing, food, and of course the highlights of local seasonal fruits, veggies. We went to the Eastbank Market on Thursday and there was even a vendor selling fresh fish. In so many ways Portland is so similar to Germany, yet so different. Tuttlingen has markets twice a week in the spring and summer, but I have yet to see a band and dancing there :) Here are some links, http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/, Hollywood Farmer's Market http://hollywoodfarmersmarket.org/, Montavilla (East Side neighborhood) Market http://hollywoodfarmersmarket.org/, Sellwood http://www.morelandfarmersmarket.org, to name a few. Check this link for a listing of markets throughout the State of Oregon http://www.oregonfarmersmarkets.org/directory.html. Enjoy!

It's summer time...Berry Picking

I just love summer. Walking around barefoot, kids running around in their summer dresses with dirty feet, long evenings, sunny days, camping, and berry picking time. Honestly, I am quite sad that we are not going to Germany later on this summer but then again this is the time of year to be in Oregon. Plus, it really is just like home just different. Well, this slogan really cuts both ways, right?!

When I thought about this entry earlier today I wanted to give it the title "Ode to Oregon" well a little over the top, is it not?! In any case I just LOVE Oregon, and Portland. Many reasons including that it just feels so much like Europe. The scenery, the abundance of fruits, veggies, nuts and I can see that the earlier settlers must have seen this as the place where "milk and honey flows". OK - I think that I may get a little carried away :) In any case, topic "Berry Picking". This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. We like to go out to Sauvie Island which is so close to the city yet feels like a totally different world. There are a ton of different "U-Pick" Places on the island. There is Kruger's Farm (http://www.krugersfarm.com/), Sauvie Island Farm (http://www.sauvieislandfarms.com/) just to name a couple. Check out Sauvie Island at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauvie_Island.

Our favorite U-Pick on Sauvie Island is Sauvie Island Farms. In June we picked Strawberries. Enough for eating plus I made six jars of jam. Today we went again and picked Blueberries, and Raspberries. One note, I did not really eat Blueberries in Germany nor in Chicago. Never have I tasted and seen Blueberries like the Oregon berries. Huge, sweet, just so wonderful. - Oh, and the Raspberries we picked today? They are also huge, sweet and yummy. Today we had a total of 12 lbs. of berries, and we will have to go back...

So yes, I love Portland and Oregon with all my heart. It is my home, just like Germany and both places are so alike in so many ways, but yet so far apart...OK, guess I better call it a night :)

Happy 4th of July...

Happy Independence Day everybody...the quint-essential all American experience. I hope everybody is having a fun day with lots of BBQ, games, etc. We are certainly looking forward to a fun day with our German friends. I am making a Flag Cake as has become a tradition. So fun, and so good. The recipe is on my other blog, here is the link http://galactopdx.blogspot.com/2008/07/4th-of-july-flag-cake.html

Have a great day, everybody!!!

Timbers vs. Bayern Muenchen II...July 2nd, 2009

Did you go to the game? Belive it or not, we went with the entire family and we had so much fun. We actually sat right next to the "Timber Army" and I thought it was a blast.

I have not been to a soccer game in years and certainly never before in the States. How fun!!! The mascot of the Timbers is "Timber Joey", which is a guy dressed like a logger. He is in front of the stands, swings a chainsaw (really, I am NOT kidding) which is running, and rattles the engine every so often...it is hilarious. On the field there is a big log, and whenever the Timbers score Joey, cuts off a slice from the log. He then "presents" the slice to the audience...people (including my 5-year old) get to touch it and cheer it. It's a trophy...unfortunately (for us) the Timbers won 2:0. So this means, that Joey cut a slice for each person who shot the goal AND a third slice for the goalkeeper. When the game was over, Joey presented the "slices/trophies..." to the players in front of the Timber Army. It was sooooo... loud, but so much fun...

So if you have a chance, go to a Timbers game. Thursdays are great days b/c $2.50/pints (and yes they have IPA), but soda is still $3.75 (!!!), the other great thing is that with general admission you can choose your seat anywhere in the general admission section. So, so fun...

July 2, 2009 - Bayern Muenchen Reserve Team vs. Timbers

Do you like soccer? Do you like German soccer? This coming Thursday July 2nd, 2009 the Bayern Muenchen Reserve Team will play the Portland Timbers at PGE Park. Tickets are $15/ea. The game starts at 7 PM. For more information, or to get tickets go to http://www.portlandtimbers.com/tickets/exhibitinfo/, or http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F004296BADB768E

Have fun!

Another day another Spaziergang...

Have I said that I LOVE Portland?! Oh yes, its fantastic. We took a really, really long walk through our neighborhood today and ended with having dinner at a restaurant. It is just so wonderful to live in a place where you can walk, don't need a car...and the best thing about it all is that it seems like spring has sprung. Just a wee bit. I saw the first crocuses, and Schneegloeckchen. Oh how do I love Portland!!!

The weekend Spaziergang...

Is there anything better than a nice Spaziergang (walk, mini hike...) on the weekend? We love it and Portland is a great place to get these walks in. Lots of places and parks...Today we drove over to the west side and went to Forest Park. Check it out on here....http://www.forestparkconservancy.org/ Tons of trails, enough walks for weeks on end...Happy Spaziergang everyone :)

Spring has sprung...OK not quite but today it sure feels like it...

Why do I love PDX so much? One of the reasons is that in January there can be fantastic weather. Yup, and today is just such a day. The girls and I went to OMSI, afterwards we rested on a bench along the river. Yes, we sat outside on a bench enjoying the sunshine :) I also noticed today that the crocuses are already well on there way. How exciting.

So what does this have to do with being German in PDX? Well I admit not much but I do not remember having ever been able to sit outside on a bench enjoying the sunshine in January :)

Have a great day.

The results and the long awaited answer...the New Years Eve bubbly

Only two people voted, but I am sure that all of you are curious to find out about our drink of choice to toast the New Year. One person voted for Prosecco, and the other person voted for Cremant. What is wrong with Cooks?! - OK, ok the answer is Cremant...sorry no prize to win :)

Have a great day all...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We had our usual New Year's Eve non-party. Just the family hanging out. Our traditional dinner is fresh Dungeness Crab and we were lucky to get a couple this year. They are just SO GOOD...we all love them. Ron and I had a bottle of delicious German Gutedel from Grunern, Germany. This is the last of the bottles we brought back with us in 2006, time to go to the Baerenbad again :). Check it out it is such a fabulous place...http://www.baeren-bad.de/.

The rest of the night we watched Sesame Street New Years Eve selection followed by Dick Clark's New Years Eve show on ABC. Alena made to the New Year, well if we'd live in the Midwest. Mia Rosie beat her by making it through the Mountain Time Zone New Year...Once the girls were sleeping it was time for the toast. This year we had fantastic bubbly...just great and you know what, I will make you guess what kind of bubbly we drank :). Yup, please vote on the new poll. This is fun :)

Happy New Year to all of you.