Tired of being tired?

Day Trip Through The Snow

Skylar and I took off once more and decided to hit all of the snow spots that are popular here in Oregon. We went over the Cascade Mountain Range, to Mount Bachelor, and back to Hoodoo Ski Area to check out the night skiing. It was a fun day trip and we played in the snow and pretty much enjoyed a lot of the unseen parts of Oregon, especially the night skiing at Hoodoo.

Hoodoo Ski Area


Mount Washington



View of the Cascade Mountain range near Sisters, Oregon.





Mount Bachelor



Night skiing at Hoodoo Ski Area on top of the Cascade Mountains

Five Simple Things (January 31)

 Hello.

What a crazy week. First there was rain, then it sleeted, then it rained for three days straight, then the sun came out and almost got the temperature up to 70 degrees. It's almost as if the weather can't decide what it wants to do. We are looking forward to spring here, though, because winters in the Willamette Valley seem to drag on and on and can sometimes, as I've stated in previous posts, affect your mood a great deal. When you're already a bit depressed, that weather change can definitely take a toll on you. Overall though, it's nice to know that better weather is on the way, and the sun will peek out for days at a time, instead of short moments at a time. That aside, here are five things that sort of made this week feel less blah.

1. This Rainbow.


One good think with all of the rain, there are a few rainbows here and there. We like to call rainbows we see, a sign that Baz is saying hello, or is with us. The day after he died, there was a bright, big, beautiful rainbow in the sky, and ever since then, we like to think it's him. It helps us through tough times where we miss him. People that don't like pets, or never had a pet, just don't understand that hole in your heart. Animals are only here for a short time, but when they leave us, it is so hard to fill that void. I will never be the same. Baz was my buddy and I miss him every day. The worst part of having a pet, is when their time is up and they leave us.

2. Lebanon Fire District.
Jeff was driving this fire truck and we randomly came across him when Skylar and I were headed out of town. It was kind of a moment of, "Hey that's Jeff!" He hasn't really been feeling the same enthusiasm for the fire department since 2018. He applied to be a lieutenant and other people, less deserving of that position, were chosen over him. There are certain times where it pains me to see Jeff upset, and that night was one of those times. He cried. A lot. And, said that he can't believe he wasn't considered. He goes on calls and takes over certain times when other lieutenants don't step up, he trains new recruits, he puts his time and effort into the department, and it was all for nothing, he says. It is upsetting, but the positive I told him is, take your skills and your knowledge, and apply at a different department that will appreciate you. No one deserves to feel unwanted, and unfortunately, the lieutenant testing with the LFD proved that for him. He will be putting in his letter of resignation sometime in the spring of 2021. I support him in his decision, but it is sad. Sad because, Jeff's passion is fire fighting and to be pushed aside like he was, is not easy to forgive. I hope in the future, the Lebanon Fire District at least remembers what a great volunteer they lost in Jeff.

3. This Sink.

We've been in the process of replacing broken, and older, items in this house. It's kind of a stressful situation, as we don't own this home and only rent it. Positive is, we are able to replace things slowly to what we like. Bad thing is, Jeff's parents owns this home and we actually pay rent to cover these costs. The bathroom is the first on our list of things. This sink is the new sink, and having to rip out the old, water-damaged, particle board sink and cabinet that were here, was no easy task. We will work on the bathroom floor next and also the floor overall. Followed by a good paint job and then the molding. One step at a time. Hopefully, when we move out into a new place, they will appreciate everything we've replaced, fixed, and spent our own money on. But, we never know with them, so fingers are crossed.

4. This Game.

I found this string game at one of the local thrift stores here and we are kind of excited to try it out. It seems like a simple concept, metal ring, on a rope, that you swing and try to catch it on a hook. Simple things like this are one of my vices. I foresee us having a lot of fun with this overall and I can not wait to play a few rounds.

5. This Shadow.

I couldn't help but take a picture of this perfect shadowed silhouette of Eleven on the bedroom door. She was looking up at the closet, probably contemplating whether she should just up there and knock a bunch of stuff down, but it was still the perfect silhouette of her and I love it.

Have a nice weekend.

Foggy Road Trip

We decided to take a road trip in and around Multnomah Falls. I love the fog, as proof here, but I was delighted to see so much of it around the falls and throughout the mountain drive there. It was almost like driving through a dream in some places, and Skylar and I really loved the view, as well as the drive through and around the foggy mountainside. Oregon has some beautiful areas and to have a chance to escape from the people of the city into the less populated areas is always nice. Road trips, even just day trips, are one of our favorite things to do, and Oregon never disappoints. 














Five Simple Things (January 24)

 Hello.

What a week. We went to dinner in Newport on Monday night, but after that it seemed like the week was just packed full of back to back engagements with hardly any time to take a moment and breathe. We were definitely glad to see Friday come and the end to a busy week. It seems like some weeks drag on and others just fly by so quickly. The old saying must be true, time flies when you stay busy. Definitely was true this week. Not much really happened other than staying busy, and I hate using that word. "Busy" is such a dirty word for me, especially when it comes to people. I never use the word busy towards anyone, unless I am actually trying to avoid them. I make time for people no matter what. But, some people wear the word busy out and carry it like a badge of honor. No one is every too busy for someone, we make time for the people that we want to make time for. Never take that for granted and never tell someone you are "too busy" for them. Because, overall, you may eventually run out of time. Here are five things that I made time for this week.

1. This Crazy Cat.

Eleven is so curious 24/7. She explores every hole, closet, nook, and cranny, and she still can't seem to explore enough. I've let her go outside a bit more lately and she is so curious about everything in the backyard. She is definitely one of a kind and we love her.

2. This Oil. 
 
Not the best thing for the environment, but I couldn't help but notice how pretty the rainbow colors in this oil drop looked. It was so bright and vibrate, it really caught my eye. Unfortunately, it started raining shortly after I took this picture and I couldn't help but think, all of that oil is going to go straight into the drain. If your car has a small oil leak, get it fixed. As pretty as this droplet was, it's still not a good addition to the water system, in any way. 

3. This Popup Book.

This popup book is on Harry Potter, and you can get one similar here. We used to love Harry Potter until J.K. Rowling said a few things that hit home from us on a personal level. It's really unfortunate that those in the "celebrity" view, use their platform to judge others and what makes others feel like they aren't enough in this world. For now, we will hang onto this popup book, but only because we are fans of the actors and not the writer behind the story. I hope, in the future, J.K. Rowling changes her views on other people's lives and choices.

4. This Kitty, Again.

Sleeping, face down, after a long day of playing outside in the backyard. Eleven is such a fun cat, I can't say that enough. She's really been coming more and more out of her shell over the past year and we are loving her personality. It's been said that animals take on the personality of their owners, and if that's true, we are some cool people. 

5. Another Selfie.

Still trying to step out of my comfort zone and share more pictures of my face. Although I look at this and see 500 issues and flaws, confidence is not something that was taught to me, or even encouraged, growing up, so it's a slow progress for my mental health. I do like black and white photos, though, so there's a positive.

Have a nice weekend.

Night Shots Around Newport, Oregon

A trip over to Newport, Oregon, for dinner prompted a nice view of the Yaquina Bay Bridge and the bay front for the evening. It was a nice evening and an even better dinner along the bay. I will never get tired of the Pacific Ocean, that's for sure.