Showing posts with label Portland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portland. Show all posts

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Family #hike at Lacamas Lake Park - Camas, #Washington {#pdx #kids}

Time flies, flies, flies and we have been like busy bees.  So needles to say that I we {as in the parental units} have really been looking forward to a nice family hike.  This winter has been crazy here in the Pacific Northwest ~ it has been so warm that all the snow at Teacup Nordic is gone.  Yes, the year we were going to ski every weekend = no snow.   Daffodils are already in full bloom, friends - so I thought that maybe the lilies are already getting ready to bloom at Lacams Lake Park and thus its the perfect excursion.

We first went on this hike a couple of years ago and I have to say it is a great hike.  It is close to Portland - only about 25 minutes from our house in Southeast - even so it is on the other side of the river aka Columbia.  This hike packs a lot of everything;  you hike over a dam and then you can decide whether to take the lake loop which is about 1-1/2 miles or take a longer loop down to the waterfalls.  Now you may know that I really like love waterfalls; they are so amazing, powerful and beautiful; so there is no question that we took the longer loop.  The trail leads down into the canyon over some rocks, curving along the creek onto a couple of different wooden bridges until you reach the Lower Falls. This is the perfect spot for a break - it does get a little busy…

From the Lower Falls

we worked our way back out of the canyon; now our biggest complaint about this hike is that everything is very poorly marked.  We chose to take a trail leading up through the woods and confirmed with other hikers that it indeed is the right trail.  The trail is very serene and it got a lot less crowded - let me also say that both girls were great as we kept listening for birds.  Out of the woods the trail leads to a gravely road - no cars - where we saw a few hikers and this the way to the Lilly field.  I remembered just how beautiful and amazing it was; an unexpected treasure…

Luckily we found the trail leading us up to the lilly field; oh my…no, lilies are not yet in bloom but this place is magical.  There is a sense of being out in the middle of nature - very far away from civilization. The colors - patches of bright green moss, flower stamps, dark green fir trees, light green lichen, rocks covered with lichen and patches of moss.  Just us and nature. Oh, how can one not believe in fairies…true magic…

At this point the girls were ready to get back to the trailhead and spend some time on the playground.


Good to know before you go -
The trails are poorly marked it is good idea to print out a trail map, or carry your hiking book.
This is a easy-moderate hike but - the loop we took with addition of the lily field - it is about 3.6 miles.
Be sure to take water, snacks, and wear sturdy shoes.

Have fun!

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Latourell Falls #hike {#Oregon #travel #kids} in the Columbia River Gorge

Is it really already the end of the week? Yikes, this post was - at least in my head - planned for much earlier in the week.  I swear it was all drafted, written, pictures selected…that is in my head.  Yup, it never made it out to the keyboard.

There is still no snow up at Teacup Nordic so it was yet another weekend without cross-country skiing for this family and you may know by now just how much we need to get out at least once on the weekend.  It is our way to rejuvenate and recharge the batteries…looking for places to go, we asked Alena to look through our hiking book and she chose Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.  This waterfall is very close to Portland, and while we had stopped at the Lower Latourell Fall plenty of times we had never hiked the loop to the upper falls returning on the other side.   I have to say this was magical - it is not a very long hike with about 2.4 miles but it packs a lot into it.

Great trails, a hike up along the impressive lower Latourell Fall with beautiful lichen on the basalt rock face

yes, water drops 249' straight down into the basin. The hike continues along the stream on nice trail including four wooden bridges
until you can hear the thunder of the upper Latourell Fall.  The upper fall is amazing as it twists down the basalt rock into the basin…


crossing the bridge at the basin the return took us through lush green forest where Ron and MiaRose were looking for salamanders.

The trail takes a left turn leading to a magnificent view point - albeit super windy - of the Columbia River Gorge

The entire family including our often unenthusiastic hiker had lot's of fun.

Good to know before you go: The hike is about 2.4 miles and is considered a moderate hike with an elevation gain of about 520 ft. This is a hike where you should be sure to wear sturdy shoes, and carry water along with some snacks.





Thursday, February 5, 2015

Silver Falls State Park = perfect day #hike {#travel #oregon #kids #pdx}

Still there is no snow up at Teacup on Mt. Hood and pretty much most of what there is gone as it is way too warm for January.  It is so sad…yes, the year the kids are signed up for skiing lessons the year of epic skiing has so far been pretty much non-existend.  Well, okay we got two days of skiing in but that's it. Sad, right?!   Now we all know - ha yes, Bea that is not true - okay I have previously mentioned that the Sonntagsausflug aka as weekend excursion is important to me us so we needed to look for something different to do last weekend. Good thing outdoor options are plentiful here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest so Silver Falls State Park came to mind.  Waterfalls galore…yes, they are not only in the Columia Gorge but can also be found at Silver Falls.  Plus, you can actually walk behind the waterfall now how cool is that?!

Silver Falls is about 1-45 min drive but oh so worth it.  I remember having first heard about it at a luncheon when we first moved Portland.  The hike and park were described as being absolutely magnificent; surely enough it was the first Sunday hike we went on twelve years and it did not disappoint.   Take a look…

For some reason or another we had not been there in years; the last time we were there both kids were on our backs but now they are - finally - capable on going on hikes with us.

True,  we did not - even so I really wanted to - hike the entire loop, not even the median one but hey about three miles is not bad.  We went behind the South Fall - can you say impressive -


it's a 177 ft drop; can you see the people in the far left corner…I think this is how to realize it's size

Next stop Lower South Fall….


before hiking back out of the canyon.

Silver Falls State park is amazing, truly.  When you go be sure to keep a few things in mind.
Wear sturdy shoes,
Stay on the trail,
Be sure to carry water and food,
Pets are not allowed on this hike,
gift shop and lodge close at 4 p.m. sharp

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

It's Hood #Strawberry Season & #Recipe for Strawberry Dutch Baby #Pancake {#Dairyfree}

Let me tell you about all the blog posts I have written in the last couple of weeks…ahhhhm setuugxfzhfcf, yes you are right there have not been very many lately.  Okay, I admit time has been at a premium in our little green house and it is hard to keep up.  However,  I have written many, many posts in my head but just have not managed to get them out on paper screen.  Will someone please invent a device that let's you transpose posts straight from the mind to a blog post?!

Anyway, exciting things are happening in the Willamette Valley and you know what it is?  Yes,  Hood Strawberries are in season;  the sweetest most amazing strawberry ever.  We first learned about this varietal when moving to Oregon twelve years ago, before that a strawberry to me was a strawberry.  Yes, this is the most delicious strawberry you will ever meet and you can never have too much…

So it will not be much of a surprise for you to hear that it is has become a tradition to go strawberry picking each year. It is fun, and it is so important for children to learn where our food comes from, that it does not magically gets placed into pint boxes and that it takes a lot of work…

In past years we have been picking at various farms on Sauvie Island but this year we decided on a change of pace and went out to visit Unger Farms in Cornelius. Let me tell you it was not only fantastic strawberry picking but also pretty, with the pluses of a small playground and nice little cafe where both girlies enjoyed a strawberry lemonade each...

Now we have 20+ pounds of Hood Strawberries.  Some already made it into jam,

many others made it into the freezer {tip ~ freeze them first individually on cookie sheets before transferring them to freezer bags},

some become delicious accents for salad and vinaigrette,


while others became part of

Strawberry Dutch Baby
  •  3 Tb Earth Balance, cut into chunks (or other "butter" of your choice)
  •  1 C    flour
  •  1 C    Almond Milk (or other  "milk" of your choice
  •  4 eggs
  •  1 C strawberries cut into chunks
  •  Powdered sugar
  • 1 pint strawberries sliced and add a sprinkle of sugar if needed
  1. Place "butter" in cast iron pan.
  2. Place pan in oven and preheat the oven to 425F (yes, pan should be in the oven when you preheat it)
  3. While the oven is preheating with the pan in it prepare the batter
  4. Mix flour, "milk", and eggs together until you have a smooth batter. Add 1 C of strawberry chances to the batter.
  5. When the oven is preheated carefully remove the pan and pour the batter  into the pan.  Place the pan back into the oven and bake for 20 - 25 minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar.  
  7. Serve with a side of fresh cut strawberries
Bring to the table and serve right away as the pancake will deflate as it cools :)


Enjoy!!!

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Fun at the Portland Saturday Market {Halloween is here soon}

We did have a lot of fun at the Portland Saturday Market - and no, the rain does not keep us away.  We are Oregonians :)


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Roses, Peonies, Rhodies & Pizza

Do you know where the city of roses is? Maybe - shall I give you a little hint, or are you rolling your eyes...oh, you are just so lame...yes, it is Portland as in Portland Oregon, or PDX, or our hometown...
This time of year the air is fragrant with the scent of flowers - roses are already starting to bloom, peonies have started, and rhodies {as in rhododendron} are still going strong.  So what do we do on a beautiful Friday night - I guess the hint was pizza - we walk to Apizza Scholl's for a delicious {1/2 no cheese it works like a charm} pie and on our walk enjoy the flower's.  Here is the pizza

and I just know that you also want to see the most amazing blooms...

Yellow Peony


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Spring time is here...

I promised to show you how beautiful spring time can be in Portland....Yes, we have been enjoying something like an early summer, and even cooked out for the first time this year....

Tulips are my favorites....

tulips

but really love all of them....

Friday, April 5, 2013

Fun Field Trip to the Rice Museum....

Happy Friday!!! Today Alena's class went on a field trip.  You know what that means, right? Yup, it means that I chaperone. Parent involvement at our  school is amazing; many parents help in the classroom, some organize and manage the weekly running club, others organize the science fair, while others work on fundraising programs...but I copy - which I am quite good at :) - and chaperone on field trips....

All the 3rd grader went on the field trip to the Rice Museum in Hillsboro, Oregon.  It is about a 45 minutes bus ride - yes, I did get to ride on the school us today - at least from our part of town. So what is the Rice museum? Well, it is not about rice - as far as I know Oregon is not one of the major rice producers ;)  - but a museum founded by the Rice family and it is all about rocks and minerals. Wow - let me just tell you that this place is major fun as in FUN. Really, exhibits with amazing rocks, fossils and minerals are stacked wall to wall. in the exhibits There is an exhibit with rocks that glow in the dark, a room of petrified wood and shelves lines with polished "slices" of it showing off their amazing colors as well as textures, a meteorite gallery {yes you get to touch them}. . Plus let me not forget to tell you about the room with packed with huge emerald formations, amethyst, rubies, sapphires, diamonds and so many other crystals formations...just amazing. Take a look at some of the exhibits...the pictures are courtesy by no other but Alena :)
 
Rice Museum of Rocks & MInerals Hillsboro Oregon

Yes, the 3rd graders - as well as the chaperons -  had so much fun.  We ate lunch, Oregon style outside 


and at the end of the tour all kids got to search for their own treasure in the large rock pile outside. Can you see how much fun Alena and her friends are having?

The next time we go out to the beach we will definitively have to stop there. Ron and Mia Rosie will love this place...ahhhhm yes it will not just be for me :). Alena loved it just as much.  Here she is :)



Wednesday, February 20, 2013

President's Day Walk at Tryon Creek

...we are here no worries all is good here in Portland.  We had a fantastic long weekend - packed with fun at the Roller Rink, and a nice long walk at Tryon Creek.  This time, the entire family - including Mia Rose - enjoyed the walk, listening to wood peckers, and imagining faeries along the way in the woods :)

I will not bore you with a lot of words today instead here are the pictures - and just maybe there is one of me as well....


hike at Tryon Creek

hike at Tryon Creek | copyright galactopdx 2013


hike at Tryon Creek | copyright galactopdx 2013



Thursday, November 22, 2012

Wonder what Mia Rose is #thankful for?

Here it is all documented on video - and would you please let her know what you are thankful for?  Just leave a comment :)


Oh, and yes that is Alena in the background....

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Cauliflower & Tomato Curry - Vulcano Walk

How is everyone doing this Thanksgiving week?  - Ready for the big day? You, know with or without turkey but with friends or family?  I know we are ;)  The girlies are out of school this week so it is a lot of Mommy and us time.  Today is my baby, little sister's birthday... we are scattered all over the world.  I live in Portland, she lives in Helsinki so there are no birthday get togethers. However,  first thing we did this morning is wish Kati a Happy Birthday.  I really, really enjoy it when the girlies are home and it is generally all fun and games;  yesterday I was able to work some...today was a slightly different story.  Yes, there was some Public Television time, and we also made some crafts {whoo-hoo} there was however also some defiance from my older girl.  That  my friends, was not fun...I do not think it was fun for either of us. Certainly, I know it is all usual kid stuff and she is getting older, gaining her voice, but truth be said it was quite hard on this mothership...

Anyway, enough of the complaining. After everyone cooled off, we headed to the playground on Mt. Tabor.  Mt. Tabor is an extinct volcano that is in the middle of South East Portland.  It is an amazing city park, and walking distance from our house.  We took a different way today, walked through the woods {collected a bunch of greens for Xmas decorations}, took the extra loop and stopped at the playground.  Yes, it did rain but we had fun.  We took another walk back down; headed back home took a break to enjoy the view....



and then walked back home where we enjoyed Peppermint Hot {Soy} Chocolate with marshmallows.  The walk and the hot chocolate really did make everything better.


For dinner, we had Cauliflower & Tomato Curry which I made out of my other favorite cookbook from Mollie Katzen - Vegetable Heaven, with a side of rice, and oven baked tofu.  I changed the recipe a little by adding a small can of coconut milk as well as a squeeze of lemon.  The girls absolutely loved this meal - Alena had seconds and finished all of it; it was however {at least that is what I think} not Ron's favorite.  But you know, the girls loved, loved, loved it...

Saturday, September 1, 2012

The last couple 2012 summer days...

we spent just lazily at home, and in Portland. On Thursday we took a long walk around our neighborhood, met the new teachers for the girlies {it will be great}, and - of course - spent a lot of time on the playground.
Ron and Mia Rose

Ron and I made dinner together {whoo-hoo - that does not happen very often and it was so much fun}; Summer Linguine with fresh corn, fresh tomatoes, and garlic - it was simple, but so good :)  We really need to do that more often, right?!

The 31st of August was our - tadahhh - 15 year anniversary.  The girls were so curious about it and wanted us to tell them the story about how we met over, and over again.  It was quite cute.  You know, the big question for them was "How did you meet if you did not grow up in the same country?"; "Mama did you always know English?"; "If you did not know each other, how did you talk with each other?".  It was really, really cute...OK, for us it was probably not for most of you :)  So we told them, and I will tell all of you as well.

We met in Chicago shortly after both of us moved to the city.  Ron from Wisconsin and me, well a little farther, from Germany. Our first date was at the Chicago Blues Fest, and from there on out we were inseparable {little did we know that we also share the same recessive gene for Classic Galactosemia - it was just meant to be :) } .  Yup, that is right :)  We got married outside on Labor Day weekend at the Cheney Mansion in Oaks Park, on a beautiful hot, late summer day.  It was a fun luncheon reception, and let's just say that both of us had a fantastic time.  We stayed in Chicago for a few more years, and then in 2002 moved to Portland, Oregon. This is where we are now - 15 great years later, two beautiful girls....
t
That is us...
Oh, and just in case you are wondering we all went out to dinner last night.  It was Lardo - a food cart turned into a simple, rustic restaurant.  The parental units had desert from the adjacent food cart "Sugar Cube" while for the girlies we stopped at "Swirl" where both made their own desserts.  Dairy free Lemon-Strawberry sorbet topped with - Alena and Mia Rosie made it - Skittles, Nerds, and Marshmallows....

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Zwetschgenkuchen {Italian Plum Tart}, Ratatoullie, Children's Museum, and Farmer's Market

this is how we spent our last Wednesday of the 2012 summer break.  Yes, the title is in reverse order :)
I know, it is summer and we love to spend time outdoors however the first words out of Mia Rosies mouth in the morning were "Mama can we gehen zu the Kindermuseum heute?" {in perfect "Genglish" translation:  Mama can we go to the Children's Museum today?}.  So how, could I resist!

We packed it all into one day and met Ron for lunch on the Farmer's Market before heading to the Portland Children's Museum.  Both girlies had their - usual - sausage for lunch.  I did not buy any of the beautiful produce as we just had our CSA share delivered on Tuesday.  But take a look at this beautiful produce - and yes, the produce I have/had at home was just as gorgeous :)

Portland Farmer's Market - August 29th, 2012

Here we are at our next stop, the Portland Children's Museum...

Yes, the girls did paint their faces with white face paint 


Back home it was time - very late start if I may add :) - to think about dinner.  We received Italian Plums with this week's produce.  Those the kind of plums I grew up with in Germany.  They are tart, yet sweet and absolutely delicious. Oh, and how I miss "Zwetschgenkuchen" - it is always one of my favorites when back in Germany.   In any case, I first started on the cake which had to go in the oven before making dinner. Please read on, for the pictures and recipe :)

Ratatouille - Zucchini, eggplant, onion, garlic, tomatoes

For dinner, the produce was transformed into wonderful, summery, baked ratatouille served alongside with creamy, comforting polenta.  Yes, I know we just had baked ratatouille a couple of weeks ago but summer is almost over and I only make it when tomatoes are at their peak :)

Dessert
Zwetschgenkuchen {Italian Plum Tart}


Zwetschgenkuchen {Italian Plum Tart}
For the dough
- 2 C of flour
- 2 teaspoons Backing Powder
- 1/2 C of sugar, plus 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 egg
- 1/3 plus 1 T of stick of Earth Balance Margarine {50 gram)
- 3-4 Tbl Almond or Soy Milk
1. Mix in a bowl and knead - by hand - until it turns into a dough
2. Smooth dough into a baking pan {I used my hands as it is a little tricky to work with}
Fruit
- a little over 2 lbs {1 kg} of Italian Plums, cleaned and "butterflied" {pit taken out}
- 1 Tbl sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
3. Arrange the plums on the dough
4. Sprinkle sugar/cinamon mixture over the plums
Streusel
- 1 C of flour
- 1 egg
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 1/2 C of sugar and {optional} 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Rest of stick of Earth Balance Margarine (dough) {70 gram}
5. Mix in a bowl - by hand.  It will be very crumbly
6. Pour the Streusel over the plums

Bake in preheated oven at 360F for about 55 minutes

NOTE:  If you are not eliminating dairy, use butter instead of vegan butter

Serve with either vegan whipped cream, dairy whipped cream, or any type {vegan/dairy} of vanilla ice cream!




Sunday, August 12, 2012

City Hike at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge to Oaks Park Amusement Park...

You may know by now that this family likes to be outdoors.  We very much - well, okay three of us - love to hike; so a hike to the amusement park was perfect to keep everyone happy.  Mia Rose had been asking all week to go to Oaks Park so finally yesterday was the day.

We parked the car at the trail head to the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge in SE Portland - Oaks Bottom another amazing gem in the middle of the city.  Walk down the trail and there is only nature around - it is one of our favorites.

Ron and I have come here since we first moved to Portland ten years ago.  I actually remember our first hike talking about what a great incentive it will be for our future children to hike Oaks Bottom with the incentive of a carrousel ride :)  Well, time flies and yes we have hiked with the girls before but this is the first time I actively remembered our very first hike...


The hike there was so much fun - Ron and the girls were looking for snakes while I happily walked ahead...

Look at those trails. It is so hard believe that this is in the middle of a large city, is it not?

Once we got there - there was all kids of fun to be had.


The girls hydrated with a Sprite for the hike along the Springwater Corridor via Oaks Bottom back to the car



And there was also a treat of ice "cream" at Staccatto Gelato in Sellwood with five different "safe" sorbet's to choose from :)






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