December 19, 2006

I love the mountains, they don't love me

Mt Hood to the east. I stopped at Mt Tabor Park to gawk at the mountain which has been hiding in clouds lately. They found one of the climbers on Mt Hood today. He had died. The other two climbers are still missing. I've been following this story closely; I think most people in the area have. I was really hoping they would be found alive. It's been a brutal week of weather, especially at 11,000 feet up.

I love the mountains but they don't love me.

one sunday a month


one sunday a month, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Across the street from the Portland Art Museum where I volunteer one Sunday a month (winter months only). I forget the name of this church. a lovely Sunday afternoon

karaoke competition


karaoke competition, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Camille sang "I touch myself" by the Divinyls at Andy's 30th birthday surprise party at Suki's

andy as pirate (and you can eat his face)

Andy with his pirate birthday cake (from Jaciva's mmmmm). The photo was even edible (but of a weird texture).

Surprise 30th birthday party at Suki's

surprise, you're 30


surprise, you're 30, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Andy, 2nd from the left, showed up at Suki's downtown to find a surprise 30th birthday party. His dad is sitting next to him. Earlier he had complained about having a birthday on December 23rd because he never got to hang out with all his friends. His wife, Jamie, is so good at throwing surprise birthday parties.

missing


missing, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I haven't seen the mountain in 9 days due to a series of storm rolling through the Pacific Northwest. Three climbers have been missing on the mountain for over a week now. As I took this photo I hoped that they had been found today but the only news still is no news. I can't imagine what those men are going through. I do hope they're in snow caves and still alive. I hope.

View from the east side of Mt Tabor

portland horse project


portland horse project, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

bahahaaaa these horses always crack me up. The Portland Horse Project was started by a local artist who started attaching plastic horses to the old horse rings still found on many Portland curbs.

This horse is on SE 36th Ave just off Hawthorne in front of the Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop. I love my quirky city.

friendly fire


friendly fire, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Brian and Elaine keeping warm around the fire in Carrie's backyard.

living room jazz


living room jazz, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

A six piece jazz band (2 horn players are out of frame) played into the wee hours at my friend Carrie's holiday party.

I'd never been to a party with a keg (Bridgeport Blue Heron Ale) and a jazz band before.

holiday party season


holiday party season, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I went to my first holiday party on Saturday night at my friend Carrie's house. She has a creek and a footbridge in her huge backyard, an amazing place in the city.

Elaine and Carrie drink beers around the fire outside.

I'm all done with my Christmas shopping! Yeah!

Hello everyone!

I had a very nice weekend. Friday evening I went over to Elaine and Gina’s house. Elaine and I played cards and she made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for dinner. Gina, John and Wampler were staying home and watching movies while Elaine & I went to our friend Carrie’s holiday party. She lives in Sellwood in a great house with a huge backyard. There is a creek running through the yard with a small footbridge crossing over to a massive garden. On the other side of the creek is also a small two room house (no kitchen or bathroom) shared by a couple. We spent almost the whole night hanging out in the back patio area around the warm fire. A six piece jazz band set up and played in the living room into the wee hours. The keg of Blue Heron Ale was kicked pretty early on. Our friend Brian & Kendon showed up and joined around the fire. It was a really fun night and a frosty drive home.

Saturday I was determined to finish up my Christmas shopping. I went to Hawthorne to get some things at Powell’s Books and a few other shops. The area was crammed with shoppers everywhere and I was happy to finish what I had to do and get out of there. I dropped my stuff off at home then went over to Elaine & Gina’s house. The girls were cooking up a big dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli and a huge salad. Dave and Camille both came over for dinner also and it was delicious! We cleaned up after dinner then headed downtown to Suki’s. Our friend Jamie was throwing a surprise party for her husband, Andy. Camille needed to be there early to decorate the space. At 9 o’clock karaoke began but our few participants wanted to wait until Andy & Jamie had arrived. Andy’s birthday is on December 23rd so he was complaining that he never gets to do something with all his friends on his birthday since it’s so close to Christmas. They showed up and Andy was genuinely shocked. Jamie had successfully surprised her husband for his 30th birthday. Jamie pulled off a similar party for Camille’s birthday in February. She’s sneaky!

Dave did a fantastic version of Joe Cocker’s “A Little Help From My Friends” and Camille did “I Touch Myself “ and “Zombie”. We all sang Happy Birthday and later cut the cake before heading home. It was an amusing night. I love surprises like that.

Sunday I drove downtown to volunteer at the museum. It was still quite busy but not nearly as insane as the last time I’d volunteered. I had a great time talking with a new volunteer who does infrared photography. After my shift was over I went over to the new wing of the art museum and walked through the photography exhibit. I then drove towards home, stopping at Mt Tabor Park on the way to take pictures of Mt Hood looking exceptionally lovely in the afternoon light. I’ve been following the story closely about the missing climbers. They found one of them dead in a snow cave just 300 feet from the summit on Sunday. The other two are still missing and after this long and the week of horrible weather it seems highly unlikely that they have survived. Climbing mountains in December is a particularly risky venture. Sigh.

After leaving Mt Tabor I went to Elaine’s house where I played rummycub with Dave and Elaine. I ate some of their leftovers (mmmmashed potatoes) and got all my photos of my camera. I went home where I wrapped presents while watching the Peanuts Christmas Special. I read my book and tried to go to bed early. I leave on Friday evening for a week in San Francisco with Nandita & Jochem. It should be wonderful!

Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to!

xoxo,
carolyn

December 12, 2006

blondes in the whiteout


blondes in the whiteout, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

gina & I at the end of Wampler's driveway as he shovels my car out of the snow so we can drive back to rainy Portland.

photo by Gina

for sale, goodbye


for sale, goodbye, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

The Trout Lake Country Inn's days are numbered. After New Years they will be closed, since the owner of the building is not renewing the lease. The 100 year old historic building is for sale, asking price $300,000. It needs some major work. It will be the end of an era.

Come spring over 200 bulbs (daffodils, crocuses & tulips) will bloom where now there are many feet of snow. I planted them at the end of summer for my friends who run the Inn, not knowing of course that it would be closed before they could pop out of the ground.

behind the bar


behind the bar, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

hanging out behind the bar with Jimmy while Jason tells a story & Hillary & Tim look on.

Trout Lake Country Inn

dirty hippie


dirty hippie, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Bahahaaaaaaa! Kelly after barefoot dancing at the Trout Lake Country Inn. good times

music I love in a place I love

The Trout Lake Country Inn's days are numbered. After New Years they will be closed, since the owner of the building is not renewing the lease. The 100 year old historic building is for sale, asking price $300,000. It needs some major work. It will be the end of an era. booooooooo

the boys belt it out


the boys belt it out, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Jimmy, Dave & Steve playing music at the Trout Lake Country Inn.

kelly on the dance floor

Kelly goes for a spin around the dance floor. Man's name is unknown to me.

The "going out of business" benefit at the Trout Lake Country Inn. The owner of the building isn't renewing their lease. The building is up for sale. $300,000 for a hundred year old building that needs some major work. It's a registered historic building too so that also complicates matter. I'm sad that the Inn is going away. One of my favorite places to go in one of my favorite towns on this earth.

stick as spout


stick as spout, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the last touch on Kelly & Amberly's fantastic snow sculpture...a stick for the spout coming out of the whale's blowhole.

fun in the snow in Trout Lake

the great white whale and its makers

Kelly and Amberly pose behind their beautiful snow sculpture. The Great White Whale graces Wampler's front yard in snowy Trout Lake, Washington

the whale and the dog


the whale and the dog, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

the tail was especially beautiful on the whale snow sculpture made my Kelly & Amberly in Wampler's front yard.

Sam, the dog, was scolded for pulling the icicle tusk out and eating it. Dogs will be dogs.

playing in the snow


playing in the snow, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Me in Wampler's backyard where there are many feet of snow and lots of icicles coming off the roof. snowpants and boots are necessary for warm fun outside!

In Portland it's in the 50's & raining so I love to get up in the mountains for a weekend of winter.

bacon, bacon everywhere


bacon, bacon everywhere, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

It seems every meal I had this weekend involved bacon. Friday night I even had dessert with bacon in it. At a potluck in Hood River, Oregon I had bacon pumpkin pie. It was incredibly good.

Here Wampler wraps a turkey in bacon before roasting it. The bacon keeps the skin from getting overcooked and the bacon makes the gravy extra amazing. Amberly in the background observes the wrapping.

trombones are funny


trombones are funny, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Danny gave away his trombone (which he received as payment for a lost bongo drum). Amberly wants to learn to play the trombone and now she has one of her very own. Kelly give it a blow. Everyone laughs.

lucky planet


lucky planet, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I've been very busy the last month making photo cards (over 500 so far) to start my photography business. The website has been built (Wampler is so good) and should go live within the next few days. I'm excited to finally be doing something more with my photography.

the Inn is ending

Hello everyone!

I had another really fun weekend up in Trout Lake. I left work early so I could drive up the Gorge during the daylight. It was very windy and starting to rain/freeze a bit so I was happy to get there early. I arrived at Wampler’s house but he wasn’t back yet from his week on the Oregon coast. I brought my stuff inside, including my boxes of photo cards and 8 x 10 prints that Wamp’s going to be selling on his website. The site should be live by the end of the week. I’ll send an announcement.

I then went over to Danny & Gregg’s house where Kelly and Amberly where hanging out. We all drove back down the mountain and over the Columbia to Hood River where we went to a potluck at a friend’s house. There was tons of good food including bacon pumpkin pie (savory sweet perfection)! After eating we did the white elephant gift exchange. I ended up with some eucalyptus oil and a swim cap. On the drive back up to Trout Lake we had to stop for 7 deer in the road and one huge elk. I didn’t think they’d be so active at 1 AM.

Saturday morning I was surprised to see it was snowing when I opened the blinds. The forecast had called for ice pellets (ouch) but instead we got several inches of fresh snow. Wampler started preparing a turkey to put in the oven. He wrapped in bacon, a technique he’d seen on a cooking show as a way to prevent the skin from overcooking. I spent the afternoon inputting some information on the Lucky Planet website then I went outside to play in the snow. Amberly and Kelly were working on a beautiful snow sculpture of a whale. I got to see them put on the finishing touches including an icicle for a tusk turning it into a narwhal. It was quite impressive. Dave and Gina arrived from Portland and Gina and I took a walk down the snowy road. The mountain was socked in but it sure was lovely out with all the snow. Back at Wampler’s house the turkey was out of the oven and being carved. He made fantastic mashed potatoes with regular potatoes, sweet potatoes & cream cheese and sour cream. Creamy and delicious! After dinner I went in the sauna with Danny & Kelly. We used some of the eucalyptus oil I’d gotten at the previous night’s party in the water we used to steam up the place. When it’d get too hot I would go outside and jump in the snow. I screamed then noticed that the stars were out. I gathered up a big pile of snow to bring back in the sauna to cool us down. The sauna at Wampler’s is such a treat.

After taking a quick shower I was ready to head up to the Inn so I caught a ride with Jason. The Trout Lake Country Inn is closing after New Years. The owner of the building is not renewing Jimmy & Andrea’s lease and has put the building up for sale. The price is $300,000 and the hundred year old building needs some major work. It is also a registered historic building so that further complicates the matter. Saturday night they had a big bbq and music all night, one of the last big bashes at the Inn. I spent the night talking with friends, listening to music, dancing and taking tons of photos. Dave and Wampler and the guys all played for a long time as did Jimmy. I’m going to miss this place so much. I’ll be back up for New Years which will really be the end of the end of the Inn.

I rode back to Wampler’s house with Camille and Gina after getting Matt Robb to help us push the car out of the slick snow. We all piled into Wampler’s house. In the morning some more friends came over and we cooked up a huge breakfast (eggs and potato pancakes). Gina and I packed up our stuff and after Wampler did some shoveling in his driveway we were able to head home. The roads were clear and it was an easy drive home. At Gina’s house I got my photos off my camera then ate some calzone that Elaine had just made. Cheesy delicousness! I spent the rest of the day reading my book and watching netflix.

So that was my weekend! Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been up to and how you are!

xoxo,

carolyn

December 07, 2006

goodbye til next week


goodbye til next week, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

leaving Trout Lake I stopped to take one last photo of Mt Adams. I'll be back next weekend. how satisfying

the light turns pink


the light turns pink, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I'm sitting in a snowbank and wondering how everything can change so fast. Second to second the shadows shift, the colors intensify, the mountain glows and I grin.

Mt Adams from Trout Lake, Washington

the light turns golden


the light turns golden, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Dave insisted (god love him!) that we go back down the hill to catch the alpenglow on Mt Adams. It's just starting here with the warm, golden light. The day is ending.

Trout Lake, Washington

winter shadows have soft edges

tracks in the snow near an elk camp (for hunters, not elk) just past Trout Lake, Washington

up the hill (for the purpose of coming down the hill)

Jason lugs his snowboard up a huge hill off a Forest Service road so he can snowboard down, his first turns of the season. Jason was extremely distraught over the destruction of Hwy 35 in the crazy November storms. Without Hwy 35 you cannot get to Mt Hood Meadows. He spent over 50 days last winter snowboarding at Meadows. Construction crews are working double shifts (in the snow even) to try and reopen the road in the next few weeks.

the tiny trees surround the giant mountain

Actually the trees are pretty giant too but everything is relative.

Mt Adams as seen from Trout Lake, Washington. The forgotten mountain around here it seems (which is fine with me).

12,277 feet high.

the jack russell and the elk legs

We hung out a camp that had been used by elk hunters. They had left behind a hide from an elk and some legs which the Charlie discovered with much joy. Eventually Bobby would bury the legs in a huge snow bank and ruin Charlie's good time.

dead guy in the snow


dead guy in the snow, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

I'm predictable.

drinking a dead guy in the snow at Trout Lake, Washingotn

winter lounge


winter lounge, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

We had a little fire in this clearing in the woods where some hunters had been staying.

No one can miss Dave in his safety orange pants, part of the gear he wears at work as a surveyor.

Trout Lake, Washington

onyx to lapis to pure white snow

Mt Adams reflected in Trout Lake.

daisy's approach


daisy's approach, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

Daisy walking through the paths in the snowy front yard.

Trout Lake, Washington

my weekend of winter


my weekend of winter, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

There's tons of snow in Trout Lake, Washington and absolutely none in Portland. I love to get a weekend of winter and then return to green Portland.

Wampler (with Dave) in front of his house.

skiing into 1974


skiing into 1974, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

wearing my dad's old ski sweater.

walking around in the sunshine and snow in Trout Lake, Washington

bellows and buttons


bellows and buttons, originally uploaded by carolyn_in_oregon.

dave and dave (clarke & wampler) played some music in Wampler's living room Friday evening.

the mountain, the moonlight, the big dipper and the good idea

I give credit to Dave Clarke who insisted I leave Wampler's warm, cozy house for the icy outdoors to take some long exposure shots of Mt Adams glowing in the moonlight. He even drove me to the field where I set up my tripod and climbed around on big snow banks while experimenting with exposure times. This is a fifteen second exposure.

The big dipper is directly above the mountain, glowing and snowy in the moonlight.

My first long exposure nighttime shot. I'm inspired to take more of course.

How I love Trout Lake, Washington!

a weekend of winter

Hello everyone!

I had a really wonderful weekend up in Trout Lake. I left after work and arrived in the early evening. The drive up the gorge was fantastic with the moonlight lighting up the river and the cliffs. I was even more amazed when I arrived in snowy Trout Lake. Mt Adams was glowing in the moonlight! Such gorgeousness! I got to Wampler’s house and was so happy with all the snow, about two feet and larger snowbanks and drifts. I unloaded my stuff and talked with Wampler as he prepared homemade pizza. Jason, Sara and Danny were all there and the woodburning stove was keeping the house toasty warm. Dave Clarke arrived from Portland with a wide variety of consumables: bacon, green peppers, whiskey, bisquick, clementines and ranch salad dressing. We ate pizza then Dave insisted that I go outside to take long exposure photos of the mountain in the moonlight. He even offered to drive me. Dave & Jason & I piled into the car and drove to the back side of the school. I set up my tripod in a big snowbank and took several photos using different exposure times. 15 seconds is the longest I can do on my camera. I’d never taken long exposure photos before so I was excited to be trying something new. The pictures turned out pretty good with the huge snowy mountain glowing in the moonlight and the big dipper hanging directly above the mountain. Wow!

We then went back to Wamp’s house. Damon and Amanda came over and Dave played us some new songs. Wampler joined in on accordion for a few and they sounded really great. Later we all watched An Inconvenient Truth. I had already seen it but wanted to watch it again. Everyone was really agitated after watching it. Again, if you haven’t seen this movie you really should. It helps dispel a lot of the myths and confusion about global warming. This is not a cyclical thing, this is not a left wing agenda…this is really happening. Al Gore did an excellent job with this film.

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day. Dave & Wampler made a big breakfast of eggs and bacon waffles (omigod! so good!). We hung out and drank coffee before leaving the house. First Dave and Wampler and I drove up to Trout Lake, the lake itself. We had to park and walk part of the way as the road was very snowy and icy and there was a tree down blocking the way. Mt Adams looked fantastic reflected in the water. From there we drove out one of the Forest Service roads to meet Jason, Sara & Bobby. The guys were working on Jason’s truck and the only spot in town where there was no snow was at an elk camp. Where the hunters had parked the trucks was dry so they worked on the truck there. Sara had a little fire going and we hung out and drank beers and talked. Bobby’s little Jack Russell terrier, Charlie, found two elk legs that had been left behind by the hunters. It was hilarious to watch her run around with these huge legs in her tiny mouth. Eventually Bobby buried them in a huge snowbank. The guys got the truck fixed and then we drove on down a different Forest Service road. Jason was determined to get some turns in so he took his snowboard up a huge hill so he could come down. Meanwhile Dave & Wamp and I went back to catch the alpenglow on Mt Adams. The light went from soft gold to an orangy-pink glow. I sat in a huge snowbank and took tons of photos. When the light had faded completely we drove back to Wampler’s.

We decided to make enchiladas for dinner. Danny, Sara and Jason all came over to eat with us too. After dinner we watched Spaceballs which Wampler had somehow never seen. I remember thinking the movie was funny but now it just seemed dumb and not particularly funny. meh.

Sunday morning Dave made his famous biscuits and gravy for breakfast. I love them! Wampler set me up to do some work on my website. It felt good to work on it. It should be up and running within a week or so. You’ll definitely all get a big announcement when it’s up and running. I’ve worked really hard getting my inventory together and I’m very excited about the site. I headed back to Portland in the early afternoon and spent the rest of the day making cards, watching netflix and reading my book.

So that was my weekend! I’m off to Trout Lake again this weekend. yeah!
Please let me know how you are and what you’ve been doing!

xoxo,