Enjoying Our Oregon Days

This is a rather random sampling, and hardly represents all that we are enjoying in Oregon... they're just the snapshots off my phone.  Sometimes, driving through the woods, going through towns, by lakes, I want to stop and make postcards.  Do you know what I mean?  Those beautifully composed images that capture the light, color, and grandeur of forests and trees, rivers, creek banks, roadside blooms, boats in the harbor.  But the car moves forward and I resign myself to the truth:  No picture of mine will get it exactly right.  I'm content to wave my hand in a sweeping gesture at all those views and say, Beauty!  Lovely!  Wish you were here!

My heart is with Alfalfa {we named her for all the green grass in her coat} and I don't know how I managed to leave the petting zoo without her. Alfalfa is the calmest most affectionate goater I've ever met. She hardly uttered a baaaa, and after a long session of rubs and scratches, she pulled herself up onto the bench to rest on my lap.  If it's too impractical to drive home with a goat, then I think it makes sense for Geoff to put a strap around her darling middle and take her as his so-lifelike carry-on bag, when he flies home.  

Oregon State Parks are the best. Not just because of the ice truck... But goodness, what a brilliant thing an ice truck rolling through the campground is.  We still have time here, but already I'm feeling sure we will be wishing for more.  More dunes, more beaches, more forests, more starry nights and foggy mornings, more time with our Oregon family.  

And today?  We are on a pizza and cake quest, there are games to play... Someone is sixteen years old, and we are eager to celebrate with Maximum fun!