Christmas dresses for "the Girls"

Oregon has had record cold temps so far in December, and since Twinkle and Pinki Martini are so xx-small, nothing fits! I have been sewing like crazy for them. Here are their new winter outfits and Christmas photos.

Wine Country and Zena Church

Went to the Spring Valley /Zena Church 150 year celebration on Sunday - the church was built 150 years ago. West Salem families - many descendants still here from the 1830's and 1840's - shared stories and talked about the early pioneers. The church and cemetery have been reported to be haunted, and in recent years the internet press has contributed to a surge of vandalism...really sad! Then on to the wine country - it doesn't get any better than this!

Pumpkin Gathering

Sat. was a fun day for a great excursion to Heiser Farms in Dayton - lots of sun once the fog burned off, and lots of huge pumpkins in the fields! Here's Rylee peeking around the corner of the gift shop.

Halloween Girls

Here are Pinki Martini and Twinkle, all dressed up in their Halloween dresses and ready for doggie treats. The background is Heiser Farms.

Extreme Chocolates

As of last week I have finished photographing Carrie Wong's chocolates and truffles (see http://www.extremechocolates.com/). Yum! (Of course, getting to eat them was the best part...no wonder this was a TOP priority!) Her new website will be launched soon, also featuring an outstanding new product line of Magic Potion cocoa spice rubs for meats.

To everything there is a season...

Yesterday I took Rylee to the Oregon Garden. It's probably the last big Friday trip before she leaves for Disneyland next week. Of course, nothing will top Disneyland! But this will be something she will also remember...the garden was beautiful in its last blooming efforts of summer....a few stray berries on the vines in the berry garden, the grapes that have almost turned into raisins that Rylee just had to sample, the late harvest of veggies where she managed to pick up and hurl a giant squash to the ground. Nothing compares to a four-year-old who has never seen these wonders, who runs from plant to plant exclaiming "Ooh" and "aah", and "Grandma, look at this!" I think we hiked through the entire five acres in under 30 minutes. I am as predictable as every other grandparent...as nostalgic for those similar memories with my own children...and as much in awe of the cycles of life as I could have ever imagined. There was no time for photos, even at the hobbit house with the round doorway that Rylee quickly ran through. Next time! I'll be sure to capture these fleeting, magical moments with my camera. But in keeping with the spirits of the seasons and recent past memories, here's Rylee enjoying the cherry blossoms in our yard earlier this year.

On the Patio

The Clark Parties of Summer 09!

How much fun it's been...and still is! Here are some truly happy people!