A Little Vacation to Oregon

We had a wonderful little vacation to Oregon this last Monday and Tuesday. On Monday morning we drove down to Portland and went to the Oregon Zoo. The weather was rainy and very cold but we had a wonderful time anyway. The weather seemed to make our little trip even more spontaneous because who goes to the zoo when it is cold and rainy! The Oregon Zoo is nestled in some wooded hills east of Portland. Needless to say there were not very many people there. The animals seemed pretty mellow and weren't really doing much. But I don't blame them. When it's rainy and cold one the nicest places to be is all cuddled up warm with your mate.




This is my favorite picture from this trip. Actually I have to say it is one of my most favorite pictures ever! Ruh made a little buddy! :)





Daisy made a little friend too! :)


This elephant was amazing! I have never seen an animal so big. You can't tell by the picture but he was massive!




Daisy on safari.



These little guys were adorable. You can't tell from the picture but these are little monkeys that are about the size of hamsters! I just wanted to squeeze them.

After the zoo we headed over to our hotel. We got settled in and Daisy and Ruh went for a swim in the heated indoor pool. I stayed in the room and enjoyed watching Fox News on cable. I love Fox News but since we only have basic cable at home we don't get Fox News. I got to watch Hannity and Colmes!

The next morning we had the continental breakfast they served in the dining room. I had one of those yummy Belgian waffles that you make yourself. I love those! I also had a fruit bowl. After breakfast Ruh took Daisy back to the pool for one more swim and I did some reading. After we checked out we went to the end of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Oregon City. When we got there we went into the gift shop which is where you buy the tickets. The lady there said the only way to see the Interpretive Center is to take the guided tour which wouldn't be for another hour. So we looked around the gift shop a little bit and decided we would go ahead and head over to the coast. Also I thought we would be able to see the Oregon Trail which you can at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, Oregon but not at this Interpretive center. Before we headed over to the coast I did get a souvenir. I saw an adorable doll which looks like one perhaps a little girl on the Oregon Trail would have had. I fell in love with the doll immediately and my hubby bought her for me. She now has her special spot on my shelf at home. :)




When we reached Seaside the rain was coming down in torrents. At one point it even started hailing. It hailed for quite a while and we waited it out in the car. Once the hail stopped the sun came out. We walked around downtown Seaside and enjoyed the little shops. Ruh found a small video arcade which had a game he used to play all the time in middle school. So he spent some quarters and I went to a very cute country store which I spent quite a bit of time looking in.



On our way out of Seaside I saw a sign for a Pioneer Cemetery. I actually really like going to these cemeteries. I think it is good to read the gravestones and remember the pioneers who came before us. At this cemetery I could tell it was not kept up very well and most likely these graves were hardly ever visited. There were quite a few baby graves which really tugged on my heart strings because of my recent miscarriage. I took my time walking from grave to grave reading the names, when they were born and when they died. The graves in this cemetery were from the 1800's. Some of the gravestones could no longer be read because they were so worn. Many were lopsided and some completely fallen over. I wanted to pick them up and put them back where they should be.



Here is a little baby boy who died when he was only a year old. The back of the gravestone was very sweet.

On our way home we went through Astoria. Here is the opening of the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. The Astoria Bridge over to Washington is so long. It takes a good several minutes to get across!


We had such a wonderful time on this little vacation! My sweet hubby planned the whole thing in one day and I am so glad he did. I am so thankful I have a husband who will do these kinds of things and love spending time with his family! :)

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything
in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for He founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters."
Psalm 24:1