Milagros

If you are a regular reader of this blog - actually, are there people who read this on a regular basis?…I really do hope so…

Anyhoo, we have a tendency to find a new place we like and go there again and again and again…consider Yachats…

What is our latest family outing obsession? Champoeg State Park! Why? Because it is lovely and only 45 minutes from home - minimal car time to an awesome place always rules!

We spent Saturday at Champoeg and enjoyed their Apple Festival. It was a fun event. There were folks dressed in period garb making apple pie and apple crisp over an open fire in a dutch oven - delish! Live old-timey music filled the barn where kids and adults took turns making cider making using traditional person-powered apple presses. Fresh apple butter was being made an sample by the gallon and there was a great selection of fresh heirloom vegetables from the 19th century “kitchen garden” they maintain at the park.  Actually, fresh vegetables from the garden often available in the visitor center, just take what you want and leave a donation.

Another plus, the bike paths in the park have just been repaved. So riding is wonderfully smooth. They are still plenty of blackberries to be enjoyed through-out the park as well.

Still on the to do list for Champoeg is to kayak in the Willamette from the park, see the inside of the Mother’s Cabin, and play a round of frisbee golf.  So this is more than a crush. We will be back!

Jennifer has been doing some blogging for MotherSource. Here is a piece she did on a couple of our favorite places to eat:

My family and I are always keeping our eyes peeled for family friendly restaurants near our home, and we have found two that we visit regularly. For “sit down” meals where you are served, both are affordable, delicious (whether you are a carnivore or herbivore), and have staff who think kids are cute!

*Pause Kitchen and Bar* in North Portland is located at 5101 N Interstate Avenue, (971) 230-0705. We’ve enjoyed yummy soups, salads, and sandwiches from their menu. They grind the meat themselves for burgers (grass fed beef) and also have tasty house-made veggie burgers. They are totally happy with children being present, and on a sunny day it is a delight to sit in their backyard and eat while the children play on the lawn area (also the spot for folks who are smoking, though most folks out there weren’t while we were there). And most impressive to me is their kids menu. While it does offer the usual kid menu fare (cheesy noodles and the like) it also has grilled chicken served with broccolini and mashed potatoes. This was so exciting to me since my daughter can’t eat dairy, peanuts, or soy (which is generally the type of oil food is fried in). We always leave happy and with full bellies.

Is it a wicked hot summer day and you are longing for a place to eat that has air conditioning? Well, when last visited, *Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant* fit the bill.  If you want the meal to come super fast, order vegetarian selections. Not sure what to order? Go with the vegan sampler!

Our kids love eating here because we all eat with our hands, and the owners truly adore children. We always leave Queen of Sheba restaurant smiling and satisfied. 2413 NE MLK Jr. Blvd., (503) 287-6302, http://www.queenofsheba.biz

Although we are totally biased toward NE Portland - and our awesome Concordia neighborhood - we do make it past the borders of our utopian enclave on occasion. Yesterday we geared up the bikes and headed out to Sellwood.

It was a perfect biking day. We managed to avoid the Bridge Pedal crowds and headed down the Eastbank Esplanade and then onto the Springwater Corridor. We traveled the Springwater Corridor to Sellwood Riverfront Park.

The route on the Springwater Corridor to Sellwood Riverfront Park is a striking ride. You get away from the esplanade’s traffic noise and quickly begin enjoying vistas of the Willamette River and Ross Island. I have to admit that a family kayak trip to Ross Island has been on the to do list forever. Seeing kayakers exploring the water surrounding the island spurred that interest again.

From Sellwood Riverfront Park, we headed up Spokane Street to the heart of Sellwood. We headed to the New Seasons in Sellwood to say hey! to my cousin - she works there- and enjoy some tastiness from the deli. Then we made stops at Looking Glass Books - the bookstore housed in a caboose! - and SpielWerk - which is a wonderful community toy store.

The ride home was delightful as well. We made a stop at Townsend’s Teahouse on Alberta Street to quenched our thirst with bubble tea - we are addicted - and finally we headed for home.  All in all, a lovely sunday ride…

We are proud to be sponsors of the free summer concerts at Fernhill Park!

The Fernhill Concerts are on Fridays, starting July 11th through August 1st from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., and conclude with a special Neighbors Night Out on Tuesday, August 5th. The amazing musical lineups planned this year:

July 11th Friday – The LaRhonda Steele Band (soulful R & B) – The LaRhonda Steele Band are a local favorite and have played in Portland’s biggest festivals and are looking forward to playing for their first time at our Fernhill Park. LaRhonda Steele is the fabulous former vocalist for Ocean 503 and for ‘Boogie Cat’ Norman Sylvester. Her strong vocals and stage presence will be perfect for a Friday night at the park. You won’t want to miss their rendition of blues and jazz.

July 18th Friday – Casey Neill and the Norway Rats (American Rock) – Casey Neill and the Norway Rats take time away from their studio recording to play an exciting night for us. A combination of folk-punk, Americana rock, and Celtic styles, there’s a little bit of something for everybody. Casey Neill, who has roots in the Pacific Northwest, is backed by an amazing band or should I say Rats.

August 1st Friday – Grupo Antifaz (regional Mexican) – Bienvenidos from Hood River, Oregon, Grupo Antifaz is going to bring an authentic Mexican performance to this year’s concert series. They have played to large crowds at Tom McCall Waterfront Park for Cinco de Mayo and have toured throughout Oregon and released several CDs.

August 5th Tuesday – Trashcan Joe (old-timey strings) – Original old-timey jazz, ragtime, and blues on home-made instruments. If you have ever seen these guys play live you know how much fun it is. Just realizing that their homemade instruments are behind their unique sound makes them different from anything else you have ever listened to. This is for Portland’s biggest National Night Out celebration.

See you there!

Photo by Amy Watson. Mila at Fernhill Concert in 2005. 

It is summer time! Time to get the family out of the house and into the great outdoors!

Looking for some family camping suggestions? Here are few places we enjoy!

Close to Town: Oxbow Regional Park: It is an easy drive from Portland (about 30 minutes) and is very family friendly. Oxbow has play structures, miles of trails open to hiking and biking, a boat ramp, and beach access. However, the beach is a river not a lake. Extra caution when swimming, wading, paddling, etc. is recommended due to currrents. A couple of unique additional features: 1) educuational kid-friendly programs in the campground ampitheater on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer and 2) flush toilets and showers (bring quarters for the showers). More info on Oxbow.

Note: No pets are allowed at Oxbow or any Metro facility.

Hoodland: Trillium Lake: Our first car camping trip with Mila was to Trillium Lake in the Mt. Hood area when she was 3 months old. We have gone back every summer since. It is very family-friendly. It sports a level hike around the lake and the roads in the campground are paved - nice for first time bikers and strollers. The lake is safe for swimming and you are able to fish there. No motor boats are allowed on the Lake so it is quieter than other lakes in the Mt. Hood area. We bring a kayak and enjoy floating on the water and taking in the wonderful views of Mt. Hood. Sites may be reserved in advance.

On the Coast: Oswald West State Park: For Oregon coastal camping, we love the walk-in campground at Oswald West. Pleasant sites, great beach access, and numerous trails to enjoy. It is first come, first serve and very popular in the height of the summer. We have had good luck there in May or on summer weekdays but it is good to have a back-up plan. More info

Good back-up camping for Oswald West or just good camping in the coastal area near Portland: Nehalem Falls (lovely falls), Nehalem Bay State Park (bring your kayak or canoe!), or camping at Jones Creek along the Wilson River in the Tillamook Forest (lots of blackberry picking in the area and near the Tillamook Forest Center).

Out East: Columbia Hills State Park: If you want a high desert feel but with a shorter drive than heading to Central Oregon, check out Columbia Hills State Park across from the Dalles in Washington State.

Swim, kayak and fish in Horsethief Lake, enjoy boat access to the Columbia, hike and climb at Horsethief Butte, and see the petroglyphs and pictographs saved from Petroglyph Canyon. Few day-use folks and small, comfortable campground makes for a relaxed time. Very close to The Dalles if you forgot something.

A couple of drawbacks, camping is first come, first serve and the campground is small - less than 20 sites - so be ready with a back-up just in case (such as Maryhill State Park down the road). Like all camping on the Columbia River, train noise is a nightly occurrence and it can get VERY windy - so bring earplugs for sleeping (although I recommend this for ALL campgrounds).

Photo by Jon Maus - Camping with Mila and Elani at Oxbow

I know, I know….all we ever talk about lately is berries. Berries, berries, berries…you would think we were bears or something. Anyhoo, we hit the Hollywood Farmers’ Market on Saturday and got some…strawberry plants. Sorry.

But we also got some awesome snap peas, Peonies, and more. Really what you get at the local farmers’ markets is high-quality locally produced, um, produce at good prices.

Speaking of saving money, if you are needing some baby or maternity clothes come to the swap this Saturday!

After an aborted attempt last weekend - the berries weren’t ready for us - we headed back to Kruger’s yesterday.

The season is just getting started, so it was a lot of hunting and gathering. However the weather was perfect - sunny but not too hot- and we still scored about 11 pounds of red gold. Next weekend should offer some great picking; the plants are full of berries waiting to mature.

Kruger’s will be having their annual Berry Jam on June 14 and 15. If you want to head a little further out, Rasmussen Farms will be having their Summer Sensations event this weekend as well.

When Mila was a wee one, eight months old, we spent a month camping and traveling in Hawaii. While were camping on the Big Island, we met a family from Washington state with a little girl who was 17 months old - River. We hit it off with River and her family right away. Our family friendship that has continued to blossom over the years despite the miles between us and time between visits.

This weekend, River’s family was in the Salem area and our schedules transpired to allow us a couple of hours together on Sunday afternoon. Where should we meet to let the kids play and the adults chat? (there are a family of four now as well!) I busted out a map and noticed that Champoeg State Park is about halfway between Salem and Portland.

The exit for Champoeg off I-5 has caught my eye on countless journeys South (I tend to take note of exits going to parks and the like) but I never ventured there until now. The park is nestled in an area that is rich in farmlands and scenic hills and is bordered by a stunning section of the Willamette River that feels unrelated to the water that divides Portland into two sides.

There is camping, and miles of trails for biking and hiking. The kids ran through meadows filled with grasses and wild flowers and climbed trees along the riverside. It was a refreshing and relaxing escape from the city. Our visit there only scratched the surface of the area but we took note of what the park has to offer for future trips.

Amenities at the park include is camping - tent and RV sites as well as cabins and yurts, access to the river - including a boat launch, a frisbee golf course, and a variety of interpretive programs and elements that celebrate the area’s history.

The area was the site of an Oregon pioneer settlement. There are year round facilities at the park that provide a glimpse into pioneer life: the visitor center, Newell House, and Pioneer Mothers Log Cabin museum. During the summer, the park takes on a living museum element at times with reenactments of pioneer life and other interactive activities and tours.

Needless to say, it is nice to find gems like this that are close to home (especially with the price of gas these days). Champoeg was less than 45 minutes from Portland but a world away. We’ll be back!

We treated Tony’s Mom to a late Mother’s Day gift by taking her to Yachats last weekend. The weather wasn’t perfect - and goodness the gas was pricey!- but the trip was still wonderful. We have been to the coast in Winter, Fall, Spring, and Summer and it never disappoints.

This weekend, we did a lot of hiking (the rain is no problem for many of the hikes in the area such as Cummins Creek) , the Yachats farmer’s market was in full swing, we started every morning at our favorite local hot spot, and we went tide pooling in the area.

There are great tide pools in the Yachats area. We commonly see chitons, snails, limpets, barnacles, sea stars, mussels, anemones, crabs and more! We also love Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area near Newport for tide pools. But there are options closer to home - no full tank required!

• Ecola State Park - About two miles north of Cannon Beach. This area also offers access to the Clatsop Loop Trail which connects with the Tillamook Head Trail that we explored this February - a good trail for older children due to the elevation gain and length.
• Oswald West State Park - About 10 miles south of Cannon Beach just off the 101. This is also one of our favorite camping spots and there is some great hiking in the area including a hike to Cape Falcon (about 3.5 miles round trip, uphill getting to the top but still a nice family hike).
• Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge - 10 miles west of Tillamook on the Three Capes Loop. Added bonuses are touring the lighthouse and the vistas in the area.
• Cape Lookout - About 18 miles south of Tillamook also on the Three Capes Loop. There is a family-friendly campground at this park as well.

If you are going to explore tide pools, be ready to get wet, wear some sensible shoes - maybe even some gloves, and be ready to do some scrambling on rocks to find some wonderful surprises! Consult a tide table and plan your exploration to coincide with low tide - which means being on the coast in the morning. Watch out for exposed animals as you walk along. For the best viewing, head for the lowest tide pools that are closest to the ocean. In the lowest pools, you are likely to see the most activity as well as the greatest variety of animals. But be mindful of the tide location and of the ocean at all times - don’t let yourself get stranded or surprised by a rogue wave.

When viewing the pools, tread lightly and be respectful of the animals. Don’t pry any animals from their locations. A gentle touch on a sea star by a curious little girl (or excited adult) is not entirely out of line but try to avoid touching of the animals as much as possible.

Also, these are great areas for a picnic, so pack a meal to enjoy once your exploring is over. When you are ready to go, leave everything where you find it - except for garbage! Pack out any trash that you find (or any trash that you brought). It is never too early to instill some outdoor ethics in your kids.

The Sprockets - Scott and Izzy and their 11-year-old son, Theo (Tay-Oh)- have traveled all over the world in their bus. They are in-town and have decided to do a special performance this Friday in the Mississippi neighborhood.

When: This Fri. Dec. 14th, doors open at 6p.m., show at 6:30 p.m.sharp!

Where: Oregon Timberworks Co., on N. Cook St. between Albina and Borthwick St.

Directions: Behind the N. Fremont Grand Central Baking Co., next to the playground at Boise-Eliot School. Street parking.

Cost: Minimum donation of $5.00/person and $10.00/family. More is welcome!

Note: The show is 40 minutes long. There is no bathroom and no heat in the building, so be prepared. Wear a coat, hat and gloves. Bring a folding/camp chair, if you like, and a hot drink.

Any questions? Contact event organizer Teresa Hill at terebachi@yahoo.com or cell: 503-860-6703