Saturday, October 22, 2011

Vacation in Oregon


Vacation  is a time for rest and renewal.  Or is it?  Our two and a half weeks in southern Oregon was anything but relaxing! We spent the majority of our time out scouting locations we want to move to and looking at houses and eating some pretty great food! The Station restaurant in Rogue River had some of the best food we have ever eaten.  It was so fresh and organic.  Our waiter Davey was beyond sweet. We ate there four times! We also spent time with some new and old friends. We took our travel trailer and stayed in Rogue River, Oregon.  We were right above the river and went to sleep each night listening to the frogs and the sound of gurgling water. Heavenly!  We picked wild blackberries and fed the birds and the squirrels.  I felt giddy as a child when the pigeons came and landed on my hand and eventually on my shoulder.  The things we miss out on living in the desert.
 
 
  

    
german pancake at elmers.  o.m.g.!!



  
 
Jodi came down from Sandy, Oregon and stayed with us for 3 days. On Friday night we went to downtown Grants Pass to First Friday.  They keep the galleries open late. We met Debbie Ellerd at the Growers Market on Saturday and then went to lunch at a Thai restaurant. The following Saturday we met Jodi and the family in Eugene for a day of Eugene Saturday Market fun and eating our way thru the vendors!! It was great to see Jeff and the kiddos.  They were having occupy Eugene in the park across from the market.  Interesting!!  We also spent a good amount of time with Debbie Ellerd, who up until this vacation, was a friend that lived in my computer, on facebook!  She lives in Grants Pass. We shared some meals in town and she made a wonderful dinner at her lovely house with her husband Jim. Ready.......I adore pie!  I am the official Pie Princess and she made me an apple pie with HOMEMADE crust and apples from her trees. It was more than wonderful! (even for breakfast the next morning)! 

 


 
debbie ellerd, carlanda and jodi kincaid

 


 
 
carlanda and jodi in jacksonville, or.



   

saturday market in eugene, oregon
 
  
 

 
occupy eugene!

 


 
  

  The trees and the acorns and the scenery was spectacular!  Autumn in the northwest......mmmmmmm!












We went to Ashland one day and shopped.  What a beautiful town.  Bought a cute hat and went shopping at PaPaYa.  To see Anahata Katkin's store in real life is pure eye candy!  Loved the sidewalk messages around town.  If I wanted to live in town, that is where it would be!  Instead, we want to live in the country.


We went to visit our friends, Bob and Dorrie Baker that live in Williams, Oregon on the last Sunday night. We got to sit on their deck and enjoy the peaceful surroundings on their six acres. She made a fabulous dinner and we got to enjoy and share the farm life with them.They have eight adorable alpacas. I have always wanted to have alpacas and now will have some great resources to learn from.

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All in all it was the best! We are more convinced than ever that Oregon is where we want to be. I know what has to get done to get out of here and up there!  Yard sales, cleaning, packing and more packing, trips to the thrift store (to drop off!) and some praying in this economy someone will want our wonderful home in the historic district here in Boulder City.

Oregon is for dreamers.  What are your dreams?  xo
 






17 comments:

Marlene said...

I know that is where you want to be but that dosen't mean I have to like it. I want you to have happiness, peace and love and if Orgeon is what will make that happen then Oregon it is. I will miss you more than you will ever know.

carlanda brown williamson said...

i will miss you too mar, but you can come and visit and you too will fall in love with it! then you can move there too! you will love debbie.

dellerd said...

I am so proud to be a part of this post on your blog!!! I had so much fun when you and Lee were here and I know we will have many more good times. It is so wonderful meeting good people and starting a friendship in the real sense. It was fun your last day, having lunch again at Thai BBQ, shopping at Savannah Faire, then getting a Phosphate at Grants Pass Pharmacy. I will always treasure our time together and will hope for the best in getting a house or two sold. I can really understand Marlene, how sad you will be to loose Carlanda and Lee, but you are right Oregon is going to make them very happy people and at this time in our lives happiness, peace and love counts a whole lot. So Carlanda, that little suitcase you bought, is Lee still giving it to you over that??? *snicker* So glad you have a plan to work towards getting to Oregon!! Upward and onward.....you can do it!!! xoxoxo

dellerd said...

By the way I loved all these pictures you two took......I copied some of them so I could keep...

Petie said...

I loved your post and photos. The Pacific Northwest is one of my favorite areas too. It's so beautiful. Now that I've been out of the urban setting for 12 years I can't imagine going back to it. I love the privacy, the smells, the noises, nature..so I know and understand what you're talking about. It's worth the hassle of moving!! :D Get er done girlfriend!!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous pics! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you to make your Oregon dream come true! :)
♥Jenny

Jennifer Valentine Morford said...

sigh....so glad you had a great time! I am missing the Northwest deeply....
it was everything I loved...the water, the trees, the moss....
i love the ferns and moss best.
Follow your heart. You only live once. Why not in a place you adore?

Lyn said...

Looks like you had a fabulous time and I hope you find the home of your dreams dear Carly. My dream is to meet you and Phyl at Artfest and we know that's going to come true...oh and become a better artist hopefully lol! xo

joanne said...

a trip with the most beautiful heart memories to bring back with you... and so many more to dream about in your beautiful future...

i love your beautiful vacation photos, stories, and most beautiful of all, the love between friends...

Jodi Ohl said...

What a wonderful recap of your journey! All the plans and wheels are in motion for this dream to come true. It's only a matter of time before the dream becomes a reality! So happy you met some friends for the 'first time'....it is totally cool when that happens and you bond like you've known each other for a life time! That happened to me this month as well and although I was nervous, we ended up having a fantastic time together and are even better friends today :) Here's to a quick sale of your home so you can move to Oregon!

Living in the Moment said...

It was great fun reading of your travels - So glad to be apart of it all - Hoping you found where you will land - Loving your blog!
~Kristine

Mary Jane said...

Great post Carlanda and wonderful photos! I was exactly where you are now about four and a half years ago when we dreamed of leaving the northeast part of the country for the desert that called to us incessantly! It's amazing how we all live similarly in our lives yet with juxtaposed positions of dreams, desires and needs! I always believe that someone gets what they dream of if they believe it enough...you will sell that house and your new one will be waiting for you...I just know it!

jodi said...

My dream is that you will be inside the state lines! My dream is that we will see each other at least once a month instead of once a year. My dream is that you will pack your stuff, sell your house, have your sales, and get in the moving van. I'll be waiting for you at the state line my friend!!
I love you and loved each precious moment we were able to spend together. Thanksgivng at my house next year??? xoxo

Gloria Martin said...

Girl, you are living my dream!!! I've been here in South Florida for over twenty years, originally from NYC. I spent two years in the mountains of North Carolina, and loved it. I've always thought I'd return, but lately Oregon has been stirring my curiosity. Is it truly as magical as it seems?
Glad you had such a wonderful time.
xo

Jenn said...

Thanks for visiting my blog! Just stopped by yours and I am totally jealous of your Oregon trip!

Becca said...

Hi Carlanda! It's your neighbor in Vegas. :-)
I really enjoyed looking through your Oregon photos. We really love it there too and hope to get out of this desert one day soon. Our dream is to leave in Seattle. I can't really tell if you are in Oregon yet or not, but I hope your dream comes true!
Best wishes.

SunshineBarlowe.com said...

love the pictures... and I think Oregon is a fabulous state... although it's still FAR FAR AWAY from VA!!!