My Deer Friend

This weekend when we went to the coast (our last time for a while) we started to follow a river up into the mountains just to see where it would lead. I saw this guy just hanging out in the road. And then I said "hello" to him in a high voice and he trotted right over. We tried to give him spinach but I don't think he was interested which is a good thing since we shouldn't be feeding him anyways. He also licked my face which I wish I got a picture of!

Camping on the Beach and Fresh Salmon

This weekend we went camping on the coast. And of course there was hiking and walking the beach. I love to take photos and day dream that I live right there on the beach, waking up everyday to the simple beauty of the ocean and cliffs.

Salmon Berry Blossom

Campsite

Tillamook Bay - Low Tide

Tillamook Bay - Low Tide

Western Columbine Flower

Wild Bleeding Heart Flower

Crab Pot

And fresh Spring Chinook Salmon was caught. He was right - it is the best tasting fish I have ever had in my life. This is the best kind of salmon. The flavor. We made it on the grill with lemon thyme, lemon, sauce, and dill.

Spring Chinook Salmon (not wild but hatchery wild caught)

Berries and Morel Goodness

Last weekend we went to Sauvie Island to pick strawberries. It was so much fun! I only ended up making a ton of jam and of course just eating the strawberries plain.

We also saw a Bald Eagle there:

So last night we headed to the fruit stand down the street and picked some more up for $1 a pint. I will be making so more recipes with the strawberries tonight.And then we walked around our neighborhood where cherry trees and raspberry bushes grow everywhere (by businesses, city owned property) so we picked a ton of those too - for free! - and saved a at least $10-$15 of buying cherries and raspberries. Score!

We also enjoyed morels all week. Sadly, we did not pick these ourselves but know someone who picks them commercially and we bought blonde and black morel mushrooms. Yum!

Morels with Spaghetti and parsley from the garden.

Morels cooking

This weekend we are off to camp on the beach. Photos to follow!

Hawthorne Ave

I went for a lovely summer walk yesterday as the sun finally broke through the heavy cloud cover. I love how all the gardens in my neighborhood of Hawthorne in Southeast Portland come alive with flowers (and fruit). My boyfriend and I ate raspberries and cherries growing like crazy in the neighborhood. I also gawked at the flowers.

Poppies

Red Clover

Rose Campion

Cape Lookout

I hiked at Cape Lookout this weekend, a popular weekend hike for those visiting the coast in Tillamook, Oregon. Wedged between two beach towns, Pacific City and Tillamook, Cape Lookout is a state park with views and blooming flowers. I plan on identifying all these flowers but for now I will post them in all their beauty. Of course on the way to my hike I passed by a few cows and I couldn't help but take a couple photos. Cows are such funny creatures to me!

Oregon Iris

Candyflower

Salal plant

Blue Eyed Grass

More Candyflowers

Salmon Berry

Common Red Paintbrush

Lebanese Food

I love it. Last night we ate amazing food at Nicholas Restaurant.

Good bread as well and Turkish coffee.

It was so good I needed to relive it again.

And this weekend we go to Sauvie Island to pick tons of strawberries. I will make jam, pie, and just eat them as well!

Northern Oregon Coast

Roadtripping down to the northern Oregon coastline. It was supposed to rain but the weather had other plans. I didn't want to leave as usual. Weekends are so sweet and too short.