violetismycolor

Nothing could be more enchanting...

On Sunday, Ross and Enrique and I stopped at The Enchanted Forest, near Salem.  We took the kids there quite a few times when they were small and they have such fond memories of the place.  We had a blast, especially on the Log Ride, a roller coaster/water ride.  Enrique got soaked but I sat behind Ross, who protected me. 

Ross had some one-on-one time with the President (Abe Lincoln).  He looks great in his Union uniform, doesn't he?

    

funny pictures, done for a friend...

A friend of Ross's asked me to do this for 'someone's' birthday.  Oregonians may recognize him as a local person-of-interest.  I'll say no more...

and then there was the lavender...

I spent last Friday heading west to Hillsboro to the Lavendar Festival.  

First I was distracted by all the gorgeous fields of hay being harvested:

Then the gorgeous lavender fields.  So much beauty all around me.  I just love it.

it's Facebook's fault!!!

I have been totally addicted to spending time on Facebook instead of recording life in my blog.  

Bad, BAD blogger!

We got an exchange student from Burgos, Spain on July 1st and he will be here all month.  Enrique is 16 and a real delight to have around.  He is enjoying his 'American experience'...today he is at the beach.  They are dodging our 90+% weather with cool breezes and a freezing cold ocean.  Lucky them!

We took Enrique to the St Paul Rodeo on the 4th of July weekend, which was a real eye-popping introduction to the American West.  We bought him a cowboy hat, which we insisted he wear all night long, so that he would meld into the country crowd, which he did.  We went with friends that also have a Spanish exchange student, a lovely girl named Lucia, from Madrid.  She ALSO got a hat, and wore it.  Photos follow:

I love this photo of feet...this was a man and his son, also both named ENRIQUE! I wanted a pair of those frog shoes for myself!

The action was pretty thrilling, too.  The bucking broncos, the raging bulls, the cowboys and cowgirls.  It was a great night...

That was on July 3rd.  On the 4th, we took my mom, Ross, and Enrique to the small town of Monmouth for their annual parade.   We have a friend that gives an annual BBQ during the parade, as he lives right on the parade route.  We sat under the shade of his front yard trees, ate burgers and dogs, and watched as all the locals paraded by.  It was alot of fun.