A Quick Break Before the Holidays :)

Hi All :)

I hope everyone is well and getting into the Holiday Spirit (not the Whiskey, just yet, LOL!!!!)

Last weekend, my Hubby and I took a little trip to Skamania Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge. This beautiful river is part of the border between the States of Oregon and Washington. It has a majestic beauty that, to me, typifies the North West. :)


click on photos to see larger images :)

Shot taken on a cloudy day in late Sept. 2012 (Columbia River Gorge, with Vista House on the right)

Columbia River east of Hood River (shot taken thru window of car, Sept. 2012)

Columbia River east of Hood River (shots taken thru window of car, Sept. 2012) A hazy later summer afternoon :)

Anyway, we thought we would have a few days away from home before everyone comes home to celebrate the Holidays :)

It was a lovely Christmas-y time :)

We had a little Christmas sing along, we eat, we swam, even did crossword puzzles, but mostly we sat and relaxed in the great room watching the fire, the Christmas tree and the bustle of Holiday people. :)

the lovely fire place 

The beautifully decorated stone chimney and mantle in the great room :)

Xmas Tree and Carolers who came to entertain and encouraged a Christmas sing along :)

close up shot of ornaments on the Xmas tree with the room reflected in them :)

The twinkling lights of the Xmas tree shot thru the fireplace :)

Gingerbread houses abound :)

Here is the view from our window of the Columbia River and the snow on the Mtns. to the south in Oregon :)

of course, life wouldn't be complete if I didn't take some arty shots, LOL!!!! :)

I couldn't resist some Xmas Tree Bokeh :)

Hope you enjoyed these photos :)

Have a lovely Weekend :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.