Mount St. Helens...remnants of a "big hot mess!"

I remember where I was the day that Mount St. Helen blew.  I was in my room packing for a trip to Spokane where my parents would pick me up the next day. They lived in Sandpoint, Idaho then and I was going to surprise them by getting off the plane pregnant.  Well...as you well know, all flights were cancelled as the mountain spewed molten lava, steam and blew everything in its path and beyond into oblivion.  I had to tell my parents over the phone that they were about to be grandparents for the very first time.

About 30 years ago, this mountain looked very different.  Now, it has no peak and made the lands around it so barren that you would swear there is nothing but desert under your feet.  In reality...the landscape was blown away by forces beyond our comprehension and now when we walk there, we walk on soil mixed heavily with ash and soot.

Ray took this photo of me at Coldwater Lake.  The photos we both took were so pretty and they didn't seem real once we viewed them later.  It was kind of like being the only living thing in what seemed like a picture or painting.  This lake was formed when a natural dam was created during the 1980 eruption.

I kind of envied this fisherman.  He is sitting alone in the midst of all the quiet with a line in the lake just waiting.  I felt like we interrupted his moment but then I realized that there was enough peace for each of us.

Satisfied to see what the hullabaloo was about thirty some years ago.  Still awe struck at the devastation it caused but nature is strange that way sometimes. Devastation to some can eventually bring beauty to others.

Mt. Hood in Albany!

We had our Mt. Hood guest room painted yesterday by a dear friend.  She worked all day to give the room a fresh coat of Vanilla Custard.  This is one of four rooms we had never painted before because we loved the old colors and it had been painted just before be bought the house.  That's been almost 6 years now and it truly needed some freshening up!

Our Mt. Hood guest room is on the first level and unlike many inns, having a main level guest room like this is perfect for some of our guests that prefer to be closer to the dining room or don't like climbing stairs. But, I have to say that even when they choose this main level guest room, they almost always are intrigued by what's upstairs.  So, trekking up just after breakfast is usually the plan.  Once up there, they are mesmerized.  The space is so open with one very private suite we call Sister's.  A two bedroom suite with a private bathroom and closet.  Shut the door and you would swear you were in the middle of nowhere.  And once your head hits the pillow in the king bed in the larger of the two rooms, your plans to make it up early for coffee have just been changed.  That cracks us up so much.  We hear..."oh, well, we get up really early so will there be coffee ready at 6 or 7???..."  So funny because they all say that and we don't see them usually till just before breakfast with the normal excuse..."I never sleep like that!"  Well, it's ok because our brewing coffee and scents of a hot breakfast entice you to get up outta that bed eventually!

The other half of Sisters has a queen bed and is quite the "girls" room.  However, we have had many a single guy say, "it's ok...pink doesn't bother me!"  Whew...that's a good thing because we call it the pink half of Sister's.  The queen bed with accents of a boy and girl in shades of pink and green vintage style toile adds a little whimsy for sure.

Mt. Bachelor is just a scones throw away from Sister's upstairs and makes everyone laugh when they hear they are booked in there and so close to the girls.  Vintage photos of men and the smallest guest room in the inn always gets the same response, "ahhh....so cute...love those windows!"  And then to see their private bath across the hall with the claw footed tub waiting for them..."oh, I can't wait for a bath in there!"  Yeah...it makes us smile every time!

We kind of love it here and hope that whomever becomes the "next" caretaker of this home has as much fun as we do!

ATI Wah Chang NW Art & Air Festival...Night Glow 2011

Night Glow was amazing tonight and watching the balloonists tethering and pulling and keeping control of the balloons made the experience even more spectacular.

Balloon lift off Saturday morning at Timber Linn Park at 6am, Albany, OR

Just some photos that I love.... and some sweet things too!

I saw this sweet little pink tutu again a few days ago.  So darling.

Vintage lingerie and hanging together in a booth at the antique mall.

I love these pillows...just wish I knew someone getting married cause then...I'd buy them!

The funny thing is...I remember these cute red thermoses from when I was a kid.  Only then...it wasn't cool to carry one.  It's something my dad and grandpa did.

An old horse feed trough and this reminds me of being a kid too!  Only I can't tell you why!

All those vintage coats.  I had to feel them with my own hands.  Wools so thick and designs I know they don't make any more.  This is my fav vintage clothing photo of all.

I had to try these shoes on when I saw them.  They would have gone so perfectly with our October Nosh Tour last year.  Have I mentioned I was a witch?  Some may argue that I am always that way...like a witch!

Sharon loves this photo and I never saw it before till she pointed it out.  Sometimes I am so enthralled with what is at my eye level that I don't see anything else.  I need to open my eyes!

This was a beautiful table but I think it's gone already.  Sharon and I placed the pottery bowls like this just for the photos.  I was tempted to buy them so I could do this at home.  They were all different shades of aqua...very vintage chic for pottery!

A sink full of vintage china...perfectly ok with me!  What a cute idea for showing off your wares!

I love vintage luggage!  I have four pieces of my own.  Two will stay with the inn when we leave but two bigger pieces will come with me.  I dare to say that I will not be able to part with much of the things that I love although...I will be tempted to share with another cottage girl.

Albany Antique Mall...bringing life to vintage!

Dave's Killer Bread..."Spelt" with butter!...and a Pulled Pork Frittata

Ok, I have to give Ray some credit for this Frittata recipe.  I have made it twice in the past few days and our guests just won't stop talking about it.  So, thanks honey for making that pulled pork and 17 hours on the Traeger was the perfect amount of time!

Recipe for:  PULLED PORK FRITTATA

First...you get your husband to cook an 8 lb. pork roast on his Traeger for 17 hours.

Put in to a large cast iron pan...

chopped pulled pork (a couple hand fulls)
1/2 of one sweet onion
1 cup of sweet corn
1 medium sliced zucchini

saute' for a bit in "good" butter till onion softens just a little

Whip 6-8 eggs together with a splash of cream and pour over cooked veggie and pork mixture.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 min.  Sprinkle with a little English cheddar and bake about 2-3 min. more.  Let sit on the table for a few min. before slicing.

I served this dish with Dave's "Killer" bread...the spelt loaf.  I think I purchased this bread at Market of Choice in Corvallis but you can get Dave's bread at Costco and Fred Meyer too.

The smokiness of the meat and the coffee you have brewed will bring your guests to the dining room and will leave them talking about breakfast for days evidently.

Enjoy and bon appetit!

An Oregon Bed and Breakfast in the Willamette Valley!

Check this out!

1908 Craftsman Bungalow for sale in downtown Albany, Oregon!  A bustling Bed and Breakfast with three beautiful guest rooms.  Click HERE for more info!

A stunning beauty, a robust Craftsman and a reminder of what true classic vintage feels like, this historic home exudes all of this and more.  Come experience what it "feels" like to be in the presence of history in all it's splendor!

Call us or our agent for a tour of The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn!

Set splendidly in the heart of the Willamette Valley, The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn is within easy driving distance to the coast, the cascades, Portland and wine country!  Located near I 5 and HWY 99, getting anywhere in Oregon is a breeze when you are settled in Albany.

This Robust Craftsman makes a beautiful private residence and/or a busy B & B beginning it's 4th year in business.  Come by to see for yourself or if you are so inclined, come spend a night or weekend at The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn.  You can visit our website at www.thepfeiffercottageinn.com.

Oregon Beer...in my kitchen beer fridge!

Unrefined...I don't think so!  Just because I love beer and have a "beer fridge" in my kitchen doesn't mean I don't have any class...does it?  I'm supposed to love wine.  And for the most part...I do, but I love beer more.

Living in the Willamette Valley poses a huge problem for some and puts us in a quandary when it comes to choosing where to sample and enjoy a nice cold beer.  I do have my favorites.  When I walk in to a McMenamin's, it's always a Ruby Pale Ale to go with my garden burger and tots.  When I head to Calapooia Brewing Co., it's usually the least hoppy beer but the Chili Beer is growing on me.  We just went to Bridgeport Brewing a week or so ago and I fell for the Blue Heron then the bar dude let me sample "Summer Squeeze!"  Oh wow...light, refreshing and so cold that I could have sworn I was drinking a lite summer juice.  Well, that may be the idea behind it come to think of it.

No matter when or where, I'm always up for trying a new beer!  I'm falling for Ninkasi now and actually held a beer tasting at the inn in June!  Next time we do that, we'll be sure to let you know.  Several bottles including Deschuttes, Ninkasi, Widmer, Rogue and Full Sail were included in the flight and it all went well with the beef Ray was Traegering in the garden.

Living in the "beer capital" of the world has it's perks and my beer fridge is full of Oregon beer.  Come by for a cold one while it's still summertime warm!

Foraging for mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest!

I won't pretend that I know exactly what these are called.  I know I saw the tag at the Farmer's Market but I don't remember the name of these delicious morsels.  All I know is that next on my list of "fun and exciting things to experience in Oregon" after my very first kayaking lesson in early Sept., is to go foraging for these goodies.

I don't really have a written list of things I want to experience here in Oregon but I do have a list in my head that I mentally review every now and then.  This year, I really wanted to check off finding mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest.

This is where my readers come in.  If you know of anyone that would take me or just tell me where the best places to find mushrooms are, I would really appreciate it!  Of course I would love a guide for safety sake but I plan to read up a little before delving in to the harvest and preparation to make sure what I am foraging is not going to kill me.

I have my foraging boots ready and my mushroom bag handy so all I need now is for YOU to tell me when I should go and point me in the right direction so I can find the best schrooms in the valley!

Filling the saddlebags with OREGON WINE!

Recently I had to give a bio of myself to Travel Oregon for their "Ask Oregon" project.  They said they wanted to me include experiences I have had in Oregon and things that I love about it.  Of course it was easy and the first amazing experience that came to my mind was riding a black mare through the Willamette Valley Wine Country last September.

I wasn't sure what to expect and my daughter and I were a little nervous.  She hadn't been on a horse since she was tiny and it had been a while for me too.  Our guide Jake put our nerves at ease with his comic personality and I am pretty sure we laughed throughout the whole ride.  The horses were pretty awesome too!  Tennessee Walkers and just high enough to make you feel just a little above it all while trotting through the vineyards.

Sitting high in the saddle brought back memories and reminded me of all the reasons I love the smell of the saddle, feel secure in the feel of the reins in my hands and enjoyed knowing that I would get to taste wine in ways not a whole of people get to.  Several wineries later, some galloping through the grapes and a lot more laughs, our saddle bags began to feel full and it was time to take the wine home to share with our guests!  I don't think I have ever spent two hours doing anything more fun than this.  I love hiking so much and I adore my bicycle rides but this experience just felt natural and surreal at the same time.

Bonding with the mare, reaching out to feel the vines with my own hands, seeing from up high the rows and acres of vineyards, once again...I was smitten with this valley.

I added this link to the Equestrian Wine Rides here because if you are looking for that "real" experience in wine country, you should seriously consider this ride.  Fill your saddle bags and taste by horseback the Willamette Valley wine country.

Photographing Vintage!...Albany Antique Mall

My camera cost me two hundred dollars last summer.  First trip out with it and I dropped it in the sand on the coast in Seaside.  I pushed a few buttons and jammed the lens immediately.  I tried to hide it so I wouldn't get that "what in the heck did you do to your new camera...did you drop it?"  So, I drop things...it's better than throwing things.  After a few more button pushing moments, my camera stopped flashing me awful messages and proceeded to rid itself of the sand particles and took the most awesome photos that day.  And, in the past year...it has not once failed me!

I love taking photographs and I even have my most favorite places to take those photos.  The top of my list begins at our local Albany Antique Mall.  Man oh man...talk about a place to take some great pictures.  There is just something about vintage that adds character, colors such as muted shades of pinks, greens, blues, browns and creams that seem to hug the lens of my camera.  It's like this stuff has been just sitting around waiting to be recognized, brought back to life and shown off a little.  Therefore, the quality of vintage is apparent in the details of these old things and captured in mere photographs to share once again.

So, I treasure my two hundred dollar camera, try not to drop it in the sand and still amaze even myself at just how well it loves vintage!

I'll always be a cottage type of girl!

It's so weird isn't it that no matter what, we are drawn to what we love.  I keep trying to go with that sophisticated look when decorating.  You know what I'm talking about...stream line, less clutter, shades of chocolate, that un-lived in look.  But, then I seem to find myself adding little touches everywhere.  A sweet magazine on the coffee table, a few cute vintage tea cups on the shelf in Sisters, the cutest doily I forgot I had but found a few days ago and placed next to my bed under my French lamps...and it goes on and on.  Not too much but just enough to let people know that we do live here and we like it cute!

Today I left my honey in Portland at the loft so I could play for a few days.  I have been wanting to stop at the new Fred Meyer in Wilsonville for some time and wow...what a great store.  I hope Albany gets one of those soon.  Well, I headed to the book and magazine section first off and found a couple new issues to bring home.  I love Autumn so of course I grab the "Autumn Cottage" first then of  my "Romantic Homes!"  I have been tempted to begin perusing them but I am waiting for a friend so we can ooohhhh and awe together over tea later.  So, they sit right here on my desk just waiting...for now!

I have read and seen for myself while in the country in England that bright colors are back in style.  I really didn't know they left but it does make sense when you window shop and see the shades of clothing, linens and decor that fill the picture windows downtown.  I still love all shades of white and creamy yellows that exude that "cottage" sense but I love seeing bright colors in pinks, robins egg blue, marshy greens and luscious chocolates all put together to give that, "I am sophisticated...in a cottage girly sort of way!"  Is there even a specific name for this style?  I don't know for sure.  And...it still makes me laugh when visitors to the inn say how much they love the way it's all decorated.  They can never pin point a certain style about it, but they love it.  I giggle and tell them it's a little Target, Ethan Allen, Albany Antique Mall, Vintage Roost and on and on.  I guess it's all the stuff I love and am comfortable filling my home with and that's all that really matters.

So, I encourage you to drag out your magazines, your mint tea and cups, invite your girlies over and have a "cottage style" get together ooohhhing and awing over all the cute stuff that you LOVE!  Think of me when you do it...or better yet...invite me too!

Albany Farmer's Market...the food says it all!

It's still about the ride...even if it's tandem!

I could provide you with tons of links to the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway but you can find those easily all by yourself. I could tell you where to buy your bicycling map, your bike packs, your gps, your shoes and I could tell you where to stop for lunch too. But, you could find all that stuff by yourself. The one thing I can tell you, is that at the halfway point from Champoeg to Eugene is Albany and it's a very sweet place to stop!

The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn is quite possibly the best place to park your bike in town. We are located just a few blocks from the best dining experiences in the entire Willamette Valley. Our guests love, love, love that when they arrive here, they can park their bikes in our locked basement, head to their room, take that much needed shower or soak then decide over a glass of Oregon wine where to go for dinner! It's pretty easy actually and they almost always choose Sybaris Bistro. They want that real Pacific Northwest Experience so we know the best place to send them for that. We make the call, reserve their table and they are set to go. And, the going is easy when they mosey downtown just a few blocks away to enjoy that perfect taste.

Winning the James Beard award, using the most delicious ingredients, the freshest market finds and the fact they are smitten with their own food, tells us that Matt and Janel Bennett may have set the standards over the top when providing that awesome "food" experience. You should seriously check out their August menu. Ok...I'll link it for you here! I can't resist after hearing what our recent guests have been saying about it.

So, whether you are biking alone, with a group, with your honey or friends, single or tandem...we can secure your gear so you can relax and enjoy the easy ride at the inn and Sybaris Bistro!

My dad took me to the Portland Zoo!

I can check another fun experience in Oregon off my list...The Portland Zoo!

I have been wanting to go to the zoo since I have moved here but there is just so much to do, I hadn't made it yet. My dad offered to take us yesterday after riding the MAX to Washington Park. So amazingly easy to get there and I was surprised at how simple, sweet and perfect the Portland Zoo is. I wasn't sure what to expect since we had only been to a zoo once before. But if you are looking for a way to spend a few hours enjoying the outdoors with your family, this is the perfect way to do it.

Thanks dad for zoo trip!