Saturday, May 21, 2011

Special Days

On Friday we got to spend some time with old friends.  Linda had lunch with Darlene & Jackie, friends from when we lived in Tigard, OR, in the early 90’s.  She really enjoyed herself, sharing pictures back and forth and sharing life stories.  These women have a unique tradition.  Every Christmas Jackie & Darlene sent small presents to Linda, and every Valentine’s day Linda sends them presents.  It’s been going on for 16 years now, and I know Linda really looks forward to the remembrances from her friends in Oregon.

I had lunch with an old work colleague of mine at a new restaurant to me, the Oswego Grill.  We talked about friends and families.  It’s hard to believe that one of his sons is starting High School next year.  It seemed like only yesterday we were working together in Portland building shelf sets for Safeway and he was dating his lovely wife Kris.  Time does fly.

After lunch we cruised around some of our old neighborhoods, and then headed to Canby to meet with our friends Dave & Cheryl Anderson, and Ron & Ethel Sunnarborg.  We had happy hour in Dave & Cheryl’s beautiful backyard overlooking the Molalla River.  Then we went to dinner at the Canby Pub & Grill. It was our kind of restaurant, locally owned with good American food.  I had the coconut shrimp, while Linda had the Chicken with lingonberry sauce, a Northwest specialty.

Saturday we started the day at the Salem Saturday Market.  It had about 300 booths by the state capital, with a wide assortment of crafts, food, flowers, and plants.  There was a lot of people shopping, many with their dogs.  It was a lot of the fun, and Linda found a unique crocheted necklace with beads.  After that we went over to Costco to fill up with gas at $3.78 a gallon full service.  That’s right, in Oregon you’re not allowed to pump your own gas.  It’s a nice perk when it’s cold and raining!

Then we went back to Silverton to explore the small city.  It’s been rated as one of the best small cities to live in, and it was very nice.  Linda even saw a house she liked.  It was built in 1901.

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Click here for more details.

Silverton is also famous for the Murals painted around the town.  Here’s one of local hero Don Petitt.

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We both enjoyed this Pet Parade one outside of a vet’s office.

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And then there’s the story of Bobbie the dog, who made 3000 mile journey to get home to Silverton.

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Click here for the complete story.  That finishes up our stay in Silverton.  We really enjoyed meeting with our old friends in the area.  The park we stayed at, the Silver Spur, had nice gravel pull thru sites with full hookups.  With Passport America, it was only $15 a night, and the hosts were very nice.  We would stay here again if we’re in the area.  Tomorrow we leave for a Thousand Trails park, Mt. Vernon, WA.

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