My Last Roloff Blip Of The Year

OK - So this year I went to Roloff Farms twice, I had a great time at both visits.

I really think its nice to see local people doing what they love to do. It was amazing to see the major house renovation. Wow! What a change from last year, the colors and size of the house have changed dramatically. You will notice this more as their show runs this season. Also changes in the way the pumpkin season worked, lines running a bit smoother, two different types of tours, smoother running of the checkout area, Zootopia, Sven's House and the ever changing Zipline.

Our local paper has a section that you can submit a picture of what you or someone in your family has done fun/interesting. So on Monday I submitted the photo of the girls and I with Amy Roloff. The next day (shockingly) the photo appeared in the paper. So of course I cut it out and will add that to DD's ever growing scrapbook.

On Thursday I stayed home from work because I wasn't feeling well. I usually don't take off work but I figured I really need to get healthy as I have a sleep study I am doing tonight and can't be ill for it. So - Thursday morning I was checking my email and changing channels when I stopped on the local station ending their piece on the Roloff Farm. As I listened to the last 15 seconds I realized this was the piece they were filming on October 10th when I to the farm by myself. I went to the TV channels website and could not locate the segment. So I emailed the station asking how I could view the segment. Within minutes I received a reply from the anchor woman leading me a different site. So I watched the video; to my amazement I appeared in the video! Wow. I laughed at that. I am only there for less than a second and it happens fast; at 27 seconds into the piece. I am including a link so you can laugh to. I think its funny, because right after you see me, the interviewer Brooke asks Matt about people taking pictures of him and I know I am taking about 7 or 8 pictures of him, Brooke and the cameraman.

Roloff Farm Video from Better TV

Roloff Farm Video from You Tube (same segment)

Enjoy the laughs and Happy Fall

Roloff Farm - 2nd Visit - 10/24/08

Friday was a great day! I have had it planned for a couple of weeks and was looking forward to it.
I was planning to take my daughter and 2 of her college friends to Roloff Farms, The Cheesecake Factory and the NW Women's Show. I knew it was going to be a really long day but felt that it would be filled with laughter, lots of pictures and some good food.


The plan was we would leave the house early so that we could get to Roloff Farm by 10 when the gates opened. I wasn't sure what traffic to the farm would be like and thankfully we got there about 20 minutes before the gates opened. Surprisingly, we weren't the first ones at the gate! There were 3 cars in front of us. Wow!
We got out of the car and took a few pictures. The man at the gate even offered to take our picture so I could be in it too. Thank You!!

After we parked we went to get our tickets for the Town tour. The girls were excited as none of them had ever been there before. When we were waiting in line I noticed that the bike on the zip line had a new addition - a large pumpkin with sunglasses on it. I said hello to Karen, the lady who did 1 of the tours I took 2 weeks ago. She said she remembered me and was glad that I came back. I introduced my DD (darling daughter) and her 2 friends. She is so nice. A good representation of the people who work at the farm.

While we were waiting for the tractor to fill up the Roloff's dog Rocky came to our little seating area and got some love from the girls and the other people sitting with us. He is such a sweet dog and the girls just loved him. He stayed with us until we got to the "Town" then off he went in search of squirrels.

After the tour we walked around the pumpkin patch. I noticed that there were several guy around the trebuchet, then I noticed that Amy was talking with them. But I was more interested in the trebuchet and what they were doing with it. Then one guy was climbing it and clipping something onto the top of it. As I continued to watch I heard and saw the trebuchet move. The men working with the trebuchet were just seeing if the electrical was working. I heard one man say that they didn't want to keep moving it as people on the field might think they were going to launch pumpkins.


As I was walking away I saw Amy walking up the gravel patch near the tour lines. I greeted her and asked if she could pause for a real quick picture, she was kind and did stop. Thanks Amy!! She said she had to rush, she was going to pick up her son from school. I thanked her and told her she made my day. I told her that we were going to the NW Women's Show and asked her if she wanted to join us. She said she'd love to but she had to stick around the farm and work. But it sure sounded fun. I wish she couldhave joined us. It would have been so much more fun with her with us.



The girls loved having their pictures taken in front of the wagon and on the sofa in the gift barn. We paid for our purchases and started heading to the car when Karen asked if we wanted to take pictures with Amy. "Of Course!!!" Karen wanted me/us to get that done after Amy took pictures with this nice group of men from South Carolina. They did their pictures and 1 of the guys called his wife and asked Amy to say hi to her. She was kind enough and did it. You could tell that the wife was really surprised.

Finally it was our turn!! Karen took a really great picture for us. Thanks alot Karen. That was wonderful and the girls and I are really thrilled to have had that chance.
We will be back next year.

To see more of the shots I took check out my album - Roloff Farm - 2nd Visit

Next was lunch at the Cheesecake Factory - so, so yummy. And I hope that waiter calls DD. LOL

We had a great time at the Women's Show and the girls want to go again next year.

My Blinded By The Light - Night

About 3 months ago I was checking out the local casinos concerts that I would really like to see. I was thrilled when I saw that Foreigner was coming to Chinook Winds. They were doing a 2 night sow. I chose Saturday night instead of Friday so I could be more relaxed and not have to come directly from work.

I remember listening to them after I graduated high school. I love their music. Many a day I would crank up the stereo rockin' to the sounds of Foreigner, Boston, Chicago, Queen, Steve Miller and more. Driving in the car with the windows down in the summer was the best! I could sing out loud and not bother anyone with my off key, skipped word singing.

I was glad when I ordered my ticket. Knowing I would be sitting on the end of an aisle. Hoping that I would be able to get some good pictures. But, knowing all along, that the day or two before I went to the concert I would have to check with the casino if cameras would be allowed.

I had the day planned. I would leave town about 2, head to Lincoln City to the outlet mall, look for new shoes. (Love those white Reeboks) and check out the cost of a new lens for the Canon digi cam. Go to the casino, gamble a bit, have dinner, gamble and then the concert.

Not wanting to spend a lot on gambling I took out a $5 bill and put it into a machine. Thankfully the machine was kind. I would go up, then go down, then back up a bit again. At a point I was up $30. Yeah!!!!

Dinner was delicious. I got there just before it got crowed and you would have to wait a long time to get your food. Plenty of choices.

With the concert starting at 8pm the doors would open at 7. I headed downstairs looked at the choices of shirts and CD's for sale. I have really never been a person to purchase stuff at the few concerts I have attended. But I did splurge and get a t-shirt and CD. But the catch on the CD purchase was you also got a raffle ticket for the drawing at the end of the night for a signed guitar. OK - I honestly knew the chances of my winning were slim I did it anyway.

After I got my shirt and CD I went to the car to change shirts, wanted to wear the new Foreigner shirt at the concert, and leave the CD; didn't want it to get lost or broken. When I came back they were letting out the VIP people who got to have a meet & greet with the band. I got to chat with this really nice couple who showed me their signed CD. I really liked them. Bid goodbye to them when the doors opened.

I found my seat, a bit further back from the stage than I had originally thought. Bummer, I might have a hard time taking good pictures. The nice lady usher and I chatted while I waited for the concert to start. I noticed the stage had a beautiful guitar set up center stage. Took out the camera to take a shot of it and the usherette said that cameras weren't allowed. The band said that only cell phone cameras would be allowed. She told me I could check it out with the head security guy. His answer was the same.

After the concert started I took the camera out and tried taking pictures. Thankfully no security telling me or anyone else to put the cameras away. YEAH!!!! I enjoyed watching the band sing, dance and flip their hair. I especially enjoyed it when lead singer Kelly Hansen jumped off the stage and onto the railing 1 row down from me, walked and danced on the table or railing.

As the concert was drawing to a close I went up closer to the stage to get some better shots. Hoping that I would be able to get some sort of souvenir from the concert. I almost had my hand on a drumstick. Rats I am too short. But I did get 2 guitar picks!!! Yippee

I got home downloaded the shots I took - can you believe it, over 250 pics and 3 videos.

I had such an awesome time.

Now to wait until this Friday (10/24) when DD and her 2 friends and go to Roloff Farms, Cheesecake Factory and the NW Women's show. It will be soooo fun and another day of photo ops.

If you want to see more of my shots from the concert ...http://good-times.webshots.com/album/568167032PZvPld

Hope you enjoy them.

My Pumpkin Patch Trip

Well - October is here. I was thankful for this 4 day weekend. Time to refocus myself. Ahhhhh I can feel those brain cells relaxing. I wanted to something fun on Friday so I decided I was going to go off to Roloff Farms. See how long it takes to get there for when DD and I go to the NW Women's show we can stop there first.

For those of you who don't know - the Roloff's have their own show on the TLC network called "Little People Big World". It shows the family of 6, where 3 of the members have 2 types of dwarfism and how they cope on their 34 acre farm in Hillsboro. They open their farm up during pumpkin season. Many people from all over come and visit the farm during October.

They offer 2 types of tours; the Town Tour & Scenic Tour, have lots of pumpkins ready to take home, a few exotic animals, and lots of stuff for sale.

It was a bright chilly day. When I arrived it looked like it was just beginning to get busy. As I walked through the parking lot I spotted one of the farms "mules" (an all terrain vehicle) with an older gentleman on the passenger side. (Of course I had my camera with me) I thought it might be Matt's father so I took a picture. I immediately went and got tickets for the two tours. I decided to do the town tour first. Waiting is not always my best trait. Especially when I do things on my own. So - I waited for about 40 minutes. The farm was getting busy enough that they had to get another tractor/wagon started. It was a fun tour. The best part was the 10 minute stop at Western Town and being greeted by Matt's parents - Ron & Peg! Our tour guide was great! This wasn't her normal job but she did wonderful. She even told us that Matt was on the farm doing an interview. She asked if we wanted her to call and ask him to stop by and say hi. Yeah - we did!!

We got to have pics taken with Ron & Peg. As we boarding the tractor/wagon Matt Roloff and the interviewer, cameraman and another guy named Dustin showed up. Matt talked with us and we all took pics of him in his mule.

Back at the waiting area for the next tour. Ahh - more waiting. Just under an hour! The tour was interesting. Parts of the farm you wouldn't normally be able to see. Views were great of the distant mountain range and of the lower part of the farm.

After the tour I walked around the pumpkin patch taking pics. I checked on the animals and walked through the gift shop area. I did buy myself a t-shirt. But decided to wait to get my pumpkin until DD and I go together. As I was walking back to the car I saw three guys from the camera crew hanging out, I chatted with them for a bit. They were real nice and asked me questions about how I liked the tours. I told them I liked it but on the scenic tour Matt should think about trimming the trees fo a better view of the mountains, so you don't get random branches if your pics. They thought it was a great idea. All in all it was a great way to spend the day.

Hope you enjoy the shots.
Me with Ron & Peg Roloff

Matt in his Mule

Matt being filmed

Producer guy - Dustin

One of my favs of the day

Soon to Be Fall

Here it is - Sept 29th, just one more day until October. I am so not ready for fall. Not ready to wake up in the dark, not ready for the dreary looking days, not yet ready for the drizzle that lingers for days, and not ready for the holidays that tend to cause sadness in many people.

I have enjoyed spring and summer this year, I enjoyed the slight breezes that cooled me on those hot afternoons, the smells of fresh mowed grass (even though it made me sneeze and rub my eyes), being able to attend River Rhythms with good friends, sitting on the deck listening to the silence of the night and going to bed with the window open hearing the frogs and crickets sing their songs.

The last few months I have been able to take some good pictures. Mostly because I am taking my time composing them better and I am taking the camera with me more often. I am finding that I can't get my macro shots to come out as I see them in my head. Is it the camera, me or a combination of the two.


I went out Sunday afternoon and took some flower shots at the courthouse. I like some of the but the one I was really hoping would turn out didn't do as well. A small butterfly (?) sat on this marigold for the longest time, allowing me to take many shots. The amazing part is I watched as it fed on the flower, sticking the proboscis in and out, over and over again.


I was thrilled to be able to go to the Fall Festival with some friends. I love hanging out with them. They have such a great outlook. Make me feel welcome. Cooling down with snow cones and walking downtown was just great.


So - soon fall will be upon us, gone will be the days of shorts and flip flops. Soon will be the days of jackets, long pants, possibly gloves and the days of constant rain. Soon will be the days of brightly colored leaves falling from the trees; covering the bright green grass that has sprung back to life. Grass that has been in a dormant state due to people deciding NOT to water their lawns in order to afford gas and groceries. Fall - the time of year for homecoming games, the first queen of the new school year, the time when people start worrying about the fastly approaching holidays.


May you enjoy the wonderful weather we have here in the valley. Remember - you could be living in a place that snows alot. That rain that has fallen for 3 days could equal many inches of snow in another state!!.


Enjoy!

Up, Up & Away

I got to thinking the other day that I hadn't talked about the NW Art & Air Fest that Albany has held every August for the last 24 years.

It is the last fun summer thing I do before heading back to work.

I love this fest! So many beautiful balloons, nice people, fun activities and many photo opportunities. I have been interested in hot air balloons since we lived in Bothell, WA and saw some balloons flying in a nearby town. We chased those balloons and we were able to watch them deflate and pack up the balloon.

When we moved here in 1993 I was thrilled to see balloons flying over the house one morning. I made sure to get up real early the next morning and watched the balloons fill up with air from a fan and then the pilot ignite his burner to heat that air up, causing the envelope to rise up. Watching in amazement as they would load people into the baskets and with the push of a lever more heat would come from the burner allowing for the balloon to lift off the ground. Gently, quietly, lifting with grace the balloons would catch the slight wind currents and take off in unknown directions.

August 2001 Top of the CheckMate balloon

The next year I made sure to mark the 3 day weekend that the balloon fest would be happening. I got the kids up early and we went to the nearby high school were they were doing the liftoffs. We were thrilled when we got to help a pilot or two with their balloons. This same year we even chased the balloons and watched them land. How exciting!!

Somewhere along the line we signed up to be one the "crew", a group of volunteers who are assigned to help a pilot with his/her balloon for the weekend (or as much as you can). Both the kids were excited to do this.
As the years went on we continued to help, somewhere along the line, wonderful son dropped out of the scene and it ended up being just my daughter and I. Great bonding time, getting up at 4 or 4:30 to be on the field by 5:15 to 5:30 am. She is NOT a morning person. LOL

N and I at West A helping out! - 2003

Some pilots will even try and give a crew member a ride on the last day if they don't have passengers. I have been up 3 times, T has been up 4 or 5 times I think and N- 4 to 6 times.

But my best time going up was when N & I were able to go up together in 2006. I took my camera (duh!) and was able to take some great shots.
N & Mar holding done the basket before lift off - '06

A view from the balloon as we lift off

A beautiful shot of the pilot's brother's balloon

N looking out at the landscape

N & Mar enjoying time together
In the last couple of years my son has been helping out with the balloon fest - he and his housemate have been doing launch detail. This means that they tell the pilots when they have the clearance to lift off.

This summer marked my 12th or 13th year helping out. I ended up helping 2 pilots this year. The first one was Kevin from Louisiana and Eugene. Really nice guy, pretty balloon. He made it to Freeway Lakes where I was able to take a few shots of him over the calm lake. The day was overcast and the lighting was blah, but I did get a few good shots in. On Sat & Sun I was assigned to help Mick Vale and his wife. What a nice newlywed couple, they are a bit older than me. They askd me to help again next year, maybe. I was also asked by Kevin to help him next year and then there was Scott S. from 2 years ago, he asked for me too. WOW.
'08 - Over Freeway Lake

Count how many there are

One of my favs this year

My other fav!
I got a text from my son that Sunday of the fest. He was able to get a ride. Carrie was his pilot and he got to ride in her balloon "Ha Kunna Matta". Here she is pinning her balloon pin on son. He's even smiling!! He's so handsome, isn't he?



Hope you enjoyed the photos!!

Reflective Moments

As I sit here tonight working on pictures I took last week - I reflect back on motherhood.

I wanted to be a mom, but I was young and fearful of how good a parent I would be.

I was thrilled to welcome my son in 1985, a cute little bundle of energy. Always moving, always running warm. Sleeping in just a diaper in Feb. he was content.

When my daughter was born in 1987, I relished her sweet delicate and long fingers. How beautiful she was.

Still the fear in me stayed, would I be a good mom? Would my kids be happy with me? Can I teach them all they need to know in order to survive the harsh and weird world we have? Would they have lifelong friends to share the special moments of their life? Would they become the success that THEY want to achieve? I knew these were fears most parents go through but these were mine.

I have seen my kids go through many stages of growing up. Watched them make some friends both good ones and bad. I have seen my son through the death of a peer and the joy of his high school graduation. Been there when my son has gotten stitches in a battle with a tennis racket and a broken thumb after mountain biking. I watched as my daughter made friends with 4 girls in 1st grade and continues to be best friends with LAK, and good friends with the other 3. I have enjoyed taking my daughter places. We have seen one of her 4 friends get married this summer.

I have always told my children I think the best thing they can do with their life is to try and continue their education and strive to be the best that they can be. I was thrilled that my son decided to work and go to the local community college for a little more than 2 years. He then decided to quit school and work full time. Also choosing to move out into a house with a friend. Recently he told me he intends to go back to school. That is all the information I have so far but I am thrilled.

My daughter - she is starting her senior year at the U of O. I can't believe that the years since her graduation has gone by so, so quickly. She has been doing this mostly on her own as we are so dang in debt. She has less than a year to figure out what happens next but she has a good head on her shoulders and I am sure she will.

So... back to why I started this - this week I wanted to take pictures of my daughter and her longtime friend. Kind of like Senior pictures done in high school. The day was really, really bright and the girls didn't get into it as much as I wished. But I did manage to get a few good shots of them together and separately. I was amazed at the maturity these young women have acquired. They are both smart and beautiful, both inside and out.

I see a drive in these 3 young people of my life. They inspire me. Making me wish I had done more with college. Become more than I am. Now realizing that I want to go back but things are out there that prevent me from it. I wish much success and wisdom for my son, daughter, her best friend and all they touch.