Clackamas Geocoin Challenge 2012

Yesterday my daughter, Catherine, my son, Christopher, and I did the Clackamas Geocoin Challenge along the Clackamas River.   I chose Blazingthrewthewoods "Chiller" gift at the GEOregon Holiday Party.  I put two cups of hot chocolate in the "Chiller" yesterday to take along with me.  It was a really chilly morning so it warmed me.  Catherine and I picked Christopher up at the church where he is the pianist.  We took him to his apartment near Portland State University so he could change his clothes and feed his cat.  We found 11 caches.  We did not find the last three caches as there was black ice on the road.  We turned in the forms at the Estacada Library to get our Geocoins.  We stopped at A&W/Taco Bell in Estacada to eat a late lunch.  I had a very weird Cheese Chili Dog.  We drove through Sandy on the way home, stopping at Joe's Donuts.  Never stop on a Sunday.  Very few donuts. It was a beautiful day for a drive.  The high temperature was a chilly 43 degrees with clear blue skies.  Once the sun started going down the temperature dropped.

Christmas Tea 2012

My daughter Catherine and I had Christmas Tea 2012 at The Gathering Place at Pomeroy Living History Farm from noon to 2:00. We had Cucumber Sandwiches with Herb Butter, Turkey with Avocado and Provolone Sandwiches, and Radish Sandwiches.  Also Scones with jam/preserves and Devonshire Style Cream.  We had Individual Trifles, Chocolate Nut Tortes, Lemon Tarts and Peppermint Christmas Cookies for dessert.  Afterwards I wandered through the lower floor of the 1920 Pomeroy Log House to view the Holiday Decorations.

Lunch at Albertina Kerr, Magoos and Caching in the Dark

I had lunch at Albertina Kerr in Portland.  Just before lunch I shopped at their thrift store where I purchased a sterling sliver thin bracelet on sale for $4.00.  I had lunch at 1:30 of Albertina Classic: Holiday House Salad, Apple Cider Chicken and delicious Homemade Pumpkin Pie topped with a bit of whipped cream.  Afterwards I purchased a beautiful paperweight at their store for $28.00.

Bluemoth found the cache to applause from above (us not the Heavenly Father).  Boringgirl, Bluemoth, silliemillie, vikingchick92 and Geodude2008 drove to Mt Scott following the happy holiday get together at Magoos on NE 42nd. The log was signed "Timon's Army" in memory of Boringgirl's cat Timon who died last night. We were being watched by a man above us on top of the rock wall. I bet he was trying to figure out what we were doing on a dark, drizzly night. There was a great view of the city lights!

On Monday evening, December 17, 2012,  I attended the Scandia Christmas Party with my son, Christopher.  Christopher is the pianist for the Scandia Singers.  After dinner I went upstairs to the church to hear the Scandia Chorus.   Afterwards we had dessert.  I took Christopher back to his apartment near Portland State University.

On Saturday, December 15, 2012, I arrived early for the Lighted Walk Down Peacock Lane in Portland so I could get a parking place close to Walgreens.  I read Dave Barry's "Lunatics" for awhile.  About 6:00pm I walked across the street to Walgreens where they were celebrating their Grand Reopening.  I ate some celebration cake and had a couple small peach drinks.  I was given a large red Walgreens bag filled with various items that will be great for putting in caches.  I met up with the Geocaching Group at 7:00pm.  Since the 1920s, each house in this quaint SE Portland neighborhood has been decorating for Christmas with lights and other decor with ardent holiday glee.  Mostly Tudors, the houses are adorned with not only beautiful sparkling lights and carolers, but also nativity scenes, rotating Christmas trees, life-like replicas of Santa, Frosty, Rudolph....and all things in between.  After wandering down the street looking at the brightly decorated houses and talking with several cachers I returned on my own to look more closely at the decorations.  I took several photos.  Afterwards I drove to east Vancouver where I found a cache that I could not find earlier in the day.

On 12-12-12 I attended an event cache by WSGA Southwest Chapter at Juliano's Pizzeria on SE Mill Plain Blvd in east Vancouver, WA at 6:30pm.  I had an enjoyable time this evening.  The Chefs Salad was one of the best I have ever eaten (it would have been great to have the traditional hard boiled egg though).  I found a night cache with other cachers after the event.  I enjoyed the festive holiday lights as we wandered through the streets.  I took more than memories home with me.  I discovered a small snail curled up on the toe of my shoe when I got home.

On Saturday, December 8, 2012, I attended the 4th Annual GEO Holiday Party at TEBO's Restaurant in Gladstone, Oregon.  I stopped at the Milwaukie City Hall to take several photos of the monument honoring the founders of the city.  I sat at a table near the round fireplace.  The halibut fish and chips was terrible.  The Key Lime Pie was good.  I participated in the gift exchange.  I had a great time.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012
This morning I rode the MAX light rail and the streetcar to The Old Church at 11th and Clay.  I saw "Relatively Speaking" a 1965 play set in 1965 by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn.  The action of the play takes place during a summer weekend in the bed-sitting room of Ginny’s London flat and on the garden patio of Sheila and Philip’s home in Buckinghamshire, outside London.  The play was hilarious!

On Sunday, December 2, 2012, I rode the MAX Light Rail into downtown Portland.  I went to The Oregon Historical Society for the 45th Annual Holiday Cheer - A Celebration of Oregon Authors at noon.  I especially wanted to meet Phillip Margolin as I had read a couple of his books recently.  After I looked at the books and talked to a few of the over 70 Oregon Authors on the 1st and 2nd floors of the museum I had a few of the tasty holiday dessert samples.  I explored The Oregon Historical Museum.