Flowering Trees
Lot of trees in bloom, but I particularly love the flowering cherries - this one is a weeping variety. They are spectacular!
Wheat Fields
The wheat fields are greening up and are beautify! And on most days, the clouds are spectacular - on a day like this I love getting off the main drag and just wandering through this beautiful country.
Wildflowers
I went on a short hike in the hills overlooking Dayton and these Oregon Sunflowers were in full bloom. Wow!
The tulips and daffodils are spectacular here in Dayton. These brilliant tulips are growing in the yard of Sean and Tammy - wonderful members of Dayton Ward.
84 Years Young
Frank noticed a leak in the 100-year old pipe under his house and decided it was time to put in a new water line. Seeing the very straight 4-foot-deep hole, I asked who dug it, thinking he must have hired it out. He responded. "I did". When my jaw dropped, he downplayed it with "But it took me 11 hours". Well that's disappointing - NOT!
Frank found the pipe by "well witching" - using small rods to sense where the pipe was located. I worked! Some things that don't make sense logically can be very effective.
Violin Concert
After an evening appointment fell through, we reached out to Betty, a friend from the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She replied that she was attending a violin concert at her church and invited us to join.
We expected the concert to be local talent, but were pleasantly surprised to learn that the internationally renowned Jamie Jorge was performing.
Jaime grew up in Cuba but his family was able to emigrate to the US when he was 10 years old. He has subsequently given back, supporting a Cuban non-profit music school.
I felt his love of God in his music. It was a beautiful/fortuitous evening!
Spring in Dayton
The Columbia County Courthouse is the oldest working courthouse in Washington State. We finally were able to go inside!
Staircase leading up to the courtroom.
Loved the beautiful, traditional courtroom, complete with a side balcony!
Volunteering
We supported the non-profit "Second Harvest", who distributes food once a month in Dayton. Fun to serve side-by-side with our the young missionaries and community members. We organized and loaded cars driving through for pickup.
Golf
Frank invited me to golf with him on the 9-hole course in Dayton. Was very fun! We were the only people on the course....so it was very chill. And fortunate for me, the course is very forgiving!
Two of the holes are inside the racetrack on the county fairgrounds, including the one above (note the white rail in the background). I love the multi-use of this space.
I also love that here in this small rural town, folks generally trust each - see the signs to the right . (Green fees (only $20!) are normally paid at the restaurant.)
Another Volunteer Opportunity
This one was supporting the Kiwanis Club, who owns a cabin on some beautiful property in the nearby Blue Mountains. This was their annual spring cleanup - raking pine needles away from structures, picking downed branches, sweeping the cabin, and just general cleanup.
Find a Grave
One afternoon we went to two cemeteries with the objective to photograph specified grave stones and upload them to the website "Find a Grave", This website connects people doing family history with people living nearby the related graveyard. Was fun walking through the graveyards looking for the requested names.
Thai Cuisine
Janae just arrived home from BYU Idaho for one-week bread. When I learned that she loves cooking (and has a dream to open a gourmet restaurant someday), I volunteered to cook alongside her. So we worked together on purchasing ingredients and cooking a Thai dinner for her parents and Chris.
Janae served as the head cook and a very good one at that! We prepared spring rolls, yellow curry (chicken and potatoes), and sweet rice with mango. Delicious!
Variety Show
The local theatre holds a semi-annual variety show with local talent. This two and a half hour production was super fun. It exceeded my expectations! I loved the MC, who was very funny - a ventriloquist who had some hilarious lines! The theatre was packed. Just a fun community event.
Dayton High School
Our landlord invited us to attend a high school softball game to watch her daughter play. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful backdrop to left field. The field is behind Dayton High School, which is the oldest operating high school in Washington State, built in the 1880s. Love the pillars!
Family Legacy
I was super impressed with the garden shop in nearby Waitsburg (another small, rural town). So I asked the owner about how long they had been there and how they were able to build such a business in such a sparsely populated area. He was happy to share his story. His mother, who passed away about 10 years ago, had always had a dream to start a garden center. So after she dies, the family rallied around the idea and decided to turn hear dream into reality. Hence the name "Nancy's Dream Garden Center".
What a legacy! I sensed that their love for their mother has translated into love for plants and community, which has to be part of the reason the business is thriving.
Portugal !
After waiting 2 months for our visas to be processed, we finally got word on April 16 that they had been approved. We were thrilled!
But truth be known, it was also a sad day. We grew to love so many people in Dayton - we hated to leave them.
We flew to Portugal two days later, arriving yesterday, April 19. Just in time to celebrate Easter!
More to come in my next blog post!
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Comments
Exciting to see you in Portugal!
Hi glad you made it to Portugal. I'm sure it will be a lovely adventure. Happy Belated Easter.
We are so happy for you! Portugal is lucky to have you!
Glad you've arrived at your destination. Great work in optimizing your time in Oregon. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences.
Spence
I just love your blog! Thanks for sharing your experiences. I’m excited that you now in Portugal!!
May the Lord bless you both abundantly!
Cris