Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread - Proverbs 30:8

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

A lot of {pretty} and {happy} ~ Waterfall Edition


taking a moment to find joy in the little things

{pretty}
Most of these are in my own backyard...it's so pretty out there right now.





These last two I snapped while hiking.





{happy and pretty}
I love, love, love waterfalls and this past week I've had the opportunity to hike to four different ones! First there was Oregon's most visited waterfall...Multnomah Falls. The girls and I have an annual tradition of hiking to the top. This past winter some rocks fell on the bridge and damaged it - closing it for repairs for several months. It just reopened this past week, and it was a perfect day to hike to the top.




{funny and real}
The hike to the top of these falls is quite over-hyped. The only view of the falls you have is this one...it's pretty, but not nearly as breathtaking as the view you have from the bottom - with both upper and lower falls and the bridge in the middle.


And then you get to the top and can virtually see nothing. It just looks like a normal creek and if you look out toward the gorge, you can see the parking lot below. Oh well... the girls like it and it's a fun little tradition we do in May. 


back to {happy and pretty}

Then we went to Bridal Veil falls. These falls are probably the closest to our house and the hike is really a nice, short walk. Because of those two reasons, we've never bothered to stop. {funny and real} I've started seeing pics of these falls on instagram and decided I needed to take the time to go see them myself. I was NOT disappointed. They are gorgeous!



Sunday we took a family hike to Tamanawas Falls





And on Memorial Day, we hiked with some friends to Punch Bowl falls. This particular hiking trail is one of the most popular in our area. My husband doesn't really like hiking with thousands of other people, so this was another new to me trail. He had done this hike before with the girls (on one of those rare occasions I chose to stay home), but I had never gone. We got there early and pretty much had the area to ourselves, but as we were hiking out it was getting very crowded!
lower falls
Seeing either of these falls takes a little extra effort. To see the upper falls (pictured below), you have to balance on rocks or wade through water, and even then the falls are still pretty far away. There is a view point from up above, but the trees and other forest growth keep you from getting a nice, clear view. And to get this view of the lower falls (pictured above), I had squeeze my way round a rock and tree and peer through a small opening to get this shot. 

upper falls

So that's what my week looked like...lots of adventuring and getting out into nature. There were other happy moments, too...like meeting Chase the horse and Wallace and Gromit the donkeys. 

more {happy}






{real}
The main reason we are able to do this kind of stuff is because we've simplified our lives in other ways and we have the time and freedom to go. This is the reality of pursuing minimalism for me. It may seem like we are often on the go, but the reality is that we are home most of the time. I only schedule one activity a week for the girls and I, and then on the weekends we have our family adventures. This is why I pursue simple living...so I can do these things with my girls.

28 comments:

  1. I thought the flowers were pretty, but then I saw the waterfalls and WOW, they are amazing. Thanks for sharing these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are amazing...and they are everywhere here. It's quite amazing to be driving down the highway and look out the window to see water pouring from the mountains.

      Delete
  2. ahhh that was a beautiful little photo trip! I love all the waterfalls in the Pacific NW, not that I've been but I've seen plenty of pictures to wish I could take a trip =) So fun to get out and go breathe in some nature.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you enjoyed them....I absolutely love the area where we live.

      Delete
  3. Das ist eine wundervolle Fotoserie...
    Die Blüten sind fantastisch fotografiert.
    Und die Wasserfallfotos sind traumhaft.
    Liebe Grüße, Karin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I google translated your comment : )

      Delete
  4. Those waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge are some of the things I miss about living in PNW. I grew up hiking around those falls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't they beautiful? I know if we ever leave this area, I will miss the beauty.

      Delete
  5. Lovely shots, all of them! Love the ones of the waterfalls, would be amazing to visit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is an amazing place. The first time I came here (5 years ago), I was stunned by the beauty and grandeur of this area.

      Delete
  6. Beautiful waterfalls!!!!


    http://www.pienilintu.blogspot.fi/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I could take credit for their beauty...

      Delete
  7. My sister lives in PDX and we do a big falls hike each summer - LOVE that part of Oregon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it's quite amazing that this is my "backyard"...my big playground for the weekends! So glad you get the chance to visit them and enjoy their beauty regularly!

      Delete
  8. Oh my dad used to take me to those falls when I was a kid. Very fond memories. We drove past them on a recent trip but didn't stop. Next time for sure - I want my kids to see them up close.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your kids will love looking for the giant slugs and seeing all the moss that hangs off the trees, too!

      Delete
  9. I'm always amazed at the nature you are able to find! Such gorgeous shots!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nature is in abundance here...one of the advantages of all the rain we get.

      Delete
  10. I love both the flowers and the waterfalls.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gorgeous views of some of my favorite falls! I am glad Benson Bridge is repaired at Multnomah. BTW - once you get to the top of the falls, if you hike back up the creek just a short ways, the forest has many smaller waterfalls that are worth the extra few minutes of walking around. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those waterfall photos, especially the first set, look so unreal!

    ReplyDelete
  13. LOVE Multnomah - glad to hear I'm not missing out on hiking to the top! I've thought about having someone drop me off at Larch mountain so I can hike down (instead of up) to see the top of the falls. Might still do that as it's not nearly as difficult. Two summers ago, we drove up Larch mountain and then hiked up to the viewpoint - quite a hike as I was pregnant! - but WOW, it was a gorgeous view! Especially great for my husband, who had never been to Oregon (all of my extended family lives there). Can't believe you've never been to Bridal Veil Falls! That's my mom's favorite one. Great one to play in, too. Nice childhood memories there (including my sister needing stitches from slipping and hitting a rock...eh...you know...). I haven't been to the other falls recently, but do recognize them. Gorgeous photos!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love all of your waterfall shots! Now you need to come to California so I can take you to Yosemite ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your waterfall shots are so beautiful. And the flowers in your yard are gorgeous. I LOVE your idea on living simple.. I strive to do the same.

    Hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  16. What gorgeous photos! I agree, the view from the bottom of the falls was way better! But still looks fun!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love all your gorgeous photography! Such crisp, bright photos with lots of feeling! :)
    Thank you so much for joining Floral Love! Hope you join me again in a day or so ♥

    ReplyDelete
  18. LOL! your shot is almost exactly like mine, but yours is better... so pretty.

    ReplyDelete