Life is a patchwork of experiences
I followed the Quilt Barn Trail in Tualatin Valley, Oregon, and discovered great places to eat global, drink local, play with Mother Nature and love my stay in a fun and quirky lodge. You do not have to be a quilter to experience and enjoy this destination that is barely 30 minutes west of Portland, OR.
Continue reading “Discovering a Patchwork of Experiences on the Tualatin Valley Quilt Barn Trail”
No, not lavender fields – though Tualatin Valley in Oregon has those also. This field has alternating rows of blooming red clover planted amid rows of new grape vines. The red clover is a natural fertilizer, putting nitrogen back into the soil. Cover crops such as these also help with water management as well as providing a haven for beneficial insects. Seeing row upon row of grapevines is a common sight in this area. Part of the renowned Willamette wine growing region, Tualaltin Valley boasts over 35 wineries. Looks like this one could be number 36?
Please note that my visit to the Tualatin Valley Quilt Barn Trail was sponsored by the Washington County Visitor’s Association. All content and opinions are my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
One of the 60 Quilt Barns on the Tualatin Valley Quilt Barn Trail. The Quilt Barn Trail showcases the agricultural and historical heritage in Oregon’s Washington county. Many of the barns on the trail are “Century Barns” which have been in the same family for over 100 years. Each quilt block panel on the trail represents the personal story of the barn’s owners. This Captain’s Star block on the Demmin Farm pays tribute to Captain Lester Demmin who owned this farm after being in command of a nuclear submarine during the cold war. The barn is framed by the farm’s blueberry crop.
Please note that my visit to the Tualatin Valley Quilt Barn Trail was sponsored by the Washington County Visitor’s Association. All content and opinions are my own.
Thanks for visiting
Rose
Photo Location – In early May, the rolling farmland of Oregon’s Tualatin Valley just west of Portland is a tapestry of color.
Farmers plant fields of red clover as part of their crop rotation process. The clover is an organic means of fixing nitrogen in the soil. The plant also has many uses in alternative medicine where it is used for treating such diverse conditions as coughs, menopause and cancer. But while the plant may have practical uses, as I drove around the Tualatin Valley, I just thought the many fields covered in red and green, and shining in the sun, were extremely pretty.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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It’s the magic hour in Istanbul – that time of day after the sun has set and the sky turns a deep royal blue. It’s the perfect time of day for the best view of Istanbul from the Galata Bridge. Looking uphill, the great Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent sparkles like a jewel. In the waters of the Golden Horn at the base of the bridge, the colorful Balik Ekmek (fish sandwich) boats serve up freshly cooked fish to hungry locals and tourists alike. It’s my last grand view of this wonderful city on my last night in Istanbul. What a great way to end my visit. But not my last one – I’ll be back.
Thanks for visiting
Rose
As I stood on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, watching the large crowd of people walking up and down the street, this gentleman blowing bubbles caught my eye. He kept blowing bubbles, trying to sell his little bubble blowing toys. Most of the crowd just parted and walked around him, some smiling at his antics as they walked by. Occasionally, he would make a sale, but he just kept blowing his bubbles which added to the overall festive atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon on Istiklal Avenue.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Sunday afternoon on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul. I read that as many as 3 million people will walk this one mile pedestrian street on a weekend day, and that certainly seemed to be the case on the Sunday afternoon that I was there. The street is lined with shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants and movie theaters. A historic red tram can take you up and down the street, but don’t take it if you are in a hurry. The tram has to go very slowly to let the sea of bodies part so that it can pass. This certainly seems to be the place to go to see and be seen.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
You’ll see Whirling Dervish performances advertised throughout Istanbul, offering an evening of entertainment. But for an authentic experience, I chose to attend a true Mevlevi religious ritual at the Galata Dervish Monastery.
Enjoying a hamam, or Turkish bath in Istanbul is a unique experience in Turkey. I wanted to try it on my first visit to Istanbul, but to do so, I would have to set aside my inhibitions about being seen naked by strangers. Could I do that?
I know I have a typical American hang up about public nudity. Hollywood may show a lot of bare skin, but that’s not me on that screen. Plus, at my age, I feel like I am losing both the battle of the bulge and the battle with gravity. I am not sure that I really should subject the world to seeing my body without clothes on.
Photo location – you can find these traditional colorful Turkish lights throughout the small shops and bazaars in Istanbul.
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