Summer Sun!

Beautiful day today - great weather to be out and about. Now that school is out families are spending more time together and everyone is thinking about vacations. Disneyland and Disneyworld are always popular vacation destinations, but not everybody is leaving the state. Many of us are looking for things to do closer to home this year, exploring the cities and countryside around us.

What to do without spending a small fortune on airfare or fuel? Camping vacations are a good choice, both economical and easy to plan. And we here in Oregon are lucky. Oregon is full of great places to camp, fish, swim, bike and explore. Most of them are within an afternoons drive of wherever you live, and there's something to be said for not spending half your vacation on the road. Here are a couple of websites to help you decide. Follow links at each site for even more local opportunities:

http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/vacations-oregon (parks, museums, zoos, waterparks)
http://www.allgetaways.com/region.asp?areaid=100578 (Oregon family vacations & getaways)
Oh, and don't forget about Columbia County - Portland's nearest escape. http://www.travelcolumbiacounty.com

Whether you choose the mountains or the seashore, hotels, B&B's or tents, don't forget to stop in at Word for Word to pick up some summer reading material. After a run or a hike, with cold drink in hand, you can always find a comfortable spot wherever you are and dive into a good book.

PARADE ALERT - PREPARE TO ENJOY!

Today is PARADE DAY in St. Helens. This is an annual shindig, sponsored and managed each year by the Kiwanis Club. This year the parade will extend all the way through town. It will meander down Columbia Blvd. and through the Houlton District, down past IGA & Lewis & Clark Elementary, and then wander through Olde Towne, disbanding at the Old School (the old John Gumm School site, for those who remember the day).

One of the Little League coaches was down earlier, walking the route his boys will be walking later. Good idea! That much walking can wear littlest guys out quickly. My granddaughter Maddie (visiting me for the week), her Uncle Jake & I will be watching from the bookstore. We'll be enjoying all the floats & music & balloons & festive entries. But we'll especially be watching for the Little League teams and thinking of Mario, Alex & Evan, my grandsons, who all play ball on Little League teams in California. (In fact, Mario will probably be practicing at the same time we're watching, as he made the All-Stars this year! Way to go Mario!).

I'm hoping to see lots of people out and about before, during and after the parade, enjoying the wonderful shops and restaurants here in Olde Towne St. Helens! Enjoy the parade and we'll see you here!

Sunday Morning Muse

I do love the rain, but today I am sitting on my deck (not a comfortable thing to do when rain is pounding down), enjoying a cup of coffee and soaking up the beauty of sunshine on the river. OK, there is some cloud cover, too, but that just keeps the temperature down below "broil". That, too, is a good thing.

I'm feeling lazy today - won't be going in to the bookstore til around noonish, which gives me plenty of time to greet this Sunday morning on my terms and have that second cup of coffee. Time, too, to stare across the water and contemplate life - both as it is and as I wish it could be.

As author and syndicated cartoonist Ashleigh Brilliant points out, "My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot."

I'm still working on that.

Ahhhh, The Weekend

Chilly day for the opening performance of "13 Nights on the River." Hope the jazz band from St. Helens High School are wearing their longies this evening.

It's been coolish all day, although it isn't raining (for which I guess we should be grateful). Judging by conversations I've been having with some of my customers today it sounds like lots of folks will be out with their mowers on Saturday, catching up with the fast growing grass. I know my own husband is hoping some miracle stunts the grass in our back yard, but sorry Rob, ain't happening!

So maybe this won't be the weekend to lounge in bed - at least not unless the sound of weed-eaters, lawnmowers and hedge-trimmers lulls you to sleep. You might just want to give it up, have that second cup of coffee and shut out the real world by burying yourself in a book. Better yet, come see me for espresso, books and good conversation. No lawn equipment allowed.

Experience the 1850's This Weekend - FREE EVENT

Take a giant step back into the past and join us in Olde Towne this weekend as we celebrate the founding of St. Helens by Henry Knighton. Bring your family to this free event and experience living history. Activities are scheduled from June 4th through June 6th. Don't forget to also visit the Oregon is Indian Country Exhibit, a traveling exhibit produced by the Oregon Historical Society in partnership with Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes.

While enjoying the festivities, be sure to stop in at Word for Word Books and sample our Ginger Thins or Heritage Tea Cakes with a cup of espresso, drip coffee or tea. A complete schedule of activities can be found online at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5832935&id=320499334147

I'll look forward to seeing you!

Pleading the 4th

Has summer been canceled for this year, or has it just been postponed? I don't think we'll have to worry much this year about fires caused by 4th of July celebrating - we'll be lucky if we can see the fireworks through the cloud cover.

Speaking of 4th of July, last time I heard donations were still being sought by the Fireworks Committee. Come on folks, dig deep. You know we all enjoy seeing the sky lit up with color and color is expensive. I don't know about you, but I plan to spend the evening of the 4th on our deck, watching the fireworks display over the river, surrounded by friends and full as a tick from good holiday fare. (Full as a tick? Where on earth did I pick that up?).

And while you're reaching for your checkbook, don't forget how much you enjoy 13 Nights on the River every year. Free concerts in the park are lovely, but they're not really free. The committee is still looking for sponsors, having lost a couple of key supporters. If you can help out, I know donations would be welcome.

I know, it pretty much sounds like I'm begging, but do remember it's for a good cause. We all take pride in our wonderful annual events and would hate to see them discontinued or even diminished because funding fell short by a few dollars. Forgive my blatant pitch and think about it. Isn't it worth a few measly bucks to keep a tradition going? Right! I thought you'd agree.