Green Friday

 In Oregon, "Black Friday" is "Green Friday." All state parks, fishing, clamming and crabbing is free the day after Thanksgiving, hoping to get people out into the beautiful Oregon countryside and forest instead of shopping malls.

We headed to Champoeg State Park which is 10 miles from our home. It was a gorgeous, fresh fall day after rain all night. It felt great to hike the trails with Cotton, our yellow lab, and work off a little of the Thanksgiving feast.

Old growth firs, Oregon oaks and a wild prairie cover the 678 acre park.

Some of the trails follow the Willamette River and there's a dock for easy canoe and kayak access.

Champoeg is a ghost town that was an important settlement in the early 1840's. It is the site of the first provisional government of the Oregon Country.

The park includes Butteville General Store, which was founded by a French Canadian that helped form the government in 1843. 

The store sells various Italian sodas and other drinks and rents bikes. In the summer, there's a pioneer garden and pioneer re-enactments. Bluebirds arrive in the spring to take up residence in the many bluebird houses set along fence posts.

Thank you, Oregon, for turning the day after Thanksgiving into something so fun . . .and all free!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yay! It's Thanksgiving! 

My favorite holiday! I love the non-commercial aspect of gathering friends and family over a big meal to give thanks. But, not only the gathering makes this time special; it's the beautiful season, too.

Evergreens and wisps of smoke from the fireplace scent the crisp air as we walk along paths in our woodland covered in autumn leaves. 

Without notice, the mind and body relaxes as birds sing sweetly about the beauty of this day. 

Our northwest coastal Oregon is receiving plentiful rain, with just enough days of sunshine mixed in to get outside to do a little garden cleanup.

As I finish some artwork to prepare for a nice, long holiday with family and friends, my heart grows larger re-counting the blessings God has so lovingly given. Many may not see little (or even big) blessings as they hustle to prepare the dinner in order to then scurry from store to store to find that special buy. 

But, I will savor this peaceful thanksgiving with pumpkins and dahlias on windowsills, a roaring fire, the table overflowing with the garden's bounty and not a piece of Christmas in site until the end of Thanksgiving weekend.