April flowers without too many showers

We have been busy the past few weeks. The rainy season has ended bringing sun and green. It has also been getting warmer and the combination has been urging us to be outside walking and biking around town.  We went to a tulip festival at the Wooden shoe tulip farm where met some new friends to view the fields of color.

 I even got to try on a pair of wooden shoes!

After viewing the flowers we went in search of food and came across a misplaced German town called Mt Angel which claims to be home of Oktoberfest. We ate some authentic German food which of course is bratwurst and sauerkraut. Here is what the street looked like:   








For Earth day we went to an organic garden and ate worm lollipops!

ok well we didn't eat the worm but I did plant some onions! When spring begins I always find myself wanting to dig in the dirt. Living in the short term as we are it doesn't seem practical to invest in gardening equipment so I hadn't gotten my fix yet until now!

On another outdoor adventure we went on a hike up to Mary's peak which is the highest peak on the Oregon coast. Jonathan told me it was only 7.5 miles but we found out it was really 9.5 miles. My muscles are still aching 3 days later! I've been reading some books lately about young women who thru-hike the Appalachian and pacific coast trail. Jonathan is an avid hiker and talks of someday hiking the Appalachian trail. Every time we go on a hike I try to convince myself that I could thru-hike but I just don't know that I can. At first it feel exciting to be out in the woods and smell and see the trees and flowers and greenery. But after awhile it becomes monotonous just walking and walking.  Then I think could I really go days without showering and using outdoor bathrooms? As I watch Jonathan's long legs putting distance between us I also realize if we hiked the trail I would be mostly hiking it on my own as we hike in very different paces.  I am a very slow hiker. Several hikers passed by me which embarrassed Jonathan.  They say on the trail to hike your own hike. Well I did and finally made it to the top.