We’ve been throwing really, way up in the air, ideas around about moving. Moving from, what I consider, my home state of Oregon. I’ve been here since I turned 9 years old. That’s a long time.
I started riding horses for people around 12 years old. That started with Elizabeth, and then Ed . . . both went to my parent’s church. Then Frank, where Ed occasionally boarded his horses. Frank’s house was my absolute favorite. His house and property backed into BLM land . . . hills and hills of forest and logging roads, peppered with the random house. I drug my friends, sisters and random people out to trail ride. I trail rode by myself, unwisely. Wild Irises, thick forests and the smell of rich soil. Those memories will never leave me. I get into the Willamette Valley woods, even today, and memories and that sweet essence of youth invades my senses. The creak and smell of leather and horse sweat. The occasional bear and deer. Heaven.
When we moved to Springfield, I was 16. I sold my 2 year colt (my first real horse) and gave up riding Sonoma, the Mustang and Miles, the most beautiful Arab/Morgan auction mutt I have ever laid eyes on. We were just too far from Cottage Grove. I took up hiking. Something about the forest and wannabe mountains.
10 years later I found myself making the drive from Eugene to Cottage Grove with my eldest sister to ride horse that belonged to her boyfriend’s parents. And, once again, I found my heaven . . . BLM forest and logging roads. Endless trail riding and great mounts. Earth, horse sweat, mud, stall mucking, leather, trees, fresh air, and dirt . . . oh, and the flock of wild turkeys that frequented the area.
That ended over time, nearly 7 years ago. I heard the mare I loved so much went permanently lame. Bummer. Justin and I moved to Salem. I rarely get out in the woods anymore. I’m finding, here, I have to drive quite a bit to hit wannabe mountains and good hiking trails.
We’ve been talking Texas. Austin to be exact. Hours from the ocean. Hours and hours and hours from the mountains, wannabe or not. Pretty area, in it’s own right . . . according to the millions of photos and houses I’ve looked at. But no Oregon. I wonder if I will regret moving from Oregon, if we end up going through with it. If it’s just being here in Salem that has me so dissatisfied. Do we really need to move half a country away? Maybe we just need to move to the real mountains, here. The Cascades. No job change, no drastic uprooting, and still in beloved Oregon.
Anyway, so far we have debated Austin, TX, Sandy, OR (me fav so far), Trinity, TX (my parents have family land down there), Tri-Cities, WA (mostly because that is where my parents are now), Portland, OR (for the obvious), and to just stay put, here in Salem. There are others, I just can’t think of them.
Right now I’m feeling pretty nostalgic about Oregon
How could I leave out our annual Christmas tree cut-down. =D
Eastern Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge . . . those are windmills on the distant slopes
Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek, also up the Columbia River Gorge
Multnomah Falls, heading up the Columbia River Gorge.
Me and my "windshield" shots =D . . . Driving up to Mt Hood
Mt Hood Ski Bowl area this past winter.
Attempting to fly a kite in Lincoln City, OR
Newport, OR . . . caught one of the amazing sunsets over the Pacific
Tobias at the Oregon Coast
Lincoln City, OR . . . The boys playing near the surf
I think I’ve taken for granted . . . and plumb near forgot . . . just how beautiful it is here, especially in the mountains and valley (personal opinion).
I think it’s time for a good ol’fashioned hiking/camping trip!
*******UPDATE******
The evening after writing this post, my sweet, most awesomely delicious husband came home and told me some good news. I can’t share yet . . . gotta make sure it’s all down pat . . . but we are NOT going anywhere! 🙂 Answers to so many prayers are sitting at our door step! More info to come, in the next few weeks.
Mother Tucker 