Every year, the National Basque Festival brings together Basque communities across North America to celebrate and share their heritage and culture. The only real connection to the North American Basque community that I personally have is an impossibly thin thread that runs from me through the amazing woman who taught me to ride horses to the Basque man she was married to for many years. Rena was a former Miss Rodeo Oregon and beautiful beyond words. I was nine. She taught me to races barrels … [Read more...]
One Fine Day in Jacksonville {Oregon}
Blending small town ambience with sophisticated taste, this 1850's gold-rush town is booming with music, wine, and history. This post may contain affiliate links, but don't worry - they won't bite. Last fall, I had the opportunity to visit Jacksonville twice within a few weeks: the first time as part of a press tour hosted by Travel Oregon, and the second with Mr B - who I dragged south a few weeks later because I couldn't get enough of it on my first … [Read more...]
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Last Wednesday my sister and I had the rare chance to spend the day together, and her only request was to go “somewhere pretty.” So I took her to one of the prettiest places I know of in the Portland area – the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn. This time of year, the tulip fields are a photographers dream – they are so full of vibrant color that images almost paint themselves into the camera. The Tulip Festival, which began in 1985, is a tradition started by Ross and Dorothy … [Read more...]
