July 2, 2013, Salem, OR--Views of the Midwest

Yes, it is hot in Salem too.  Not as hot as other places in the country where we hear numbers that are on a toaster oven--like 110 degrees, but we are enduring the 90s in this part of the country.  With the humidity, it means running the air conditioner from about 9 a.m. until midnight. 

One great point of being in Salem is the temperatures cool down after sunset and we wake up to comfortable temperatures. I love the early morning coolness and thank my lucky stars that we are here in beautiful Oregon.

We try to have a weekly drive around the Salem country side. The views transport me to other places we have visited in the past—such as Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.  Here are a few views of the Midwest:

Is this a Wisconsin barn?  Or did we see it in Iowa?

I swear I saw this scene in Indiana!  (And, no, it is not a golf course!)

And this view….

Like Indiana’s Amish households with their fruit stands, many Oregon farms have produce for sale.  And it is yummy!

These fresh berries are sweet--no sugar needed!  (I swear I never thought I could say that, ha ha.)

Meanwhile, we have been busy with activities here at the Elk’s Club and my pottery classes.

The Salem Elks Club hosted their annual car show.  The owners show off their restored “antique” vehicles and some of us reminisce about dating in these cars—when they were just “used” cars—not antiques.

 

The show attracted about 40 vehicles.  The cars from the late fifties looked like big boats compared to our smaller cars today..

We saw these three cars pass us on the road in Molalla and followed them to take a photo:

  

The three 1929 Speedsters were on a road rally. Each car was restored by the driver.  They offered to take a photo of me in the white car, but I declined; the cars were cute enough on their own--without me in it.

This next photo is for my friend Marge—a picture of the Willamette River as it passes the town of Independence, OR.  Here is the boat launch in the middle of town.

And here is the Molalla River ferry landing in Canby, OR.  Don’t you just love the green water rivers in Oregon?  Texas rivers tend to be dirt-brown colored.

It is fun exploring the country side, but you need to come visit yourself—to absorb the beauty of this state.

We hope you have found a comfortable place to be during this hot summer.  Stay cool and look forward to Fall weather—coming soon to a place near you.