New Listing! Sweet Ranch In A Peaceful, Country Setting. 1014 25th St. Hood River, Oregon This lovely ranch is located just moments from downtown Hood River on a quiet, peaceful street with sidewalks and cul-de-sac. The country setting offers beautiful mountain views in an established neighborhood.     · 3 bedrooms, 1 bath · 1,008 square feet · Well designed, efficient use of space · 0.17 acre · 1 car garage, 308 square feet · Front porch and backyard brick patio · Backyard storage shed · Nice, fully fenced backyard · Well-maintained, clean and move-in ready! For more information visit: http://www.columbiagorgefsbo.com/property.php?ID=187 or call 541-806-3584     05/04/2012

  Friday's Foto - Alpacas!   I pass these guys on the way to work just outside Hood River each morning so stopped to snap their picture this afternoon. This shot is zoomed in on them from pretty far away (I didn't want to walk into their pasture), so it's not the clearest shot. Alpacas thrive in these mountains and have even become a strong business with nine alpaca ranches in the Columbia River Gorge. The alpaca is a close relative of the llama, but alpacas are smaller and are specifically bred for their hair, which is similar to wool, but more lustrous, warmer and is hypoallergenic. Alpacas are herd animals indigenous to the high mountains of South America.         05/04/2012

  Hood River Farmer's Market Opens May 3rd!   It's a Hood River tradition many years in the making and a sure sign that summer is well on it's way. The Farmer's Market at Hood River Middle school is back for the 2012 season, starting this Thursday. The market features fresh veggies, fruit, flowers, wood-fired pizzas, grilled brats, delicious empanadas, tarts, grass fed beef, breads, cheeses, eggs and so much more! Visitors are invited to bring a blanket, enjoy a picnic and socialize with friends and family in the lawns around the market.   Thursdays 4-7 p.m. May 3-November 15, 2012 Hood River Middle School 1602 May St. across from Jackson Park 04/29/2012

  Coming Soon: New Listing! Secluded, Peaceful Retreat     Located just 20 minutes from Hood River, this lovely home is secluded, quiet and peaceful with lots of room to roam or even farm a little. The home is beautiful and cozy, well maintained and charming, with sweeping territorial views. · 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,976sq ft, 4.2 acres · Completely remodeled kitchen in 2011: stainless steel appliances & heated tile floor · New pellet stove & new 30-year roof in 2010 · Vaulted ceiling with skylights · Separate living & family rooms · Wheelchair accessible · Carport with additional storage room · Eastern hillside & Bald Butte views, large deck   Please call 541-716-4214     04/27/2012

  Friday's Foto - Tip-Toeing Through The Daffodils   I was driving home from a new client's home about 10 miles southwest of Hood River on Wednesday and passed this very quaint, country scene so just had to stop to capture it. The weather is finally warming up around here and the daffodils, fruit trees and other flowers are blossoming brilliantly.     04/20/2012

  Blossom Festival at The Gorge White House: April 21 - 22nd   It's a huge couple weekends here in the Hood River Valley as the region hosts its 58th annual Blossom Festival. The Hood River Valley "Fruit Loop" is a 35 mile long tour of area farm stands, artists' studios, alpaca ranches and wineries featuring the very best the region has to offer. This gorgeous drive is the showpiece of Blossom Fest and winds through the Festival’s activities at over 20 different venues. Check the Fruit Loop's website for details on what each and every stop has to offer. One of the premier locations during Blossom Fest is The Gorge White House. Located just moments from downtown Hood River, The White House is a historic home on a century old working farm, featuring wines & craft beers of the Columbia Riv... 04/17/2012

  Wordless Wednesday - Smooth Sailing On The Columbia River   The Columbia River makes for a gorgeous sail on an early spring afternoon. This photo was taken looking towards Hood River from the Washington side of the river. Our river offers such a wide variety of recreational opportunities, even when the water's still icy cold.       04/11/2012

  Relay For Life Fundraiser:  Hood River Papa Murphy's April 11th   Not everyone can, or is willing to, participate in a marathon, but on Wednesday, April 11th, all day long, you can grab lunch or dinner at the Hood River Papa Murphy's Pizza, 1765 12th Street, to support your local Relay For Life. 10% of all proceeds for the day will go to Team One Step At A Time. Relay for Life is an annual, world-wide event allowing communities across the globe to raise funds for cancer research and services, as well as to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer and to remember loved ones lost to cancer. Teams camp out around a track and spend two days taking part in a relay around the track. There is also a "survivor's lap" and a touching remembrance ceremony. Relay For Life Columbia Gor... 04/08/2012

  Friday's Foto - Burning In The Orchard   For those of you in agricultural areas, you already knew this, but I didn't until I moved to the Hood River Valley. One of the signs of spring and fall here, is smoke filling the early morning valley. Farmers are currently cleaning out their orchards, trimming and clearing, in anticipation of the growing season. Then they burn the clippings, raked leaves etc. I passed this orchard on the way to work yesterday, where the fire was up close to the highway.     04/06/2012

  Speechless Sunday - March Orchard At Sunrise, Hood River Valley   I took this photo around 7 a.m. last week after yet another spring dusting of snow. The sun hadn't yet risen completely over the horizon, coloring the clouds gently. This orchard is just off Hwy. 35, about 6 miles south of the town of Hood River.       04/01/2012

  Hood River Community Easter Egg Hunt & Safety Fair   Join your Hood River Valley community next Saturday, April 7th from 10 a.m. to noon at Jackson Park in Hood River for an Easter egg hunt and safety fair. The Columbia Gorge Fellowship of Churches is planning to hide over 7,000 plastic eggs and all kids, ages 1 to 10 are invited to search. Each will receive a goodie bag and the Easter bunny will be there to meet each kid. There will also be face painting, a puppet show, music and more. The Safety Fair will be held in the front parking lot of Jackson Park from 10 a.m. to noon. The fire department will be there with fire trucks for the kids to explore, while Smokey The Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog will be present, too, for hugs and photos. Providence Hospital will pass out bike helmet ... 03/31/2012

  Dog Lovers... Time To Socialize With Your Pup. Join "Yappy Hour" in Hood River   This event is just too sweet for words. Cascade Pet Camp in Hood River, Oregon, proudly hosts what it affectionately calls "Yappy Hour". Come this Thursday, March 29, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Well-socialized pups and their people are invited to join together for an evening of canine free play. It's a great way to let your dogs meet and play with others, while connecting to other dog lovers yourself. The price is $8 per dog and the price includes a drink ticket for pop, beer or wine. There are separate areas for big and little dogs, as well as for especially shy dogs. And in case you haven't already, while you're there, check out what Cascade Pet Camp has to offer. The camp is not only a kennel where you can board y... 03/28/2012

  Anyone Can Save A Life! - Join the Blood Drive At Hood River Armory March 27th!   When I was growing up, my father was a volunteer on the board of directors of our local Red Cross, so I was pretty much brought up believing in regularly donating blood. The importance of the gesture, however, was really brought home to me when our own son, at the age of seven, experienced a medical trauma requiring an emergency transfusion of two units of blood to save his life. Luckily, his blood type is quite common so there was plenty on hand, but that's not always the case for everyone. Donating blood is a great way to give back to your community in a deeply personal way. It is literally a way that anyone can help to save a life. Did you know that just one pint of blood can save three lives? Join th... 03/22/2012

  Friday's Foto - What Are You Lookin' At?!   These are the horses that live across the street from our house in Parkdale, Oregon. They were pretty wet and sleepy still as I took their picture early this morning. Maybe it's just me, but they seemed to be thinking "What are you lookin' at?" (maybe with a Brooklyn accent?).       03/16/2012

  Wordless Wednesday - Take A Swim Break   Swimming is one of my (Gretchen) and our boys' favorite pass times and the Hood River Aquatic Center offers a great place to do it. There are two different pools: one a warmer therapy pool, the other huge, warm and includes lap swimming lanes, a slide, basketball hoops, a zipline and a rope swing. Hood River School District releases students two hours early twice a month for teacher development and now open swim hours are available to students on those afternoons. The cost is $1/student, but the first 50 students to arrive get in for FREE, thanks to community donations. So, take a swim break at the Hood River Aquatic Center, 17th Street and May Avenue, Hood River.         03/07/2012

  Calling All Roller Babes! Gorge Rollergirls Wants You!   It has finally come to Hood River, the sport that is making a resurgence nationwide... Roller Derby. And Gorge Rollergirls is recruiting. Already about 10 ladies strong, the team is looking to make up two teams of 20 ladies each to compete locally and regionally. No experience is required. All you need is the will to work hard and the readiness to have a ball! You'll need knee and elbow padding and be ready to pick up a bruise here and there. In case you don't know, roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five players each who skate a circle around an arena/gym. Each team designates a "jammer" who scores by lapping members of the opposing team. The opposing team members try to hinder her progress and her teammates... 03/05/2012

  Celebrating Women: Lunafest, 2012   I (Gretchen) attended Lunafest a couple years ago when invited to go with a group of friends. It wasn't something that had caught my attention on it's own, but I was willing to go with "the girls". It ended up being a rather profound experience and I look forward to this year's selections. Lunafest is a traveling film festival of award-winning short films, which tours the country, featuring films made by, about or for women. It celebrates women's perserverence, commitment, humor and joy in poignant glimpses in the lives of women worldwide. It is sponsored by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, to simultaneously promote women filmmakers, raise awareness for women’s issues, and support worthy women’s nonprofit organizations througho... 03/03/2012

  "Fuji" Just Really Needs Someone Now   It's been more than five weeks since I first wrote about poor Fuji and he is still at the Hukari Animal Shelter, still yearning and dreaming that someone will finally fall in love with him and take him home to love forever. So for the first time, I'm featuring the sweet guy a second time because he really, really deserves a second look. Fugi never deserved the fate he was handed. Every dog deserves the chance for happiness. Oh, if only we didn't already have four dogs ourselves... I'm a sucker for a guy who REALLY needs someone. Poor Fuji has had a tough first part of his life and is ready for a loving, caring family of his own. He has spent his entire life living outside with hardly any positive attention from his people. He has scars on his muz... 02/25/2012

  Don't Miss Gorge Uke Fest, 2012... Hood River, Oregon     What the heck is that? you may ask. The "Gorge" in question is the Columbia River Gorge, a gorgeous piece of Oregon, through which the mighty Columbia River flows on it's way to the Pacific Ocean. Uke Fest is short for Ukelele festival. In recent years, ukeleles, generally associated with Hawaii, have become all the rage in the Hood River Valley of the Gorge. Local schools and organizations offer ukelele classes and Gorge Ukeleles now centers an entire festival around them. Ukes are a wonderful alternative to guitars... smaller, easier to carry places and much more affordable, but serve a similar purpose. They are relatively easy to learn to play and beautifully accompany sing-alongs. They aren't just for Hawaiian music, either... 02/25/2012

  Wordless Wednesday - Haunted Orchard?   I'm trying to see the beauty in the winter gloom, but I'm getting more of a "haunted" vibe from this photo of a winter orhard here in the Hood River Valley. Maybe it's the way the branches seem to be sinister, reaching for something, or maybe it's the very mysterious seeming mist. You be the judge...       02/22/2012